Buffetting: Wesak Spirit

It's only normal for me to help out every year in the temple after all the time I've spent in practicing the Dhamma.

So, as usual, I went as volunteer again under the youth section this year.

Although I was informed that I will be helping in the health check-up section this year, which obviously will help me in getting experience about the health care, not to mention picking up some tips off the doctor on duty, I was somehow directed to the ushering division.

Meaning, ambassador duties.

It's so weird that I become so natural in dealing with crowds, but it was my really my first time being an usher in the temple, with all the adults watching you and all.

But, I thoroughly enjoyed the process of being an authority part of the event, telling people where, what to do and solving their problems and all.

As glamorous as it sounded, the whole was just crowd control and trafficking.

You know desperate people can get when it comes to waiting for their turn to get into shrine halls, and Chinese being most of the devotees in Buddhism, the desperation is elevated to a whole new level.

Woohoo Hannah Yeoh in the temple!

I mean, when you come over to offer your respect and flowers to the Buddha, do it with a sincere heart, WAIT FOR TURN PATIENTLY, DO NOT CUT LINES, and freaking DO NOT THINK YOU ARE MORE SUPERIOR THAN ANY OF OTHERS.

There are these portion of Chinese(typical ones) who just ramble ramble and ramble when we told them the first session has already commenced, just be back in 30 minutes. The whole SJBA have that many activities going like FREE FOOD, health check, movie festival, bazaar and oil lighting and all sorts. Just be back in 30 minutes!

For illustration purposes only

And there's another portion who just kept on mumbling about how they should have gone it first and all. Hello, if you ain't know anything you ain't do complain okay. Owh well, I was really reluctant to explain further anyway so let them be.

Other than these portions, the other devotees were relatively nice and I just love the way they smile back or replied when I greet them Happy Wesak Day with my biggest smile~ It just feel so RIGHT, or just pure satisfaction in seeing people replying smiles and all.

we even had Selangor's Menteri Besar in the temple! Big shot big shot~

And that was practically my job for the whole day, from 8 to 5. As boring as it sounded HERE, things were definitely more lively back in the shrine hall. It was like back in the prefect days~

Yea I have this weird tendency to get myself into jobs and weird duties so screw me.

Lets hope the Wesak spirit stays no matter if its wesak or not.

Even the dust on my feet formed a LOVE~

May you readers be well and happy always also.

Buffetting : The Rally

Well, finally I have had the mood to babble about the Alive Rally I went for last Saturday.

I wasn't exactly enthusiastic over the rally, because :

1-It's a Christian rally, and there are some extent of preaching expected
2-I was going there alone, in which originally there were suppose to be a few more friends to tag along.
3- I was freaking tired over the 4 hours of badminton session before
4- I was really having a huge problem to explain the activities I will be exposed to in the rally, and you know how typical Chinese FATHERS deal with these kind of stuffs.

So anyway, since I've saved the night for Rowie princess, and not going to the rally because the weather was pretty sucky and the fact that I'm going to be all alone the whole night didn't stop me from sending mah butt to Taman Rimba in TTDI for the rally.

I guess the concert part was okay, but its still very Christian orientated in the lyrics. I joined the crowd, but I didn't care to sing. Reading the lyrics just made me think about what they actually mean.

Owh well, I did my claps and all, it was okay, I guess worshiping more like singing to praise God.

Next was a relief cum joke session with the pastor.

Funny, perky and witty. Good with words.

But when it came to the preaching, goodness it was all pressure man.

It's weird that the preaching became the rally's main event.

It was suppose to be Youth orientated, and gosh they sure are smart in using pressure to make people to "join" the Christian "kingdom". Weird, they used the word "army" somewhere like its gonna be a war, which really ticked me off at one point.

Okay screw that, lets go to contradictory questions.

1) Let God be your friend, and let Jesus enter your heart because he is the One who came back to life, no one else did.

Question: So are we looking at Christianity because of the supremacy of God? Or because Jesus had the ability to rise from the dead?

