關於 after earth 結局 ，我們在網路上蒐集到這些相關的討論、資訊與評價

恐懼才是沙也馬蘭的殺手鐗 - 《詭老》

近年每次說起美藉印度裔導演沙也馬蘭(M. Night Shyamalan) ，通常離不開幾個關鍵詞：一再中伏、突破下限、永續爛片等等。近日看到有社交媒體上的電影專頁介紹他的新作《詭老》Old，不少網民留言質疑這套電影會否跟他往常作品一樣地差劣，似乎不少觀眾光了看到導演欄的名字就多少有點卻步。而且，這個對沙也馬蘭的壞印象似乎不止發生在香港，全世界的電影觀眾看來都對這對導演的作品有所保留。

在了解現在大眾對沙也馬蘭的負面評價是否公允之前，必先知道他在很久之前為何被受追捧。曾幾何時，沙也馬蘭是大逆轉結局(Twist Ending)的代言人。透過懸疑性高的故事線，以及完全意料之外的結局，他的電影得到大眾的寵愛。回到他的成名作《鬼眼》The Sixth Sense上映時，大部分觀眾千想萬想也估不到一直治療陰陽眼男孩的心理醫生主角，到頭來竟發現自己正是亡魂之一。那份震憾，相信有看過電影的觀眾都記憶猶新。之後沙也馬蘭乘著人氣，拍了另一部題材不一，但結尾亦相當出人意表的《不死劫》Unbreakable。自此，沙也馬蘭這個品牌就和「結局」掛了勾，彷彿看他的電影就會自然對故事結局有相當期待，看看他會怎樣扭橋，令觀眾大吃一驚。然而，在他接下來的幾套作品，包括《驚兆》Signs、《森魔》The Village、《禍水》Lady in the Water、《破天慌》The Happening等，雖然繼續嘗試不同主題，結局亦有出現招牌性扭橋，評價卻未有如前作般高，相信普遍是由於大眾對大逆轉結局期望落差，而忽略了沙也馬蘭電影本身的質素，以及連貫他的作品的重要元素 – 恐懼。

在這裏，不得不提沙也馬蘭在2013年執導的「大爛片」《末日1000年》After Earth。這段日子沙也馬蘭的評價已經由被捧上天的天才導演跌到地底泥的爛片王。《末》夥拍韋史密夫父子，因角色設定，父親韋史密夫其實出場時間不多，主角其實是兒子積頓史密夫。正值他經歷青春期，由在《尋找快樂的故事》The Pursuit of Happyness裏非常可愛的童星變成一個相貌(比起父親)不算出眾的年輕演員。可能是這個原因，加上觀眾對沙也馬蘭的印象越來越差，電影口碑不好，成為導演其中一個污點。《末》故事單薄處無可否認是弱點，然而在這些局限之下，沙也馬蘭的處理其實花了不少心思，對恐懼與及危機的描寫十分細膩，值得大眾重新評估。導演處理未來末日與荒廢地球，比其他同類型的電影獨到，具有實感之餘亦見新穎。配合場景、聲效、鏡頭運用，有助觀眾一樣置身於同一個環境。最印象深刻的是主角抵達時的那個森林，不用太多情節上的驚嚇元素，但很容易就令觀眾感到心寒。

《詭老》亦然，它的故事簡單而荒誔，若非沙也馬蘭的技巧，這套電影可能會離奇得只會令觀眾感到詫異。電影講述主角一家四口來到熱帶地區一所渡假村，並前往由酒店經理推薦的私人沙灘消遣。怎料到，沙灘上數個家庭皆有成員身體出現變化，小孩的短時間成長成為青年; 中年的又瞬間老化。更可怕的是，他們全部人都離不開這個沙灘，只可以滯留在這個渡假天堂迅速等死。《詭》可能是沙也馬蘭的作品之中最為離奇的一套。它的誇張程度令我想到數年前「臭名遠播」的《媽媽!》Mother!。當年由Darren Aronofsky 執導的極具爭議之作，由一個郊區家庭所遇到的離奇怪事，發展出極度荒誔的暴力事件，借一系列的隱喻對聖經作出諷刺。《媽》的評價非常差劣，差到電影宣傳公司直接把影評人的負評印上電影電報，並以「史上最具爭議性的電影」作招徠。《媽》的失敗很大程度上來自失真，縱使大家都知那是寓言型式故事，但以不合理的情節作隱喻太過明顯，效果出來低手，最後不被觀眾接納。

