緬甸的旅程來到最後一站，沒有看到滿天熱氣球圍繞着佛寺的日落，亦沒有坐在佛寺上看日出；雖然美中不足，但卻有着意外的收穫，旅程中感受到滿滿的的熱情和他們樂於助人的一面。
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離別的時候，我們祝願導遊的孩子可以早日前往佛寺學習；我們亦約定再回來的時候會去導遊的竹屋坐坐。
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時間已經過了一年半，旅行彷彿成為遙遠的從前，在艱難的日子裹，盼望大家能和平健康。
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The journey in Myanmar came to the last stop. We did not manage to see a sunset full of hot air ballons surroinding the temples. We also failed to sit on a Buddhist temple for the sunrise. Despite that, the whole journey was full of enthusiasm and helpfulness of Theravada Buddhism.
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As we left, we wish the child of our tour guide to go to Buddhist temple for learning as soon as possible; We also promised to visit his bamboo house next time.
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It has been a year and a half, and travel has become past history, wrapped in difficult days, I hope everyone can be peaceful and healthy.

🐘 If it’s the ONE THING you do today, make a pledge to NEVER ride an elephant or buy ivory again. Please. 🙏🏻

Speaking at the Counter Wildlife Trafficking Partnership Forum this morning on what one person can really do in terms of inspiring change, maximizing reach, mobilizing support, and sustaining movements in order to tackle wildlife trafficking and preserve our environment.

Extremely honoured to share the panel with Venerable Maha Sompong Talaputto, Buddhist Dharma Teacher, Justice Michael Wilson from the Hawaii Supreme Court, Le Thi Thu Thuy from the Vietnam chamber of commerce and industry, and John Roberts, Conservation Director of Minor Hotel Group.

✨ Main takeaways ✨
- influencers, celebrities and content creators have power to influence and inspire change through their platforms and personal choices by making responsible choices and leading by example.
- religious leaders can be powerful influencers to dispel myths that wild animal parts have magical or spiritual powers.
- businesses and tourism sector can do more to promote sustainable activities and environmentally friendly holidays for the public in order to raise awareness and promote conservation efforts.
- the rule of law is still a powerful vehicular for change and should be used more effectively in order to bring about climate justice and action.
- real and decisive action needs a collaborative effort from all sectors, private, public and government.
*Don’t limit yourself to a label or put yourself in a box before you take action. Everyone has the power to make a difference.

USAID - US Agency for International Development ASEAN WWF United Nations Development Programme - UNDP
#counterwildlifetrafficking #wildlifetrafficking #elephantconservation #beautifulwithoutivory

