Inspirations From A Run (XI)

Inspirations From A Run (XI)

I set the intention to have the practice of running help me come to the now.

And it did

NOW.

Such a simple word but profound in any and every way you can think of.

Thoughts came in the run. People came. And I kind of felt it visually – like a pull of their energy coming towards me.

And I asked myself why.

Attachments. Things to do. Things not yet finished. Lingering doubts tensions. Unresolved

I saw how my mental afflictions and delusions were. I saw how and where I put my energy or focus on. I saw how my heart clung on or attached to. I saw grasping.

And the wind came.

I saw it rustling the leaves and wished you could too.

I asked it to help me be in the now.

When I run without anything else. Running wholeheartedly and without anything else with emptiness is such bliss

Where is now?

But it’s here. Right here.

What Do You Believe

What Do You Believe

Watched INside effects: How the Body Heals Itself https://rumble.com/c/KeithLeonS

And there was this question asked: what is it that you believe of your own health?

I tried to ask myself that- how and why did I create the keloids the cyst the little hole in the gum and sensitive teeth

And I came to the understanding – in the deeper ends of my consciousness, I have been adversely affected by the times when my dad had spinal operation, when my two grandmas had taken ill, when mom was taken ill suddenly, when mom’s brother and sister passed on suddenly

That explains why I was also worried to go to the doctor

In fact when I was young, I already had a fear of seeing the doctor.

I was always afraid there was something wrong and that the doctor would find something

It was a fear that I remembered since I was young

And how did that come about?

Was that even mine to begin with?

Did I hear it from someone or did I pick up that worry that fear somewhere? The closest or the one that came to mind with gor gor who had a similar fear.

And writing this now made me aware that I had been carrying this for so long

It made me wonder how I would have been – how my life would have been different if I had not one once had an ounce of this ? How would I have been?

And the fact is bf always reminded me of that? He always said to me ,” there is nothing wrong with you at all”

Because I thought I was not, my body also made me these times

That was how I created what I didn’t want

And seeing this made me want to start a new relationship with my body my cells

And not first without thankfully greeting my body and cells for always supporting me showing up for me renewing me rejuvenating me and healing me helping me- throughout all the times

And I invite my body my cells to embark on a new journey with me- one that speaks of great energy vitality perfect health and miraculous healing

And one in which I can do anything and everything I like with full support and credit given by my beautiful perfectly healthy body

Start now too, you you you you you you and you……

I start by running, being aware of my diet, eating whole foods , watching and observing my thoughts, chanting, sending love and light to myself and others

What is it you can do to bring you to that ideal place of effect vitality and health- therefore: happiness?

Kyoto (VII)

Kyoto (VII)

The last day in Kyoto was slightly rainy. But we were thankful, it was supposed to rain for so many days when we checked the weather forecast, but in the end, it rained only on the last day. And while I had planned to head to Kurama the day before, the plan changed. In the end, we booked a car and drove to kurama, did the hike up from kurama dera to kibune jinja before driving to Osaka and the premium outlet at Ringu before heading to Kansai for our flight.

The top of Kurama was a spiritual power spot. And of course each of us had a go at it- the Kongoshō Six-Pointed Star in front of the main hall and it’s six points are said to be congruent with the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, body, and heart, or the six ways in which we sense and interact with the world as detailed in the Lotus Sutra.

Word has it that if you stand in the center of the innermost star and face the main hall you will feel energized, and achieve a realization of the innate power of the self.

Interestingly , the hike or this sacred mystical mountain taught us all something

At the start of the hike, HuaiHao had a leach on his baby finger and he had such a difficult time getting it out of the way

Then Qinzhi had a slip while going downslope and hurt her bum

While I could see that the daddy was worried about Qinzhi, he -as usual got into his normal mode of being upset and, like the other times, kind of distanced himself, and I did sense that maybe he doesn’t know what to do-everytime the kids had issues, he kind of stepped aside. This time too when Qinzhi slipped. I attended to her as usual but what was different was that I was actually amused by daddy rather then being mad.

In the past, I would be extremely triggered and upset! BUT this time, it didn’t bother me at all. I m amused myself why!

But it showed me how much I have come.

