Predictions

The first thing to do on the morning of every Lunar New Year is to visit the temple where my father in law is laid to rest in the columbarium within its premise. At the main temple where one pays respect to the Buddha there is a collection box. Next to the collection box is a large shallow tray filled with small neatly folded pink packets consisting 2 ten cents coins. Each of these packets has on it 1 to 4 Chinese characters written in black ink. The little pink packets are arranged like a mandala in the tray standing sideway such that the words are not visible. Visitors can pick any one of the packets randomly. The words written on the selected packet is supposed to tell your situation in life for the coming year, very much like the fortune cookies. Apparently from past experience of visitors the predictions are quite accurate.

The predictions have so far seemed fairly accurate for me and my husband. For instance one year my husband was inundated with scam calls from the US arising from his showing some interest in certain investments. The wordings on his selected pink packet cautioned against false advice from outsiders. In another year when I was constantly encouraging him to join me for Buddhist studies, the wordings in his packet suggested that he learned the dharma. A few years ago I picked one with a single word "ren 忍 "  meaning to endure or tolerate. That year I really had to put up with a lot of emotional roller coasting projected onto me from someone close. Once I saw the words 快乐  on the packet picked by a little boy. What else is life for a small boy but to be happy of course.

This year I was shocked to see the words 智慧  (wisdom) on the packet that I picked. I am quietly pleased but still puzzled how that can come about. To have 智慧   is one of the goals of a Buddhist because with wisdom one can navigate the challenges in life and able to achieve equanimity. I am aspiring towards it but know fully well I am no way near it, in fact very very long way to go. Yet this prediction is like some positive psychology, like I should really try to live up to it in some small semblance at least. The fact that I will be starting classes very soon under a very gifted teacher who is always able to explain the sutra in such clarity is promising. Yet I am still far from confident because to have wisdom is not only to have the knowledge , it is a lot to do with being able to practice it ie. to walk the talk.

May this prediction be true even in some small ways.