Monday, December 31, 2012

Today is New Year day - 2013

I am now sitting in my upstair bed room facing the Goddess of  Mercy located in Penang's famous Kek Lok Si Temple. The statute was the tallest in Penang and sitting on top of a hill let and the statute from China cost about RM40 million and the pavilion covering the statute cost another RM40 million and the total cost is RM40 million if my estimate or information is not wrong.

It was a grand structure and it was extremely beautiful in the night when the lights are litted up. 

The back room of my house faced the side of the statute and the houses fronting the statute was also low lying houses and so, I could see the statute very clearly. It is so tranquil when we look at the statute and the back is Penang hill. If look at the place through a binoculars, it will be an excellent scene to explore and admire.

The setting was perfect for a new day in a New Year and I am enjoying the calm  and peacefulness from this beautiful sight. The weather was cooling and it was a cloudy day with a little drizzling. With these combination and timing, it is a marvellous sight and timing for meditation.

This good day could be an excellent day for traveling but not to another place but travel inside us , inside our mind. It is a time to self examine and in search for better knowledge about our self  and our mind. By so doing, we can realized our weakness , our thoughts , our demons , our physical body and our mind. The most important is to discipline and tame our mind , through awareness and engagements. We should engage our thoughts , our feelings and our re-actions. Push it abit further and watch and be aware of its re-actions or the stimulus to our mind and body. By this engagement, we can be aware of the weakness of our thoughts and re-actions.

In meditation, we should let our mind and body rest. Let it go and if we fell asleep , let it be as this is the desire of the body. If our eyes are tired, let it close and we do not want to fight it and caused unnecessary strain to the body.  Let it slide into deep meditation.

If we let all our emotions, re-actions , our body , our mind and our thoughts rest and find its own most relaxing level, it will benefit the whole system tremendously as the body and mind will take this moment of relazation to repair the damages to our body and amend the wounds in our mind and hurts to our feelings and emotions. The whole body and mind will sync as one and unite to balance the body and the mind.

It is an extremely rare moment in our life when all these factors can harmonized and sync. All these elements are vital for our well being and happiness and very often there are lacking of these elements in one way or another and if a perfect timing occurs, it is a marvellous day and happening to us.

I hope these feelings and insight is not too confusing to you . It is simple, just let your body's element and including the mind come together and balance its strength and weakness and obtained ultimate restfulness and happiness.

Namaste.

My shopping trip to KL - last saturday

It was an impromptu decision to go shopping in KL and it was also due to the persuasion from my daughter M.  We start off from Penang at 7am on Saturday and it took us four and half hours to reach KL  ie 11.30am.  The trip there was quite smooth.  I changed driver with my wife at Tapah and I dozed off and when I woke up, we were already at Subang. My GPS was the professional guide.

On reaching my SIL. H's house, we rested for an hour and we move to mid valley to have lunch.  It was a fusion Japanese lunch ie maki , sushi and spaghetti and saled.  It was very filling and after about one hour of lunch, we start the shopping.  The mall was very big and I start to look for Uniglo as they have good variety of items and the price is reasonable. Yes, I got a few items I like and my daughter M started her shopping spree and I followed her like a carpet boy and only swapping my credit card for the payments. 

Frankly, there are so many shops offering big discounts in the Mall and it was wonderful to note that some of the shops captures your attention by offering  25% for the first piece, another 15% for the 2nd piece and other 10% for the third piece. With a total of 50% discount for three items.  This is a business trick and my daugther and myself always fall for these scams.  Yeah, scam is a rather hash word but after paying for the hefty bill, we start to fell that we have been conned. This feeling cannot be held but it is actually on a willing buyer and willing seller basis.  There is no element of cheat but it makes you depart with alot of money.  Haiyaah.

We walked for  four hours until 7pm in the evening and decided enough is enough. By now, we are carrying bags of Treats, Espirit, Levis , Uniglo,etc...

We head to a  simple Chinese food restaurant on the way home to my SIL home. We had crabs, fried pork, eggs  and vegetables and after the meal, we rushed home and it was already 9.30pm and after a rest , we went to bed.

The next morning, I woke up at 8.00 am and I did two rounds of Tai Chi  and prepared to go for breakfast.  For breakfast, my SIL, H took us to Taman Desa for fish head noodle.  The place was packed with people and we managed to get a place after waiting for 15 minutes. The taste was very good despite being abit pricey.  The owner charged RM7.50 for one bowl of fish head noodle and this is the usual price in KL.

After the brunch  ie breakfast and lunch,  we visited another SIL, M . She could not join us for the lunch becasue she hurt her back doing Yoga. She could swim but could not bend and she told us to be careful of our exercise especially when we are in our old age.  Nevertheless, she could walk around and was full of energy and we were happy that nothing serious have  happened to her.

We leave for Penang at 3.30 pm and we reached Penang about 7.30pm.  It was raining in Ipoh and during part of the journey to Taiping but generally, the travelling was smooth and after dinner , it was back to home sweet home. It was a wonderful trip and  I did not feel tired at all and have a very good and restful sleep.

The journey have helped me to take my mind and focus off the passing time.  We did something which we wanted to do and I feel fulfilled and not wasting my time watching TV or sleeping during the weekend. But, time is sure passing fast and silently.

Namaste.

Last day of the year in 2012

Feeling game and desperate.  Time is flying off very fast.  Scared and wonder why Master time never wait for me.  Let me stretch the minutes and seconds abit longer and let me slow down to enjoy the moments. I felt breathless but yet , I could hear laughter from people going home.  They are so excited . Excited over what ?

Don't they know that it is the end of the year ? What is there to celebrate ? The passing of 2012 , why?  I am not done yet with the year. I have many things to do and there seems to be no time for me.

I know the feelings. When we are young, we wanted to grow up fast and enjoy the things the adults are enjoying and to be independent. When we have achieved the independence, we want financial freedom and we look forward to financial freedom.  When we are grown up, old and have financial freedom, we want back our youth and energy.  Yes, I have spoken about these ironies , time and again.  It goes around in a big circle and we only get to know it when we are at the end of the big circle.

Just like the end of 2012 , we realized that we have gone around 365 days and today is the last day of the year and the year will never repeat itself.  How to hold on to it ? The more we hold on, the more miserable we becomes because we cannot control it.  Then, how to let it go ? Yet, we feel scary to let it go. 

Just thinking about it makes me exhausted and tired. Have to bite my tongues and let it go and my senses will have to accept it in a matter of time.  Year after year.  The feeling repeat itself  until we break out of the circle of time and not to be bothered with it.

Well, have to pack my bag and go home to join the crowd to celebrate the passing of this year and this day. Like some wise people say, if we cannot beat it , then join it and be part of the celebration to welcome the new year.  We have to take it positively and treat it as welcoming a new year instead of bidding the old year good bye.  Yes, to be positive we should treat the " glass is half full" instead of " the glass is half empty".  Think of the many years to come instead of letting this remaining " one day" be gone.

Do I feel better?  Both interpretation is the same. It is a zero sum game and  it is only our mind's reaction.  There is a wise saying " positive thoughts invites positive things to happen to us and it attracts happiness and goodness".  Okay, the wise man could be right and there is no harm trying.  It is just a switch of our thinking and we could get a better deal.

Enough is enough.  Let go the negative thoughts and be prepared to receive the positive vibes.  Wash your face, take a deep breath and have a big laugh or a big oomph ....our mood will change and we will be better.  Just as simple as that.....just do it.

LOL--namaste.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Anger - my demon

 Today is the last year for the year 2012.  I came into office with a heavy heart as the year 2012 will be gone soon.  I was trying to hold on to it but there is only a feeling of despair.  How can we hold on to time ?

This was a futile quest but I was not letting things go.  One supplier keep calling to enquire on her payment and I was very upset due to her persistent quest for her money.  I could feel my anger rising and I was fully aware of it as my mood start to deteriorate. I scolded the vendor for calling up on the last day of the year to request for payment becuase there is not much time left in 2012. 

Another irritating thing happen as my staff came in to see me with an unclear problem. She was confused of what she is talking and I was desperate for time as I wanted to clear all my outstanding reports and work for the year.  I raised my voice a little and I am aware of the surging anger in me.

