Taking the FIRST step, and many more!

Just attended the 1st Dharma Circle for this new sem.

Though i was really tired, didnt regret that I made the effort to attend it. Luckily, I have alrd made a promise to attend all the dharma circle as much as I can. =)

"What makes a Buddhist, Buddhist?" A rather tricky question.

Many definitions, many perspectives and very subjective too.

However, it's really impt to want to take the 1st step to learn the dharma [the teachings of the Buddha, the enlightened one].

When asked about my view on buddhism or being a buddhist, I really got to search deep within me for it's not an easy question to answer in words.

You may feel you sort of know it, then you will wonder do you really know it the way it should be known as. *complicated*

In the end, I said that personally, being a buddhist is about looking up to the buddha as my role model and learning the dharma. Most imptly, to put what I have learnt into practice.

Knowing and doing IS different. And there's really no right ot wrong answer to it.

It's only when you experiment with the teachings and experience it for yourself the truth in the dharma, then one will know what is being a real buddhist all about.

May all of my dharma circle group members that night learnt something more from all those discussions! I'm glad that I did. ThanksX2! =)

May we be able to follow the footsteps of the buddha on this pathway to enlightenment, bit by bit, step by step.=) Like what the speaker mentioned, everything we do always start from zero.

Most imptly, we have to take the first step and definitely many more! =)

Wait...

Pause.

Am I really in a rush?

Does that few minutes or seconds make much difference?

Wait.

Practicing on my patience.

Thanks to those and to the traffic lights at the road linking Junction 8 to the bus interchange for creating opportunities for me to practice being patient in this hectic, fast-paced society.

I can feel the calmness and the peace within myself already. Rejoice=)

Looking ahead, moving on=)

I have decided to not update my blog with past events.

Finally, I have learnt to let go of being attached to wanting to update my blog about everything that have happened especially during my holidays. Whee~~

Otherwise, I may not have started on this post.

It's the new academic year with a new semester ahead=)

For the past 1 wk, it has been great to be back as a full time student again...

For the rest of the semester, I expect myself to be real active, busy and at the end of the day satisfied.

ButX3, all these do not matter as much. What matter most is how I am living my day now!=)

May I be able to live each day healthily, fulfilling and happily.=)

Working towards achieving a balance between physical, spiritual and intellectual advancements each day.

May my friends and my loved ones experience good health and joy!

UpdatesX3!

Last week, 4 days of FOC.

Barely regain my rest and slp and now is RAG dance!

RAG practices are Mon, Wed and Fri. And now is just the beginning...

More RAG practices till school reopens itself! Ragging all the way~~~

Trying to gain back my sleep and some personal time at the same time.

Alrd 1 week after the end of FOC, finally have the time and energy to update my blog. Whee~

This is definitely a packed and eventful holidays for me=) Whee!

Celebrated my sister bday... Twice!

The 2nd time initiated by me as I wanted to surprise her with her favourite hello kitty cake from Polar. Yeap! It's definitely pleasant to the eyes. As for taste... hmm... Anyway, glad that she loved the cake design=)

Guess it's in our genes that we are so comically alike=)

LastX2 Friday went to watch and support Dawn in her dance performance for Arts Bash at DXO (yes, it's always DXO when it comes to CHAOS *scratchX2 head*)

Great dance performance Dawn! YesX2 I uds the space constraint, but you still stand out in the dance=) Whee! Like your unqiue style as usual! =) *clapX3!* It's worth all those bruise-ful dance practices, still please take great cares!

Ernest suggested presenting her a milk bottle, with REAL milk! Interesting and definitely thoughtful! =)

AndX3 he dressed so smartly that day that I almost feng diao!

Hence the pictures are definitely rare, caught on camera once in the blue moon. Nanny dressed so handsomely, preparing milk (branded one somemore). *snapX3!*

We clubbed till late! Oh my goodness! We clubbed like mad then we came out for supper and a stroll (did crazy things and had live karoke session!) It was definitely great to just let go and simply enjoy ourselves! =D I believe it has absolutely nothing to do with the music in the club, it's just us!

