Taking Care of Business

15 January 2024

Monday’s laundry day. It is not a hassle at all. I took my time to sort out the items and read the operation manual of the new washer carefully. The previous washer which broke down towards end 2023 lasted 16 years.

My handsome boy, Oliver, died in November 2023. He was 20 years old. A month later, the washer broke down.

While the washing went on, I made breakfast. It is not a hassle at all. In many parts of the world, not many get the chance to boil water and inhale the aroma of coffee powder. It is also wonderful to still be able to start the stove by myself, place uncooked dough onto a heated pan and watch it turn into edible spring onion pancake.

While having coffee, I returned a message to my first younger brother. Each morning he sends me a greeting with a picture. I guess it’s his way of making sure I’m responsive. 😊

My first younger brother’s text to me this morning.

Today I also replaced the vacuum bag, and cleaned the filter of the vacuum cleaner. It’s not a hassle that I have a home to clean. It is also a relief that there’s no need to specially make a trip to the mall just to buy vacuum bags. These days many household items can be ordered online.

In between hanging up laundry to dry, I made lunch. The prayer flags fluttered outside the window as I ate fried eggs and plain rice with a sprinkle of furikake.

Remembering that a friend is taking a community cat to the vet tomorrow, I made an offering of flowers & light for a smooth trip & easy recovery.

Flower & Light for a smooth trip & easy recovery.

Throughout the day, I listened to music, songs & chants but spoke little. The only conversation I had was with a friend about his success at making Peranakan curry.

The above mundane activities are indicators of independent living & living according to the pace I can cope. Be it taking out the trash or exploring new options to reduce physical strain, I cherish every moment when I can still take care of business.

2024 First New Moon

11 Jan 2024

And just like that, the first new moon of 2024 is upon us. It felt like just recently we were at Boudha Stupa to observe the last new moon of 2023.

Observing the last new moon of 2023 at Boudha Stupa with some of the most compassionate people I know.
(13 Dec 2023, Nepal)

The postcard I wrote & mailed to myself on 7 Dec 2023 from Nepal arrived on 7 Jan 2024 in Singapore. I showed it to my first tuition class of the year to get them to design & write a postcard to themselves to capture their hopes for the New Year.

“Who’s Marcus?” The curious speed readers in my class asked.

Visiting Ganesh at Park Village Hotel in Budanilkantha. (7 Dec 2023)

“Marcus was my travel buddy who helped me carry relief supplies for street & shelter animals. He also held my hand when the road became uneven so that I wouldn’t fall down,” I explained to the clean limbed and bright eyed 12 year olds.

For Nepal constantly tests one’s fitness, capacity for kindness and openness to changes.

Marcus carried all the heavy stuff, helped me up & down stairs, vehicles, curbs and kept me from tripping over misaligned tiles & bricks on our paths.

Some days he went ahead to check out places we could have our meals in, their menus and accessibility to me. He was my google map. 😄

Our first meal in a Tibetan shop tucked deep in an alley. Without my travel buddy, I wouldn’t have the motivation nor strength to venture further.

Silence followed as the young ones ruminated on the challenges of travelling with someone like me, and reflected on new reasons beyond that of entertainment & education for travelling.

Listening to his singing bowl at Pilgrims Book House, Thamel, Kathmandu.

As we look to the first New Moon of 2024, may we continue to find new meanings, new directions and new resources for our benefit and for all sentient beings, regardless of the conditions & situations we’re in.

The “photo bombers” in this pic show me we don’t need to wait for a “perfect background” to take a good shot. In fact their presence enrich this picture. 🙏

1 January 2024

Today is New Year’s Day. It also marks the end of the mourning period for my oldest cat, Oliver. He passed on 49 days ago at age 20.

My dear Oliver, may you receive love & cuddles wherever you go.

In Buddhist beliefs, the soul of the deceased is reborn by the 49th day.

I hope one day I will see all my pets again. This is the first time in 25 years that I do not have an animal in my home.

Becoming a Lotus

28-12-23

“Let nothing dim our light.” Pema reminds me.

“Please give Pema a hug for me!” My friend, Sharonne, texted when my trip to Nepal was finalised. Pema is the name of her sponsored shelter dog.

Pema means Lotus Flower in Tibetan. Although rooted in mud, the Lotus rises from its murky surroundings without carrying a trace of dirt.

Hence, the Lotus in eastern spirituality has become a symbol of rising above challenges while remaining free from defilements.

At our recent shelter visit to Street Dog Care, we were greeted by dogs that embodied the spirit of the Lotus.

Despite having suffered from human abuse and neglect, they came prancing towards us like we were their best friends.

To avoid getting knocked over by wave after wave of canine affection, I had to quickly sit on a little mound of soil upon entering the shelter.

Dancing at our feet in anticipation, each dog was vying for the chance to pull us into their earthy embrace.

Laughing humans, smiling dogs and swirling dust … what an absolute chaos but oh so delightful!

Earthy hugs that lifted my sadness of losing my cats Emmanuel and Oliver this September and November respectively.

