The feeling is pathetic. Still in a hair saloon waiting for my wife to dye her hair to welcome the new year. Wanting to say something before the year is over.
The owner is a close relative of my wife. She advised me not to retire becos her retired husband is querreling with her everyday. This put their relationship on the rock. She told me that not only Man have needs but Female also have needs. Iaaked her to tone down her temple but she said that she cannot change already because she is old already. She told me that the other day, she hsd a big querrel with her long time friend. Both of them have big ego trying to win the arguement. iaaked her in the end who win? Both lost in the end with a strain relationship. Funny. Is it so important to win?
I took a leaf from my adopted Guru,Ajahn Brahm and told her the famous chicken story to illustrate a point.
There was this coiple who was walking in the forest and they hear a chicken crow. The husband say that is a chicken amd the wife say that is a duck. No, thst is a chicken, the husband say. This arguement goes on for a fee rounds until the wife want to cry. Finally, the husband said" ok, ok. It is a duck". Then both of them live happily ever after.
Isn't it funny? Why waste the time and energy to prove each other wrong? Is it so important whether it is a chicken or a duck? People often lost their focus of what is really important or a chicken or duck or their relationship? Common sense is not so common when ego is concern.
We know we are wrong but we just want to win or teach the other person a lesson. Does it really so important. We have to think and think again to regain our senses. Just stop and think before you respond and don't let your emotions control you or just walk away to regain your composure and your sense and awareness.
A chicken or a duck, does it matter?
Namaste.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Love you, my dear.
Think about this for a minute...
If you happened to show up on my door step crying,
I would care!
If you called me and askedme to pick you up because something happened,
I would come!
If you had one day left to live your life,
I would want to be part of that last day!
If you needed a shoulder to cry on,
I would give you mine!
This is a test to see who your real friends are or if you are just someone to talk to you when they are bored.
Do you know what the relationship is between your two eyes?
They blink together,
they move together,
they cry together,
they see things together,
and they sleep together,
but they never see each other;
....that's what friendship is.
Your aspiration is your motivation,
your motivation is your belief,
your belief is your peace,
your peace is your target,
your target is heaven,
and life is like hard core torture without it!
If you happened to show up on my door step crying,
I would care!
If you called me and askedme to pick you up because something happened,
I would come!
If you had one day left to live your life,
I would want to be part of that last day!
If you needed a shoulder to cry on,
I would give you mine!
This is a test to see who your real friends are or if you are just someone to talk to you when they are bored.
Do you know what the relationship is between your two eyes?
They blink together,
they move together,
they cry together,
they see things together,
and they sleep together,
but they never see each other;
....that's what friendship is.
Your aspiration is your motivation,
your motivation is your belief,
your belief is your peace,
your peace is your target,
your target is heaven,
and life is like hard core torture without it!
A great read ( Writer unknown)
A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago . They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner.
In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples at the airport. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding. ALL BUT ONE !!! He paused, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor. He was glad he did.
The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.
The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket. When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, 'Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?' She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, 'I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly.'
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, 'Mister....' He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, 'Are you Jesus?' He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: 'Are you Jesus?' Do people mistake you for Jesus?
That's our Destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace.
In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples at the airport. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding. ALL BUT ONE !!! He paused, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned. He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor. He was glad he did.
The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.
The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket. When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, 'Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?' She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, 'I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly.'
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, 'Mister....' He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, 'Are you Jesus?' He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: 'Are you Jesus?' Do people mistake you for Jesus?
That's our Destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Relationship in motion
During yesterday's lunch, I observe several relationship in motion. There arr several pairs of pairs of couples eating together. Of course, there are several group fates in progress but I want to focus on couples because it is more personal. For me, I am doing business lunch in three.
There was a couple in their early twenties sitting in the table next to me. The female partner look restless and uptight while waiting for the food while male partner was using his ipad and doing something with it. There was barely any conversation during this whole time at the lunch. What is the use if sitting together for lunch when the heart don't syn? Or why are they together in the first place if their passion hve cool off?
It is not necessary to talk during a lunch or when two people are together and it is often a bliss to be quietand aware of our own action or observation. It is in fact a joy to be focus and aware. But,if relationship is not in harmony, it will be a torture and everything will be in discourse. Why I'd the need to force the situation or attempt to hold to the relation and force it to work? Is this necessary?
People are afraid of loniness and it is a general opinion that it is socially unacceptable that you eat by yrself. The more social you are, the better is your image. This thinking is wrong because when we are alone, we giving full attention to ourself which is the most important to us. We need quiet time for ourself to handle our affairs, emotions and thoughts. if we have a good internal condition then we will have a wonderful external. Don't be shy to be alone with yourself but maintain a compassionate heart to all. We should remember that if we cannot help others, we should not hurt. This is another charting to re-affirm our vow.
There arr other couple which is busy chatting away and there are those fast food eaters trying to finish their lunch within the shortest time and rush back to work. It is a matter to fill their stomach with food without knowing the taste and enjoying it. Why bother to come to such eatery for food ? There is no differmce between an abalone or a piece white bread. The purpose is to fill your stomach.it is more economical to stuff your self with a simple bun and eat when you are working. Anyway, there is no joy in the food.
Of course, there are wise people who eating the right way and enjoying themselves. These are the greater people who choose their life journey. I am not saying that by one observation ,these couples are not happy. But, for that particular momen, they are not.
Hope you will slow down and enjoy your journey. Be aware and blissful and capture every moment with zest.
Namaste.
There was a couple in their early twenties sitting in the table next to me. The female partner look restless and uptight while waiting for the food while male partner was using his ipad and doing something with it. There was barely any conversation during this whole time at the lunch. What is the use if sitting together for lunch when the heart don't syn? Or why are they together in the first place if their passion hve cool off?
It is not necessary to talk during a lunch or when two people are together and it is often a bliss to be quietand aware of our own action or observation. It is in fact a joy to be focus and aware. But,if relationship is not in harmony, it will be a torture and everything will be in discourse. Why I'd the need to force the situation or attempt to hold to the relation and force it to work? Is this necessary?
People are afraid of loniness and it is a general opinion that it is socially unacceptable that you eat by yrself. The more social you are, the better is your image. This thinking is wrong because when we are alone, we giving full attention to ourself which is the most important to us. We need quiet time for ourself to handle our affairs, emotions and thoughts. if we have a good internal condition then we will have a wonderful external. Don't be shy to be alone with yourself but maintain a compassionate heart to all. We should remember that if we cannot help others, we should not hurt. This is another charting to re-affirm our vow.
There arr other couple which is busy chatting away and there are those fast food eaters trying to finish their lunch within the shortest time and rush back to work. It is a matter to fill their stomach with food without knowing the taste and enjoying it. Why bother to come to such eatery for food ? There is no differmce between an abalone or a piece white bread. The purpose is to fill your stomach.it is more economical to stuff your self with a simple bun and eat when you are working. Anyway, there is no joy in the food.
Of course, there are wise people who eating the right way and enjoying themselves. These are the greater people who choose their life journey. I am not saying that by one observation ,these couples are not happy. But, for that particular momen, they are not.
Hope you will slow down and enjoy your journey. Be aware and blissful and capture every moment with zest.
Namaste.
A true story ( Writer unknown)
A woman baked chapati for members of her family and an extra one for a hungry passerby. She kept the extra chapati on the window sill, for whosoever would take it away. Everyday, a hunchback came and took away the chapati. Instead of expressing gratitude, he muttered the following words as he went his way: "The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!" This went on, day after day. Everyday, the hunchback came, picked up the chapati and uttered the words: "The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!" The woman felt irritated. "Not a word of gratitude," she said to herself...
"Everyday this hunchback utters this jingle! What does he mean?" One day, exasperated, she decided to do away with him. "I shall get rid of this hunchback," she said. And what did she do? She added poison to the chapatti she prepared for him! As she was about to keep it on the window sill, her hands trembled. "What is this I am doing?" she said. Immediately, she threw the chapati into the fire, prepared another one and kept it on the window sill. As usual, the hunchback came, picked up the chapati and muttered the words: "The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!" The hunchback proceeded on his way, blissfully unaware of the war raging in the mind of the woman.
Everyday, as the woman placed the chapati on the window sill, she offered a prayer for her son who had gone to a distant place to seek his fortune. For many months, she had no news of him.. She prayed for his safe return. That evening, there was a knock on the door. As she opened it, she was surprised to find her son standing in the doorway. He had grown thin and lean. His garments were tattered and torn. He was hungry, starved and weak. As he saw his mother, he said, "Mom, it's a miracle I'm here. While I was but a mile away, I was so famished that I collapsed. I would have died, but just then an old hunchback passed by. I begged of him for a morsel of food, and he was kind enough to give me a whole chapati. As he gave it to me, he said, "This is what I eat everyday: today, I shall give it to you, for your need is greater than mine!" " As the mother heard those words, her face turned pale.
She leaned against the door for support. She remembered the poisoned chapati that she had made that morning. Had she not burnt it in the fire, it would have been eaten by her own son, and he would have lost his life! It was then that she realized the significance of the words: "The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!" Do good and Don't ever stop doing good, even if it’s not appreciated at that time.
