When I expressed our commitment to only do cruelty-free products, many would ask me last time “wouldn’t it be better to test on animals than on humans?”

My answer is in this beautifully written article in @thestaronline by @nasamariaentaban 💛

I also discussed two major milestones; Europe banning animal testing in 2009 and China ending mandatory animal testing just early this year 🙌🏻

I’m always so late in posting our features 🙊 nevertheless, thank you so much @thestaronline and @nasamariaentaban for having us!

Featured alongside @claireorganics and @rootremedies 💛 shout out to these 2 conscious local brands!! It’s us against the big brands, let’s support each other 🥰

The revised classification will allow travelers from the three countries more choice in where they carry out the mandatory 14-day quarantine, though they will now be required to pay for their accommodation.
https://focustaiwan.tw/society/202109230016

【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!

While waiting to be called up to serve the country for his mandatory National Service, our resident Sentinel and site anchor Egoist has decided to step down from the team pursue his other passions.

Thank you Egoist for your amazing site lockdowns and sharp plays. We wish you luck in pursuing your dreams.

Stay tuned for our roster update announcement with 2 new players coming to Team SMG!

#VALORANT

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