Interesting tibits 1
Do you know that one of friend notice that it will rain everyday during the fasting month of Ramadan? Isn’t it amazing? So far it has indeed rained everyday, sometimes a light drizzle, sometimes one really mean storm. A great relief from the warm weather we have been experiencing for the last few months. But remember to bring an umbrella out.
Outdoor events and nice weather
I just heard that event planners have pantang too!
When they need a signature Singapore weather that is hot and humid, the perfect condition to hold an event under the scotching sun, then they should get a big onion and a satay stick, poke the stick into the onion and place it behind the stage or tents. Then pray really hard because the success of the event really depends on the weather and usually pantang remedy doesn’t really works. I wonder if the national day parade held every year uses this trick.
Eating taboos
Eating is a favorite pastime in Singapore. So, do we have any eating pantang? Why yes of course!
1. Always finish your rice.Or you future partner will have spotted face or be plain ugly.
2. Never stick your chopsticks into your bowl of rice and leave it there. In the old days, folks do that when they offer food to the spirits. You are not dead, don’t stick your chopsticks into the bowl.
3. Do not place your bowl on top of the plate.
Often, when we eat at a Chinese wedding dinner, we are served with a clean bowl and clean plate. On the 2nd dish which usually turns out to be something soupy, the bowl will be used. An auntie told me that we should never place our bowl on the empty plate when we eat. This signifies a serving to our dead parents. I don’t really understand what she means but hey, I don’t want to curse my parents with my actions, they are both alive and well. No bowl on plate! Yes Mdm!
4. Never eat the last piece of food
This I don’t know why, it was either, you will get fat, it’s rude, or you will never find a soul mate in your life etc etc. Either way, we are all supposed to waste the last piece of food on the serving tray. Say, if the restaurant only offered 8 portion of food for 8 guest, does it means when I am the last one to be serve, I will not take the food because I am pantang?!!!! Absolutely not! Do you think I am stupid? ;)
Some good advice I am about to give. If a particular dish is so tasty that you are willing to risk the taboos of taking the last one on the serving tray, do offering it to the others first, it’s simple courtesy. If someone actually has the cheek to take your offer, the person probably will get fat and not find a soul mate, that’s revenge enough.
Purify Negativity
I am not just pantang, I am Kiasu too! When I read in a Buddhist website that the traditional prayer wheels have been converted to digital ones, and it is just as effective for purifying negativity. I didn’t hesitate to put them in this blog! Hee… maybe it will help all visitors of my blog be blessed, and this includes all living beings,
regardless of race, language or religion, and of course nationality. ;)
His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, has said that having the mantra on your computer works the same as a traditional Mani wheel. As the digital image spins around on your hard drive, it sends the peaceful prayer of compassion to all directions and purifies the area.
from http://www.dharma-haven.org/tibetan/digital-wheels.htm
Surprisingly, we are encourage to put the mantra in the hard disk. It is suppose to make use of the computer hard disk to act like a prayer wheel! Isn’t that creative! Oh well, no harm trying, the file size of this mantra graphic is only 2KB! If it did works, hopefully it will purify all the pantang things I did in the past. Hee…. Just kidding.
The Mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" in Tibetan script
The traditional handheld prayer wheel
The digital prayer wheel!
Pictures from
Dharma HavenMy wish list: May the world be a more compassionate and tolerant place, may all those that are suffering receive help and all wars and destructions to stop. PEACE!
Disgusting? But Auspicious!
