Singapore has confirmed 4th case of coronavirus. Three of the patients had stayed at hotels in Sentosa.
Recently, I noticed many people coughing in the public transport(buses and MRT) and I'm surprised that they did not wear masks. A World Health Organization doctor said that wearing surgical mask works but you need to wear it correctly. The blue colour (waterproof) of the mask should be on the outside and the white colour on the inside as it is made of absorbent material. So if you cough, it absorbs it. Remember to wear mask if you cough or sneeze.
After work today, I went to River Hongbao show at The Float@Marina Bay. For the past few years, I would visit the River Hongbao show with my cousins. However this year due to the virus from Wuhan, they are reluctant to visit the show as it is normally crowded at night. My colleagues also mentioned about not going to crowded places like the Chinatown.
I went to the River Hongbao show at around 2pm and there were not many people this afternoon. I left the place after exploring all the intricate lanterns and buying U magazine as I had to clean my room and help with some housework in late afternoon.
Lately when I'm in the buses or MRT, there would be people around me coughing. I hope the medical community will be able to find a cure for this virus soon. May all sentients beings be well and safe.
Yesterday I finally got to listen to Imee Ooi live at Singapore Esplanade Concert theatre! I thoroughly enjoyed the 2 hours plus concert. The concert started at about 7.35 pm and ended at about 10.05pm with 20 minutes intermission. Besides singing the Heart Sutra in 8 languages (Mandarin, English, Sanskrit, Cantonese, Korean, Spanish, Japanese and Tibetan), she also sang the Great Compassion mantra with Jing gang (8 male singers) and Om Mani Padme Hum at the start of Heart Sutra concert.
Whenever I feel frustrated or upset, I'll listen to the Heart Sutra by Imee Ooi to meditate and calm down. By chanting the Heart Sutra, I feel more at peace. I need to recite the following verse "照见五蕴皆空，度一切苦厄" (Clearly perceived the empty nature of the five skandhas, and transcended all suffering) to remind me of the impermanence nature of life and it is foolish to be angry for long since my identity as a human in this space and time is just a vehicle for me to experience life in this transient temporary material world. No matter how I take care of my body in this human realm, it don't last forever. It will be returned to the earth one day.
照见五蕴皆空，度一切苦厄 means perceiving the five aggregates (skandhas) making up a person* is but an illusion (emptiness), and with this he was delivered from all sorrow and suffering.
five aggregates: : material form , sensation , discrimination, thinking , and consciousness.
Heart Sutra is one of the Avalokiteśvara bodhisattva (觀世音菩薩 ) (practices. In this samsara world, the imperfect world, I'm glad we still have the Dharma, the teaching of Buddha. However Buddha said that once you cross the shore, you also have to stop clinging to the Dharmma. Just let go. The Dharmma is just like a boat that helps you to cross the shore.
Although music is not really encouraged, but I think producing Buddhism music is a way to reach out to the young in the spread of Buddha's teaching.
Inside the Esplanade theatre Singapore.
I paid for $104 (second most expensive price). I sat on first row but was blocked by the speaker.
So happy to hear Imee Ooi sing live. Great awesome performance. Fans could pose with her at the end of concert.
The Great Compassion Mantra by Imee Ooi and the Jinggang
Grove is a vegetarian eatery that has a good selection of local dishes like nasi lemak, roti prata, toast and noodles. It is conveniently located at SingPost Centre next to Paya Lebar MRT station. Last month,I went to try their nasi lemak blue pea and curry. I read of raving review but I was quite disappointed. I don't find the rice so fragrant. Maybe I should ask for more chili sauce. Perhaps I should try the nasi lemak blue pea again and see if it is better. You know quality varies with different chef.
For the curry, I opted for roti prata which is the kind that you can buy from supermarket and cook yourself. I like their dry truffle noodle which comes springy noodle.
Grove at SingPost Centre
Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar
Nasi lemak blue pea ($8.80). The otak laste like tofu.
For curry, you can choose roti prata, bread or rice. ($6.80)
