I have been thinking of setting up this post long time ago but I could not find the way to represent the complexities of the situation in its barest form. By barest, it does not mean “R21” but rather a quick relation or realization to the topic of the post. Ha! It seems more and more like I am trying to act “Cheem” but I am not. In this posting, you can partake in some way or another. I hope you do get involve in someway because this would enable you to feel what I wanted to bring across. Please, there are no multiple choices because in life there just are not so many clear cut choices. Alright, below is how the story goes…
You are having a meal in a food court with your family and everyone was chit chatting about almost every other things. You have a cup of traditional coffee in the style of “Yakun” (coffee cup that has a saucer under) and other than the coffee that you are having filled to the brim, the spilled-over coffee also settled upon the saucer. Now you see an auntie or uncle wiping the table next to you (common sight as the stain of coffee often need to be wiped off). You try to go for your cup of coffee, how would you approach it?
This was what that went through my mind. Thinking the auntie or uncle would have a tough time wiping the table, I decided to lift the cup and scrap the bottom of the cup against the side of the saucer to rid the spilled over in case they drip on the table. After my sip, to further ensure that the table would be stain free, I put my cup back into the saucer. Before I leave the coffee shop, I had one last sip of the coffee. I did not repeat scrapping the cup against the saucer. “Drip”, “Drop” two little drops of coffee landed like the Hiroshima bombs on my khaki bermudas. I smiled.
I read about Cause and Effect in Buddhism long time ago. At that moment, the coffee drip upon my Khaki bermudas, I understood what the theory implies.
“…the destiny of beings is not the outcome of mere blind chance, nor does it depend upon the arbitrary action of an imaginary creator, but that our destiny is to be traced back to our own former actions…”
(http://www.hinduwebsite.com/sacredscripts/buddhism/fundamentals_of_buddhism.asp)
There were many actions that, I or even you, could have taken based on the situation given. For every one of the actions that we commit ourselves to, there would be an effect, upon others or ourselves or even on everyone else.
I went to the toilet at Marina Square, took some toilet paper, dapped them with water and started rubbing my khaki Bermudas.