"Everyday this hunchback utters this jingle! What does he mean?" One day, exasperated, she decided to do away with him. "I shall get rid of this hunchback," she said. And what did she do? She added poison to the chapatti she prepared for him! As she was about to keep it on the window sill, her hands trembled. "What is this I am doing?" she said. Immediately, she threw the chapati into the fire, prepared another one and kept it on the window sill. As usual, the hunchback came, picked up the chapati and muttered the words: "The evil you do, remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!" The hunchback proceeded on his way, blissfully unaware of the war raging in the mind of the woman.
Everyday, as the woman placed the chapati on the window sill, she offered a prayer for her son who had gone to a distant place to seek his fortune. For many months, she had no news of him.. She prayed for his safe return. That evening, there was a knock on the door. As she opened it, she was surprised to find her son standing in the doorway. He had grown thin and lean. His garments were tattered and torn. He was hungry, starved and weak. As he saw his mother, he said, "Mom, it's a miracle I'm here. While I was but a mile away, I was so famished that I collapsed. I would have died, but just then an old hunchback passed by. I begged of him for a morsel of food, and he was kind enough to give me a whole chapati. As he gave it to me, he said, "This is what I eat everyday: today, I shall give it to you, for your need is greater than mine!" " As the mother heard those words, her face turned pale.
She leaned against the door for support. She remembered the poisoned chapati that she had made that morning. Had she not burnt it in the fire, it would have been eaten by her own son, and he would have lost his life! It was then that she realized the significance of the words: "The evil you do remains with you: The good you do, comes back to you!" Do good and Don't ever stop doing good, even if it’s not appreciated at that time.
Monday, December 27, 2010
YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW!!! (Writer unknown)
The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before. "No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president.. Now go away."
The woman's smile became even broader.
"Leave me alone," he growled... To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked.
Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone." Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked....
"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"
The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"
"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."
"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything.."
"This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don't blow it."
Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived.
The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?" "This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.
"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business."
Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."
The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"
"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."
"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"
"What business is that of yours?"
"I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company." "Oh.." The woman smiled again... "I thought that might make a difference."
She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a laugh. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"
"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."
"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"
"Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice." The cafeteria manager turned on his heel. "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."
The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said. "That was not my intent... Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."
She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. "Jack, do you remember me?"
Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."
"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry.."
"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry. "I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."
Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."
"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register. I knew then that everything would be all right."
"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.
"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered.."
She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr.... Lyons . He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you."
There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he asked..
"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory.. He led me to you."
Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways..
"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.
"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And.....And thank you for the coffee."
"Have a Wonderful Day. May God Bless You Always and don't forget that when you 'cast your bread upon the waters,' you never know how it will be returned to you."
God is so big He can cover the whole world with his Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart. When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go. Only 1 of 2 things will happen: either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly!
The woman's smile became even broader.
"Leave me alone," he growled... To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked.
Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone." Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked....
"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"
The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"
"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile."
"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything.."
"This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don't blow it."
Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived.
The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this, is this man in trouble?" "This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.
"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business."
Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."
The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?"
"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms."
"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"
"What business is that of yours?"
"I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company." "Oh.." The woman smiled again... "I thought that might make a difference."
She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a laugh. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"
"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty."
"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"
"Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice." The cafeteria manager turned on his heel. "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer."
The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said. "That was not my intent... Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this."
She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently. "Jack, do you remember me?"
Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar."
"I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry.."
"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry. "I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."
Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."
"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register. I knew then that everything would be all right."
"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said.
"I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered.."
She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr.... Lyons . He's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you."
There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he asked..
"Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory.. He led me to you."
Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways..
"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.
"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And.....And thank you for the coffee."
"Have a Wonderful Day. May God Bless You Always and don't forget that when you 'cast your bread upon the waters,' you never know how it will be returned to you."
God is so big He can cover the whole world with his Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart. When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go. Only 1 of 2 things will happen: either He'll catch you when you fall, or He'll teach you how to fly!
Two little boys ....
Two little boys, ages 8 and 10, were excessively mischievous. They were always getting into trouble and their parents knew all about it.
If any mischief occurred in their town, the two boys were probably involved.
The boys' mother heard that a preacher in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys.
The preacher agreed, but he asked to see them individually. So the mother sent the 8 year old first, in the morning, with the older boy to see the preacher in the afternoon.
The preacher, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, 'Do you know where God is, son?'
The boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there wide-eyed with his mouth hanging open.
So the preacher repeated the question in an even sterner tone, 'Where is God?'
Again, the boy made no attempt to answer. The preacher raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed, 'Where is God?'
The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him.
When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, 'What happened?'
The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, 'We are in BIG trouble this time,'
(I just LOVE reading this next line again and again:)
'GOD is missing, and they think we did it!'
If any mischief occurred in their town, the two boys were probably involved.
The boys' mother heard that a preacher in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys.
The preacher agreed, but he asked to see them individually. So the mother sent the 8 year old first, in the morning, with the older boy to see the preacher in the afternoon.
The preacher, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, 'Do you know where God is, son?'
The boy's mouth dropped open, but he made no response, sitting there wide-eyed with his mouth hanging open.
So the preacher repeated the question in an even sterner tone, 'Where is God?'
Again, the boy made no attempt to answer. The preacher raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy's face and bellowed, 'Where is God?'
The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him.
When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, 'What happened?'
The younger brother, gasping for breath, replied, 'We are in BIG trouble this time,'
(I just LOVE reading this next line again and again:)
'GOD is missing, and they think we did it!'
I won over Mr Anger
Today is a happy day because I have grown to be a better person and I realized that I am not a slave to my self and my emotions. I was told that some one have complain about my handling of a task at a meeting which I did not attend. My re-action is that I became upset and my breath pick up speed and my hands became cold and I am filled with anger. I quiet down my self for a while and think of a suitable response.
I could have jumped up and scream or wrote a nasty e-mail to rough up the other person but I choose a compose way and give a professional reply to the complain. After that, I feel good about my self. That person wants to make me angry but I am not responding to it . If I am upset, I fall into his trap and hurt my self but I gave not re-action or not responding to the way , he wants me to re-act , I have won because I did not spend additional moment of my precious time getting upset and giving him the attention he wants.
Coming to think about it, it is something, I have learned from my dharma. By repeating this phrase, ''Getting angry is hurting our self over other people's imperfection". It is true. Why get angry over some one's weakness. It is a waste of time, energy and effort. If that fella is a swine, he is always a swine, no matter what. Whatever we do will not change him and he will remained a swine. There is a chinese saying " We can easily change an empire but we can neverchange a man's character. Old habits die hard.
It is also true that when we are angry, we should not say or do anything unless we have great wisdom and a perfect control of our emotions and self. We should breath deeply and slow down our heart beat and think of the good thing we have. Like I told my daughter before that if we keep looking a the sun, it will burn our eye , so why look at the sun. It is better to see beauftiful things or more pleasant things around us. It is all our choice and it is within us.
In my previous articles, I have been repeating the same mantra and through repitition , it will stays in my head and will replay when the occasion arises. My adopted Guru said that chanting is a repeating a vow and the more times we repeat it, the deeper it will sink within us and eventually will change our thoughts. This method have been practice thousands of years and it can still holds water today, so it must be something.
The Great Compassion arise in me to pardon whoever is doing wrong to me. He will face his doing one day. Lets wait and see.
Namaste.
I could have jumped up and scream or wrote a nasty e-mail to rough up the other person but I choose a compose way and give a professional reply to the complain. After that, I feel good about my self. That person wants to make me angry but I am not responding to it . If I am upset, I fall into his trap and hurt my self but I gave not re-action or not responding to the way , he wants me to re-act , I have won because I did not spend additional moment of my precious time getting upset and giving him the attention he wants.
Coming to think about it, it is something, I have learned from my dharma. By repeating this phrase, ''Getting angry is hurting our self over other people's imperfection". It is true. Why get angry over some one's weakness. It is a waste of time, energy and effort. If that fella is a swine, he is always a swine, no matter what. Whatever we do will not change him and he will remained a swine. There is a chinese saying " We can easily change an empire but we can neverchange a man's character. Old habits die hard.
It is also true that when we are angry, we should not say or do anything unless we have great wisdom and a perfect control of our emotions and self. We should breath deeply and slow down our heart beat and think of the good thing we have. Like I told my daughter before that if we keep looking a the sun, it will burn our eye , so why look at the sun. It is better to see beauftiful things or more pleasant things around us. It is all our choice and it is within us.
In my previous articles, I have been repeating the same mantra and through repitition , it will stays in my head and will replay when the occasion arises. My adopted Guru said that chanting is a repeating a vow and the more times we repeat it, the deeper it will sink within us and eventually will change our thoughts. This method have been practice thousands of years and it can still holds water today, so it must be something.
The Great Compassion arise in me to pardon whoever is doing wrong to me. He will face his doing one day. Lets wait and see.
Namaste.
We are, what we have got
We are what we are. Less but not more. How can we be more than what we have unless we continue to learn and improve our self but we can be less. We aren"t getting smarter by nature.
