Dear all,

I've heard disturbing news that there were kidnappers who attempted to abduct babies from the earthquake victims.  Those inhumane things even fed the babies with sleeping pills.  Luckily, they were found out by an alert inn owner. 

Is this an isolated incident?  Or, how many babies who "disappeared" in the earthquake actually ended up being sold for some nefarious reasons?  Let's pray that these attempts would not succeed and the babies will safely return to their anxious mothers. 

On the other hand, let's also pray for the kidnappers to gain a conscience and stop before making a grave mistake - the bad karma is great and may ripen in their present lifetime affecting themselves and their love ones.  Same goes for the soldiers who sold or tried to sell aid items.

Namo Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva

Let's chant Namo Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva or Namo Guanshiyin Pusa for 1000 times at 8.30pm everynight.  See the following website for more details:

http://www.amtb.tw/news/news_content.asp?web_index=116&web_select_type=2

Originally posted by knightlll:

I just want to say that i enjoy my celebrations of Veask Day very much. : )

Same here.  Everywhere I can see compassion - merits for the disaster victims, people donating, etc. 

Amitabha

On the Vegetarian Society's forum, there's a Cyclone thread with another channel to help the survivors:

http://www.vegetarian-society.org/my_forums/viewthread.php?tid=4871

Saw this donation link on E-Sangha:

http://www.mahasiusa.org/cyclone.html

Besides that, I read with disgust:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7389083.stm

"Burma's ruling military junta has approved the passage of some aid, but other offers have been spurned while many foreign aid workers are being held in a queue for visas."

Namo Amitabha

Originally posted by Renunciation04:

Dear both, thanks for the advice. But how do we exactly deal with unfaithfulness in marriage? How should we apply Buddhism? Dissolving the marriage is not an option...

Theoretically, I know that lots of good deeds must be done to redeem the sins. But it's frustrating that there's no end in sight to this agony - and I have to suffer for bad things I have unknowingly committed in the past.

People around me see me as obliging and patient. Sometimes, I feel that I am too forgiving. But if we don't forgive, how do we move on in life?

Seeking explanation from the other party... all my requests for an explantion have fallen onto deaf ears...

Can't wait to get out from this cycle of suffering...

 

My Buddhist knowledge is quite limited here; I thought maybe we should keep our minds open to all available options and not get attached a certain position?

May be a bit off-topic here but becoming a vegetarian may help the environment by lowering greenhouse gases emission:

http://www.healthythoughts.com/Eat%20Less%20Meat%20Cool%20the%20Planet.htm

Besides that, as mentioned by cycle, some may feel a bit uncomfortable eating meat after knowing about what the farm animals have to go through...

http://veg.ca/content/view/62/101/

 http://www.veganoutreach.org/whyvegan/animals.html

The articles may be a bit outdated, any updated info to share?

Originally posted by cycle:

Hi jinsei,  I remember a Venerable once mentioned that when a person feel ( no matter how subtly) for the pains and sufferings of others, he is on the right path of cultivating compassion. So we must learn from you.

 

You're too kind...What happens in Zimbabwe is an extremely serious humanitarian crisis; many will feel the pain of Zimbabweans.

Let us all pray and hope that the perpetuators will stop torturing their own people.

Namo Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva

Just a reflection: I feel that while Vesak Day is a joyous occasion, perhaps we can also think about the needy and help them to partake in the joy of Vesak Day?  I've read the article about due to the increasing food prices, there are more people going to Buddhist Lodge for meals.  Perhaps we can donate money or food to organisations giving free meals to the needy? 

Hi,

I'm not sure if it's appropriate to post here.  After reading the following article, I felt the need to pray for the innocent Zimbabwean babies and children.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article3822569.ece

Thanks for sharing, I'll just add two more to the list.  The two DVDs have helped me a lot in my life:

<<了凡四训>> (The Four Teachings of Liao Fan)

<<俞净意公遇灶神记>>

Originally posted by justdoit77:

You can look for our chief skype officer, bohiruci.

