This year is the second time 打佛七, but the first time taking the 八关斋戒.
Many positive vibes, learnt many things.
The positive take-aways:
- During one of the meditation sessions, I managed to stay very clear-headed, and seemed to establish a "connection" with 阿弥陀佛, and started rocking gently side to side. Sadly it was not repeated.
- 2 days of vegetarian food is almost like a detox programme
- 2 meals per day is do-able, with lots of water
- Strengthening of my belief that, sutras and ceremonies, not just the precepts, ARE a part of Buddhism
And now, my mistakes and wrongdoings:
- the lack of sleep did not allow me to fully appreciate and benefit from the event
- the lack of sleep led me to sleep drowsily at night, potentially missing out on post-event reflections
- I broke the 8th Precept: 不坐卧高广大床
- My biggest mistake: wearing my 海青to the toilet. I am so disturbed by this one that I suspect whatever merits I may have accumulated may not be enough to offset the "demerit" points. Sigh. It was a big boo boo.
This time next year little princess would be 9 months' old already. I really hope we would be able to participate again. If yes, I really have to learn not to repeat this year's mistakes.
This morning, when I was doing my morning chants, I heard birds chirping. I was distracted because the sound appeared quite near. My first thought was: hmmm, distractions! Before I knew it, 2 hummingbirds flew into the house and happily rested themselves on the pussywillow. Then 1 flew away, shortly followed by the 2nd. One flew back in, before flying off.
Wifey just told me she spotted one similar-looking bird at the temple yesterday. Hmmm : )
Post Date: 25 Jan 10
Monday, January 25, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
Quotes for the day
Told to my face over coffee:
"If you need to SMS him at 2 in the morning, then he doesn't need you"
Conversation on 9pm show on Channel 8:
"命运是不能屈服的,命运是要征服的"
Super moody. More later.
Post Date: 6 Jan 10
"If you need to SMS him at 2 in the morning, then he doesn't need you"
Conversation on 9pm show on Channel 8:
"命运是不能屈服的,命运是要征服的"
Super moody. More later.
Post Date: 6 Jan 10
Monday, January 04, 2010
First work day of the year
If the start of the year is an indication of what the rest of the year will be like, then it's going to be a real busy one.
Checked mail, did some prep work, went for kick-off meeting, debrief over coffee, action items, emergency from customer, waited for contractor, site survey with contractor, reached home around 9.15pm.
Post Date: 6 Jan 10
Checked mail, did some prep work, went for kick-off meeting, debrief over coffee, action items, emergency from customer, waited for contractor, site survey with contractor, reached home around 9.15pm.
Post Date: 6 Jan 10
Saturday, January 02, 2010
ECA
Have been wanting to find something else to do to supplement the household income. Recently got approached to do some project management. I've not done it before, but that doesn't mean I'm not keen.
If people are willing to take a risk in engaging me, then I'm prepared to give it a shot.
Post Date: 7 Jan 10
If people are willing to take a risk in engaging me, then I'm prepared to give it a shot.
Post Date: 7 Jan 10
Friday, January 01, 2010
A New Year
Another new year. Another new beginning. Another list of resolutions.
1. Run the freaking Singapore Marathon, will ya? At least try the 10km run, you wimp!
2. Brush up on your photography, will ya? Your daughter is coming on board in 3 months' time!
3. Can you please be more focused and get your ass working on some residual income?
4. Please work on your self-pity. It's just sad (pun intended)
5. Do all of the above without compromising your care and concern for your family
Image credit here.
Post Date: 6 Jan 10
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Asiaone - Adding a shine to your holdings
Adding a shine to your holdings
There are a variety of ways you can give your portfolio a gilt edge.
Tue, Dec 15, 2009
The Straits Times
Bars and coins
United Overseas Bank (UOB) sells physical gold that can be bought from and sold back to the bank at its daily buy-sell market rate. Gold bars come in a range of sizes, from small wafers to cast kilobars. Coins range from one-twentieth of an ounce to one ounce.
