Down to KMSPKS temple for the 3 step 1 bow event! Heard that it is the most challenging "Ordeal" on Vesak Day in Singapore every year. So my adventurous self leaps into action again and decides to attempt it this year. And all thanks to Jian Hao and his friends, the night was filled with laughter and some meaningless humors. Muhaha!! Saw some friends there too. The feeling was like being trapped at some foreign land and suddenly met some own country folks :)

The queue itself takes "forever" and on the last part of the queue, we cross path with people already doing the prostration. That scene really questions those incumbents whether are they serious in going through :S Our group was full of "nonsense" but as we reached the starting point, all the members solemn down and prepares our mind for it.

The route was very very challenging. The extreme up and down slopes plus the coarse road situation grinds your limbs and challenges your mind. But the motivation comes when you see the passionate elderly doing the prostration with such calm composure! Some even wore the "Hai Qin"! My heart is too faint for that.

Some did the full prostration which was really remarkable!! You have to laterally slide your body on the coarse ground! I see ladies doing that too! Some tends to stride with a super big steps....hmm I guess their intention was more of a physical quest then a religious one I think.

As for myself, I tried to take moderate steps, all the 5 body parts touching the ground and I bow only when the chime was heard. My initial thought was more to a physical challenge also, but I was in for surprises. In a short while, my body just act automatically. The pain is still bearable and like all Buddhist practices, it makes you reflect on your mental states and the mind.

Just like the passive seating meditation, you see your mind just like in a clear mirror. Obstacles starts to surface and thoughts just wanders. But its harder in this situation to just catch your thoughts back. Objects I see along the way, people cutting your route really invoke thoughts readily. I almost lost my balance at the end of the route where I finally can get to stand up stationary.

Participants of the "ordeal" I believe faces different mind obstacles and to me is on how to control the mind. Once again, these traditional Buddhist traditional practices is not meant to be a 苦行 but still it lets you see yourself plainly. Novice will definitely find that too real and harsh. I find that to be the best way to honestly be with yourself. Also, seeing yourself in a "favorable condition" like the 3-step-1-bow event is easy but how should one see themselves when face with daily obstacles in life?

I even thought to nationalize the practice! Maybe forgoing the Buddhist inclination but more to a physical workout like the marathons. The level of difficulty is definitely more than running a 10K route and the benefits are people (even to non-buddhist) gets to learn how to observe their mind. The only way for human to advance to a higher mental states thus motivate good mental conducts are to learn how to observe their mind :)

Kalyāṇa-mittatā

在家靠父母，出外靠朋友。 This phrase shows how friendship is such an important elements of life. Can we do without friends then? My personal life journey tells me its impossible. Or maybe at large, friendship colours our daily life. Maybe how about spiritual friendship? In this current materialistic society and time, does it even exist?

Been to some events by KMSPKS and how they stress on spiritual friendship, shed some light into possibility of achieving it. Below will be what Buddha commented of spiritual friendship :)

'Don't say that, Ananda. Don't say that. Admirable friendship, admirable companionship, admirable camaraderie is actually the whole of the holy life. When a monk has admirable people as friends, companions, & comrades, he can be expected to develop & pursue the noble eightfold path." - Buddha

'With regard to external factors, I don't envision any other single factor like admirable friendship as doing so much for a monk in training, who has not attained the heart's goal but remains intent on the unsurpassed safety from bondage. A monk who is a friend with admirable people abandons what is unskillful and develops what is skillful." - Buddha

'And what is meant by admirable friendship? There is the case where a lay person, in whatever town or village he may dwell, spends time with householders or householders' sons, young or old, who are advanced in virtue. He talks with them, engages them in discussions. He emulates consummate conviction in those who are consummate in conviction, consummate virtue in those who are consummate in virtue, consummate generosity in those who are consummate in generosity, and consummate discernment in those who are consummate in discernment. This is called admirable friendship.' - Buddha

Kalyāṇa-mittatā (Pali; Skt.: -mitratā) is a Buddhist concept of "spiritual friendship" within Buddhist community life, applicable to both monastic and householder relationships. One involved in such a relationship is known as a "good friend," "virtuous friend," "noble friend" or "admirable friend" (kalyāṇa-mitta, -mitra).

Since early Buddhist history, these relationships have involved spiritual teacher-student dyads as well as communal peer groups. In general, such is a supportive relationship based on shared Buddhist ethical values and the pursuit of enlightenment.

- wikipedia :)

In short, spiritual friendship are some one that points out your blind spot and holds your hand to better yourself. Too bad to those friendships that only shares happiness over gossips, benefits and agrees to what you have done wrong. Its about embracing you for who you are but not closing one or both eyes on what you have done unwholesomely :) That applies to spiritual friends or non spiritual friends......isn't it so?

My tribute to him :)

" Do not be led by rumor, or tradition, or by the authority of religious text, nor by false arguements, nor by appearances, nor by theories, nor even by reverence. But rather when you know through your own experience that certain things are wrong and unwholesome, do not lead to calm and happiness and are not beneficial, then give them up."

"When you know for yourselves that certain things are right and wholesome, lead to calm and happiness and are beneficial, then follow them" - Buddha

Caught this phrase from the "passport" at Vesak@ Orchard celebration :) I have came across this phrase quite sometime ago and really throw me off my seat! Buddha being the head of a religion telling people not to believe what he says unless we experience it ourselves :S

It means no mistake as Buddha was never and have never asked anyone to throne him the head of a religion or his teachings as religion but it is what we have labeled his teaching for. In numerous instances in his Sutras and discourse, he also bewared us the falseness of labeling.

I still remember vaguely in one of the Sutras where upon Ven Ananda mentioned that Buddha's teaching was formost superior than others, Buddha questioned Ven. Ananda has he heard the teachings of all the gurus in the world....

How nice I feel it is through numerous studies and experiences, should we accept what is to be taught :) Even if a fact is indeed a fact, without experience, it is of no relevance to our life. Maybe I can bodly says, the most reliable religion is a religion that holds true in all condition, universally, stands against time, and we know for ourselves that it is right, wholesome, lead to calm and happiness and are beneficial.