Trees getting makeup

Spring slowly paints Trees with a brush

Yellow

Light pink

Violet red

Light magenta

White also

Green, don’t hurry

Trees have been standing lonely for a season

Waiting to get makeup

Dressed up beautifully

Ready to greet the lovers

Life extension

In medical science, there are many cases when an organ is transplanted to a patient. However, there is a risk that the patient’s body might reject it and lose their life. Do you know that nowadays medical science is so advanced that they can take your cells and plant them on a ‘mould organ’ and grow it using machines for several weeks, then transplant the new organ to you once it is functional, and extend your life?

A few days ago, on a famous show called ‘Oprah’, they had a show with Dr. Oz talking about Extreme Life Extension. Dr. Oz talked about the latest high-tech breakthroughs in medical science. He interviewed the researchers at the organ transplant lab. He briefed the process of growing the organ to transplant. Dr. Oz also introduced a guest who lost part of his finger and couldn’t find the missing piece. He had used a powder developed by medical science and grew a new, functioning half finger. He said that finger was younger than the other fingers and the nail on that finger grows faster than his other fingernails.

Wow…isn’t it amazing? We know that lizards can re-grow a lost tail. People can also grow a lost part huh!

Let’s imagine, if the mystery of living forever wasn’t a mystery anymore…. Do you want to live forever? How would the world be if the population keeps growing more and more?

在醫學上已有多項器官移植到病人身上的例子，但其風險是接受者可能会排斥而失去生命。你可知道現在醫學進步到可用‘模形器官’，然後抽取用自己的細胞出来培植在該模形器官上，用機器培植，幾个星期成熟後即已有功能就可將新的器官移植给自己，延長生命？

前幾天美國著名的Oprah節目與Dr. Oz訪談關於 Extreme Life Extension（我翻譯為: 廷續生命極限）。Dr. Oz介紹了近日高科技的醫學突破，他錄影到該培植器官醫所及他大略講讲解醫務如何進行培植器官。Dr. Oz也介紹一位嘉賓的一根手指，他的手指因故段了半截，但找不回段截駁接回他的手指，他用了醫學研發的粉狀物，成功生長出活動自如新的另半截手指，他說這手指比其它手指年輕，而且這手指甲長得比其它的指甲快長。

嘩..是不是很驚奇？我们知道壁虎能長回段的尾巴，人也能長回段肢咯！

想像一下，長生不老的奇蹟不久就不是奇蹟了… 你會要長生不老嗎？人越来越多，會是怎樣的世界？

Just do it

It is easy to say, “Just do it!” However, we need to do the right thing. But sometimes, even though you think you are doing the right thing, some people might disagree or discourage or suspect you. That might trigger your emotion and thought. Let’s take one of my experiences:

I used to go hiking short distances; it was one of my activities in Penang on weekends. Sometimes, if I saw a plastic bag on the trail side, I would pick it up and it became a trash bag. As I was walking down the hill, I would pick up others trash along the trail. Usually I had about two or three trash bags with me by the time I reached a trash bin at the grounds area. Once, I saw some rubbish along the trail side close to a rest hut. I was picking it up as a group of people going down the trail passed by. One guy said to me in Hokkien, “You are from MPPP (short form of Penang City Council, but here people are kidding that you are a street cleaner) huh.” I sensed his teasing and I felt a little unhappy, so I didn’t respond to him. One of them said to him, “Don’t say things like that to people.” They left and I continued to pick up rubbish. It was just two or three minutes later, when a lady was going up the trail. She passed by me, and said to me in English, “You are great.” I was smiling in response to her. She was going, and I was continuing to pick up rubbish. As I was going down, if I saw rubbish along the trail I picked it up too. Someone saw I was holding the bags and picking up rubbish and asked me, “What do you do with the trash?” I responded, “Put it in the bin at the grounds area.”

I simply just did a thing, but I heard many voices…. And my emotions and responses changed.