同是十分誇張的《詭》，則著重於令觀眾瘋狂的恐懼感。電影厲害之處，是導演利用純熟而其他荷里活導演欠缺的技法製造一層又一層的危機，呈現一個時間緊迫卻又離不開的困局地境，令觀眾忙得分身不暇，沒有理會或要求故事上合理性。這個故事的恐懼感沿自幾個要素，第一，是沙灘上有超自然力量，讓人迅速老去; 第二，不知為何，沒有人可以離開這個沙灘，每次有人嘗試離開，皆會因為頭部感受到劇痛而最終昏倒; 第三，則是人性在這困局下的扭曲。換言之，第一點是和時間相關，第二點則是和地理有關，第三點則是人性的懦弱和可怕。
沙也馬蘭透過他擅長的鏡頭移動、中長鏡頭處理，和群戲演員的調度，常把時、地、人三者的關係緊密地扣連起來。他的鏡頭移動速度加上演員進出畫面，配合故事節奏，很容易讓觀眾產生時間過得特別快的感覺。再者，鏡頭不時推至周邊環境，包括一望無濟的海洋、沙灘旁的海上岩石群、沙灘上的生銹垃圾堆、沙灘背後的懸崖峭壁，還有像大峽谷般的唯一通道等等。當把沙灘上的人分佈在這個環境四周，並把所有事情堆積在同一時空下發生，例如有人在營內調情、有人在沙灘正中照顧身體不良反應的病人、有人嘗試不同方法離開現場，有人則坐在一旁作壁上觀，每個環境和置身該處的角色產生關係，角色之間的互動與交織，在壓迫的時間下演化成為各種焦慮。此時，更多人物背景逐漸披露，衝突開始浮現，故事的真相亦現端倪。正如日出前的黎明總是最為黑暗，越是接近真相的時刻越是恐懼和絕望，沙也馬蘭有條不紊地把故事劇情推向更絕望的邊緣，使角色人物一個個離去。要到主角靜下來，把龐大的恐懼感與現實中危機感分隔出來，才突然看到一絲希望，以行動解除恐懼，觀眾才可一起鬆一口氣。

11/15-18/2018
星期四
十秒小動畫
結束完單畫面敘事工作坊，結合角色、動態、劇情、背景音樂設計的十秒吸睛小動畫之新任務隨之而來。一上課如往常，老師從課程大綱簡介目標開始講起，接著播放了幾部情節簡單很有趣的短動畫作品。（如：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w4FJCcZTKU&app=desktop）。接著老師把班級分成三大組，發下三種不同背景的影印背景圖，我們將要使用規定的背景來設計角色的進場、過程及退場。
第一步驟：熟悉場景。在大紙上，重複、快速使用不同媒材畫下背景圖，並且思考前景與後景。第二步驟：抽題目，我到了：這裡熱嗎？我們要根據問題設計劇情與角色。老師要我們比題目寫在大張紙中央，把想法寫下。第三步驟：主角色設計。角色不需要複雜，可以抽象簡單就好，甚至可以是幾何圖型。完成基本構想後，我們開始在A3印有背景圖的紙上，一次又一次的設計動態。老師希望動畫角色可以穿梭前中後景，能夠與場景互動。
來到了西方過家，還沒12月就感受到了濃濃的聖誕節氣氛，金斯頓中心的聖誕市集今天晚上盛大開幕，現場有很大棵的聖誕樹、樂隊演奏還有貴鬆鬆的飾品、食物，等等。
星期五
第二週Storytelling 工作坊。
以下是100 words story- An Encounter on a Lonely Road孤獨途中的邂逅：
After trying hundreds and thousands of ways to escape this cold, dim and lifeless undeveloped planet, I finally realise that I am merely a genetically modified Immortal animal or 'A Machine' searching for life and living places for human.
"Are you the only creature here?" I asked.
"Yes. I think you are from the Earth." Said the stranger in front of me.
"Well, I don't want to go back anymore." I said.
There were sincerity and tears in both of our eyes.
"Thanks for being here. We're not alone now. "
這個故事是被之前我畫的一幅小插畫所啟發，我發現要在百字內表達出我想表達的蠻困難的，經過了好多次的修改和刪減。
今天老師跟我們分享了好多篇知名短篇小說的開頭，好的故事開頭能夠快速吸引讀者，讓人想繼續看下去。老師讓我們想一個故事，人物設定要平凡，但會有意想不到的結局，然後寫下故事的開頭。我和另一個同學寫了: “She had not expected that she would be nose touching with an alien.”
第二階段，老師要我們把功課100字的故事用10-15個字濃縮，我抓出了故事主旨，寫了: “I thought I didn’t belong to anyone before I finally find you.”
第三階段，觀察教室任何一人或一事或一物，寫成故事。畢竟英文不是我的母語，再加上本身中文寫作能力就不足，我沒有辦法寫出太深入的內容，所以還是選擇以第一人稱寫下物品獨白。我選擇的是，被主人遺忘在教室桌上的小橡皮擦。
“Where are you, my owner? Where are you? Where are you? I miss you! random people keep using me. They're rudely rubbing me, scratching me, throwing me on the floor and even taking my clothes off.” “Whose eraser is this?” “I don't know. Should we take it home? Somebody doesn't want it, I guess.” people keep discussing. “My dear owner, is that true you don't want me anymore? I can still remember the days I spent time with you and your drawings. You are always gentle and clean. I want to go home, go back to you, to my friends: pens and ruler.”
“Dear owner, it's been a while. I'm so weak and thing. Before turning into eraser dust and disappear in this world, I hope that I can see you again.”
星期六日
假日除了好好休息之外，還畫了聖誕節明信片，我很佩服有些同學除了可以把學校的作品呈現的很好，又同時持續著自己的創作，我應該學習他們，好好的規劃和善用自己的時間。
（圖一、聖誕市集一角。）
（圖二三、週五上課記錄。）

