Catholics and Other Christians cannot partake Holy Communion Together

Catholics believe in "TRANSSUBSTANTIATION".  It's a puzzling new word to me.  Never seen the use of this word outside the Catholic Church.

Because of this belief, only baptized Catholics can partake the Holy Communion in Roman Catholic Churches.  Other Christians, who are baptized in other churches, even though baptized also in the same name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but do NOT share the same belief of Holy Communion, are advised not to partake.

FR Don Kirchner, CSsR explained:

Catholics believe in transubstantiation.  In short, this means that the bread and wine change at a substantial level, but the accidents remain.  The bread becomes the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ.  The wine becomes the body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ.  Christ is not divided.  So if someone receives just the host, he has received the fullness of Jesus Christ.  And if someone only drinks from the chalice, he also receives the fullness of Jesus Christ. (Note: The 'bread' has became the 'Host'.)

However, the accidents remain.  Accidents are anything that your physical senses could perceive.  This is in contrast to the substance that is what something really is.  So it looks like wine, and all the physical properties of wine -- including the alcohol content -- remain.  But it really is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus.

This is a profound mystery.  The Eucharist can only be understood by trusting in the words of our Savior.

Can Eat, but Cannot Kill

This is an article from my Buddhist friend. After reading, I am still confused.  However, I did learn something.

Why did the Buddha allow monks to eat meat?

The first and most important reason is that eating meat is not, in itself, considered blameworthy. The Buddha allowe...d monks to eat meat if they had not seen, heard or suspected that any living beings had been killed specifically to make the dish for them. In such a case, having made no direct contribution to the death of the creature, monks made no kamma by consuming its flesh. The Buddha neither forbade monks to practice vegetarianism, nor did he praise it. His teachings on food focused on the importance of eating easily digestible foods in moderation, rather than on advocating any particular diet.

A second consideration underlying the Buddha’s attitude to vegetarianism in the Sangha is the long-term welfare of the order itself. Monks are mendicants, dependent for all of their food needs on the generosity of householders: they are not allowed to grow, store or cook food; they may not pick fruit from trees. If the Sangha was to became restricted to areas in which it could rely on vegetarian donors, its influence for good in society would be unnecessarily limited. The spirit of mendicancy would also be betrayed if monks were to request particular foods from donors, rather than being grateful for whatever is offered to them in good faith.

There have always been monks who choose to be vegetarians. In the case where they are offered meat on almsround, these monks do not refuse to accept it. They express appreciation for the act of generosity, but pass the meat on to others.
- from Without and Within by Ajahn Jayasaro

"Karma adheres to acts of sovereign choice. It is true that a butcher will only kill animals for the sale of their meat only if there are consumers who will want to buy the meat. But in so doing the butcher is making a sovereign choice. There is no compulsion for the butcher to have become a butcher rather than say a baker or a candle-stick maker. If there were no persons willing to supply the meat trade, meat eaters would be compelled to do their own killing if they want to persist in their meat eating, thus incurring karmic responsibility." -Dr V. A. Gunasekara

Wrong livelihood according to the Buddha:
"Monks, these five trades ought not to be plied by a lay-disciple... Trade in weapons, trade in human beings, trade in flesh, trade in spirits [intoxicants] and trade in poison." — Gradual Sayings III, p. 153. (AN 5.177)

In the Amagandha Sutta, the Buddha recalled an incident in his previous life during the Buddha Kassapa's time. Buddha Kassapa was his teacher then. It was an occasion when an external sect ascetic met the Buddha Kassapa and reviled him for meat, which he said is a stench compared to eating vegetarian food.
Buddha Kassapa replied: "Killing ... wounding... stealing, lyng, deceivng... adultery; this is stench. Not the eating of meat.
... Those who are rude arrogant, backbiting, treacherous, unknd... miserly... this is stench. Not the eating of meat.
...Anger, pride, obstinancy, antagonism, deceit, envy, boasting... this is stench. Not the eating of meat.
... Those who are of bad morals, ... slanderous... pretentious... beng the vilest of men, commit such wrong things; this is stench. Not the eatng of meat..." - Sutta Nipata 2.2

 

Self-drive Holiday Trip to Melbourne/Tasmania (9)

Many of us know that Australia was the place the Great British Empire sent their convicts. Betwee1788 and 1868, approximately 162,000 convicts were transported to the various Australian 'jails' by the British government.

 Sunday was my final full day in Tasmania. Everybody said must visit Port Arthur. So I drove there. Along the way, I stopped to admire the fame coastal attractions too - the blowhole, the tessallated beach, the Tasman Arch, and the Devils Kitchen. All the...se were interesting to me ! In the photos, I explained a little of these.

 Port Arthur was an 'open jail'. There were no barbed wire fences. However the inmates were shackled with welded iron, so they cannot run away too. The convict site was 100 acres, but I could only see about 10 acres before me. The prison area was closed in 1877 and the prisoners were transferred to other prisons in Hobart and elsewhere.

 Hey! why was I walking around an 18th century prison area ?? A bit eerie, a bit rundown and unreal, a bit sad. I should flew back to S'pore tomorrow, Monday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Self-drive Holiday Trip to Melbourne/Tasmania (8)

It was Saturday. We drove to Hobart's Salamanca Market to see what it was. On the way, I snapped some photos of Hobart City. The Market had many stalls. It was crowded as expected since it was opened only on Saturdays.

