Kuala Lumpur Visit.

Right now I am in Kuala Lumpur and will be here for a few days to do some programme at the Karma Kagyu Dharma Society. Before that while I was in Singapore, I had been busy on many things such as five days puja and then also in between some other works and seeing people. One of the works is interesting to me as our Singapore centre wishes to publish a book that contains my photo journal. I am trying to prepare my good photos from my entire photo album that approximates to thousands of shots. I have chosen nicer photos and particularly those taken by me during the last 10 years. I have added some captions, some of which are related to Dharma practice.

This project is done by one of our dharma sister but I need to assist in giving every information and explanation. This album is actually part of Karma Kagyu Buddhist Centre’s fund raising purpose and I am providing the photo and explanations. It will be launching on 12th September on my birthday. I guess many of you have seen some of the photos in my blog.

Another project is the recording of one prayer which I sing along with music. The prayer, composed by the 3rd Karmapa, is about paying the kind debt to our mother. One very kind and generous person contributed for the cost of production of the audio CD for free distribution in Singapore. I am not sure how good it will be but I have done my best. There are other songs sang by our own people who have the talent in singing and in creating music. It is not a commercial project but purely to create awareness of how great mothers are and we need to understand mothers’ contribution towards us.

There are people who come to see me seeking consultation on many subjects such as their practices, daily matters and also some times weird questions. One time, some one came to ask me about lottery. He said he did not buy the number that is in right front of him. The numbers were actually on one of the items presented by me. One day, he saw that number came out as first prize but he had not bought it. He then asked me why he missed to buy that number which is already there? I told him one short story and that is: Long ago, a great Bodhisattva met the Wealth God and the Bodhisattva asked him “You are the god of wealth and yet you did not give wealth to the needy ones. People are suffering from poverty, yet you simply did not care for them. You should give them wealth to relieve their problems instead of giving more to the people who already have so much wealth.” Then the Wealth God replied, “I also wish to do that but somehow my wealth doesn’t seem to benefit the poor people and on contrary, benefits the rich people.” The Bodhisattva then asked, “How can that be if you wish to give and they do not benefit? It is not possible like that.” The Wealth God answered, “If you don’t believe in what I just said then I will show you what will happen. Please come with me and let’s see”. Both of them walked towards a bridge and the Wealth God placed a big piece of gold that is shaped like a stone in the middle of the bridge. Both of them stood aside to see what is going to happen.

Soon, three beggars came along and they were jesting with each other on who is smarter. Just before crossing the bridge, they decided that whoever crosses the bridge the fastest whilst being blindfolded is the smartest person amongst them. So they tied a small piece of cloth over their eyes, blindfolded themselves and started to cross the bridge. All three of them crossed the bridge without seeing the gold! They were merely engrossed with praising the person who had walked the fastest and they left.

Later another person came along and he was singing a song while crossing the bridge. Though his feet struck the gold, he did not notice it as gold but deemed it just an ordinary stone. In fact, he was angry and spat on it and left.

Subsequently, one rich man riding on a horse carrying many jewelry and wealth came onto that bridge. Immediately he saw the gold, got off the horse, picked it up, carried that along and left. After that the Wealth God told the Bodhisattva, “You see, I too wish needy people will benefit from my wealth but it is usually not the case. On the contrary, it benefits those who already have some assets by way of accumulation of past merits and which creates a cause for them to achieve worldly and beyond worldly accomplishments.

The Bodhisattva thinks it is individual’s Karma to receive the results from the cause, which they have created earlier. No one can simply change the fate of another. He felt very compassionate towards them and decided that the most important thing is to create a good cause for everyone so that they can be free from suffering.

Many people think luck is different from Karma.  I think luck is linked to Karma. It is the sole creator and main cause of happiness or suffering  so when it is ripened, we experience the result accordingly.                                  That was the story I told him.