And it was here that I got a chance to reiki her! To get another practise! I was always doubting myself, whether divine energy really flowed through in the course of performing reiki. Previously, I would be like- do u feel anything? This time, I am-I just placed my hands at her back and allow. It’s good if she felt something, it’s also good if she doesnt feel anything, alls done! Because the work is not by me, but by the divine and the sacred.

In this, there is a sense or understanding that I subscribed to the intelligence that is in and around. And that there is harmony in ascribing to the flow and working with it.

The attachment to outcome wasn’t that strong as compared to the past. I was feeling much more relaxed and at ease and that was the change in me.

We went on a little rainy day and there were not alot of visitors, but the air was good, everywhere was green and lush. The whole area was actually quite a mystical place, had an aura about it. Sacred feel it surely had !

And the visit made me think and (re)think intentions. I read about kurama somewhere, and I thought to myself one day that I wanted to visit. I didn’t have any strong feelings about wanting to visit at all, not more than wanting to head over to switzerland! BUT! There I was, in the drizzle and that made me happy as a lark, i wonder why?

I couldnt place when I had the inkling to be at Kurama, but that inkling sent me there. Maybe, just maybe– because I didn’t try too hard! It made me think about the force I placed on something I want, was it to use more force or less? Perhaps less -IS truly more.

I m truly happy and thankful and grateful to be there and to share it with you-now!

Kurama let me see how I progressed. I would have been so angry and upset in the past but this time, now I am totally amused! There was no anger at all

As it was drizzling , when we got to Kibune after all, and found Hirobun, they stopped the nagashi somen service and the kids were especially disappointed , as they really did the climb for this purpose

On my way back into the car, I recounted how my dad reacted when once I cut my hand. Dad was feeling so pained as if -no, because his very most precious was hurt. It was a surprise to see dad that way, it was so clear even if the incident happened so long ago.

In fact the pain I felt was not as much as the look in his face, learning all this again, I thought of how dear I was to my dad. And my heart warmed at this to know I was precious!

And for a while I was reminded how my papa loved me so and I felt so prized so precious like a child.

Kurama was for me. The healing was for me. And the teaching was so beautiful and enlightening on all counts, at every level.

We didn’t get to eat the somen but had a pink yuba rice and it was so good! Afterwards we drove to rinku premium outlets and did some last minute shopping and headed to kansai- and, and, I want to go again.

I want to be in Japan every season! To celebrate the season, to discover and learn the season, to observe the season, to be healed by the season. To be, just to be-with the season.

Kyoto (III)

Kyoto (III)

We had lots of fun feeding seagulls and the eagles joined in the fun, scratching Qinzhi’s hand slightly 

But all was good.

We head off to Amanohashidate. Japan’s “Three Scenic Views” are comprised of Matsushima in Miyagi, Miyajima in Hiroshima, and Amanohashidate (here in Miyazu, Kyoto).

We arrived at the Monju Area (train station side) and had wonderful lunch of local fish and the hotel is just opposite Kasamatsu Area (far side of Amanohashidate land bridge)

We took a boat to the kasamatsu area and on the trip we had such a wondrous experience watching the seagulls and eagles or black kites as they call – fly and soar just above 

That close

My tears couldn’t keep on being inside 

I asked myself why

And I thought about how the seagulls flap their wings and how the black kites 

swoop and soar when they see food in sight

That much they WANT 

They want 

And it drives them and lets them bring out the best of their strength power and might

And that really got me

It reminded me of the time when I was like that- and not that

And how much I want to be that

Doing my best

Living my highest

Expressing my very best

Being my very self

They wasted no time. There was no consideration, care, they just went at it, with a very pure directness

We took a chairlift up the Kasamatsu park, to have an overview of the Amanohashidate land bridge. From one of the scenic overlooks, you can get a unique perspective of the scene by looking upside-down between your legs. The sea and bay reflect the sky and the pine forest turns into a winding green dragon crossing the heavens. 

Then we walked the Amanohashidate, an iconic land bridge that has thousands of pine trees of all different varieties with beaches on both sides spanning 3.6K.

Walking the sandbar, which is said to have appeared like a floating bridge from heaven, a gift from the gods that gave Amanohashidate its name, is a something I wanted to do. A few years back, I had been here on an ingredient filming trip, that trip inked this one. I had to recall how this happened, rather, marvel at how this happened. The slight almost missable intent that happened then, culminated in this gentle 4 kilometre stroll of about an hour today.