 After visiting the Market, I drove South along the 'Huon Trail'. I intended to drive to the southern-most town of Southport. The maps said there was a place called Glen Hon where we can see Alpacas Farm. We first reached the town of Huonville and then detoured to Glen Hon. These are the pictures of the day.

 

Self-drive Holiday Trip to Melbourne/Tasmania (7)

The next day, we planned to drive down from Bicheno to Hobart. 180Km, towards south and west direction. Our first stop was Kates Berry Farm http://katesberryfarm.com. My wife bought many bottles of berry jams to give out to friends and ahjumahs back in Spore, so I was not 'paiseh' to scoop big spoons for free tasting. We drove to a Fruit Farm too, but no fruits in winter. We stopped for lunch and replenished our supply, passed more rolling hills and beaches before reaching an Airbnb house in Hobart suburb.

 

 

Self-drive Holiday Trip to Melbourne/Tasmania 28June to 6 July (6)

Since we saw penguin tracks in the morning, we went back from Freycinet to the beach house before dark to watch penguin parade. We sat on the beach sand quietly. It was 5 pm and the moon was already there. As it got darker, the silvery reflection from the moon got broader on the ocean floor. Our eyes got accustomed to the darkness. An hour passed. We could see penguins, silhouette only, playing on the water edge about 60 meters away. Then, some wagered quickly to the gr...ass patches a few feet away from where we sat. Once safely in their burrows, they chipped and called out loudly. What an experience!! We groped back to our house at 6.30 pm.

 When I looked out of the window at 8.30 pm, the clouds were gone. It was full moon. The fat band of silvery moonlight was reflected on the ocean floor. I looked out again at 10.30 pm. The full moon was high overhead, and whole ocean was basked in silvery moonlight. It was a calm and placid moon-lighted ocean. Nature's most beautiful moment. God's gift to human beings. An unforgettable night.

 

Self-drive Holiday Trip to Melbourne/Tasmania (5)

I was bored at Bicheno Wildlife Park since those animals could not be converted to food for lunch. We then drove 100 km south to Freycinet, another 'must-visit' site.

 We paid $24 per car entrance fee at the National Park. There were many mountain trails to lookouts, beaches and summits, but since we were rushing to go back before dark for an adventurous night, we chose to climb a short 2-hour trail.

 The weather was good. We trekked and trekked and were mesmerized by the beauty of Coles Bay and Wineglass Bay from the lookout points. Wineglass Bay was superlative in the afternoon sun. The Best is Yet to Come...
 

 

Self-drive Holiday Trip to Melbourne/Tasmania (4)

It was dark (5 pm) when I came down from Bay of Fires and reached the beach house. The next day was exploration time. The house was on a sheep padlock and 120 metres from the beach. Cozy and charming. Sure enough, we saw penguin tracks on the beach sand. We then took a short drive to the Bicheno Wildlife Park to feed Tasmania Devils, Kangaroos and carried wombats. The best is yet to come...

 

 

Self-drive Holiday Trip to Melbourne/Tasmania (3)

Leaving Launceston's Cataract Gorge, it was time for a long drive to Tasmania's East Coast. The map says there are lots of wonderful attractions there. The route was littered with small towns, but it was mostly through rolling hills with sheep and cattle (haha, I love both mutton and beef).

I reached St Helens town on the coast after 170 Km. Then I headed north 35 km to Binalong Bay and Bay of Fires. Bay of Fires is a famous pristine beach - no washed-up seaweeds on the powdery sand. I took the video below. Then drove south to stay for the night.

 The Best is Yet to Come...

 

 

Self-drive Holiday Trip to Melbourne/Tasmania (2)

From Melbourne, I flew to Tasmania Launceston Airport. It was foggy, and the plane had to circle the airport for an hour before it landed. I immediately collected my rental car, got a map and started driving. Brrrr it was mild winter and it was cold. After checked-in, I walked around the city streets, city park, shopped at Coles Supermart. Next day drove to the famed Cataract Gorge to enjoy nature. See my car and the Cataract Gorge.

 

 

 

Self-drive Holiday Trip to Melbourne/Tasmania (1)

While wandering along Melbourne's grid streets over 2 days, I chanced upon the largest Church in Australia -- St Patrick's Cathedral. Built between 1858 and 1939, it was enormous and majestic. Larger than St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney.

I managed to step inside to admire the atmosphere. I was blessed.
 

 

The Glory of Being Dead

I was at Port Arthur, the UNESCO Heritage site in Tasmania.  That was where the Mighty British Empire housed their vilest convicts in the 1800s. I read this poem on its walls.

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am now a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

Mary Elizabeth Frye

 

Death is something that we all need to confront one day.  There are many views on death.  There are views from wise men, views from different religions, views from those who claimed to have Near Death Experiences and had glimpsed the other side.

 

Mary Elizabeth Frye's view is glorious.  She almost implied that its good to be dead.  It is not a learnt view.  It's like wishful thinking.

 

But it is beautifully written.  It is eloquent and joyous.  It is something to look forward to face without fear.

 

I do not have as great expectations.  I simply wish that I could 'rest in peace' when the time comes.