These three words have a very deep meaning. Why is little much ? This defies the logic and common sense that the more we have the better. That is the reason we enter the rat race or strive to earn more and more money as we feel the more the merrier. There is no motivation to have little and not enough.
The true meaning of these three words is the less we have, the more we will appreciate the little we have. In other words, if we have abundant of something, we do not appreciate it and there will be a lot of waste and no focus or awareness of its importance and sweetness. The more we have, the faster we eat and less appreciative of the abundant things we have.
Just imagine a simple analogy. If we have only one dish on our table, we tend to be more focus and conscious of what we eat as we have not much to taste it . We will eat slowly and bit slowly so that we can enjoy the little we have , spoon by spoon. When it is in our mouth, we will chew it slowly and gradually and enjoy each bite as we have not much left to enjoy. We will tend to be conscious and aware of the process of eating and the taste of our food. On the other hand, if we have 10 dishes on the table at once, we tend to eat faster and in massive mouthfuls and we lost control of the process of eating . Not only we do not enjoy it but it is also a waste as we tend to eat too much.
This bring me back to my trip to China , three years ago. I was on a package tour with my family covering Shanghai, Soo Chow, Hang Chow and Wuzi. During the whole trip, the tour operator have arrange all the lunch and dinner for us. The routine is all the same for the full 6 days. Breakfast, tour, lunch, tour , dinner and shopping at night and return to the hotel. This routine is like the circle of life revolving round and round. At each lunch and dinner, we are given 9 to 10 dishes in big portions. All the food is brought out at the same time. The dessert and the main course. You just eat , eat and eat and mostof the time is tasteless and routine , just make yourself overeat. Here much is greed and wasteful.
If you have eaten traditional Japanese food, you realize that the food comes out in small portions and in very small places and you will feel that it is not enough. Yes, the intention is only to make you 70% full and make you slow down in your eating process and to enjoy each bite more fully and let the taste sink into your palate. This will make yourself more mindful and aware of each process , like eating in meditation.
By having less and yet we are in contentment is a self discipline and only when we behave our self, we become more manageable and in this way, we are in control of our mind and our body.
Namaste.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Chung Kwei - The Ghost catcher
Chung Kwei - 'The Protector Against Evil Spirits'
The Legend of Chung Kwei
The legend of Chung Kwei takes us to ancient China. It involves the outstanding scholar, the Chinese Emperor and the red demon.
According to legend, Chung Kwei was a bright scholar from Tung-nan Shan of Shensi Province during the reign-period of Wu De (A. D. 618 - 627) of the Emperor Kao Tsu of the T'ang Dynasty.
He was as famous for his literary skill as he was for his repulsive appearance. At that time, literature was the prime subject of imperial exams, which allowed successful applicants to gain entrance to the bureaucracy. Therefore, Chung Kwei easily became the best candidate to be admitted as the First Academician of the Metropolitan Examinations.
It was customary at that time for the Emperor to personally confer (with his own hand) a rose of gold to the successful candidate. So, the outstanding scholar Chung Kwei, presented himself before the king in accordance to the custom so as to receive the reward which was by right due to him. Unfortunately for Chung Kwei, his appearance was so ugly and deformed that the sight of his repulsive face caused corrupt officials to refuse him entrance. This threw him into total despair because he had been unfairly deprived of his rightful honors. The rejected scholar then took his own life on the steps of the Imperial Palace.
The Chinese Emperor Ming Huang (A. D. 712 - 742), also known as Tang Xuan Zong, who ruled in the reign-period of K'ai Yüan, was kept ignorant of this regrettable incident. However, the act of suicide had desecrated the precincts of the palace, subsequently allowing malign spirits to enter.
Not long after an expedition to Mount Li in Shensi Province, the Emperor Ming Huang succumbed to a fever. His Majesty dreamt of an annoying little demon in bright red trousers with a shoe on one foot and the other shoe hanging from his girdle. The mischievous imp broke through the bamboo gates and took possession of the Emperor's jade flute and an embroidered musk pouch belonging to His Majesty's favorite imperial concubine Yang Gui-Fei. Then the rascal proceeded to make a tour of the palace grounds creating further mischief.
Seeing the extensive damage caused by this red devil, the Emperor Ming Huang flew into a rage and demanded an explanation. At this, the red demon responded, "Your humble servant is named Xu Hao of Emptiness and Devastation." To which the Emperor replied, "I have never heard of such a person." At once the demon rejoined, "Xu means to desire Emptiness, because in Emptiness, one can fly just as one wishes; Hao means Devastation, as it changes joy to sadness.
