關於 mediocrity in english ，我們在網路上蒐集到這些相關的討論、資訊與評價

【神運】(English writing below)

到義安城高島屋用晚餐，在地下停車場看到的情景。

這商場位於新加坡黃金購物地帶，在1993年開幕，有著多少年代的青少年足跡。

我固然知道，也親眼目睹在新加坡很多大企業，甚至大樓都有供奉「福德正神大伯公」，卻從來沒想過這烏節路的龍頭老大，竟然也供奉這尊神明。

我滿心歡喜，一下車就湊前向「大伯公」和「五方五土地神」頂禮。

很明顯，這神案打理得非常好，井井有條，無論供品供具都十分講究，連玻璃門（應該是，出於尊敬我沒去碰）都毫無污垢，可見拜的人有用心思。

我在義安城各處常看到很多風水的蹤跡，無論大樓的外圍設計或裡頭的佈置，管理層很努力的爲這購物中心打造一個既有情又有勢的風水。

看到大伯公神案對面，有個小香案，想到師父說柱子的風水，也想到義安城的前身是潮州人的墳山，名為「泰山亭」。

我認定，這地方有祖先護佑。

既有先人運、地運，和神運，幕後義安公司的老闆肯定也是厚福之人，據說義安城的收益，有一部份運用在爲社會做貢獻，如義安理工學校和義安學校的獎學金和助學金、潮州籍老人的福利津貼、醫療服務、推廣潮州文化等。難怪義安城可以旺近三十年，而且我斷定還會旺很久。

其實這義安公司的收入不只來自義安城，也包括了向它租土地的威士馬廣場、文華酒店和國泰電影城。

義安公司也在管理受新加坡保护之古迹，有兩百年歷史的「粤海清庙」。裡頭主奉妈祖与玄天上帝，是新加坡最古老的天上聖母庙及玄天上帝庙。

不是每個人有「先人運」，也既是祖先留下來的余德。大部份的人，只會耗自己的福德，享樂主義爲大，不屑積福積德。甚至有些這一世，都「搞唔定」，哪會想到留福德與功德給後代？

我看過的客人，也甚少有極佳的「自身運」，非大富大貴的命格，如果又不肯接受善知識的建議，而且又不可一世，就只能庸庸碌碌、紛紛擾擾過一生。

我用餐時，突然想到自己興奮過頭忘了持「安土地真言」供養，事後急急忙忙再跑到停車場持誦。

我雖是佛教徒，但對於一切神明，我一概都很尊敬。祂能夠坐在神桌上，供世人膜拜，一定是具德、有修養、有積德，因此死後封神。單憑這一點，很多人都很難做到，如何不值得我敬禮？而且佛教是最有包容性的宗教，因爲佛陀說過：「每個眾生皆有佛性。」，因此我從不藐視神明，反而還感恩祂們賜福於眾生。

拍下這照片前，我告訴「福德正神大伯公」，我想藉此照片讓更多人明白神運。最近焚化了數百份四方金，恰巧就有這因緣目睹義安城福德正神的莊嚴相。

義安公司是個很好的參考例子。一

如果你沒有「先人運」，也沒有「自身運」，告訴你，「福德正神大伯公」和土地神是最接近人類的財神。土地神雖是小神，但祂可是佛教的護法神，具備幫你拉客拉貴人的大能力。如法供奉，誠心正念，行善守戒，若能加上念佛持咒，必得大護佑。

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My surprise when I saw this at the basement carpark of Ngee Ann City.

This shopping mall is at the prime area of Singapore's shopping belt. It opened in 1993 and in it, you will see the footprints of many generations of youths.

While I am aware and have witnessed many big corporations in Singapore, including major buildings, worshipped The God of Fortune and Virtues Tua Pek Gong, I have never imagined that the Big Brother of Orchard Road is also one of them.

I was delighted and once I got off the car, I went forward to the shrine and paid my respects to Tua Pek Gong and The Earth Gods of Five Directions.

It was obvious that the shrine was very well-maintained, despite its age. It was orderly and I could tell that a lot of care and thought went into the offerings and display. Even the glass doors are spotless. I reckon they are glass, as out of respect, I did not go forward to touch them.