Fine give or take, Jesus is the son of god. I have no details of the bible to proof how Jesus got conceived, and almost every details of Jesus' birth history was vague and depended on Various sources. I wonder why? Siddharta Gautama had clear dates and details on his birth and death, and they are undeniable facts.

And rising up from the grave, there are records of people who have special abilities to control over their body functions due to their strong control over their mind, in which they can slow down their heart rate as if the whole body looked dead, and even after days of burial, they are able to climbed up form the graves alive. Look, if there are Other people who were able to do this, what makes Jesus special? Fine the records weren't as clear as those of Jesus, because the Other people weren't celebrities like Jesus, and who would have took note of the Other people who rose back from the grave? If you wanna talk about special, Buddha was equally special, he could see your past, present and future lives!

2- Let Jesus enter your heart and make a change. Be courageous to make this move. Let us pray for you.

Question: Hello, there are tonnes of people out there making huge changes without stepping into Christianity. Prime ministers of Malaysia were all Muslims, didn't they make any changes? The changes might be bad, but ain't those changes?How big of a change by stepping into Christianity can make? Do people get rich instantly by entering it? How do people gain satisfaction by joining it? Getting new friends? Knowing there's Someone you can Count on every time? Face the facts, its one by for himself. Even if your loved ones were to help, the will is upon an individual(to me) to make a difference, not only joining or knowing there's someone there.Pray for me? So are you telling me that if I don't step up and join Christianity, you will not pray for me?

3-Come allow Jesus enter your hearts. Jesus died on the cross for YOU.

Question: When, Where, Why?
I wasn't even born when Jesus got crossed. How can he died for me? For what he got crossed for me? I wasn't a criminal or anything, nor could I because I wasn't born! And he got crossed where? Definitely no where near Malaysia. So how could he have died on the cross for ME?

4-The enemies are stealing the hearts of youth away from Christianity. We need to snatch them back.

Question: Are we in for some war or something? If you are talking about hearts like purity, diligence, integrity and all the good values, fine, we should stop drugs,smokes or alcohols from taking youths away from the good values. But away from Christianity? Sorry but by the sound of that, its like you are telling the youths that they are property of Christianity, to me. Can you use better terms?


There are tonnes more questionable facts the pastor delivered that day to me. I perceived it as an outsider, a person who does not know Christianity at all. So I was making assumptions.

320 clicks for 320 participants!

As for the other activities, well I enjoyed the bimbo-istic video, the company I had for nasi lemak, and also the girls who thought I was rowie's princess.

They were like:
Girl A(Christine): You know when we screamed "Is that your boyfriend??!!!" All the pastor looked over!
Girl B(Forgotten her name): Yea! All of us were like, omgod Rowena brought her boyfriend!
Girl C(abigail): Omg Rowena you know what I've realized? We are related! Like distant cousin related!

Okay, all girls, but what to do, the person who brought me there was one. The guys were really cool too! Joshua was great, he practically introduced me to all the coolest guys around. Titus, Peter, Tempo, Eugene, and Sam. Sheesh, why do I only remember the dudes' names while I clearly spent more time with the girls.

Overall, I would say maybe not another rally for me. Too taxing on the spiritual and analytical side of me. I could have like gazillion questions for the pastor while he preached. But I really loved the people there! Warm, nice and down to earth. It's like, Hey mate we are friends yo!

Damn I looked fat in this picture! Sorry for the blur. Amateur cam man.

Definitely more fun than the typical Buddhist association adults. Though I've met a few who are real cool also.

Conclusion, the company was nice, just the idea wasn't really my cup of tea. I do not mind sharing knowledge, but preaching is too much for me.

Buffetting : Meat Mania-NOT

It was not till lately I have been questioning myself, should I become a vegetarian or not?

As plagiarized as it sounds, I got these thoughts over a friend's obsession towards being a vegan, but from a aesthetic perspective.

There are so many parties claimed that they are Animal Lovers.