Then, a phone call came and I was requested to sign a dozens of documents and I was make to sit and sign off all the documents.  This job again eat into my time and I was getting more and more desperate. 

I do not know why I am so desperate.  Why am I rushing and pushing myself ?  Why cann't  I leave the jobs pending until next year ? It is only another 24 hours to go.  Am I snapping ?  I was worried that I could get stressed out or hurt my health. I need a break to calm and slow down.

I pick up my phone and called my second sister, C and check on her health and I was happy that she was getting better and she starts to regain her voice and strength.  To celebrate the year's closing today, I suggested to her that we have a new year eve gathering and she agreed to cook for all of us.  It was a good ending until this moment.

I realised that a break or a short diversion can change a person's mood and it is up to use to exercise this option. If I were to press on with my work , I will get more and more desperate and unhappy and finally, I could blow my top.  I know this trick of breaking my stress but many a times, we cannot break out of this mood or desperation.  Hence, we just have to do it. 

Namaste.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

The winter of my life...ext


Subject:  THE WINTER OF MY LIFE

>You know. . . Time has a way of moving quickly
>And catching you unaware of the passing years.

>It seems just yesterday that I was young,
>Just married and embarking on my new life with my mate.
>And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago,
>And I wonder where all the years went.
>I know that I lived them all...

>And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams...
>But, here it is... The winter of my life and it catches me by surprise...


>How did I get here so fast?
>Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

>I remember well...
>Seeing older people through the years and thinking that those
>Older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off
>That I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like...

>But, here it is...
>My friends are retired and getting grey...
>They move slower and I see an older person now.
>Some are in better and some worse shape than me...
>But, I see the great change...

>Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant...
>But, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those
>Older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.

>Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day!

>And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory!
>'Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!

>And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared
>For all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability
>To go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!!

>But, at least I know, that though the winter has come,
>And I'm not sure how long it will last...
>This I know, that when it's over... Its over...

>Yes, I have regrets.
>There are things I wish I hadn't done...
>Things I should have done, but indeed,
>There are many things I'm happy to have done.
>It's all in a lifetime...

>So, if you're not in your winter yet...
>Let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think.
>Whatever you would like to accomplish in your life, please do it quickly!
>Don't put things off too long!!

>Life goes by quickly.  So, do what you can today,
>As you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not!
>You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life...

>So, live for today and say all the things you want your loved ones to remember...
>And hope they appreciate and love you for all the things
>You have done for them in all the years past!!

>Life is a gift to you.

>The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after.
>Make it a fantastic one.

>~ And, Remember ~

>"It is health that is real wealth
>And not pieces of gold or silver."

>*May You always have Love to Share, Health to Spare and Friends that Care!

Friday, December 28, 2012

Another year is coming to an end - 2012

Every year that is a start and an ending. Looking back during the year,  I wonder what have I done to justify the passing or did I just let it go away wastefully.  It is 365 days or 52 weeks , if you spend it all together at one time , it is actually quite a long period but if it slips away quietly and when realized it and look up, the 362 days have already gone by.  Why is it passing so fast ?  This is called relativity ?  In simple words, how is it measured or against what this period of time is measured against.

My FIL, J have passed away almost one half year already  and my BIL, J have also passed away almost a year.  My mum have passed away more than 12 years and my father almost 20 years ago.  It is amazing how time have travelled so fast and so quietly and when occasion trigger us, we start to ponder how we have wild away the good years.

There are a few milestones which I have to highlight . I got my promotion to the board , my brother did a heart by-pass and my second sister go a mild stroke. I have gone to Bangladesh a few times and back and I have made a trip to Japan in April 12. Spend quite a fair bit of my time to support the expansion of my Company in Bangladesh and that is about it. 

Personally, nothing significant happens in my life except to invest in some properties in KL. On my health, I sustain a stiff shoulder during yoga and it has been affecting me for the past few months.  It is getting better and will get better , I hope.

Make some friends and refresh my friendship with a few friends.  Basically, it is work, Yoga, eat and rest.  Life goes on and passes by easily.  The main task now is to look after my sister and keep on working in the next year. Nothing to shout about and nothing great.

What is my resolutions for next year , 2013?  Keep up the yoga , exercise and to maintain my health or improve on it.  Keep working to make myself useful to expand my Company's projects overseas, make a few travels and make some more good investments. Nevertheless, looking forward to the Malaysia GE13 and see how the country is moving forward.  But ,most of the time is exercise , rest , eat and sleep.

Life is like that and with a bit of contentment , we will pass the next year easily... and with a yawn.

Namaste.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Annoying words- survey 2012

So you find certain words annoying? Whatever

Thu Dec 27, 2012 1:57PM EST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - "You know," "whatever" is a really annoying term -- "like" "you know." We're "just sayin'."

When it comes to the most annoying words or phrases used in conversation, those four top the list in 2012, according to the annual Marist Poll.

"Whatever" headed the list, cited by 32 percent of adults, and next came "like," which 21 percent didn't like.

Runners-up included "Twitterverse" and "gotcha'."

The results mirrored last year's survey when "whatever" topped the annoying words list for a third straight year. But "seriously," named by 7 percent last year, dropped off the list entirely - really.

Marist questioned 1,246 adults in a U.S. nationwide, telephone survey.

Results showed differences by age and regions, with people younger than 45 or in the Northeast especially annoyed by "like," while "you know" offended more of the 45-and-over set.

Men and women gave similar responses overall, but whites were twice as likely as non-whites to find "you know" irritating. And people under 45 were more than twice as likely as those over 45 to be put off by "just sayin.'"

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Mixed thoughts

In quiet hours after work, my mind start to shift from thoughts to thoughts. Sometimes, the thing we do can create different thoughts in the undisciplined mind of the people around you whether that person is affected by what you do or not. It does not matter.

These interpretations or imagination is like four blind man touching the different parts of an elephant  and each give a different version of what they feel or think about the elephant.  These images are the illusions which our mind can create if you leave them freely to roam.  Another example is looking at an object in different angles and trying to find a common description . Finally, all the wrong illusions we can create.

This is a horrifying story and how we can judge a person based on these different lights and angles. We are blind to the true factors and make decision based on half truth or half what we see and we start to interprete it and change the world around them or for those who initiated the actions.  This is very scary indeed.

From these interpretations, the story would circulate around and many different versions of the events as the rumour spin around and it can finally ended with a totally different story or ending which can caused hardship or difficulties for the people living around us.

This is the world of lies, deceptions, illusions and intriques.  However, this is also a world of fantacies which makes life interesting. Nevertheless, this is not the world for faint- hearted person. Unless, we have a very tough and disciplined mind, such mis-interpretations and spinning of rumours could  wreck the life of the innocent and the weaklings.

Anyway, our life is like  a stage and we should live and evolved around it and make the best out of it.  Be aware of these illusions and this half truth and fake lies will not harm us.  Have a strong mind and live positively.

Namaste.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Every encounter is a new experience.

In life, we meet alot of people. Some of them are just a passing glimpse , some becomes business acquaintance, some become friends and one of them become our partners in life  or in some special relationshps. Every person we meet in our life has a purpose.  Like actors or actresses on a stage. Everyone have a part to play in our life.

It is amazing how life evolves. Some of the people stay with us for a very short time and some longer and some are still with us at this particular moments.  When we think back, we really missed those people who have gone away permanently or left to live in another area or for some special reasons, no longer within our sight or our reach.  These people are just in our memories.  Sometimes, these people returned into our orbit or we became involved with them again after a period of time.

Strange isn't it?  It is part of life and we must understand that each encounter is a different exerience or journey which will enrich us. We come into contact with their thinking , their wisdom and enjoy their grace when they are with us. We grow with these exposure and influence. We admire and follow their thinking which we think is good for us and we have a deeper appreciation of life.

There is a saying " to meeting 100 people is better than reading 100 books" . It is not matter of time in reading but sharing the experience in life with a 100 people on a personal contact basis. By our encounter, we have a personal sense or involvement in a real life situation.  By discussion and merely talking, we get to know more insight of what is happening to that person and looking in from our point of view.

Lets be aware of encounter and have this understanding in mind.  Every encounter will lead us to a whole new experience and we should appreciate that it happens for a reason.

Namaste.

Be merry and joyful - the Christmas Spirit.

