An interesting day

2 days ago, which is Friday, I was out almost the whole day. Finally after many days of non-stop raining, the rain stopped. And that's how I managed to go out for a haircut, which was long overdue.

On my way home, suprise suprise I met a teacher from my secondary school. He is Mr Lee. Although he did not teach me before, I remembered him as a very strict teacher. Think he used to be the discpline master of the school. Mr Lee told me he have retired from work already. Right now he seemed quite healthy and relaxed. Well, all the best to him!

Then while on the train, an interesting thing happened. A lady, should be around in the mid twenties, asked my mum for direction to Woodlands station. I realised she's from China through her accent. Then on the train, she initiated a conversation with my mum and I. Apparently she was inspired seeing me on wheelchair yet still living well, she offered some words of encouragements. She actually said something like 先天的不足可以由后天的努力补上。I was quite suprised and amazed that a stranger could actually chat with me, and yet at the same time be inspired by me. Though the conversation lasted for about 5 to 10 minutes, I could feel the value of it. You know, initially when she spoke to me, I was think about 2 things. Is she trying to preach? Or is she trying to sell health products to me? (Well both of this 2 happened before on other occasion) Apparently I'm wrong! Haha..

While I was reaching my station, she asked me 1 power question. She asked: what's your dream for the future or what you want to achieve in your life? Wow this is 1 tough question! Because at that time I was going to get off the train any moment, in my mind was only 1 answer-- Kosen-Rufu. Hence out of my mouth I replied: to really contribute something of value back to the society. That I supposed is a honest answer that pop out of my mouth. It was a unique conversation with a stranger. Despite having some prejudice against people from China due to some bad experience in the past, I find this lady having no agenda or ill-meaning at all. Didn't managed to exchange contact with her, haha. Well, perhaps we might meet again :)

Another small suprise during evening was when I'm returning home from a gakkai meeting, I met another teacher from my sec school! Wow meeting 2 teachers in a single day! It was Mrs Philips this time, my Maths and form teacher during sec 4. She looks great, and she was with her family on the way home too. What a pleasant suprise. Perhaps 1 of these days I should visit my sec school eh...

Resolution 2006

Lots of resolutions for this year.

• read many many good books. Re-read the HR by June.
• stay healthy, cheerful, compassionate everyday.
• make efforts to make more new friends and engage in more dialogues, and keep in touch with old friends that I have not contacted for some time
• carry out human revolution and fight my own weakness. EG, laziness, shyness, and turn them into strengths
• launch my own internet business by march 16th and creating victories such that I can support my family financially.
• play a vital role in my district and contribute actively to my district in any ways I can.
• by June, create a powerful breakthrough in NUSSD west region and foster 10 active members and 2 capable leaders
• chant 4 million daimoku this year together with my family.
• Change my extended family's karma and lead them to Gohonzon, the way to absolute happiness.
  

Was reading CL and came across this. It says "Some people's resolution exists only in the realm of ideas. Other make only superficial resolutions...... Making a true resolution from the depths of one's own life leaves no room for flippancy. Such a resolution is as awesome as a mighty river or an unfathomable ocean."

It's not easy to accomplish these resolutions I set. Nevertheless I'll do my best! Let's make this year a memorable one in our lives!!

Some interesting quotes

Do not confuse motion and progress.
A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress.
----Alfred Montepert


Most people would rather die than think; In fact, they do so.
----Bertrand Russell

The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for.
--- Maureen Dowd

My Mentor's birthday

Yesterday is my mentor, Ikeda Sensei, birthday. Happy birthday Sensei!! If I'm not wrong he is 78 this year. And he is still striving hard to work for the happiness of others! I must always remember his spirit.

Coincidentally, if I'm not wrong, Nikken, the high priest that tries to obstruct the pure flow of the buddhist Law, happens to have his birthday on the same day as Ikeda Sensei. Wow, what a coincident! A senior once said that the struggles and battle of good and evil is taking place before us between Sensei and Nikken, exactly the same as the battle between Shakyamuni and Devadatte 2500 years ago. Hence isn't it the greatest honour for us disciples of Sensei to live in this lifetime and fight alongside our mentor? Wow wow, when I heard this, I can really feel the burning heat in me, that how important my mission in life is.

Of course, we are not hating this man Nikken and really want him dead lah. But we are fighting against the evil act of his, and the great devilish function that arises from his life. Ultimately, I feel our action is out of great compassion for the betterment of human being and not the demeaning of a human life.

Goodness and evil resides in this world, in every realms, and in our lives too. Everyday, good and evil are manifested in our daily lives, and we are constantly having this battle of good and evil in us. I personally too experience this everyday. Sometimes the laziness tendancy keeps popping out now and then to pester me. Man, I cannot let this go on in 2006. Must continue to fight this evil in me.

Today is not a productive day. Must renew my determinatio to work harder tomorrow! Let's fight!

Selection for Tuesday, January 3

Employ the strategy of the Lotus Sutra before any other. "All others who bear you enmity or malice will likewise be wiped out." These golden words will never prove false. Believe them wholeheartedly. The heart of strategy and swordsmanship derives from the Mystic Law. Have profound faith. A coward cannot have any of his prayers answered.

The Strategy of the Lotus Sutra -%2

A new start

Today is the start of a new year. It's also today that I start my very own blog. I must say, I was quite reluctant to go into blogging initially. Why? Well blog looks more like a diary, but a diary that can be read by others. But why would people thought of reading my diary? It's so funny right. And being an open source, I somehow feel the need of responsibility in whatever I write, as anyone might be reading.

I remember watching a show on tv where the most famous blogger, XX, was commenting that it's the reader that's responsible, not the writer. But is that true? My mentor in life, Ikeda Sensei, once mentioned that the power of public opinion can influence the society, and that can be the main purpose of journalism. I truly feel that as a human being living in this world, we should always be awared that we are all connected in our lives. Hence, in a way, our actions can affect others around us.

And so, why do I want to start this blog? Perhaps this can be a place where I can share some of my personal thoughts and feelings, which I might seldom share. I hope blogging can also be a form of training for my writing skills in the hope of strengthening my ability to write better. Lastly I hope this can be a place that can give any source of inspiration, be it in the slightest form, to anyone who read about my life's experience.

My mentor in fact has a similar experience of blogging about 50 years ago. In his youth he wrote a personal diary, which now is open to all to read as a source of powerful encouragement. I too was inspired by his youthful struggles that he penned down in his youth. Hence, following his footstep, I'm determined to struggle and work hard in my youth to lay a strong foundation for my life.

In the upcoming postings, I would try not to use the names of any person I mentioned but use the initials instead. I would also mention many aspects of my life, which includes my family, friends, and my faith. As one who practise Nichiren Buddhism, my faith is an important part of my life. As faith is in daily life, my faith is a natural part of my life rather than a part of my life. Hence I may be writing things on my faith and my practise. I hope any reader would find it not as a form of preaching but rather as an opportunity to explore and understand about my faith.

Ok, this will end my 1st ever posting!!!

Happy new Year!!!!!!!! :)

SGI President Ikeda's Daily Encouragement for January 1

Those who wake up each morning with work to accomplish and a mission to fulfill are the happiest people of all. SGI members are like this. For us each day is one of supreme purpose and satisfaction. For us each day is New Year's Day. Please exert yourselves vigorously with the determination to live each day to the fullest, so that you may compose a golden diary of life.