Phương Hoàng Hamilton: September 2024

Friday, September 27, 2024

Chim Trời

Mấy ngày trước ra vườn, có một đàn chim Dove bay vụt lên. Chụp hình không kịp, tôi tiếc ghê lắm. Mấy con chim dove thường là một cặp hay đi ăn ở cuối vườn. Chúng cứ đi một cặp và chậm rải lục lọi ở mảnh đất cuối vườn. Nhiều năm như vậy, có khi 3 hay 4 con, nhưng lần này là một bầy thật đẹp. Khi nào dọn vườn cũng có nhiều chim đến bươi đám đất mới cuốc. Nhiều loại chim, có con chim Blue jay màu xanh, con chim Cardinal trống màu đỏ nhưng con mái có thêm màu xám trắng và xanh rất đẹp. Chim se sẽ thì quá nhiều và thường xuyên đến. Cũng có những con chim giống cở chim sẽ nhưng màu vàng rất đẹp. Chim sáo nâu đen cũng nhiều.

Hôm nay rải chút gạo chờ các con chim Dove. Nhưng chờ hoài không thấy. Rút vô nhà ngồi sau cửa sổ chờ tiếp. Có lẽ thân mình không trường trai mà ăn lung tung tuỳ tiện nên thân toả ra mùi “khí của đồ ăn mặn” hay có ánh sáng không thanh khiết làm mấy con chim trốn mất tiêu, cho dù có để hạt ngon nó cũng trốn.

A few days ago, when I went to the garden, a flock of Doves flew up. I didn't have time to catch a picture of that moment, I was so sorry for that. Doves are usually a pair that often go to feed at the end of the garden. They always go in pairs and slowly rummage around the land at the end of the garden. For many years like that, sometimes there were 3 or 4, but this time it was a really beautiful flock. Whenever I clean the garden, many birds come to scratch the newly dug soil. There are many types of birds, there are blue Blue Jays, red male Cardinals but the female has a beautiful gray-white and blue color. There are too many Sparrows and they come often. There are also birds that are the size of Sparrows but they are very beautiful yellow. There are also many brown-black Starlings.

Today, I spread some rice to wait for the Doves. But I waited forever and didn't see them. I retreated into the house and sat behind the window to wait. Maybe I'm not a vegetarian and eat randomly, so my body gives off a “salty food”" smell or an impure light that made the birds run away, even if there were delicious seeds left.

Thursday, September 26, 2024

Dahlias

Hoa Thược Dược

Trong vườn chỉ còn vài cây hoa thược dược. Tháng 9 sắp hết nhưng hoa vẫn nở nhiều. Còn một cây cà mọc muộn nữa chớ. Còn lại là khu vườn trống.

Buổi sáng ra vườn đi lanh quanh trong khu vườn trống cũng hay. Có cây diếp cá bỏ trong chậu cũng nở một bông trắng. Rồi sang năm tới xuân sang có lẽ mấy cái chậu rau sẽ đầy hoa toỉ hoa hẹ hoa hành xà lách .... trở lại. Hoa trở lại hay không trở lại cũng được. Cái gì cũng đến rồi đi, thành trụ hoại diệt là lẽ thường trên đời này.

Dahlias

There are only a few dahlias left in the garden. September is almost over but the flowers are still blooming. There is also a late-growing tomatoes. The rest is an empty garden.

It is nice to go out and wander around the empty garden in the morning. There is a fish mint plant in a pot that also blooms a white flower. Then next year, spring will come, perhaps the vegetable pots will be full of flowers, chives, onions, lettuce... again. Whether the flowers return or not is up to them. Everything comes and goes, birth, existence, destruction and death are the natural order of things in this world.

