恩

Long time no see

2009-04-12T00:04:00.002+01:00

I know, it's been a long time, sorry guys~~

I was and I am still very busy for exams, dissertation, Gakkai activities, self-learning, etc...

I trying my best to do 3 hours of daimoku everyday, at least a short section of Gosho and the Sensei's novel "The Human Revolution", Japanese language learning, preparation for final exams, and 3 dialogue for kosen-rufu. I have not yet been succeeding every day, sometimes I fulfilled these but neglected others - but I'm really doing my best!

Lots of changes within these few months...It's a long story!
Where shall I begin?

Hmm...I'm chanting vigorously every day for everything - wisdom, Buddhahood, mum, Ikeda sensei and Kaneko san, family and friends, study, etc. My current biggest challenge is - firstly, of course - my dissertation. I'm having difficulties in recruiting participants, only 10 out of 108 parents responded to my recruitment - gotta chant a lot to have great fortune and wisdom!

Secondly, I'm chanting and studying really hard to get full scholarship to further study in London U and Soka U Japan - long story again so I have to make it short. It's really a great protection from shoten zenjin that I came across these two scholarship application - am currently applying for the London U one - wanna continue my study in MA Museums & Galleries in Education. I'm praying hard to study in SOka U at the Soka Education Research Institute. When I chant I firmly know that these decisions are so right - I must get all professional trainings that I need to dedicate myself to kosen-rufu and the propogation of Soka Education to the world!

That's why I'm learning Japanese now, cos I want to master Japanese before I study at the Soka Edu Research Inst - I have to read all books written by the three presidents of the Soka Gakkai - Makiguchi sensei was the founder of Soka Education; Toda sensei and Ikeda sensei carried out the mission to promote their mentor's ideal and put it into realization - here comes the Soka Education System =)

And me - I have a great mission in fulfilling my mentors' will - to elucidate a wonderful path for all humankind to attain happiness - my lifelong career compromises the art, culture, and education field.

Gotta read "The Human Revolution" now and chant for a while more before I sleep.

Most of the time I'm really exhausted and sleepy. But when I think about Ikeda sensei - his ceaseless effort and selfless dedication to kosen-rufu - how can I slacken even for a moment? I can't stop, otherwise I'll delay the advancement of kosen-rufu.

また　さよなら
(mata sayonara, lit means see you, goodbye)

Remember, never ever slacken for just a single moment, otherwise devils will take advantage.

See ya, bye bye =)

Dilemmas

2009-03-24T23:14:00.002Z

It's complicated...I just have to chant more and more and more and more and more~

Education? Child and educational psychology?
Get into dancing again?
To move out or not?

Keep chanting, the power of daimoku is incomprehensible; what you think in front of the Gohonzon will be true. Let's redetermine and make concrete actions again!

Ganbatte kudasai!!!

Do your best!

2009-03-11T20:26:00.003Z

I feel quite bad now...but never mind, there are so many important things in life. I will never be afraid cause I have gohonzon with me. Sensei says:"There's no coward in gakkai!" I don't want to be a coward. Yes I feel sad, but never let your emotions and heart to alter your ichinen - be clear about what you want to do and what you should do, he taught me this.

And he told me this, sensei says:"Human heart is fickle..." Therefore I MUST chant lots of daimoku to establish a strong and firm ichinen.

No prayers will go unanswered, no effort for kosen-rufu will be wasted - base your life and faith on daimoku and kosen-rufu, the buddha gods will surely protect you.

Jane, nothing is more important than your faith and kosen-rufu, you should never forget this.

Gambarimasu!

Guidance that move me forward...

2009-03-11T20:24:00.001Z

Seikyo Shimbun - March 12th, 2009
~Daily Encouragement~
"...simply clinging to our life will not result in attaining genuine happiness. It is by establishing a fundamental purpose and pursuing the correct course in life - ready to face any hardship this might entail - that enables us to experience a deep sense of joy and fulfillment. If we allow ourselves to be controlled by shallow desires and begrudge our lives at a crucial moment, then our hearts will wither and only misery and regret will await us."