This phrase is very real and true. Our intelligence is in-born or acquired through life and studies. We build a world of our own and reeling round it umpteen times and gaining knowledge through the experiences and encounters. So, the depth of our knowledge determines our thought which dictates our life.
In one US case study, it is discovered that a person"s character and speech is defined by the words in our vocabulary. If we have more positive words in our knowledge, we will act and behave positively. If we have more negative words in his vocabulary, we will be influenced by negative thoughts and act negatively. It is also found that if a person increase their vocabulary in either direction, the person will undergo a change in his character and attitude. Words like happiness, good compassion, love and kindness will determine a person's speech and action. This improvement works in the sub conscious mind and influence the outcome of an action.
So, there is a saying " birds of the same feather flock together" or "wise man thinks a like and fools seldom differ". If we check out a pack of youngsters who cling together, it is not a surprise that they shared the same vocabulary , body language, the same chemistry and same taste of the food. These similarities bring them together as a team.
If we change the people we are associating with , our language will also change. If a negative person is put in a team of positive thinkers that person will be influenced by the pack and will gradually improve his attitude from negative to positive. If we carry out a test on him after a period of time, we will find that his language will also become more positive. It is through the daily conversation that the negative person will improve his vocabulary's database and will speak more positively.
There is no such thing as miracle where we are more than what we got. Again, what we have is in-born, through experience and taught by self effort and observation. One plus one is equal to two and it cannot be more than two unless we expand our knowledge by increasing either the front or back number or both but we can be less by using less of our intelligence. These are the smart ones who is cleverer than they look.
Namaste
This phrase is very real and true. Our intelligence is in-born or acquired through life and studies. We build a world of our own and reeling round it umpteen times and gaining knowledge through the experiences and encounters. So, the depth of our knowledge determines our thought which dictates our life.
In one US case study, it is discovered that a person"s character and speech is defined by the words in our vocabulary. If we have more positive words in our knowledge, we will act and behave positively. If we have more negative words in his vocabulary, we will be influenced by negative thoughts and act negatively. It is also found that if a person increase their vocabulary in either direction, the person will undergo a change in his character and attitude. Words like happiness, good compassion, love and kindness will determine a person's speech and action. This improvement works in the sub conscious mind and influence the outcome of an action.
So, there is a saying " birds of the same feather flock together" or "wise man thinks a like and fools seldom differ". If we check out a pack of youngsters who cling together, it is not a surprise that they shared the same vocabulary , body language, the same chemistry and same taste of the food. These similarities bring them together as a team.
If we change the people we are associating with , our language will also change. If a negative person is put in a team of positive thinkers that person will be influenced by the pack and will gradually improve his attitude from negative to positive. If we carry out a test on him after a period of time, we will find that his language will also become more positive. It is through the daily conversation that the negative person will improve his vocabulary's database and will speak more positively.
There is no such thing as miracle where we are more than what we got. Again, what we have is in-born, through experience and taught by self effort and observation. One plus one is equal to two and it cannot be more than two unless we expand our knowledge by increasing either the front or back number or both but we can be less by using less of our intelligence. These are the smart ones who is cleverer than they look.
Namaste
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Travel out or within
Nothing is absolute. Everytihing have its pro or cons depending on our wisdom path. When we are young we want to look far and wide. We want to see the world and to seek for an answer out there
Keeping our self busy by walking around and mixing with our friends admiring the beautiful scenery and indulging our self in local delicacies is a happy and blissful thing.Time will pass very fast. It is a walking mantra if we are aware of our actions and the surrounding. expressing our thoughts and writing is also one form of mantra. When we are young we have alot
of energy and we can move around to do different form of mantra.
It is often thar we choose far away places to visit and we appreciate its beauty. Going far away places is an achievement to some. It is an inherent belief that by jumping higher or running faster indicates our ability and power. This is the work of our establishment, advertisement and past learnings. Very often we don't visit places of interest in our country but we have been to other places all over the world. Our visit is focus to look out and it is logical to see far and wide.
Similarly, we don't spend enough time in our home but most of the time in shopping malls or friends' house. We admire our friend's house more than our own house and more than our friends'aapreciation often than their own house. It is an irony.
If we bring this awareness to our self,we will realized that we know other people more than ourself. We can see the fault in others amd not in ourself. If we re-focus our sight inwards and travel in with ourself,we will have more realization of ourself. We will be able to see our fault and strenght. This realization will make us a better person.
We will incurred a hefty sum travelling the outside world but we need only discipline and awareness to travel within. with a better insight of one self,we would beable to aapreciate what we see on the outside. It is with a clearer vision and awareness. The means to travel within is through meditation. There are many forms but for one purpose, the realization of one self. So, think about it and start exploring the way.
Namaste.
Keeping our self busy by walking around and mixing with our friends admiring the beautiful scenery and indulging our self in local delicacies is a happy and blissful thing.Time will pass very fast. It is a walking mantra if we are aware of our actions and the surrounding. expressing our thoughts and writing is also one form of mantra. When we are young we have alot
of energy and we can move around to do different form of mantra.
It is often thar we choose far away places to visit and we appreciate its beauty. Going far away places is an achievement to some. It is an inherent belief that by jumping higher or running faster indicates our ability and power. This is the work of our establishment, advertisement and past learnings. Very often we don't visit places of interest in our country but we have been to other places all over the world. Our visit is focus to look out and it is logical to see far and wide.
Similarly, we don't spend enough time in our home but most of the time in shopping malls or friends' house. We admire our friend's house more than our own house and more than our friends'aapreciation often than their own house. It is an irony.
If we bring this awareness to our self,we will realized that we know other people more than ourself. We can see the fault in others amd not in ourself. If we re-focus our sight inwards and travel in with ourself,we will have more realization of ourself. We will be able to see our fault and strenght. This realization will make us a better person.
We will incurred a hefty sum travelling the outside world but we need only discipline and awareness to travel within. with a better insight of one self,we would beable to aapreciate what we see on the outside. It is with a clearer vision and awareness. The means to travel within is through meditation. There are many forms but for one purpose, the realization of one self. So, think about it and start exploring the way.
Namaste.
Real or fake,which is which.
Last night, I watch an episode of criminal mind and there is an interesting saying at the end of the episode ; we are wearing a mask most of the time and if we wear it long enough, when we take off the mask, the skin on our face will come out with it. In simple terms, if we pretend to be who we are not, this faking will change part of us if you decide to be the real you.
In Buddhism, what we see is not the real thing and if we shift our angle to watch the same thing, its shape and image changes as we shift our focus. It is not funny because to see a real thing we should observe all the angles carefully and be aware of this wisdom. This thought reminds me of a story of 4 blind man trying to describe an elephant. Each blind man was asked to hold and feel part of an elephant and after that , each is requested to describe what is an elephant. The one touching the trunk describe the elephant describe the elephant as a trunk and one touching the leg, describe the leg and one touching the tail , describe the elephant as a tail and one touching the head , describe the head as an elephant. So, we have four different people describing the elephant from four angles. There are a lot of fakers and we have to observe for a long time before we spot one.
In this world, there are alot of fakers and we have to be careful and not to be trusting. People change and behave according to the situation, timing , place and people. One moment, one can be passionate and loving and another moment, the whole expression can change immediately. During an encounter, some people change their opinion and their stand if we infringe into their area or welfare or it threatens their survival. Of course, not everybody is like that and there are really true people who behave and act as the real them.
To be truly oneself , it can be hurting to the people around us because we have to be frank and direct and if we add abit of tact in our speech to soften the impact, it is like faking or Hippocratic. The softer our tone to add cosmetic to our action, it is like adjusting the tone of our faking. If we are angry, we should show our anger and if we disagree, we should maintain our stand. Hence, based on our body condition, we have to express our true feeling at any moment of the time. If we look deeply, our frank expression can make us look like a stubborn bastard. Hence, we have to manage our feeling to a stable level so that we can express our thoughts as true as possible reflecting our emotions at a point of time.
It is a difficult thing to do. If we express our frank thoughts when we are angry, it is hurting and if we adjust our tone to move away from our true feeling , it is faking. So, to be true to our self , we have to manage our feelings to a stable level and then, we can be true to our self without hurting other people.
Life is difficult and to act as a true you , we need to manage feelings to be our true self.
Namaste.
In Buddhism, what we see is not the real thing and if we shift our angle to watch the same thing, its shape and image changes as we shift our focus. It is not funny because to see a real thing we should observe all the angles carefully and be aware of this wisdom. This thought reminds me of a story of 4 blind man trying to describe an elephant. Each blind man was asked to hold and feel part of an elephant and after that , each is requested to describe what is an elephant. The one touching the trunk describe the elephant describe the elephant as a trunk and one touching the leg, describe the leg and one touching the tail , describe the elephant as a tail and one touching the head , describe the head as an elephant. So, we have four different people describing the elephant from four angles. There are a lot of fakers and we have to observe for a long time before we spot one.
In this world, there are alot of fakers and we have to be careful and not to be trusting. People change and behave according to the situation, timing , place and people. One moment, one can be passionate and loving and another moment, the whole expression can change immediately. During an encounter, some people change their opinion and their stand if we infringe into their area or welfare or it threatens their survival. Of course, not everybody is like that and there are really true people who behave and act as the real them.
