70
th
birthday gratitude by Piya Tan
2 http://dharmafarer.org
Sister
My sister, who is an octogenarian now, greatly contributed to my early love for reading and
learning. She showed me unconditional sisterly love in my adolescent passage. She has been
supportive of my Buddhist life, and even try her best to be a good Buddhist herself, reading
the suttas and meditating. Her lovingkindness is gratefully remembered.
A few of you are closer than friends, like a second family. You have diligently and generously
supported our work and my family in our lay Dhamma ministry. Supported by these gifts and
invitations to ask, we are able to fully focus on our sutta work, which we love and are best at.
For nearly 20 years, we have almost daily been working on this, producing more than 70
Sutta Discovery volumes to date. We should all be grateful to you for this Dhamma gift.
Ratna
My wife Ratna Lim has been and is supportive of our work, and a loving partner in this
challenging task. In no small way, the Lims, my wife’s large extended family, has been
supportive of this “banana” (yellow outside, white inside), not well conversant with our
dialects.
Yet they have been very warmly communicative. They have shown how even a large diverse
network of relatives can be true friends. “Lim” means “forest” in Chinese: they are a rich
forest of trees with cool shades and rich fruits, fresh air, and vibrant space, nurtured by love
and understanding. For this, I am joyfully grateful as Piya Tan Lim.
Education
Various circumstances have prevented us (Ratna and I) from achieving the highest academic
qualifications. However, a UC Berkeley professor thought that our work then (1980s) were on
the level of a PhD scholar and I was invited there as a Visiting Scholar.
In significant ways, the Sutta Discovery (SD) work went beyond what any academic
programme can reward us with. We do not seek to be entitled but work for the love and life
of Dhamma. In short, we are grateful at the progress and significance of the Dharmafarer
work as it was, as it is, as it will be. We well know now the future will not forget but put
these sutta translations and their liberating secrets to work their wonder in time.
Birthday wish
One of my favourite reflections is that on death. My years are quickly slipping away. Every
moment is precious now to do the good and wholesome. With just a couple of decades left
at best, if all goes, well, imagine with me that my wake has begun. Please don’t wait till my
funeral to tell me what you need to say. Indeed, eulogies are best given to the living, not a
dead body. Then, I will know you are happy, too.
My birthday wish is that you start your own local Sutta Study Group in your own homes in
Dhamma fellowship with friends or join one; and enjoy meals together in Dhamma