Friday, September 20, 2024

Ngày Rằm Tháng Tám

Trăng tròn là ngày người ta thường đi chuà niệm Phật. Lúc còn ở Đàlạt, nhà tôi ngay ngã ba chuà Linh Sơn, Ngày rằm có nhiều người đi ngang nhà trước khi tới chuà. Tôi đứng bên cạnh ba nhìn ra đường, người người áo quần nghiêm chỉnh. Các cô các bà áo dài rất đẹp đủ màu chứ không chỉ màu lam. Ba tôi thỉnh thoảng gật đầu chào 1 người quen đi ngang nhà chào ông. Rồi ba quay sang nói với tôi:

- Không biết mấy mệ ni đã lau sạch bàn thờ ở nhà và dâng hương chưa trước khi đi tới chuà.

Lúc đó tôi nghe ba nói vài lần thì nghe vậy, nghĩ là ba dặn khéo cho con nhớ chu toàn cái bàn thờ trong nhà mình rồi hãy ra chuà. Chuà gần nhà chỉ 5 phút là đi bộ tới nhưng hồi nhỏ chỉ khi nào ba má hay cậu Ba dẫn đi, thì tôi mới tới chuà lạy Phật và ngồi cùng đại chúng đọc kinh nghe giảng Pháp vào các ngày lễ lớn.

Tôi luôn nhớ lời ba mình, ba là người làng Truồi nói theo kiểu người Huế khi nào câu nói cũng ẩn ý nhiều nghiã. Chính tôi là đứa thường xuyên thắp nhan dâng hương cúng Phật trong nhà với ba má mình. Bây giờ hiểu thêm một chút lời ba sâu xa hơn vì: “Như Lai là Phật đã thành, chúng sanh là Phật sẽ thành”. Tôi không những chăm sóc chu đáo bàn thờ ở nhà mà phải chăm sóc các vị “Phật sẽ thành” trong nhà cho chu toàn trước khi ra ngoài làm việc công quả nơi cộng đồng...Tôi đã luôn nhớ lời ba mình và thực hành lời ba dạy cả đời.

Ngày trăng rằm ngắm trăng sáng trong vườn vui vẻ.

The Full Moon Day of the Eighth Lunar Month

The full moon is the day when people often go to the temple to pray to Buddha. When I was in Dalat, my house was right at the intersection of Linh Sơn Pagoda. On the full moon day, many people passed by the house before going to the temple. I stood next to my father looking out onto the street, everyone was dressed neatly. The ladies wore beautiful áo dài of all colors, not just blue. My father occasionally nodded to an acquaintance who passed by the house to greet him. Then he turned to me and said:

- I wonder if these ladies have cleaned the altar at home and offered incense before going to the temple.

At that time, I heard my father say that a few times, so I thought he was gently reminding me to remember to clean the altar in my house before going to the temple. The temple Linh Sơn was only a 5-minute walk from my house, but when I was young if my parents or my uncle Ba did not take me with them to the temple, I never went by myself. I only went to the temple to worship Buddha and sit with the congregation to read sutras and listen to Dharma talks on major holidays.

I always remember my father's words, my father was from Truồi village, speaking in the Huế style, his words always have many hidden meanings. I was the one who often burns incense and worships Buddha in the house with my parents. Now I understand a little more deeply what my father said because: "Tathagata is the Buddha who has become, sentient beings are Buddhas who will become". I not only take good care of the altar at home but also have to take care of the "Buddhas who will become" in the house before going out to do charity work in the community... I have always remembered my father's words and practiced his teachings all my life.

Enjoying the bright moon in the garden on the full moon day.

Monday, September 16, 2024

Hôm nay ăn gì?

Đó là câu hỏi dành cho mấy bà nội trợ như tôi đây.

Ăn sáng trưa tôi, 3 bữa phải khác nhau. Người tuổi nhiều càng ăn ít lại và phải ăn những món dễ tiêu hoá.

Ăn đi liền với uống, uống gì ? Nhiều thứ uống đó chứ. Nước lọc, sữa, nước trà, cà phê, bia rượu, nước trái cây đủ loạ cam táo dâu... Mà còn mấy thức uống làm người ta ghiền như trà bia rượu. Càng già càng không nên ghiền mấy thứ nào hết. Có phải không, vì như thế cho nhẹ nhàng con người mình.

*****

Hôm nay ăn chiều cho anh K ăn cháu đậu xanh với món tép rang.

