when i was in the hospital, there was really nothing much to do except to lie down and recuperate. and it was then that i thought i should spend my time doing something more productive. and so, i decided to meditate. it was perhaps one of the most natural thing for me to do considering the very conducive environment that i was in. initially, i had some problems concentrating as i was hurting. so i decided to do some silent chanting instead. it helped me focus and distract myself from the pains. gradually, i was able concentrate on my breathing and meditate. i guessed the meditation helped cos my body calmed down, and both my blood pressure as well as my pulse rate stabilized.
on a separate note, i became aware and very conscious of a few things when i did my silent chanting and meditation. firstly, the people around me stared at me and whispered quite a bit. initially, i was a little self-conscious, but gradually, i managed to let go of that. eventually, i sensed the people around me (including their family members) accepting it and letting me be. the staring and the whispering stopped. secondly, i sensed a certain sense of respect that the people around me were according to me. perhaps i was sensitive, but certainly, the way they looked at me and my every movement, the way they talk to me (in a very courteous and somewhat respectable manner), the way they lower their voice when they see me chanting/ meditating... all these made me appreciate a few things.
firstly, from the chinese patients and their family's conversation, it was clear that they were all taoist-buddhists (this is a very singaporean/ malaysian practise, many do not distinguish between buddhism and taoism), i supposed their courteous and respectful treatment towards me was a reflection of their reverence towards buddhism in general. secondly, amongst the patients sharing the ward with me, there was a non-chinese (malay to be exact, and muslim i believe). and interestingly, i see the same responses from this patient. to me, it reflected a certain healthy level of respect for other religions and freedom of practise.
and this, to me, is why i enjoy living in this country. people generally respect each other, each other's religion and do not criticize each other's practise.
ps: on hindsight, it is really regretful that i should think about meditating only when i was in hospital. i think i should make more effort to do more of it in order to achieve a better sense of peace of mind and balance to my life.
on a separate note, i became aware and very conscious of a few things when i did my silent chanting and meditation. firstly, the people around me stared at me and whispered quite a bit. initially, i was a little self-conscious, but gradually, i managed to let go of that. eventually, i sensed the people around me (including their family members) accepting it and letting me be. the staring and the whispering stopped. secondly, i sensed a certain sense of respect that the people around me were according to me. perhaps i was sensitive, but certainly, the way they looked at me and my every movement, the way they talk to me (in a very courteous and somewhat respectable manner), the way they lower their voice when they see me chanting/ meditating... all these made me appreciate a few things.
firstly, from the chinese patients and their family's conversation, it was clear that they were all taoist-buddhists (this is a very singaporean/ malaysian practise, many do not distinguish between buddhism and taoism), i supposed their courteous and respectful treatment towards me was a reflection of their reverence towards buddhism in general. secondly, amongst the patients sharing the ward with me, there was a non-chinese (malay to be exact, and muslim i believe). and interestingly, i see the same responses from this patient. to me, it reflected a certain healthy level of respect for other religions and freedom of practise.
and this, to me, is why i enjoy living in this country. people generally respect each other, each other's religion and do not criticize each other's practise.
ps: on hindsight, it is really regretful that i should think about meditating only when i was in hospital. i think i should make more effort to do more of it in order to achieve a better sense of peace of mind and balance to my life.
9 comments:
relax and be aware, and everything will be fine
thank you wizard. living in the present, in the now.
Hi, yes, it's a wonderful feeling if everybody respects one another, regardless of their religion, race, ...
For me, being a Buddhist married to a Christian, I am not accepted by my MIL and family even after 25 years of marriage because of my beliefs.
Sadly, no matter how much I do for the family, they still do not accept me for what I believe in...so much so that I cannot practise when my MIL is around.
But I am happy for you because you are able to get peace of mind from meditating. I hope the 2012 you will be a happier and healthier you. Take care.
:)
hi ladybird, it is regretful that things turned out this way. well, i may not be in the best position to ask, but are you also showing signs of not accepting your husband's practises? could that have contributed to their prejudices in some small ways?
one thing i realized is that as a buddhist, i should also not hold on too strictly to buddhistic rituals. religion is a function of the heart and the mind, not the actions/ rituals. what is most important is that the heart and mind that are in the right place. and so, if by not practising these rituals could avoid negative energies, then you are doing the right thing.
blessed 2012 to you and all at home too ladybird.
Thanks.
Before I met my hb, he had stopped going to church for many years. The reason was he didn't like the people in his church. When we were planning to get married, his mum expected me to convert to Christianity.
I have been to church before being invited by my friends to do so and also by his friends. The feeling I felt there was the same each time - a feeling of extreme unease.
Being a buddhist keeps me happy. I am not one for rituals. I just like the calm I derived from learning about buddhist teachings.
My MIL told my boys whenever I was not around that my religion is false. Hers is the only true religion my boys should believe in.
hi ladybird,
i supposed there is nothing much you can do about your mil. i guess you should encourage your boys to read up more about religions in general and to decide for themselves the ones that they can align their beliefs in.
that is the most important rather than it must be this or that.
:-)
Yes, I agree. I am leaving the decision re their religious beliefs to my boys. It's should be a personal choice.
:)
may we attain buddhahood for the sake of all beings, a mi tuo fo...=)
add oil...
a mi tuo fo!
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