At this time of the year and in Christmas time, we have to be reminded to be merry and joyful. There many well wishers and they send us their wishes and we returned them will our greetings.  Why do we need to be merry and joyful only during the Christmas month.  Alot of the activities are commercialized and the business programmes are only out to make money by celebrating the occasion.

Such similar motives will also be done for the coming New Year celebration and the CNY festival. People are make to fill good by the business people so that they seek fun and spend their money while enjoying the fun. Everything is so artificial.

In reality, we should be happy all the time with or without such festivals or the commercial activities. We do not need other people to make us happy and we do not need to select the time to be happy.  This happiness is within us and it is our decision to decide when to be happy.  But, what is the missing link if we can be happy all the time.

Our MIND. Just for example, if we watch a good movie, we are influenced by the mood in the movie.  Who interpretes it ? Yes, again it is our Mind. Who controls it ? Of course, we should be the master and we should control the mind. However, the mind is very powerful and it needs to be trained to obey our wish. If it is not properly trained, it will control us in return and if this happens, then the mind will decide when we should be happy or sad.

I read the read the wise words of Socrates on the FB posted on the site by my friend SB and it prompts me to write this message.

" When we do not get the things we want, we suffer and when we get the things that we don't want, we suffer. Even if we get the things we want, it will last forever and we also suffer. Our mind is our predicament. It wants to be free of change, free of pain , free of all the obligations in life and death. But, change is the law and no amount of pretending will alter that reality".

In conclusion, control your mind and you will be happy.

Namaste.

Give fish, please......(ext)

More and more studies show that eating fish and plants rich in omega-3 fatty acids helps protect the heart from disease, according to an article in theJournal of the American Heart Association.
Research shows that the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) decreases when omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods are added to a diet. Omega-3 fatty acids are not just good fats; they affect heart healtl1 in positive ways. Omega-3 fatty acids make the blood less likely to form clots that can cause heart attacks, irregular heartbeats and sudden death from cardiac arrest.

Other benefits from omega-3 fatty acids:
• Decreased triglyceride levels
• Decreased growth of atherosclerotic plaque
• Improved arterial health
• Lower blood pressure
Beginning in 2000, the American Heart Association dietary guidelines recommend at least two servings of fish per week, particularly mackerel, lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna and salmon.
However, eating fish has its risks. Children and pregnant and nursing women may face increased exposure to mercury from fish, but they are considered low-risk for CVD. Middle-aged persons, older men and postmenopausal women however, are more likely to reap the benefits of eating fish. 

Monday, December 24, 2012

Budokon- yoga and martial art (ext)

Budokon, made in America, mixes yoga with martial arts


Mon Dec 24, 2012 10:10AM EST

By Dorene Internicola

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Budokon, a workout program developed in 21st century America, blends the ancient mind-body practices of yoga and martial arts into a program that aims to reward followers with conditioning, mindful meditation and progressively colored karate-type belts.

"Budokon is a yoga, martial arts and meditation trifecta," said Mimi Rieger, who teaches the not-so-ancient practice in gyms, studios and workshops in the Washington, DC area.

An instructor in the 3,000-year-old practice of yoga since 2003, Rieger, founder of Pure Fitness DC, is one of approximately 400 teachers worldwide who are trained in Budokon, which did not exist before 2002.

Although mainly done in the United States, Rieger said she will teach Budokon in Turkey, Denmark and Sweden next year and workshops are also scheduled in London, Germany, Korea and Japan.

She says the hybrid offers the student an intense, full-body workout as it blends the integrity of the martial arts movement with the fluidity of yoga.

"It's like a beautiful symphony of the two," said Rieger, who is among the first women to get a brown belt in the Budokon sequence of six belts: white, red, blue, purple, brown and black.

Budokon, which is Japanese for "the way of the warrior spirit," began in 2000 as the brainchild of Cameron Shayne, a martial arts expert and yoga enthusiast originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, looking to solve a dilemma faced in his own practice.

"Through martial arts I experienced meditation; both yoga and martial arts share self-reflection, but both suffered from the same disease of being stripped down to a westernized workout," said Shayne, founder of Budokon University in Miami, Florida.

A typical Budokon session begins with 20 minutes of yoga sun salutations to, as Shayne says, "lighten and open the body," followed by a martial arts segment of explosive, dance-like movement. The end is a guided meditation.

"There is no breath count; we don't stop," said Shayne, who describes the movements as snakelike. Observers will note echoes of Tai Chi.

"Modern yoga can be very angular. Our primary series is a circular, continuous transition practice," he explained.

Adam Sedlack, senior vice president of UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) Gym, a national chain of family fitness centers specializing in mixed martial arts training, believes the novice should begin with a specific practice before tackling hybrids like Budokon.

"It's more efficient to take a karate class, then a yoga class, and then a tai chi class than it is to combine them," Sedlack said, "so the individual can focus on individual skill sets. The beautiful thing about mixed martial arts is that you're learning a skill while you're working out and burning calories."

He notes that martial arts is as much about the confidence of walking down the street with your head up high as it is about learning to kick and hit.

Richard Cotton, of the American College of Sports Medicine, said Budokon can offer a challenging change for people with more advanced levels of fitness.

"If you're a yoga or tai chi purist, it (Budokon) is not that, but it is variety, and variety is rarely a problem," he said.

He points out that one needn't do Budokon, or yoga or Pilates to have a so-called mind-body experience.

"Running strength training, and certainly golf, can be a mind-body experience if you're staying in touch with your body," he said. "You can have a mind-body walk."

A few years ago Shayne began offering a separate Budokon yoga practice because some people found the martial arts aspect of his practice intimidating or confrontational.

"It became a necessity to give that audience what it was asking for," he explained.

People either love Budokon, he added, or they hate it and that's fine with him.

"I don't need a million people doing Budokon. I don't need someone who walks into class looking for a quick fix," he said. "I need people who feel it as an art."

Heart attacks - 9 factors ( ext)

Over 90 percent of heart attacks worldwide can be predicted by nine risk factors, a landmark study has found

The study has overturned the common perception that only half of the risk of heart attacks can be accounted for.

The implications are straightforward: if we implement what we know today, we should be able to avert the majority of premature heart disease cases.

Study of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in 52 countries representing every inhabited continent and enrolled 15, 152 individuals with their first heart attack and 14,820 controls adjusted for age, sex and region. In terms of ethnicity, about a quarter of the participants were European and a quarter Chinese.
The top two risk factors were abnormal lipids (the ratio of apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein A1) and smoking.

Together, they accounted for two-third of the population attributable risk (PAR) of AMI. Both these factors also showed a graded dose-response relationship with the odds of an AMI.

The other risk factors were psychosocial factors, hypertension, diabetes and abdominal obesity. Eating fruits and vegetables, regular alcohol consumption in small amounts and physical activity were protective against AMI. One of the surprises of the study was how important psychosocial factors were, psychosocial factors were found to increase the risk of a heart attack about two and a half times.
Also noted that abdominal obesity was an important risk factor - even greater than the risk associated with smoking.

Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. However, in countries such as China where obesity is less prevalent, the risk from obesity was far less than that associated with smoking.

The median age of first AMI in men was 9 years younger than in women. Men and women had similar odd ratio for the risk factors of smoking, raised lipids, abdominal obesity, psychosocial factors and fruit and vegetable on consumption

However the increased risk associated with diabetes and hypertension and the protective effect of exercise and alcohol, were greater in women than men.

Comparing the effects of these risk factors among the young (=55 years for men, =65 year for women) and the old, the nine risk factors accounted for a significantly greater PAR in the former.
The study findings underline the message that a healthy life style matter.

Globally, about 55 to 60 percent of the PAR can be attributed to an adverse lifestyle. And this is consistent in every region of the world, and obviously, tobacco is the biggest culprit.

The study found that eating fruits and vegetables, taking exercise and avoiding smoking could lower the risk of a heart attack by about 80 percent. These results are similar to that of the US Nurses Health Study, which found that lifestyle modification could potentially avoid more than three-quarters of the risks of coronary heart disease and strokes in women.

The risk factors of AMI are strikingly consistent across age genders, ethnicity and region.


Hidden Gardens of Telok Bahang

Last  saturday, I was invited by a friend to visit the hills of Balik Pulau and I went there with my daugther M and her BF, Y. My friend was having an idea of building villas on the existing orchards on the hills in the area. I was keen as I was looking for some investment as well as my desire to ease myself back into the nature during my twilight years.