Tép khô đo cô cháu gái Mỹ Linh của anh tặng. Món tép quê hương đi xa từ Quảng Ngãi sang tới Hoa Kỳ. Gói tép nhỏ băng qua mấy biên giới cửa khẩu từ Việt Nam tới Mỹ quốc rồi tới Canada. Gói tép được giữ tốt trong tủ lạnh mấy tháng. Rồi mới lên bàn ăn của chú tối nay.

Tép khô được tôi xào bằng một chút bơ, nêm một chút ớt sa tế mua từ tiệm phở Ngọc Yến, thêm một chút đường và muối.

Ăn tối cháo đậu xanh và tép rang, 2 món ăn đậm đà tình quê hương xưa và gói ghém tình thương của cháu gái ML dành cho chú K đó nha. Chú ăn tối rất vui vẻ ngon lành.

Cám ơn cháu yêu, mong sẽ gặp cháu qua đây thăm chú thím nữa.

14 Sept 2024

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Dream

Giấc mơ

Ngủ mà mơ thấy gì đó là chuyện bình thường. Tôi lại nằm mơ thấy đi chơi với ba mình.Đi dạo qua cảnh có sông vả băng qua cầu rồi đi tới chợ xôn xao nhiều người. Rồi ba tôi đi vào một gian hàng, tôi đi sau mà không theo kịp. Đứng trước cửa hàng không thấy ba đâu, tôi gọi to "ba ơi ba ơi"...rồi thức dậy. Mới nhận ra là vừa nằm mơ thấy ba mình mà rất lâu rồi không còn cơ hội ngồi cạnh ba, cùng ba trò chuyện và đi dạo....

Ba tôi đã mất từ năm 1985. Có ngày cậu Ba nói với tôi: “ba cháu đã trở lại đầu thai làm người mới rồi” Cậu tu thiền nhiều năm thấy và biết nhiều điều mà tôi không biết. Nghe cậu nói thì tôi nghĩ tới một người sau khi hết đời này đi trở lại trần gian làm người lại là chuyện có thể xảy ra. Còn má tôi thì cũng mất từ năm 2010. Cũng có thể bà đã trở lại trân gian làm người khác rồi. Cả 2 người mất 2 thời điểm khác nhau và nếu có trở lại làm người thì rồi cũng không còn gặp lại nữa. Mà tôi cũng không có cơ hội gặp lại 2 người nữa.

Như vậy khi còn sống với cha mẹ anh chị em và tất cả người thân của mình như: chồng vợ , con cháu, ông bà họ hàng gần trong 1 gia đình thì cần thương yêu chân thành và chăm sóc nhau cẩn thận. Chỉ có gặp nhau trong một lần một đời mà này thôi. Hết đời này cơ hội gặp lại và là người thân của nhau không còn nữa đâu. Có chăng chỉ là tưởng nhớ và hoài niệm. Tôi may mắn sinh ra trong gia đình có đầy đủ ông bà nội ngoại và cha mẹ thương yêu con cháu và tôi đã được chăm sóc cẩn thận. Tôi thật sự luôn tạ ơn những may mắn của mình và ông bà cha mẹ mỗi ngày.

Có điều rằng tôi tự nghĩ nhớ ơn tổ tiên ông bà cha mẹ là tiếp tuc sống như các ngài là chăm sóc gia đình người thân của mình thật tốt trong tình thương yêu.

Có thương yêu mình và gia đình rồi mới phát triển tình thương lan rộng ra cho người bà con họ hàng và bạn bè người sống gần và trong cộng đồng của mình được.

Giấc mơ làm tôi nhớ thương cha mẹ đã mất của mình.

10 Sept 2024

Dream

It is normal to dream about something while sleeping. I dreamed about going out with my father. Walking through the river, crossing the bridge, and then going to the bustling market. Then my father went into a stall, I followed behind but could not keep up. Standing in front of the shop and not seeing my father, I called out loudly "Dad, Dad..." and woke up. I just realized that I had just dreamed about my father, but it had been a long time since I had the chance to sit next to him, talk and walk with him....