To be truly oneself , it can be hurting to the people around us because we have to be frank and direct and if we add abit of tact in our speech to soften the impact, it is like faking or Hippocratic. The softer our tone to add cosmetic to our action, it is like adjusting the tone of our faking. If we are angry, we should show our anger and if we disagree, we should maintain our stand. Hence, based on our body condition, we have to express our true feeling at any moment of the time. If we look deeply, our frank expression can make us look like a stubborn bastard. Hence, we have to manage our feeling to a stable level so that we can express our thoughts as true as possible reflecting our emotions at a point of time.
It is a difficult thing to do. If we express our frank thoughts when we are angry, it is hurting and if we adjust our tone to move away from our true feeling , it is faking. So, to be true to our self , we have to manage our feelings to a stable level and then, we can be true to our self without hurting other people.
Life is difficult and to act as a true you , we need to manage feelings to be our true self.
Namaste.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Marriage is make in Heaven.
Is this true? Probably. People who live far away from each other , come together , know each other and get married. some is love at first sight and for some it is so near and yet so far . never got hitched. In yoga and buddhism, it is karma and the people we love and in our family have previous link in our past life, either as a husband and wife or some family members or relatives. A debt or a merit to be repaid. Funny but it can be easily understood.
As I mentioned earlier on, some is love at first sight and some never get hitched and some carry on a relationship for 10 years and finally get hitched. Lets talk about those people who have close relationship and never get married or finally tie the knot. Why don't they have the courage to do the rightful thing or the unrightful thing.
If you have a relationship for a long period of time, you should have known your partner very well or not so well which make you hasitate to take the next step. Then what push you to the edge and make you jump. The sudden realization that it is too long, getting too old, a fraid of being lonely or pressure from your parents. There could be several reasons and you have to search for it within yourself. This type of relationship is already matured nad it could blissful and last long for the right reasons but it can be stagnant and remain tasteless. Again, it is within oneself to determine the outcome if one is patient , tolerance and understanding. To stay in honeymoon years takes two partner to clap. Normally, these type of people is very cautious and conservative and do not believe in casual affairs.
Nevertheless, those people who love at first sight is passionate and carefree. Probably, they believe in one night stands and testing affairs. They come and stay if it works and get up to go if it does not work. The hunter attitude. There is so many possibilities and outcome and life is like that evolving all the time and challenging one's self at each moment and happenings.
This thought is dedicated to my friend who is getting married soon after a 10 years courtship and to my friends who have never get hitched. Marriage is make in Heaven and for some it is never mend to be or for some the time is not ripe yet. No matter what, live as though tomorrow never come.
Namaste.
As I mentioned earlier on, some is love at first sight and some never get hitched and some carry on a relationship for 10 years and finally get hitched. Lets talk about those people who have close relationship and never get married or finally tie the knot. Why don't they have the courage to do the rightful thing or the unrightful thing.
If you have a relationship for a long period of time, you should have known your partner very well or not so well which make you hasitate to take the next step. Then what push you to the edge and make you jump. The sudden realization that it is too long, getting too old, a fraid of being lonely or pressure from your parents. There could be several reasons and you have to search for it within yourself. This type of relationship is already matured nad it could blissful and last long for the right reasons but it can be stagnant and remain tasteless. Again, it is within oneself to determine the outcome if one is patient , tolerance and understanding. To stay in honeymoon years takes two partner to clap. Normally, these type of people is very cautious and conservative and do not believe in casual affairs.
Nevertheless, those people who love at first sight is passionate and carefree. Probably, they believe in one night stands and testing affairs. They come and stay if it works and get up to go if it does not work. The hunter attitude. There is so many possibilities and outcome and life is like that evolving all the time and challenging one's self at each moment and happenings.
This thought is dedicated to my friend who is getting married soon after a 10 years courtship and to my friends who have never get hitched. Marriage is make in Heaven and for some it is never mend to be or for some the time is not ripe yet. No matter what, live as though tomorrow never come.
Namaste.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Those were the days .....
Those were the days , when I was care free and innocent. I catch spiders, play marbles, spin the top, fly the kite and have fist fights. I eat anything from fatty pork to pig brain and lizard meat. I have no worries as if I will live forever , doing all the things I love to do. My mum nag and cane me but each time, I go back to that naughty and care free days. I hit the can as if I am playing on the drums and I sing as if I am the Beatles. I climb the jambul and coconut trees like the monkey and build my tent under the bush and I hide under the bed and cover myself with the blanket. I run and jump here and there and get cuts , burns and bruises but i recovered. Never I could sit still and watch things go by without touching and shouting at it.
After 50 years, most of my upper tooth is gone and I cannot eat hard things , my cholesterol is high and my blood pressure is unstable. I need to watch my weight and need to control my sugar level. I have to do Yoga and Tai Chi to maintain my health and after work, I am already tired and need to have an early rest to be fresh for tomorrow. I live in a routine and do not have enough time for myself. I am no longer care free and innocent. Always struggling with my thoughts and longing for more time to myself.
This is the irony. Changing from a care free person to a struggling old man. Living in a more and more difficult life and searching for the proper dharma to be contented and to search for the bliss which come easy to me as a young boy, I was carefree and innocent. It took me a 50 years circle to search for the things I have once.
Those were the days and don't you think that life is a joke.
Namaste
After 50 years, most of my upper tooth is gone and I cannot eat hard things , my cholesterol is high and my blood pressure is unstable. I need to watch my weight and need to control my sugar level. I have to do Yoga and Tai Chi to maintain my health and after work, I am already tired and need to have an early rest to be fresh for tomorrow. I live in a routine and do not have enough time for myself. I am no longer care free and innocent. Always struggling with my thoughts and longing for more time to myself.
This is the irony. Changing from a care free person to a struggling old man. Living in a more and more difficult life and searching for the proper dharma to be contented and to search for the bliss which come easy to me as a young boy, I was carefree and innocent. It took me a 50 years circle to search for the things I have once.
Those were the days and don't you think that life is a joke.
Namaste
Sunday, December 19, 2010
As time goes by..
The memory of my mother is still fresh in my mind. Before, she passed away, she likes to sit on the swing outside her house and looking in. I will see her on the swing when I went home of dinner and I will sit with her on the swing and chat for a short while before I take my dinner. This routine goes on a year before she passed on. Later, I was told that most old people have this habit of sitting infront of their house and watch time goes by. It is the inner feeling of watching outside in and re-live their fond memories.
For some time now, I notice an old man sitting in front of his house watching the traffic and people walking by his house on good clear days, This sight prompt me to think of my late mother. The memory repeatedly prick my memory and give me a sense of helplessness. We cannot control time and it will continue to tick, tick and tick and in no time, we will be in the same stage of the old man. We can see our future in others and we shut of mind to this awareness.
My elder and youngest sister is back to Penang from KL and we used To gather around to talk about "heaven and earth" and we share the feeling that time is moving very fast. Day become week and week become month and month become year. In our life, how many ten years , do we have? All of us agreed that we have to do what we want to do before time run out on us. It is true and obvious time is slipping from our hand as we sit and wonder.
It is said that when we are young, we dream of what had happen and not happen and when we are old, we dream of what have not happen as our memory fail us. Last two days, it is a Friday and we look forward to a good rest in the week end . Now, it is Sunday and our feeling is that we need more rest and beg Master Time not to move too fast and keep us in the fixed moment. This internal fight provLjides no definite answer but to stir up a losing feeling and a feeling of restlessness.
Folks, Master Time wakes for no one and we have to swim with the tide.
Namaste.
For some time now, I notice an old man sitting in front of his house watching the traffic and people walking by his house on good clear days, This sight prompt me to think of my late mother. The memory repeatedly prick my memory and give me a sense of helplessness. We cannot control time and it will continue to tick, tick and tick and in no time, we will be in the same stage of the old man. We can see our future in others and we shut of mind to this awareness.
My elder and youngest sister is back to Penang from KL and we used To gather around to talk about "heaven and earth" and we share the feeling that time is moving very fast. Day become week and week become month and month become year. In our life, how many ten years , do we have? All of us agreed that we have to do what we want to do before time run out on us. It is true and obvious time is slipping from our hand as we sit and wonder.
It is said that when we are young, we dream of what had happen and not happen and when we are old, we dream of what have not happen as our memory fail us. Last two days, it is a Friday and we look forward to a good rest in the week end . Now, it is Sunday and our feeling is that we need more rest and beg Master Time not to move too fast and keep us in the fixed moment. This internal fight provLjides no definite answer but to stir up a losing feeling and a feeling of restlessness.
Folks, Master Time wakes for no one and we have to swim with the tide.
Namaste.
Friday, December 17, 2010
My Singaporean Friend
Last nite, I had a dinner with a friend from Singapore. She is a cancer survivor and she is monitoring it closely. For the best part of her life, she dedicated to her job and loyal to her company for almost 30 years.She is in her mid 50s' and her retiring age is 62 years old. A few more good years before retirement. But, something foolish happen.