Rocky had an acid wound that was deep & red, but he offered his face and looked at me with the kindest eyes as I spoke to him. Could this dog be anymore aggressive as his abuser claimed?

Rocky’s was wounded but his kindness remains.

Rocky snuggling with vet, Dr Bikesh. Can this dog get any more aggressive as claimed by the person who poured acid on him?

Then there was one who pedalled frantically on two front legs to welcome us. He was probably a survivor of motor traffic or birth defect. Marcus quickly went over to receive his greetings to show the beige angel that he was not overlooked.

Marcus makes sure the paraplegic dog knows he is loved.

We couldn’t finish walking the length of the shelter without getting greeted, kissed or hugged by dogs.

Rough sleeping on the streets and not having ready access to cleaning did not defile the purity of these canine beings one bit.

On our ride back from the shelter in our little taxi, I was beaming from ear to ear. Mud splattered and in my down jacket punctured by canine attempts to hug me, I felt cleansed of all sadness by the Lotuses in the dog shelter.

Pema is my friend, Sharonne’s sponsored shelter dog.

The Birth of Kindness

26-12-23 (Boxing Day)

Handmade shelter for a community cat in one of the neighbourhoods in Singapore. (Source: FB post Dec 2023)

One Christmas Eve many years ago, I passed by 3 or 4 dogs seeking shelter from the on off day long rain under the void deck of abandoned flats.

By the time I bought dog food and aluminium trays from the supermarket to go to their aid, the dogs had disappeared.

A slight panic descended as darkness deepened in the deserted premise where I stood. Held down by trays of opened canned food, there was not much I could do. The drizzle was also gathering force.

“Miss Ong, what are you doing here?”

I looked up to see two smiling boys. They introduced themselves as SJI boys.

More than 20 years after the Christmas Eve Dog Feeding Encounter, I would be travelling to Nepal in Dec 2023 with Marcus Tan. Besides letting me hold onto his arm for balance when I walk on uneven grounds, this SJI boy also stops for animals. (Dec 2023)

Despite having no memory of seeing them in school, I told them what I was trying to do.

Without hesitation, they took the food offerings from me, and headed to the bus stop where they said they saw the dogs.

After they returned from their act of kindness where the dogs gobbled up everything in a flash, the boys and I held hands in the rain and gave thanks.

Those were the days of pre-social media. I had scant knowledge of helping homeless animals.

And had I let my physical condition, the inclement weather, and the darkness convince me to ignore the dogs’ hunger, I wouldn’t have met these two boys whom I believe to be angels in disguise. 😊❤️

And as the years pile on, the seemingly mundane, “Miss Ong, what are you doing Here?” has become a question of transcendental importance to me.

So in the spirit of Boxing Day as we put away present wrappers, and tidy up our surroundings, here’s wishing everyone increasing clarity to what we’re doing with our life & gifts. 🙏

Rocky, the survivor of acid attack came to welcome me. (Street Dog Care, Nepal, 11 Dec 2023)

December

19-12-23

Poinsettias in full bloom in Park Village, Budanilkanta, Nepal.
(7Dec 2023)

In my youth December meant holiday jobs to make some money for personal outings & school supplies.

There was always some anxieties whether my limp would be an issue with the employer or labour laws.

December in my late teens & early twenties meant carolling rehearsals and admiring well dressed people who had invited us to sing in their beautiful homes on Christmas Eve.

Only in my 30s, December became a time of looking inward at who I really am. Living with 12 cats & 1 dog assures me that I am home. There’s no need to go outside to seek amusement or approval.

I adopted my first and only dog, Shoya, when I was 35 years old.

After my dog passed on in December 2014, and my cats slowly left me one by one, December becomes a time to rest & remininsce.

And whenever I get the chance to visit Boudha Stupa, I bring my animals with me. In my walks, I thank them for taking on animal forms to teach me what it means to be human.

Showing Shoya the Boudha Stupa at every chance I could since 2016)

This December as I stood still by windows & on terraces, I witnessed wedding celebrations in Budanilkantha, an engagement party in Nagarkot, cultural performances and devotional practices in Boudha.

On the balcony of Hotel Country Villa in Nagarkot Hills, Nepal. (10Dec 2023)

In the midst of music, singing & chanting my spirit lifted as my animals & I received the auspicious vibes generated by these celebrations.

Butter lamp circumabulation at Boudha Stupa.

December is truly an ending & also a beginning. 🙏😊

Because they can’t talk, I learn to listen better.

16 November 2023

My 20-year-old cat, Oliver died on the 50th day of the passing of his buddy, Emmanuel. Emmanuel was 19.

Through their lives, these 2 cats have given me 39 years’ worth of companionship and teachings on living & dying.

Because they can’t talk, I learn to listen to their needs by watching their eyes, facial expressions and body language.

Oliver listens to Saraswati Mantra with me.

Because they can’t talk, and can’t defend themselves verbally, I learn to listen to myself before my judgement becomes my reality.