'This is one of the best forms of gold investment as you can keep the coins and bars in safe deposit boxes, and there is a variety of sizes to choose from,' said IPP Financial Advisers investment director Albert Lam.
A cast gold bar is made when melted gold is poured into a mould to achieve the desired shape and weight.
Gold bars and coins are subject to goods and services tax (GST) so an investor will lose 7 per cent of his investment up front.
Certificates
At UOB, a gold certificate is sold in kilobars, which are kilogram bars of gold.
In a single certificate, you can buy up to 30 kilobars.
UOB sold one kilobar for $55,416 last week.
The certificates have no expiry date and can be exchanged for physical gold or cash whenever the need arises.
A flat $5 charge for each certificate and an administrative fee of $30 a kilobar per year apply.
Gold savings account
At UOB, consumers can, through a passbook, buy and sell gold at prevailing market prices and transact any time during banking hours.
Teacher Arfiah Arshad, 39, sank $5,000 into a UOB Gold savings account last December and $5,000 into UOB Gold and General unit trust in February.
Both accounts are up by 50 per cent.
She invested in gold after her adviser at Financial Alliance, Mr Sani Hamid, suggested she do so in order to diversify her portfolio.
'When I went to open a gold savings account at UOB, the relationship manager tried to persuade me to invest in an Asia infrastructure unit trust because she said few people were investing in gold then,' said Madam Arfiah, who did not heed the banker's advice.
'I'm glad I stuck to investing in gold,' she said.
Citibank also offers retail customers the chance to trade in gold via its Citibank Gold Account.
To establish this account, you just need to buy a minimum of 30 ounces of gold, said Mr Shrikant Bhat, Citibank Singapore's head of wealth management.
The price of gold hit a record of US$1,226.10 an ounce last week.
Gold jewellery
Perhaps the easiest way to buy physical gold is to walk into a goldsmith and buy 22-karat or 24-karat jewellery.
But Mr Lam cautioned: 'Design and workmanship costs are priced into the jewellery and hence if consumers are buying for investment purposes, they end up paying a premium.'
Funds and ETFs
One fund that gives exposure to gold is the Schroder Alternative Solutions Gold and Metals Fund.
The fund's gold exposure varies between 25 per cent and 75 per cent. The rest comprises industrial metals such as copper and aluminium.
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are another alternative. They allow people to gain exposure to gold prices without taking delivery of the metal itself.
They trade like stocks on the exchange, so you can buy and sell them at market prices throughout the trading day.
Gold ETFs include SPDR gold shares, which are listed on the Singapore Exchange.
Post Date: 17 Dec 09
There are a variety of ways you can give your portfolio a gilt edge.
Tue, Dec 15, 2009
The Straits Times
Bars and coins
United Overseas Bank (UOB) sells physical gold that can be bought from and sold back to the bank at its daily buy-sell market rate. Gold bars come in a range of sizes, from small wafers to cast kilobars. Coins range from one-twentieth of an ounce to one ounce.
'This is one of the best forms of gold investment as you can keep the coins and bars in safe deposit boxes, and there is a variety of sizes to choose from,' said IPP Financial Advisers investment director Albert Lam.
A cast gold bar is made when melted gold is poured into a mould to achieve the desired shape and weight.
Gold bars and coins are subject to goods and services tax (GST) so an investor will lose 7 per cent of his investment up front.
Certificates
At UOB, a gold certificate is sold in kilobars, which are kilogram bars of gold.
In a single certificate, you can buy up to 30 kilobars.
UOB sold one kilobar for $55,416 last week.
The certificates have no expiry date and can be exchanged for physical gold or cash whenever the need arises.
A flat $5 charge for each certificate and an administrative fee of $30 a kilobar per year apply.
Gold savings account
At UOB, consumers can, through a passbook, buy and sell gold at prevailing market prices and transact any time during banking hours.
