Abner Gosiaco (吳祥輝),
Member , Flower Arrangement Section

Abner is a multi-faceted man. He is a chef, an Ikebana (花藝) specialist, a stylist, a yoga practitioner, a dancer, etc. The list goes on and on. What most people don’t see is that Abner is also very kind and generous to a fault. He does a lot of charity work quietly. Abner also does research on herbs privately and has helped many cancer patients with his findings.

When Abner first came to Ocean Sky in 2011, people were immediately drawn to his pure aura and impeccable manners. Very diligent in coming to class, he shares his vast experiences with his classmates and always tells people about the benefits of eating vegetarian and to let go of all delusions. A very devout Buddhist, he sits down to chant sutras and mantras everyday, like the Universal Gateway of Bodhisattva Guan Yin, the Heart Sutra, the Great Compassion Mantra, and then once a week, the Diamond Sutra. He is also an obedient son to his mother. In Ocean Sky, he learned not only causality, and emptiness, but that Zen is everywhere, not only in sitting but also in daily activities. In class, Abner has given many reflections on emptiness and the search for true Zen mind.

Abner loves flowers and is an expert on the subject, since he trained in Ikebana in Japan for many years. Now, he shares his talent with Ocean Sky and does flower arrangements to offer to the Three Jewels in every ceremony and activity. His arrangements are very Zen, simple, uncomplicated, like the pure mind. Abner shops for the flowers himself, and will pick the freshest and most beautiful blooms for the monastery. One time, he brought the Abbess with him to the flower market in Manila and introduced Shifu to many kinds of flowers and their usage. Abbess personally saw how meticulous Abner was in selecting his choices and how the flower merchants seem to like him.

When asked what makes him arrange flowers so beautifully, Abner humbly says: “What guides me is the essence which is present in all of nature. I treat each flower, leaf, and twig without attachment. As I do the arrangement, I focus on the present moment, and not on the outcome. Throughout the whole process, I appreciate the changes that occur before my eyes. That for me is Zen.”