Partners

Rock climbing is more suited for couples, one person does the climbing the other does the belaying. Without a partner to belay, one can only climb laterally, not vertically.

Staying single is great for freedom and resposibility but partnership allows one to advance furthermore. May it be partnership in marriage, career, sports or practices, we need good partners.

I have a great partner in my marriage, an ex-partner with my career, many good partners with my practices, and now I am looking for a partner for rock climbing...

Patti is back

Patti is back from her more than one month vacation two days ago. She gave me a call last night wanting to find out how was my trip to Ann Arbor.

I was touched by her phone call. Coming back from a long trip and she had Betty and I on her mind all this time. That's what friends are for...

Cherishing each other, appreciating each other, supporting each other...

Rock Climbing

Yesterday I went rock climbing for the first time in my life. My brother was amazed that his over 50 years old sister could climb. He sent me his condolence knowing that I should be full of pains and aches the next day.

My daughter did suffer soreness today but not me. I learned my lesson while I was doing yoga exercise in Ann Arbor last month. In Ann Arbor, after the first yoga lesson, I was as stiff as a robot the next day. Then I noticed I should not use direct force or bodily power to perform anything, I ought to utilize indirect force or borrow exotic power to carry out duties. Thus I was fine in the following yoga lessons.

I did the same with my rock climbing. I had not used up my body energy to climb up, I follow the flow… Either I am wiser with my age or getting better in my Buddhism advancement…

Can you tell which climber is me, my daughter and my niece in the photo?

Who cares about the Truth?

Yesterday my mom told me a story about the history of a piece of furniture that we found in the attic.

She mentioned that furniture was bought before I was born, where it was stationed when I was young, how it had been travelling around the world with our moving. She had such a fine details of exactly what had happened, very stunning!

I was amazed that I have no recollection of it at all. My memory must be fading very badly.

When I talked to my husband about it, he said that piece of furniture had the style and workmanship of the late 70's and early 80's, so it could not be older than me. Well, if I remembered right, it was bought around that time.

Before, I would search and investigate to prove my mom was wrong. But now, I will not dare to be bothered. Her story is told only to me, it does not concern anyone. She will be upset to find out her memory is incorrect.

I notice and understand that mom is getting old and starting to make up tales or fantasize. The episode indicates to me how our minds can twist things around to deceive ourselves and others.

How is the Truth being manifested? What is the Truth? Where does the Truth lie? When will the Truth be revealed? Who cares about the Truth…

How the mind works...

Last night I had a dream and Mingte Shi Xiong was in my dream.

I have never met Mingte and I do not know how he looks like.

The interesting point is that his face and look are my other friend's.

In the dream, I questioned "How come you look exactly like my other friend, C.Y. ?"

Now I realize that our mind cannot produce an outcome that we have no information on or concept about. Either I makeup a new face for Mingte through imagination, or pull one out from the data bank of my mind (in this case C.Y.) , or I have to be in deep samadhi to go beyond forms and concepts.

Samadhi can lead us into a higher realm, but there is danger involved if one does not have wisdom and right view to go with it. This is where benevolent dharma friends and Sutras are essential.
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Yoga retreat in India - my story

Back in November, I was debating if I should go to Taiwan to join the Yoga session held by Da Huayen Monestary in Taipei.

With Venerable Haiyun coming to North America, we were all very busy. Susan of Taipei said I could go at the last minute as all I needed was a plane ticket to Taipei, which could be done easily.

Then I met Cecilia in the farewell party of Venerable Haiyun, before we left for Ann Arbour, U.S.A. Cecilia told me that she was going to join the retreat in India, held by the same Acharya. I thought it would be so marvelous that I could go to India instead of Taipei, since the training should be much more intensive there. But I was leaving for Ann Arbor the next morning, so I did not have time to have a thorough talk with Cecilia till I returned to Toronto.

When I came back, I found out from Cecilia that I needed to have a valid passport (My passport is expiring soon, which was not good enough for the India trip) and a visa. I applied for the passport immediately and got it by the end of November.

Then the Mumbai incident happened and everyone advised me not to go. Thus I did not apply for the India visa. When Cecilia was back from her trip few days ago, I told her about my decision of not going. It is not my own safety but the anxiety that I will put onto my family that concerns me.

So I may go to the 2010 yoga retreat, anyone interests in joining me?

Whatever will be will be, the future is not for us to see...

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Chinese herbal doctor

My son has been seeing a Chinese herbal doctor for his abnormal heart beat rate for the past few months.

We have tried every kind of western medicines and specialists possible to find out what the problem is without success. Finally this herbal doctor seems to be able to help him regulate his hormones and bodily metabolism. That makes his mom very happy…

But the more interesting aspect of seeing this herbal doctor is that every time we meet (as my son does not speak much Chinese I have to be present) I learn a lot of knowhows on living a better life. His experience in life and medicine benefits me tremendously.

Taking advantages of every encounter that manifest in front of us is a good practice itself.

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