We passed others around us either walking or cycling, but the sandbar is never crowded. Said to have eight thousand pine trees here, we had fun exploring the different pines. And feeding the black kites and seagulls. The way the black kites glided, swooped and took the skies, taking it on, soaring, changing directions- its just breathtaking!

We walked back and had some dessert dango zansai amazake for the afternoon 

Kyoto (II)

Kyoto (II)

We woke up early and strolled the bamboo grove 

The summer air is holding on to it’s last breath of chilly cold 

I thought about the last time I was here. And then there was bird song

It’s bird song. As bf said it, the bird is feeling so peaceful it sang

And there really was a tune to it

And he had to dish out this piece of advice for the kids, “ next time find a house where there is birdsong. There’s where peace is”

We strolled to the Togetsukyo spans the Hozu River at the foot of Mt. Arashiyama. It is 250 meters long and still retains its 17th century appearance, despite more recent renovations made using steel.

Yesterday night when we drove in search of the hotel, the full moon was up in the sky

And it’s beyond magic to be here in arashiyama

In this spot- it’s got this special aura you just want to be soaked up in it

In the hundreds of years that has gone before, so many have come here only to have their hearts filled with this magic

And to translate it all in works of art

Lunch is shojin ryori at Shigetsu

We came here last winter and the lunch was amazing

It was the why to the now

I can’t vocalize how my heart sang with joy to be back. The kids remembered this spot and that -“we were here!” and now we are back! This was possible not just because of the heart we have and held, it was because we had blessings! And that let us come back today.

It feels like a kid brimming with so much happiness and you can’t make sense of it because it’s just happiness

I was trying to look for the maple tree that turned red last winter and this time I saw it in luscious green 

And -flowers! Expressing their power and colour. It reminded me of how and why the Japanese were so adamant and would wow at maple or sakura- the bloom would not last, but it would be so full, so beautiful. There was not a care about anything about what the future would hold, or a past that had gone.

It was all about NOW

And I saw this maple that defied time and the seasons and maintained its red. IT about being authentic and standing by you even if you stood out.

Then we strolled the shops and had matcha ice cream eclair, namafu and dango! 

We drove to Ine, recognized to be among Japan’s Most Beautiful Villages. Without much room to build between the mountains and sea, the villagers created this village right along the waters of Ine Bay (in Kyoto Prefecture), one of UNESCO’s World’s Most Beautiful Bays, and the 230 “funaya” (boat houses) that line the bay trace their origins back to the Edo period. 

The Sea of Japan can be unforgiving, especially during the winter months with wave swells measuring meters high. But Ine has nothing to fear because the village is enveloped by mountains that separate it from the Japanese Sea. Geographically, Ine faces south.

As the Sea of Japan (to the north) wears away at the cliff faces of the Tango Peninsula, Ine remains safely nestled within a lush mountain-scape. What’s more is that the mouth to Ine Bay has a sacred uninhabited island called Aoshima, which also helps to keep Ine Bay calm, and its boat houses safe from large tidal fluctuations. 

I love how this pamphlet reminds the visitor that Ine is not a scenic spot nor historic site but a real living space. Asking us visitors to be mindful of the fishermen who live here and eke out a living going to sea early.

 Traditionally used in conjunction with houses to stow boats and provide extra storage/living space, now many of these historic buildings have been converted into Japanese inns, living spaces, and quaint cafes while still retaining their original designs. The people of Ine still live in harmony with the sea as the bay is a fishing port, but it’s also a center of cultural identity; the bay is the setting for spectacular fireworks and local festivals, a world renowned sake brewery, and views that really have no parallel anywhere in the world.

And we had the chance to stay in one of these Funaya – it even has a cypress bathtub and the kids love it. 

You cold get whiffs of delicious cypress when you bathed and it was the best baths ever!

Dinner was a full japanese course, highlighting fresh fish. Ine is really intimate and you would need to book the restaurants, otherwise you might need to drive out for food, the nearest convenience store is also a quick drive away.

What was really lovely was the quiet, and the gentle washing of the waves at the shore, punctuated by the flight of seagulls and black kites.

