While attending the Mitra conference recently in Sydney, I learnt that a good friend of mine passed away in Kuala Lumpur. She had endured so much of suffering and pain and now she’s gone. I had the good fortune to cook for the Sangha members and took the opportunity to dedicate all the merits from that to Jeannie in the hopes that she will be reborn in a good state and that she will live a happy life, free from suffering and pain.I shared the merits with all sentient beings as well.

I am not sure that i have done anything great to put in “Acts of Kindness”. I just rang home and told my mum and dad i decided to go home end of this year after leaving home for 2 years. I miss them!

I became a monk to help others realise the truth of their own existence and continue the lineage of teachings first illuminated by Siddartha Gautama – the Buddha, the perfectly awakened one, of this age.

I was leaving a home depot store once and a young man asked me for money, when I first seen him I thought to myself he just wants money to get alcohol or drugs. Then I caught myself and told myself I shouldn’t be so uncompassionate so I watched him and saw him dig through the garbage and he seemed like he genuinely needed the money for survival. So I gave him what I could at the moment.

Once…. i was walking home and suddenly a car stopped in front of me. Two men asked me for money. I was scare!!! I did not say anything and walked away. As i was walking away form them, i felt weird because they were just asking for 2 to 3 $$$ Then i turned back and looked inside their car. May be they really need the money to make a phone call. Then…. I borrow them my phone, they called up their uncle and gave me back my phone!! They told me that they just arrived from Japan and do not have any small change to make a phone call.…

On commuting to Mitra held door open of an eldely lady to pass through with baggage. On way home gave a stranger some money for train fair on his request normally would not have but felt he may have need it to get home, could understand his frustration and anxisoty being stranded, felt good.

I was by the jewelry counter at Walmart. A little girl was going to get her ears pierced. Her face expressed clearly the dreaded anticipation of pain and suffering. I smiled at her, sending a silent message, “It’s not that painful, don’t worry.” She smiled back and before you know it, it was over and everyone was giggling.

Had some nice talks with various elders, some in their 90s, at a near by retirement home. One lady over 100 loves to speak French and loves her French Club there.