We are the most not environmental friendly dudes~

I came across this little quote from Sin Chew Daily few days ago. I felt that it is really meaningful and I snapped it with my camera. I wished to share with people around, especially those who read my blog. Here it goes.

Let me translate it in English before I write more on my own thought on these quotes.
When we get our birth certificate, we started our life;
When we get our graduation certificate, it’s the starting point of our working life;
When we get our marriage certificate, it’s the starting point of our suffering life;
When we have the confirmation letter of becoming a government servant, it is the starting point of working hard;
A piece of money, suffering for whole life;
A piece of death certificate, it signifies the end of our life.
Well, I am not good in translation. So, it might be a little bit hard to understand.
However, I really think that these quotes really meaningful. All our life, we go for papers. Certificates are papers, bank notes are papers, memorials are papers and letters are papers. Even death certificate is a piece of paper as well. So, let’s see, how many papers we have in our life? I just went to a scholarship interview; I took out all certificates I gained since I was in primary schools. Wow...It was too many certificates I have. Err...I am not trying to show off, but I never thought of I have collected so many certificates. I still remember when I was in my schooling age, I tried my very best to earn all these certificates. Why I wanted these certificates so much? Nothing much, I guess every students have the same answer as what I had. It is just to earn a better chance to further my study in tertiary education. These certificates were the jewels in my life when I was in secondary school. I tried my best in every competition I participated so that I managed to win a better placement and at the same time, I have “prettier” certificate to be filed in my academic achievement. It’s the only dream of mine when I was in secondary school.
Now, when I looked at these certificates, I don’t really know why I have to earn so many certificates. Many of them were useless for me now. They were just like a piece of wasted paper for me. Yet, I have to keep them for a better chance in my future. When I read these quotes from the newspaper, I found that it is really great! All our life, we really go for PAPERS. Nothing, just papers. These papers are useless at the end when we pass away. Will we bring them along? No. We won’t. These papers are useless, yet our government had made it so important. WHY? Why shall we become the most not environmental friendly people in the world? I am not sure. I am yet to search for the answer.

I am back after months

I have left this little world for months, and now, I am back to update what happened in my life for these few months. First of all, I was away from this little world of mine because I was too busy with my works and thesis. Thesis was killing me. Not because it was hard to write, but because of my laziness. However, I managed to finish it and at last, I gained an A- for it. I was surprise though. haha
Next, I was busy with my final examination. Even though this time I had only three subjects to be tested on, I was quite nervous for it. Everything went on smoothly and my holiday for my 3rd year 2nd Semester officially started on 13 May, the black Friday. Yeah! Holiday again!
My pack and busy holiday started from 20th May,2011. I went to Taiping Buddhist Association for a 9 days camp. It is known as the Inter-varsity Buddhist Youth Camp. Here, I met with 200+ Buddhist youths from all over Malaysia. This is my second time joining this camp. Here, I learned a lot of the teachings from our Lord Buddha, which is the great knowledge of world and the truth of this samsaric world. Besides, I got to know a lot of friends from different university and different states. They are my kalyana mitra who guided me and accompany me to walk through the Dhamma path. Thanks to these kalyana mitra.

My group members during the camp. They are great and we worked together happily. Special thanks to my mentors, Guo Jue and Sin Yi, they guided us well. Thanks. oh ya,that's the mind map we drew during the last day. It was simple yet complete. haha...

Our group presentation. I am one of the speakers..hehe...

After 9days, I am back in Teluk Intan for another camp on 29th May,2011. It is a youth camp in Persatuan Buddhist Hilir Perak (PBHP). I was the camp leader for this camp and this is the second time i hold the post as camp leader, yet I was very nervous and worry as well. Luckily, I have a bunch of kalyana mitra supporting me and I have a group of great committees back-up me whenever i needed.

The group photo taken while we waiting for the photographer and promoting the 50th anniversary of PBUM. Our beloved Sis.Hea said I have to pay her RM 5 per head for promotion fees. haha...
This is a very special camp for me. There were a lot of "old" participants whom joined us since they were very young. However, they changed to be very obedient this year, no more hyperactive which I expected when I went through the name list. I was shocked during the first day. I thought they were just not used to the environment yet, but this condition continue till the end of the camp with slight changes. They were too cool I shall say, cool until gave no respond to us when we asked them questions. Not even answer with a simple nodding. Is this due to the youths had used to facebook, twitter and MSN? That's why they couldn't give a verbal respond? I had a joke with my friend, Yen Yee that we shall organise a facebook camp next time where everyone will bring a long their laptop and we will camp via facebook.
I was glad that I managed to invite a very cute and hilarious reverend who came from Kuala Kubu Baru, a place where I served as NS Dhamma speaker. Rev. Chan Sheng is really great where he hold on to some traditional practices yet he managed to mingle with those youths with the latest jokes. There were many "banana" who didn't really understand Chinese participated in this camp, Rev.Chan Sheng had to translate his talk into English and sometimes Malay. This had added some spices into the classroom.

