Amituofo CD

This is another good free distribution CD on the chant of "Amituofo" gotten from ABS.
Nice Rhythm too that calms me down and I am able to work better, listening to it in times of stress and anger.

The Green Tara Mantra, Om Ma Ni Pad Me Hum

The latest addition to my series of Soothing Mantra CDs.

Passed by the stall (where the Laughing Buddha is standing) beside the famous Waterloo street Guanyin Temple, the Green Tara Mantra:
" Om Ta Re   Tu Ta Re   Tu Re So Ha" 
with similar sentimental tune like the Maha Cundi Dharani CD, caught my attention.
It's stated that
Listening to the mantra can bring peace and purification to our body and mind;
Chanting the mantra can help get rid of all diseases, sufferings and evil thoughts.

It's a great Healing therapy mantra song. :-)

The 2nd piece on "Om Ma Ni Pad Me Hum" is also nice.:-)

Distributed by Celebrity Music Pte Ltd, Sang by Wang Ju.

Awareness ~ Inner Peace

Some pointers from a recent excellent meditation retreat: 

Why practising Awareness can help us find Inner Peace/Joy?

Awareness
helps remind ourselves to relax;
not to be dragged away by situation;
rest there;

Awareness of us living in samsaric cycle
allows us to get on top of the problem to watch it and decide how to get out of it.

Awareness allows us not to accept issues as enemies but instead change of attitude to handle them as friends.

If one has no awareness, one is totally lost.
With knowledge, one sees things more clearly. 
Instead of pushing away sufferings, learn to accept it.

Awareness is removing the dust/mud (emotions/afflictions) that covered the diamond.

Awareness brings one back to the child-like mind (A child visiting Museum without attaching values to the items, just seeing more).

An unpractised mind is like confused state of monkey mind
Practise develops calmness & peace.
With a clear mind, one sees arisen of good & not good thoughts without being affected and will be happier.
If no awareness, one will be unhappy and drag along.
Realisation that craving, desire are causes of confused minds, one can switch off/cut off the causes.
Not be affected by Daily bad happenings.

Rinpoche: We are not happy bec of Monkey mind.
Awareness helps train and gives direction to monkey mind to do something and it can be a tamed elephant with power.

Why need to do practice?
Understand & will do it.

Make friend with Monkey mind!

-----------------------------
The retreat is excellent but once the retreat ended, and back home,
I felt like I am back to my old-self, just like from Pureland environment back to the suffering Samsaric world.
Sigh... need to practice more...

Constant contact with good pure environment is good,
at least it teaches & reminds me on how to handle tomorrow better...
Amituofo...

& this further aspires me next rebirth to be in Amitabha Buddha's Pureland,
to be in Good Pure environment, Good company to practise well enough
before coming back to Samsara with Compassion & Wisdom for "Industrial attachment". :P
Amituofo...
May I gain entry to your University and graduate with flying colours...
Amituofo...

A Treasure for Health

Received an useful email tip on Losing Weight :-)
Let's Try It!!! ;-)
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A Treasure for Health
A Fast and Safe Way to Lose Weight