The hills was quite narrow and steep and it needs a 4 wheeler to reach the top. The roads were narrow and winding.  We managed to get to the top of the hill and we could see alot of fruit trees ie durian , banana, jackfruits, etc. The land was very undulating and each villa  will have a 3000 flat space and surrounded by the fruit trees.  We were quite sceptical about the idea and it was not cheap to build the infra structures and also the villas.

My friend try to convinec me that it was a good investment and he took me , M and Y to Telok Bahang using the old hilly road and we passed through many fruit stalls especially durian stalls. After travelling awhile, we reach a gate which opens to a newly constructed road down hill and after opening the gate, my friend drove very slowly down hill using the new road.  The roads were winding but very well constructed and we could see that there is a villa under construction which includes a swimming pool and a baliness style villa . The roads were very carefully contructed to avoid the stones , tress and flowers. It was like opening to a whole new world . A world that is unpoluted and natural.

It was a very good concept especially these villas are sitting on selected space among nature and some of the villas can be sea facing and high enough to see the whole Balik Pulau town. I love the concept and it was really enlightening to see  that there is so much beauty and nature on the slopes of the hills.

I think this will be the future trend where the wealthy and nature lovers will look forward to a while new world. It is amazing and incredible how the infra-structure design will be while it provides you the comfort to live among nature.

Namaste.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Heart Attack - 9 factors ( Ext)


Nine Factors Predict Most Heart Attack

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Over 90 percent of heart attacks worldwide can be predicted by nine risk factors, a landmark study has found.
The study has overturned the common perception that only half of the risk of heart attacks can be accounted for.
The implications are straightforward: if we implement what we know today, we should be able to avert the majority of premature heart disease cases.
Study of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in 52 countries representing every inhabited continent and enrolled 15, 152 individuals with their first heart attack and 14,820 controls adjusted for age, sex and region. In terms of ethnicity, about a quarter of the participants were European and a quarter Chinese.
The top two risk factors were abnormal lipids (the ratio of apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein A1) and smoking.
Together, they accounted for two-third of the population attributable risk (PAR) of AMI. Both these factors also showed a graded dose-response relationship with the odds of an AMI.
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The other risk factors were psychosocial factors, hypertension, diabetes and abdominal obesity. Eating fruits and vegetables, regular alcohol consumption in small amounts and physical activity were protective against AMI. One of the surprises of the study was how important psychosocial factors were, psychosocial factors were found to increase the risk of a heart attack about two and a half times.
Also noted that abdominal obesity was an important risk factor - even greater than the risk associated with smoking.
Western Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. However, in countries such as China where obesity is less prevalent, the risk from obesity was far less than that associated with smoking.
The median age of first AMI in men was 9 years younger than in women. Men and women had similar odd ratio for the risk factors of smoking, raised lipids, abdominal obesity, psychosocial factors and fruit and vegetable on consumption.
However the increased risk associated with diabetes and hypertension and the protective effect of exercise and alcohol, were greater in women than men.
Comparing the effects of these risk factors among the young (=55 years for men, =65 year for women) and the old, the nine risk factors accounted for a significantly greater PAR in the former.
The study findings underline the message that a healthy life style matter.
Globally, about 55 to 60 percent of the PAR can be attributed to an adverse lifestyle. And this is consistent in every region of the world, and obviously, tobacco is the biggest culprit.
The study found that eating fruits and vegetables, taking exercise and avoiding smoking could lower the risk of a heart attack by about 80 percent. These results are similar to that of the US Nurses Health Study, which found that lifestyle modification could potentially avoid more than three-quarters of the risks of coronary heart disease and strokes in women.
The risk factors of AMI are strikingly consistent across age genders, ethnicity and region.

The meaning of FAMILY - extracts

>>F A M I L Y
>>
>>I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
>>"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.
>>
>>
>>He said, "Please excuse me too;
>>I wasn't watching for you."
>>
>>
>>We were very polite, this stranger and I.
>>We went on our way and we said goodbye.
>>
>>
>>But at home a different story is told,
>>How we treat our loved ones, young and old.
>>
>>
>>Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
>>My son stood beside me very still.
>>
>>
>>When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
>>"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.
>>
>>
>>He walked away, his little heart broken.
>>I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.
>>
>>
>>While I lay awake in bed,
>>God's still small voice came to me and said,
>>
>>
>>"While dealing with a stranger,
>>common courtesy you use,
>>but the family you love, you seem to abuse.
>>
>>
>>Go and look on the kitchen floor,
>>You'll find some flowers there by the door.
>>
>>
>>Those are the flowers he brought for you.
>>He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.
>>
>>
>>He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
>>you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."
>>
>>
>>By this time, I felt very small,
>>And now my tears began to fall.
>>
>>
>>I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
>>"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.
>>
>>
>>"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
>>He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.
>>
>>
>>I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
>>I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."
>>
>>
>>I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
>>I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
>>He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay.
>>I love you anyway."
>>
>>
>>I said, "Son, I love you too,
>>and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."
>>
>
>>FAMILY
>>Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company
>>that we are working for could easily replace us in
>>a matter of days.
>>But the family we left behind will feel the loss
>>for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more
>>into work than into our own family,
>>an unwise investment indeed,
>>don't you think?
>>So what is behind the story?
>>
>>
>>Do you know what the word FAMILY means?
>>FAMILY = (F)ATHER (A)ND (M)OTHER (I) (L)OVE (Y)OU

Friday, December 21, 2012

Flu and cough season - insight

I think I am starting to catch a cough and it will turn into a flu soon.  I am not sure but it seems that there are alot of people who have caught this bug and the stain have been getting worse.  I think this is possibly due to mutilation of the virus. Yes, I had experience of a serious cough many months ago and at one point of time, it was like the lung is going to come out from our mouth and it ends with tears in my eyes.

On this occasion, I took alot of herbs to bring down my body temperature including drinking a few bottles of the Rhino water.  From the past, I have refused to take western medications because it makes me sleepy and disillusion.  The best medication is actually to sleep and rest our body and let the body fight the germs. There are alot of  home remedy in the internet but it needs commitment and determination to follow the routine to rest.  However, our body is very restless and we cannot rest per se and that is why our sickness drags on for more than necessary.

One of the basic problem is that our throats gets ichy and we have to cough continuously.  To stop this re-action, we have to drink lots of water to wet our throat and use a lot of mouth waste or listerine to wash our throat.  This is a very messy task but it has to be done. Otherwise, the cough will affect our sleep and in turn, our immune system will weaken which will make the germs stronger.

This season of cough and flu is due to the changing temperature.  The day is very hot and dry while the night is cold and wet.  It often rain in the evening and at night.  This change in the temperature can easily make us caught unaware and weakens our immune system. Furthermore, in the month of December 2012, the cold dry north wind is blowing down to the warm south and this year , the winter is particularly cold and it could have result in more people catching the flu bug.

So, the better solution is to wear thicker clothing to keep warm instead of been caught in a situation which exposre our body to the cold.   This is only logical that we should be  prepared for any sudden change in the temperature so that we can adjust the thickness of our clothing when it happens.

This is some insight that I will to share with all of you and I hate coughing because it can be very irritating and messy.   For all of you , please take care.

Namaste.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Is tomorrow the end of the world ? Mayan's belief.

The belief by the Mayan civilization for thousands of years that tomorrow will be the end of the world ?  Until now, nothing changes , the horse continued to race, dances continued to be perform  and the Sun still raise from the East and sets on the West.  Nobody shed a drop of sweat on this last day of mankind.

What if it is true ?  Many of us will die with our dreams not fulfilled. It could be a nuclear explosion , the clash of the universal planets, the explosion of the earth which shattered in pieces. But, is all these likely to happen ? Or could it be for only a specific civilization or a specific area.  A Tsunami , hurricane or a big earthquake ? All these could only be in a localized region or area , how could this disasters affect the world ?

Some people will take this occasion or prediction as a chance to enjoy themselves fully or to make some money or to influence the mind of the weak and take advantage on them.  Whatever purpose, we will not know but definitely there is an ulterior motive in such predictions.