My cute little reverend. Rev.Chan Sheng. Thanks to reverend for sharing the best knowledge with us and gave me a great chance to learn how to organise a Buddhist camp by holding to the traditional yet can be very "in" at the same time.
In this camp again, I met with this cute little boy,Ki Lim. He was the best participant last year. Due to his great improvement in the camp, he had gave me a great hope that youths nowadays really can be taught and changed. He was quite stubborn and labeled as bad guy in school, some teachers even labeled him as gangster due to his bad attitude. However, last year, his mother forced him to join us and it was lucky that I went to his father's barbershop and have my haircut before camp. From there, i knew more about this little boy and I had made up my mind to try my best to change him become a good guy at the end of the camp. We managed to do it last year. I had feedback from his parents that he became better after the camp and left the gangster group. This is what we want, to educate them become better. Yes, we did it.

This is the guy I mentioned. He is the great success I had in my dhammaduta life. He changed my perspective on "bad" guy. He touched my heart. His great changes after camp really make me happy.
Right after the camp, it was my best friend, Kee Kooi Ling's wedding. I was assigned as the Master of Ceremony in her wedding. This was the second time I become the MC of Buddhist Wedding Ceremony, yet I was very very very very very nervous. Why? Because this time is really different where Kooi Ling had invited many friends and Reverend Xian Qi to attend to the ceremony. It was a grand wedding ceremony. Luckily, I have my best "er jie', the English MC of the wedding, accompanied me throughout the process. We were the best partner I shall say. Haha...It was great to see my best friend stepped into her new cycle of life, with the guy she love and love her much. It was great and blessed to attend to her wedding. I hope to have a Buddhist wedding ceremony too. It was just great to have Triple Gems to bless my new family. When is my turn? 3 years later? Who knows? haha...

Photo taken with the bride and groom as well as a big gang of friends. This group of Buddhist friends are my kalyana mitra since my secondary school till now.

10 siblings with guma and gu jiong, da ge and si jie were not in the picture.

The 2 MCs with bride and groom.

Hmm..what happen next during my holiday? The next interesting thing would be the camp we organised in Sabak Bernam. This is a very special camp where Miao Xi PBUM as the co-organisor, and Sabak Bernam Youth as the main organisor. This was the first time we went there and most of the youths there were very excited, waiting for us. I took up the responsibility to sing one song during the Buddhist Hymns Sharing on 18th June,2011 night and teach one song with action during that session as well. It was a great experience where many old Boddhisatva join us in the song with action session though the song was a children hymns. I was touched when I stood in front and saw them dancing with me. It was great!
The next day, 19th June,2011 was a one day camp for youth there. The reported themselves early in the morning. However, before that, the organizing committees were too great and kind where they woke up at 5am and reached Buddhist association and prepared our breakfast. Thanks to them very much. They were really caring and great.

This group of cute little organizing committee woke up early in the morning, just to prepare our breakfast. Love them. They were really awesome and fully committed to Buddhist activity. They will be great Dhammaduta workers in the future if they are well-trained and exposed to Buddhism.

In this camp, I was one of the speakers of the main topic. I had a partner, Trista, a cute and quiet girl but she was full of idea and she put in all her effort in preparing the talk. I was glad to guide her and I believed that she will be one of the best Dhamma speakers one day if great training is given to her. Our talk went on smoothly with great comment. I found that I gained more confident and delivered what I planned to talk more deliberately and more steady. I managed to catch their attention and they listened to me happily. It was a great achievement I had and it was also due to the experience I have during the youth camp in PBHP. Dealing with youths isn't that hard, but you need to treat them with your full heart. They will only listen to you when you have the passion. I guess I know how to deal with my students during my practical which is coming soon. I guess I can conquer them, those monkeys, because I am monkey queen. haha...

The only picture taken while I was giving talk,

My best partner, Trista.

The cutest camp participants, organizing committees and us, from PBUM.

