Wise Dana?

Dana at S state is kind of a disappointment.
Ice-cream given & food given out.

Something to rejoice but no, comparatively to earlier states visited, that seems to be a richer town & as it is a carnival event, most are well-dressed for outing.

Chaos happened at certain point of distribution that caused me to realise that there is still a long way for me in compassion.

Was also disappointed with the behavior of a shop-owner who feigned kindness in volunteering to help us store a few cartons of of ice-cream in their "big refrigerators" and later when we wanted to retrieve from them, they claimed that had not happened and whatever in their refrigerators were theirs and even refused to return the carton containers around the shop (I was told the containers were on lease from the ice-cream company so I guess we had to compensate them for the loss as well ).

However, there are some comforting Thank you from our recipients of distribution.

That was a beautiful place from pictures & of great cultural heritage but was in no more mood to appreciate that. However, there are some comforting events later in evening.

Alot more of wisdom & compassion needed to handle the situations.

At poorer state, was disturbed to see that they would hide their given food under their clothes or bag to get another portion while at affluent town also same.

Friend commented that at poorer state, they want more as they do not know when is the next dana or for their kins who is not present while those at more affluent places is greed.

Maybe once in a while giving dana raises their expectations, the long term solution would be via education and teaching them how to farm for food rather than relying on dana.

Friend commented that at a Buddhist country, at the refugee camp, when they 1st visited, they gave them money, but on repeated visit when the refugees were asked for their wish list, you guess what they want?
More money? No... they just want the blessing strings that often given out by Theravada Venerables. Simple wishes, happy people...

At Bodhgaya where we made another round of dana of food to the public, I was touched to see a polio-infected boy who, like a leader go around to ensure his friends in similar state got their food and the way they helped feed each other really touches one.
May they be blessed and have a better life...
Amituofo...

Reflecting...
We are fortunate to be living in Singapore, be the ones to be able to give Dana, be at a state where over the weekend, there are so many Dharma activities for one to choose from.
What if the conditions for my next rebirth is not good & I end up in a place not as conducive, will I be so engrossed to improve my physical conditions that I will not practise good and where Dharma is not heard of? then conditions deteriorate further?
That thought further enhanced my aspiration to pass my final exam to gain entry to Amitabha Buddha's Pureland where there is only conducive environment to advance and improve my compassion and wisdom til I am ready again to help many others back in Samsara.
Amituofo...
May I meet good teachers and fellow mates and advance on the right path to gain entry to your Pureland after this life.
Amituofo _/|\_