Monday, July 27, 2009

Selfless or selfish volunteering?

One day, TLing was talking about volunteering to clean toilets in a temple, and I commented immediately, “I don’t like cleaning. I am okay doing other things, except cleaning. I don’t want to be a cleaning volunteer.” Ah…I really am a selfish volunteer; I choose work even though I volunteer.
My memory goes back to twenty years ago, a man (I guessed he often helped in a Taoist temple) came to my god-mother's family business (business in making fabric flags, etc) to buy something for the Taoist temple. After, he was chit-chatting with my god-mother. He said he went to the general (government) hospital that morning and saw an old man on the bed, covered with excrement. It seemed like nobody cared for that patient, so he carried that patient to a wheel chair and showered him in a bathroom. Then put him in clean clothes and changed the bed sheet. After that, he smelled stinky himself, so he rushed back home to get a shower. My god-mother praised him for what he did. I praised him from my heart too, he wasn’t a volunteer from any organization there, but he was selfless to help others. This was a story from over twenty years ago; somehow I remembered it.
Although I said I am a volunteer, I try to ask myself – am I willing to help and clean the excrement of someone who is not related to me?

有一天,TLing和我說起關於在佛寺當義工清潔廁所的事,我很快的冒出一句話,我最不喜歡清潔工作,叫我做其它事都可以,我不要當清潔義工。 我真是個自私心的義工,做義工竟然要選擇工作。

我憶起廿年前,有位男中年人,我猜他是常到神廟帮忙的人,他來我契媽店家(在檳城,做布旗類的生意)買神廟用品,他與我契媽熟絡就閑聊一些事,他說早上他去政府醫院,看到一位男性老病人躺在床上有屎有尿,似乎没人理這病人,他就抱這病人坐上輪椅到沖涼房帮他清洗換衣,換床布給這病人,然後他整身臭臭趕回家沖涼。我契媽讚嘆他功德無量,我也心裡讚嘆,覺得他不是什麼團體的義工,但卻無私的助人。這故事是在廿年前,但我還能憶起。

雖然我美其名是當義工,但試問自己能自願帮非親非故的人清洗其污穢物嗎?

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Grow healthy

Four of us together went to the Mid-America Buddhist Association, we wanted to enjoy the beautiful scenery, as one of us hadn’t been there before. A venerable there was so kind and said we could take home some vegetables and fruits grown there. She said they have more than they could eat. The USA has four seasons and our area can harvest once during summer if planting the vegetables yourself. Other times, the plants cannot grow.
After we cut some vegetables, then we plucked some blackberries. It was nice plucking and eating.
The lotuses on the pond, the sunflowers, and other kinds of flowers also bloom once a year. The lotuses, sunflowers and hibiscus are huge. I asked to have some roots of lotus and water lily… to plant them in dirt and water at home.
I was glad that I have a little bodhi tree. The venerable said this little one is cut from the bodhi tree in the temple, and that bodhi tree came from India. When I got back home, we re-planted the bodhi tree in a bigger pot. I need to move it inside the house during Winter here.I hope they grow healthy.

我们四位佛友约好一起来到美中佛教会,我们的目的是带其中一佛友参观(她从未到过美中佛教会)美景,但那里的其中一位法師很亲切要我们摘一些瓜菜果回去,她说太多了他们吃不完。美国有四季,我们的地区如自种的瓜菜果只有夏季才会有收成,其它时季就不能生长了。

我们摘了瓜菜又来摘黑莓,我们边摘边吃黑莓,很有趣。

水池的荷花,太阳花及其它花类也是一年一度才开一次花。荷花、太阳花、木瑾花开得特别大。我看上荷花及睡莲,向師父要了一些根回家放在水泥生长。

我很高兴的我得到一棵小菩提树,師父说这小菩提树是从那置在寺内的菩提树取下一段栽长,那颗菩提树是原自印度。回家后将这棵菩提树移置大盆,冬天时一定要搬进家里面。

希望它们健康生长。

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Demolish the children pureness?

When we visited Uros (the Floating Islands) in Peru, the tour guide introduced us to the people living on the islands. After that he told us not to give candy to the kids, as the dentist is far away on the shore and is expensive for the people there. I just realized that I had wrong thoughts before. We thought to give some candy to the children who live in the rural area when we visited poor countries; we thought it was bringing happiness to the children. Perhaps those children have a temporary happiness, but they might have to pay it back with tooth pain. Or, we bring something like pencils to the children, but it might further their greediness. I was met by kids who came toward me and asked for something. So, I have doubts, whether our things will make them happy or demolish their pureness?

Monday, July 13, 2009

RM140 for a durian

June and July are durian season. It is common for Malaysians to eat durian that have ripened and dropped from the trees. But some Thailand durians are cut from the trees before ripe, and they freeze the durian in its shell and export it to the USA. I often see this kind of frozen durian, for US$2 to $3/lb, in the Asian grocery stores. I have bought frozen Thailand durian without the shell, but the taste is not good compared to the good durian in Malaysia. However, occasionally I just need a little to fulfill my desire for durian.