Recently, her previous boss was transferred to another company and a new boss took over. He seems to be friendly and a good boss in the initial months but he changed after getting familiar with the organization and business. He start to pick trouble with the old staff and start a 'rejuvenating' exercise to replace the old staff with young staff with higher salary package. This action frustrate many of the old staff and they leave one by one, either on a separation package or voluntarily. My friend is in his pick list.
She told me that when she got the news, she was sleepless for many nights and wonder what she had did wrong to warrant such treatment. All her past contributions was not recognized and her sacrifices was in vain. People can be so unappreciative and cruel and this thoughts persistently revive through her head. She is so dedicated to her job that she remained unmarried which resulted in the cancer problem. This is a hard road and there is an agenda in her boss. It could be his agenda or the instruction from his headquarters. Lack of compassion and love for people.
In a big organization, this is a fact and in certain organization, all employees are paid salary monthly and bonus at the end of the year and this is remuneration and appreciation accorded to each employee and not more. You are paid for your contribution for that year and you start a fresh each year and show your merit progressively. There is no such thing of past contributions and achievements. A clean sheet of paper at the start of each year. This maybe true if the remuneration and benefits is paid according to the achievements but it is rarely the case. Some bosses sees not and hear not or see what he wants and hear what he wants. Sins of presumption.
I asked my friend whether she has enough finances to stay comfortably in her remaining years and she affirmed that and I told her that there is nothing to worry and she should stay healthy and live a happy life ever after. Money is never enough and we have to manage it the best we can so that we live comfortably and well. I told her that health is the most important and living in the present moment , appreciating every little things in life is more meaningful than money in the our bank accounts. We come into this life without nothing and we are going back with nothing. Everything is impermanent and changing.
I hope that she gets the wisdom and understanding . It is no use worrying over something that we cannot control and if we think too much about it, it will only make us suffer mentally and physically and damage our health. The earilier we realize this wisdom, the faster we get the enlightenment to enjoy our life when we are around.
Namaste.
Recently, her previous boss was transferred to another company and a new boss took over. He seems to be friendly and a good boss in the initial months but he changed after getting familiar with the organization and business. He start to pick trouble with the old staff and start a 'rejuvenating' exercise to replace the old staff with young staff with higher salary package. This action frustrate many of the old staff and they leave one by one, either on a separation package or voluntarily. My friend is in his pick list.
She told me that when she got the news, she was sleepless for many nights and wonder what she had did wrong to warrant such treatment. All her past contributions was not recognized and her sacrifices was in vain. People can be so unappreciative and cruel and this thoughts persistently revive through her head. She is so dedicated to her job that she remained unmarried which resulted in the cancer problem. This is a hard road and there is an agenda in her boss. It could be his agenda or the instruction from his headquarters. Lack of compassion and love for people.
In a big organization, this is a fact and in certain organization, all employees are paid salary monthly and bonus at the end of the year and this is remuneration and appreciation accorded to each employee and not more. You are paid for your contribution for that year and you start a fresh each year and show your merit progressively. There is no such thing of past contributions and achievements. A clean sheet of paper at the start of each year. This maybe true if the remuneration and benefits is paid according to the achievements but it is rarely the case. Some bosses sees not and hear not or see what he wants and hear what he wants. Sins of presumption.
I asked my friend whether she has enough finances to stay comfortably in her remaining years and she affirmed that and I told her that there is nothing to worry and she should stay healthy and live a happy life ever after. Money is never enough and we have to manage it the best we can so that we live comfortably and well. I told her that health is the most important and living in the present moment , appreciating every little things in life is more meaningful than money in the our bank accounts. We come into this life without nothing and we are going back with nothing. Everything is impermanent and changing.
I hope that she gets the wisdom and understanding . It is no use worrying over something that we cannot control and if we think too much about it, it will only make us suffer mentally and physically and damage our health. The earilier we realize this wisdom, the faster we get the enlightenment to enjoy our life when we are around.
Namaste.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Sins of presumption
There is a legend of a woman who had a faithful dog. This dog was so faithful that the woman could leave her baby with it and go out to attend other matters. She always returned to find the child soundly asleep with the dog faithfully watching over him..
One day something tragic happened. The woman as usual, left the baby in the"hands" of this faithful dog and went out shopping.. When she returned, shediscovered rather a nasty scene. There was a total
mess. The baby's cot was dismantled and his nappies and clothes torn to shreds with bloodstains all over the bedroom where she had left the child and the dog.
Shocked, the woman wailed as she began looking for the baby. Presently, she saw the faithful dog emerging from the under the bed. It was covered with blood and licking its mouth as it had just finished a delicious meal.
The woman went berserk and assumed that the dog had devoured her baby.
Without much thought she clubbed the dog to death. But as she continued
searching for the "remains" of her child, she beheld another scene.
Close to the bed was the baby who, although lying on bare floor, was safe. And under the bed the carcass of a jackal torn to pieces in what must have been a fierce battle between it and the dog which was now dead.
Then the reality hit the woman who now began to understand what took place in her absence. The dog fought to protect the baby from the ravenous jackal. It was too late for her now to make amends because in her impatience and anger, she had killed the faithful dog. A dog deserving praise and adoration that fought to save the life of her dear beloved child received death in return.
How often have we misjudged people and torn them to shreds with harsh words and even with physical assault before we have had time to evaluate the situation? It is called the sin of presumption. Presuming things are one way without taking the trouble to find out exactly what the situation really is.
A little patience can drastically reduce major lifelong errors.
One day something tragic happened. The woman as usual, left the baby in the"hands" of this faithful dog and went out shopping.. When she returned, shediscovered rather a nasty scene. There was a total
mess. The baby's cot was dismantled and his nappies and clothes torn to shreds with bloodstains all over the bedroom where she had left the child and the dog.
Shocked, the woman wailed as she began looking for the baby. Presently, she saw the faithful dog emerging from the under the bed. It was covered with blood and licking its mouth as it had just finished a delicious meal.
The woman went berserk and assumed that the dog had devoured her baby.
Without much thought she clubbed the dog to death. But as she continued
searching for the "remains" of her child, she beheld another scene.
Close to the bed was the baby who, although lying on bare floor, was safe. And under the bed the carcass of a jackal torn to pieces in what must have been a fierce battle between it and the dog which was now dead.
Then the reality hit the woman who now began to understand what took place in her absence. The dog fought to protect the baby from the ravenous jackal. It was too late for her now to make amends because in her impatience and anger, she had killed the faithful dog. A dog deserving praise and adoration that fought to save the life of her dear beloved child received death in return.
How often have we misjudged people and torn them to shreds with harsh words and even with physical assault before we have had time to evaluate the situation? It is called the sin of presumption. Presuming things are one way without taking the trouble to find out exactly what the situation really is.
A little patience can drastically reduce major lifelong errors.
Priceless lesson
THIS IS PRICELESS.
If you've ever worked for a boss who reacts before getting the facts and thinking things through, you will love this!
Arcelor-Mittal Steel, feeling it was time for a shakeup, hired a new CEO. The new boss was determined to rid the company of all slackers.
On a tour of the facilities, the CEO noticed a guy leaning against a wall. The room was full of workers and he wanted to let them know that he meant business. He asked the guy, "How much money do you make a week?"
A little surprised, the young man looked at him and said, "I make $400 a week. Why?"
The CEO said, "Wait right here." He walked back to his office, came back in two minutes, and handed the guy $1,600 in cash and said, "Here's four weeks' pay. Now GET OUT and don't come back."
Feeling pretty good about himself, the CEO looked around the room and asked, "Does anyone want to tell me what that goof-ball did here?"
From across the room a voice said, "Pizza delivery guy from Domino's."
If you've ever worked for a boss who reacts before getting the facts and thinking things through, you will love this!
Arcelor-Mittal Steel, feeling it was time for a shakeup, hired a new CEO. The new boss was determined to rid the company of all slackers.
On a tour of the facilities, the CEO noticed a guy leaning against a wall. The room was full of workers and he wanted to let them know that he meant business. He asked the guy, "How much money do you make a week?"
A little surprised, the young man looked at him and said, "I make $400 a week. Why?"
The CEO said, "Wait right here." He walked back to his office, came back in two minutes, and handed the guy $1,600 in cash and said, "Here's four weeks' pay. Now GET OUT and don't come back."
Feeling pretty good about himself, the CEO looked around the room and asked, "Does anyone want to tell me what that goof-ball did here?"
From across the room a voice said, "Pizza delivery guy from Domino's."
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Life begin at 60.
1. Never say ‘I am aged': There are three ages, chronological, biological, and psychological. The first is calculated based on our date of birth; the second is determined by the health conditions and the third is how old you feel you are. While we don't have control over the first, we can take care of our health with good diet, exercise and a cheerful attitude. A positive attitude and optimistic thinking can reverse the third age.
2.Health is wealth: If you really love your kith and kin, taking care of your health should be your priority. Thus, you will not be a burden to them. Have an annual health check-up and take the prescribed medicines regularly. Do take health insurance cover.
3.Money is important: Money is essential for meeting the basic necessities of life, keeping good health and earning family respect and security. Don't spend beyond your means even for your children. You have lived for them all through and it is time you enjoyed a harmonious life with your spouse. If your children are grateful and they take care of you, you are blessed. But never take it for granted.