Teacher Arfiah Arshad, 39, sank $5,000 into a UOB Gold savings account last December and $5,000 into UOB Gold and General unit trust in February.
Both accounts are up by 50 per cent.
She invested in gold after her adviser at Financial Alliance, Mr Sani Hamid, suggested she do so in order to diversify her portfolio.
'When I went to open a gold savings account at UOB, the relationship manager tried to persuade me to invest in an Asia infrastructure unit trust because she said few people were investing in gold then,' said Madam Arfiah, who did not heed the banker's advice.
'I'm glad I stuck to investing in gold,' she said.
Citibank also offers retail customers the chance to trade in gold via its Citibank Gold Account.
To establish this account, you just need to buy a minimum of 30 ounces of gold, said Mr Shrikant Bhat, Citibank Singapore's head of wealth management.
The price of gold hit a record of US$1,226.10 an ounce last week.
Gold jewellery
Perhaps the easiest way to buy physical gold is to walk into a goldsmith and buy 22-karat or 24-karat jewellery.
But Mr Lam cautioned: 'Design and workmanship costs are priced into the jewellery and hence if consumers are buying for investment purposes, they end up paying a premium.'
Funds and ETFs
One fund that gives exposure to gold is the Schroder Alternative Solutions Gold and Metals Fund.
The fund's gold exposure varies between 25 per cent and 75 per cent. The rest comprises industrial metals such as copper and aluminium.
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are another alternative. They allow people to gain exposure to gold prices without taking delivery of the metal itself.
They trade like stocks on the exchange, so you can buy and sell them at market prices throughout the trading day.
Gold ETFs include SPDR gold shares, which are listed on the Singapore Exchange.
Post Date: 17 Dec 09
Asiaone - Gold Rush
Gold Rush
As gold price hits never-seen-before levels, Gabriel Chen looks at why the precious metal can make a good investment and asks analysts about its prospects.
Tue, Dec 15, 2009
The Straits Times
By Gabriel Chen
If some pundits are right, gold is well on its way to a dazzling US$2,000 (S$2,780) or more an ounce in the next decade - heights never even hinted at before this financial crisis struck.
The old record of US$1,030 set in March last year was surpassed in early October and prices have continued to climb.
To put that in perspective, gold was just US$254 an ounce back in 1999, a 20-year low.
'Gold is going up,' said Singapore-based investor Jim Rogers, who tips the precious metal to top US$2,000 an ounce in the next decade. 'I'm bullish on all commodities until the bull market comes to an end,' he told The Sunday Times.
Mr Rogers, who predicted the rally in commodities back in 1999, is not the only bull out there.
Goldman Sachs raised its 12-month gold forecast to US$1,350 an ounce this month from a previous estimate of US$960, while Barclays Capital has said that 'prospects for a run at US$1,500 should not be underestimated' next year.
Gold's glister has been fuelled by the persistent weakness in the American dollar and news that central banks in India, Russia and elsewhere have increased their holdings of the metal.
Speculation that governments, the biggest bullion holders, will make even more purchases is merely adding to the mood music.
Can the trend go further? According to Channel Islands-based GoldMoney.com founder James Turk, 'gold is going to be at US$8,000 by 2013' due to the historical relationship between the metal and the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
He was quoted by Bloomberg as saying that gold and the Dow were at around the same level during the Great Depression and the early 1980s.
In January 1980, they were both slightly below the US$1,000 mark, but while the Dow is up 10-fold since then, gold's ascent has not been as spectacular, he argued.
But others in the industry do not expect gold to soar that high.
'US$2,000 or US$3,000 an ounce levels make sense only if the US dollar drops by another 30 per cent on a broad basis and United States inflation moves to 10 per cent, which we do not expect,' said UBS Wealth Management's head of commodities research, Mr Dominic Schnider.
However, should Mr Turk be correct, it will not be long before we all start melting down our wedding rings.