Seikyo Shimbun - March 6th, 2009
~Daily Gosho~
"In the light of the above points, this shows, my followers, that you had better cut short your sleep by night and curtail your leisure by day, and ponder this! You must not spend your lives in vain and regret it for ten thousand years to come."
(The Problem to Be Pondered Night and Day - The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin, Vol.1, page 622)

"Life without hardships may seem more attractive, but it is a shallow, lackluster thing."
(by Daisaku Ikeda, taken from www.ikedaquotes.org)

Dear friends,
Do you ponder or day-dream on your bed every morning? When you do, you have two choices: to dream what you like to dream of, or to get up and exert each moment with full effort to realize your dreams. I'll choose the latter one, I hope you will too =)

All the best,
Jane Woo

2009-02-25T10:02:00.003Z

I feel the pain...
When I received the camera tripod that I ordered in purpose to take beautiful pic when we go for Europe trip...
I thought I've forgotten....but it came into my heart again...
I feel the pain...but I'm not regret...
cause I'm very sure that I'm not what you want...we have different visions, different lives...
I have my mission in the UK and Europe, your mission is in our home country...
I thought I won't go for the Europe trip, but now I think I might go for it alone =)
I can stand on my own, I don't want to seek for accompany anymore...
I'll go for it if it doesn't clash with my future job....
you are most welcome to visit me in the UK anytime you wish =)
I'm so grateful that we've been through so many things and that we've learned so much from each other =)
I hope all is well, please call me whenever you see me on skype, I miss lui lui so much....
Take care~

Dear friends...

2009-02-24T20:40:00.002Z

I know you know...
Thank you so much for being so considerate and understanding.
Not asking me the reason, not interrupting, not asking me to stay...
I'm so grateful!
Thank you so much for your support, my dear friends...

2009-02-24T17:49:00.002Z

Yo wassup?

Click on the link below and I'm sure this will cheer you up =)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgrrQwLdME8

Frienship =)

2009-02-23T22:41:00.008Z

It was on last Sat, remember I said I'm gonna meet my friends in central London?
I was so happy cos I can meet them again!!

One of them are leaving for Japan for study, I decided to give my friend this bookmark as a gift =)
It's actually my first and the most precious gift from sensei....I dunno why, but one day I was chanting to think how can I encourage my friend, then I thought this bookmark will be the best farewell gift =) My lovely bookmark, I'll be missing you!!

It was a sunny day~~
I felt like summer~~~
We sat on the steps and chat for more than an hour, I was trying sooo hard to hold back my tears when I shared my experience, hehe =)

Taken at Green Park, near Buckingham Palace. It's a nice place to relax....I felt like sleeping on the greeny grass and look at the sky...relaxing and revising.....maybe I'll do it someday =)

One of the greatest thing in the world is to establish friendships with people =) I feel so blessed to meet my friends and to share our experiences with each other =)
When Ikeda sensei visited Soka Kindergarten Malaysia in year 2000, he wrote 3 words: Hope, Courage, Friendship.

Without hope, there's no life.
Without courage, there's nothing to achieve.
Without friendship, life is meaningless....

2009-02-23T18:14:00.004Z

sleepy....very sleepy....
didn't sleep well yesterday....
no appetite again for the whole day...feel like vomiting when I saw food...
hate the feeling...I'm such a lively girl who loves food soooooo much!!!
I live to eat!!!

Oh yeah, I saw this lovely little flower smiling when I was walking to uni =)

Aren't they pretty? I'm loving it~~
The birds were singing too =) I just realized that the birds sing all day! How lovely~~ I enjoy this natural gift soooooo much~~
Life's great because of you~~~

2009-02-22T15:39:00.004Z

not feeling well today..............
having menses now.....feel so tired, stomach upset, gastric, no appetite..... T_T

but I feel so happy that I chanted 2 hours for my friends today =)
I chant for 2 friends, so each one of them get 1 hour of daimoku support =)

I'm going to chant again later, that's for mummy and for my dissertation =)
Sunnyfields Primary School - I want to conduct my research in your school!!! I will!!!

Going to take a nap now....
physical energy level: 1/10
spiritual energy level: 8/10

Salut~

2009-02-22T01:10:00.002Z

It's a tiring day.....but also a fulfilling day =)
I enjoyed so much =)
It's really great to meet new friends in life...
I'm glad that I could share so much with her =)
I'm sure that she'll be a great WD in the future =)
She's such a brilliant girl =)

And him...he's so cute =)
glad to meet him =)

I'm really protected by shoten zenjin =)
I thought this is the last time I meet them, but I'll meet them again next week =)
Co0l!!