The Emperor Ming Huang was so annoyed by the red demon's impertinence that he turned to called for his imperial guards. Suddenly, a great big devilish-looking creature appeared; he was wearing a torn headdress, a blue robe, an ivory belt-clasp, and official boots on his feet. This hideous fellow subdued the red demon and swallowed the unfortunate sprite.
Surprised, the Emperor Ming Huang asked this demon-catcher for his name and position. He replied, "Your humble servant is Chung Kwei, Physician of T'ung-nan Shan in Shensi Province. In the reign-period Wu De of Emperor Kao Tsu of the Tang Dynasty, I was ignomiously rejected and unjustly defrauded of first class honors in the public examinations. Overwhelmed with shame, I took my own life on the steps of the imperial palace. After having been alerted of this unfortunate incident, The Emperor Kao Tsu ordered me to be buried in a green robe (an honor which was reserved for royalty). So, out of gratitude for the honor bestowed upon me, I pledged to protect the reigning sovereign in any part of the Chinese Empire against the evil red demon Xu Hao."
After hearing him out, the Emperor Ming Huang awoke and discovered himself to be completely cured of his illness. Since the ghost of Chung Kwei appeared in the nick of time and exorcised the evil spirit, the Emperor decided to further honor Chung Kwei by having his portrait painted. His Majesty sent for Wu Tao-Tzu who was then well-known as one of the most celebrated Chinese artists. At the Emperor's request, the artist proceeded to paint Chung Kwei, exactly as His Majesty had seen in his dream. Subsequently, Chung Kwei was canonized with the title, "Great Spiritual Chaser of Demons for the Whole Empire."
Chung Kwei is also known as K'uei Xing, the Star God of Literature for his outstanding scholastic abilities. In this capacity, his duty is to oversee scholars and to ensure that they receive their dues. .
Have you seen a ghost ?
I was coming out of the male toilet and my staff, Jolly almost bump into me as she was walking very fast. I make a funny facial gesture at her and she asked me " Did you see a ghost ?". I assured her there is no ghost but only I am afraid that she will clash into me as our path cross each other.
Talking about ghost, I had a lunch with my tax consultant at a Tea House along Hutton Lane at noon time and this restaurant is housed in an old pre-war terrace house. I have been there a few times and each time and I have a feeling that there are a few old restless souls still in the house. It is a cosy place and quite nicely done. It is not scary except that it has an old ambiance and antique furniture and fittings. Standing among these old furniture is a figurine of an old Chinese deity called " Chung Kwei" .
Chung Kwei, in the Chinese folklore is a traditional Chinese herbal doctor and later, he learn the art of a ghost catcher. Gradually, he became famous in catching ghost and helping them to rest in peace and return to the realm of re-birth. Due to his good deeds, he gained sainthood and was regarded as one of the deity in the Taoist religion.
I have seen an actual case as one of my god-niece happen to have this art of seeing these beings in the third dimension. When she is depressed, she is able to see these " things" and she will be drawn into a trance. When she is in that stage, she will be talking senselessly and behave very weirdly. She can have enormous strength and even four grown man could not hold her down when she gets violent. Once, we sent her to a temple to be treated by a Taoist priest but even the priest could not control her. Now, she is in Japan with her family and even in Japan, she is still disturbed by Japanese ghost. She gets better when she is taking western medicine for psychotic behaviour.
Is this illusion or a real experience in another demension or has she gone crazy ? This is every body's guess. Whatever, what is real is not real and what is illusion can be real. Real or fake or fake or real, everything is only in a motion of suspension.
Namaste.
Talking about ghost, I had a lunch with my tax consultant at a Tea House along Hutton Lane at noon time and this restaurant is housed in an old pre-war terrace house. I have been there a few times and each time and I have a feeling that there are a few old restless souls still in the house. It is a cosy place and quite nicely done. It is not scary except that it has an old ambiance and antique furniture and fittings. Standing among these old furniture is a figurine of an old Chinese deity called " Chung Kwei" .
Chung Kwei, in the Chinese folklore is a traditional Chinese herbal doctor and later, he learn the art of a ghost catcher. Gradually, he became famous in catching ghost and helping them to rest in peace and return to the realm of re-birth. Due to his good deeds, he gained sainthood and was regarded as one of the deity in the Taoist religion.
