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Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this solemn moment
Taken from Nalanda. Pindacāra, the practice of collecting alms-food, is observed by Theravada Buddhist monks who have gone forth from ‘home-life’ to ‘homelessness’. A Buddhist monk is known in Pāli Language as a ‘bhikkhu’ – meaning ‘one who lives on alms’. In Buddhist countries such as Thailand and Myanmar, it is a daily ritual for monks to go on Pindacāra, where they walk through a village from one household to another, allowing devotees to make food offerings. With Pindacāra, Buddhist monks need not worry about food and this afford them time to ponder and practise the Dhamma. Since the time of the Buddha, lay people have been supporting monks this…
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Welcome to Puchong, 2.0
I started Welcome To Puchong Facebook page a few years ago, when I was doing it with a few others. It did not last. Mainly, I was generating and developing the content, as well as promoting the page, alone. Just kind of like another tech enthusiast group I started with others, after a while, it was me running it alone, with the help of Retna, as well as our twins. As you are probably figuring things out now, I prefer a family run kind of startup. Maybe it is about commitment from others, which I think could have taken a toll on some. So I went quiet for a while,…
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When stupid people remains stupid
We stayed at a Airbnb apartment in Johor recently. The experience was not great, mainly the host or our handler was someone, whom I think must be really dumb to begin with. I find it beyond my comprehension to ask someone where I can park our car. His reply, “Car park Mr. Tan,” “The basement or the floor above car parks, because there are two here,” I said. “Car park, Mr. Tan,” he again replied. I went to the basement car park which is designated for the visitors, ouch. Only found out when I needed to exit the car park. The not so helpful security personnel, whom only speak Nepali…
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Basilica, after watching Angels and Demons
I have watched the Angels and Demons, a movie adaptation by Dan Brown, whom our family, majority not a fan. We read because it is entertaining, but I must say Mr. Brown is very creative and imaginative. You can not be a writer who makes money without having both. So when we arrived at the Basilica, the feeling is so great that I could see the place, like D-place, which I have only thought of seeing it from websites and pictures. It is amazing. We are here. The St Peter Square is seriously huge, to cater for the crowd gathering. Where as the Basilica, just like everywhere else in Vatican,…
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Sometimes, we do not know what’s ahead, but
Have faith. Kind of simple to say to one or anyone about having faith. Try it, to tell yourself to have faith. My English was not the strongest. I first heard and learn about the word, ‘faith’ when I first heard George Michael’s Faith. ‘Cause I gotta’ have faith I gotta’ have faith Because I gotta’ have faith, faith, faith I got to have faith, faith, faith Later when I attended church in English service, I learn about faith in greater details. From Dictionary.com:- noun 1. confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another’s ability. 2. belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact. 3. belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims. 4. belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.: to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty. I think what I learn faith the most will be related to point 2 and perhaps point…
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Visiting Kuen Cheng, again
#626 was the open day for Kuen Cheng High School. We went to Kuen Cheng many times, in fact all the times for something, let me put it, less pleasant moments, mainly someone would had something to complain about the twins. We have met most of the teachers, senior assistants at Kuen Cheng, except the principal, because we are not in the large donors category… BTW, KC principal and my mother, used to be classmate.
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Forced Religion
Born Christian. Born Muslim. Born Buddhist. Born Hindu. Sounds familiar? I was born in the family of no religion, rather atheist, should you have a term to address it. My father loves the world, he loves it so much that he spent most of his time away from home. I am so glad that I do not turn up whatever ways I have thought I could be ended with – addicts of something, drugs, alcohol, gambling etc. I discovered religion when I was 15, sitting on school bus heading to school. A 17 year old female senior from another school approached me, asking about how was my day, then moved…
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Going to Church
Few times, we were asked by the Tan-Vijayans, why am I going to church? Am I a born Christian? The answer for the kids – Yes. Do I have a choice to choose? The answer, again, yes.