Yesterday, I was surprised to see fresh Thailand durians (with shell) in the Asian grocery store; the price was US$7.99/lb. There were only three on the shelf. I held them one by one to have a closer smell, and I found they didn’t have a strong smell. I wondered what the weight was with the shell and struggled whether to buy it or not. Steve knows I love durian, so he was encouraging me. I chose one of them. We took some other things and came to the cashier. When the durian weight x price was scanned and showed on the cash machine screen, 4.95 lb @ $7.99/lb - $39.55 (before tax). I opened my big eyes and said, “Ah… can I cancel this item?” The cashier quite understood and said, “Yes. There are frozen durian that not so expensive.” I said I know, but thought to try this fresh durian, but I didn’t know it costs so much. I gave up.

I think for a good Malaysia durian about that weight, I might pay about RM20 (about US$6). US$40 (about RM 140) for a durian is too expensive to me!

6月、7月份是榴槤的季节,马来西亚人吃从树上掉下来的熟榴槤是常理,而泰国的榴槤未熟就砍下来卖的也有,所以泰国榴槤带壳冰冻运出口到美国,我就很常见这类冰冻榴槤在亚洲华人店,USD2USD3/磅。我曾买过的是无壳冰冻泰国榴槤,味道当然比不上马来西亚的好榴槤,不过偶尔满足一点爱吃榴槤的口欲。

昨天我在亚洲华人店喜见有泰国的新鲜榴槤(整粒带壳的),价钱是USD7.99/磅,只有三粒在那架子,我提起一粒又一粒嗅了嗅,没有很浓的榴槤味,心里在估计着一粒有壳的榴槤有多重、挣扎要买不买。Steve知道我喜爱榴槤,鼓励我要,我选了一粒。我们拿了一些要买的东西来到收银员,当榴槤重量x价钱扫描出现在收银机的营幕是4.95 lb @ $7.99/lb - $39.55(还未加税)。我张大眼说,…$39.55,可以cancel不要吗?收银员很理解的说,可以。有冰冻的榴槤,没有这么贵。我说我知道但我想试买新鲜的,想不到要这么多钱,还是不要算了。

马来西亚好的榴槤约此重量的,我想20马币(约6美元)就可以买到吧。40美元(约140马币)的榴槤,太贵了吧!

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Relaxed people

July 4 is the USA’s Independence Day. A lot of places have their individual celebrations with big or small events. Our area, Florissant Valley, also has a small celebration with a band and fireworks. We knew that the band would start at 7.30pm, with the fireworks after that, so at 7.25pm we walked from our house to there, about 25 minutes. We saw many people already sitting in their own chairs around the field, not all of them crowded in front the band. They were just waiting to see the fireworks; I think they are very relaxed. We did not know the time for the fireworks, and I felt a little impatient even though I was relaxed. We all waited until 9.30pm. I was thinking I wouldn’t have wasted time waiting there if I had known it started so late. And I was also thinking those relaxed people wouldn’t have thought the same as me.

Ah…the fireworks were laughing loudly at me…
74日是美国国庆日,各地区各有大小的庆祝。我们住的Florissant小村也有小庆祝,歌乐队及燃放烟花。歌乐队是7.30pm开始,烟花在最后。我们在7.25pm从家走到这小村中心约25分钟,我们看到已有很多人带着自己的椅子坐在广场,有些还有食物,就像picnic一样,真不懂他们是几点已来到这,也不是全都聚在歌乐队前,纯粹就是只等看烟花,我想他们都是悠闲的人吧。我们不知几点才燃放烟花,结果我这悠闲的人有点不耐烦的和大家一起等到9.30pm。我的心想,若知道是这么晚,何必浪费时间在那儿等。我也心想那些悠闲的人肯定跟我的想法不一样。
烟花在大声轰笑着我

Monday, July 6, 2009

Unconditional love

I am always wondering if there is really unconditional love between husband and wife - not having any expectations of each other?

I have tried several times to advise him to reduce soda, chocolate, cookies, and those fatty foods. Sometimes he replies, “I know.” Nevertheless, he still has those foods. I just felt very frustrated. Wasn’t it that I expected him to listen to me? Why do I have this expectation? Is it because I love him? Why do I want him to listen to me and to change? Is it because I am afraid for his health and I don’t want to face any worries, stress or other things? Ah, in fact, this is selfish love. Frankly, I love myself more than I love him!
One day I was sick and I felt very weak, Steve said he wanted to wash the dishes. I was so appreciative of him. That’s why I didn’t ask him to do it, but he spontaneously did it. We were both very pleased. The next day, I saw a little dirt on the stove when I was cooking something. I did a little blaming, “You didn’t clean the stove when you washed the dishes?” He responded yeah he forgot to do that. Immediately, I realized my expectation came up – I expected him to clean the stove!

Recalling the days since we got married over two years ago, did Steve have any expectations of me? I can’t find any one? He loves me with his unconditional love. I felt very ashamed, I need to learn!

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