Apps for download

So I have been using the Chinese dictionary a lot to pre-read the text prior to each Buddhist class. It is quite a time consuming process. For certain characters where the reference radical is not obvious, it may involve several trials to get the right radical where the word is listed. One night feeling the strain, I remarked to my daughter how great it would be if there is a software where I can just write the character on the screen and its pronunciation and meaning will pop up. She thought for a moment and said it could well be available. It took her less than 5 minutes to locate the Pleco Android and helped me to download it on my handphone. The software allows search for the Chinese character through either writing on the screen or selecting the radicals. I was amazed. What I deemed as a fanciful wish has all along been available.

My daughter asked me to try it out by writing any Chinese word. So I wrote 我 on the iphone and immediately ' wo' appeared together with its meaning ( "I or me", "we or us" ) as well as suggested phrases linked with 我; where just a touch will give further meaning. I was really thrilled and diligently continued with my readings whilst marveling at the ease in looking up the difficult words.

When I finally closed the text having "played" enough with the new found toy, I thought to myself that attending this Buddhist class has really forced me to learn Chinese. However on deeper reflection I realised that whilst my Chinese has improved I may not have progressed very far in Buddhist concepts. It occurred to me that the first character I instinctively wrote when trying out the app was 我. Hence 我 is still huge in my subconscious mind, a sure sign that attachment is still strong.

My fanciful thinking now wonders whether there is an app currently available to help in my awakening to the Buddhist concepts. It again may not be that fanciful, for in Zen Buddhism enlightenment can be sudden. It is there for download.