【我和師父的對話：談談新加坡】
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SINGAPORE (English writing below)

「新加坡的國運，會越來越多問題。」

大約三年多前，師父跟我說了這句話，也正是李光耀先生過世了之後。

我問師父爲何如此說。

師父答：「從玄學的角度來說，一個國家能夠興旺，必定是因爲領導人或某個很重要人物的八字與這國家的八字匹配，互補彼此的運。有時候，也是因為有某個重要人物，他的存在能夠鎮住這個國家，讓一切不好的事情不會發生，一些想欺負新加坡的人會知難而退。

所以新加坡這個彈丸之地，什麼都沒有，才能做得起來，還做得比鄰國還出色。而當這人物不在了，又沒有另一個旗鼓相當的人取代，那邪氣就能入侵，這個國家便開始走歹運。」

「其二，我們新加坡為了繁榮，到處都在挖洞，嚴重影響了地氣，龍氣受傷了，而且屋子越建越差。妳跟我去看風水的公寓，它們的風水還比政府組屋的更糟糕。

現代人追求表面的美，在自己的家裡東敲西打，破壞了整個格局，所以妳自己從妳的客人那裡也知道，很多新加坡人外表很風光，在臉書上總是說去哪裡吃，哪裡玩，今天買了什麼，和家人一起做什麼。我告訴妳，很多是騙人的，沒有錢的，根本談不上home sweet home。

很多家庭欠債的，要離婚的，孩子不聽話不會讀書，父母得看小孩的臉色做人，家庭吵架、婚外情，家人重病、心理病的、精神病的、小孩子憂鬱症的，脾氣不好、生意失敗的，事業不振， 很多問題， 就是因為家裡外在內在的風水都不好。」

「第三，我們新加坡不應該有賭場的。這是造了很大的業，會毀了很多人和家庭。妳看，有一個女的打給我，以前是做警察的，結果一直去賭場，被警隊開除了。有賭的地方，就有鬼，必有邪氣。沾到這個邪氣的人，思維就會被這些鬼眾操控，他要你去賭場，你就會一直去，明明知道不好，不可以，卻還是去。這是為什麼滨海湾金沙開幕後，妳問我要不要去那裡用餐看看，我跟妳說那不是修行人去的地方。妳也不要去。」

我趕緊搖搖頭，擺擺手。

「沒有沒有，師父，我沒有要去。我曾經為了買一件衣服，去過一次，都沒進到賭場，我就跟騰慶說，我以後不要再去了。那裡的氣真的很不好，我一踏進去，頭就暈了，那外表很氣派，但裡頭就是很陰的感覺，祇是普通人看不出而已。」

「可是，師父，您曾經說過，我們新加坡的風水也主，暗地裡撈偏門幹犯法的勾當的其實很多，不輸給馬國。那有沒有賭場，為什麼會影響那麽大？」

「所以我說妳沒有把我教妳的東西好好學。撈偏門，畢竟是暗的，是偷偷摸摸進行的，是不見得光的。可是你把它合法化，白熱化了，這些邪氣的破壞力量就會壯大了。我們人，不能為了繁榮，要賺更多的錢，就不顧道德，這是會短率而失敗的。」

