tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-356301532009-05-15T05:54:26.086-05:00Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-11545552936988942772009-02-17T21:52:00.007-05:002009-02-19T07:07:58.450-05:00

Last Sunday, we sped along I-4 in the afternoon, hovering tantalizingly close around the speed limit. A minivan load of seven, me at the helm, was then making its way to Orlando to attend the memorial service for the late Master Sheng Yen. In my rush, I turned into the opposite lane at 408, necessitating a detour and a U-turn to head back to the correct direction, arriving at our destination, the

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-76369389051214589952008-12-21T12:12:00.012-05:002008-12-21T18:38:34.070-05:00

We have participated in several local donation drives organized by the Orlando Chapter of Tzu Chi Organization, a world-wide Buddhist Compassion Relief headquartered in Taiwan, in the past years, as well as their roving tea gatherings in the homes of Tampa-based Tzu Chi volunteers. But this is our very first trip to their training camp focusing on the responsibilities and duties of Tzu Chi

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-71819129861932911072008-12-06T14:12:00.008-05:002008-12-06T14:58:38.678-05:00

The notion of ghosts has always been around in most cultures. While ghosts may be scary to kids, and make for excellent cautionary tales for the young, they are the subject of celebration too. For example, Halloween is a popular day of festivity in US while the Chinese have their own version of the Ghost Festival. In some religions, ghosts are not sacrilegious, but may have a different moniker

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-959583510690362322008-11-27T13:06:00.007-05:002008-11-27T13:35:51.809-05:00

Continuing from my previous post on Calming the Mind from Master Sheng Yen's book, I Send You My Blessings, this post deals with the Four Urges to Have as he further dissected the social psyche that has muddled our value system despite the advances we have made on the technology front. The flourish of materialism and the rapid upheavals in social structures result in our poor understanding,

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-92009220224462403692008-11-26T18:44:00.008-05:002008-11-26T19:19:57.170-05:00

We often use the dichotomy between the haves and have-nots to illustrate the chasm dividing the affluence and the destitute present in our society, even internationally. The underlying simmer of the malcontent is all but waiting to flare up given the slightest provocation. Thus, concepts such as spreading the wealth, prospering thy neighbor, affirmative action have emerged to correct such

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-70980299958410179932008-11-22T15:35:00.006-05:002008-11-22T16:08:17.081-05:00

We attended the robe offering celebration organized by Dhamma Wheel Meditation Society (DWMS) at Clearwater on the morning of Nov 8, 2008. Unlike the previous year when the event was held outdoor under a makeshift tent, this time it was held in the premises of Unity Church located next door, thanks to Leddy Hammock, Spiritual Leader and her congregation.In his opening speech, Bhante Dhammawansha,

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-75496901969608955922008-09-28T10:47:00.005-05:002008-09-28T15:15:40.466-05:00

Due to the schedule conflict of our Dharma teacher, the monthly Dharma session organized by Middle Way Buddhist Association for September has to be canceled, leaving a kind of momentary void in my journey on the Buddhist path. Fortunately, I have started reciting the Heart Sutra, a highly condensed version of 260 Chinese characters that captures the essence of Buddhism, every morning. For now, I

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-66792851500246668032008-09-13T12:19:00.007-05:002008-09-13T15:20:30.968-05:00

Many people are familiar with the manifestation of physical principles at work, the simplest example being perhaps gravity that enables us to stand firmly on ground. But we may only have a hazy idea when it comes to the theory underlying the principle, let alone being able to explain how it works. In fact, the surest way to kill a conversation is to invoke physics in a social setting, unless one

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-83866673488459053542008-08-31T13:19:00.006-05:002008-10-16T18:51:02.919-05:00

The 18th Dharma session under the aegis of Middle Way Buddhist Association started off on Aug 18, 2008 as usual with meditation. The Dharma teacher of the day was again Bhante Upananda, who instructed the attendees to breathe in joy and to breathe out pent-up emotions as a release, letting go of worldly attachments.The ensuing Dharma talk focused on Karma, a popular and yet confusing and poorly

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-7037844498362370522008-08-09T12:25:00.015-05:002008-08-09T22:25:16.113-05:00

Yesterday morning, after much ado about nothing (NBC, which purportedly paid $900 millions for the exclusive broadcasting rights of the 29th Olympiad in US, decided to delay the televised opening ceremony by 12 hours), we resigned to waiting for the delayed telecast by trying to occupy ourselves with other gainful pursuits to pass the intervening hours. For example, both Wify and I blogged about

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-10138599239181083422008-08-02T09:33:00.007-05:002008-08-02T12:25:38.363-05:00

As mentioned here, we attended three local celebrations of Vesak Day, an annual occasion to commemorate the life, the enlightenment, and the passing of Buddha. Other than the one held at Guang Ming Temple, Orlando, which follows the Mahayana (The Great Vehicle) tradition, the other two were held at the St. Pete area that practice the Theravadan (the Hinayana or the Small Vehicle) tradition.

