Good Karma Music Stories

I’m an American Caucasian woman who married into a Cantonese family. My husband’s relatives are from Hong Kong and some of them reside here in the states. The first time I went to the family home I was asked to go to the ancestral shrine and give incense. I was very confused and didn’t understand the customs, the symbol of my action, or if it was even proper to do so without an understanding of my gift. But, I did as was offered… and all of my husband’s family hugged and encouraged me after having done so.This has been the catalyst for my deep desire to embrace and integrate with the customs of my new chosen family. Seeing the light in their eyes as they listen to me attempt Cantonese at the dinner table, spending time in the kitchen learning to cook traditional Buddhist vegetarian festival dishes with my mother-in-law… and best of all, practicing my Cantonese with my new grandma, A-Ma.A-Ma lost her husband last Christmas to Alzheimer’s. Grandpa was an amazing individual and a kind father/grandparent. He had spent countless hours with the grandchildren on his knee teaching them important proverbs and Buddhist doctrine through parables. My husband speaks of A-Yue (grandpa) almost daily.We have pledged to be there for grandma as much as possible (even though she lives several hundred miles away)… we travel at least once a month to go with her to A-Yue’s grave and give incense there… and all three of us hold each other and talk lovingly of Grandpa… I can barely understand Grandma… she doesn’t speak very much English. She can understand me, but I can’t have personal conversations with her without the aid of an interpreter. Recently, she came to visit us at our home! Probably the only time this will happen. She was delighted to see that we had put up some of A-Yue’s calligraphy in our own ancestral altar… and we keep pictures of them on our walls.Later in the visit, I had some personal time with A-Ma… but we were at a loss because we couldn’t communicate well. I had an “a-ha!” moment and went to my bookshelf for some Chinese flashcards. A-Ma’s eyes lit up… and we happily practiced my Cantonese together for about a half hour. I would show the card, she would say the words… and I would repeat. It is the longest time we’ve spent in conversation since we’ve met each other 3 years ago. I don’t know if this is any act of kindness on my part… I simply want to know and be loved by the people who raised such a fine person (my hubby)… and if I can bring his grandmother any comforts, I will do anything in my power to do so. I respect and love his parents and grandparents as my own… and I will continue to learn the language and customs of the family. I have benefited so much from their generosity… being able to have a conversation at the dinner table with them is the least I could possibly do.

I was connected to a group and some misunderstanding ame along and I stoped facing them any more. Always I try to hide and flight but not any more. I know only soultion is free from this samsara. love

As a stay-at-home father for many years, I learned selflessness by necessity…so many little people with endless needs for care, love, and compassion. If I hadn’t learned to care more about the needs of my children than my own, I would have probably remained confined within my own self, frustrated and unhappy. But they were truly my teachers, drawing me out of myself through their total dependence on me. Now as they reach young adulthood, I find to my utter joy that I was successful as their teacher too. They show through their words and their actions that they too have learned how to find happiness through kindness and by caring for others first.may the suffering of all completely cease…

i live in new york city, many years ago when i was quite young i remember watching a blind person waiting patiently at a street corner for soemone to help him cross. i new he needed help because every few seconds he would tap his cane on the ground hoping to get someones attention. i was in a rush and going in the opposite direction i figured someone else would help..well i passed him by but kept looking over my shoulder to see if someone would stop to help…as i kept going further and further it became apparent that no one was stopping until i was so far i lost sight…Well talk about feeling terrible expecially since before this incident i had helped quite a few elderly individuals across busy streets. I vowed if i see someone in need at a crosswalk i would offer assistance without a moments thought. I have been very fortunate to have helped numerous blind and elderly on there way since that long ago incident.

So I work for a non-profit agency in NYC and I’m on a city bus with some of my clients. We pull up at a bus stop where a woman with a stroller waits. When the bus doors open and it’s time for her to get on she isn’t able to properly fold up the stroller. She has in one hand her baby child, and with the free hand she struggles to fold the stroller. I get up, exit the bus and offer to help, but I can’t even operate the thing with two hands. I work with it for about five minutes and am still unable to be of any help. The bus passengers are getting impatient (this is New York after all) and my group is already late for their volunteer assignment. I tell her that I can’t figure it out and get back on the bus. The bus driver is about to pull out when I realize “I can do this!”. I calmly go out to her once again and pull up on a handle that had previously gone unnoticed. The stroller folds up, the lady gets on the bus with her baby, and she takes the empty seat that I once occupied.

A while back I took in two gerbils who had no home. They smelled and ran on their wheel at all hours, often keeping me awake. But I grew to love the little guys. Sadly, after they reached the age of about 3 they both passed away, hopefully to a good rebirth.

My experience is about God and Christ’s forgiveness. Christ’s true forgiveness taught me that there isn’t an effect for every cause. He helped me to travel outside of Karma. Christ had the time to talk. And He walked the walk. He touched me with his very hand and I cried when His mercy blessed my life. His love found beauty in the ugly things in my life.His love is both personal and universal.I don’t know why I’m telling you about this.