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“Its funny how reflection can be two things at once: a tool for processing, and a Zen mirror simply noticing. It’s amazing that both can happen at the exact same time, as you noted earlier.”

Hello Peter,

Sometimes the mind needs a moment to reflect and just come to terms with what happened. One can call that suffering the second arrow or the third arrow. Still, the mind needs to process. If after practice and all that training then maybe we can be free from the Karma that binds us to the rebirth. IDK. Just trying to live in the moment. That is why I think I was drowning in love songs. Now, it has passed and the next chapter comes alive.

I hope to see you in the stream entry someday. Where we might meet and be silent in our understanding of our lives. To know that we are made of one and the same cloth.

Hello Alessa,

You actually listened to them?? Most people would just let it go since it is in a different language. When I first heard them, I did not understand the words but felt the emotion from the songs. When I went to listen to the music by the nun, at first, it was not to my taste. Then gave it a second chance and it reflects a different mood.

One which I wasn’t ready for. I learned Cantonese first and you would think it would help in learning Mandarin but it doesn’t really. My mind just doesn’t want to process Mandarin. I tried learning Spanish in High School. Didn’t take. I spent about a month in Puerto Rico but didn’t interact with the people there. To learn a language, it really takes using it daily. My niece learned Spanish. Cantonese, not so much. Weird?

No one else in my family is into Buddhism as I am. Strange how one can live in similar surroundings and still grow up with different views??

Hello Alessa,

“In My Song” is a little too new for me.
心太軟 (Heart Too Soft) is closer to the time which I courted my wife.
YouTube video with translation “y o utube.com/watch?v=xgKCRLS9ZS8”
I put in spaces to keep the system from detecting a URL.
And even then the song was a little old.
Richard Marx’s “Right Here Waiting For You” was a good one.
Cause we started a long distance relationship.
I would see her once a year. Finally married her in 1996
And she came to the states in 1999. Yeah, I am still in a mood.

Hi Alessa,

Hope all is well with you. Thanks for you kind words. Will try to take your advice to practice more. Lately, I am just obsessed with listening to love songs. Some songs make me feel like my heart is broken again. Other times, the song plants a heart ache. A yearning for love. Getting pushed and pulled. Sometimes it feels good to drown in the songs. Songs that bring up memories. Songs on the radio and I just sing along. Never meant to memorize the songs but they just come pouring out.

So, this Tuesday night, please be in a good space. Please be healthy, happy and safe.

Got no story today, just thinking about the Buddha’s thoughts about suffering. First, life comes with it hard hitting traumas. It is unavoidable. That is the first arrow. It hurts. We feel the pain. The emotional scar and physical one lingers. But, we continue to suffer more cause by fighting and reliving the first arrow. It may not make sense to live this way but that is how most of us are. I know I constantly remember things which I regret (either doing or receiving). It arises and I fight to let them go. I think it gives them more strength when I fight. Just got to let it go. Anyway, I know it is easier said then done. Life have proven that. However, I still work on myself and try to learn to do better.

Thanks for the story. It is a real chin scratcher. Or a temple tapper with the forefinger. I think it is better to be happy with what one has rather than to wish for the greener side of the hill.