Spiritual Richness

Copyright by la-lanchs

It really got me quite some time before I decided to write on this wonderful experience that I had one week ago - an encounter with a very big group of devout Christians during Sunday Service. Deep within me, I believe that this is the manifestation of one thought that I carry along my consciousness for a length of time - that no matter which religion or spiritual belief one has, it is vitally important to pay due respect to others as well. Of course such ripening aspect of karmic connection would not be made possible without the kindness of one friend - Wilson, a good conversationalist and intelligent chap who shared with me many of Christianity teachings. I give thanks for for having known him as a friend.

Upon stepping my foot into Hope PJ, I was greeted by so many friendly people. There's one distinctive feature about these disciples of Christianity that impressed me - they are warm, just warm! At least this was how I perceived it, they really flabbergasted me with such expression.

The service started off with a singing session where a Brother led everyone to sing along on songs that praise God. Alongside the singing was the playing of various musical intruments that was so heart-lifting they could invoke the sense of joy in the minds of everyone present. Being a "first-timer" at this occasion, I surprisingly found myself being able to easily sing along. This was further followed by a sermon. In the midst of the preaching, the devotees were all given a small cup of liquid in red (which I later found out is the famous Ribena) and a little piece of bread. Through the pastor's guide, they later drank the liquid and ate the bread - a practice to symbolically represent that their past defilements were purified.

Being a Buddhist myself, I was told not to partake in the practice for only a Christian devotee can commit the symbolic practice. Hence I observed the process. It got me thinking that there seemed to be some similarity between that practice and the "purification" ritual practised by devotees of Tibetan Buddhism - of which I has considerable familiarity with. While Christian devotees consume the symbolic drink and food to undergo the purification, Tibetan Buddhism practitioners will do some chanting and thereafter to visualise that they are completely purified of their past negativity.

As the service ended, many then set for lunch. This practice of having lunch together was said to be of significant meaning - it is a fellowship session where everyone bond and understand each other better. Wilson said that this fellowship session is generally a "must-do" after the service. I met many youngsters about the same age as mine. They were all devout and nice people. I had a sense that this world will surely be a better place to live as there are so many people practising good values - more so that these are all young people! And that reminded me a phrase that I once read in a book - values are the foundation of future happiness. Oh indeed it is true!

First

Copyright by horizontal.integration

The idea of blogging, or more generally writing, has not appealed to me until I discovered some of its benefits. A series of events occurred that lead to the creation of this blog. As much as I could recall, one of the significant catalysts is the conversation that I had with one classmate a couple of months ago.

I must confess that the conversation had been truly "ear-opening", more so with the fact that I was being given advice by someone about 8 years senior than me. And from someone who has involved in a project that awarded him a five-figure pay (at his twenties), I listened attentively for his words of "wisdom" - hoping that I may profit from it too. My classmate shared with me about the idea of reading a lot on a niche topic in the industry one is concerned with, and upon which one can then write a white-paper to enhance one's credibility.

Intertwining with this event is the episode when I read about "Making Writing As Your New Year Resolution" in one newsletter called Early To Rise - dubbed the most popular health & wealth newsletter in the Internet. Again, many of the tremendous benefits to be reaped from writing are described. The reading on this piece of article on the day of Christmas 2008 further strengthen my conviction - and the will on my part about embarking on a journey to write. I feel blessed that I'm here now.

Every ideas that I think of, I hope to be able to crystallise it - to make them come alive. At least doing so would enable the sharing of ideas with others. These ideas are basically juxtaposed, threaded and meshed - in the process enabling the incubation of "new" ideas. Oh well..said another way, these are not exactly my ideas - but a jigsaw-puzzle of many pieces of interesting stuffs from many people of whom I am fortunate to relate with. This got me into thinking of the remarks uttered by my lecturer a few years ago - that ideas don't just drop from the sky!

As for treasurable memories, each one of them is also a wonderful lot - a million-dollar experience that is worth noting, and which will make one smiles when recalling the precious moments. Hence my longing to capture and immortalise them through words.

And here I am - ready and poised to share my humble ideas and thoughts for the benefits of others. And hopefully through this springboard I can enhance my writing skills too.