I can spot a lot of Feng Shui elements that were scattered throughout the building, be it the exterior of the building, the interior design or the decor. The management had put in a lot of effort to create a Feng Shui that generated authority for itself and affection in the shoppers and tenants.

When I saw a little altar opposite Tua Pek Gong, I was reminded of what Shifu said about pillar Feng Shui, and of Ngee Ann City's former identity as a cemetery for the Teochew people, named Tai Shan Ting.

The way I see it, I am very sure that this place has also been receiving blessings from the Teochew ancestors.

The bosses behind this building must be people of enormous good fortune. From what I know, a portion of Ngee Ann Kongsi's earnings goes towards the benefit for the society such as scholarships and bursaries for Ngee Ann school and polytechnic, welfare benefits for Teochew elderly, medical services and promotion of Teochew culture etc.

Coupled with ancestral blessings, the good energies from the land and luck bestowed by the deities, it was no wonder that Ngee Ann City had been prosperous for almost 30 years, and I can tell its streak of good luck will continue to run for a very long time.

Ngee Ann Kongsi does not only make money from Ngee Ann City. Its earnings are also derived from land rental for Wisma Atrium, Mandarin Hotel and Orchard Cineleisure.

The company is also managing our national monument of 200-year history, the Yueh Hai Ching Temple. This temple of the Teochew, one of the earliest in Singapore, is dedicated to the deity Mazu or the Goddess of the Sea, and Xuan Tian Shang Di, the ancestral deity of the Teochews.

Not everybody has ancestral luck, that is, merits and good fortune left behind by our ancestors. Preaching hedonism, most people are only capable of exhausting their own good fortune, and cannot be bothered about accumulating merits and good fortune for their descendants. In fact, there are people who cannot even manage their own fortunes well this lifetime. How would they have capacity to think of leaving good fortune and merits for their children?

In the clients I have met, very few of them have excellent personal luck, and definitely do not fall into the wealthy and noble life map. If they are unable to accept suggestions from virtuous knowledgeable people, and are incredibly arrogant, then they have to make do with a life of mediocrity and troubles.

As I was having my dinner, I suddenly remembered that amidst my excitement, I forgot to recite the Earth God mantra as my offering to the deities. After my meal, I hurriedly ran to the carpark to do so.

While I may be a Buddhist, I have utmost respect for all detiies. For a deity to be able to sit on the altar and worthy of being prayed to, He must encompass virtues, refinement, self-cultivation of merits, hence He gets conferred with the title of a deity upon His death.

Just this aspect alone is very difficult for many mortals to accomplish. So how are the deities not worthy of my respect? Moreover, Buddhism is a religion that has the most forbearance, for Buddha once said, "Every sentient being has a Buddha nature."

Therefore, I do not belittle deities, but am in fact grateful for the blessings and protection They bestowed on sentient beings.

Before snapping this faraway shot, I told the God of Fortune and Virtues Tua Pek Gong, that with this photo, I hoped for more people to understand the luck from the deities. Recently, I have burnt few hundred stacks of Four Direction Mantra Paper, and coincidentally, I get this affinity to witness the dignified appearance of Tua Pek Gong of Ngee Ann City.

This company is a very good example for us to learn.

If you do not have ancestral luck, or personal luck, let me tell you this, the God of Fortune & Virtues Tua Pek Gong and Earth God are the closest Fortune Gods to mankind. While the Earth God may be lowly in rank, He is the Dharma protector in Buddhism, and possess huge powers to pull in customers and benefactors for you.

As long as you follow the steps correctly to worship and pray to the Earth God, possess sincerity and the right thought, perform virtuous deeds and abide by the precepts, and when you are able to recite the Buddha's name and mantras, you will definitely turn your life around, with divine blessings in abundance.

