Many Japanese go to observatories in high-rise buildings or head to the mountains to see the first sunrise on the first day of the New Year, called Hatsuhinode. With their hands folded, they pray.

I couldn't find an adjective to describe the warm and uplifting feeling that surrounded me this weekend, so I put up a picture instead. A picture is worth a thousand words mah they said :P. It felt like 'sunrise' this weekend.


FRIDAY
* the usual release from "nunnery" in Nilai late afternoon

* stuffed a lot of food down my throat in the evening @ buffet, including oysters, sushi, grilled shishamo, chinese dishes of vegetables and meat, soups, pastries, ice cream etc :P No, I didn't go to a fancy hotel or restaurant, was at Neway ktv for buffet and 3 hours of 'stress relief' singing my heart out to celebrate a friend's birthday. RM35++, for the food and 3 hours of ktv. It comes up to about RM50+- per person (tidbits and service charge etc).


SATURDAY
* had a great time bugging my friend [who bought me ice-blended chocolate on a hot Saturday afternoon :P] asking for explanation every 5 minutes or so about some concepts in a book I was reading, hehe :P

* bumped into Jay Teoh @ Borders. We're so busy we didn't plan to meet up but fate, hmm, or rather the habit of reading, brought us to meet again at the corner in Starbucks @ Borders[dramatic, I know :D, I'm such a drama queen] It's always nice to meet old friends in such an apathetic, distant, emotionless, frigid, impersonal city, faraway from home. [ Yes, my homesickness is getting worse. Anyone wanna sponsor a return Air Asia ticket? :D ]

* met up with Joy at her nice apartment [thank u Joy for a homecooked dinner :) ]

* Migtsema-thon [thank you TR for drinks & breakfast :) ]


SUNDAY
* KH & Manjushri class. Mr Khong told a very interesting incident that happened in Wu Tai Shan, China and an incident related to TR and Manjushri. His 'lecture' today was very informative. I finally understood why one of my father's friend was totally devoted to his spiritual guide. Devotion, a word that sounds easy, but practical :-s not that easy.

* At the orphanage, we discussed God's confirmation, injustice and also expectations and responsibilities. Some people think orphans in homes are bad kids, I beg to differ. Sometimes these kids put in more effort to improve themselves, knowing that they have only themselves to push them harder and become better, as compared to some lazy kids who are busy getting fat watching Astro. Although the kids respect me, I think I should be the one paying my respect to them for staying strong and turning out all right amidst all the crap they face in life at such a young age (some parents did things that you wouldn't imagine parents would do!).

Also, some great news:
a) heard that Tzu Chi is planning to build an abode here in KL *Rejoice*
- many people will benefit, in terms of the charity/ educational/community work they actively do (their speed & width of service rivals many international aid/ charity organisations). It will also to provide an avenue for people to connect to their spiritual selves. Going to the temple once a year to ask for $$$ or going to church/temple only when your parents dragged you (or for the sake of getting to know 'chics' ) is not 'spiritual life' :P

b) found out one of my friends will attend Dalai Lama's teaching LIVE in Dharamsala! *Rejoice* Hopefully one day I will be able to attend Dalai Lama's teaching too (yes, instead of just seeing his face on book covers :p)


Music playing on my blog:
I am touched by the story about Manjushri spoken at Manjushri class this afternoon, so I have decided to change the music (no more 60s) to Wisdom Chant by the most prominent Japanese poetic singer, Ito Kayo. A man said this music is very soothing when I was listening to the sample CD @ Yogini Mystical Treasure in Lot 10 recently.

About Wu Tai Shan:
The peaks of Wu Tai Shan and all the surrounding temples are sacred to Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom. Scholars trace the beginning of the Manjushri association with Wu Tai Shan to the visit of an Indian monk who visited in the 1st century AD and reported a vision of the Bodhisattva. Manjushri (called Wenshu Pusa in Chinese) is believed to reside in the vicinity of Wu Tai Shan and numerous legends speak of apparitions of the Bodhisattva riding a blue lion in the high mountains above the monasteries.