“做就對了！” 這句話說得容易，但卻是要做對的事。有時你即使覺得你做了對的事，也會有人不讚同或嘲諷或懷疑你，舉個我自己的例子﹕

我曾在檳城某處的短程爬山，那時是列常的休閒活動之一，我下山時若看到有膠袋棄丟在山路旁，我就拾那膠袋把它當垃圾袋，一路回程就拾起路旁的垃圾，到山腳下的垃圾桶時，我手提著的已是兩、三個裝滿垃圾的袋。有一次，在靠近山路途的一休息站附近有不少的垃圾，我在拾起著，一群人走過要下山去，一位男性用福建話對着我說，“你是MPPP（檳城市政局簡稱，但這里是取笑你為清潔工人）的人啊。” 我感受到他的揶揄，我有點不高興也不去理會回應他，他身邊的另一人說他，“不要這麼說人啦。” 他們繼續走了，我繼續拾垃圾。就過了两、三分鐘，有一位女性走上山來了，經過看到我，用英語對着我說，“You are great（你很棒）！” 我微笑回應她。她繼續走了，我繼續拾垃圾。然後我一路走下山看到垃圾就拾，有一人看到我手提垃圾袋拾拉圾，問我說，“你將垃圾拿去那里？” 我回應說，“丟進山腳下的垃圾桶。”

我簡單只是做一件事，竟會听到很多聲音，我的情緒也跟着變換應對。

Medical insurance

A few days ago, I took a little roll of bread Steve made from the freezer. I thought to cut it into three slices and bake it for my breakfast. The bread was frozen and hard. I managed to slice it once, and while my right hand was holding the knife trying to cut the second slice, the bread skipped out of the way, but the knife cut into my left forefinger. So, it was bleeding fast. I called Steve, he came back home to take me to the ER at the hospital. I was kidding and blamed Steve for making such a hard kind of bread when the registration staff asked the cause of my injury! The wound was not long but a little deep, so the doctor gave me four stitches. He did it in less than half an hour, but we were waiting there quite long. We arrived there about 10.50am and it was 1.50pm when we finally got out.

I wondered why we had to go to the hospital ER even just a little injury? If in Malaysia, we would go to a clinic. Here, the medical procedure is a little different. We need to have an appointment with the doctor. As we have medical insurance, we pay US$10 for every doctor visit, but US$50 to go to a hospital ER.

In the USA, the fees are expensive for people who don’t have medical insurance. How expensive? I don’t know. I knew a Taiwanese person who went back to Taiwan to seek medical help, as she doesn’t have medical insurance…

I wish all of us are healthy always!

几天前，我从冰箱拿出一粒Steve做的小面包，准备切成三片放进烘炉做早餐。刚从冰箱拿出的面包已冻硬，我拿着刀切了一片，要切第二片时，右手用力将刀切下，面包溜开，刀却向我的左手食指切下，血很快就流着。我打了电话给Steve，他回来带我去医院急诊处（ER）。在登记人员记录我的伤口原因时，我开玩笑说都怪Steve的面包做得太硬！我的伤口不大却有点深，医生给我缝四针。缝针的时间不到半小时，但等的时间却很长，约10.50am到医院，出来时已是1.50pm。

我好奇为什么这点小伤要去医院急诊处，如在马来西亞不是去诊所就可以了吗？这里的医疗程序是有点不同，看门诊的各科医生，须预约，我们医疗有保险公司的，每次看门诊医生，付费是US$10。而医院急诊的付费是US$50。

在美国如果没有医疗保险，即说费用是很贵的，有多贵？我不知道，我知道有台湾人没有医疗保险只好回台湾医病…

最好是大家健健康康！

Angel and Devil's private lives

Angel and Devil each have their own jobs; they are very busy. Nevertheless, there is no compatibility between Angel and Devil, always squarely opposed on an issue in an argument; both sides criticizing each other. If one of them knew the other has some small bad issues, surely they would make public the other party’s bad things to Souls who are in heaven and hell. Absolutely, all Souls knew that Angel and Devil often goof off, not focused on their jobs, but spend time pulling the scabs right off from each other. Sometimes Souls complain how Angel and Devil have high ranking jobs and salary, but they don’t service well the communities in heaven and hell. However, sometimes Souls like to hear these kinds of reports, so they will discuss, comment or gossip about these matters.

On the other side, in fact, Angel and Devil are stressed. Even though in their private lives, they are scared that the other party might explore something by hidden camera. That would be terrible. The reality is…

Every time before Angel has a shower; Angel needs to check all places in the bathroom to make sure there are no hidden cameras. After checking, then Angel feels safe to take off the fake wings which Angel actually got through several other Souls – a Soul bought it from another Soul, who bought it from a toy store. Angel is proud and looks in the mirror with a sinister smile, “who will know I am an Angel with no wings and can’t fly!”