《命運的驚奇》
The Unexpected Surprises of Destiny
(English version below)

拖著倦累的身驅，走近設備完善的書房，欲將還沒完成的文章給完成，手機鈴聲響起，心中早已知曉，來電者是誰，所為何事也。為何知之？因知 曉十二地支屬性也。來電者為馬肖人，馬肖人最為長氣，同樣一件事情，她他可以說上千萬遍，祇為了達到其他目的也。哎喲喲！好可怕哦！

既然接聽了，吾就打起十二分精神，好好「迎戰」。其實吾也感謝她的來電，因為在一個多鐘頭的通話中，再印證吾 的玄學心得，實而無誤。對方聽出耳油，笑聲四起，欣喜讚嘆一個人的八字，竟然有這麼多的「看頭」，並一「馬」當先地與吾預約批大人的八 字，小朋友的名字，以及居家風水之堪察事宜，以期「馬」到成功。

當吾運用「四柱算命術」，於她他人及自己時，都一樣地讚嘆，命運的驚奇居然含藏於我們的生辰四柱裡，才八個天干地支，就道盡了我們一生的 榮枯，起、居、飲、食、行、住、坐、臥，如該在什麼時間起床，該住什麼類型的房屋、該喝什麼飲品，該食什麼食物及水果，該走哪一條路，該 駕哪種車，該睡什麼素質的床，等等等。為人批八字，若心存解決眾生的煩惱，實為菩提事業，實為修行。

有些人選擇不批八字，因不想活在擔心害怕中，我們就尊重她他。吾，玳瑚師父，則選擇早知，最起碼吾可以少走冤 枉路，眼前的障礙物，吾可先移開，或跳越過，眼前的坑洞及陷阱，吾也可以避過，更何況，吾也可以虔心誠意地向那位師父乞討，化解障礙的妙 方，這樣又何來活在擔心害怕中呢？請勿庸人自擾。

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As I dragged my weary body towards my well-furbished study room, planning to finish a half-written article, my mobile phone rang. I already knew in my heart the identity of the caller and her purpose of calling. How did I know? Because I am well-versed in the inherent characteristics of the 12 Chinese Zodiac signs. The caller is of the Horse zodiac sign. People of that zodiac sign are very long-winded, and can repeat the same thing a hundred million times just to achieve their objectives! How scary is that!

Since I answered the call, I raised my spirits to get ready for "battle". Truth is, I was grateful for her call because in the over-an-hour conversation, I once again proved the authenticity of my Chinese Metaphysics. The caller listened attentively and, in the midst of laughter, was full of praises that a person's birth chart could yield so much information. She was as quick as a horse in securing an appointment from me to read the birth charts of her family, the names of her children, as well as a Feng Shui audit of her residence. She hopes for success to follow, as sure-footed as a horse!

When I read birth charts of myself and others, using the Four Pillar Destiny technique, I am just as awe-struck and full of praises that the thrills and surprises of destiny are actually buried deep within our birth chart. A birth chart consists only of 8 characters from the heavenly stems and earthly branches, yet they hold the deepest secrets to the rise and ebb of our fortunes and all aspects of our lifestyles.

For example: what time should we get out of bed? What kind of house should we stay in? What beverage should I consume? What food and fruits should I eat? Which route should I take? What car should I drive? What kind of bed should I rest in? etc, etc.

If one decipher the birth charts with the heart of wanting to solve the sufferings of sentient beings, it is a noble career of Bodhicitta and utmost compassion, and an extension of your spiritual cultivation.

Some people prefer not to have their birth charts analysed so that they will not live in fear and anxiety. We should respect their wishes. On the other hand, Master Dai Hu chooses to gain an early access to a deep insight into my own destiny, so that I can be spared the sufferings of treading on the wrong path in life. With this insight, the obstacles in front of me can be moved away, or easily overcome. I can also leap over the deep manhole or traps in front of me. Furthermore, I can sincerely seek advice from the Master, on how to eradicate these obstacles. With wondrous solutions available to me, why would I live in anxiety and fear of the unknown? Only people of mediocrity worry about such things.

www.masterdaihu.com/the-unexpected-surprises-of-destiny/

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《圓智溫宵聚慶佳節 - 以茶會友（九）》
讓玳瑚師父教導妳你，如何無懼無惑過個好猴年！

Yuan Xiao Festival : Tea Session with Master Dai Hu - #9
Let Master Dai Hu teach you how to live a fulfillling 2016, free from fear and anxiety, no matter what uncertainties may come your way this Fire Monkey year.

