It’s totally normal that many personal blogs are generous with photographs of the bloggers themselves, since they are visual as much as a textual diaries of their lives. Moonpointer.com has been running for years, and you might wonder why there isn’t a single photo of us moonpointer bloggers here. Well, we’re pretty shy. I like to walk in the crowd unnoticed, to blend in, to better observe it. This is getting less and less possible though, as I give many public presentations. I always feel apologetic and grin sheepishly towards smiling strangers, who I don’t recognise, who had most likely seen me in a talk.
Here are other reasons why you’ll never see a picture of me here. I seriously do think readers would be less likely to stay interested in reading this blog after knowing how I look like, because I’m neither good nor interesting-looking by conventional standards. (But that’s possibly an unconventional self-judgement? Whatever!) If you read less, it would mean I can’t share the Dharma with you as much. I won’t even venture to describe how I look – lest it becomes a distraction, lest it puts you off. Might curiosity about how I look keep readers reading instead? To those who have met me in person after reading my stuff, do I look like how I write? Do I fit your perceptions? Well, I honestly wouldn’t imagine so. But then again, is there a way I’m ‘supposed’ to look?
Once, when I was doing a movie-screening cum Dharma discussion at Awareness Place, I slipped out of the screening room for a break while the film was running. A participant approached me, missing part of the film. She asked if it was possible to snap a photo of me for a Hong Kong friend, who is a ‘fan’ of TheDailyEnlightenment.com articles that I write, who is very curious about how I look like. I politely obliged, posing with palms together and a slight grin… but not before saying this, ‘I hope I don’t disappoint your friend!’ I might disappoint you in person, by my looks (or lack of), but I hope the Dharma I share online and offline has never let you down. I sincerely hope so.
Related Article:
One Who Sees the Dharma Sees the Buddha
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thedailyenlightenment-realisation/message/335
Not to worry lah, some of us know you 1st from Awareness Place where moonpointer was being introduced at your talk.
It is an interesting blog to share that continued our readership. For those who had not seen you bf, I guess curosity :bandit: does bring them to your talks to see you in person. 😆
But you are now a public figure and seen as a representive of Buddhist society so you must be careful in your actions. As like you say, there are many eyes watching you…like an idol. 😉 In a way you have to be alert to be always at your best, good training towards a even better person… :angel:
Heavy responsibilities you have… :ninja:
Thanks for continuing reading!
Looking back, i think i’m largely the same in principles and behaviour before and after more know me – so there’s not much pressure. i just catch myself feeling more compelled to be more smiley ^_^ which is a good thing i think, cos my natural expression is quite glum 🙁
Just taking the opportunity to express my thanks for sharing your extensive dharma knowledge with beginners like me. A Malaysian, I rarely have the opportunity travel out of the country but I do hope to have the opportunity to meet you in the future. Thanks again for all the interesting information posted. Amituofo 😀
Thank you for finding this website useful 🙂
Seeya when i seeya!