,Hsu dislikes the early hours of the day. When the alarm goes off, her bed feels especially cozy, but duty calls. She must get up at around five in the morning since she starts work at six sharp. She hears her neighbor U Ba Kyaw saying his morning prayers as she gradually wakes up. He appears to be concluding his rite of honoring the Lord Buddha. Hsu pays great attention to what he says, hoping that his deeds will bring him good fortune.
She recognizes his words; they are the same ones he says each day. He makes requests for a long life, excellent health, and defense against many ills and misfortunes. Regarding religion, Hsu is unsure of her exact position. She doesn’t know exactly what it is that she believes in. But as she watches U Ba Kyaw perform his prayers with devotion every day, she can’t help but question the point of worship.
She speculates that maybe, like U Ba Kyaw, people pray in the hopes that it will bring blessings into their lives. They could be wishing for blessings and good fortune or asking for protection from harm. Perhaps people turn to prayer as a means of achieving inner serenity and comfort or as a means of feeling a part of something bigger than themselves. Hsu is forced to think about these issues as she hears U Ba Kyaw’s sincere remarks.
With the morning light streaming through her window, she completes her workday preparations. She takes the lingering ideas about prayer and its meaning with her as she goes about her day. Perhaps there’s more to it than meets the eye, she muses. Maybe the issue isn’t simply about asking for what you want; maybe it’s about discovering connections and meaning in the world. She makes the decision to continue thinking about these issues while she gets ready for the day, coming up with her own solutions in the calm times of her hectic schedule.
Hsu has both Muslims and Christians in his group of acquaintances. Hsu questioned them if they too make wishes in accordance with their faiths, inquiring about their religious customs. Their affirmative answers show that they do in fact follow this practice. But they found it difficult to provide Hsu sufficient explanations when she pressed them further to find out why they had made these requests. Hsu was intrigued and perplexed by their evasive answers.
Hsu holds her own opinions regarding the three basic necessities of humans: clothing, food, and shelter. She has noticed that people who make wishes on a regular basis do not lack these essentials. For example, her neighbor U Ba Kyaw, who owns three cargo ships and is a successful merchant, consistently prays every morning. In a similar vein, Hsu’s wealthy buddies are from well-to-do households and have finished school without having to worry about making ends meet or supporting their parents’ enterprises.
Merely meeting the necessities of food, clothing, and shelter in today’s fiercely competitive world would not be sufficient to meet the expectations of the times. Hsu questions if greed is a natural human trait that drives people to constantly crave more than they already have. She is prompted to reflect on whether there are more significant sources of fulfillment or if the never-ending chase of financial success actually leads to happiness.
Furthermore, the demand for newer, higher-quality things becomes more and more common in a culture where goods and services are continuously upgraded and improved. This starts a vicious cycle where people believe that they have to keep getting richer to keep up with the times in order to maintain a certain quality of living. As Hsu considers this loop, she wonders if it can continue indefinitely or if it just helps people feel inadequate and unsatisfied.
These ideas follow her about as she goes about her day. She starts to wonder what true contentment and happiness really entail. Is it derived from more straightforward, profound sources, or is it discovered in the amassing of worldly belongings? Hsu believes that having meaningful relationships, being grateful, and pleased with her life are more important than pursuing wealth and material possessions on a continual basis.
In the end, Hsu understands that pursuing material prosperity nonstop will not bring true happiness. Rather, it is found in savoring life’s small pleasures, like time spent with close friends and family, pursuing interests and passions, and leaving a lasting legacy. Hsu decides to put more effort into creating these sources of fulfillment and happiness in her own life rather than letting the chase of money and material belongings overwhelm her in light of her newfound understanding.Money is a scarce resource that is difficult to obtain. No matter how hard one works, they rarely make as much money as they had planned for.
People look for reliability elsewhere as a result. Many people attribute this dependability to their faith or the supreme figure they follow and look up to for direction. They direct their hopes and prayers towards this person.
Hsu muses over the notion that it would be advantageous to make wishes as finite as financial resources. She thinks it’s far better to consistently develop one’s own skills via perseverance and hard work. Since she considers wishing or prayer to be a kind of begging, she finds this strategy to be realistic and reasonable. She believes that people can become less dependent on other people for help if they work to improve their abilities and skills.
Hsu remembers a quote from Martin Luther that she saw him write just before he passed away. His handwritten note on a piece of paper that was found in his pocket bore the discovery. The following were among the words written on the paper: “This is accurate. We are all panhandlers.
Hsu finds resonance in this statement, which makes her consider its significance. She sees it as a reminder that everyone is ultimately dependent on others in some capacity, regardless of status or achievements. It’s a humble insight that highlights how important it is to be humble and aware of one’s own limitations.
Hsu keeps this in mind as she begins her day, telling herself to face life with appreciation and humility. She recognizes the necessity of helping one another out when we are in need and the connectivity of all people. With this viewpoint, she is motivated to keep pursuing her own development goals and to lend a helping hand to those in her immediate vicinity who might be in need.
Hsu finds herself thinking about the value of prayer, religion, and pursuing material gain as she goes about her everyday activities. Hsu is prompted to dive more into these important concerns by her interactions with her neighbor U Ba Kyaw and her conversations with friends regarding their religious practices. So ,Hsu questions the reason behind prayer and whether it can be used to find blessings, personal peace, or a link to something bigger. She also considers the relationship between riches and happiness, questioning whether the constant chase of material goods actually results in fulfillment. She questions social conventions and reassesses her own objectives and ideals as a result of these reflections.
Hsu struggles with the notion that maybe simpler, more important things of life are where true happiness rests rather than accumulating fortune as she starts her day. She values development on a personal level, thankfulness, and sincere relationships with others. She also considers the idea of relying on one’s own strength or faith as opposed to seeking approval or support from others.