Every time before Devil brushes his teeth; Devil needs to check all places in the bathroom to make sure there are no hidden cameras. After checking, then Devil feels safe to take off the fake fangs, which Devil actually got through several other Souls – a Soul bought it from another Soul, who bought it from a dentist. Devil is proud and looks in the mirror with a foolish smile, “who will know I am a Devil with no fangs and can’t suck blood!

天使和魔鬼都各有自己的職務，忙得很，但天使和魔鬼一直以來都勢不兩立，時常針鋒相對，互相批評指責對方，只要抓到對方一點點毛病，誓必把對方的醜事公告於天界地界的靈魂們知曉不可。所有天界地界的靈魂都知道天使和魔鬼時常‘吃蛇’ ，正務事不做，卻花時間去互揭瘡疤。靈魂們有時候抱怨為何天使和魔鬼享有高薪權位卻没好好為天界地界服務，但有時候又樂得有新聞聽也加入說三道四，議論紛紛。

而這邊廂，其實天使和魔鬼是很壓力的，即使自己的私生活，也很怕被對方偷拍到那可不得了。原来…

天使每次要洗澡都必須檢查每處的浴室，確定没偷拍器後，才安心脱下那暗中托傳了幾位靈魂從玩具店購買的假翅膀，得意向鏡中的自己奸笑，有誰知道我是没有翅膀不能飛的天使！

魔鬼每次要刷牙都必須檢查每處的浴室，確定没偷拍器後，才安心脱下那暗中托傳了幾位靈魂從牙醫所制做的假尖牙，得意向鏡中的自己傻笑，有誰知道我是没有尖牙不吸血的魔鬼！

Mardi Gras in St. Louis

The temperature was 32F (0C), so we were struggling whether or not to go out to see the Mardi Gras parade. I was curious about Mardi Gras, so we decided to go downtown to see it.

Mardi Gras is French, meaning ‘Fat Tuesday’. This is a carnival celebration with alcohol, people dressed in different kinds of costume in a parade, throwing out beads to the crowd. You see, we got a lot. Ah, my hands and feet were freezing...

天气是32F（0C），我们犹豫着要不要出外去看Mardi Gras游行。我对Mardi Gras这西方人的玩意有点好奇，所以决定到市中心看看热闹去。Mardi Gras是法语，这是一个庆祝活动，通常是狂欢喝酒，有化妆游行，他们也会丢出珠子项链给群众。你看，我们拿到很多。啊，我的手脚都冷到麻冻…

'Crash'

Recently, we watched the DVD ‘Crash’, which won 3 Academy Awards, including Best Picture in 2005. The film content is about the gray area between different races, the characters struggling and subjective problems from races colliding. However, the reality of their wrong behaviors is because they were filled with anger, hatred, worries, fear, loss, etc. Basically, these are not really caused by race issues.

’ll mention one of the points expressed in the film – a white cop’s father is sick and he is seeking approval from insurance for medicine, but the staff, a black lady, denied his request. So, he was angry and spoke roughly to this black lady. He was then filled with anger when he went on duty and stopped a car with a black couple. The black wife said something that angered him, so he purposely checked their whole body. The black husband endured seeing this cop touching his wife’s private parts. After that, his wife was very sad and angry because he didn’t do anything and he even apologized to that cop. The next day, she went to her husband’s office and they had an argument again. She got angrier and drove away. On her way she got into an accident and her car flipped upside down with gas leaking out. As that white cop was on duty and saw the accident, he rushed to help. When she noticed who he was, she didn’t want him to touch her. However, he softly said he really meant to help her out. Finally, he tried his best, even though he knew that he might lose his life, and pulled her out before the explosion. When they looked at each other after they were safe, was she so grateful that it diminished the hate caused by the insult? Was his kindness already putting out the fire of anger?