Why invest in gold?
There are fears that the massive monetary and fiscal policy stimulus plans that have been pumped into the global economy will generate inflation.
Gold acts as a hedge against such an eventuality.
Dr Shane Oliver, head of investment strategy and chief economist at AMP Capital Investors, said gold is seen as a good alternative to paper money.
'While there are fears about the future of the US dollar, the outlook for other major currencies is not much better,' he said.
'Europe's economy looks worse than the US, the strong yen looks unsustainable given the damage it has already caused the Japanese economy and the (Chinese yuan) is not really an option as it's not convertible.'
A convertible currency is one that can be quickly and easily bought and sold for other currencies.
Diversification advantage
Many studies show that gold prices generally move in the opposite direction from stock prices: Gold soars when stocks tank.
'Portfolios that contain even a small allocation of gold are proven to be generally more robust and better able to cope with market uncertainties than those that do not, showing improved stability and predictability of returns,' said Mr Albert Cheng, managing director of World Gold Council for the Far East region.
He said the optimum investment in gold for any long- term institutional investment portfolio ranges from 4 per cent to 10 per cent.
Rarity factor
Governments can print as much money as they like - to pay off their debts - but they cannot create gold, which is limited in supply.
'In all of history, only 161,000 tonnes of gold have been mined. This is barely enough to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools, and of this amount, more than half was extracted in the recent 50 years,' said IPP Financial Advisers investment director Albert Lam.
Outlook for gold
Despite the risk of prices reversing in the short term, financial experts say investors should add gold to their portfolios if they have not already done so.
'Worrying too much about a short-term pullback risks missing the bigger medium-term picture which remains very positive for gold,' Dr Oliver said.
One key reason for gold's rise is that central banks in emerging countries such as China and India are becoming buyers as part of a strategy to reduce the exposure of their foreign exchange reserves to paper currencies.
In the past, central banks focused on accumulating paper money such as the greenback, but they now want to hold more gold for diversification purposes.
'Over the past five years, central banks and governments have sold around 440 tonnes of gold every year,' Mr Schnider said.
'In the coming years, central bank gold sales should come to a halt. In fact, we actually foresee that central banks may become net buyers.'
But experts also caution that investing in gold is highly speculative and prices can be volatile. After rising to new highs in 1974, gold prices plunged, falling to about US$100 in mid-1976 from about US$200 at the start of 1975.
'Animal spirits can play a huge role in the determination of the gold price. This can make for a volatile ride over time and suggests that gold should not dominate an investor's portfolio,' Dr Oliver said.
Animal spirits - a term coined by the late British economist John Maynard Keynes - refers to a particular sort of confidence, or 'naive optimism'.
Rather than dabble in gold alone, Dr Oliver suggested that investors have exposure to a broad basket of commodities.
Mr Shrikant Bhat, Citibank Singapore's head of wealth management, urged investors to understand the factors driving the gold price movement and then take a view on whether those factors will continue to drive the demand.
Post Date: 17 Dec 09
As gold price hits never-seen-before levels, Gabriel Chen looks at why the precious metal can make a good investment and asks analysts about its prospects.
Tue, Dec 15, 2009
The Straits Times
By Gabriel Chen
If some pundits are right, gold is well on its way to a dazzling US$2,000 (S$2,780) or more an ounce in the next decade - heights never even hinted at before this financial crisis struck.
The old record of US$1,030 set in March last year was surpassed in early October and prices have continued to climb.
To put that in perspective, gold was just US$254 an ounce back in 1999, a 20-year low.
'Gold is going up,' said Singapore-based investor Jim Rogers, who tips the precious metal to top US$2,000 an ounce in the next decade. 'I'm bullish on all commodities until the bull market comes to an end,' he told The Sunday Times.
Mr Rogers, who predicted the rally in commodities back in 1999, is not the only bull out there.