【德多少，就得多少】
YOUR VIRTUES DETERMINE HOW MUCH YOU GET

最近家附近有建築工地，噪音多了。

客人聽我的聲音不會有問題，因為我的耳機有麥克風，但如果他們不戴有麥克風的耳機，我聽他們的聲音會比較辛苦。

幾天前，為一位年輕的保險經紀通過Zoom批八字。

他進入Zoom會議室後，呆看著我。

我微笑看著他，故意不出聲，觀察著他。

幾秒後，他才粗魯的說：「哈囉？!」

奇怪了，貴為一個保險經紀，見人應該無數，打招呼的方式，怎能這麼粗俗？我阿姨阿伯級的客人，雖不常用Zoom，都比他懂禮貌。

我馬上回：「X先生，您好。您進來會議室，怎麼打招呼這麼粗俗？」

「我一向來都是這樣先哈囉，有聲音我才正式打招呼。」

「我倒是從來不會這樣。」

其實，這是個人修養的問題。

「你沒有讀我發給你的貼文嗎？為何你視訊沒有戴耳機？」

「我一向來Zoom都是這樣，沒有戴耳機。我以為你只是建議而已，不一定要戴。」

「我在貼文裡寫關於戴耳機的理由，你覺得不成立嗎？」

他想了幾秒，回：「是成立的。」

「我們都是提供服務的人。客人找我們，需要三大元素。第一個，就是同理心。你沒有同理心，難怪你說你的客人寧願聽別人說，也不信你說。」

「如果你要我戴，我現在就戴。」

他講完後，依然坐在那裡看著我，一動也不動。

後來，我說了幾句，他肯戴上耳機後，藍牙耳機也並沒操作好。

等了我一個月，這麼簡單的事情都不願事先做好。

看著他理直氣壯的模樣，頓時覺得他很可憐。

貴人坐在他面前，他說的一大堆話，都是以「自我」為出發點，完全不懂得「以和為貴」的道理。這不就是親手把貴人轟出門嗎？

「你這樣講話，就算講贏了，你真的贏了嗎？」

換成我是他的客人，我絕不會向他買保險，因為很明顯這不是一位真心為別人著想的保險經紀人。

那天，雖為他看八字，該說的我都有說，但我依然保留許多。

因為他缺德。

許多人把「德」看得很輕，覺得沒做壞事就是好人。事實上，不按照別人合理的要求做事，蓄意破壞規則，只顧自己，也是沒有德行可言。

有些人會吐槽，哎呀你學佛的人，要慈悲，何必跟他計較？不要著相！

我不是在意氣用事。

沒有智慧的慈悲，會害死人的。

祖師有訓 - 看命本來就是依客人的福德多寡，而賜福。品行不端的人，承受不起更多的福報，反而會遭反噬。再說了，對貴人都不好的人，對沒有利用價值的人就會更善良嗎？

不是捐錢的，就一定是好人，什麼事情都是要用心才算。

每個人都想要與眾不同，可是如果你的所作所為和一般人一樣，沒有比他們做得更好，那你的命格只配拿得起一般的命運。

不要迷信，以為什麼都是人家為難你，就跑去求神拜佛要打小人。我們命運裡的每一個障礙，每一粒石頭，都是自己放進去的。

你不改，障礙物就不會移。

在這裡聲明：沒有麥克風耳機的Zoom客人，我一概會取消諮詢，進行退款，沒得商量，沒得瞎掰。

能突然放假，真是太過癮了！

——————————————————

Recently, a construction site sprouted up beside my place, creating a lot of noise every day.

Zoom clients wouldn’t have a problem hearing me, but if they do not have a earpiece with a mic, I would have a problem hearing them.

Few days ago, I did a Bazi analysis for a young Insurance Agent via Zoom.

After he entered my Zoom meeting room, he looked at me blankly.

I smiled at him, deliberately staying quiet, and observed him.

Few seconds later, he said bluntly, “Hello?!”

How strange that an insurance agent, who probably have met tons of people, would greet in such an abrupt manner. My middle-aged clients, who rarely use Zoom, have better etiquette than him.

I replied instantly, “Hi, Mr X. Why is your greeting so crude, upon entering this meeting room?”

“I always say hello like this and wait to hear a reply, before I greet officially.”

“I never do that.”

Actually, this demonstrates the refinement of a person.

“Did you not read the post I sent you? Why are you not wearing a earpiece?”

“All along, I do Zooms in this manner without a earpiece. I thought it’s just a suggestion from you and it was not mandatory.”

“I wrote about the reason for clients to wear a earpiece. Do you find it invalid?”

He pondered for a few seconds and replied, “It’s valid.”

“We are both service providers. Clients look for us based on three main qualities. The first being the quality of empathy. You lack empathy and it’s no wonder you say your clients rather listen to others and not trust you as much.”

“If you want me to wear, then I will wear it now”

And he sat there looking at me, not moving an inch.

When he finally put on his ear pods, they did not operate well either.

It’s peculiar how despite a month of waiting for me, he was slow to get this simple thing done right.

Seeing how “self-assured” he was, for a brief moment, I find his behaviour pitiful.

His benefactor was sitting right in front of him, yet his words remained self-serving, totally oblivious to what harmony is about. Wasn’t this sending your benefactor straight out of the door?

“Even if you gain an upper hand talking like this, have you really won?

I would never buy insurance from such an agent, as obviously he was not the considerate kind.

I still read his Bazi that day, said what I should but there were also a lot I did not reveal.

Because he is lacking in virtues.

Many people think lightly of virtues. They assumed that if they do no evil deed, they are virtuous humans. Fact is, if you do not follow the reasonable requirements of other people, deliberately breaking the rules for your own gain, you have no virtue to speak of.