I went back to KL and went for a scholarship interview in Wisma Jerneh. I wished I could get a full grant scholarship to help me during my final year and cut down the economic stress on my mom. Hope I did well in my interview, I think I did well. Haha...after the interview, went out dating with my dear, Pangwenn. It has been a long time we never visit to Times Square. We had a great day that day. We had Sushi King as our lunch. Our first time having sushi together.

photo taken during lunch. hehe...

During this lovely day, it's really great. With your accompaniment, I love the feeling being with you. Thanks my dear.

Sharing is caring

Sharing is caring; this phrase always comes to my mind. I always ask myself, what can I share with other people? Sharing materials such as food, money, clothes and so on is more than enough? I think we should share more than that.

I was lucky enough that I have the chance to join Dhamma Speakers Training Programme by PBUM when I was first year. After two years of training in this group, I am better-equipped with Dhamma-based knowledge and those little techniques to become a good Dhamma speaker. There are many chances which I have missed out previously. Anyhow, now I am appreciating every chance I have to share what I know with others. I guess, this is the best action I can carry out for the moment and it is the best way to share with others.

During 9th February, 2011, I had my first complete individual Dhamma sharing class with National Service (NS) participants. I ranked it as the best sharing that I ever have since I attended the training programme two years ago. Though there were errors and time where I paused during the process of delivering my talk, I was satisfied with it. It is always great to share what I know with others, especially sharing dhamma which is the teaching of the Lord Buddha which will help others to achieve nibbana.

The topic given to me to share in the National Service religious class was the four great elements which we have to appreciate in our life. What are the four elements? They are: our parents, our country, all beings around us and Triple Gems. Why do we have to appreciate these four elements in our life? Once I finish plan the talk and wrote the lesson plan of it, I tried my best to link it with our daily life. Until the last minute, I was still figuring out how to relate it with daily life. At the end, I chose to use many nice video downloaded from the internet. It was great and it created great impact on those National Service participants. I am not pretty sure whether they understood what I have delivered, from their facial expression, I could see that they understand most of the message I want to deliver. I felt happy at the end of the day. That’s the joy of sharing and it is also the reason why I chose to join this Dhamma Speakers’ Training Programme during my first year in University of Malaya.

It was great to share with others. After the talk, I realized that “sharing is caring” is really worked. We share because we care and it is the greatest happiness which material could not make it.

A Brand New Year

A brand new year, a brand new start. What are my resolutions during this brand new year? I have set some of it. Lets see...

1. Slim down at least 5kg during this year.
2. Improve more on my English speaking and Grammar.
3. Try to earn some money myself.
4. Take care of my own health.
5. Improve my own Buddhism knowledge and gain more experience through giving talks.
6. Manage my time well.
7. Go for a trip.
8. Take care of my family and friends.
9. Organize some camps.
10. Read more books.

I guess above are my resolutions. Hope I can achieve them. Go GO KAI CHUR!!!!

Meaningful Things That I have done During My Study Break

Though it seems like I have wasted my study weeks (3 weeks), I still can find some interesting and meaningful things that I have done during my time at home.

1. Accompany my family
- It is always great to accompany family all the time. I love the time being with my family. The best place to go would be my home sweet home. Being the best cook at home is my main job. I cook lunch for my family. So happy. At least I learned something new.hoho...

2. Attending Dhama talk
- I have attended a great Dhama talk by a Rev. from Taiwan, Rev. Jian Hui. Rev. Jian Hui is really a great speaker. She has a lot of experience to deal with youngsters. I have a short discussion session with Rev. to discuss on the attitude of youngsters nowadays. It's truth that youngsters after 1990s have different attitude compare to us. Their courage to work towards a target and the determination they have do not same as what we have. Their attitude towards learning and towards practicing dharma are both worse than us. But as dhamaduta worker, I have to do something to change their attitude. If we give up to educate them, who is going to educate them? Hope my courage and determination will continue until the end.

3. Meet with friends
- Meeting with old friends always great. Especially meeting with those best friends who know me well. The best things I have during this break would be knowing my best friend, Siew Ling, finally got her KDC application success. Wow..finally, almost three years she applied. I really glad to know that and luckily that I was there to farewell with her. Next would be accompanying my good friend, Kevin while he waiting for his new job to start. Though what we planned all gone at last, at least we watched a great movie, Unstoppable, before i come back from teluk Intan. Thanks for giving me great hopes and nice movie. The best things would be going to meet my dear..haha..

4. meeting my students.
- I have not met with my students for almost 2 years. They are graduating from primary school. Glad that they have great talent and perform well in their graduation ceremony. The happiest thing is they still remember me. But, they are not so close to me. But it is normal as we have not meet each other for 2 years. Well, my best wishes to you all too..