Goldman Sachs raised its 12-month gold forecast to US$1,350 an ounce this month from a previous estimate of US$960, while Barclays Capital has said that 'prospects for a run at US$1,500 should not be underestimated' next year.
Gold's glister has been fuelled by the persistent weakness in the American dollar and news that central banks in India, Russia and elsewhere have increased their holdings of the metal.
Speculation that governments, the biggest bullion holders, will make even more purchases is merely adding to the mood music.
Can the trend go further? According to Channel Islands-based GoldMoney.com founder James Turk, 'gold is going to be at US$8,000 by 2013' due to the historical relationship between the metal and the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
He was quoted by Bloomberg as saying that gold and the Dow were at around the same level during the Great Depression and the early 1980s.
In January 1980, they were both slightly below the US$1,000 mark, but while the Dow is up 10-fold since then, gold's ascent has not been as spectacular, he argued.
But others in the industry do not expect gold to soar that high.
'US$2,000 or US$3,000 an ounce levels make sense only if the US dollar drops by another 30 per cent on a broad basis and United States inflation moves to 10 per cent, which we do not expect,' said UBS Wealth Management's head of commodities research, Mr Dominic Schnider.
However, should Mr Turk be correct, it will not be long before we all start melting down our wedding rings.
Why invest in gold?
There are fears that the massive monetary and fiscal policy stimulus plans that have been pumped into the global economy will generate inflation.
Gold acts as a hedge against such an eventuality.
Dr Shane Oliver, head of investment strategy and chief economist at AMP Capital Investors, said gold is seen as a good alternative to paper money.
'While there are fears about the future of the US dollar, the outlook for other major currencies is not much better,' he said.
'Europe's economy looks worse than the US, the strong yen looks unsustainable given the damage it has already caused the Japanese economy and the (Chinese yuan) is not really an option as it's not convertible.'
A convertible currency is one that can be quickly and easily bought and sold for other currencies.
Diversification advantage
Many studies show that gold prices generally move in the opposite direction from stock prices: Gold soars when stocks tank.
'Portfolios that contain even a small allocation of gold are proven to be generally more robust and better able to cope with market uncertainties than those that do not, showing improved stability and predictability of returns,' said Mr Albert Cheng, managing director of World Gold Council for the Far East region.
He said the optimum investment in gold for any long- term institutional investment portfolio ranges from 4 per cent to 10 per cent.
Rarity factor
Governments can print as much money as they like - to pay off their debts - but they cannot create gold, which is limited in supply.
'In all of history, only 161,000 tonnes of gold have been mined. This is barely enough to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools, and of this amount, more than half was extracted in the recent 50 years,' said IPP Financial Advisers investment director Albert Lam.
Outlook for gold
Despite the risk of prices reversing in the short term, financial experts say investors should add gold to their portfolios if they have not already done so.
'Worrying too much about a short-term pullback risks missing the bigger medium-term picture which remains very positive for gold,' Dr Oliver said.
One key reason for gold's rise is that central banks in emerging countries such as China and India are becoming buyers as part of a strategy to reduce the exposure of their foreign exchange reserves to paper currencies.
In the past, central banks focused on accumulating paper money such as the greenback, but they now want to hold more gold for diversification purposes.
'Over the past five years, central banks and governments have sold around 440 tonnes of gold every year,' Mr Schnider said.
'In the coming years, central bank gold sales should come to a halt. In fact, we actually foresee that central banks may become net buyers.'
But experts also caution that investing in gold is highly speculative and prices can be volatile. After rising to new highs in 1974, gold prices plunged, falling to about US$100 in mid-1976 from about US$200 at the start of 1975.
'Animal spirits can play a huge role in the determination of the gold price. This can make for a volatile ride over time and suggests that gold should not dominate an investor's portfolio,' Dr Oliver said.
Animal spirits - a term coined by the late British economist John Maynard Keynes - refers to a particular sort of confidence, or 'naive optimism'.