Last Sunday was a memorable day for me! It's Milk Run 2007! And it was the FIRST run that I have participated in. Whee! Completed the 4km run (more of squeezing through the walking crowd initially actually)! Whee! Feel so great! *Victory!* *grin!*

Because of this run, I have started to run regularly. Even now after the camp and Milk Run, I am determined to continue this healthy regime. ManyX2 thanks to those who keep motivating and even strictly monitoring my training, especially Ernest, Dawn, Xu Wen and also Kok Siang=)
Cheers to healthier lifestyle, pinky cheeks and smaller du nan=D

After Milk Run, we had to rush back to school for FOC Day O! BusyX3!

Final games trials and final briefings! For me, it was more of final packingX3 of games logistics!

For the next 4 days, plastic bags, masking tapes (tons of them!), trash bags, boxes were my best friends. Everyday seems like working in supermarket, packingX2, checkingX2, distributingX2, collectingX2! Glad that all things went smoothly for programme logistics and mass dance, the 2 major things that worried me the most! =)

Here's a peak of the not-so-glam side of us on the morning of FOC Day 0!

Note: We went to school to put our barangX2 then settle some FOC stuffs, then went for Milk Run, and then came back! *pantX2!*

*grinZ*

Today I can finally go back to my pri sch to relief teach & today it's a P1 class=)

Everyone and everything in that class will somehow remind me of the times when I was in this same primary sch arnd 8 years ago=)

I am quite surprise that all these similar situations and places can still bring back much memories aft so many years=)

I thought it was so long ago that I should not have much strong memories from my primary sch as compared to my secondary sch and jc. I thought. Luckily it's not the case. =)

The "line up two by two" rule, little boy holding little girl's hand so innocently, children getting so excited over growing and watering their own green beans, children who will so willingly guide their friend who is slower in learning, children who will always ask you if they can help to clean the whiteboard even when they are not tall enough yet to reach the top, children holding to you so closely like they have known you for so long (even when they have just known me today).

Children... *grinZ*

They are so beautiful=)

They are indeed like a piece of white drawing block paper. Whether they will transform into a beautiful and colourful piece of artwork which everyone will appreciate, or whether they will transform into something that's not as beautiful and colourful which not everyone will appreciate, it all depends on the education they are receiving.

Sometimes I do wonder, from a relief teacher point of view, schools and teachers do put alot emphasis on academic results. The main objective seems to be more of "I have to finish teaching my syllabus before exam".

In doing so, sometimes we will ignore students who are slower and need more attention than other students. In order not to slow down the rest of the class, we may unknowingly sacrifice them.

Of course, that's from my point of view as a relief teacher. If I am a teacher with a given syllabus to complete, I will definitely feel very helpless. Should I or should I not?

It's definitely not easy being a teacher. Challenging.

Guess I will just remain as a relief teacher with not much pressure from the harsh reality of the educational system. Hope to input the children with as much education regarding character building as possible with what I have and what I can give. =)

Here's what they give to me, lots of smiles coupled with frustration and tests of patience from time to time also.

With some time left to spare (and also don't what to do with them), I asked them to draw the most beautiful thing that they can produce. Free-style. =)

They were so excited about it. =D I suddenly have the urge to draw and so I took crayons to design the name of their class. Wah, when was the last time I draw with crayons on drawing block paper, sitted on the now-so-tiny chair and table together with the students. =)

They are so sweet. Some want to draw and give it to me, there are also others who asked if he can bring it back home to show it to their daddy and mummy. Awww~~~ =)

Haha... Some even made me the main character in their drawings. They turn me into princess, and fairy=) Awww~~~ ThanksX2!!

But, as for the yellow round head figure, I am not so sure if it is depicting me. The title of his drawing is "Who is your teacher". Hmmm.... Is it form teacher or me? Still, it makes me smile, and laugh=D

Students always seem to have a not-so nice image of me. Hmmm....