So, my husband commented that when cats walked boldly into your house uninvited, and decided to give birth to kittens in your house, the original bad luck now becomes good instead. Why is it so? Probably because animals will only give birth in a place where they felt safe and comfortable. Isn’t this nice? Never mind the bloody mess they left behind, it’s a miracle to see newborn animals, but beware of the new mother, they tend to be a bit protective. Some might find the mess disgusting, but look on the auspicious side, why didn’t they choose your quarrelsome neighbors instead? It’s because their instinct told them your house is a good place to be. (And probably because you left you doors opened again)
Since we are on the topic of disgusting happenings that turns out to be auspicious instead, let’s explores "POOS". Older folks thinks baby only poo poo in a place they are comfortable with, however, if they fuss and scream non-stop, that probably isn’t a very good place to be at. That’s why some folks “borrowed” babies to visit new house, they use the babies to gauge if a particular flat on sale is really a good bargain after all. If the baby sleeps, plays, laughs in the house, this place is auspicious. If baby poos, this place is not just auspicious, it brings wealth too!
What about stepping on dog’s poo? By right, considerate owners should clear up after their dogs, hence reduced the opportunity of stepping on doggie excrement. This makes it rare because street dogs won’t leave their feces lying around on the streets and pavement. If one is to be so lucky to step on a pile of shits, one should quickly proceed to the nearest 4D store and buy a lottery ticket. However, due to the sudden explosion of dog owners, many of which does not believes in cleaning up the mess, it is now more of an irritant than a lucky sign. A note to all dog owners, please clean up your dog’s poo poo, with the consumption of mass produced dog foods, their feces are no longer nutritional to the poor trees and grasses. In fact, their feces are more likely to kill the trees in a slow death!
Pigeon or bird poo! Yes, those are lucky as well,
especially,
I stress again,
especially when they landed on your
HEAD from the
AIR! Not from the trees I remind you again, it must be poo from the sky, from flying birds who has no time to find a bathroom. Must migrate before crow shooting season. Likewise, proceed to the nearest 4D store and buy a lottery ticket. You may choose to leave the excrement on your head for good luck but it might smell so bear with it.
Chinese pantang cats
Hari Raya Puasa is just round the corner, this festive holiday often reminds me of my previous neighbors. My previous neighbor is an elderly Malay couple who always offered us really delicious snacks during Hari Raya Puasa. They didn’t have any children whom I can play with but they did have some really beautiful cats.
My parents did not mind having the cats next door except for one little irks. To them, it is bad luck for cats to enter through our door.
Any cats that wander in uninvited will bring the household bad luck. Any dogs that choose to wander in uninvited will bring the household good luck. So whenever my neighbor’s cat sneak into my house to play with me, she will find means to distract the cat away or shoo her off. Both my mom and dad never once harm the lovely cats; they are both very kind-hearted people but they are really pantang too! ;) In fact, it’s pretty amusing to see them trying to lure the cats away from our door without touching or harming them.
I am not sure if my neighbors are aware of this Chinese pantang but I noticed they would try to keep their windows and door closed so that their cats won’t wander out. What my parents didn’t know was that I was the culprit. I often waited by the door for my neighbors to come home, and when they opened their door, I would lure the cats towards me so that I could reach out and stroked them. (To clarify, I was still pretty young then.)
Since they moved, we lost contact with them. My fascination for cats came from them, they taught me how loving cats can be. I really hope in the near future, it will be legal for us to keep cats in
HDB estates. That way, I can sleep soundly knowing my cat are licensed and will not be taken away from me, just as I am now for my pet dog. I know my old neighbors will welcome the idea too.
This Hari Raya, some lucky neighbors of theirs will get to enjoy the homemade goodies, I hope they appreciate it as much as I did. Considering the numbers of years that has passed, they must be pretty old now. May they be well and happy, and Selamat Hari Raya to them!
PS: cats and dog CAN live together. Especially when I have such a timid dog. Hee…PPS: as you can see, my post isn't about Chinese and Cats pantang; it is mainly about my neighbor, and cats, oh and how much I miss their delicious homemade goodies. *Slurps* Did I mention how my family always shows our appreciation by giving them fresh fruits when we return their plates? This always gets us second helpings! (of course, this means my parents will had to get more fresh fruits and "return" the good-will again.) I miss those goodies... I mean good times! :op
