Devoted
January 17, 2022
How are you readcashers? Happy Monday by the way. The first month of the year flies so fast and February is fast approaching. Here comes another Chinese New Year and this would probably be my last CNY experience here. For more than four years of staying here in Hong Kong, I witnessed how this Chinese family and other Chinese Buddhists devoted themselves to their religion, and their beliefs and traditions.
Devotees would always have well-thought-out preparations a few weeks before the anticipated event. And last Thursday, my boss and I went out to shop for CNY decorations and plants which the Chinese believed would bring good luck to their homes, businesses, and families. Some of the auspicious plants Chinese always wanted to buy during CNY include nipple fruits and kumquat trees. And they are all over the markets nowadays.
Each of them has symbolism in Chinese beliefs. The nipple fruit says to symbolize five generations for stronger family bonds and good health. Meanwhile, the kumquat tree is called "gut" in Cantonese that sounds like luck. This tree symbolizes luck and prosperity for the Chinese. So both or either of them is always present at home.
Vital fruits they are for CNY so my boss bought a pot of a kumquat tree. Its verdant leaves and tangerine-colored fruits would probably give good luck to them. And hoping to have some luck as well as them, lol. Aside from it, my boss always likes buying these purple moth orchids as they symbolize happiness, royalty, and admiration. In fact, moth orchids have different symbolism depending on their colors.
Over four years of staying here, I also witnessed how devoted my male boss is to Buddha and he would offer prayers and do rituals in front of him every morning, as well as give daily food offerings. I haven't seen him skipping the daily rituals in front of Buddha, and he would always put fruits beside the statue and replace the water inside the grey Chinese traditional vase. That's how devoted he is as a Buddhist.
Traditionally, this Chinese family also likes going to temples to offer prayers to their deities and deceased relatives, especially during special events like Chinese New Year, birthdays, prior to departure of family members going abroad or somewhere else, and other special festivals and family gatherings.
Everlasting life, good health, and fortune are what they usually pray for. My male boss is also a devoted husband to my female boss despite being a nagging wife. This reminded me of a day when my male boss drove me back home alone from somewhere. He confessed about a woman who wanted him to go with her and just leave his family. But then he refused as he has children and a wife waiting for him at home. Despite having a language barrier between the two of us, I somehow understood some of his words that I weaved together to form concrete information. And that only reminded me of my own father who once betrayed my mother. But that was in the past, and he has changed now and is devoted to his family after decades of being devoted to serving our country.
Devoted my boss is, even to his work and he got the life he has now because of his devotion and aptitude to fulfill his ambitions in life. From having no silver spoon on their table to being one of the bosses in their company and owning millions worth of a house and cars. I would sometimes wonder if his Buddhist devotion was the secret of his fortune and success. But I guess his hard work, perseverance, and wisdom are vital keys to his fortune and success despite having no diploma. Because abilities are sometimes more important than intelligence towards achieving dreams and goals in life and diploma is just a backup.
It is truly commendable how devoted people are to their religion, family, work, beliefs, and traditions and it's a divine gift that not everyone can acquire. Meanwhile, on this platform, we all are devoting our time to creating valuable content that could motivate or educate our readers. If we are all devoted to all aspects of life, it is undeniable that we will all succeed in our endeavors.
Thanks for reading.
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Grabe talaga yung devotion ng mga Chinese. Which really led them to a successful life. And of course dahil din talaga sa sikap at tiwala. Ang cute nung kamquat tree, parang kiat kiat. 😁