One of my tuition student drew herself beautifully, but I just can't help to think that the woman (supposedly to be me) she drew looks kind of mean. Hmmmm....

Still, they are all beautiful=)

BusyX2~~~

Mon & Tue bz with FOC programme~~~

Finally found my own specify job scope in programme cell, tt is to take charge of programme logistics! Whee~~~

Was feeling bad for not being able to help much in the documenting of the programme stuffs as Samantha is really very efficient lah! Justin & Samantha are two workaholics loh, keep staring at their laptop screen, even when they are eating! Both exclaimed that their spectacles degree will increase by multiple folds lah!

Finally can help them lessen their workload by packing up our stuffs these few days, like auntie packing things into plastic bags and then into different boxes (-_-lll Suddenly feels so happy to find plastic bags and rubber bands around DE club room muahahaha..

Xu Wen & I even changed the arrangement in DE club room to accomodate the logistics & ad hoc members during the camp.



Being programme logistics i/c is not going to be easy and it is my first time dealing with logistics on such a scale, luckily I know from whom I can seek help, Gary & Chin Khiang whee~~~=D

May all things go smoothly for foc =) everyone been working really hard! do take great care and prove all the effort and time we put in during this holidays worthwhile=)

May this be a sharing AND learning experience for everyone involve in this camp=) Share what we know and learn what we don't know=) Take it easy everyone, we are all still learning=)

Finally~~ We met up!=D

Whee~~ 4 Faithers finally met up aft don't how long alrd hehX2=)

ThanksX2 Xiuhao for initiating to organize one! She is very bz lah & still think abt 4 faith awww~~ =D

Initially planned to go Mr Tan's hse bt last min we decided to go amk pizza hut to eat&chi chat thr=) And pohX2, via, zhen hui, derek, glenn & I cld have saved some $$ haha.. But it was an exciting experience w/o any harm done=) SoX3 sorry to Mr Tan for the last min changes! Too bad he cant join us at pizza hut, hope to meet up with him during our next gathering=)

Deciding on our post dinner activity was challenging.. We discussed, we called, we walked, we stopped, we discussed again, we called again, we walked again...... Till finally we split into 2grps, pohX2 & via went kbox while the rest went to play pool. Though we finally made a decision, we still have to split=( Hopefully next time we all can sing and then play pool tog hehX2=)

Glad tt all of them enjoyed playing pool, with Xiuhao & Jia'en being our instructor, guiding the newbies incl me, gerksin, qi ying, yi wen & dax hehX2.. Bt Jia'en relax lah, abit stern leh you hehX2... It was great fun watching the pros playing too.. Zhen Hui, Jia'en, Qian Wei, Peter, Qi Yao and Xiu Hao=) Watching Dax play was also quite entertaining muahahaha...

Finally, left Xiu Hao, Qian Wei, Peter, Zhen Hui, Edwin (came frm nowhere haha.. no lah he came to play with Zhen Hui too) and I staying at S11 eating supper & chit chatting=)

It was GREAT to see so many of you! The girls, PohX2, Via, Xiu Hao, Gerk Sin, Qi Ying, Yi Wen, Jia Wen! The guys, Derek, Zhen Hui, Glenn, Peter, Qi Yao, Erwin, Wei Guang, Qian Wei, Jia'en & Dax! ThankX3 for mking the effort to come for the gathering! You all made this so fun & enjoyable!

For those who cant make it esp those who disappoint us LAST MIN, hope to see you all during our next gathering=) As and when you miss 4 Faithers, just plan a day to meet up=) Guess we shld increase the frequency of our gatherings instead of just once a yr during CNY to get Mr Tan's hong baos and to see him of course hehX2=P

Cheers to 4 Faithers! =)

It's worth the wait=)

Ks was late.. again=(

Supposed to meet me at Orchard for dinner (which is also my lunch too=S) but he forgotten to tell his parents abt it and so he has to finish the dinner they bought for him.

