last evening, i attended a talk by the zen master with my friends. before the talk started, we had the puja. but this puja was different from all other pujas i have participated in before. it was led by the monastic. and they sang a really beautiful song (it was the puja for kuan im or buddisattva avalokiteshvara). before the puja commence, the master spoke to us about kuan im and what she stands for. he urged us all to open ourselves as we listen to the puja. and he asked that we focus our thoughts on people whom we feel for, for people whom we wanted to direct our healing energies to. i could feel the sense of anticipation as the monastics took up position.
and they started.
their voices were so melodious. all of us closed our eyes and meditated. and we focused our attention onto the lyrics as they sang. and as they sang, i had goose pimples. and slowly my eyes began to tear. my tears flowed freely for that short few minutes. many thoughts went through my mind. many people went through my mind. i meditated on them laughing, on them being painless, on them being happy. thoughts of my past, thoughts of my late dad, my mum, bee's father, bee, james, my sisters, my brother, everyone that passed my life before that had impacted on me. it was a very cathartic feeling. i was totally immersed in the song, in the winds that silently blew from my back. the words of the songs rang loud and clear. the time passed without me realizing it. and soon, the gong rang. it was the signal to end the puja. and soon, all was silent again. although there were 4000 in the audience, the silence was deafening.
and the talk started. it was delivered in very simple english, but the meanings behind the talk was really deep. and i truly enjoyed the talk. the master reminded us of how to live in the present, how to live in the now. how to appreciate ourselves, the people around us, the environment, the things, etc around us. and he shared very candidly how he came face-to-face with an image of the buddha. and how he, as well as the buddha were connected, yet empty. i understood him. the talk lasted longer than it should have. but no one complained. afterall, it was not often that one has the honour and privilege to listen to a master.
when the talk ended, the master invited us to enjoy a song sung by one member of his monastic. the song started. it was in french, then english. the voice was clear and crisp. it certainly did not sound like one sung by someone who was probably in her 70s. and as she sang, the master slowly took his leave. and as quietly as he entered, he left. no pomp, no grant exit. simply. he walked out. emptiness.
my deepest respect.
:-)
and they started.
their voices were so melodious. all of us closed our eyes and meditated. and we focused our attention onto the lyrics as they sang. and as they sang, i had goose pimples. and slowly my eyes began to tear. my tears flowed freely for that short few minutes. many thoughts went through my mind. many people went through my mind. i meditated on them laughing, on them being painless, on them being happy. thoughts of my past, thoughts of my late dad, my mum, bee's father, bee, james, my sisters, my brother, everyone that passed my life before that had impacted on me. it was a very cathartic feeling. i was totally immersed in the song, in the winds that silently blew from my back. the words of the songs rang loud and clear. the time passed without me realizing it. and soon, the gong rang. it was the signal to end the puja. and soon, all was silent again. although there were 4000 in the audience, the silence was deafening.
and the talk started. it was delivered in very simple english, but the meanings behind the talk was really deep. and i truly enjoyed the talk. the master reminded us of how to live in the present, how to live in the now. how to appreciate ourselves, the people around us, the environment, the things, etc around us. and he shared very candidly how he came face-to-face with an image of the buddha. and how he, as well as the buddha were connected, yet empty. i understood him. the talk lasted longer than it should have. but no one complained. afterall, it was not often that one has the honour and privilege to listen to a master.
when the talk ended, the master invited us to enjoy a song sung by one member of his monastic. the song started. it was in french, then english. the voice was clear and crisp. it certainly did not sound like one sung by someone who was probably in her 70s. and as she sang, the master slowly took his leave. and as quietly as he entered, he left. no pomp, no grant exit. simply. he walked out. emptiness.
my deepest respect.
:-)
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