Rather than dabble in gold alone, Dr Oliver suggested that investors have exposure to a broad basket of commodities.
Mr Shrikant Bhat, Citibank Singapore's head of wealth management, urged investors to understand the factors driving the gold price movement and then take a view on whether those factors will continue to drive the demand.
Post Date: 17 Dec 09
Friday, December 11, 2009
Coincidence?
Did a lot of driving around today, to as far as Boon Lay.
As I was driving along PIE back to the office, a thought surfaced in my head:
Drive carefully. Danger ahead.
I'm not too sure if it was a self-reminder to be mindful of the traffic, as I have not been sleeping enough, or it was really a divine reminder.
True enough, on the lane I was on (lane 1), I saw the car in front of me suddenly break. I had a good safety distance from him, so I braked with relative ease. In front of him a few cars were involved in a chain collision.
Never did I guess that there was another incident a few kilometres down! This time, a lorry burst a tyre, and he was trying to filter left. I was a lot nearer to the vehicle in front, and I had to apply the brakes harder.
On both occasions, I was lucky that the vehicles behind me maintained their safety distance.
After witnessing the 2nd incident, a new thought entered my head: no more up ahead. You can relax now. Which I did.
Coincidence?
Post Date: 17 Dec 09
As I was driving along PIE back to the office, a thought surfaced in my head:
Drive carefully. Danger ahead.
I'm not too sure if it was a self-reminder to be mindful of the traffic, as I have not been sleeping enough, or it was really a divine reminder.
True enough, on the lane I was on (lane 1), I saw the car in front of me suddenly break. I had a good safety distance from him, so I braked with relative ease. In front of him a few cars were involved in a chain collision.
Never did I guess that there was another incident a few kilometres down! This time, a lorry burst a tyre, and he was trying to filter left. I was a lot nearer to the vehicle in front, and I had to apply the brakes harder.
On both occasions, I was lucky that the vehicles behind me maintained their safety distance.
After witnessing the 2nd incident, a new thought entered my head: no more up ahead. You can relax now. Which I did.
Coincidence?
Post Date: 17 Dec 09
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Time flies when you are idling
So, it's December already.
I've stopped the business of new year resolutions for a while already, but still, I seemed to be repeating these to-do items in my head ad nauseam.
For example, I have yet to participate in the Singapore Marathon. And I think this is the 2nd year already. Or is it the 3rd?
I have yet to get into the habit of sleeping by 12.30am.
I still suck in photography.
I still don't have any residual income.
But what I've actually achieved, I am very proud of:
I'M GOING TO BE A FATHER!
I am also happy that I've started morning prayers.
Not by choice, but I've become more diligent with housework.
With little Princess coming on board, I had REALLY, BETTER sort out my photography.
And I can forget about sleeping early!
Image credit here.
Post Date: 1 Dec 09
Monday, November 30, 2009
Fear and hunger
Cowboy Caleb had an interesting piece today.
Life is a little like that. Most of the time, if you want something then you have to find something to motivate you to go and get it. 90% of the people never get what they really want, because they are too lazy or overconfident.
To succeed in life, you have to push yourself by finding something to motivate you. Fear seems to be good. Hunger also works. Fear of being poor all your life. Hungry for the better things in life that always seem out of your grasp. Anybody can do it. Few do.
So, so true. Guess I still have a lot of work cut out for me.
Post Date: 1 Dec 09
Life is a little like that. Most of the time, if you want something then you have to find something to motivate you to go and get it. 90% of the people never get what they really want, because they are too lazy or overconfident.
To succeed in life, you have to push yourself by finding something to motivate you. Fear seems to be good. Hunger also works. Fear of being poor all your life. Hungry for the better things in life that always seem out of your grasp. Anybody can do it. Few do.
So, so true. Guess I still have a lot of work cut out for me.
Post Date: 1 Dec 09
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Reminder to self ...
... don't lose the plot.