Just an abstract from my friend's comment in Fb, no offense Shaunie girl, just wanna compare ideologies.

i love animals in a way that im against eating animals who has not reach their adulthood; im against eating animals that are at the brink of extinction, im against cruelty towards animals(eg, beating them up)

im not against mercy killing. im... not against eating meat.

if you think you know what it really means to be an animal lover, why dont you exercise it yourself? until you can love animals more than i do now, try preaching me on what loving animals mean.

Of course, I'm sure they do really think of it that way. But then again, if you think properly, there are so many contradictory that can be created just like that.

For example, against eating animals before reaching adulthood, do you know that there are plenty of animals, even before reaching adulthood, human is already hurting them through anaestheticless castration, grinding into bits because they are male chicks, or because they are sick? No, because you aren't exposed to these, YEY.

Eating animals at the brink of extinction, so if the animals are not at their brinks, you can very well consume them? I don't see you consuming dogs or cats' meat. There are strays all over the place, just like chickens used to before the demand goes soaring like rocket fuel.

Against beating up animals. Man, there are like gazillions of animals being abused in the farms without your notice before you chupped them down your throat. The very piece of chicken chop you gobbled up might be one of those being abused.


See? These contradictory issues can be just popped out RIGHT there.

I'm the type that wished things could be black and white without a gray region, or it would be Salem all over again. That's one thing about practicing Buddhism.

Fine, lets not blame it on Buddhism as I'm like the only one who seeks weird answers for weird questions. Eccentric I know.

Yet, lets look at another set of questions:

Q:pls understand the food chain system, understand survival of the fittest. back in those days, you hunt animals for food for survival. is that wrong? if a tiger tears apart a deer for food, is it wrong?

A:take note, for human's cranial and ...dental anatomy, we were born to consume nuts,and fruits just like the other primates like monkeys, gorrilas or baboons. so for us, we were suppose to choose to be herbivores. it was a forest fire millions years ago that allowed us human to taste cooked meat by accident. then, the meat mania started.

Q:can you tell me for sure that all volunteers at shelters, vets, animal rights activist are all fake animal lovers because some of them are actually not vegetarian?

A: no I can't, probably because of the narrow species they are dealing with. They are dogs, cats, or some specific species lovers, but by definition they aren't wholesomely animal lovers. The animal right activists are also almost the same. They strive real hard for dogs, cats, or rabbit's right, but hey, they left out the chickens and cows and sheep, simply because they are demanded in the market.You don't see people telling others not to eat chicken with a huge banner and parade right? Plus, vets are trained to deal with animals like dogs and cats which mostly serves as pets, companions and also work like in the police force. They might know most animal's anatomy, but they do not have the NEED to treat them. So they probably have discarded some animals form their list, like chicken. Hence, they are indeed dogs, cats, horses, or cows lovers, but they are not cut to be known as animal lovers. Of course, not all vegetarians love animals too, but some are striving as vegetarians to devote themselves so as to love ANIMALs, not just dogs or cats or horses or snakes.

Q:also, being vegetarian can also be a religious practice. not all vegetarians are animal lovers. think about that.

I've answered that question. But as for religion, I'd reckon most buddhist do that. I have no right to talk about other religions, but I can most certainly say that buddhism is not a religion, its a lifestyle those practitioners choose to. They choose not to harm the animals, thats why they become vegetarians.

Q:if i eat chicken meat, does that make me a chicken hater now?

no it doesn't. but it doesn't make you an animal lover either. you might love insects, dogs and cats and you try your best to cherish them so as they don't get harmed. but do you do that to chickens? NO.

It's just a piece of what I have also been thinking myself. But of course, I would say I'm a vegetarian by choice. If the situation puts me so as I had to take meat to survive, I don't see why not. If I have the choice to take veg, I would most probably will. the situation varies between individuals though.

I was already labeled as an extremist without me noticing. Yes, I am turning to one, without noticing.

However, I'm also still seeking for answers myself. It's the attachment I have for meat that I still can't promise myself to be a vegan, apart from the needs of the family I'm living with right now.(excuses, I know)

Back to why I'm so obsessed. I'm not a yegan yet, but I wished to find a clear answer before I become one.