Kyoto (I)

Kyoto (I)

My first time on ANA to Osaka via Tokyo and I slept like a baby while the plane took off

It has never happened before

And when I woke, it feels like i am in a different place

The view outside the window was humbling

Infinite shades of blue white light grey

The shade was on and the sun came through

I took a moment to observe that

The sun is shining like no one’s business and that is divinity

I was flying forwards and  cloudstream above was gushing in my direction 

It’s like a literal translation of how much I am moving 

Bypassing the shifts all together in no time

I thought of 2 points in time-

The first time I flew to Hokkaido on JAL with bf and the aliveness healing and thankfulness in that window seat

It was that instant that seeded all these wonderful Japanese trips and culminated in the now

I thought of the last I flew back from Fukuoka , in the night and I asked myself: where is my place in this big big big space 

I look out at the window and continue to be delighted like a child wondering about all this magic in life , of life

And my heart is filled with so much joy they have precipitated warmth in my eyes

I want to travel more, and more. To be in the season, to be in place. To be me. 

In this place nearer to God, I say my thanks and gratitude to all , all who have helped me lifted me loved me. 

Filming a time lapse as we make our descend to Narita made me see that the skies are always clear bright and fine weather up there 

I also asked myself: what is it that I would like to do? 

I look forward to the answer these few days

I sit and settle to connect with Kuan yin , Buddha , Jesus and the ascended masters who have blessed me, all this while and especially lately through Ed 

And I feel this warmth and love at heart

Is it not? This connection?

And I look out 

The world is so big 

In this expanse of space the possibilities- are endless – so long as I will

And so long as I set my heart to it, anything and everything goes

You have made so many things come true, TPY

And what is next? What is the next thing you want to make, come true?

Travel! Travel travel travel! And to have beauty find me, and to express beauty outwards. 

Through me, my eyes my heart my feelings my words

In doing so lift myself and others

And as I thought about what I wrote for the upcoming column in zb, this came to mind, whether I wrote beautifully or not, i wrote things my way, in a way that expresses what is in my heart the most, 没有人有办法写食物写到像陈彬雁那样

Expressing Divinity

Expressing Divinity

Walking out to the bus stop and this I saw along the canal stopped me and sent me right into the moment

The camera couldnt do justice

What I saw was the reflection of light on water pulsing through the tree branches

If I ever wondered – yes I did wonder- what it was like to be having the flow of divinity, to have energy coming through . This is certainly a closest show to me.

To let me know – yes- I, no- we all have divinity this cosmic intel flow grace beauty joy creativity abundance light love – each and every of these and them combined- in me, you, us, them, each one of us. Whether you are aware or not. We carry these beautiful expressions of the cosmos.

And to see this and be in the moment with this is grace.

Happy Vesak !

Be Sure

Be Sure

The power of your thoughts are real.

They can affect not only your body, but other people in your life and community.

When you have a clear, simple goal, not only can you focus all your energy in one direction, clearing and re-arranging everything in your life to take you there in the best way possible, but the energies of life itself gather to support you in that goal.

So be mindful of what you think and what you wish for.

When you are thinking, you are moving energy.
Energy moves because of a message.

No matter what you see in the world, if this subject did not get a message, it will not have any movement.

Whether it is energy inside and outside the body or our human thoughts and emotions, they are all messages.

And the universe has its own message for us. And it has its own consciousness.

Energy moves with messages, and messages are used in different levels…

The 1st level is the “unsure message”.
When you have an unsure message, you have doubts. You are not sure whether this is exactly you want. And your energy in your body, anything around you, or anything you want to do will have no direction, no goal, no purpose, then your energy can easily get confused.

Be sure of yourself and your wants.

Make your purpose clear and specific.

What is the purpose of your practice or meditation?

What do you want to receive from it?

Do you want to heal the pain in your knees? Do you want to heal all your sadness and grief?

Feel deep in your heart, “This is exactly what I want. I am 100% sure from head to toe, and I trust this message is going to work for me”

Whatever it is that you want to accomplish, make sure it is known.

Write it down before you begin, can also be helpful.

Many Blessings,
Chunyi Lin

Inspirations From A Run (I)

Inspirations From A Run (I)

It’s been quite a while since I last ran.

As usual, I intended this session as a practice for me get in touch with my heart. And it’s wonderful what came out of it.

(I) open

Allowing and practicing how to keep open. Each time thought comes- and they do, come back to openness.

