Looking Back to My Love

I will move... to a smaller place, a room perhaps and with this change, I will be leaving what I enjoyed most in life, gardening.  It is a decision I made, not because I am tired and weary of doing the garden, but because I decided to focus on bigger things on a more personal level.  

Here is a throwback of the garden from years and years.

2011

2011

2012

2012

2013

2013

2014

2014

2015

2016

So goodbye to one love.  You were with me for a long time and it was a great journey.  I will miss you but I will be back, grander than ever.

Land of Hell: A Day in Photo

Disturbing yet thought-provoking.  The mysteries of Buddhism unfolded when I visited the Wat Phai Rong Rua in Suphanburi Province.

Statues of people being punished by breaking Buddhist precepts. 

Some more statues depicting torments for sinners.  While none were explained by signs or labels, the statues were obviously showing despair, anguish, anxiety and dreadfulness.

The tree of adultery

There were two towering sculptures of a man ghost and a woman ghost with very detailed genitalia.

More disturbing displays of human sculptures guilty of sins such as adultery, murder, pride, envy, sloth, lust,  greed, addiction and others. 

But one cannot depend on others for his or her own deliverance, one needs to seek 'salvation' by his or her own doings. 

When a man seeks to gain liberation, to break away from the endless cycle of birth and death, to gain realization and enlightenment, he can only do this by his own efforts, by his own concentrated will power.  (Source: www.budsas.org)

The Lost Message

It's been a year but sometimes I still think that the closure I made with my dad wasn't enough.  I still cry when I think of him and I still get angry when I remember some of the things that happened between me and my father. 

Since I am doing some cleaning at home, I stumbled upon an envelope sent by my sister some years ago regarding some health policies.  Since I am shredding unnecessary documents at this time, I took a special look as to its content. There was a small note that fell from the pile and it was from my father.  I do not even recall reading it as I didn't need the policies sent to me. 

I rushed myself in the hospital for a needed operation some years ago.  All alone, with just two bags, it was one of my heart wrenching moment. I survived and without much assistance from anyone. And through all these years, not knowing of this lost message. 

Dear John,

When I heard about your situation, I told your sister to go to Thailand immediately.  Don't worry about expenses.  I am ready to produce 150K in pesos because she told me about your situation.  I even told your brother and his wife to get ready to go there because your sister is busy with her classes.  

I'm willing to go there but my passport and papers are very difficult to get.

John, I am very sorry I cannot get in touch with you immediately.

Thanks,

Papa