Tuesday, June 24, 2008, 09:32 AM - General Topic
Thanks to all those who participated with the garage sale from donating goods to selling up a storm. (literally with the bouts of rain we had). We started setting up the goods outdoors around 6:30 am and a slew of cars with eager garage sale patrons came searching for bargains. We hardly had things set up at that time, yet, it didn't stop them picking through, looking for that unique item to bid on.Garage Sale 2008
Ryan giving a great deal
While working through the sorting of the donations, Wen stumbled upon a little beanie baby dog - Clifford, and for some reason became very ATTACHED to it. For some auspicious reason, even though many people picked the dog up to look at, they put it back into the bin of stuffed toys. By day's end, the girls officially geeted Wen with the stuffed toy and crowned him - Dharma Dog
So please all welcome our Fulong Mascot - Dharma Dog
What a great day it was - we raised close to $600 to go towards the fundraising efforts of bringing Master Haikong over here from China for a special teaching visit.
Thank you everyone!
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Thursday, May 8, 2008, 08:25 PM - All About Meditation
It was my second year and third time to be invited by local high schools, (Iroquois Ridge Public School and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School both in Oakville), to teach basic Buddhism theory and Meditation to grade 11 students. Before the class I wondered if the kids would be intrigued sitting there silently for half an hour or even longer, amazingly, most of them demonstrated their extraordinary ability to discipline their minds during the 70 minutes class. Compared to adults, young people's minds are more innocent and direct, they definitely have more fresh energy and a simpler way of thinking.
I was brought to laughter when some of the16 year-olds couldn't hold a cross-legged posture for more than ten minutes, or at least they attempted to get out off it. They started giggling when I told them that my grandfather can do full lotus sit for a long time, and he is at the ripe age of 87.
As always, the best part of the class was showing to the students and teacher my Lay Buddhist robe. Volunteers eagerly wanted to try it on. The entire class became quiet and everybody’s eyes were fixed on the brown coloured long robe with the two huge sleeves which I explained comes from an ancient Chinese fashion style -- more than 2000 years ago.
For me, the Q&A section is always fascinating. Not because that I am the teacher to answer questions, on the contrary, I feel more like a student learning from those young minds. Questions such as "why do the Buddhas all look so fat?", "Can meditation extend life span?" and "What do you think of tattoos and taking drugs?" would rarely be brought out during my regular meditation teaching with adults. Sometimes, when I have to use some abstract words to give answers, they will comfort me and say, don’t worry, we know what you mean. Things are always seem sunny with kids!
I will have to give big thank you to the World Religion class teachers who have opened these great opportunities to me and invited me to participate with these teachings. I believe understanding is what love grows up on. To learn and extend the understanding to each other is the best way for our children to connect to the world. And I am honored to be a part of it.
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Monday, January 14, 2008, 09:54 AM - All About Meditation
This past weekend we had a great retreat. We had 7 of us attend all ready and willing to progress in our meditation and learn Dharma.Wen kept us in line:
After hours of standing and sitting meditation, chanting and eating amazing meals, we were totally,
Make sure you don't miss the next one!
Jemma
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Thursday, September 13, 2007, 12:34 PM - All About Meditation
It has been two years since we first started teaching TWDD meditation in Canada. Majority of our students, following days/months of practice, have experienced the joy of peacefulness and calmness rising from their hearts. Some have made positive life direction changes; some finally disembarked from the procrastination fences they were sitting on and became more focused on the path to true happiness for their lives. Others quit smoking and many gained various health improvements. As a powerful and profound meditation practice method, making such a great impact on people’s lives is fully anticipated and makes sense. To the true meditation practitioners, this is just the first step, and better is yet to come.
Practicing meditation is not like taking medicine -- to be taken only when you are not feeling well. The goal of consistent meditation practice is to allow yourself to become the meditation, to let the seed of peacefulness and happiness ripen and become part of your being. Just like a child learning piano, the experience of learning itself, may not be so appealing to the child because it takes a lot discipline and hard work, however, once when this child has grasped the essence of playing piano and is able to play beautiful music any time he or she wants, the joy of learning piano has just ripened. For the same reason, if we are only trying to focus on the moment of meditation, feeling happy if the meditation is peaceful and comfortable, and feeling upset or losing interest if in one period it becomes turbulent and hard on the legs, we will not be able to move forward into the stage of “becoming”.
So we meditate, with patience, dedication and vigorousness, and let the peace and compassion become part of who we are…
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Wednesday, September 12, 2007, 10:32 AM - All About Meditation
We don’t really feel our body on a daily basis. When we start to constantly notice our body, it is usually because we are in pain or diseased. To treat it, we take medicine or receive medical care to treat our own body. When we are in distress it is because our minds are diseased or in constant chaos, and we seem to always want to look outside ourselves to heal our problems. Have you ever heard people complain: "...it must be my parents fault", "I wish they could have…" or "... it is all because of the school" and "I wish..." or "it is all because of you and I wish..."
Why meditate then? To trace inward and heal our own dis-eased mind.
Would you agree?
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