I'm gonna make you sing, hehe...

I'm so happy that I met them with the attitude "this will be the last time I meet them" =)
You'll embrace each word the person says and you'll do your best in bringing hope and joy to the person =)

You should just try it =) it's pointless that I tell you but you've never tried before...

Not physically tired...but brain dead.....not working....

I have so much to share with you =) We shall meet up again to share more =)

Nitez~~

A special day

2009-02-21T08:08:00.004Z

MoRnINg~~

How do you feel this morning? I was so reluctant to get up from bed =P but the birds' singing woke me up =) I guess they are couple and they were quarreling =) Isn't it sweet that you got someone to quarrel with you? So I smile sweetly.....then I continued back to sleep, hehe....

As soon as I got up, I can't wait to open my curtain, just as usual =) However, this time, the window is all covered with dew -.-"" I want to see the bright sky and I want to meet the birds~~ So then I opened my window and looked out through the little gap, the sky is sooooo pretty today!

21 Feb 2009....
It's a very special day to me =)
I'm going to meet someone today which might be the last time seeing the person....I feel so fortunate to see this person again =) I thought that was the last time we met each other =)

I hope that I can bring joy and hope to this person...as a precious gift before this person leave =)

I'm gonna do my gongyo and daimoku now =) I said to myself I'll chant for an hour before we meet up today =)

Dear Jane, enjoy your day =)

Dear Yao Yao~~

2009-02-20T12:40:00.022Z

Chinese New Year celebration at Bunka Kaikan, Cheras. She was only 3 or 4 I think...She was so reluctant to leave after playing at the playground outside of Soka Kindergarten =P

In her 6 six years old....Her very first piano lesson, I brought her there and took a few pic quietly outside of the room...

omg....look at her posture....

I brought her to a colouring contest at kindergarten, that's her breakfast =)

lining up with all lovely children at Soka Kindergarten =)

taken when she was 4 or 5. We went supermarket to get ingredients and made potato salad together, she's a little chef =)

Her last year in kindergarten when she was 6 years old. It was sports day =)

She was tired of waiting, LOL!

Her fourth medal in school =)

Thanks Evon for spending your day with us =)

Dear Jane

2009-02-20T09:25:00.004Z

Dear Jane, never let the pain defeat you...
Dear Jane, be strong...
Dear Jane, you can cry, but you must get tougher everytime after you cry...
Dear Jane, I know it's painful, but it's just a process of life. So, enjoy the pain you have now =)
Dear Jane, keep all sorrow with you, bring hope and joy to everyone you meet!
Dear Jane, chant wholeheartedly for courage, for the heart of a lion king!
Dear Jane, dear Jane....take a deep breath....you don't want to cry.....there's no reason to cry.....
Dear Jane, listen to the birds...they are singing joyfully =) So, join them in your daimoku =)
Dear Jane, you have no time to cry, nor to suffer, let's do your gongyo and daimoku with an energetic and cheerful spirit!

Gratitude........

2009-02-20T00:17:00.003Z

This is the second time...I know you don't want to cry in front of me this time...
I'm so grateful for all precious memories you created together with me....
I'm so grateful for all precious things you taught me....
I'm so grateful that you sacrificed for my growth...
I'm so grateful that you put yourself after me....
I'm so grateful that you are being grateful to me....
I'm so grateful for your mature love....

Please take good care of yourself, lui lui, and Ceci...
My best wishes to you all...
Lui lui is always my dearest daughter no matter what...
Ceci...the name conveys my love and care for lui lui...the name that we thought together...

Take care~~

Je t'aime, ma cherie....

2009-02-19T21:08:00.005Z

Dear, don't be afraid, cause I'm always here for you...
Dear, don't be afraid, cause I'll chant a lot a lot for you...
I know it's frustrated, it hurts, and it's so painful...
But...dear, deal with it, be brave!
You can make it! Chant with me, together with me, in the same rhythm, with the same spirit!!
I love you dear...never ever forget our promise....we'll go to the place we long for...together, hand in hand...I'm waiting for you here =)
I will always stand by you, no matter which path you'll choose...
I wish that all my best wishes and fortune will bless you a courageous heart to attain happiness in life~
I love you my dear, I always do...and I miss you sooooo much T_T
there's nothing much I could say other than my daimoku...
I love you my dear...
it has been a long time that we didn't take a pic...Sigh..we have to take pic together after we've gained 5kg of weight, lol...nvm, you are always pretty and adorable in my heart =) You are always strong and tough in my heart, just like a yellow tulip, hehe... and I'm a purple tulip, cause that's my favourite colour! ;-P
Dear, I love you... I will always do.... please chant as if I'm sitting right beside you, chanting together with you...be brave my dear...
Je t'aime ma cherie.....