Wifey and I just came back from the temple. Since just now, my mind has been pre-occupied with what we have to do, following the procedures, how will things turn out, etc etc.
I can't seem to be able to relax, and in the process, am missing the point.
Didn't we go for consultation so that we can be instructed on what to do and what not to do? Didn't we go so that we can have the peace of mind? And didn't the lady say, "娘娘会保佑她"?
Chill, goondu, CHILL!
Image credit here.
Post Date: 26 Nov 09
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Keeping faith
Just went with Dad to see his urologist at SGH.
We should be scheduling his TURP in early March. I reminded Dad that his granddaughter will be born in early Apr, so early March should be a good time.
The doctor said it is a very common procedure, and Dad also said this procedure is a basic must-know for all urologists. Hospitalisation is needed though, for 3 - 4 days. I am just so thankful that Dad is still healthy and so positive. This is still a medical operation after all, so I am worried, but I don't want to appear worried in front of him.
Mum, on the hand, should be getting her cataract operation in December. Once again, this is also a common day operation. I suspect Mum has been putting this off because she is worried. Dad has since managed to convince her.
I am just so worried for the both of them, but I cannot show it. I think I'm being paranoid, but I really want them to be well ...
Prayers, I think prayers will help ...
Post Date: 26 Nov 09
We should be scheduling his TURP in early March. I reminded Dad that his granddaughter will be born in early Apr, so early March should be a good time.
The doctor said it is a very common procedure, and Dad also said this procedure is a basic must-know for all urologists. Hospitalisation is needed though, for 3 - 4 days. I am just so thankful that Dad is still healthy and so positive. This is still a medical operation after all, so I am worried, but I don't want to appear worried in front of him.
Mum, on the hand, should be getting her cataract operation in December. Once again, this is also a common day operation. I suspect Mum has been putting this off because she is worried. Dad has since managed to convince her.
I am just so worried for the both of them, but I cannot show it. I think I'm being paranoid, but I really want them to be well ...
Prayers, I think prayers will help ...
Post Date: 26 Nov 09
Monday, November 23, 2009
Tough
Yesterday was the first time we brought a friend along for our weekly prayer sessions.
In my simplistic mind, this good friend deserves to be on the "same plane" as us if we are going "somewhere better". I believed that by joining us, he is well on his way to earning his "plane ticket".
However I was a bit disappointed when, at the end of the session, he said he had to ascertain "if this was what I wanted". I mean, how wrong can one be if he has already taken the (hardest) step towards jumping out of 六道轮回?
Wifey said he was referring to the commitment of going every week, and to give him some time.
I can now understand how difficult it can be to convince people onto the correct path. Of course in shows, the bodhisattvas had it tougher cos they had to convert the evil ones.
Post Date: 23 Nov 09
In my simplistic mind, this good friend deserves to be on the "same plane" as us if we are going "somewhere better". I believed that by joining us, he is well on his way to earning his "plane ticket".
However I was a bit disappointed when, at the end of the session, he said he had to ascertain "if this was what I wanted". I mean, how wrong can one be if he has already taken the (hardest) step towards jumping out of 六道轮回?
Wifey said he was referring to the commitment of going every week, and to give him some time.
I can now understand how difficult it can be to convince people onto the correct path. Of course in shows, the bodhisattvas had it tougher cos they had to convert the evil ones.
Post Date: 23 Nov 09
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Hat trick
Went for FA scan yesterday.
Everything was ok - her major organs, limbs, facial features. Our girl kept moving, and the doctor exclaimed "Wah, so active, ah!"
However there was one area that was potentially dangerous. There was swelling at the part of the umbilical cord that joins to her tummy. The doctor is worried that her intestine may have been "sucked out" into the umbilical cord. If that was really the case, then operation is required after birth. Close monitoring is required, via the monthly scans and the next detailed scan in 10 weeks' time.
This little girl of ours really makes us worry, and this is already the 3rd time ...
