Is the Party Over?

 

(Yawn)!  Hey, is the party over?  Gosh, my head aches, I guess I should be pushing home.  Who the hell took that picture anyway?  Huh, now I remember, it was that cheeky young one, Milo.  

"See how ugly you are when you are drunk, Ning!"  

"Get lost, Milo!  I'm going home to sleep...."

Oh, HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

I'll see you when I see you ....zzzzz

Ning

A Prayer for All

 I end this year with a prayer for all:

May all sentient beings be free from pain and suffering;

May all be well and happy;

May the sick be restored;

May happiness return to those in despair;

May the hungry be fed;

May our world be at peace.

With Metta,

Da

A Soul Searching Christmas

With Christmas round the corner, the nuns began sprucing up the temple and also brought out our old Christmas tree from the storeroom to clean.

"How time flies," remarked APK.  "Another Christmas again!  I wonder what plans Head Nun has this time?"

"I'm sure she'll surprise us again this year," said the other nuns, laughing.

Together they cleaned up the tree, repaired broken branches, polished the stars and baubles and soon it looked quite presentable.  Head Nun came to look at it and was quite pleased that the nuns had done a good job.  

"Well done, nuns," she quipped.  "Christmas will be here in a few days.  I shall have a surprise for you all," she said, smiling.

"Oh, really?" gasped APK, eyes wide.  

But Head Nun wouldn't say anything more, so that evening, the nuns started speculating what "surprise" Head Nun had planned.  

"I hope she gives us some new shawls for the rainy months," said one nun.

"I wouldn't mind a new pair of socks!" said another.

"What about you, Vege Cat?  What do you want?" asked APK.

I shrugged.  "I really don't need anything," I said.  

"Sure you do," the nuns teased me.  "A new blanket, perhaps a new collar ....?"

As the days drew nearer to Christmas, the excitement among the nuns mounted.

Finally, on Christmas Eve, Head Nun called us all together and we sat down round the Christmas tree.

"Well, this is the moment you've all been waiting for," she said, smiling cheekily.  I could see the nuns trembling with excitement.  

Head Nun then brought out a large bag and said, "Some of you may be disappointed at what I'm going to give you but I can assure you they're the best gifts anyone can give."

She then put her hand in the bag and drew out a small gift box tied with a red ribbon.

"I'm going to give each one of you a box like this.  What you will find inside will be more precious than gold or silver.  I want you to keep the box and not open it until Christmas morning.  Is that clear?  "

The nuns nodded in excitement.  What could be in the box that is more precious than gold or silver?

Head Nun then distributed a box to each nun and I of course received one too.  

"Alright, now go to bed.  I shall see you all tomorrow morning.  Merry Christmas, my dears."

"Merry Christmas, Head Nun!" we chorused back.

I took my box back to my basket with me.  Of course I was dying with curiosity and couldn't wait to open it but instructions were instructions, so I controlled myself.  I could hardly sleep that night, and I'm sure the nuns couldn't either!

When I opened the box the next morning, I wasn't prepared to find what was inside.  It was a small notebook and on each page was a little something written by Head Nun in her own handwriting.  

I'm sure none of the nuns  expected this kind of present and when they appeared for breakfast, they all looked rather sheepish and were unusually quiet.

"Aah, I see from your expressions that you all have opened your boxes and seen what's inside," said Head Nun, smiling.

"Head Nun," began APK.  "We don't understand..."

"I shall explain, my dear.  You see, Christmas is not just merrymaking and giving and receiving presents.  It is also a time for reflection and  introspection.  As your leader, I am responsible for your growth and to see you attain your goal, Nirvana, which is why you became nuns in the first place, isn't that so?  My dears, all I want is for you to look deep into yourselves, ask yourselves have I progressed?  Am I one step closer to my goal?  Spend a few moments everyday contemplating on what I have written.  That's not too difficult, is it?"

Then seeing the glum looks on the nun's faces, Head Nun said, "Alright, alright.  Here's the good news.  A well-wisher has donated some warm socks for you all (here the faces of the nuns lit up) and another has donated ice cream for tonight's dinner!"

"Yay!" cheered the nuns, so it wasn't going to be such a dismal Christmas after all!

Later before going to bed, I took a closer look at what Head Nun had written (below).  Can I answer truthfully and honestly?

🤔🤔

Can I speak only what is true, kind and necessary?

Can I refrain from judging or criticizing anyone?

Can I practise patience in all situations everyday?

Can I see work as worship and do it with joy?

Can I perform at least one selfless act today?

Can I reduce my desires?

Can I avoid wasting time on gossip or negativity?

Can I consume food both in moderation and with  mindfulness?

Can I reduce my ego?

I'm still working on my answers....

Merry Christmas!

This Christmas...

This Christmas I am praying with Snoopy and friends.... do join us!

With Metta,

Da

The Best Christmas Gift

 

A Christmas Story

 

Story told by Ning

I was stopping by the village one morning when Milo came running up.

"Ning!  Am I glad I caught you!  Hey, do you want to join us for Christmas carolling?"

Frankly, I've never sung a carol before in my life, all I hear nowadays is disco music at the club.

"Sorry, Milo," I said laughing.  "I can't sing!"

"Neither can I," he replied.  "Just join in the fun.  So far I've got three or four cats to join us, the rest are young boys from the church.  Oh, don't be a spoil sport!  It's better than going to your club and getting drunk!"

He kept on persuading me and finally I relented.  

"Ok, ok, but don't be surprised if I sing out of tune!"  I warned.

He slapped me on my back, gave me the place and time to meet and ran off.  I must say I'm beginning to like this young cat, he's always so cheerful and full of energy.  Well it would mean giving up an evening at the club but I suppose he's right.  Besides at this time of the year, the club's always full with noisy tomcats and their girlfriends drinking and smoking and turning the place upsidedown.