Having said the above, life is unpredictable or uncertain. Anything could happen to anyone.  Some could benefit from a change in event and some will be doomed.  Sometimes, when we say something, it just happen infront of us . Whether it is co-incidental or fated ?  It becomes the truth and the person who says it become the Saint or GOD.

In Penang, there are 1000 over Chinese temples and there are same numbers of  Deities who gave predictions on the outcome of lucky numbers over three times a week.   If there are 10 persons seeking the lucky numbers at each temple, it will be 10,000 people visiting these temples each time and in a week, there will be 30,000 people.  Imagine , if there are 30,000 prediction of numbers each week, definitely, there will be lucky people striking the jackpot.  Sometimes, by co-incidents, some temples are luckier than others and they become more famous than the others.

I apply the same concept to the Mayan prediction. Over thousand of years, everybody is waitng for this fateful day to decide whether the person who predicts it is correct or not.  Tomorrow, we will know the result . It is like whether we hit the jackpot or not.

Whatever happens, we cannot do anything about it , so why worry ? Lets keep on living and it makes no difference to us whether it happen or not. Come what may.

Namaste.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Can exercise helps to detoxify our body? A study.


Can exercise detoxify the body? Health experts are skeptical

Mon Dec 17, 2012 8:38AM EST
By Dorene Internicola
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The word "detoxification" is flung around the fitness community as frequently as kettlebells are swung.
Yoga teachers regularly speak of detoxifying twists, aerobics instructors of detoxifying sweat, dieters of detoxifying fasts. But health professionals are skeptical.
"If you start talking about exercising to detoxify, there's no scientific data," said Dr. Elizabeth Matzkin, chief of women's sports medicine at Harvard Medical School. "The human body is designed to get rid of what we don't need."
The same applies to fasting.
"No good scientific data supports any of those cleanses, where you drink juice, or (only) water for a week," she said.
Exercise is important, Matzkin added, because it enables our body to do what it is made to do, but the kidneys and colon get rid of waste. The role of exercise in that process is unclear.
"In general exercise helps our lungs; kidneys get rid of things that can cause us onset of disease," she said.
A healthy lifestyle - eating healthy, drinking plenty of water and exercising - is important to detoxifying because it enables our body to do what is intended to do.
"As for specific yoga moves, I'm not so sure," she said.
Yoga instructor and fitness expert Shirley Archer, an author and spokeswoman for the American Council on Exercise (ACE) said the theory behind the effectiveness of detoxifying twists in yoga is that they squeeze the organs, which push the blood out so fresh blood can rush in.
"Better circulation equals better health," said Archer, who is based in Florida. "If detox means to eliminate from the body what it no longer needs, then certain yogic practices can help."
She said yogic deep breathing with strong exhalations can empty the lungs of unneeded carbon dioxide and allow for a fresh breath of more oxygenated air. "This nourishes all of our cells," she said. "It is also a method of cleansing because better circulation equals better health."
Meditative movement practices, such as yoga and tai chi, she added, can detox your attitude because they require staying in the present moment and discourage dwelling on the past.
Last summer, celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson began taking groups of 40-odd women on what she calls Detox Weeks, which involve at least three hours of workouts each day, as well as lectures on fitness and nutrition aimed mainly at encouraging lifestyle changes.
Similar weeks in other cities are planned for 2013.
"Women work out and think ‘Why can't my love handles, muffin tops go away'?" said Anderson, creator of the Tracy Anderson Method and a co-owner, with actress Gwyneth Paltrow, of fitness centers in Los Angeles and New York. "The most important thing is if you can become a consistent exerciser."
"A good workout is not five to 10 yoga poses," she explained. "You have to learn to scale up your endurance. If you can only jump for five minutes straight, we'll go to 10 minutes, then 20 minutes."
Anderson said she uses the term detoxification broadly to include everything from working up a good sweat to clearing the mind of destructive thoughts.
"Detoxification is a big topic," she said.
Nancy Clark, a registered dietitian in Boston, Massachusetts and a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, said the body generally does a fine job of detoxifying itself through the liver and kidneys. Sweating has nothing to do with it.
"When you sweat you really don't detoxify anything," she explained. "If someone goes on a crash diet, then maybe toxins are released but then the body would take care of them. When you sweat you lose sodium."
(Editing by Patricia Reaney and Todd Eastham)

Friday, December 14, 2012

A wedding dinner at Ming garden, Time Square, Penang

Last night, I attended a wedding dinner at Ming Garden. My friend of  40 years, B was marrying off her daughter and he organised a grand dinner at the restaurant.  I thnk is about 50 tables of  invited guest and there was a three plus one band to keep us entertained.

The restaurant was famous for their fried duck dishes but the menu for the night was without their  duck dishes.  It was a eight dish menu  and the food was of good quality and taste.  I think it was about RM500 per table and wine and beers were free flowing. It was a joyful night and not much talking because the singers from band were entertaining.

The band make up of three ladies and one organist . One of the lady singer is a flippino girl married to a local and she has a very powerful voice singing the cabiret type of songs while another lady sings the ballet type and the last singer specialized in Chinese and mandarin songs. All the ladies were slim fit and presentable.  Luckily, this band kept me entertained for the whole night with good wine to accompany me. Not feeling like talking as it was a rush to reach the dinner place from my office.

It has been a long time since I have not played in a band and for such occasion, a good band is important to keep all the guest entertained.  There was a mixture of latin dances , gangnam style and disco numbers where some of the guest joined in for the fun. When come to the twist and the chacha, I saw  a couple of old folks joining in the dance.

Yes, the latin dances was my time and I have been doing the twist, the chacha and the waltz during my young days. I was not good as a dancer and I have the dream to learn it up but until now, it is still at its planning stage.  I talk to my wife about learning the dances together but she has been putting it off.  She is not much of a music person.

I believe latin dances can be a good exercise and a stress reliever. If you are good at it, it can be classify and elegant and it is a very good exercise and put grace into your walking. I am trying push myself to find me a good teacher.  A good dance is like a glass of fine wine. Syabas.

Well, the dinner ended well and it was a joyful night and I had a good sleep last night. I am longing for such good entertainment to keep my spirit and life brightly litted up. Life is like a good entertainment and so, we  enjoy it while it last.

Namaste.

The ironies in our life

If we slow down and re-look at life and we will know that there are alot of things not right with it. I have read many articles and a good article about life is how we spend a large part of life to earn money at the expense of our health and when we have enough , we used a large part of wealth to support our ill health. You may think that I am exeggerating but just think how expensive medication is now and how much it will increase over the years.

If we come down to the details, we will note that one heart operation cost RM50,000, eye operation cost RM12,000 or more. One MRI scan cost RM3,000 and one night in a hospital cost RM200 and it expensive than a three star hotel room in town. I believe it will become more expensive in the near future with a 10 % increase yearly.

Another irony is that we eat less to save money and become thrifty and when we are old, we eat less and selective in our eating habits  because we have to control our diet to keep good health. This is very true because I have seen how my FIL, J have been controlling his diet and in his later years, he is eating only vegetables and fish and in small quantity. Yet , he died of Cancer.  My advise to all you , readers  is to eat whenever you can eat but moderately. Don't go on a strict diet that you missed out all the good food in life.

Time is another limited factor in life. When we are young, we don't have the time for ourself and our family and when we are in our twilight years and having all the time in the world, our family members do not have the time for us as they will be busing living their lives.

This is a sad thing as even we are aware of these factors or limitations, we still not not do something about it. So awareness itself is not enough and we have to engage it and make the awarenss happen to live a meaningful and fruitful life.  Whatever passions we have or things that we want to do , we have to set ourmind to it and make it happen.  Don't let wealth and greed side track us in our pursuance of our dreams.

So, remember. Awareness is not enough..... engage your dreams and passions.

Namaste.

Live longer but in more pains- study


A sick world: We live longer, with more pain and illness


Thu Dec 13, 2012 11:34PM EST

By Kate Kelland, Health and Science Correspondent

LONDON (Reuters) - The world has made huge progress fighting killer infectious diseases, but as a result we now lead longer and sicker lives, with health problems that cause us years of pain, disability and mental distress.

This "devastating irony", as researchers describe it, is the main conclusion of a five-year study that forms the most comprehensive assessment of global health in the history of medicine, according to the journal publishing the research.