Many factors can cause a person to become overweight. Over-eating, constipation, inactivity and a multitude of other bodily stressors can contribute to the problem. Many people want to lose weight; however, shedding pounds is really difficult. Because of the substantial number of these people, desirous of shedding excess pounds, many kinds of weight-loss products have appeared on the market and they are nearly as profitable for the manufacturers as cosmetics. However, many weight-loss formulas contain chemicals and produce unpleasant side effects, as many women well know. Some middle-aged men have “beer bellies” and some women have accumulated fat in the abdominal area after having children. They want to get rid of the fat, but for many, exercising at a gym is not always convenient. Now I’ll tell you a secret: Do prostrations every morning for half an hour and your abdominal fat will vanish. For faster, superior results, prostrate for half an hour in the morning and another half-hour in the evening. You’ll be surprised at how rapidly you achieve the desired effect. Maintaining healthful dietary habits and a moderate level of activity are also important factors and including prostration in your daily routine assists in improving overall lifestyle choices by increasing willpower. Prostrating frequently encourages people to assume natural control over their appetite with ease. Clearing Energy Channels and Promoting Blood Circulation Multiplesystems of circulation exist within the body. They include the digestive, vascular and energetic systems. An obstruction to the flow of any circulatory system will result in disease and an acceleration of the aging process. A regular prostration practice promotes smooth circulation, clearing energetic blockages and facilitating physical and emotional balance. There are two major energy channels in the body: the “Ren” and the “Du.” The Ren channel promotes blood circulation and serves as the primary reservoir of yin energy in the body, while Du nourishes life energy and serves as the main keeper of yang energy. When both channels are clear, blood and energy circulate freely in the body. Prostration is also a gentle aerobic exercise that increases oxygen intake and – like any fitness activity – stimulates the production of endorphins, boosting mood and immunity. Optimizing Heart and Brain Function By the time they reach midlife, many people experience a decline in mental acuity. Heart problems, too, become more common in middle age. The proliferation of sedentary jobs in modern life contributes to the fact that a significant segment of the population fails to exercise regularly, resulting in reduced oxygen levels in the heart and brain. Working in an office setting for more than three hours often causes tiredness, as sitting for extended periods of time, even if the brain is active, restricts oxygen flow. A modicum of physical exercise and fresh air breaks are necessary to maintain mental sharpness. Prostration engages the heart and brain, in part by repeatedly altering the body’s position from a typical upright stance to a downward-facing one. This whole body up-and-down motion encourages increased oxygen intake, providing a simple way to keep the cardiovascular and cerebral systems in optimum condition. -- except from "Prostration for Better Living: An Introduction to Practicing Prostration" A good reference on how to do full prostration: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NY6CyyfOUzc  It is recommended to do on yoga mat to protect your knee cap . Enjoy the exercise.   拜佛對健康的好處  http://www.buddha.twmail.cc/2-2/exercise01.htm

Buddha Light

I am certainly not a good living example of a good Buddhist.
Making all the mistakes that could had been avoided if I had been practicing well.
I have non Dharma friends who have more Compassion and Wisdom to handle life better than I do. I salute them.
But if not for the Dharma, I could be worse so I am still grateful to be in touch with it.
Mindfulness, Compassion, Wisdom and Bodhicitta, may you grow in me and all.
Buddha Light, please embrace me and all.


May All Be Well
May All Be Happy...
Amituofo _/|\_

Never Take Things For Granted

Am always in gratitude that there are so many bustling Buddhist activities for us to choose to attend in Spore that we are spoilt for choices.
However, even so, one needs to earn enough merits to be able to attend.
For past month, had been missing the activities that had originally planned to attend for various reasons...
Makes one realise one really must treasure all the opportunities,
We must not take for granted the existing conditions and
must continue to earn more merits and cleanse to reduce obstacles that prevents us to get in touch with Dharma...
So much so too to treasure our current rebirth of human life to be able to live in a country that allows easy access to Dharma...

Amituofo, may there be no obstacles for those who wish to get in touch with Dharma to be able to "enjoy" Dharma... Amituofo

Fruit that increases calcium absorption

More health tips received from email
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Great food you don't want to miss

• Bananas
• Celery
• Avocado
• Almond
• Brocoli
• Brightly colored fruits - berries, dragon fruits
• Yogurts
• Green tea improve agility in old folks
• Tomatoes
• Jasmine tea - 花茶
• 燕麦
• Flaxseed
• Sunflower seed
• Wolfberry - detoxify the liver
• Apricot - potassium, bone growth and formation of red blood cells

Read up more on www.healthexchange.com.sg

Lemon - Lemons are a staple of many detox diets, and there is good reason for this. Firstly, lemons are packed with antioxidant vitamin C, which is great for the skin and for fighting disease-forming free-radicals. Furthermore, the citrus fruit has an alkaline effect on the body, meaning that it can help restore the body's pH balance, benefitting the immune system. Try starting your day with hot water and a slice of lemon to help flush out toxins and cleanse your system.

Ginger - If too much fatty food or alcohol has caused problems for your digestive system, it may be worthwhile adding some ginger to your diet. Ginger is not only great for reducing feelings of nausea, but it can help improve digestion, beat bloating and reduce gas. In addition to this, ginger is high in antioxidants and is good for boosting the immune system. To give your digestion a helping hand, try sipping on ginger tea or adding some freshly grated ginger to a fruit or vegetable juice.