HungryXinfinity! Shld have ate together with Dawn & Ernest at Clementi aft our chit chat session=S Their bak cho mee smells nice~~~ haha... And we purposely took some photos so that we have pictures to put on our blogs (the results of the blogging craze=P)

Went to Watson to shopX2 and ended up buying quite some stuffs, mainly in preparation for foc...

My peaceful shopping time is being disturbed by a weird uncle aka lao beiX2 who came to intro himself and talked to me abt "anything under the sun"=S *roll eyes* So scary lah.. Luckily he retreated as I just continued to shop indifferently (though I was very distracted by his presence beside me=S)

Blame ks for making me wait=S But have to calm down and exercise the art of forgiveness and patience. *breathe in breathe out deeply*

Anyway, I was also late for rag meeting in the afternn due to unforseen and irritating circumstances (shh~~ samantha, xue zhen & justin must help me maintain my image k? hehX2=P) Thanks to them for forgiving me=)

Finally~~~ Ks came and treated me to goodX2 niceX2 food to his very hungry lpp=D *yumX2 fullX2*

Ate BIGx2 plate of curry chicken cutlet rice at taka=)

Indulged in COOKIES MONSTER MUDPIE at NYDC *super duper heavenly nice!*

ThenX3~~~ Just next to NYDC, aft we finished eating, I saw Davidoff promotion booth in front of Heeren. My favorite perfume brand=)

AndX3 lgg bought the promotion package - davidoff game for female & male happy summer series- whee~~~~~ I have always wanted to buy but its way beyond my budget.

It's really worth it, $88 for the 2 perfumes with LOTS of freebies, for both female & male.

Luckily, lgg also looking for perfume hehX2.. must use together k? hehX2=D

still~~ thxX3 for the gifts! =D

It is definitely worth the wait... Both for him and for my perfume. *grinZ*

[just realized me & him didnt take any photos *sad* next wk must tk alotX2! hehX2]

Meditate on a Flower=)

Benefit: encourage imagination to expand

Flower: symbol of growth & achievement

• Picture a flower bud in your mind's eye


• Think about how the flower bud is formed [seed, seedling, nourishment by sn & rain]


• Think about what the flower bud is going to be [its potential]


• Imagine the bud slowly open and bcome full flower


• Relate the flower bud to sth i/s yourself that has been waiting to develop [loving compassion, strength to deal with difficult situation etc.]


• Gain strength frm your visualization & maximize your potential to grow

It will be best practised with the breathing techniques that I have mentioned in my previous blog entry=)

'Meditation' by Bill Anderton
Whee~~ Finished reading this book alrd... Learnt the different types of meditations which can be easily applied to our daily life. This is one of those that I like=) Hope it will be useful to you too!=)

Problems or not?

During Bodhi Big Walk last Sunday, I heard something that Mei Fei said that remains in my mind till now. She said that a problem without any solutions is actually NOT a problem, in this case we should just let go and not dwell on it any more. Wow. Sounds weird initially, but as I keep thinking about it, I begin to make some sense out of it.

Many times we are being troubled by our so-called problems. If Mei Fei's definition of problems applies here, we wouldn't be so troubled.

If our problems are indeed problems, just go ahead and solve it!

If our problems are not problems, what's the point of dwelling on them? It will not bring us anywhere, we will be just circling around our so-called problems. Pointless right?

I guess by knowing when to let go will we be able to free ourselves from the past and move on. No wonder Miss Choong always tells the 27th councillors to grow up and move on, no point sitting down there and crying over it.

To all my dear friends, no matter what problems you are facing, take some time to reflect about it, then make a choice that will lead us to somewhere=) By then, I will rejoice and celebrate for you!=D Jiayouz!

Remember, what friends can do is only supplementary, we can only show our support and share your problems, we are here to tell you that your problems are NOT the only things in your life, don't let it overwhelm you.

Most importantly, you have to walk out of it yourself, we will be outside the darkness waiting for you to enjoy the sunshine together. Jiayouz! =)

For those I love and

those who love me,

may this life be a blessing and

a source of happiness to all beings.

-Ven. K Sri Dhammananda

For a special fren=)