The Global Burden of Disease study, led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at Washington University, finds that countries face a wave of financial and social costs from rising numbers of people living with disease and injury.

Among other findings are that while malnutrition has dropped down the rankings as a cause of death and illness, the effects of excessive eating are taking its place. Smoking and alcohol use have also overtaken child hunger to become the second and third leading health risks, behind high blood pressure.

Over three million deaths globally were attributable in 2010 to excess body weight, more than three times as many as malnutrition.

"We've gone from a world 20 years ago where people weren't getting enough to eat to a world now where too much food and unhealthy food - even in developing countries - is making us sick," said Majid Ezzati of Imperial College London, one of the lead researchers.

However, the major health problems now are diseases and conditions that don't kill, but make us ill. We now live longer with more health problems that cause pain, impair mobility, and prevent us seeing, hearing and thinking clearly.

"Very few people are walking around with perfect health, and as people age, they accumulate health conditions," said Christopher Murray, the IHME's director. "This means we should recalibrate what life will be like for us in our 70s and 80s. It also has profound implications for health systems as they set priorities."

The study, as the largest systematic effort to quantify world health levels and trends, involved more than 480 researchers from 302 institutions and 50 countries. It was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and published as seven papers in The Lancet medical journal on Thursday.

Experts compared the study's scope and importance for future health and medical research with the vast project to map the human genome in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

"It's that kind of order of magnitude that we're talking about here," said Peter Piot, a professor of public health and director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

"This is the most comprehensive assessment of human health in the history of medicine," Richard Horton, editor of The Lancet, told reporters. "(It) provides the foundation for an urgent review of current priorities in health."

The research found that of 52.8 million deaths globally in 2010, chronic diseases took the highest tolls. About 12.9 million deaths were due to stroke and heart disease - conditions exacerbated by eating and drinking too much, smoking and taking too little exercise - and eight million were from cancer.

HIV/AIDS killed 1.5 million people in 2010, and tuberculosis, another infectious disease, killed 1.2 million.

While child mortality has decreased, there has also been a startling 44 percent increase in the number of deaths among adults aged 15 to 49 between 1970 and 2010. This is partly because of increases in violence such as homicide and traffic accidents and the AIDS epidemic, the researchers said.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

A tired and restless heart

Today, I attended a court case and have to sit through a three hours ordeal .  It is quite strange to note that the lawyers in attendance have to switch between English and Bahasa  Malaysia when they presented their case in court.  Yes, it is quite strange but for foreigners, it will be absolutely shocking.  This is one of the greatness of Malaysia.

But, this is not the point.  The point is that I was tired and restless after the three hours ordeal.  Tiredness sets in and perhap,  it is due to strenuously sitting for three hours and trying to follow the case. Never mind, a sense of tiredness came into my mind and body system and I felt weak overall.  It might be because of AGE.

The tiredness brings restlessness. What am I trying to justify ? Life is only a matter of a few 10 years or 10 of 10 years to the maximum. What am I trying to prove ?

Days shift into weeks and weeks into months and months into years.  Time stops for no one and is that what I want to do for the rest of my life ? What is exactly what I want ? Any desire to do the things I want to do ? What are these things ? My mind cannot think of any when I search my heart ? Well, if  nothing then it does not matters , what I am doing now.  What is the difference do something and not doing anything if there is no unfulfilled task on hand.

In my younger days,  I could stay up until 4 am and the next day, I could go to work at 8am and I feel normal but nowadays, at 10pm at night, I would be yawning and my eyes gets so heavy that trying to keep it open draws tears to my eyes.  At times, it is an automatic shutdown.

Most of the time, the sleep is sound and I feel refreshed the next morning but after a hectic first few hours, the strain seeps in and my whole body system will be corrupted and tiredness will set in and bring along the restlessness. It is like "empat sekawan".   This old sitcom series tell us of four friends who will appear together everytime and is unseparable. One come, four will come together.  Just like Tiredness and restlessness.

Yes, the sight of old age is obvious and I cannot deny it.  I cannot only become aware of it  and it is not enough.  I must accept it and engage with it and to see whether I could be revived myself for a few more years and enjoy a few more years of good working life.  Have to burn the candle brigther before the candles burns out.

Namaste.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Nothingness - Lao Tzu

I got a friend, L who fell out of love recently and she sent me an sms to tell me that her boyfriend is so bad and they relationship broke up and she was heart broken.  She did not tell how bad is bad and I did not bother to ask her. I could sense the sadness in your words but what can I do excepI  to give her a few kind words.

I replied her SMS  and told her that life comes from nothing and if this is the case, then where does sadness comes from? This wisdom is nothin sg complicated. Life is a passing dream and it is hollow and since it  is empty, where does the sadness arise and hold on to. It  is a passing wind and when the wind is blowing, it is carrying dust with it and when the wind stop, the dust will fall.  Sadness is like the dust in the wind, it is just temporary and moving along with life.

If you can see through this wisdom, then you will know where did the sadness rise and the hurt and pain will not be there anymore. Nothing arise from nothingness. Everything is hollow and a passing wind.
 
 The great sage, Lao Tze  who created the " Tao Te Ching" says that nothing is static and everything continues evolving. How can this wisdom jive with the concept of " nothingness". Life comes from nothing and it evolves like the wind carrying the dust and ends with nothing when the wind ceases.

You cannot unload the dust when the wind is blowing as the dust will fly with the wind in directions which is out of your control and when it is time to cease, it will just fell away without a trace.

I believed my friend , L will get stronger as in her latest reply to me, she thank GOD for bring me to her and help her to ease her pain.  She is a very religous girl and I am thankful that she has this strong fate. The true love for a person is not possession but standing far enough to see the person you love grow and help them when they fall and leave enough space for them to breath and live.

Don't make them live or think like you as no two person is the same and letting them live the way they want is the path to their own truth in life.

Namaste.



Use your imagination

I had a chat with my old lady friend about 15 minutes ago and I invited to have coffee tomorrow morning at a certain coffee shop near the old court house.  She told me it is too early for her to meet at the particular coffee shop and asked to be late for 15 minutes.  This 15 minutes, I can spend it talking to my lady colleague which I am bring along to meet her.  She told me that since most of my time is occupied with my wife, I should be grateful to her for giving me this time to have a romantic chat with my colleague. But, I told her that how she know whether my lady colleague is young or old. She told me to use my imaginations if she is old. LOL.

To be logical, how can we use our imaginations regarding to this matters.  If the painting is painted by an amatuer, how can it imagine it to be painted by Piccaso ? If a thing is old and ugly , why we have to change it to look beautiful in our mind ? Of course, I understand beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder but it must be some kind of beauty , right ?  If the person is a sixty years old lady , how can I imagine that she is only  sweet 18 . Haiyoo, her logic and arguement cannot hold water.

She continued to tell me that she read a book which says " Being aware is not good enough" .  I imagine that the ultimate step is to do it. Like being aware of our breath is not enough to calm our mind, we have to actually tame and discipline our mind or be aware of our greed is not enough, we have to actually try to give to defeat greed.  In the Buddhist teaching, we are taught to be aware of things happening around us or in our mind but not to take any actions , just watch it drift by. So, this book  sounds like teaching people to practice engagement instead of just been aware.  Well, maybe I should try to read this book to understand more of its teaching instead of just imagining what is in this book. 

Using imagination to bluff our mind or blind our awareness is like creating an illusion.  Something that is not real but we make ourself to be real. Of course, living in illusion is much happier than living in real life because what we want  can happen in split seconds. In our illusion, things just happen the way we wanted it.  This act of illusion can make us weak and unable to face the reality in life. We become more complacent , kind and unreal to the real world.  Perhaps, we can practice such illusion technique in a secluded land or a fairy land and undisturbed by the real world.  All these fantacies and make beliefs  is  like a double edged swords as it can cut both sides deeply.

Nevertheless, it is okay to have sweet dreams but be prepared to face the real world which is often cold and hard. This is also part of awareness.

Namaste.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Is there a ghost in your mind?

My daughter, M told me that she coming home late last night and she wants me to switch on the lighting in my living room and at the stair case.  I asked her why ?  She told me that she is scare.  Scare of What ? I asked her.  She told me that she is not comfortable because her dog which is staying with her , often bark at the door. I told her this is nonsense. Why after staying in the house for 20 years , she can still think like that.