Emmanuel is always protected by Mother Mary.

And because they can’t talk, I learn to make supplications on their behalf.

Took my boys to see the Boudha Stupa this December.

The late Lama Zopa Rinpoche taught that animals don’t just come to us for food & shelter.

Indeed.

As Emmanuel needed home treatment involving needles that I fear and my stiff fingers are not of much help, I started listening to the Medicine Buddha Mantra to overcome fear and steady my hands.

At Kopan Gompa on 12/12/23 to give thanks to late Lama Zopa from whom I’m learning to care for animals beyond their material needs.

As Oliver liked to stay on my lap to listen to devotional chanting or singing, I learned to be still like him and let the words sink in. This was also how my longest living cat left his body.

Until last year, Oliver & Emmanuel had never fallen ill. Unwell animals disguise their pains & injuries to avoid evoking the predatory instincts of the healthy ones. But I also believe my cats endured their illnesses so that I may evolve spiritually.

The quiet in my flat now seems to hold the mantras & music we have listened together over the years.

So on Oliver and Emmanuel’s behalf I wish to thank everyone who has ever smiled at or said kind words to those who cannot talk. In a broken world, any speech made with the intention to heal is sacred to the listener.

Blessings of Light on Oliver. This was our 20th Deepavali together. The next day he entered a good death.

Life ends, but blessings bestowed are forever.

Thank you, friends and all. ❤️🙏

October 4

4-10-23

Oct 4 is the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi and World Animal Day.

The stories & prayers of St Francis where he mediated on behalf of a wolf and addressed all natural elements as brothers & sisters resonated deeply with me.

Through him I learnt that for good to manifest, every intention needs to come from a place of peace & humility, not judgement.

One of the privileges of being born human is the ability to comfort another being. On our way to Metta Cat & Dog Sanctuary, we always stop by to greet the cats of Mdm Wong’s Shelter.

Since 2007, I’ve been trying to observe 4 Oct by doing something special related to him & animals.

Marcus being greeted by Wednesday on World Animal Day morning. (Metta Cat & Dog Sanctuary)

Today I feel blessed to spend time at an animal shelter and to light butter lamps at a tibetan buddhist temple.

As the day draws to a close and with Krishna Das’ chants filling up my living space, may I return this favour that has been so generously bestowed on me, by wishing everyone the Peace of St Francis of Assisi and Kindness to Self & All Animal Beings. ❤️🙏😊

May these lamps illuminate all sentient beings so that they may transcend suffering & death, and find peace.

Goodbye to All That

11-10-23

Yesterday as the Oct 10 or 10/10 discounts on various online shopping platforms raged on, I found my interest to acquire more displaced by an urgency to discard.

As I gave thanks for the leaves that formed a mandala 2 full moons ago which had since shrivelled up and become brittle, I bade goodbye to aspects of my disposition that have kept my heart small and my mind fragile.

I bade goodbye to pettiness, so that I may be freed from fault finding.

I bade goodbye to perfection, so that I may be freed from fear.

I bade goodbye to self-righteousness so that I may be freed from ignorance.

Perhaps the glorious goldening of leaves and their dramatic shedding at this time of the year are gestures from a very benevolent universe to ease the deaths of personal habitual patterns that are hindering our ascension.

New Moon Eve

14 Sep 2023

Having Massala Papad at Khailash Prabat Restaurant along Syed Alwi Rd today.

Today was my first visit to Syed Alwi Road since 2019. The pandemic and lockdown seem such distant memories. How quickly 4 years just passed like that!

Pre-pandemic shot. At Syed Alwi Rd 4 years ago. (7 Nov 2019)

At Mustaffa Centre, I saw the circular enameled plates of my childhood. All the way to our late teens, my brother & I had gathered around it to make pink & red dumplings of glutinous rice flour every year.

Enameled plates on which Chinese families knead glutinous rice flour to make dumplings and Malay families assemble Nasi Ambeng ingredients for communal dining.

In my friend’s home, it was a platter on which his mom assembled her Nasi Ambeng ingredients for communal dining.

It is amazing how an ordinary household item links cultures and evokes nostalgia.

Today we also had our fill of pani puris, channa puris & papad masala, and TWO servings of masala tea. Indian food is also my comfort food. It reminds me of my neighbour, Asha, who created unlimited supply of thosai, curries, murukus and snacks from her single burner kerosene stove for us kids.

What was meant to be just a lift to my medical appointment turned into a full blown tea with shopping and purchase of flower garlands thrown in.

The much loved deep fried little pockets made of dhal flour.

Perhaps in the face of volatile politics, fickle human dynamics and unpredictable climate, we find solace in memories of people who had loved us without expectations, in humble utensils and affordable snacks that have withstood the test of time.

This is my dream menu. I’ve always wanted to try the indian street snacks showns in documentaries & vlogs.

Sweets for New Moon and to wish my former tutee, Niq, a sweet start and sweet finish to his PSLE. Coming Monday is Ganesh Charthurti.