Unfortunately, bohiruci is not in favour of my idea:( 

By the way, Isis, are you still keen on the skype conversation?

Ajahn Brahm is conducting a Dharma talk - Solving Problems, at Buddhist Fellowship tomorrow at 11 am.  Unfortunately, I couldn't attend:(  Hope it will be uploaded on Youtube...

Originally posted by CleoPraya:

Hi all brothers.  Thanks for your kind advises.

I can fully comprehend his family situation, but he just can't force people around him to help him boost his sales just out of sympathy towards his wife and daughter.  In actual fact, a few of my relatives, including myself and my father has already supported his sales buy, and it's one of those higher range like above $200K cars just to make sure his commission is sufficient to pay for his wife's medical bill.  We weren't exactly satisfied with the aftersales services provided by him, but we didn't really complain anything to him, we just sort out the problems ourselves. 

I know he is desperate to make ends meet, given that his wife's medical bill is mounting, I did told him to recite Guan Yin's name, but as a free thinker, he thinks I'm a total bonker to suggest this useless tactic.

Syncopation_music, I agree with you that he should let go his resentment, but I think it's hard for him to do it, because he seems very self pitying.  He has been telling everybody about his family problems (ie. his colleagues, his friends, his bosses, sometimes, even taxi uncles).  He's stuck in his own world of problems, and feels that he has the worst or worst family problem in the entire universe and whole world owes him his living.  He don't have any medical insurance, because at that time he does not felt the need.  If I'm not wrong, it's too late for him to buy for his wife and daughter.

Hi Canihelpyou02 and Isis, thanks for your advise.  My father told me that I've helped him enough and he should be left alone to stand up by himself.  I really don't know if I should do it because he is like my very close brother.  It's really a hard decision.

Hi Cleopraya,

As my knowledge of Buddha's teachings is quite limited, I can only recommend some Buddhist DVDs (Chinese) that helped me through the rough patch of my life.  Hopefully they can be helpful to your cousin as well. 

The Four Teachings of Liao Fan

Yu Jing Yi Gong Yu Zao Shen

I have only the first DVD; if you are interested, just pm me.  It's free, I got the DVD from my Buddhist aunt, who asked me to pass it to anyone who finds it useful. 

TS, you may want to start your research by focusing on the following questions:

What types of fast food?

What kind of advertising?  TV, Outdoor Ads, Online, etc.

Possible to ban?

Originally posted by bohiruci:

Jinsei , hope you understand the two topics wont mixed well ..it might be abit dfficult and you encountered difficulty continue becos the subject matter is two distinct main areas

but if u seriously want to request for skype , I can hold a skype session in middle of march ,we will talk abt basic buddhism on the 4 noble truths

 

Nevermind, I can try it out first. 

Thanks for the skype session, just post in this thread or pm me when you're ready.

Since there are only two of us, we could use skype and meet online for at least once a week.  There can be different theme for every week.  We can start by practising our pronunciation by the use of free online materials and then converse based on the theme.  At the end of session, we can review our conversation to see if we observe Right Speech and correct grammar.  What do you think?

Originally posted by Isis:

Why not? I'm open to the idea. :)

That's great!  would you prefer online for the time being?

Happy Chinese New Year!

Originally posted by Isis:

This idea "Right speech + English Conversation" is quite interesting.
 U probably first to organise it based on the above concept.

Thanks:)  Will you be interested to join?

I am thinking about organising an activity that would allow us to practise our Right Speech as well as English conversations - especially pronunciation.  Or have any groups organised this already? 

Originally posted by Isis:

Hi may i suggest set up a yahoogroup where we can link to various newsletter from different buddhist group and temple. And round up people who might be interested to go for any dharma talk and activites. As for the idea, i think it is a good.

Regarding planningwise, i'm not sure that i'm currently free to commit but i can try to help.

 

That is also a good idea.  We can also use the yahoogroup as a platform for organising new activities.  Anyone wants to share their thoughts on this matter?