Stupidity in me.....

2009-02-19T17:00:00.003Z

I feel so stupid...I don't know why...how can I be so stupid...sigh....

A friend of mine shared with me a dialogue between sensei and a few scholars. The article is from Art of Living which is a SGI-UK magazine similar to Cosmic in Malaysia. I told my friend I don't have a copy of it cos it's too expensive for me. Initially, when I just arrived in the UK, I asked another friend about Art of Living subscription. But it sounded so expensive to me...I'm not sure she told me the wrong price or my perception of the price was REALLY expensive at that time....

After my friend recommended the article in Art of Living to me, I thought to subscribe it no matter how expensive it is. I thought it would be great to read the magazine and also to do shakubuku by sharing it with my friends. So I went online...and I found that.....it's only £3 per copy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my goodness...Woo Jia Ean...how stupid could you get.....sigh.....
£3 is cheaper than a meal at McDonald's!
£3 is cheaper than a day of transport around London!!
£3 is cheaper than a box of chicken breast that sustain your life for just one week!!!

Sigh....never mind, it's not too late....
I've filled up the subscrption form and a cheque, I'll send it off tomorrow!! I can't wait anymore!!!

For my friend....

2009-02-19T16:11:00.000Z

I'm loving it =)

The future famous shoe maker!!!

2009-02-19T14:40:00.004Z

Guess what? Guess what?? Guess what??!!!!

Remember I mentioned about a Japanese guy in my previous blog? I said, I met a Japanese guy on the airplane when I first came to the UK (it was last Sept). He was sitting beside me for 12 hours but I only started to make friends with him a few hours before we arrived in London Heathrow airport. I was so impressed by the purpose he came to the UK. He's a shoe maker, does it sound strange to you? It did on me, hehe....Well, he's a shoe maker, he came to the UK to meet a friend who stays in Oxford, and he wanted to start his shoe making career in the UK. How cool! I was so impressed by his courage!!! We then exchanged our contact details and be friends =)

We sent a few emails before but I've never heard about him for these few months. So I emailed him yesterday and he replied!

Guess what? Guess what?? He wrote to me:"My shoe action is very good, next month I will creat shoe for Chairman of Chamber of Commerce of ITALIA, and VALENTINO manager, and professional baseball player. And I am helping a shoe company president who is creating COMME des GARCONS which is walking Paris Collection, it is the most famouse JAPAN FASHION BRAND."

Isn't it GREAT??!!! I'm so delighted that he's got so much improvement and achievement in his career now =) Before I emailed him, I actually thought to shakubuku him and I prayed for his wisdom and success in his career. Of course, I know, his success today is not because of my prayers (cos I just started a few days ago), hehe, but it's such a great thing to know that the person you care for is doing great!!

A small part from the email I replied to him:"I wish you all the best in work, please devote your life into every shoe you make, please bless everyone who will wear the shoes you make to be a happy and cheerful person, please bless that your shoes will bring happiness to everyone in the world!!"

Do I sound funny? Haha...but that's what I feel when I read his email =) I really hope that I can introduce all my great friends in Gakkai to him, I hope that he can be a shoe maker who is good in both technique and personality. I hope that he can be a great man in the history of shoe making industry~~

I'll chant for you, Yoichi. Wish that you can join me in chanting someday =)

~Cherry blossom~

2009-02-19T14:13:00.003Z

Isn't it lovely? It's from a friend of mine who also designed this =) I like the poem =) What does it mean to you? To me, this poem is by sensei, so I feel that sensei vowed to fight for kosen rufu together with us =) There's another person in this poem...it's daddy =) He's always with me, I'm sure =) There are sensei and daddy in this poem...together with me...