This involves the willingness to come back – again and again.

(II) intelligence

What makes the sky blue and the clouds white? What makes the birds and butterflies fly? I saw a squirrel and followed it’s path across the greens and up a tree- so light so lighthearted.

Some kind of intelligence up there that I actually have sense of but could do more with.

If this is the very thing that is letting birds fly then what is it doing to me, I m in the same space in the same intelligence as the birds and bees.

I tried to tap into and use this for healing

This very intelligence that kept me alive and rescued me countless times. It’s the reason I am here for.

How can we with with this intelligence more. We do not do this enough.

I realize once again I have been many chances and opportunities by the divine . I spring back once and again . To life, for life. There is something else I want to do , need to do.

(III) surrender

The fact is the body is a superpower capable of healing- and we have to do all we can to support it. The body is on our side, always.

As I try and work with this intelligence, I offered and surrendered my problems and issues and allow the divine to take over.

(IV) power

If we are all expressions of the divine, and the divine is in us, it follows that we have the inherent divine abilities

We have the power- we are so powerful. This power is precious.

But I took me so long to see this . That we have the capacity and capability to bless ourselves. And this is what I did in the last few nights at bedtime, blessing my body wherever needed

Bf was sharing with me about powers . He believes that we should live according to our DNA or our gifts. If we do otherwise, it will be like a fish out of water.

What is your water? What and where is your power?

He says that and it made me think about mine. All along he always chided me for being emotional and I am always so led by emotions, frequently led and misled. They are powerful.

And I haven’t really consciously used them as a power. What if I do?

What if I do?

(V) believe belief

What do you / I believe in?

I just sharing with bf that during my secondary school days I wanted so much to get out of the strata I was in that I did my utmost and become one of the three who would get into Hwa Chong in that academic year.

Bf asked me what is it about my strata. What strata ?

I told him what I saw at that age. An age wheee womenfolk had to do their husband’s bidding and had no place . An age where my parents had to bow down to authority. An age where people felt they had no choice. An age of a lot of powerlessness and where parents had to submit and say “this is life” when they felt like they had no other choice

Even as a kid, I did not like hearing that

We have choices but we too often gave it away

I wanted to have choice I wanted to have freedom I wanted to decide for myself and I did my best with a silent resolve to get out. To get out of any situation where I would choose like my parents did.

To me then, to get out means to strive for a better life where there are other possibilities, at the very least, possibilities other than what I then have.

I believed in myself in working hard and being focused on my goals. And true enough, I got what I wanted.

And bf asked, “ so if you believed so much in yourself where did that believe go?”

I recounted the time in JC when dad started to ask for financial support and I started to care badly for my school

Now instead of blaming him, I could see that I made the choice yes I , to choose the east way out rather than push on, choose to submit and found myself back at the “strata”

And now I could answer what teacher asked- what did you not like about pinyen.

I did not like me giving up – on myself. Then.

I wonder now how it would have been if I pushed on.

Yet not any step of the way I have come is wasted.

The path I have taken has been so blessed by people angels buddhas god the divine and they have all supported to now.

And the questions I ask now – are not any different from the ones I asked when I was a teen . The desire to get out is the same.

Ah Siong Hia

Ah Siong Hia

Ah Siong Hia is what I call him by for as long as I know.

Ah Siong is his name and Hia means brother in Hokkien.

I was nannied by his family and his auntie took me as a goddaughter. And because of this connection, I earned myself a few brothers who cared and loved me like no other. They gave me the respite I needed from the responsibilities of being an elder sister.

I remember when I was little I would always sit in his car and he would drive us to Changi airport at night to fetch his sister Ah Tin, who worked at Duty Free.

I remember being his flower girl when he got married to Michelle his wife.

Then when I had Qinzhi and when Qinzhi was little, and had Happy Train classes at Bugis on weekends, he drove her from Paris Ris to Bugis for us whenever Qinzhi did a staycay with them.

I remember the way he calls me and always cared for me- like hia— a brother. He always made sure people had things to eat—- when he himself never really did.

I heard how hard he worked for the family, doing lots of shift work at the airport at SATS. I remember when times were good he took the family to travel in Australia and bought me little koalas and an opal necklace

The last ten years of his life was less easy for him. He was diabetic and went on to do dialysis. I didn’t really visit him even though I heard how thin he had become or how he couldn’t walk or how he was panting or couldn’t sleep well or how he kept falling

I didn’t want to see and I kept away

I didn’t have the courage to.

