I will recite the Buddha’s name whenever I see an accident, dead animal corpse, a truck load of chicken/cows/goats on the way to the slaughter house , ambulance passing by, hoping that by doing so I can help them plant some good seeds 🙂
let a child go first
At Costco a guest Vegamitc vendor had free samples. People quickly gathered around to try, a mother and child in back late and maybe not going to get his. Giving him my spot, made my 6 year old self come to mind. As his eyes focused on the tray, waiting, …
listening without judgement
a customer shared with me his concerns about his daughter and her possible abusive partner. she had a black eye he said when he last visited her in the U.K. he had his doubts but did share his daughters partner was a good guy who worked hard.i listened without offering …
Loneliness, a Sense of Isolation, and Desperation
Across the street from my home lives an old woman in a small cottage home. She is almost 80 years old, she has lived a long life full of friendship, dreams, losses, travels, many jobs, many homes, she has felt a lot, experienced a LOT. She still does experience, and …
Picnic in Tilden Park
The other weekend I was at Tilden park with my family. When we were on our way out of the park, I saw a women struggling to carry a folded table and serval boxes all at the same time, I offered her help, and carried the large table to picnic …
Reading to The Disabled
I remember spending a Friday morning at the United Cerebral Palsy organization with children suffering from paralysis and slurred speech. Reading to them and teaching them to fold flowers was an enjoyable experience. When my time was up, i walked to the bus stop thinking of a hibiscus flower. When …
rescuing tadpoles
After a short rain, the side road in front of my apartment became pond and I discovered hundreds and hundreds of tadpoles in the afternoon. Knowing that the pond will dry very soon, I used a bowl and a spoon to rescue as many tadpoles as I could to a …
Reciting the Shurangama Mantra
In the morning I recited the Shurangama Mantra with all the monks at Bailinsi with a wish that the world will be free of disasters and difficulties. Surrounded by around a hundred monks, I could feel the mantra sounds resonating in my heart and within the Buddha Hall. May the …
Sharing
Every day I encounter an opportunity to practise kindness and generosity, either by helping with something practical or sharing some aspect of Dhamma. Earlier this week I was able to show a group of school children around a spiritual community, answer their many questions, and introduce them to meditation.
Providing Food for Bush Neighbors
I feed my neighbors: a family of possums, lorikeets, currawongs, kookaburras, brush turkeys, and recite the Buddha’s name for them at the same time. I learn about their lives and make their stories visible in photographs, to raise people’s awareness of the dignity and sentience in the world around us.