The recently completed new temple building. There were over 60 lay people in the temple when we visited. They were just completing a 7 day retreat when they do nothing other than chant the Buddha’s name.

The old building where the nuns all still live and practice.

Dear Mr. Ng,

I am so grateful for you coming to the temple last night and this morning to do Reflexology on my feet and for giving me the tablets and bottle of lotion made by your late father (also a Master of Foot Reflexology you tell me). I think the swelling in my legs is gradually going down. As you said things are looking better this morning and it was very reassuring to hear you say that it ‘wasn’t so bad’. As I said I have problems with my legs swelling with water all of my life and especially when sitting a lot and when it is hot. Both of these things are happening at the moment, right!

This morning you passed on such valuable information about the points to press to help myself and exercises that can help the flow of energy around the body. I only hope I can remember all, even part, of what you told me. I wonder if I managed to convey my gratitude to you adequately. You will have no idea how important our meeting was but perhaps you got the gist anyway. Ah Gi as always is such a help to me as she sits and smiles and brings me things, she is my guardian in the highest sense of the word. And she was there for me, sitting peacefully, while you worked and I talked to Rev. Master Meian and Rev. Shiko on my cell phone. Daily life continues where ever one is. As we spoke about, meditation is for always and everywhere. We understand each other very well I think.

So, it is time for me to get in the car and travel with Shih Fu and the two other women to Penang, I hope your travels in China next week go well. I’ll be sorry not to meet you again. Thank you for telling me about your life and your close call with the Buddha in late 1999. (It was good to tell you my story about my fathers quick journey to the Buddha in early 2000.) I guess you have more work to do in this suffering world helping relieve pain and helping people to help themselves.

Please do take great care of yourself, help your wife sell the fruit and veggi and just a little foot work. As you said it is wise not to do too much each day, help two persons only each day eh?

Better go now. Thank you again for your compassion. I will not forget your.

Mugo

My tolerance for Mexican music at the Geographer Cafe (see Blogger entry ‘Hotspot’) where I have just spent a couple of hours writing for this blog came to an abrupt end. Not because of the music but because my laptop ran out of power. I’d thought, previous to that, to cut and run across the road and slip into the back entrance to the temple through the newly opened library however, having eventually crossed the road, I found the door locked! So I had to take my chances in the traffic and walk round the block and enter through the front temple gate. On the way in I sat to chat to the volunteers who are constantly on duty to help visitors. They often ask me questions about why I became a monk and other related questions. The English here, although talked at a rapid rate, is good and we can communicate quite well…I think!

Rev. I-Tjue ShihFu, mentioned in a previous Blog posting as being the nun who chants the Lotus Sutra. Here she is behind the wheel of a VW people carrier which she drove us around in for a few hours…at a sedate pace. Thank you dear Reverend for everything.

Here is the brown wool cape. It certainly is warm!