記得，大約五六年前，我先生載著師父經過福康寧。師父看著窗外的工地，好奇的問：「他們在挖什麼？」

「師父，政府要建地鐵，所以在挖地道。」

當時，師父嘆息：「挖太深了。這條龍這樣挖下去，我們新加坡會種族失和，國人反政府，國運衰落等等的問題。」

後來得知福康寧地鐵站因高難度的隧道挖掘，而得到年度國際隧道工程奖。可見，裡頭挖的多複雜，那受傷的龍氣，是否有高人指點去補全呢？要不然，依然是得不償失的。

那天走過盛港醫院，想到過去一年進出不同的醫院探病，心中有些許唏噓。

醫院越多，代表我們國人的病業越重。根本上師，聖尊蓮生活佛，曾講過醫院就是人間的地獄：

「在醫院裡，醫生開你的腦，挖你的眼，開腦、挖眼、開心，心、肝、脾、肺、腎，統統都要開刀。其實醫院就是地獄道。你說生病的人，哪一個不苦？生病的人都是在受苦，這些苦，雖然差地獄很遠，但是離地獄也不近。生病是很痛苦的，當你生病的時候，躺在醫院任人宰割。其實多開一家醫院，就像多開一個地獄。像開刀的醫生，手上拿著刀的，都是地獄裡面的獄卒。真的！醫院裡面就像地獄一樣，甚麼都可以動，像是將你的腳鋸掉，將你的手鋸掉，將你的眼睛挖出來的，將你的腦打開的，將你的腸子整個拖出來的，剪掉腸子的，甚至將你的胃割掉，我們稱這些為「邊地」，屬於不是正式的地獄，是邊上的地獄。

所以不要講沒有報應。人生病，因為業障重，所以進到醫院任人宰割，像呼吸困難，醫生就將你氣切，就是將你的喉嚨打開，接一個管子，吃東西就從管子進去，呼吸也用管子，全身都是插管，那都是屬於地獄道。」

(20141130聖尊蓮生活佛盧勝彥於甘露精舍瑜伽焰口法會後開示)

大醫院是大地獄，小醫院是小地獄。去過醫院的都知道，那裡沒什麼好磁場可言。我看很多新的醫院，裡面的風水也一樣讓人頭痛。因此無論是醫生醫錯人，醫死人，護士疏忽，沒有及時照顧病人，藥房開錯藥等等，這些問題都只會層出不窮。家裡有病人住院的朋友們，請打起十二分精神，要明白醫生開的藥方，要了解護士在做什麼。

環境風水不好，人的心會不正，運也會不順，身體和心靈健康的問題也會越來越多。

無奈有些國人受西方文化的薰陶久了，就盲目的覺得學華文不重要，也「順便」覺得風水是迷信。問他們研究了什麼，他們又咦咦啊啊的答不出。不要那麽急促，不要迷著不信。很多東西要深入研究，你就會明白，風水是比科學還科學，根本就不是迷信。

2019己亥年，對新加坡而言，是個很多內外衝突的一年，新加坡的國運會生病。

有的人會選擇把所有責任推給政府去擔當。我固然明白一切有其因，就必有其果。但國家有難，匹夫有責。

政府做不做得到也好，我們身為這國家的孩子，都應該去互相幫忙。批評，如果不能有實在的結果出來改善問題，那這種批評也不祇過是宣洩自心的不平不滿。大家都想多賺些錢，所以別忘了這句話「和氣生財」。

報答國恩，會有種恩德，能夠讓我們的纏身靈離開，可以化災化難。而引導自己的孩子報國恩，

有妥當的起因，就不會有悲哀的後果，而是有喜慶的結局。

因此大家都要製造良因，自然就會有良果。切勿造五惡：殺生、偷盜、犯淫、妄語、飲酒吸毒。你正當的行為，是有能力帶動你身邊的人，也當然能改善自己的家運。累積功德，就是為了需要時，能夠用這「儲備金」過關斬將。

今年拜太歲時，請為新加坡也點盞光明燈。祈禱時，也請為新加坡祈福，等等。

玳瑚師父 Master Dai Hu 正月初八晚上，會舉辦一年一度的拜天公活動。他過去兩年都帶領著一些國人一起為自己的家庭和國家祈福。屆時，如果您有心想學習，請關注師父的臉書專頁。

在竹腳婦幼醫院時，聽到有位三十來歲的婦女說，她是來動手術，拿掉子宮的。我的心裡，頓時為她難過。

願大家都能有好德行、好風水、好運氣。

希望進醫院的人，都能夠平平安安的出院。

也希望去受軍訓的兒子們，都能平平安安回家。南無阿彌陀佛。

.......................

