Well, I was raised up in a Daoist/Buddhist family although we really didn’t have the right understanding of what it was about. We were just like the normal guys out there who go to visit the temples, pray to Buddha to give us good fortune and good health. In return, we would make some donations, light some incense, and then make some food and flower offerings. This was how I was exposed to Buddhism during my early childhood.
Then I was baptized as a Catholic during my early childhood, and gained more understanding of the Christian faith when I started doing Bible studies when I was in high school.
I was a very ego-centric person. But, after Ocean Sky Chan Monastery reintroduced me to Buddhism and a few years of Buddhist study, I think I have toned down a big chunk of that ego. Before, I used to blame others for all the bad things that happened in my life. Sometimes, I thought it was just simply God’s will. But when good things happened—I took all the credits. After attending Buddhism classes at Ocean Sky, I now know that it’s the Law of Karma at work. We simply reap what we sow. We have to take responsibility for each action we take.
I think I was changed by my involvement in the activities here at Ocean Sky. I was very impatient before, but now I have improved a lot. I now know that there is a time for everything and that patience brings out the desired results.
When I got sick with gallstones in 2010, I encountered so much pain that I thought it was going to be my last night here on earth. I called out to all the saints, Boddhisatvas and even Buddhas to ease my pain. But all to no avail. During those moments, every second lasted as long as half-a-day. It was like going through hell. Time froze. Out of desperation, I decided to let go.
It was then that I realized that everything in this world is of no importance to me. Unexpectedly, after letting go, the pain became much more bearable. After almost three weeks in the hospital, I had a new perspective of life. I was no longer the old Ronnie that always wanted to take full control of everything. The “me” in me had decreased considerably. I already knew that I am not the master of the universe. I am just a tiny speck in the dust of life.
Somebody once said that Buddhism can accommodate all religions. I believe that. Anyone who studies it can greatly enhance his understanding of his own religion. I gained a deeper understanding of the Christian Bible after taking up Buddhism classes at Ocean Sky.