2009-10-05 - 7:23 p.m.

dialogue of friendship

I plucked up courage to confront a man this morning on a bus. He was playing his music out loud. I went over and politely told him that his music is too loud. I was smiling and my tone was friendly. However, he snapped: "huh?! My music too loud? Why? MY music what, not ur music?!" I replied smiling, "Erm,but it is disturbing me."

"Disturbing u? Then, you go sit far away lah!"

I smiled, "er.. ok." Then, I shifted back to my original seat which was 2 opposite and a little behind. I was a little angry but I just thought it is not worth to argue with him. I did not want to pick a fight anyway.

I looked out of the window and what he said replayed in my mind as the trees zipped past along old choa chu kang road.

A few seconds later. He switched his music off. I felt very surprised. It meant that he knew he was at fault. In my mind, I told myself that Buddha-never-disparaging would never belittle the goodness in that man. He must have felt embarrassed at my confrontation eventhough I did it in a friendly manner.

I felt that I did the right thing and I had won. I thought of Rosa Parks, how she refused to give up her seat to the white man. Courage is required to do good. It's a little victory today. I thought of sensei.

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had a good chat with vincent. got to know that he struggled from NT to ITE to poly and finally to university! As we chatted, he suddenly told me he felt that I seemed to be very different from other friends. He used a very funny anology. He said I seemed to have lived in the mountains like an old sage or something. "ni hao xiang chong san shang lai de." It's so funny! I told him about my study of buddhism and my daily practice. gotto know he is from another school of buddhism and that he studied in Mi Tuo pri sch when he was young and that he was Kim Chee's senior! no wonder Mi Tuo pri sounds familiar. Kim drew his school in one of our class.

very glad to talk with him. very glad to engage in dialogue again today.

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