Special Encounter with a Compassionate Buddist!

It would be difficult for me to write on the topic of Buddism - however, this topic hasn't been new to me. Being a Buddist is a new way of life, just like any other religious or philosophical teachings. Instead of growing up from a Christian family environment, my maternal grandmother was the inspiration for me to be 'good' since I was a little girl. My grandmother was the favorite character in my family, because she was the role model for bringing kindness and encouragement in imharmonious situations, especially when my mother would seek advice from her while she was dutifully cooking and bathing my halfly-paralyzed grandmother in Tung Tao Chuen. Although they were impoverishly poor, my mother would always find joy whenever she visited my grandmother and I would love playing with my uncle who was a big fan with popular music. I would always be treated with fried egg luncheon meat on rice from my uncle, while my grandmother would have her vegetarian tofu dishes from my mother. Because my father was in a better economic situation that I lived in a spacious apartment with parents driving me to school everyday, I was no different than other girls next door while playing at my grandmother's home. The public housing in Hong Kong back in 1980s was also my home because of the closeness that I shared with my grandmother.

Last evening, I was sitting across with two Buddist teachers (not monks!) while my husband and I are picking out the desired lamps for the new home. She was a very compassionate lady who shared many stories with me. Striking a conversation with a 'stranger' seemed odd in the first place; however, I understand that people who are in missionary charity meet those along in life and share all they have. I admire them for their selfless sacrifice. She left me her contact, but I hesitated to give mine out because I'm not a Buddist myself. I passed the attention to my mother-in-law instead, because she is a practising Buddist from my family. Because people with Buddist philosophy believe in 'yuen fun', I am sure that if we see each other again that we will just converse like good friends again - who reminds me of my beloved grandmother.

I pray that my Catholic friends (my dad's side) and Buddist friends (my mom's side) are the instruments of peace and selfless love to the world, especially in the hurting parts of human hearts and the environment. I know that my suffering is nothing compared to those who experienced through head traumas, schizophrenia, heart attack, self-suicide, earthquake, etc. I promise that in my new year's blog that I will continue to write for cheering up those who dedicate themselves in helping others and encouraging all to look beyond personal worries for doing the greater good!

If you can, please join me in praying a decade of rosary to pray for the mercy and grace to those in suffering with hurtful hearts! (One 'Our Father', Ten 'Hail Mary', and One 'Glory Be') Thank you =)