Cats who teach me to fly…

So fortunate to be able to listen to the Dhamma talk by Ajahn Brahmali on this Vesak day. The talks were already broadcasted on social media. I did not stay on for the celebration but instead preferred to be home with my meditation cushion and cats!

Ajahn Brahmali also gave talks on the eve as well as the following evening after Vesak day. I did not miss a thing.

Ajahn Brahmali explained Dependent Origination at a deeper level which benefited me. He also talked about the obscure suttas which I found interesting. I even jotted down the important points.

It goes like this…

Upanisa sutta (SN 12.23)
Suffering >
Faith >
Gladness >
Rapture >
Tranquility >
Happiness >
Stillness >
Knowledge and vision according to reality >
Revulsion (turn away from all existence or suffering) >
Dispassion >
Liberation (Knowledge of ending)

It was a fruitful Vesak day!

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Ajahn Brahm not only looks like Maitreya Bodhisattva to me but also Santa Claus!

He gave a half day talk the day before the retreat. I remember a lady asked him to tell her that she was a bad person because her husband passed on with anger. Ajahn Brahm insisted that she is a good person.

Ajahn Brahm’s teachings often touches the lives of many. He often told us to relax to the max and I love it. His “be kind to your past, be kind to your present and be kind to your future” changes my view. When I changed my views, my life gets better!

Doesn’t he look like Santa Claus? I am still me 47 years ago. All too shy to ask for his autograph but only to look from afar!

The retreat was wonderful. I like it when Ajahn Brahm spent an hour meditating with us. I peeped on him many times during meditation because I wanted to know if I am normal. Yes! I am.

I have plans to visit Bodhinyana for the 9 day retreat. That will highly depend on Mel if she is willing to help look after my cats. Registration opens on July and retreats is on October. Will discuss with Mel again when the time comes.

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Both 慈细 and Stripie were from Hougang. We found Stripie abandoned in Nov 2015. Mel and I have been feeding him and the rest of the community cats every night.

慈细 was on the street earlier. The same batch as Sheli, Sayang and 慈爱.

A beautiful girl who never allowed me to touch. All the time I have to pretend to look elsewhere and suddenly lifted my hand to touch her and she would jump high and run away but not far. Only a stone’s throw away. She would then walk back to her food where I left for her.

She would always run to me when she saw me coming but too shy to allow me to touch. I did hear some abnormalities in her breathing. It didn’t bother me much as she was a big eater until she went missing for three days.

Another scaredy cat! Stripie would rub against me when he was hungry and waiting for his food. But once he had his full, he would run off and not come near again unless he wanted more food.

I am very fortunate to be able to see them go and to cremate them.

They may be community cats but they do have many who care for them. They have their paws in our hearts and that’s where their home is.

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Everywhere I go, it is all about Dharma. I often remind myself to be careful with my speech and actions. The 5 precepts, loving, kindness and generosity. To be generous not only with our money but with patience and forgiveness. Patience is tougher for me and yet the greatest generosity is patience.

To practise what the Buddha teaches is a big scope of work. I try all my best to keep and follow the Buddha’s teachings…

However, we are bound to face criticism. There are people telling me, so what if one has experienced the seven factors of awakening or the jhanas. By criticising someone in such a way is criticising the Buddha. Buddha was the one who taught us to meditate. Buddha himself got enlightened through this meditation. Somehow, it is not correct to criticise someone who make great effort on practicing what the Buddha taught.

I may be the lousiest lay practitioner and because I am a lay practitioner, whatever I have attained, to many it is a complete waste of time simply because in the Theravada tradition, there is no room for a lay practitioner. It is also a waste of time for others to think that reading pali canon is useless…

No matter what the criticism is, the path towards enlightenment is set straight for me.

Why differentiate between the Mahayana or Theravada? Or the different sects within the same tradition? On the surface they look peaceful and harmonious. The truth is, it has broken and separated many…

In this Dharma ending age, can everything be mended? Yes, if only everyone truly respect and practise the Buddha’s teachings.

All I want is merely to be a good student of the Buddha…

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I have reached 200 hours of meditation. 99% of restlessness has been eradicated. I no longer struggle to stay on track or to keep myself calm. Physically I am still but mentally, there is plenty of work to do.

I also understood the way to remove sloth and torpor. It is not by getting up to wash your face or to have a drink etc… It is not an act of removing ourselves from meditation in order to keep our mind fresh. It has to do with how we gently put sloth and torpor aside and focus on our breathing. But beware! There is a fine line between a sleepy mind and an awakened mind!

I am still working with sloth and torpor which is my last hindrance. Practising to sharpen my skill till it all go smooth. Just like the way restlessness was removed. And it has to do with gently letting go and focusing on the breathing with a fully clear mind at the same time. Time would shape it up!

Next target? 300 hours!

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