Guess what? The praying beads that I'm still using now is from daddy and mummy. They gave it to me as a gift when I was....5 or 6 I think... That's my first praying beads and I always think that it will be the only one in my lifetime. Although I received a few new praying beads from friends, but I only use the one that my parents gave me...

I can still vividly remember that my parents chose the praying beads together for me. Mummy put it into a pretty box and gave it to me as a surprise gift after I woke up from a nap. I was soooooo happy to receive my first praying beads in life! I was too excited that I can't even name it properly as a "praying beads", haha...

I hope you'd like the design and the poem~~

ps: I've set it as my mobile's and laptop's wallpaper, lol~

It's a sunny day~~

2009-02-19T14:03:00.008Z

I was waiting for Siew Wen and Zac to walk to uni this morning. As I turned around, I saw this lovely scene so I quickly captured it! It's a sunny day~~ I'm so delighted by the warm and bright sunlight =)

It's me with my glasses on, not wearing lens today cos I just cried in the morning, haha...you know, it's typical...I cried when I thought about sensei, then I linked it to my dad..that's the reason, haha...

Good Morning~~
Ohayogozaimasu~~
Bonjour~~
早安~~
早晨~~
Selamat pagi~~

Victory Victory and VICTORY!!!!!

My dear sensei~~

2009-02-19T13:43:00.003Z

This morning, I was sooooo happy that I saw my friend's emails right after I woke up =) I feel that my day has been lightened up by them =)
Both of them are very encouraging friends, we often email each other to share our feelings, experiences, sensei guidances, etc. I saw Yen's email, she said that she's going to meet sensei next month on her sister's graduate ceremony. Before this, I always thought that I don't have to meet sensei in my life because I don't have a reason to meet sensei. Also, I personally think that it would be enough as long as I work hard as his great disciple and I pray wholeheartedly every day and night for Ikeda sensei and Kaneko san. Everytime I see sensei in the Japan leaders meet video, I feel like sensei is sitting right in front of me and everything that he said is meant for me, as one of his disciples. I thought that this would be enough for me. But when I read Yen's email, I have a strong urge to meet sensei. I really hope that I would be there, physically in front of sensei, hug him tightly and tell him how much I want to bless him with all my wishes, fortune, and daimoku. So I told both of my friends to bring my wish and soul with them when they meet sensei =) But after I sent the email, I feel so silly....It's such a personal request, isn't it? Sigh...It's too late to apologize....it's too late~~ Just let it be..I guess Fung Yen will understand my feeling cause she's one of my dear sisters now =) But to my friend....I'm so sorry..all I can do is just to apologize....I hope that I didn't sound too stupid and dumb...I hope that I didn't scare my friend, lol....well...it's too late to apologize~~it's too late~~~ nvm...Woo Jia Ean..just be yourself =) Life's great!!! Look for the reason why you have such a passionate heart to meet sensei. You don't want to meet sensei just because others do so. You will get it someday, and when the day arrives, you can meet your life mentor--Ikeda sensei and Kaneko san to report your vitories on behalf of all your comrades =) Chant for it!!!

To my dear friend...

2009-02-18T22:42:00.003Z

Dear friend,

It's my pleasure to meet you in my life =)

It's my fortune to be your friend =)

I'm so grateful for all your support, sharing, and encouragement =)

They mean a lot to me, and I hope that they enlighten your day =)

Wish you all the best in all aspects of life...in daily life, in study, in kosen rufu, in work, in music, in relationship, in kosen rufu, etc...

Although it has been short, but...it means a lot to me, really...I dunno why, but I trust my feelings...I'll chant for your happiness and fortune in life, as a comrade...please take good care of yourself, we vowed to be sensei's disciples and we must be the best ones!

Take care....
All the best...

恩

Pictures taken during student course

2009-02-18T12:15:00.044Z

On the way to the venue after a whole day of work at Oakthorpe Primary School....I was really tired...I didn't have the strong determination that I must go for the student course...I just thought that I should go for it because I've promised myself and my friends...not knowing that the course will make such a great changes in my life...

Jane's smiley face in the train =)

I walked around to look for direction...finally...I got the direction...It's right in there after I cross the road...I was looking forward what's in there....

Right after I crossed the railway, I saw this little stream flow quietly and tranquilly under a bridge...it swept away all my tiredness and drowsiness...I was really pleased by this beautiful scenery...

Taken from the balcony outside my room...It's a peaceful place with peaceful environment....