My father passed away in 1985. One day, my uncle Ba told me: "My father has reincarnated as a new person." He had meditated for many years and saw and knew many things that I did not know. Hearing him say that, I thought that it was possible for a person to return to the mortal world after this life ended and become a human again. As for my mother, she also passed away in 2010. It is also possible that she has returned to the mortal world as someone else. Both of them died at different times and even if they were to return to human life, they would never meet again. And I also would not have the chance to meet both of them again.

So I told to myself:

when you are still living with your parents, siblings and all your relatives such as husband, wife, children, grandchildren, grandparents and close relatives in a family, you need to love each other sincerely and take good care of each other. You only meet each other once in this life. After this life, the chance to meet again and be relatives will no longer exist. If anything, it will only be remembrance and nostalgia.

I was lucky to be born into a family with both paternal and maternal grandparents and parents who loved their children and grandchildren and I was taken care of carefully. I am truly grateful for my luck and my grandparents and parents every day.

The thing is that I think that I am grateful to my ancestors, grandparents and parents by continuing to live like them and taking good care of my family and relatives with love.

I also told to myself:

Only by loving yourself and your family can you develop that love to extend to your relatives and friends who live near and in your community.

The dream made me miss my deceased parents.

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Take a Walk

Đi dạo

Lâu rồi

Mới có dịp tới Toronto

Đi dạo một vòng

Công viên sớm vắng người

Lên đốc

Vòng ra phố

Ngồi xuống đây

Uống ly cà phê nóng

Dạo tiếp phố đông đúc

Nhìn sau lưng chàng qua cửa kính tiệm Cà phê Tim Horton. Em nghĩ trở lại chỗ đậu xe đâu cần đi đường cũ. Cứ thẳng đường sau lưng chàng rồi quẹo trái là về chỗ cũ...

Chỉ nghĩ trong đầu em thôi. Vậy mà khi vừa bước ra khỏi cửa tiệm cà phê anh nói:

- Cứ đi thẳng đường trước mặt nghe em...

Chàng chỉ nói chừng đó rồi thôi nhưng em hiểu ý anh rồi.

Em cười gật đầu và theo chàng đi con đường trước mặt là trở lại chỗ đậu xe để tới đi giờ tới chỗ gặp gỡ các con cháu đã hẹn.

Em tự nghĩ, mình chỉ nghĩ trong đầu khi đối diện với chàng và cái cửa kính sau lưng chàng là: - sẽ cứ đi con đường đó là về chỗ đậu xe mà không cần vòng lại đường cũ. Vậy là chàng đâu có nhìn thấy đường vì cái cửa sau lưng, mà chàng đọc đúng ý nghĩ của mình. Vừa đi em vừa cười vì đây không phải lần đầu chàng đọc được ý em.

Cho nên phải suy nghĩ trong sáng rõ ràng thành thật đàng hoàng ....vì chàng sẽ̃ đọc được tư tưởng của em đó.

Nhà Phật gọi là khả năng “tha tâm thông”.

Take a walk

It's been a long time

I've just had a chance to come to Toronto

Take a walk

The park is deserted early

Walk up the hill

Walk around the street

Sit down here

Drink a cup of hot coffee

Continue walking down the crowded street

Looking behind him through the glass door of the Tim Horton's Coffee shop. I thought that going back to the parking lot, I didn't need to take the same route. Just going straight behind him and turn left to get back to the same place...

I only thought in my head. But when I just stepped out of the coffee shop, he said:

- Just go straight ahead, listen to me...

He only said that much but I understood what he meant.

I smiled and nodded and followed him on the road ahead, back to the parking lot to go to the meeting place for the children and grandchildren that had been arranged.

I thought to myself, the only thing I thought in my head when facing him and the glass door behind him was: - I'd just go that way to get back to the parking lot without having to go back the same way. So he couldn't see the road because of the door behind him, but he read my thoughts correctly. As I walked, I smiled because this was not the first time he read my thoughts.

So I have to think clearly, honestly and properly... because he will read my thoughts.

Buddhists call it the ability to "read minds".

7 Sept 24