4. Relaxation and recreation: The most relaxing and recreating forces are a healthy religious attitude, good sleep, music and laughter. Have faith in God, learn to sleep well, love good music and see the funny side of life.
5. Time is precious: It is almost like holding a horse's reins. When they are in your hands, you can control them. Imagine that everyday you are born again. Yesterday is a cancelled cheque. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is ready cash — use it profitably. Live this moment.
6. Change is the only permanent thing: We should accept change — it is inevitable. The only way to make sense out of change is to join the dance. Change has brought about many pleasant things. We should be happy that our children are blessed.
7, Enlightened selfishness: All of us are basically selfish. Whatever we do, we expect something in return. We should definitely be grateful to those who stood by us. But our focus should be on the internal satisfaction and happiness we derive by doing good to others, without expecting anything in return.
8. Forget and forgive: Don't be bothered too much about others' mistakes. We are not spiritual enough to show our other cheek when we are slapped in one. But for the sake of our own health and happiness, let us forgive and forget them. Otherwise, we will be only increasing our BP.
9. Everything has a purpose: Take life as it comes. Accept yourself as you are and also accept others for what they are. Everybody is unique and right in his own way.
10. Overcome the fear of death: We all know that one day we have to leave this world. Still we are afraid of death. We think that our spouse and children will be unable to withstand our loss. But the truth is no one is going to die for you; they may be depressed for some time. Time heals everything and they
2.Health is wealth: If you really love your kith and kin, taking care of your health should be your priority. Thus, you will not be a burden to them. Have an annual health check-up and take the prescribed medicines regularly. Do take health insurance cover.
3.Money is important: Money is essential for meeting the basic necessities of life, keeping good health and earning family respect and security. Don't spend beyond your means even for your children. You have lived for them all through and it is time you enjoyed a harmonious life with your spouse. If your children are grateful and they take care of you, you are blessed. But never take it for granted.
4. Relaxation and recreation: The most relaxing and recreating forces are a healthy religious attitude, good sleep, music and laughter. Have faith in God, learn to sleep well, love good music and see the funny side of life.
5. Time is precious: It is almost like holding a horse's reins. When they are in your hands, you can control them. Imagine that everyday you are born again. Yesterday is a cancelled cheque. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is ready cash — use it profitably. Live this moment.
6. Change is the only permanent thing: We should accept change — it is inevitable. The only way to make sense out of change is to join the dance. Change has brought about many pleasant things. We should be happy that our children are blessed.
7, Enlightened selfishness: All of us are basically selfish. Whatever we do, we expect something in return. We should definitely be grateful to those who stood by us. But our focus should be on the internal satisfaction and happiness we derive by doing good to others, without expecting anything in return.
8. Forget and forgive: Don't be bothered too much about others' mistakes. We are not spiritual enough to show our other cheek when we are slapped in one. But for the sake of our own health and happiness, let us forgive and forget them. Otherwise, we will be only increasing our BP.
9. Everything has a purpose: Take life as it comes. Accept yourself as you are and also accept others for what they are. Everybody is unique and right in his own way.
10. Overcome the fear of death: We all know that one day we have to leave this world. Still we are afraid of death. We think that our spouse and children will be unable to withstand our loss. But the truth is no one is going to die for you; they may be depressed for some time. Time heals everything and they
Many people feel unhappy, health-wise and security-wise, after 60 years of age owing to the diminishing importance given to them and their opinion. But it need not be so, if only we understand the basic principles of life and follow them scrupulously. Here are ten mantras to age gracefully and make life after retirement pleasant.
A special lesson for you ( unknown writer)
A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.
Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.
He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. "The young executives were Shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you.
I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one
I choose will be the next CEO."
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.
Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.
Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still
nothing.
By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.
Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however, he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.
Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at
the varietyof plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.
Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story.
The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive Officer!
His name is Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed.
"How could he be the new CEO?" the others said.
Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it,and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.
All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!"
Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.
He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. "The young executives were Shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you.
I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one
I choose will be the next CEO."
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.
Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.
Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still
nothing.
By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.
Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however, he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.
Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at
the varietyof plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.
Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story.
The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive Officer!
His name is Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed.
"How could he be the new CEO?" the others said.
Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it,and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.
All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!"
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Emotion is just a feeling
I read from the newspaper of a boy committing suicide after his girl friend rejected him after a four months' affair and he left behind a message in the FB, talking about his feelings and his failed relationship. It is really a sad thing and this could be his fate. Nothing could be done or he could have make a different choice at the last moment if he controls his emotions or some friends have step in to help at the crucial time.
Emotions is a very powerful force in our life. It changes and evolves every second in different degree and sometimes, we are just a slave to it and dance to its tune. One moment, we can be happy and next moment, we can be sad and upset and burst out uncontrollably and hurt the people around us or the people we love most. Most of the time, we regret after the fact. One single noise, word, sight and wrong taste will swing our mood as our expectation also changes. Our mind will play our past references or experience in our life to influence the emotions and chart its course.
In my previous article, I have mentioned that life is droplets of feelings and it comprises of a recipe of factors like cooking. When we cook a dish, we add in salt , sugar, water, vinegar, vegetable , fish,etc at different degree and when the dish is finished, you can dip your finger into the source and taste it. It gives you a taste. That is feeling, just a taste at that moment of time. If you add in more water, the taste will change and if you add in sugar, it will get sweeter and the taste will change. Anything is add in or adjust, the final result will be different. This is the vital point. The feeling change if you change the recipee. So, imagine you are the cook, you control the recipe and decide the outcome or the final taste.
How do we change the recipe ? If we are able to understand this concept and control our mind to modulate our expectations and our level of contentment, we will be able to control it. This is not easy and it takes a long time to train our mind so that we can control the doses of each recipe and to manage the outcome. For example, if we feel cold, we wear additional clothings and if we are hot, we go under a shade or switch on the air condition, if we are sad, we watch happy movies,etc. In Yoga, we used meditation to silent our mind. We acknowledge the existence of the feeling, watch go by and not doing anything about it. Feelings will change every second according to our mind.
As a final advise, feelings are like droplets into the river. It is a feeling at a time and finally, it will build up as a mighty river. One feeling will not hurt you but if you let the feeling builds up and it will create a mighty river and you will not be able to control it. If you handle the droplets as it arises, it will vanish or its strength will be reduced and you can manage its flow and force.
Have a good day.
Namaste.
Emotions is a very powerful force in our life. It changes and evolves every second in different degree and sometimes, we are just a slave to it and dance to its tune. One moment, we can be happy and next moment, we can be sad and upset and burst out uncontrollably and hurt the people around us or the people we love most. Most of the time, we regret after the fact. One single noise, word, sight and wrong taste will swing our mood as our expectation also changes. Our mind will play our past references or experience in our life to influence the emotions and chart its course.
In my previous article, I have mentioned that life is droplets of feelings and it comprises of a recipe of factors like cooking. When we cook a dish, we add in salt , sugar, water, vinegar, vegetable , fish,etc at different degree and when the dish is finished, you can dip your finger into the source and taste it. It gives you a taste. That is feeling, just a taste at that moment of time. If you add in more water, the taste will change and if you add in sugar, it will get sweeter and the taste will change. Anything is add in or adjust, the final result will be different. This is the vital point. The feeling change if you change the recipee. So, imagine you are the cook, you control the recipe and decide the outcome or the final taste.
How do we change the recipe ? If we are able to understand this concept and control our mind to modulate our expectations and our level of contentment, we will be able to control it. This is not easy and it takes a long time to train our mind so that we can control the doses of each recipe and to manage the outcome. For example, if we feel cold, we wear additional clothings and if we are hot, we go under a shade or switch on the air condition, if we are sad, we watch happy movies,etc. In Yoga, we used meditation to silent our mind. We acknowledge the existence of the feeling, watch go by and not doing anything about it. Feelings will change every second according to our mind.
As a final advise, feelings are like droplets into the river. It is a feeling at a time and finally, it will build up as a mighty river. One feeling will not hurt you but if you let the feeling builds up and it will create a mighty river and you will not be able to control it. If you handle the droplets as it arises, it will vanish or its strength will be reduced and you can manage its flow and force.
Have a good day.
Namaste.
Friday, December 10, 2010
A search for excellence
It is actually a catchy tune and it has remained in my head and pricking it all the time for me to express this message. If you are able to read, you should read and if you have the ability to write, you should write. If you do not use this gift, it is a sin as there are millions who do not have the chance to read and to write. Writing compliments reading and reading inspire writing. It is a perfect formula.
It has been found that human being used as less as 3% of their brain and for some intelligent ones, they could reach 5% and if you use 10% of your brain, you will be among the top few in the world. If you are able to maximize and use 100% , you will be a super human being and will be god-like. It is believe that human being is created in the image of GOD but with a lesser brain power. It is full of fun as people have different level of intelligence and preference , otherwise, we will be GOD among "GODs". It will be very boring and make existence meaningless. It is not a perfect world and we are among imperfect beings and this is a fact that we have to accept.