Garlic - Garlic has long been known for its heart benefits, however the pungent food is also good at detoxifying the body. Garlic is not only antiviral, antibacterial and antibiotic, but it contains a chemical called allicin which promotes the production of white blood cells and helps fight against toxins. Garlic is best eaten raw, so add some crushed garlic to a salad dressing to boost its flavour and your health at the same time.

Artichoke - If you have recently been overindulging in fatty foods and alcohol, adding some steamed globe artichoke leaves to your meals is a great way to help get your body back on track. Globe artichokes are packed with antioxidants and fibre and can also help the body digest fatty foods. On top of this, globe artichoke is renowned for its ability to stimulate and improve the functions of the liver - the body's main toxin-fighting tool.

Beetroot - For those needing a quick health-boosting shot of nutrients,you can't do much better than beetroot. Packed with magnesium, iron, and vitamin C, the vegetable has recently been hailed as a superfood due to its many reported health benefits. Not only is beetroot great for skin, hair and cholesterol levels, but it can also help support liver detoxification, making it an ultimate detox food. To enjoy its benefits, try adding raw beetroot to salads or sipping on some beetroot juice.

Green tea - While it's not technically a food, no detox plan would be complete without regular consumption of essential liquids. Fluids are essential for keeping our organs healthy and helping to flush toxins from the body, and drinking green tea is a great way of boosting your intake. Green tea is not only a good weight-loss drink, but it is extremely high in antioxidants. Research has also suggested that drinking green tea can protect the liver from diseases including fatty liver disease.

Cabbage - Many celebrities have resorted to the cabbage soup diet to help lose weight and get in shape quickly before a big event, however cabbage is not only good for weight loss - it is also an excellent detoxifying food. Like most cruciferous vegetables (including broccoli and sprouts), cabbage contains a chemical called sulforaphane, which helps the body fight against toxins. Cabbage also supplies the body with glutathione; an antioxidant that helps improve the detoxifying function of the liver.

Fresh fruit - Fresh fruits are high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre and are also low in calories, making them an important part of a detox diet. If you're after brighter eyes and skin, shinier hair and improved digestion, try boosting your intake of fruit and eating from a wide variety of different kinds. The good news is fruit is easy to add to your diet, so try starting your day with a fresh fruit salad or smoothie and snacking on pieces of fruit throughout the day. Brown rice If you want to cleanse your system and boost your health, it is a good idea to cut down on processed foods. Instead, try supplementing your diet with healthier whole grains such as brown rice, which is rich in many key detoxifying nutrients including B vitamins, magnesium, manganese and phosphorous.

Brown rice is also high in fibre, which is good for cleansing the colon, and rich in selenium, which can help to protect the liver as well as improving the complexion.

Watercress - Like most green herbs and vegetables, watercress is an excellent health-booster and detox food. Firstly, watercress leaves are packed with many vital detoxifying nutrients,including several B vitamins, zinc, potassium, vitamin E and vitamin C. Secondly, watercress has natural diuretic properties, which can help to flush toxins out the body. To reap the benefits of this nutritious food, try adding a handful of watercress to salads, soups and sandwiches.

 Top 5 cancer causing food

1.Hot Dogs. Because they are high in nitrates, the Cancer Prevention Coalition advises that children eat no more than 12 hot dogs a month. If you can't live without hot dogs, buy those made without sodium nitrate.

2.Processed meats and Bacon Also high in the same sodium nitrates found inhot dogs, bacon, and other processed meats raise the risk of heart disease. The saturated fat in bacon also contributes to cancer.

3.Doughnuts Doughnuts are cancer-causing double trouble. First, they are made with white flour, sugar, andhydrogenated oils, then fried at high temperatures. Doughnuts may be the worst food you can possibly eat to raise your risk of cancer.

4.French fries Like doughnuts, French fries are made withhydrogenated oils and then fried at high temperatures. They also contain cancer- causing acryl amides which occur during the frying process. They should be called cancer fries, not French fries.

5.Chips, crackers, and cookies All are usually made with white flour and sugar. Even the ones whose labels claim to be free of trans-fats generally contain small amounts of trans-fats.