Still a bit early to review this year but why not. On the 1st of Jan this year, I said my aim was to 修行, what I was referring to was really 修心.

一切要從 [修心] 做起，並不是要學做學問，也不是要學練功夫，或是只執著在表相要多麼莊嚴、要背多少經書、比較念佛數量多寡、打坐多久、睡多少、吃多少、功課做多少等等有模有樣的花樣。

The first half wasn’t that great but slowly getting better. This up and down in life is usual and in a way the up and the down and much smaller now. As usual, there are a lot to learn and have learnt a lot this year, mainly referring to learning/practising on purifying the mind. That’s not a 10 minutes or half an hour session every night before we sleep, but a continuously being aware and observeing the mind, drop the “unnecessary” thoughts and for me will be concentrating on:

若有真正往正路走，即可四兩撥千斤，輕鬆自在，但若走到岔路就會如同身負千斤重擔。念佛修行，目的是在清除往六道走的習氣，達到清淨心念佛，沒有其他的花樣。修行不是在刻意修神通，亦不可當做是在修功夫。( [正] 的神通不是學來的，而是當我們因為修行而把執著、妄想等習氣的種子都去除了，那麼自己清淨心具足的功德，自然就會出來運用)。

Actions are pure with a pure mind, I believe that’s the starting point. + we should let our mind rests at least for a while everyday. Another year has passed! Getting older and older very quickly without realising it, the same feeling when I wrote the post on 當勤精進. My aim for the coming years will still be on 修心 and a wish:

願生西方淨土中，九品蓮花爲父母， 花開見佛悟無生，不退菩薩爲伴侶。

Today especially I feel things are very temporary (Impermanence)! Things that happens, feeling that arises, all very temporary! I have probably said too much, it’s still better to be quiet before I’m ready! In case you have the feeling that this posts is quite negative, I can only tell you it’s very positive for me! Went to HSBC just now and saw their advs, I’m sure many of you have seen, the one about how we all look at things in a different point of view and there is no reason why we should look at things the same way! What I want to say is, you may not agree, but it’s another point of view :). If you don’t like it, it’s another good choice to learn to be more accepting :D. May all of you who read this post be happy and free from suffering!

The quotes above are from 靜老說的話 (thanks to 妙音居士).

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