"There will be more and more problems, in Singapore's fortune outlook."

About three years ago, Shifu told me this. It was not long after Mr Lee Kuan Yew's death.

I asked Shifu why he said so.

Shifu replied, "From a Chinese Metaphysics point of view, when a country is prosperous, it is linked to the Bazi compatibility of the leader, and/or other important people. The Bazi can complement the Bazi of the country. Sometimes, because there is this important figure, whose presence can hold a country together and subjugate disasters from happening and people who wish to bully Singapore will back off."

"So it was possible for Singapore, such a small country of no natural resources, to build something up, and outperform its neighbouring countries. And when this person is no longer around, with no suitable replacement, then vile forces will pervade and the country will start to enter a cycle of poor luck."

"Secondly, in the name of more prosperity, Singapore is digging holes everywhere. This will severely damage the vitality force in the land, injuring the dragon qi. Moreover, the housing nowadays are poorly built, from a Feng Shui viewpoint. When you followed me on my Feng Shui audits at condos, you saw that their internal Feng Shui were even worse than HDB."

"People nowadays are only going for beauty. So they do not think twice when they hack the walls in their homes, destroying the whole structure. You see it in your clients too. Many Singaporeans only look good on the outside, posting about where they dine, where they go to have fun, what they bought, what they did with their families. Let me tell you this, many are lying. Many are having money problems. There is no home sweet home to speak of."

"Many families are in debt, facing divorce, have children who are disobedient and unwilling to study. Parents have to behave accordingly to the moods of their children. There are domestic quarrels and extramarital affairs. There are family members who are gravely ill, have psychological problems, mental issues and even kids have depression. Tempers are short, businesses do not perform well, careers are stagnant and many other problems, are caused by the poor external and internal Feng Shui."

"Thirdly, Singapore should not have casinos. This planted a seed of grave karma and will destroy many people and families. You see, there was a lady who called me. She used to work in the police, but she ended up visiting the casino too often and was fired by the police force. When there is gambling, there will be ghosts around, and vile energies will definitely be present. Anyone who gets stained by these energies will be mentally controlled by the ghosts. When the ghost wants you to visit the casino, you will surely go, despite knowing that it is not a good thing to do, nor is it advisable. This is why when you asked if I wished to dine at Marina Bay Sands during its opening, I told you that wasn't a place for spiritual cultivators to go. You shouldn't go."

I hastily shook my head and waved my hands.

"No, never, Shifu, I've no intention of going. I once went there to buy a piece of clothing. I didn't even stepped into the casino and I told Teng Qing, I wouldn't want to go there again. The energies there aren't great. My head spun as I stepped into the building. It looked impressive on the outside, but inside, the energies are very yin. Just that ordinary people aren't able to tell."

"But Shifu, you once said, the Feng Shui of Singapore also indicates that there are many illegal doings and businesses going on, comparable to that of Malaysia. So whether there are casinos or not, why will there be such an impact?"

"That's why I say, you never learnt properly what I taught you. Illegal activities are done secretly, in the dark and it can't be seen. But once you legalised it, as it surfaces to the top, the devastating effects of the vile energies will be even stronger. We humans cannot sacrifice morals for the sake of more prosperity and money. This will lead to failure due to shortsightedness."

I recalled, 5 to 6 years ago, the husband was ferrying Shifu in his car and drove past Fort Canning Hill. Shifu looked outside the window and curiously asked, "What are they digging?"

The husband replied, "Shifu, the government is building a MRT station, so they are digging the tunnel."

At that time, Shifu sighed, "They are digging too deep. When they keep digging into this dragon, we Singapore are going to have racial disharmony, anti-government problems and decline in the country's fortunes and many other problems."

Later on, I learnt that Fort Canning MRT Station won the Top Tunnelling Project of the Year at an international ceremony, because of the high difficulty level in the tunnelling feat. The excavation and tunnelling must be really deep and complicated. I wonder if there is any master that gave them pointers to repair the damaged dragon qi? Otherwise, the loss will outweigh the gain.

That day, when I walked past Sengkang General Hospital, I was reminded of my various hospital trips to visit family and friends, and couldn't helped but sighed.