He finally found himself in icu after another fall and at the dialysis center . And the next things I heard was his decision to decline the oxygen mask. He stayed on for another day and was gone last Sunday.

And what was I feeling about this? How was I really taking it?

I don’t know actually.

Qinzhi burst out in tears and HuaiHao said , “so sad … it’s like you cannot do anything about it”

Qinzhi was obviously shaken and she couldn’t really vocalize it. I asked her if she felt fear ? Fear of people leaving her and she said yes.

The kids are slightly older now and have begun to understand life and the cycles of it

I told them to remember the goodness and love Ah Siong Hia have given to them. And to wish him well and peace .

But how am I taking it? Ah Siong Hia’s passing made me think about life and death

So much time has passed since I played the role of a flower girl at his wedding. Time has gone for us all.

And listening to how he was and his decision through others made me see how dreamlike how fleeting life can be

In the time he was struggling in the hospital, everyone was expecting the worse. When would the last be?

And how different is it when we wait or expect a baby to be born ?

No one can control and no one knows.

Before we knew, he breathed his last. His family were obviously shaken, torn between feeling relieved that he need not suffer any longer and feeling pained for him.

I keep hearing how he cared for his family how he drove everyone around and ran errands – I remember being in his car and he would play Hokkien songs – and these are all long gone – and the next thing is his final send off before he is cremated and reduced to ashes

And is life —-to be this way?

How can we live life happily healthily joyfully meaning-fully while being subscribed to our habits our stories ?

There’s a sense of helplessness as people go about their lives , imprisoned by their feelings thoughts and perspectives

Yet we sometimes just need another point of view, an openness and a willingness to see to try a different path and follow a new direction. This point of difference is all that matters , so easy yet so hard all at once

I pray and wish for all to have the motivation to eke out a new path to have that opportunity that added push that energy that blessing that protection to

Life is short but life is long too

Life is hard but life can be easy too

Life is difficult but life can be very very good too

And I want to consciously live life well from now.

On Sunday afternoon, I shared with the kids this. I said I asked myself what I really want to do?

I thought so long: and my answer to myself would be that: I want to do something, anything that allows me to discover to feel and express the good in life. Goodness, honesty, integrity, love, compassion, heart, passion, perseverance, kindness, joy, to have the chance to capture these sparkling magic moments, to savour them cherish them celebrate them and share them outwards

That is what I want to do

And more than ever, I want to and know I can live long and well

I want to and know I can get the support of my body to go for it with me. As always.

I texted teacher Stephan to thank him for sharing over lunch and how he always believed in me and cherished me even before I did . And he replied to me this

“Dear Pin Yen, sometimes we loose sight of ourselves and need to be reminded, how precious you are.

So I will tell you again and again.

But it is important that you recognize and accept it.

And it is just the beginning…

I’m flying off tomorrow, we are connected and am always here for you and if you need an enkaku. Until very soon!”

I just had to ask myself when I stopped recognizing myself when I stopped seeing my power?

I asked myself that question until I fell into sleep last night.

Was it when I quit Michelin ? Was it even earlier? Was it when I was a child and I kept missing the chances when I wasn’t picked for some leadership roles? Was it when I was a student and I didn’t believe I had the right answer? Was it when I saw fellow peers succeed and envied them being in the spotlight while I lashed it out at myself chiding myself for not doing better or my best? I dimmed my own light!

Is this all above important ? what has been?

NO. Really. No . What has been had been.

I spent so much time asking and pondering and trying to find out. But I would accept this all now – all the experiences that have brought me here.

I’m sincerely thankful for them, for making me this way and bringing me here. I think I have done well and I can say- to the best of my ability

And I do want to DO more. I know and want my life to be so different in so many good ways, in ways new joyful healthy happy successful that I have never been or seen. And I know I can

Life is a dream but life is not.

I want to leave something beautiful and heartwarming every step of the way. And I know I can.

And we all can.

Thank you Ah Siong Hia, for all the love and care you have given to me. I am so grateful and thankful I have the chance to call you Ah Siong Hia and be a little sister to receive your love. Please rest and be at peace now.