She told me that I do not believe her and that is exactly my feelings.  If some of the ghostly things were come to my territory , I will chase them out. This is my house and I am in control , okay ?  Don't stay in my way or freighten my family and this is something , I do not tolerate.  Go ..fzzzzx off some where.

In my mother's previous house located in the same area and we have sold it already, I have some hair rising experience.  I could vividly recalled that on a few occasion, I felt something resting on me. I could not move my body or shout at all.  It was something heavy and I could consciously want to push it away but I just cannot do anything.  I asked my friends and they told me is that " some ghost is sitting on me".  Why did they want to disturb me ? Don't they have better things to do ? Am I so important to them?  These are the questions moving through my head since then.

I believe on these occasions,  my body must weaken  and it is just a dream or my mind playing a trick on me. Nevertheless, I do not have the answer. 

In Bangladesh , I have an experience on the 13th floor of a 3 star hotel . It is nothing actually but my hairs was standing on its ends.  The feeling of  being uncomfortable as if someone is watching me.  The next day, I just change the room and it was okay.. In this instant, I am perturding into another kind's territory and they have the right not to accept me. But in my home,  I will fight them to the end.

In such incidents, the mind is very important.  Our past experience, our past knowledge  and our body conditions is very important.  If our mind is not strong, silly thoughts or influence will dwell on us and scare ourself. It is the fear that will breed further fears.  This is my belief.  If we are strong and stable in our mind, we can conquer whatever fear.

Having said that, I want the strange kinds to leave my domain, otherwise,  I will chase them out.

Namaste.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

A hectic saturday , 8th December 12

I woke up quite late, almost 8.30 am and have rushed to my yoga session at 9.00am. The yoga session was as usual, the normal stretching and head stands. The session finsihed at 10.30am and  my wife and me had a quick breakfast of eggs and wantan mee. I  dropped my wife at 11am at my house and I drove to pick up my sister.

It was my weekend dates with her and I took her for breakfast at Roti Bakar at the straits mall and we spend about one hour chatting what happen in the past week. After that, I sent her home and I drove home for a short nap. The nap turn into a two hours of sleep and after that , the four of us , my wife, May and her boyfriend and me went out together.  There was no lunch arrangement , so I bought bread at Sub-way at the straits mall for all of us to share. Well, two terryaki set and one tuna wheat bread and two ice lemon tea. Nothing to shout about.

We dropped my wife for her hair cut while three of us shot off to Yang Shang Tang, the China massage center.  We had an hour of message and some yak-yak and chat-chat with the China Girls. They are too talkative and keep selling me  their package of body massage. Who knows whether they will massage away my heart and money like what happen to my friend.

After that, off we drove to One Avenue to pick up my wife. It was abit early and we walk around the shopping mall and do some purchases. My wife join me later and we continued our shopping until 7pm and we rushed over to Edo Ichi, the Japanese restaurant at Island Plaza. It was a saturday and also school holiday session and the roads were packed with outstation cars.  The drive there was very slow and I was cursing about the traffic all the way.

It took us about 40 minutes to reach Island Plaza from Komtar's One Avenue. Luckily, the food was fast and good and we really enjoy it very much.  The restaurant have been my regular hunt lately and I liked the services and food very much although it is abit pricey.

The drive home was also hectic as we sway between the long queue of cars. It took us an hour from Island Plaza back to Farlim.  it was a long and hectic trip but in the end, the good food at Endo Ichi really make me feel contented.

So , another hectic Saturday.. 

Namaste.

A visit to TPF at All Seasons Mall. Farlim.

This morning I took my sister C to Tong Pak Fu at the straits Mall at Farlim for breakfast. After we have ordered our food, we met a  casual friend and she sat down with us and  begin to tell us what have happen to her after the last time we met. It was a sad story.

She have been married for 25 years and she has three beautiful daughters and a family run business. The husband carry out the technical and manual job while she handles the banking and finance. They were doing okay until one day, her husband  abandon them for a China Women. He give up his business including his family and left his family. She was completely caught  by surprise. How can someone can  be so cruel and heartless. She could not understand it and keep trying to bring him back to his family until it became hopeless and they have to divorce last month.

Feelings is very strange . When it comes, it pours and when it retreat , it is like a run away train. But it is up to the person to control it. The choice is there and some people is weak in the heart and mind and the feelings blind them and control them. Whether the decision is good or bad, life will run its path.

Finally , what happen is a blessing or a curse , it is yet to be seen. The chat lasted for one hour and by then, the food was getting cold and we eat our breakfast but I do not remember what I eat and how is the taste. I wish her and her family best wishes and the river of life will run its course, so accept it.

Namaste.
















Saturday, December 8, 2012

Penang - most livable city in Malaysia.

Penang most liveable city in M’sia
The Star, Tuesday April 24, 2012

GEORGE TOWN: Penang has, for the first time, beaten Kuala Lumpur for two consecutive years as the country’s most liveable city, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said.
Quoting the annual ECA International Location Ratings research, Lim said Penang had maintained its position as Asia’s eighth most liveable city, while Kuala Lumpur had dropped from ninth to the 10th spot.
“We should feel proud — for the first time in history, we are number one in Malaysia for two years running."
“It’s not a fluke, it’s a fact,” Lim told a press conference in Komtar.
He said listed criteria for the ranking included quality of living, climate, health services, isolation, social network and leisure facilities, infrastructure and political tensions.
According to the survey, Singapore maintained its grip on the top spot and also retained its global ranking as the number one most liveable city in the world.
Kobe, Japan stayed at the second spot of Asia’s most liveable cities, followed by Hong Kong, Tokyo and Yokohama (tied at fourth), Taipei and Macau.
Seoul, that was ranked as Asia’s 10th most liveable city in 2011, edged Kuala Lumpur to tie with George Town in this year’s ranking.
ECA International, which carries out the location rating annually, is an international consulting firm that specialises in providing and developing solutions for the management and assignment of employees around the world.
Lim said Penang’s ranking as the nation’s most liveable city showed that protests against the state government that had taken place since the last general election were done by only a “small group of troublemakers.

Why did we lost the lovely feelings..

It is very funny and also irony that when our love starts, it starts with a boom and when we get married and matured , all our colors comes out and gradually the real us appeared and our feelings start to waiver. The loving or lovely feelings of love will gradually dminished. This is a fact of life.

 In my generation, the couples are more tolerable or patient but in this Gen-Y generation, the thoughts of the youngsters nowadays are more independent and they do not want to carry the burden with them.  They are more realistic and cruel.

For the baby boomers, family is very important  and we really go all out to protect the family ties. Even as years goes by and with the diminishing feelings of love, it is still bearable despite the thoughts of  going separate ways or get sway away by the temptation of a new found love.  We are the faithful generations. Some of us could have swayed but keeping the family ties is still the most important thing of all.

Looking at a couple, basically both partners have not changed at all  and they are only acting out the real them as the relationship matures.  This is a normal process and every relationship have to go this path. Why do we suddenly realize or wake up to find out that we have changed. Do we really changed or it is just our illusions. Have we really changed?  The reality of life and the daily rountine have became boring. Who are we to blame ? Our selves?

For some people, maybe they cannot take the reality in life and choose to get a new life by finding a new love, but the whole process is repeating itself. It may be a sweet start and a wonderful finish but are we so sure ? For a new relationship, we have to change ourself again and suppress the real us and become a  real us again over time. How long can we last before the real us comes out and you find that it is the same thing all over again.

Of course, we can opt to be in and out of many relationships and who cares?  You can have many spring time as much as you can if you are happy. Why tie yourself to an old goat when there are so many  young goats to choose from? Some people may wonder why we choose only one tree when there is aforest of tress to choose and enjoym. So, a relationship needs time to matures and the bond of love needs time to seal and become long lasting.  A true relatioinship is hard to find  and gradually love turns into care and acceptance.  This is life.

