This morning it was me and the little bird. I was on my usual morning walk and as i was starting to round Grove park, i saw this little bird on its side. I looked closer, and it was still alive, it’s little chest rising and falling, it’s eyes moving. I started to recite for it. First the Great Compassion Mantra, then Guan Yin’s name. I was there for it. It was me and the bird for it’s last moments in it’s life. The human and the bird, together. It did somehow seem that the bird…calmed down, or at least that’s the subtle vibe i got. It started to move…

Normally I live at Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery in Redwood Valley, CA, USA, but I am writing this on a computer in northern India. I have just completed a pilgrimage to a few (but not all) of the Buddhist Holy Places with my friend, Manu. I am writing this to obtain the Paramita music files for him, as I think he will appreciate them.We traveled, in order, to Ajanta/Ellora (ancient Buddhist caves), Sanchi (stupa with Buddha relics and also stupa with relics of Sariputta and Maha-Mogallana), Sarnath (where first teaching was given), and Bodh Gaya (Bodhi Tree of Enlightenment). We kept journals but the whole story cannot be related here.Normally a…

I attended Rev Heng Sure’s talk at Global buddhist conference.Rev Heng Sure told us about this free download but we need to do a kind act first. I was thinking what could i write but the thinking did not last very long as rev gave us some suggestions immediately after that. One of them was not to quarrel with the wife. I follow the advice on that very night. My wife was angry at me on that day and i was able to control my anger and did not fight back. I am glad that i did that and did not hurt my wife with unpleasant words.I will try to…

About 25 years ago, when I was a college student, I hang out at night for a drink (tea not beer). Strange on that night, about 11:00 p.m., a stranger approached me and asked me how to get to Location X. It was 8km to walk and there were no buses. Then out of nowhere, a taxi came by. I flagged the taxi and told the driver to get him to Location X.The stranger said he had no money to pay for the fare. I paid for him. He then said, “Can I have your address, so I can pay you back on another day?” I said, “no need.” He…

Few days ago i suddenly felt that I have to call my Mom, when she get the phone she didnt say a word but startdto cry… I asked about the Christmas Eve, cause she lives alone 80 km from my city and thought that she is going to my brither’s home. She said she’s going to stay in the darkness alone with light turned off cause she doesnt want neighbours to think that she is so lonely, In one second without thinkin I promissed her I’m gonna come to her place and spend with her all Christmas,we’re gonna bake together and go for a walk every day… I knew that…

My friend moved to another country last week. Before she went though, I managed to get another friend to burn a CD. The friend that’s moving loves classical music; and although I knew and know nothing about classical music, I chose some famous composers. I sent the friend off with that parting gift. I do hope she listens to it. 😀

Last night I meditated for an hour on the name of Amitabha Buddha and dedicated the merits to all living beings. We are conditioned to think of the world in terms of laws of physics and chemistry, as if the world has an independent existence. Indeed, this is what science teaches us, which is useful at a practical level but is a very limited view and cannot explain the phenomenon of the universe. Buddhism teaches us that the mind is the source of all things. By purifying our minds, we can all make the world a better place.

My girlfriend was, in name, a Buddhist. But she was really more like the rest of the ethnic Chinese in Southeast Asia: nominally Buddhist, but just going through the motions for religious rites and festivals for Buddhism, folk Taoism and Neo-Confucianism.She was sometimes quite irritated by how involved I was in Dhammadhuta work in my Buddhist Society. And so in ways she was quite anti-Buddhist.Regardless, I continued my activities while trying to practise to be as gentle and kindly as possible, making aspirations that one day she would be touched by the Dharma.Being prone to negativity and mood swings, she goes through emotional ups and downs especially during stressful periods.…

The first thing that happened this morning was that I spilled coffee into my computer keyboard. Then I was mad I had to spend 40 minutes cleaning it. Then just as I got it up and ready to use, the power to the house went out. I couldn’t work on the computer any more, so I decided to go to my work early, which is to teach algebra in a remedial school in Richmond. The kids learning always makes me happy. Then after working with them, I went to the local jail where I also teach math and algebra to the prisoners. And seeing people learn there also makes me…