Recently, APK went with a few devotees of the temple to distribute some dry rations and old clothing to some homeless people. They had come from another village where there was a flash flood and their homes had been destroyed. The local council had very kindly offered them the temporary use of the community hall until such time as their homes had been repaired.
APK came back to the temple in great excitement. "Head Nun, I didn't know there are so many poor people out there. There must be at least 20 or 30 of them, children included. I was just thinking ....."
"Yes, what were you thinking?" asked Head Nun.
"Well, I was just thinking that this Mid-Autumn Festival, since we have so much mooncakes which devotees have given the temple, why don't we give them to these poor people? In fact, just now a little boy asked me if I had any mooncakes...."LP
"Oh, thanks, Head Nun," gasped APK excitedly. "I will work on it straightaway!" She then called a few nuns together and they sat down to discuss the details. I could see Head Nun was quite pleased with APK, she had indeed come a long way in recent years and had shown much responsibility and a caring heart.
The mooncake tea party was held a few days before the festival and on that day, devotees of the temple provided transport for the homeless families to the temple. APK personally took them on a tour of the temple stopping at the prayer hall for thanksgiving prayers, then it was off to the kitchen where mooncakes and hot Chinese tea were waiting for them! The children, especially Ziao Yu (the little boy who had asked APK for mooncakes) were agog with excitement, they had never seen mooncakes of so many different varieties before!
The nuns busied themselves that afternoon serving these poor people who were very grateful and when it was time to leave, Head Nun also gave them a few boxes of mooncakes to take back to the community hall so that they could enjoy them at their leisure.
Just as they were leaving, the little boy, Ziao Yu suddenly turned back and ran to APK, saying, "Aunty Nun, I almost forgot. Please tell the Lord Buddha that we will do as He said."
APK was rather surprised to hear this.
"Er...may I ask what He said?" she asked.
"He said to be good and take care of our parents when they are old."
"Oh! When did He say this?"
"Just now, when we were eating the mooncakes. He was standing in that corner, didn't you see Him?" the boy replied, pointing to the corner near the window.
APK and I looked at each other. We didn't see Him but we didn't doubt what the boy said, seeing the sincerity in his innocent eyes.
"Of course we will tell the Lord Buddha," replied APK, giving the boy a hug.
Later when we told Head Nun, she smiled and said, "The Lord will always be there where there is love and compassion. Thank you, nuns, you all did a good job!"
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| "Compassion in action is the purest form of prayer" |
That night, at the community hall, a little boy could hardly sleep even though he was tired after the day's excitement.
"Xiao Yu," whispered his mother. "It's late, go to sleep."
"I will, Mama after I say my prayers," he replied softly. He then clasped his hands together, bent his head and whispered:
"Dear Lord Buddha, please watch over the nuns who gave us so many mooncakes to eat today. Please also watch over my Mama and Papa and all our friends here so they can sleep soundly every night. Help me to be brave and protect them and I pray for everyone out there to have a place to sleep tonight and food to eat tomorrow. Thank you so much for this wonderful day and goodnight."
He closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.