Side track a bit, when we talk about GOD and where about is GOD, we point our finger towards the sky. But, Guru Maharaji said that GOD is within us and he points towards the heart. So, GOD is the Almighty sitting up high in the sky or it is within us. My belief is that it is within us and the quest for "GODness" is inwards and we have to search from within.
By reading, researching and meditating , we will build up our brain power and try to increase the percentage of self realization and awareness. If we move up the rank of intelligence, we will see more clearly and vividly and we will realized the purpose of living and how to manage its existence. I believe this is what happen to Buddha. He search for wisdom after he had seen so much suffering in his world , he sort out teachers and he seek ways to increase his intelligence and realization. Finally, he found the way to realize himself and achieved enlightenment.
There are so many good speakers and Gurus around and some are born with the gift and some are born with a quest to seek and realize. Is it better to live dumb or live intelligently or in the middle. This is a patch for every individual to choose. Probably, ignorance is bliss but for some, the quest for realization is bliss. Nothing is absolutely right. One man's poison is another man's meat. So, live well and take responsibility for the patch you have chosen.
Namaste.
It has been found that human being used as less as 3% of their brain and for some intelligent ones, they could reach 5% and if you use 10% of your brain, you will be among the top few in the world. If you are able to maximize and use 100% , you will be a super human being and will be god-like. It is believe that human being is created in the image of GOD but with a lesser brain power. It is full of fun as people have different level of intelligence and preference , otherwise, we will be GOD among "GODs". It will be very boring and make existence meaningless. It is not a perfect world and we are among imperfect beings and this is a fact that we have to accept.
Side track a bit, when we talk about GOD and where about is GOD, we point our finger towards the sky. But, Guru Maharaji said that GOD is within us and he points towards the heart. So, GOD is the Almighty sitting up high in the sky or it is within us. My belief is that it is within us and the quest for "GODness" is inwards and we have to search from within.
By reading, researching and meditating , we will build up our brain power and try to increase the percentage of self realization and awareness. If we move up the rank of intelligence, we will see more clearly and vividly and we will realized the purpose of living and how to manage its existence. I believe this is what happen to Buddha. He search for wisdom after he had seen so much suffering in his world , he sort out teachers and he seek ways to increase his intelligence and realization. Finally, he found the way to realize himself and achieved enlightenment.
There are so many good speakers and Gurus around and some are born with the gift and some are born with a quest to seek and realize. Is it better to live dumb or live intelligently or in the middle. This is a patch for every individual to choose. Probably, ignorance is bliss but for some, the quest for realization is bliss. Nothing is absolutely right. One man's poison is another man's meat. So, live well and take responsibility for the patch you have chosen.
Namaste.
Everything is energy - shapeless and formless
Last nite, I heard a talk by Chopra and he said that every thing is energy. Practically, everything on earth, that is, including the Mother Earth. Today, I was told by boss, that everything is energy. This is quite difficult to understand. Energy is shapeless and formless and yet, those tangible things is also energy.
The basic concept is that all the atoms and protons are adhere together with a life force and that life force is energy. If you take away the energy, all the atoms will fall apart and it will back to the shapeless and formless status. The same thing is true for human beings or animals, if the life force is gone, it will be ashes to ashes and dust to dust. This is very real and true. When we die, the life force or energy leave our body and we dis-integrate by rotting and if we are cremated, it will be left with only dust and ashes.
In Buddhism, the energy or life force returns to its core and re-generate on re-birth. It is so plain and simple and yet, we live with so much expectations , constraints and emotions. It is from lifeless to life and back to lifeless, just like a passenger jumping into a train from one destination to another destination. The short passage from one station to another station is our life period during the journey. Plain and simple.
My adopted Guru, Ajahn Brahm said that life is like entering a stadium for a live concert and you enjoy yourself thoroughly and when it ends, you left the station and you have actually complete your life. If you adopt this philosophy, you will achieve contentment, peace and eternal bliss.
Well, remember life is only make up of energy which is shapeless and formless. You are here only temporary and you can be gone anytime. So enjoy your weekend and this is another TGF.
Namaste.
The basic concept is that all the atoms and protons are adhere together with a life force and that life force is energy. If you take away the energy, all the atoms will fall apart and it will back to the shapeless and formless status. The same thing is true for human beings or animals, if the life force is gone, it will be ashes to ashes and dust to dust. This is very real and true. When we die, the life force or energy leave our body and we dis-integrate by rotting and if we are cremated, it will be left with only dust and ashes.
In Buddhism, the energy or life force returns to its core and re-generate on re-birth. It is so plain and simple and yet, we live with so much expectations , constraints and emotions. It is from lifeless to life and back to lifeless, just like a passenger jumping into a train from one destination to another destination. The short passage from one station to another station is our life period during the journey. Plain and simple.
My adopted Guru, Ajahn Brahm said that life is like entering a stadium for a live concert and you enjoy yourself thoroughly and when it ends, you left the station and you have actually complete your life. If you adopt this philosophy, you will achieve contentment, peace and eternal bliss.
Well, remember life is only make up of energy which is shapeless and formless. You are here only temporary and you can be gone anytime. So enjoy your weekend and this is another TGF.
Namaste.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Its now or never
Yes, this is the title of a song by Elvis Presley, The King. But, I am not talking about love and romance. I would like to talk about life.
Yesterday, I heard a talk about " Inner Journey" by Maharaji and he emphasized the importance of NOW. For every second, there is a feeling and the feeling is a recipe of sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. The varying combination of these factors will influenced the feelings. A varying sound, a different degree of hot and cold, sweet and salty, changing colors ,etc will cumulate into a feeling. So, if we can control the recipe, we control the outcome which is the feeling.
Last week, my BIL James came back from Bangkok and he looks better after the chemo treatment. It was a welcoming sight and he will be back for a longer stay , the next time around. On Sunday, we had a family dinner. On the next table, there was another family having dinner and two older folks on that table came into the restaurant using a wheel chair each and the lady was hook onto a oxygen tube. They look fragile and old but they were enjoying their dinner as usual. I believe these two old folk must be strong minded and wise people who have learned to live for the moment instead of waiting for an end to their life. Like what Ajahn Brahm have said " we can be sick in the body but we need not be sick in the mind too". These are two different things and we should be able to understand this logic and not to link them together.
Looking at the fragility of our life, we should not look too far and lost sight of the present. Planning for the future is good but living for the day is more important. Whatever, we plan for the future is only a dream and what we have is only now.
Yes, I am getting sentimental and soft as age is catching up. I have to search for solace in the Dharma and wisdom of the Dharma. Death is not scary if we know where we are going. If we do not have this belief , then ignorance is a bliss.
Namaste.
Yesterday, I heard a talk about " Inner Journey" by Maharaji and he emphasized the importance of NOW. For every second, there is a feeling and the feeling is a recipe of sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. The varying combination of these factors will influenced the feelings. A varying sound, a different degree of hot and cold, sweet and salty, changing colors ,etc will cumulate into a feeling. So, if we can control the recipe, we control the outcome which is the feeling.
Last week, my BIL James came back from Bangkok and he looks better after the chemo treatment. It was a welcoming sight and he will be back for a longer stay , the next time around. On Sunday, we had a family dinner. On the next table, there was another family having dinner and two older folks on that table came into the restaurant using a wheel chair each and the lady was hook onto a oxygen tube. They look fragile and old but they were enjoying their dinner as usual. I believe these two old folk must be strong minded and wise people who have learned to live for the moment instead of waiting for an end to their life. Like what Ajahn Brahm have said " we can be sick in the body but we need not be sick in the mind too". These are two different things and we should be able to understand this logic and not to link them together.
Looking at the fragility of our life, we should not look too far and lost sight of the present. Planning for the future is good but living for the day is more important. Whatever, we plan for the future is only a dream and what we have is only now.
Yes, I am getting sentimental and soft as age is catching up. I have to search for solace in the Dharma and wisdom of the Dharma. Death is not scary if we know where we are going. If we do not have this belief , then ignorance is a bliss.
Namaste.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Making a mountain out of a mole hill
This is a phrase use to describe an act which magnify many folds a small problem into a very big problem. A mole hill is a small ant hill which is less than a foot high. There are a lot of such people in this world who use this tactic to project themselves or achievements and the purpose is to glorify themselves. It is just like lifting a spoon with a bulldozer but in the reverse ie lifting the bulldozer with a spoon. Ridiculous acts but a lot of people is easily fooled.
There is a Chinese saying : Make a big problem into a smaller problem and make small problems as no problem. In this way, all of us will live in peace and concentrate on other major problems if any. The talk of lifting a bull dozer by a spoon act is wasting of effort, energy and timeless. It is senseless but it is a tool to makes one look great in the eyes of others. Often, this type of advertising is appreciated by those not in the know.
We should not encourage such acts and should check the facts and refrain from been just plain believers. A second opinion will often bring down the screen or curtain to reveal the real facts or the seriousness of a problem.
There is an analogy which is worth reading. In some religion, we believe that by buying little birds and letting them free will cleanse us off our sins. The funny thing is that this will encourage people to set up a business by catching little birds if not, the same birds and sell it as a business. The more we perform the ritual, the bigger will be the business and this will bring more sufferings to these little birds.