Some naysayers will tell me, but hey you are a practicing Buddhist, so you should exercise your compassion and not be bothered with his behaviour! Don’t get attached to external form!

This isn’t about me.

Compassion without wisdom brings more harm than good.

Since ancient times, it is a rule of thumb that we practitioners allocate good fortune to clients, based on their conduct and luck.

A person with undesirable conduct is unable to bear greater fortune, or there will be adverse consequences. Moreover, if a person is unkind to his benefactor, it is very unlikely that he will be kinder to another person with no value to him.

You can’t define a person as a good man, just because he is willing to donate money. We got to look at how he uses his heart.

Everybody wants to be special and different from others. But if what you are doing is the same as other people, nowhere better than them, then you can only carry a mediocre Destiny.

Don’t be superstitious to think that everybody is out to get you, and you go running to the temples or Feng Shui masters to chase away the villains.

Every obstacle in our destiny, every little stone that trips us, is placed in our lives by no other person but ourselves.

If you do not change, the obstacle isn’t going to budge either.

And here’s an official note: For any Zoom client that does not wear a earpiece with a microphone, I will cancel the consultation and give you a refund.

Having off days out of the blue are so much more fun!

井波彫刻は240年の伝統と250名の職人を有し、住宅欄間を主に、獅子頭、置物、パネルなどの木彫刻品を製作している。4年に一度南砺市いなみ国際木彫刻キャンプが行われている。



0:00 Drive to Inami
0:13 Start to walk from hotel
1:33 Wood welcome board
2:17 On the street
2:40 Wooden bus stop spot
8:56 Restaurant Matsuya
11:44 In front of Zuisen-ji Temple


Inami is most well known for its extensive wood carving district which traces its origins to the construction of the Inami Betsuin Zuisen-ji Temple in 1390. This temple, entirely made of wood and ornamented with intricate carvings has a long history of burning down only to be rebuilt in a much more extravagant fashion. The temple was most recently rebuilt during the Meiji period in 1885, and now exists as the largest wooden Pureland Buddhist temple in the Hokuriku region. It was officially designated as "one of the prefecture's important cultural assets" on April 1, 1965.


Because of its rich history, wood carving is the major trade in Inami. During the reconstruction of the temple in the mid 18th century woodcarvers from Kyoto were dispatched to help in the rebuilding process. These helpers ushered in a new era of woodcarving in Inami, and local carpenters began to produce a more varied assortment of carvings than the temple pieces they had focused on previously.Presently, the woodcarvers use over 200 different variations of chisels to complete their works. They are considered to be the most skilled woodcarvers Japan.

The sound of the Inami woodcarving district was chosen in 1996 as one of the 100 Soundscapes of Japan.

i made Chrysanthemum shaped candies for offering.
there are many types of offerings in Japan, and it's a minor design, but i personally like this design, so I introduced it;)
offering sweets are basically made to last for a long time.

in Japan, it is called the Ohigan of autumn at this time, and it is used to visit graves and offerings to the Buddhist altars of the house. This type of offering candy is mainly used at Ohigan and Obon week.
ingredients

white and yellow dough
30g granulated sugar
8g kanbaiko(kind of mochi powder)
a little syrup(called shitori)
starch powder

green dough
20g granulated sugar
5g kanbaiko
a little syrup

blue dough
150g granulated sugar
40g kanbaiko
a little syrup

#decocookie、#Wagashi、#Japan

宇宙最強偏財 大黑天財神咒 4K 一小時版 Mahākāla マハーカーラ มหากาฬ

大黑天（梵文：Mahākāla，藏語：ནག་པོ་ཆེན་པོ།），又意譯為大黑、大時、大黑神或大黑天神等，或者直接音譯為摩訶迦羅、莫訶哥羅、瑪哈嘎拉等名稱。

該神本是婆羅門教濕婆（即大自在天）的化身，後為佛教吸收而成為佛教的護法神，特別是在密宗中大黑天是重要的護法神，是專治疾病之醫神與財富之神。

每日持誦 大黑天財神咒 108遍以上
南摩三滿多. 母馱南.
唵. 摩訶 . 迦羅耶. 娑婆訶

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祝大家在亂世之年都能身體健康，事業順利，財源廣進，心想事成。

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