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Valentine’s Day Kindness
I was sick on Valentine’s day (had been sick for almost three weeks) and had an appointment to be seen at Kaiser’s urgent care department. The receptionist in urgent care was quite busy with many people coming in with various complaints. She was very pleasant and helpful. I saw the doctor and after his examination and listening to my breathing, he sent me down the hall to get a chest x-ray. He didn’t think I had pneumonia, but wanted to be sure. As I got my chest x-ray, I thought about it being Valentine’s day and how these people were working to make sure people like me were being cared…
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Helping to Build a Temple
This weekend I stayed at the place of a Dharma-friend and helped her with the building of a Tibetan Buddhist Temple in The Hague (Den Haag): Rabten Jigme Ling.May All Beings be Happy!
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Transporting Sunshine
I have been called on a few times to take some elders to the Buddhist temple, Gold Sage Monastery in San Jose. The elders that I transport are the most appreciative people in the world. They say “Thank you” and “Amitabha” many times when they are getting into the car, after they take seats in the car, during the time they are in the car, and when they are getting out of the car. When they get off the car, they wave “Thank you” and “Abmitabha” so many times, till they bathe me completely in the abundance of sunshine, till I am completely speechless, and till I say again and…
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Washing a Neighbor’s Car Windows in Winter
It is just barely above freezing, but my car’s windows are very dirty, covered with salty splash from the roads up here in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It’s 10pm, and I’m out washing my windows of my car with vinegar and water and newspaper… so that I can see out and drive safely the next day.The car next to mine is almost as bad as mine. It was a Mercedez-Benz… one of the nicer cars in our condominium’s parking lot. I felt a twinge of envy.Since many people do not have time to wash their car windows, and just struggle by, and I had the time and the equipment on hand,…
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The Little Things
While seated at a restaurant, I heard a lady at the table behind me begin to cry loudly. She was with two small children and apparently did not have enough cash to cover her bill. It was quite obvious that she was highly upset and embarassed.Her children began to cry upon seeing their mothers tears. The managements response to her situation was less than understanding. I could also see their point though. I offered to pay the debt (a nominal sum) and she accpeted.She offered to send me the money but instead I asked that she help someone else out if she found herself able to. She said that she…
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In Kind
Living in a rural area where resources are perceived to be limited, i reach into my inner abundance and share across generations with positive energy, goodness and mercy. In Kind is a concept I best exemplify and celebrate many times, every day, and it makes my heart glad to make a difference in this world.
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Sharing the Garden
Working very hard last year I created an organic garden. When the vegetables began to grow and produce the new neighbor took notice and marveled at how wonderful it looked. It soon became apparent that this bountiful garden harvest needed to be shared. I gathered together swiss chard, zucchini, cucumbers and tomatoes and took them to his front door. He was a new neighbor who lived by himself. He was very appreciative of this gesture.
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Free Wheeling
I recently donated the cost of a new wheelchair to the Wheelchair Foundation. It’s some thing I’ve wanted to do since I was injured and (after a period of recovery) experienced the great relief of being able to, with the help of a wheelchair, move my own body again. It makes me extremely glad to be able to give that experience to another person.
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The Water Bill
One day in the mail I received a disconnect notice from the water utility. It said that if the stated amount was not paid immediately, the water would be turned off. It was a notice that should have gone to my nextdoor neighbors. My neighbors are a loving, open-hearted family with 5 kids and not very much money. I paid the bill. I would do it again for the priveledge of knowing this family.
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giving a ride
On the final evening of a qigong seminar weekend in east Melbourne, I was ready to drive home which was about 1hr 15 min away. A woman was asking the number to phone a taxi so that she could get a ride to the train station and catch a train to the city. It was very cold and rainy night.I told her that I would drive her to the city. My home was actually in other direction, but I didn’t want the woman to be waiting in the cold.I drove her into the city, while I had a chant of ‘Namo Quan Shr Yin Pusa’ playing in my car. When…