There are some scenes in this movie about the issues between different races that cause us to think deep…

最近看 ‘Crash’ DVD，這部得到2005年最佳影片獎。其内容是不同膚色人間的冲突，人物都以主觀對外在看來是種族間的抵觸產生的問題，但實際上是人物内在的憤怒、憎恨、担心、害怕等而做出不當的行為，根本並不是種族的問題。

稍提影片表達的其中一點 - 人物中一位白人警察，他父親有病，他找醫药保險，但被保險公司的女黑人職員拒絕他的要求，他因此而大罵女黑人。他内心氣憤的巡車值班，在途中特意截停一對黑人夫婦，黑人的妻子太多話激起他的憎恨，借故审查他們的全身，丈夫啞忍看着這白人警察摸着妻子私处。過后妻子很傷心又生氣丈夫的忍受没為她反抗反而須向警察道歉，隔天早晨又再去丈夫工作處吵了一會，妻子怒氣難消駕車離去，結果車禍，她的汽車四輪朝天，汽油洩出，白人警察剛好巡車看到車禍即跑向前協助，當她看到是這白人警察時，不願讓他碰，但他婉轉表示是要帮她脱困，在最後關頭他冒着汽車爆炸前幾乎會捨命的把她救出，两人脱離危險後的對望，她内心的感激是否已消除了曾被污辱的憎恨？他内在的善念是否已熄滅了憤怒之火？

還有影片中很多不同種族人物間的情節都是讓人省思的…

Chinese cultural performances

This was the 15th day of first lunar month, and is called the Lantern Festival (Mandarin: yuan xiao jie). The Fo Guang Shan St. Louis Buddhist Center organized a Chinese New Year Cultural Performance. After the buffet, they had some cultural performances, Tai Chi demonstrations, lantern riddles, arts & crafts, Spring Couplets in Chinese calligraphy and gift drawings.When talking about Chinese New Year, the Lion Dance is one of most popular performances. Ha-ha, we watched an American team perform a Lion Dance and Chinese martial arts (kung fu). How come this ‘Da Tou Fo’ (a role with a big head mask) used a CD case instead of the usual bamboo fan? A western style ‘Da Tou Fo’? This was just my observation. In fact, I was glad to see another race of people learn the culture & art from a different race! I think some westerners have wide vision, but on the other hand, I read news a few months ago about the issue of Malaysian Muslims not being allowed to practice Yoga. I don’t know why some people do not want to widen their knowledge?

这天是元宵节，佛光山圣路易禅净中心举办新春文化飨宴庆元宵。除了有自由餐还有文化节目，太极表演，猜灯谜，手工艺，写春联和礼物抽奖。

讲到新春文化，舞狮是主要的节目之一。呵呵，我们观赏由一队美国洋人的祥狮献瑞及耍中国功夫。怎么这大头佛用CD盒当扇子呢？洋化的大头佛？这只是我观察到的一小点，其实我很高兴看到有其它种族对其他族的文艺有兴趣！我觉得有些洋人的视野比较宽广，而不久前马来西亚还论议回教徒不能练瑜珈，我不知道有些人为何不更有抱容见识？

My vows are eternal

聖嚴師父，已於台北時間 2 月 3 日，下午 4點04分，安祥捨報圓寂。

"虚空有盡 我願無窮"

這是法鼓山綱頁，也有線上念佛回向: http://web.ddm.org.tw/90107/main01.html

The most Venerable Master Sheng Yen, passed away peacefully on Feb 3, 2009 at 4:00pm, in Taiwan.

A memory of Venerable Master Sheng Yen:

"The universe may one day perish, yet my vows are eternal"

Here is the Dharma Drum Mountain website: http://www.dharmadrum.org/index.aspx

Coffee addiction

Since coffee became my addiction, I need the black powder everyday. I thought to get rid of it several times, but I am not really strong minded. In fact, I think I am similar to some people who like smoking and have difficulties quitting cigarettes. If I go one day without having coffee, I get a headache and it is difficult to give up. Even though coffee drinkers might have a sense of superiority when drinking an expensive coffee in a branded coffee shop, it is not like a smoker, who needs to go to a separate area to have a smoke. In fact, I have difficulty denying the lust for the aroma of coffee.

The human habit, we do not want to change it if it is not a threat to our health!

When will I stop drinking coffee?

I walk to kitchen to brew my coffee…

当咖啡已成我的黑粉瘾，每天都要吸取它时。我数次曾想戒掉它，但都没真正有那种意志。我想有些抽烟者要戒烟的难分难舍，其实我和这些人有点相似，如果一天没有咖啡，头疼得让我难分离咖啡。虽然咖啡族不像抽烟族常会被人隔离，而且咖啡族在某些高尚的咖啡馆品尝高价咖啡时，还会有点优越感，但其实我是难舍咖啡香醇的诱惑。

人的习性，不到威胁健康的时候，往往就是不改！

何时要戒咖啡？

我走去厨房冲咖啡…