So then a
series of actions followed after the idea I had generated a few minutes ago. I
opened the cabinet and took out the bag of wholemeal flour; got all the
ingredients in need; set up a working area on the bench and began the process
of making the dough.
It was about
6:30 AM in the morning when I started and it was still very dark, the entire
area where I live was completely quiet and filled with peaceful atmosphere. I
thought of some areas in the world like Syria and Iraq were suffering from
endless wars; some rich European countries like France and Germany and the
south-east coastal line of Australia were being flooded by the unprecedented massive
rainfall, yet people living in Auckland are in their full scale of well-being,
how lucky and well blessed we are.
Goenka’s
ninth day discourse was being played. I listened to it using a pair of earphones
so that it would not disturb other family member in sleep. I enjoyed listening
to the discourse of Goenka on the theory and technique of Vipassana meditation.
Every morning after I have finished my predawn meditation practice I will come
to my desk to pick up the small MP3 device that contained the complete set of
the 10 day discourses presented by him. This habit has been going on since
March of this year, by a rough estimate I have repeatedly listened to this set
of his speech at least 10 times now. Although I have listened for so many times
each time I will find that, to my surprise, there are always a couple of places
I didn’t notice. This indicates that my attention hasn’t been concentrated on
the tasks at hand, and my mind is set free most of the time.
I measured 8
cups of wholemeal flour which according to my experience would make two loaves
of bread but I wondered if I could handle it because it would be a big piece of
dough, perhaps too big for me to knead. It is out of question if I am totally healthy or
if I am on treatment from the medication. But it was too late as the flour had
been measured and the water mixed, now I can only go ahead with it keeping my
fingers crossed.
When the
dough mixture was forming up, I began to feel the clumsiness of my hands. They
were moving slowly and both hands were coordinating poorly, but I could not
just stop and leave at this stage, I could only keep going till the dough was properly
kneaded up to its standard.
Somehow, I
had the dough done. It did not look beautiful but I was sure it would rise and
would be baked just fine. By the time I put the dough in the bread tin to
rise by the hot water cylinder the sky was bright. The main part of the bread
making process is done. I have passed over the coldest period of the day.
