Nyungne (八關齋戒) Retreat at Menlo Park, CA (02/28 to 03/01/2015)

A Nyungne Retreat allows its participants to purify negative karma and accumulate merit and wisdom in a short and intensive setting. This one was a profound eight-and-a-half-day practice long-term retreat. Translated as "abiding in the fast," Nyungne is said to be effective in the healing of illness, the nurturing of compassion, and the purification of negative karma.

During this retreat, we were given only Vegetarian or Vegan meals every other day. No meals were given after 2 pm. We may only drink non-alcoholic beverages and not drink anything after 10 pm. In addition, during non-meal days, we were expected to fast with no food and no water; also we were refrained from conversation during these days for complete silence and fasting. It involves the keeping of strict vows; The meditation centers on the recitations, mantras, and guided visualizations of the Thousand-Armed Chenrezig, the embodiment of all the buddhas' loving-kindness and compassion.

Lama Jamba provided a detailed explanation of the various elements of Nyungne and the explanations on visualization. The sadana book is a wonderful resource with abbreviated and long mantras required in Nyungne retreat. This practice gave me a lot to work with and I found the Dharma friends an inspiration when I was going through difficult days or needed a bit of an enthusiasm boost at the beginning.

At the end, I have to say that the practice purifies me both physically and spiritually. Hopefully, I'd stay at this level as long as possible once I returned to my leisure world.

Participants: Lama Jamba, Anila, Christine (from San Louis Obispo), Wendy (from Calgary, Canada), Wendy Chuang (Tina's niece, Chiropractor), Eugina Chang (任安堂主持人), Shuen Chiou, Pien Chiou, Ming Cam, Anita Chen, Sandy Yen, Tina (Sandy's sister), Shu-Ting (臺積電), Scott & Christina (local), 鈴麗 (local), Pat Ou, Mali & husband (from Mexico City)

Coordinator: Athena (Tina's niece) 

Hitman (2007, Movie)

Like most movies based on video games, this one certainly has it's flaws; little character depth, stereotyped characters and a twisty but mostly nonsense plot. A few impossible battles seemed a cartoonish but, learning 47 comes from a game, it now makes sense. Timothy Olyphant  who in this blood, babes and bullets assassin role, was originally intended for Vin Diesel though. 

13 Assassins (2010, Movie)

This movie is about an evil tyrannical Shogun who kills people for any reason whether they are men or women makes no difference to him. So 13 assassins who are Samurai rise up against him to stop his meaningless murders. The first half is spent recalling said brutality in gruesome detail, and the second half is spent returning all that brutality upon the perpetrator. The 45-minute samurai battle that is the capstone is the most realistic and elegant portrayal of how such an event could pass, and alone is worth the viewing for the superb choreography and continuity. 

Aliens vs. Predator 2 (2007, Movie)

Very disappointing. Not that I had much in the way of expectations after the decline that started with Alien Resurrection, but this was really bad. There was action, but no atmosphere. Style, but no substance. Especially the problem of the very dark cinematography is very annoying.

人生經濟學：時間空間人與人之間 (證嚴上人)

  

很有啟發性的一本書, 但是僅僅一個勵志性普通讀物。

PRIDE - THE MAIN NEGATIVE EMOTION

In general when we practice the Dharma and we commit ourselves to accomplishing positive actions, we encounter obstacles and difficulties. This is due to the fact that our minds are laden with emotions. Of these negative emotions, the main one is pride, which leads us to feel contempt for others (due to an overestimation of oneself: I am the best, the strongest, etc). The existence of pride automatically gives rise to jealousy, hatred, or anger. With pride as its underlying cause, the emotion of anger creates the most powerful effects. This is because it leads us to carry out all kinds of seriously negative actions that will bring about future rebirths in the lower realms.

In Western societies, the distinction between pride and firmness of mind is often confused. A lack of pride is construed to be a weakness. Pride is a built up and concentrated form of ego grasping. So in this respect, it is a weakness. A person can have great strength of character, and a strong resolve to achieve a goal, such as enlightenment, for example, without pride ever manifesting.

We need to dissociate pride (the affirmation of our own supremacy over others, which suggests a certain blindness) from firmness of mind that is a quality free of all the negative aspects of pride. In the same way we often have a distorted view, which equates humility with a weakness of character. What we really need is courage and strength of character, without developing pride.

Gyalwa Shamar Rinpoche
Meditation On Love And Compassion
The Path - Bodhi Path Buddhist Centers Summer 2011

Best wishes for the new year 2015!

Well another year has gone by.  I have some memories of early childhood, before I started school. But most of my memories are from that event onward.  I only remember a few teachers that made an big impression on me.

Have you ever contacted any of your teachers and thanked them for what they did for you?  If not, perhaps you could try to find them.  Start the new year off and thank them.  You'll feel good for doing it and make them feel good that you cared.  I've managed to locate a few and done that.

Best wishes for a good year for you.