22 Dec 2009 – Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple

Deity Kuan Yin/觀音, the Goddess of Mercy and her origins is debated among scholars. The root of this debate lies in the history of religion, Taoism in China and she might have possibly originated from the Taoist mythology. Today’s Chinese community generally accepted that she originated as the Avalokiteśvara, अवलोकितेश्वर/Sanskrit, in her male form. Too complex for me to understand, not to even mention believe but some seem to find peace by believing!

Ivy‘s mother, address as por-por by my generation, is a believer and will be celebrating her 90th Bday in Mar 2010. Les, Ivy, Kat & Greg will be off to Bali for a wedding and will not be spending Christmas or New Year in SIN. Safe journeys to them. Por-por wanted to go to the temple on Mon to say her prayers, make offerings and give thanks. It was a pleasure to accompany her as long as Mela could help. Mela has been with the LAM family since my father’s stroke in the 1980s.

The vegetarian lunch on the ground floor at Fortune Centre was OK but do prefer Sophie’s on the 4th floor which was unfortunately closed on Mon. Introduced por-por to the staff & management of Hagley & Hoyle on the 9th floor and they were amazed at her ability, considering her age.

God does not die on the day when we cease to believe in a personal deity, but we die on the day when our lives cease to be illumined by the steady radiance, renewed daily, of a wonder, the source of which is beyond all reason – Dag Hammarskjold