The more hospitals there are, it means the sickness karma of our countrymen are getting more serious. My Root Guru, His Holiness Living Buddha Lian Sheng, once expounded that hospitals are hell in this mortal world:

"In hospitals, the doctors will open up your brain and dig your eyes. They open up your heart, liver, spleen, lungs and kidneys. All these parts need to be operated. Actually, the hospital is the realm of Hell. Look at the people who are ill, who isn't suffering? A sick person is suffering. These sufferings, while very far away from that in the Hell, but aren't that far either. It is painful to be sick. When you are sick, you lie in the hospital and are at the whim of the doctor to be operated on. Actually when a hospital opens, it is like opening another Hell. The surgeon who holds the surgery knife in his hand is like the hell guard. Really!

The inside of the hospital is just like Hell. Everything can be operated on, like amputating your leg, amputate your hand, digging out your eyes, opening up your brain, dragging out the whole of your intestines, cutting away your intestines, and even cutting away your stomach. We called this borderland. Not the real Hell, but the borderland of Hell.

So don't say there isn't retribution. A person falls sick, because his karmic obstacles are severe. So he gets hospitalised and is up to the doctor to slaughter. For example, for breathing difficulties, the doctor will perform tracheotomy. He open up your throat and connect a tube. You will consume your food through the tube and also breathe through it. Your whole body is connected with tubes. That is the realm of Hell."

(20141130 His Holiness Living Buddha Lian Sheng Sheng-yen Lu Dharma discourse after Preta-dana at 甘露精舍)

A big hospital is a big Hell. A small hospital is a small Hell. Anyone who has been to hospitals knows that there isn't any great energies to speak about. I have visited several new hospitals and the Feng Shui inside is a headache. Hence cases of doctor misdiagnosis, mistreatment that cause death, negligence by nurses, lack of timely patient care, wrong medicine prescribed by pharmacies etc, will only continue to happen and at an increasing rate. So to friends who have hospitalised family, please be conscious and ask the right questions. Understand what the doctor prescribed and what the nurses are doing.

When the environmental Feng Shui is bad, man's heart will also go wayward and his luck will roll downhill. Problems in the physical body and heart will get more and more fanciful.

Unfortunately, some of us are over-influenced by the Western culture. They think that learning Chinese isn't important and conveniently dismissed Feng Shui as superstition. When I asked what research they had done to come to this conclusion, they usually stammer and can't answer me logically.

My advice: don't be impatient. Don't be eager to disbelieve. When your thinking is not supported by genuine in-depth research, you are superstitious. Many things in life are worth studying. When you learn this in-depth, you will realise that Feng Shui is more scientific than science, far away from what you think old wives' tale are made up of.

2019 the year of the Earth Pig is not a good year for Singapore. There will be many internal and external conflicts. Our country will fall sick, with its luck declining.

Some people chose to point their fingers at the government. I understand for every cause, there will be an effect. However, the rise and fall of our nation concerns all of us.

Whether the government does a good job or not, as the children of our country, we should all lend a helping hand to fellow countrymen. If criticism does not lead to a viable result to improve the problem, then it is just an expression of the displeasure inside the person.

To repay the debt of gratitude to our country generates merits for ourselves. These merits can drive away our karmic creditors and resolve the disasters and obstacles we face. We are also leading by example to our children what it means to repay the debt of gratitude to our country.

When the seed of causation is proper, there will be no fruits of sorrow, but instead, fruits of joy and celebrations.

So all of us should strive to create positive seeds of causation, and that will naturally reap us positive fruits. Don't commit the five evils of killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying and consumption of intoxicants like alcohol and drugs. Your proper conduct has the ability to help the people around you and of course, improve your family fortunes. Accumulating merits is critical, as these reserves will always come in handy to help us during our emergency times.

When you pray to the Tai Sui this year, please light a Lamp of Illumination for Singapore too. When you pray, please also pray for the good fortune of Singapore etc.

Every year on the night of the 8th day of the 1st Lunar Month, 玳瑚師父 Master Dai Hu will conduct a prayer ceremony to pay homage to the Supreme Jade Emperor. In the past two years, he had led other like-minded participants to pray for blessings for themselves and our nation. If you are keen to learn, do follow Shifu's FB page for notifications.

When I was at the KK hospital, I overheard a lady, probably in her 30s, that she was here for an operation to remove her entire womb. Momentarily, I felt sad for her.

I hope for everyone to have good moral conduct, great Feng Shui and good fortune.

May everyone who is hospitalised get to go home safely and healthily.

May all the sons of Singapore who go for army training, also return home safely and in one piece. Namo Amitabha.