So a few evenings before Christmas, we gathered outside a shop in the village - four cats, six young boys.  The leader, a boy of about 15 by the name of Jeremy, said we would be visiting five houses and told us to behave ourselves. "No drinking allowed, guys," he said, looking at me.  Hey, who said anything about drinking? I felt rather annoyed that he should pinpoint me.  Milo saw the look on my face and quickly whispered in my ear, "Don't worry what he says, he just doesn't want us to get into trouble."  

The first house we went to was occupied by a family of five.  They were very nice and gave us little presents of cake and candy.  The other families we visited were  nice and generous too and we all received small gifts.  I must say everyone sang very well including the cats, I never knew they could meow Christmas carols! As for me, most of the time I just closed and opened my mouth.  That's the best thing you can do when you can only croak!

Then just before we went to the last house, Jeremy said, "Guys, as you may remember, the last house is where our old friend, Mr. Grumpy lives.  So be nice to him, ok?"

Milo explained to me that this "Mr. Grumpy" is an old man who lives alone.  He is in his 90's and most of the time he keeps to himself.  Every year, when the group comes, he would get very angry and yell at them to go away.

"Then why do you keep visiting him?"  I asked.

Milo smiled.  "He's really a very lonely man but is too proud to admit it.  He always puts on a show of being angry but we know he really appreciates our singing, so we don't want to miss him out."

So there we were outside Mr Grumpy's house.  Jeremy knocked on the door and after some time, it slowly creaked open.

"Merry Christmas, Sir!" we all sang together.  Then Jeremy started to sing softly "Silent Night".  The old man stood there listening quietly. We were surprised that he didn't yell at us, instead he opened his door wider and beckoned us to enter.

Inside we were even more surprised to see that a long table had been laid out with cake, jelly, fruits and all kinds of goodies.  The old man gestured to us to help ourselves, then went to sit in a corner.  Jeremy felt it would not be appropriate if we started gorging ourselves, so we sang more carols instead.  All this time, the old man didn't say anything but just sat there listening  to us sing.

Finally, as it was getting late, we said our thanks and bid him goodnight.  Once outside everyone couldn't restrain themselves and discussed the sudden change in the old man.  It was the first time in years that he had actually invited the group into his house and prepared a feast.  Quite honestly I was too tired to bother and was relieved when Jeremy called it a night.

The next morning I was awakened by Milo who was shouting for me outside my hideout. 

"Alright, alright, I'm coming," I grumbled wondering what was so urgent.

"Ning, the old man ... Mr Grumpy ... they found him dead in his house early this morning..."

"What?  But he was ok last night when we saw him!"

Milo's tone dropped.  "The coroner .. he said the old man died around 6 yesterday evening..."

"Impossible!" I argued.  "He was still alive when we saw him around 8!"

Milo's eyes widened.  "That was what I told the coroner but he didn't believe me."

For a moment, both of us could not speak.  I don't normally scare easily but this time I felt the hair on my back stand up.

"Ning, do you think we saw his g..ghost?" whispered Milo, eyes round like saucers.

I didn't have the answer to that but I told Milo quite firmly that I would not be joining him in the next carol singing session.  Goodness knows what may happen next - it's safer to get drunk at the club!

The following evening, just as I was getting ready to go to the club, Milo suddenly appeared at my doorstep.

"Ning, we're going carolling again in 15 minutes, you can make it if you hurry!"

"Milo, I already told you I'm not joining you guys again," I said, exasperated.  But he wouldn't take "No" for an answer; he grabbed me and dragged me off with him despite my protests

Well, we visited another few families, sang and as usual  were rewarded with cake and candy.  After we finished the last house, and since it was still early, around 8 p.m. or so, Jeremy suggested we go to a nearby park to relax.

It was a nice evening, a light breeze was blowing and a pale moon was floating serenely in the sky, half hidden by clouds.  Strangely I forgot about going to the club.  It was so calm and peaceful there and as I sat with my friends, my heart suddenly swelled with an indescribable feeling of love and joy for just being with them.  I had never felt like this before.

Then one of the boys started strumming his guitar and they began singing softly...Noel 🎵 Noel....soon a small crowd gathered.  They hummed along with the music, some sang.  Some were amazed cats could sing.

Then suddenly Milo gripped my shoulder.  

"Ning .... under that lamp post, do you see what I see?"

I looked but didn't see anything unusual.  Just a man standing under it.

"Ning, look again ...that man, it's Mr. Grumpy!"

"What?" I looked again. Just then the clouds parted and  moonlight bathed the whole park.

"OMG, it is him," I gasped.

As we stared at him in awe, the old man smiled, then vanished into thin air.

"Oh wow, wait till I tell Jeremy," whispered Milo.  

Later we heard that Mr Grumpy had before his death donated all his savings to the local church with the condition that they carry on carol singing every Christmas.

This is one Christmas I shall remember for a long time.

Ning

Cat Wisdom

Suffering

 

(From "Buddha's Teaching")

What is Anger?

 

(Courtesy of FB/BuddhismPageFB)

Anger is self-punishment for another person's behaviour.  You swallow the poison hoping they'll suffer but it's you who feels the pain.

When you pause instead of explode, you protect your mind.  When you let go instead of holding grudges, you free your heart.  When you choose calmness, you win without fighting.

The Buddha taught that holding onto anger is like holding a hot coal - you burn yourself first.

Let go of anger.  Protect your peace.  Don't punish ourself for someone else's behaviour.

With Metta,

Da

The Buddha Said ...

 

From the book "The Golden Words of the Buddha"

With Metta,

Da