www.masterdaihu.com/celebrating-the-lantern-festival-in-wisdom-and-warmth/

【玳瑚師父玄學論】 命運的實相 （一）
The True Face of Destiny Part 1 (English version below)

很多人不懂得用自己的命。這一世在人間跌跌倒到，說上也不是，說下也不是，這樣的例子吾看得實在太多了。

看命，就是爲了要改命。如果不想改命，甘心這一生逆來順受，那何必花錢請吾批命呢？

人的命運有分先天和後天。

嬰兒哇哇落地的時候，她他的先天命運就已定了。此人的一生榮枯、壽命、婚姻、財運、子息全有定數。先天命運的軌跡就在我們的八字、面孔、手掌和骨骼裡。因爲有軌跡，所以只要是有真本領的玄學師父批凡夫的命運，是十言九中的。

無法掌握自己的先天命運，猶如不知春夏秋冬何時到來。旺時，春風得意，雖樣樣順心順意，沒高人指點，難免會錯失良機，忘了未雨綢繆。衰時，如遇到寒冬，沒事先預防，事事都不如意，賠了夫人又折兵。倘若又遇到狂風暴雨，自己把命做壞，只怕鹹魚也翻不了身了。

明瞭自身的先天命運，就能適時地趨吉避凶，進退有序，成爲明天機的人。上天有好生之德，後天的命運可以自己創造，彌補先天命運的缺失。如果人的命運不能改，那玳瑚師父又何必花十多年的時光研究命理呢？

人生很短，睡覺佔據我們人生的一半，再扣除懵懂的童年，說是70嵗的壽命，但其實只剩下少過30年。每一個八字都有自己的可取之處。只要能取長補短，每一個人都可以在這短短的生命時間裡活得很有價值。

越早知道自己的先天命運，越是個有福之人。但真正有福的，莫過於當機立斷採納師父的建議，為自己開運的人。如果妳你寧願被命運束縛，那當然知不知道自己的命也就無所謂了。

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Many people have no idea how to maximize their destinies. They stumbled and tumbled through life and ended up in mediocrity. I have seen too many of such cases.

The only purpose of reading your fortune is to have the knowledge to change it. If you have no wish to change your life, and are already resigned to fate, why would you spend money to engage my service to read your birth chart?

A person's fortune is made up of 2 parts: a predestined component, and the other component that can be shaped by your own hands.

The moment a baby is born, his/her predetermined fate comes into play. His or her lot this life in terms of prosperity, lifespan, marriage, wealth and descendants is largely fixed. Indicators of our destinies can be found in our bazi (birth chart), facial features, palm lines as well as our bone structures. Because there are traces, an accomplished Chinese metaphysics master is naturally accurate when forecasting the destiny of the man in the street.

Inability to have a firm grasp of your own fate is just like not knowing when the seasons are coming and going. When the spring winds are in your sail, everything in your life seems smooth-going. However, there are bound to be missed opportunities if there is no accomplished adviser to guide you, and you will fail to prepare for rainy days. When you take a tumble, and the harsh winter arrive, nothing goes your way and you find yourself paying double penalty for bad decisions made. Should thunderstorms swing into your path, coupled with your poor navigation, you might have just denied yourself of a second chance in life.

The moment you gain an understanding of your predestined fate, you would possess the ability to accelerate the good tidings as well as evading misfortune. When you know Heaven's will, every step you take will become premeditated. The Heaven is benevolent, and therefore a part of your fate still lies in your own hands. You have the ability to make up for what was lacking in your predestined fate. If fate cannot be altered at all, why would Master Dai Hu dedicate 10 over years of his life to master this metaphysics?

Life is short. Our sleeping time typically takes up half of our lifetime, and when you put those ignorant childhood years in the equation, even though the life expectancy may be 70, in actual fact, we may be left with well less than 30 years of productive years. Every birth chart has its own strengths. If you know how to maximize your strong attributes and work on your weakness, everyone of us can shine and live a life of immense value in the short amount of time we have.

The earlier you embark on this journey of self-discovery, the more fortunate you are. The real fortune lies in your quick decisiveness in adopting the advice from Master Dai Hu and shaping your own destiny. But if you would rather resign yourself to your predestined fate, then of course it would make no difference knowing your destiny or not.