Good morning =D Have a cheerful day~~

She's Jessica =) My new friend from the course, she's such a friendly and lovely girl~ We vowed to be sensei's true disciples and I hope to meet her again!! Miss her already...

If you saw all my pictures on blog/facebook, you'll realize how much I love this little reddy...I dunno why, but I just love it =)

Some beautiful scenery I saw in the afternoon.. wanted to keep them in my memory....I hope you'll enjoy these pic...

During the last night of the course, we had a cultural night that I enjoyed so much! I was so encouraged by all student division from all over the world. All of us integrate our spirit of mentor and disciple as well as the spirit of youth and victory into culture. All performances were so unique in terms of their creativity and cultural characteristics...

Our group used the song YMCA and changed the lyrics into our own one =) It was so funny yet meaningful. We created some funny movements to sing along with the song =) I really enjoyed the process whereby we get to know each other and contribute to the performance =) It's absolutely a great experience working with them, muacks~~~

It's me doing Lilac!!!
Thank you so much for the opportunity =)
Initially, I wanted to do lilac to support the event, but I didn't expect that I could learn and gain so much by doing lilac. It's my pleasure to support and contribute something to the course.
Please be noted that I wasn't wearing a lilac uniform, I didn't have one, so I wore a white shirt with a red scarf. The main colour for lilac uniform is black, white, with a red scarf. Isn't it look smart? I like it~~

I made many new friends in the course =) We didn't take many pic but I have 2 pic that we took before we leave the course. Do you notice that I have a friend who look like a famous star? Haha...despite his humorous look, he's actually a good person to learn from. I was with him in the same discussion group and he contributed so much by sharing his Buddhism view and teachings with us. He's also good in gosho teaching (I guess...) cos he can remember so many gosho sentences during the gosho hunt =)

During the course, I encounter many gosho passages that I've never heard before in English. I know the meaning of the gosho and they seem to appear in my mind in Chinese. Honestly, I prefer to read gosho in Chinese not only because it's my first language. but also I think that Chinese gosho is constructed in a way that it is deeper in terms of language....hmm...I dunno how to decribe my feeling towards Chinese gosho...I hope that someone could understand this =)
However, as I start practising Buddhism here, I came to realize that I MUST learn gosho in both languages, at least the English version when I'm here =) I have to learn all Buddhism teachings all over again in English, cos that's the only way that I can explain this great Buddhism to my friends in the UK. I don't want language to be a barrier of shakubuku. So, gambate ne!

Here it comes our group photo~~ I'm so glad to be part of it =) On the other hand, I want to show my gratitude to the photographer. I don't know her name...I had a short conversation with her when we were lining up in the canteen =P She's from Finland and she's doing her postgraduate in photography now. Thank you so much for her kindness in taking the group photo for us while she wasn't able to join in. Thank you so much~~

I hope you enjoyed the pictures, thanks for viewing =)

To my dearest mom

2009-02-18T01:16:00.003Z

mummy I miss you so much...I thought I won't miss you that much....but I miss you so much now....I'm being such a good girl that I chant for you everyday whenever, wherever I could...mom...I miss daddy too...do you miss him? I'm sure you do....He's such a great husband and father, isn't he? I can still vividly recall his voice, his face, and his expression....I miss those days so much...when we were protected by daddy...when you dun have to worry about anything in the world....when he hugged me in his arms when I woke up in the middle of the night crying...when he encouraged me when I missed my homework....when he bought me a pot of rose and he taught me gardening....I'm miserable...but I feel lucky that I have all these precious memory with me...till death....mummy....I don't want you in my memory...I want you to be with me in the present and in the future....so...please take good care of yourself....please call me whenever you need me, you are not alone....mummy....I miss you and daddy soooooooooooo much...I love you......

成佛在于持

2009-02-17T10:36:00.007Z

After the student course, many of us who attended the course became friends on facebook and lots of us share our feeling about the course with each other. Most of us claimed that the course is really great and inspiring, etc....but..to me, these great feelings are some kind of emotion you perceive when you meet something great or special in your life. However, feelings will decay as time goes by.... The more important thing is how we carry on the spirit of mentor of disciple in our daily life and put them into actions. That's the most difficult part =) I always remember this quote from the gosho "受责易，持则难，成佛在于持". I'm so sorry that I don't know this quote in English, what it means is that it is very easy to accept something, but to maintain or to determine it is very difficult, while determination is a crucial factor to attain buddhahood. Determination....My dear friends, let's chant together to have determination in everything especially in our daily practice. Let's be a true disciple of sensei and share all these great experiences with everyone in the world, tell them how great our sensei is!!!