Though study nothing, I am happy to have my study break at home. Sending my blessings to my best friend, and those DYC committees who are going to organize camp.

Unstoppable

Just watched the movie, Unstoppable, in BIG cinema Teluk Intan. I went there with a good friend. This movie was recommended by my best buddy in Facebook. I watched the trailer before too. I was amazed by the story line of the movie. So, decided to watch it as my plan to beach spoil.

I won’t write in detail about the story. It would become the synopsis of it if I do so. I chose to share my feeling after watching this movie. The train, 777, with no driver on it moved along the main track was the main character I shall say.

Everything was focusing on it and it carried out the message of the story.
What is unstoppable actually? For me, I felt that the love from family will not stop no matter what we face and no matter how we are. Just like Will, though his relation with his wife was broken, his courage and his love towards family supported him to the end. He was such a hero when he tried to lock the hook manually. I was touched when he managed to climb up after injured his right leg. His great determination and strong will to survive in order to see his family made him went through all those obstacles. I always believe. The other scene which touched me was when Frank called his daughters and told them he love them. It reminded me on my father. I could not even listen to his voice before he went to a place far away from us. This scene went deep into my heart. It is the deepest part of my heart.

If you have watched this movie, could you recall the moment when the train almost reached the deadly turn? I really respect Frank. His steadiness and his bravery as well as his calmness really impressed me. We could see that sometime experience may help than those theories we learned in school. That is why I always support problem-based learning method to be used in classroom. However, some misused this method in learning process as the merit system which emphasize on the results more than the process. This will definitely lead to students copy and paste what senior had done in order to score well in academic. But, do the aims achieved at the end?
When Will and Frank managed to stop down the train and everyone was running towards them, shouting hooray, as if they were the best hero of all, I shed my tears of joy. The joy of their bravery gained successes in the end. Besides, there was also joy of family gather together and broke the ice berg between them. The love and the support from the family is the greatest courage for a person to go further. It is true and it always a truth.

Unstoppable, what is unstoppable? Love, family and courage are the unstoppable elements in our live.

Where is my heart?

Yesterday, I attended a talk by Rev. Jian Hui from Taiwan at PBHP. It was such an inspiring talk I have attended this few months. However, I felt sad that there were all elderly people who attended to the talk. There were only three youngsters, which are my sister, me and kooiling. It's a sad case and as a dhammaduta worker, I really hope I can do something to change the situation. I knew that it is a good talk, I have tried to share with my friends, yet there were no one attending.

Rev. asked us some mind-opening questions which triggered me to think further on what I have learned so far. The first question she asked was “who is Buddha?”. I tried to answer in my mind. Yet, I was unsure with my answer. Buddha is the enlightened one who knows the truth of this samsana. Is this the answer of it? I not really sure with it. The second question which amazed me was “where is your heart?”. This question really made me to think deeper. Where is my heart? Is it on the left-hand side of my chest or is it equivalent to my mind? When we said we are heart-broken, which heart was broken? So, where exactly is my heart? Some will say that when we live life to the fullest and pay attention on everything we have in our live, there our hearts are. However, does this the best answer to the question? I still do not satisfy with the answer. There was a kalyana mitra shared with me that we shall learn to appreciate things around us and appreciate the present. When we can do so, our heart is just around us. Does it make sense? It sounds right but it might be not as well. I still haven’t got a satisfied answer for this question. When and where can I search the answer?

In the later part of the talk, Rev. reminded me on I did not carry out the duty as a Buddhist fully after I came back from the All Buddhist Youth Camp in Taiping months ago. I took refuge to the Triple Gem during that camp. I dare not vowed to follow the five precepts as I did not have the courage to do so. I was still afraid that I can’t follow what I have learned 100%. Nevertheless, Rev. did remind me on it is due to I am afraid or I have no courage to do so. I always encourage my juniors to attend dhamma class in university but I did not attend once. It was really wrong. I had made a little promise in my heart that I will put my effort on learning meditation, but did not do it. I was going backward in the process of learning dhamma. It should not be like that. I must move forward from now onwards. I have to take my initiative to learn more and practice dharma in my daily live. Dhamma is such a simple knowledge when we apply it into our daily lives. Yet it needs a great encouragement and determination to do so. I have to start to do this a little by little from now on.

I am going to attend another class tonight. It would be great if I manage to attend five sessions. I can make it. Oh YeS!!