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-8349032043066338312008-07-27T11:25:00.008-05:002008-07-27T13:06:57.630-05:00

We arrived early at the Pinellas Park venue of Middle Way Buddhist Association on July 19, 2008 to attend the 17th Dharma session. I took the opportunity to scan the immediate environs, taking in the serene setting and enjoying the fresh morning air permeating the space as far as the eyes could see, most of which was mental since this is right smack in the midst of a built up area.Then the throng

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-90502127405029119412008-07-12T12:13:00.012-05:002008-07-13T09:18:23.792-05:00

The scourge of widespread riverine flooding has hit the US Midwest region again. The weeks of torrential rains have tested the mighty Mississippi River and its many tributaries at its upstream end beyond their conveyance capacity (a jargon used in hydraulic engineering to denote the ability of a river cross-section to pass the upstream flow downstream without spilling its banks) such that the

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-34214282883060304822008-06-29T09:50:00.008-05:002008-06-30T20:13:59.229-05:00

The fascinating topic of the Inner Consciousness, the cognitive and affective core of the human mind as Buddhism views it, was the chosen theme of the 16th Dharma Session of Middle Way Buddhist Association (MWBA) held on May 25, 2008 at its Pinellas Park venue. It was delivered by Bhante Upananda, by now a familiar Buddhist monk who has graced the MWBA Dharma sessions on numerous occasions.Bhante

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-46036252651503159092008-06-01T22:12:00.005-05:002008-06-01T22:50:42.781-05:00

That's the title of the Dharma talk delivered by Venerable Yung Han, Director of Fo Guang Shan Dallas Branch, at Guang Ming Temple on May 17, 2008. This was the second successive weekend that we were at the Temple, but this time with WT and CE, the previous one being on the occasion of Celebrating Buddha's Birthday and Mother's Day Festival on May 11, 2007.We arrived at about 1pm, just in time

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-22847848375873146512008-05-27T12:57:00.023-05:002008-05-28T09:21:06.858-05:00

Yesterday was Memorial Day here in US, a day devoted to honoring all military veterans. To me, it's also a befitting day to hold in memoriam of a great Buddhist scholar-cum-practitioner whose single-minded quest for the universal truth has illuminated the path for those who come after him, especially those who wish to learn more about the Mahayana tradition of Buddhism relevant in the milieu of

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-6650686083800490642008-05-17T09:30:00.014-05:002008-05-18T13:39:22.727-05:00

The Month of May is a blessed month for Buddhists all over the world. It is in this month that Vesak Day is celebrated, commemorating the birth, the life, and passing of the Buddha. Hence, in May, Buddhist temples and centers the world over organize a rolling series of celebrations for local Buddhists and lay persons alike.As in past years, we participated in a couple, and will be attending

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-85248179020059674752008-05-11T20:12:00.009-05:002008-05-11T22:03:38.317-05:00

The third segment of the blissful day of April 19, 2008 (read here and here for the first and the second segments, respectively) comes in the form of our attendance at the 2008 Change Your Mind Day (CYMD) organized by the Tampa Bay Chapter of Buddhist Peace Fellowship held amidst the scenic setting of Phillippe Park, Safety Harbor.According to the organizers, "CYMD began in New York's Central

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-86246001207645226622008-05-03T13:51:00.007-05:002008-05-06T18:47:53.813-05:00

The Dependent Origination in Our Daily Life. That's the topic of the Dharma talk delivered by Venerable Chueh Fan from Guang Ming Temple, Orlando, on April 19, 2008 on the occasion of the 15th Dharma Session organized monthly by Middle Way Buddhist Association and held at its Pinellas Park venue. It was after our meditation session in the morning. Amidst our usual mutual introduction session,

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-86768514686601261592008-04-27T10:48:00.007-05:002008-04-30T16:28:19.328-05:00

April 19 was the occasion of the 15th Dharma Session of Middle Way Buddhist Association (MWBA) held at its venue at Pinellas Park on a monthly basis. For the first time, we and all the attendees commenced the pre-Dharma talk meditation on our own, the absence of the guidance by the designated Dharma teacher of the day did not dampen the attendees' enthusiasm nor readiness. Also for the first time

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-51076967744858315112008-04-13T19:11:00.007-05:002008-04-14T05:01:01.240-05:00

Today (April 13, 2008)'s issue of PARADE, which is delivered every Sunday as a supplement to the St. Petersburg Times, carries a survey of how much American people earn (How does your salary stack up? by Lynn Brenner, pg. 3-17). This annual survey of a sample of wage levels spreading across the various occupations serve as a barometer on the state of the economy as well as a personal guide to

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-41009429564165859312008-04-05T10:25:00.014-05:002008-04-05T12:31:11.849-05:00

Taking a shower, or taking a bath as is more commonly spoken of from where I came from, is as natural as sleeping. The former is like a work-over for the body while the latter, the mind. So when we saw this movie title on the 4-in-1 DVD, the temptation to find out what the director can possibly cook up from this mundane aspect of life was too much to resist. And we watched it next, after the

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-62003583219624022392008-03-30T11:19:00.008-05:002008-03-30T13:42:50.043-05:00

I'm usually attracted to action/thriller movie flicks when it comes to cinematic exploration. Seldom do I, or so I thought, have time or stomach for docudramas which I find to be slow moving. However, lately this notion of mine has undergone a paradigmatic shift as evidenced from some of the films in this genre that have been a revelation: Turtle Can Fly, A Bright Moon.This altered impression has

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-36733292969492786272008-03-22T22:48:00.014-05:002008-03-24T19:46:45.185-05:00

We attended a tea gathering (the literally translated version of “party” sounds a wee bit convivial while “meeting”, on the other hand, borders on matter-of-fact. “Gathering” then reflects both congeniality and informality) organized by the Orlando Chapter of Tzu Chi Organization, a Buddhist Compassionate Relief based in Taiwan and founded by Master Cheng Yen in 1966, at a Tampa venue today. This

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35630153.post-74566806408130856292008-03-21T23:26:00.011-05:002008-03-22T19:11:20.458-05:00

As part of our monthly routine, we drove to Pinellas Park last Saturday to attend the 14th Dharma Session of Middle Way Buddhist Association (MWBA), in a continuing series of Dharma discussion of Buddhist wisdom, this time on suffering and impermanence. The discussion was to be led, as usual, by Bhante Dhammawansha, the resident monk of Dhamma Wheel Meditation Society (DWMS). However, we were

Say Leehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594983135290702175noreply@blogger.com0