No Coward Soul is Mine

2009-02-16T17:10:00.006Z

May I share a song with you?
It's the SGI-UK Youth song--"No Coward Soul is Mine" =)

The first time I heard it was during the National Student Division Kick Off Meet. I didn't have any special feeling when I first sang it with other student division. yeah...no doubt, it's a nice song....but it doesn't touch me at all...it didn't remain in my heart...

The second time I heard it was during the second day of the student course. My feeling towards the song was almost the same as the first time I heard it...nothing special =)

The third time was about the end of the student course. I suddenly felt that the song hit deep into my heart and it means so much to me now cos it carries all memories I had during the course. So then I get the song from a friend of mine, he was really efficient =) In the email, he shared with me the title of the song is from a poem by Emily Bonte, a great British author in the 19th century. What a nice sentence...no coward soul is mine...that's the spirit of youth and victory =) I hope you'll like this song =)

I dunno how to upload the song in this particular entry, but I've uploaded in the Ipod Nano player in my blog. Get the lyrics from me if you want to, it's too long so I can't put it into this entry.

Let's sing along!!!

A lovely day with lovely children

2009-02-16T16:30:00.004Z

Do you know that I'm working as a teacher assistant in a primary school? I mentioned it in my previous blog, but not this one =)

I work under the Student Associate Scheme. It is a 15-day replacement in Oakthorpe Primary School located in Woodgreen (North London). My responsibility is to assist teacher in class while taking care of the students. Last Friday was my second day of the scheme. I was assigned to a year 3 class whereby the class teacher Miss Britain is such a lovely teacher.

Guess what? She played lively songs and even pop songs to dance together with students at the beginning and at the end of the day, lol... The songs she played were like "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Devil in Disguise" by Elvis Presley, a few songs by Beatles which I couldn't remember the name, and even Flo rida Low!! That's so COOL!!! I love it when Miss Britain and all students dance freely together regardless of their dance skills or how they dance like. We enjoyed so much~~

It was the art week of the school, so students learn about prominent artists' work and imitate their work to deepen their memory and understanding of the artists. The whole school is full of art~~ Student's art pieces were posted up on the walls in each classroom. Some artists are contemporary artist that I don't know, so I learned something as well =) Oh yeah, I must mention this.... Have you ever saw a painting with a man in a suit standing in the middle, and there's a green apple blocking his face? Here you go...

This painting is entitled "The Son of Man" by Rene Magritte. Miss Britain took pictures of a few students and she edited the pic by adding different fruits like banana, orange, etc on each student's face. Lol...that's so created yet very funny. I like it so much coz it's such a creative way to motivate students to learn more about the artist =)

They also had an assembly to share their art pieces between year 3, 4, 5, and 6 students. Students from each level created an art piece according to the theme given, and they did presentations on their art pieces in front of other students during the assembly. Trust me, if you happen to see their art work, you wouldn't have thought that they are made by students from primary school!

Before we went home, students were brought by teachers to visit other classes to appreciate their art pieces. Two students work as presenters in each classroom to present their art pieces to the visitors. My favourite presenter is a little girl from a Year 2 class. She was sooooooooooooo cute~~~ Her body and voice was so tiny that I feel like hugging her tightly~~ She presented the art pieces to the visitors clearly by telling them the name of the author, the method they used to create the art piece, etc. Oh...I'm sure that my future daughter will be as cute as her, hehe =)

The day was really great coz I enjoyed so much working with children and I get to know some aspects of the British education style. I really appreciate the education styles cos it enables children to grow freely into a unique individual... it's really different from what we have in Asian countries =) yeah there are pros and cons in both education styles, but I'm really glad that I have this opportunity to gain these meaningful experiences. Will share with you about the third day of the scheme next time. Bye bye~~

my dearest mom...