A good wine need years to mature and  it gets better as it aged . This is the same as relationship. The older , the better. So, the lost of loving. or lovely feelings is only an illusion or a boredom.  From an illusion , it has turned into reality. So, beware and behold
Namaste.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Man more likely to die from Cancer- study

Men more likely to die of cancer: study

Thu Dec 6, 2012 11:10PM EST
(Reuters) - Not only are men more likely than women to be diagnosed with cancer, men who get it have a higher chance of dying from the disease, according to a U.S. study.
In an analysis of cases of all but sex-specific cancers such as prostate and ovarian cancer, for example, men were more likely than women to die in each of the past ten years, said researchers, whose findings appeared in The Journal of Urology.
That translates to an extra 24,130 men dying of cancer in 2012 because of their gender.
"This gap needs to be closed," said Shahrokh Shariat from Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, who worked on the study. "It's not about showing that men are only doing worse and, 'poor men.' It's about closing gender differences and improving health care."
Using U.S. cancer registry data from 2003 through 2012, Shariat and his colleagues found the ratio of deaths to cancer diagnoses decreased 10 percent over the past decade - but was consistently higher among men than women.
Overall, men with any type of cancer were six percent more likely to die of their disease than women with cancer. When men and women with the same type of cancer were compared, that rose to more than 12 percent.
In 2012, Shariat's team calculated that about 575,130 men and 457,240 women would be diagnosed with a non-sex specific cancer. Also this year, an estimated 243,620 men will die of cancer - one death for every 2.36 new diagnoses, compared to 182,670 women dying, or one for each 2.5 new diagnoses.
"We found that from the 10 most common cancers in males and females... men present at a higher stage than females, and adjusted for the incidence, are more likely to die from the cancer," Shariat told Reuters Health.
"If you take an average of the 10 most common cancers, men are more likely to die in seven out of the ten," he added. In contrast, women are more likely to die only from bladder cancer.
The new study can't show what's behind the differences in cancer deaths, but possible theories include men's higher rates of smoking and drinking combined with less frequent doctor's visits - which cause men's cancers to be diagnosed in later, more advanced stages.
Sex hormones may also contribute to differences in men's and women's immune systems, metabolism and general susceptibility to cancer, according to Yang Yang, a sociologist and cancer researcher from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who studies health disparities but wasn't part of the study.
She said the new findings are consistent with work suggesting a higher risk of death for men from many causes, not just cancer.
But a full understanding of the origins and mechanisms in sex differences in cancer, as well as overall mortality, has remained elusive," Yang told Reuters Health in an email.
Shariat said men should be particularly proactive about their health care.
"That means going to screening programs, seeing a general practitioner or primary care provider on a regular basis and as soon as symptoms arise that are new, mentioning that to their primary care physicians," he added. SOURCE: http://bit.ly/Vz8RJI

The Devil and the Angel

This subject have been going through my mind and I have been thinking whether to response to this statement that  " it is better to deal with the Devil your know than the Angel you don't know". How can we compare the Devil and the Angel  or the darkness and the light ? It is really nonsense.

The Devil represents " bad " while the Angel stands for " good".  How can we ever thought of dealing with the Devil ? Everything coming from the Devil is bad.  It is oozing out badness only and what is there to deal ? If we want to deal with the Devil , then it is like taking advantage of the bad for ourself.  What is there to benefit us from the Devil ?

If we think deeply, we can understand this statement well.  It is because nobody is perfect and heaven is not for everyone. Lets imaging, if we clear up the darkness, there will be transparency and everything will need to follow strictly by the law.  There is no deviation or no double talks . One is one and the flexibility is limited. If you are an angle, you need to be a perfect angel and there should not be any darkness in you.  How many of us can be Angels? It is impossible to seek perfection in human beings and even if there are , it will only be a few.

For an ordinary folk, we are always drifting between the good and the bad and we cannot survive under each extremes. After all, what is life ? A little bit of greed, a little bit of naughtiness, a little bit of bad thoughts, etc, it should be tolerated. If we do not tolerate imperfections, then we will be the one to suffer.

If the Angel wins over the Devil, there will be brightness and suddenly no drinking, no smoking, no more free sex, no more porn, no more gambling , so on and so on.  Every day, we have to behave ourself  according to the religious teachings and precepts. It maybe for the holy fellas but what about the not so holy fellas or the naughty fellas.  They will revolt and finally, the Angel will be over thrown.

The best is in the Buddhist precepts , following the middle path and avoid the extremes. This is where the majority of the people belongs to. This balance is very important to maintain the equilibrium and to hold on power.  Fairness and to cater for the masses is fundamental to good governance.

This is what we can "live and lets live".

Namaste.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

The world is ending- Mayan

Australia's Gillard in spoof: Mayans were right, world is ending


Thu Dec 6, 2012 6:06AM EST

CANBERRA (Reuters) - According to Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the Mayans were right and the apocalypse is near.

In a spoof 50-second video appearance promoting a local radio station's breakfast show, Gillard provided hair-raising details that she said would come when the world ends this month, as the ancient Mayans calendar predicted.

With the straight face she often uses in a normal press conference, and surrounded by Australian national flags, Gillard addressed viewers as "My dear remaining fellow Australians."

"The end of world is coming. It wasn't Y2K, it wasn't even the carbon price," said Gillard firmly. "It turns out that the Mayan calendar is true."

Y2K was the computer glitch feared globally just before the year 2000, while the carbon tax refers to a major controversial policy put forward by her Labour government in 2012.

She went into terrifying details about the end of the world such as "flesh-eating zombies" and "demonic hell beasts", but then wooed her constituents with promises.

"If you know one thing about me it is this: I will always fight for you to the very end," she said, but noted that there is also a bright spot.

"At least this means I won't have to do Q&A again," she said, referring to an Australian TV show where politicians usually have to face tough questions from the audience.

A spokesman for Gillard said the video, which was uploaded by radio station Triple J on Thursday and has already been viewed more than 232,000 times on YouTube, was simply a spoof.

"It's just bit of fun," he told Reuters. "It's just a bit of humor for the end of the year. Nothing else."

The video comes out in the wake of a phone hoax in which two Australian presenters from another local radio station called the hospital which is treating Prince William's wife Kate and posed as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles to ask questions about her condition.

Appreciation dinner from HL Bank

Last night I attended the Appreciation Dinner organized by  HL Bank at E&O.   I was invited and I wanted to attend the dinner to catch up with some old banker friends from the bank. I was expecting an organized dinner and would want to enjoy some quality time with my friends.

When I reach the dinner hall, there were already a big group of guest and bankers enjoying their drinks.  The bank provides  wine, whiskey and beer.  Unlimited quantity and everyone was drinking , talking and laughing. I walk around and managed to locate the person who have invited me and I asked to see my friends from the bank and unfortunately, they were not invited or not free to attend. I was quite disappointed as the HL bankers were quite strange to me but among the guest I saw a few familiar faces.  I said "hello" to them and that was about it.

I was told that I would be sitting among the main tables and I try to refuse as I do not know them very well or do not know them at all except their CEO who is sitting in the main table. However, the organizers refused to change table for me and I was forced to sit at one of the main tables with Dato's , HL bank's strong supporters. I exchanged my name card with them and we waited patiently for the dinner to stay. We did not wait long before dinner was served.

The host at my table was the  Corporate Division head of the bank and he introduced himself nicely before the start of the dinner. But , he was talking about having " Char Keow Teow" at lorong selamat in Penang bfore he come to the dinner.  He told us that he was very full and he only drinks whiskey. So, I expect the remaining nine people will eat with me. 

The first dish came and only four people eat while the rest of them continue drinking wine and whiskey .  The second dish came and only four people left sitting around the table and only two person eat the food. By the fhird dish, only one person , that is me sitting there and eating while the rest of the table guest have stood up and gather in groups to drink. It was so akward and I continued with my eating and drinking wine.  I did not bother to stand up and join them in their drinking spress.

This scene reminds me of my old days when the bankers force us to drink whiskey and brandy during noon and we drink like cows and ended flat out. We even try to use chinese tea to represent brandy to bluff the tipsy bankers. We were drunk many times over and in many occasions.  This was the trend and culture at that time. And last night's occasion remind me of these whiskeyful days.  I shivered down my spine as these 60 plus old people dirnk like a 20 years old. It is very damaging as the strong whiskey and brandies will hurt our stomach especially when we have not eat enough food.

After the fourth dishes,  I get up to excuse myself and enough is enough.   I have better things to do despite the food servings were good.  The smell of whiskey have already intoxicate me and before I fall, I ran.
Best wishes to these guys staying behind and I hope the best for you.

Namaste.