My Reflections in the “Mini-Retreat”
I watched both the time-lapsed videos on how Chinese nationals built the two hospitals Huo Shen Shan火神山 and Lei Shen Shan雷神山 in 10-ish days. After watching the videos, I was very impressed and deeply touched. Coming from the construction background, I understand the challenges in constructing a building, not to mention to build a hospital in ten days.
Upon reflection, I find that I am still quite shallow in my thoughts and not mindful enough in my comfort zone. I had not done reflection deeply. I knew that many people in China made sacrifices in the process. But it did not cross my mind to think deeper than that.
In the hustle and bustle of my busy life, I have become ingrained very deeply rushing through things. I skip reading many messages. Sometimes I would say I will come back and read later, but later I would have forgotten about it. I am affected by attachment to present life comfort and ignorance. So it is timely for me to reflect deeply. Triple Gem heard my thoughts over these few weeks and sent this video to me via Sister Kwee Lain. Each time I watched it, I would tear, even when I was writing my reflections.
I am touched deeply by the courage of the ordinary people coming together to make things happen. It was indeed an amazing collective virtuous deed by the Chinese nationals whom have given me the precious opportunity to practice OMAK. The host in the video mentioned about the power of the people. When many people, many companies and individuals came forward, the impossible becomes possible!
Similarly by attending Lamrim classes and Pujas, we are also contributing in spinning the dharma wheel and letting teachings stay for a long time. I also realize that I have begun to ‘see’ the greatness of our lineage masters. This video helped me to reflect in relation to the sacrifices by our lineage masters in Dharma propagation.
It is in times like this that I really appreciate what I have:
1. Our government - for doing a great job in managing the COVID-19. So we must follow the safety measures and do our part during this circuit breaker period.
2. Our virtuous teachers - Shifu, Lao Shi老师 and Abbot Jing Yuan - for their kindness in teachings. They tirelessly remind us to listen, reflect and do virtuous deeds to clear karmic obstacles and accumulate merits to walk the Mahayana path.
In the recent Abbot Jing Yuan’s discourses, he keeps reminding us to make aspiration to generate the spirit of enlightenment in this Dharma degenerating time. He is helping us to revise the Lamrim text pertaining to the spirit of enlightenment repeatedly to plant the right cause to achieve Buddhahood. We learn that immeasurable merits will be accumulated even for just having a thought of wanting to have Bodhicitta. In the Lamrim text, Master Tsong Kha Pa says: “..in each instant you are able to easily clear away obscuration & accumulate the collections of merit & sublime wisdom. Even small virtues become extensive, & those that would otherwise be lost after a certain period of time do not end.” We are indeed grateful to receive such a compassionate personal instruction from the excellent teachers!
3. BW Monastery Sangha - for their positive encouragement and the many opportunities to partake in chanting and repentance pujas online. So we can do our part by attending whenever we can. We can also support the monastery by making online offerings which we can practice generosity too.
4. Virtuous friends - to give support to one another in the learning journey. By attending online lesson now every Sunday morning is the virtuous deed which we can do. We can support the lesson by reading texts or sharing virtuous deeds/OMAK, also not to forget to continue our Collective Virtuous Deeds of recitation. By doing all these, we are planting seed of achieving Bodhicitta. We shall treasure this approximate human life of leisure and opportunity to do more virtuous deeds to benefit self and others!
I will keep in mind that despite the arduous efforts which Buddhas, Budisattvas and our lineage masters have to go through in limitless lives, they are not afraid to come to this mundane world to teach us again and again! So let’ play our part to let the teachings remain in the world – I will do it!! 把法留下来 - 我來!!
Thank you and rejoice!
Lastly, let us not despair over the high numbers coming out but rejoice that our medical professionals are detecting the infected as fast as they can. So each and every one of us plays our part, only then as a nation we can ride out the storm as one!
Stay safe and healthy!
By Katherine Liew 19Z124E