I have seen an actual case as one of my god-niece happen to have this art of seeing these beings in the third dimension. When she is depressed, she is able to see these " things" and she will be drawn into a trance. When she is in that stage, she will be talking senselessly and behave very weirdly. She can have enormous strength and even four grown man could not hold her down when she gets violent. Once, we sent her to a temple to be treated by a Taoist priest but even the priest could not control her. Now, she is in Japan with her family and even in Japan, she is still disturbed by Japanese ghost. She gets better when she is taking western medicine for psychotic behaviour.
Is this illusion or a real experience in another demension or has she gone crazy ? This is every body's guess. Whatever, what is real is not real and what is illusion can be real. Real or fake or fake or real, everything is only in a motion of suspension.
Namaste.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Three elements : Time, Place and People
When I was young, I have been told by my deceased mother that whatever you have is pre-destined and there is no need to force yourself to get it. This advise sounds very passive and like what have been professed in one of the best selling book : The Secret, to believe , accept and wait for the Universe to provide. Sounds simple but hard to believe. That is the basic problem, our belief , it has to be strong and unweavering.
Later in life, I was also taught another philosophy, that is to achieve success ,we have ensure a harmony of the three elements ie place, time and people. If we were to be successful in our negotiation or proposal, we have select the right place for the presentation, at the right time and with the right people.
What do you mean by time ? Again, it has to ensure that sufficient notice is give to the members attending the meeting, an appropriate meeting time, sufficient time for each member to speak and in what priority. Never call a meeting just before lunch break or tea break , as we believe that an hungry man is an angry man. Some chinese people consult the I-Ching for the appropriate day and time to organize the meeting. The I-Ching also considers the " Pak Kua" of the members attending the meeting.
What do we mean by the right place ? Of course, a suitable place with proper presentation equipment, sound system, ample space and lightings , etc. In some case, the direction of member's sitting position according to their seniority. One wrong position or direction could raise a strong objection or hinderance to your proposal. This is a special skill and in Chinese belief we have to consider the " Pak Kua" of the members attending the meeting to ensure harmonizing the opposing forces of these people and get a consensus condition.
Finally, the third element, the people. This is the most complex of the three elements as each person is influence by their body conditions, their emotions and their business schedules. Selecting the people attending the meeting is also very important for a successful conclusion of the subject matter. According to one mathematic professor, we can calculate the outcome of a meeting or an event but we cannot control its end result because of the complex nature of human beings.
In this modern time, this belief can still hold true if it is practice properly. It can never be denied that if one can successful plan and harmonize these three elements according to its logic , the chance of success is very much enhanced. This is not a science but an art. Just ponder for awhile on this subject and you will realize there is logical truth in it.
Namaste.
Later in life, I was also taught another philosophy, that is to achieve success ,we have ensure a harmony of the three elements ie place, time and people. If we were to be successful in our negotiation or proposal, we have select the right place for the presentation, at the right time and with the right people.
What do you mean by time ? Again, it has to ensure that sufficient notice is give to the members attending the meeting, an appropriate meeting time, sufficient time for each member to speak and in what priority. Never call a meeting just before lunch break or tea break , as we believe that an hungry man is an angry man. Some chinese people consult the I-Ching for the appropriate day and time to organize the meeting. The I-Ching also considers the " Pak Kua" of the members attending the meeting.
What do we mean by the right place ? Of course, a suitable place with proper presentation equipment, sound system, ample space and lightings , etc. In some case, the direction of member's sitting position according to their seniority. One wrong position or direction could raise a strong objection or hinderance to your proposal. This is a special skill and in Chinese belief we have to consider the " Pak Kua" of the members attending the meeting to ensure harmonizing the opposing forces of these people and get a consensus condition.
Finally, the third element, the people. This is the most complex of the three elements as each person is influence by their body conditions, their emotions and their business schedules. Selecting the people attending the meeting is also very important for a successful conclusion of the subject matter. According to one mathematic professor, we can calculate the outcome of a meeting or an event but we cannot control its end result because of the complex nature of human beings.
In this modern time, this belief can still hold true if it is practice properly. It can never be denied that if one can successful plan and harmonize these three elements according to its logic , the chance of success is very much enhanced. This is not a science but an art. Just ponder for awhile on this subject and you will realize there is logical truth in it.
Namaste.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)