Post Date: 23 Nov 09
Everything was ok - her major organs, limbs, facial features. Our girl kept moving, and the doctor exclaimed "Wah, so active, ah!"
However there was one area that was potentially dangerous. There was swelling at the part of the umbilical cord that joins to her tummy. The doctor is worried that her intestine may have been "sucked out" into the umbilical cord. If that was really the case, then operation is required after birth. Close monitoring is required, via the monthly scans and the next detailed scan in 10 weeks' time.
This little girl of ours really makes us worry, and this is already the 3rd time ...
Post Date: 23 Nov 09
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
早课
Yesterday I re-started something that I had not done for the last maybe 30 years - chanting at home.
I used to chant at night before sleeping. Thinking back, somehow, those days seemed more peaceful, event- and mind-wise. I admit I am starting because of our baby. Apart from protection from her possible medical condition, I also need to calm my nerves down.
I hope this can help my girl to 逢凶化吉. Amitabha Buddha.
Post Date: 23 Nov 09
I used to chant at night before sleeping. Thinking back, somehow, those days seemed more peaceful, event- and mind-wise. I admit I am starting because of our baby. Apart from protection from her possible medical condition, I also need to calm my nerves down.
I hope this can help my girl to 逢凶化吉. Amitabha Buddha.
Post Date: 23 Nov 09
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
RBA lifts interest rate
From The West Australian,
The Reserve Bank of Australia has lifted the official interest rate by 25 basis points. Today's decision means the official cash rate will go from 3.25 per cent to 3.50 per cent.
That's continuing good news for my Aussie dollar holdings!
Post Date: 3 Nov 09
The Reserve Bank of Australia has lifted the official interest rate by 25 basis points. Today's decision means the official cash rate will go from 3.25 per cent to 3.50 per cent.
That's continuing good news for my Aussie dollar holdings!
Post Date: 3 Nov 09
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
My little girl talks to me
Sitting at my desk back at the office, my head was turning. There was so much information to take in, so many thoughts running amok, so many emotions to suppress ...
And then, a little's girl's voice appeared in my head.
"Papa", she called, in a sweet little voice, "if you keep worrying that I'll be different, you will bring me up in a certain way, then of course I will become different! Do what you need to do, prepare me for the world*, so that I will be ready to face the world".
(* Instinctively, I took it to mean that we continue with the exercises, healthy foods, logistics preparations and spiritual pursuits, so that she can be healthy and be blessed)
This can jolly well be a figment of my own imagination, or it can be a real father-daughter moment, our very first one.
Post Date: 3 Nov 09
And then, a little's girl's voice appeared in my head.
"Papa", she called, in a sweet little voice, "if you keep worrying that I'll be different, you will bring me up in a certain way, then of course I will become different! Do what you need to do, prepare me for the world*, so that I will be ready to face the world".
(* Instinctively, I took it to mean that we continue with the exercises, healthy foods, logistics preparations and spiritual pursuits, so that she can be healthy and be blessed)
This can jolly well be a figment of my own imagination, or it can be a real father-daughter moment, our very first one.
Post Date: 3 Nov 09
Trisomy X
From Wikipedia,
Due to the lyonization, inactivation and formation of a Barr body, in all female cells, only one X chromosome is active at any time in a female cell. Thus, triple X syndrome most often causes no unusual physical features or medical problems. Females with the condition may have menstrual irregularities, and, although rarely exhibiting severe mental impairments, have an increased risk of learning disabilities, delayed speech, deficient language skills, and delayed development of motor skills.
Post Date: 3 Nov 09
Due to the lyonization, inactivation and formation of a Barr body, in all female cells, only one X chromosome is active at any time in a female cell. Thus, triple X syndrome most often causes no unusual physical features or medical problems. Females with the condition may have menstrual irregularities, and, although rarely exhibiting severe mental impairments, have an increased risk of learning disabilities, delayed speech, deficient language skills, and delayed development of motor skills.
Post Date: 3 Nov 09
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