2009-02-15T23:12:00.002Z

mom called...it was about 5am in Malaysia...I knew that she must be having insomnia...
mom told me about her worsen health condition...I feel so painful....I'd rather that I'm the one who suffer physically...I feel so painful deep inside....

but mom is so strong....she told me she's feeling great now...she conducts dialogue with everyone she meets everyday. She tells them about Nam-myo-ho-renge-kyo and the philosophy of Nichiren Daishonin's buddhism. She questioned me about my daily practice. I told her honestly that I was really down recently, but I got recharged during the student course. Mom kept encouraging me not to give up no matter what circumstances and she taught me how to do shakubuku in daily life.

mom....thank you soooooooo much for giving me this great opportunity to study in the UK. Thank you so much mom.....thanks very much for being a great role model as a true disciple of our mentor...thanks very much for encouraging me by practical buddhism practice...

mom...I'm so sorry that I'm not physically with you at the moment....I know you need someone to talk to....I know I'm the only one among your children....I'm so grateful yet I'm so sorry mom....all I can do is to chant for you, I promise mom...no matter where we are, we can always connect each other by chanting daimoku, by being the great disciple of our life mentor...

I love you mom....

great changes within my heart...

2009-02-15T22:34:00.005Z

I went for SGI-UK Student Course on last Friday at a nice and cozy place in Cheshunt, Herfordshire.

Before I actually apply for the course, I hesitated for a long time...I wanted to attend the course initially, but I was worried about my financial condition and also I have an exam on the following Monday. More importantly, I don't know what to do during the course because I know no one and I always feel that I can't get into the culture of SGI-UK.

Yet....I feel so lucky now that I attended the course. Thanks so much to Victor who encouraged me all this while =)

Back then when I was in Malaysia...I was really active in Gakkai activities...I'm a YWD leader, an exhibition guide committee member, a student division leader, and Hibiscus Artistic Dance group leader. Wow....I wonder how could I fulfill my responsibilities when I was there...
I spared every evening for Gakkai activities =) Gakkai activities are always on the top on my list...those days were really busy and challenging, but I enjoyed them so much...

However, when I moved to London, everything seems so different to me...no exhibition guide activities, no cultural activities, no home visitation, no gosho study meet, no YWD leaders meet, no monthly all leaders meet, etc. Plus there are very few Gakkai activities here. Obviously, the amount of activities reduced drastically....and I feel quite difficult to get used to the new environment and the new culture.

I miss you all sooooooo much, my comrades...you know how much I miss you all...My heart started to build a concrete wall against Gakkai activities...I tried really hard to open up my heart to accept the cultural diversity and also to think about what I can do for SGI-UK. However, it was my fundamental darkness that caused me to be ignorant about my potential...I completely lost my passion towards gakkai activities. I even missed my gongyo and daimoku for about a month recently. I knew that this is not right....but I just lost the life force to change myself from within....

Fortunately, I attended the student course =)

During the course, I met members with pure but strong faith...I met members who dvote themselves in succeeding the course...I met members to devote their lives into kosen rufu and I've heard how they actually challenged to be sensei's great disciple....all these wonderful encounters hit deeply into my heart and reminded me about the mission of a student division. It's the same now....I felt...there's no difference between members in SGI-UK and members in SGM. They are the same...we are the same. All of us strive for kosen-rufu wholeheartedly and we vowed to be sensei's disciple. The heart, the ichinen are the same! How could it be different??!!!

Also, I joined lilac on the last day of the course. Lilac is Byakuren in SGI-UK. I wasn't very keen to join lilac. I just remembered that I ticked all boxes (volunteer action groups) during the course application cuz I want to assist in anything that I could to support the course. However, I did not get any information regarding this matter until I met Pippa during the course. She recognized my name when I introduced myself and she said that the Lilac chief has been trying to contact me. It was then we found out that the phone number on the name list is short of one number. So Pippa encouraged me to look for Lynn (the Lilac chief, I hope that I spell her name correctly...) to be Lilac. So....I told myself, why not I just give a try?

Finally, I met Lynn, and I became a "temporary" lilac on Sunday =) It was the first time in my life doing lilac/byakuren. During the day, I recalled myself being a backstage PIC (person in charge) in SGM, and I can feel that how much effort every one contributed to support the course for all student division. It was really really great to have this opportunity =)

Hmm....I think this blog entry is quite lengthy...and more importantly....I'm tired now =P
I hope you enjoyed this entry...
I love you all, my dear friends...take care~~