And those who claims to be animal lovers.

Look, you put up demonstrations, campaigns, fliers and setting up laws to protect Cats, Dogs, Horses, probably animals at their brink of extinction.

It's obvious you are trying to protect them for some reasons.

For dogs and cats, its because they are pets, and people love them. Hence they are dogs and cats lovers.

But I don't see people putting up demonstrations and making up laws to protect Cows, Chickens or Pigs.

So, I don't see how you can love something, if you put them into your stomach.

If you love them as cuisines, like how I love chocolates, fine might as well go ahead.

But if you do love animals, why harm them? Why do you even allow things such as slaughtering be part of the animals' lives if you claimed that you love ANIMAL, the general term?

Because we are humans? If we re human and we were given the ability to think,analyze and making decisions, why are we still doing these?

Cravings? Attachments? Why blame on your wants, over your needs and wisdom?

Why claim that you are being forced, when you have the choice?

I'm one of the human who claims so. Because of my family.

Why not change them? I can barely change myself.

PS: I love chicken chop. I barely think of the state chickens go through when I enjoy them. But I cried when I heard the pigs' scream in the video. Hate me.




The comments are what the world is facing now. So, should I STFU and just do nothing?

Buffetting : Metta

Loving-kindness, and that's something which is lacked by almost 99% of the human population in Malaysia.

Personally, it's really hard to channel the thoughts and mindfulness into trying to feel happy, especially when there are shadows of other parties flashing into your mind every quatron seconds.

Binn just tried like, 30 minutes ago.

Seriously, it's really hard to try practicing such mindset, even more when you are raging inside.

It happens that Kare4 is having such policy that every rm128 spent on a single receipt, the customer is entitled to have a RM8 rebate voucher.

Sadly, alcoholic drinks were not in the list, as Msia is a Muslim country, where alcohols reigns with pretty much less, or no freedom or with 200% tax.

The phenomenon was the claiming of voucher with alcohol purchases is prohibited, and the family did tried to claim anyway.

Binn volunteered to run to the counter to check the claim status, as the sister was taking far too long to claim, without a single phone call of confirmation.

As "honestly", yet labeled as "stupid"/"dumb"/"foolish"/"you will not survive in the society" act of Binn abruptly blurting the words of "So alcohols can claim ar?" across the air, the claim was halted by the dude/dudess from the customer services, right before the sister signed.

After some arguments and deliberation, the claim was official rejected.

"I can't believe a 20 years old can be THIS stupid,"

"Why can't you just shut up and ask 'is everything fine instead'?"

Presumably the following dramas is well expected and well known by Msian readers.



"May I be well and happy always," that was the verse kept ringing in the mind.

Everything else was forcefully ignored in order to invoke... fine, inFUSE the verse into the oval head of Binn.

Proudly, the mind was managed to be settled down and the rage of burning flares was put off by the calmness of the head.

It was such a satisfying feeling and satisfaction in order to calm oneself down, and not debate further, for the sake of oneself well-being, as well as other parties.

It would be nice to be practicing more of such ideology. Yet, not the expense of one's principal and mind.

One should start wishing himself well before he start focusing on others, because the thoughts of hatred or vengeance might just rise, even more when you are enraged by a particular subject.

The mom said it was THE principle of life.

But something rang in Binn's head.

THE was referring to HER life. What about MY principle?

So, you expect Binn to give extra dosage of drugs to sedate someone else, or to not bother of some tiny extra drugs in the patient's list?

Sorry, I have MY principles too. And I will keep on to it.

Being born in an accountant and business field monopolized family has made cash something so essential that it can't be clung out of our lives.

I for one, want to be different.

Of course, everyone wishes to live in wealth, but still I'm fine with terms with cash, particularly when it comes to honesty with cash.

Well, I guess I have a longer road towards practicing wholesomely with the ideology of Metta.

What about you? Would you practice Metta towards the people around you?