The same logic applies to appreciating this bull shitting act of building a mountain out of a mole hill. The we believe and appreciate this act blindly, this will facilitate the growth of this incredible culture.
Open our eyes , check the facts and give merits when merits is due. Only then, will meritocracy survive.
Namaste.
There is a Chinese saying : Make a big problem into a smaller problem and make small problems as no problem. In this way, all of us will live in peace and concentrate on other major problems if any. The talk of lifting a bull dozer by a spoon act is wasting of effort, energy and timeless. It is senseless but it is a tool to makes one look great in the eyes of others. Often, this type of advertising is appreciated by those not in the know.
We should not encourage such acts and should check the facts and refrain from been just plain believers. A second opinion will often bring down the screen or curtain to reveal the real facts or the seriousness of a problem.
There is an analogy which is worth reading. In some religion, we believe that by buying little birds and letting them free will cleanse us off our sins. The funny thing is that this will encourage people to set up a business by catching little birds if not, the same birds and sell it as a business. The more we perform the ritual, the bigger will be the business and this will bring more sufferings to these little birds.
The same logic applies to appreciating this bull shitting act of building a mountain out of a mole hill. The we believe and appreciate this act blindly, this will facilitate the growth of this incredible culture.
Open our eyes , check the facts and give merits when merits is due. Only then, will meritocracy survive.
Namaste.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Who are our real friends:?
When I talk about bullshits, I remember another analogy which is involved with the same stuff. It talks about the real intention behind an act. Some of us called it fakers when the act is with ill intentions or in the legal terms, mala fide.
The story goes like this . A bird was flying through a winter storm and she lost her power and she fell to the ground frozen but still alive. It was freezing and she know that she is near death. A snow fox saw the frozen bird and it dig the bird out of the snow and carry it to a bull. She asked the bull to help the frozen bird and the bull agreed and she shit on the bird. The bird felt a warming sensation and came a life. She sang Celine Dion's song , I am alive and start to thank the bull and the fox. But, before she can fly off, the fox catch and eat it .
People can go to the full extent to help or get other people to help through bull shits when you are in trouble but their final intention is to hurt you or make use of you for their purpose. There is a Buddha nature in everyone of us but at the same time,there are also evil nature in everyone of us.
It is proper to follow a Chinese saying that " if we receive a favor, we will remember it for a thousand years" . But, we do not need to fulfill the evil deeds of another person by sacrificing our self or our creditability and integrity. There should be a limit to repaying a favor and it has to be positive , legal and righteous.
In life, we have to be aware of other people's intention. Some help could be crude , direct and hurting but sincere. Others could be kind, gentle and proper. It is the intention that matters . The form could be different but the substance is more important. Fakers are smooth talkers and good actors and they can project themselves well but with a foxy motive.
Namaste.
The story goes like this . A bird was flying through a winter storm and she lost her power and she fell to the ground frozen but still alive. It was freezing and she know that she is near death. A snow fox saw the frozen bird and it dig the bird out of the snow and carry it to a bull. She asked the bull to help the frozen bird and the bull agreed and she shit on the bird. The bird felt a warming sensation and came a life. She sang Celine Dion's song , I am alive and start to thank the bull and the fox. But, before she can fly off, the fox catch and eat it .
People can go to the full extent to help or get other people to help through bull shits when you are in trouble but their final intention is to hurt you or make use of you for their purpose. There is a Buddha nature in everyone of us but at the same time,there are also evil nature in everyone of us.
It is proper to follow a Chinese saying that " if we receive a favor, we will remember it for a thousand years" . But, we do not need to fulfill the evil deeds of another person by sacrificing our self or our creditability and integrity. There should be a limit to repaying a favor and it has to be positive , legal and righteous.
In life, we have to be aware of other people's intention. Some help could be crude , direct and hurting but sincere. Others could be kind, gentle and proper. It is the intention that matters . The form could be different but the substance is more important. Fakers are smooth talkers and good actors and they can project themselves well but with a foxy motive.
Namaste.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Real stuff vs bull shits
I had a telephone conversation with a friend today and she told me that she has concluded that one of her colleague who is much younger will be her boss one day. She quoted age as the reason for giving up this fight and I told her age is just a number. She is a hard worker and working meticulously but her weakness is that she in not a person who project herself but rather working hard behind the scene. Her colleague is different as he is a smart worker and he spend his time building his relationship with his peers and customers and leaving all the real work to his staff. There are a lot of people who have this weakness and strength.
I remember of an analogy of a turkey. One day, as turkey saw a chicken flying up a tree but he cannot do it because turkey is not supposed to fly. As the turkey was in a dilemma, he met a bull and the bull saw that something was bothering him and he ask the turkey what is the problem. The turkey told the bull of his wish and the bull , smile and said " you just need to eat my shit and you will be able to fly". So, the turkey eat the bull's shit and she fly up to a lower branch. After that, he eat more shit and he was able to fly higher. She got greedy and get a lot more and fly up to the top of the tree. Unfortunately, a hunter walk by and shot it dead and the turkey fell all the way.
This analogy is to tell people that bull shit can bring up up the leader of success but too much of it will kill you. A person who is hard working and also have a good public relationship skill will be able to climb and stay permanently at the top.
I would liked to tell my friend, work on your weakness and turn it into your strength. It is not too late. There is a saying in the Art of War " to know yourself and your enemy will win a thousand battles". Don't just give you, it is not fair as your have put in so much contributions and you should be shining like a rising star.
Believe in yourself that you can change and you will change. Your thought is your life because your life driven by your thoughts. If you think you can, you will fly and believe this is true. Just stand up and be counted and raise your hands if you achieve something and be proud of it. It is logical that you accept the merit and praise which your peers bestow on you.
Namaste.
I remember of an analogy of a turkey. One day, as turkey saw a chicken flying up a tree but he cannot do it because turkey is not supposed to fly. As the turkey was in a dilemma, he met a bull and the bull saw that something was bothering him and he ask the turkey what is the problem. The turkey told the bull of his wish and the bull , smile and said " you just need to eat my shit and you will be able to fly". So, the turkey eat the bull's shit and she fly up to a lower branch. After that, he eat more shit and he was able to fly higher. She got greedy and get a lot more and fly up to the top of the tree. Unfortunately, a hunter walk by and shot it dead and the turkey fell all the way.
This analogy is to tell people that bull shit can bring up up the leader of success but too much of it will kill you. A person who is hard working and also have a good public relationship skill will be able to climb and stay permanently at the top.
I would liked to tell my friend, work on your weakness and turn it into your strength. It is not too late. There is a saying in the Art of War " to know yourself and your enemy will win a thousand battles". Don't just give you, it is not fair as your have put in so much contributions and you should be shining like a rising star.
Believe in yourself that you can change and you will change. Your thought is your life because your life driven by your thoughts. If you think you can, you will fly and believe this is true. Just stand up and be counted and raise your hands if you achieve something and be proud of it. It is logical that you accept the merit and praise which your peers bestow on you.
Namaste.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
The Buddhist path
On my transit flight back from Bangkok, I bump into a former colleague. She has retired about a year ago and she expressed her surprise to see me as we have never in contact with each other since she left the Company, We exchange greetings and update each other on our friends , colleagues and our Company.
She was on her way back from India with a group of 28 people, lead by a Sri Lankan Buddist Monk , who is residing in the US. She told me that it was spiritually very fulfilling as the Monk lead them through the birth place and the foot steps of the Buddha, It was a pity that Buddhism have died in the place of its birth and the missionary jobs have been taken over by the Tibetan , Sri Lankan , Chinese and Thai Buddhist monks.
She also knew my adopted Guru, Ajahn Brahm and she finds him lively, frank and progressive. I shared the same opinion and it was reported that Buddhism is the fastest rising religion in Australia as there are a lot of monastery and highly enlighten monks in Australia. Ajahn Brahm was expel from the Thai monastery as he broke tradition by promoting a female monk in his monastery without consulting his Thai counterparts. This is one of the changes which is needed in today's Buddhism. Everybody is created equal and every person is entitle to their choice of religion and be responsible for their own attainment in enlightenment. There is a good saying " We can provide you the knowledge but we cannot make you learn".
I must admit that a lot of my friends who have slowed down or since retirement have actually gone on such retreat in search of spiritual fulfillment and have gradually entered into the 2nd and 3rd rank of Buddha's life cycle : Birth, old age, sickness and death. When you reach a certain age, this consciousness is getting more vivid and it is a path to the end. But, I must maintain that life is still a journey and not a destination but the facts remain and we have to learn to gradually prepare our self. This may sound passive but it is real. To think or not to think is one's choice and decision. There is never a right or wrong and all of us is responsible for our own actions. Just open and follow your heart and control your mind.
There is a Chinese saying " We can eat at the same table but our path to enlightenment is through our own way".
Namaste
She was on her way back from India with a group of 28 people, lead by a Sri Lankan Buddist Monk , who is residing in the US. She told me that it was spiritually very fulfilling as the Monk lead them through the birth place and the foot steps of the Buddha, It was a pity that Buddhism have died in the place of its birth and the missionary jobs have been taken over by the Tibetan , Sri Lankan , Chinese and Thai Buddhist monks.
She also knew my adopted Guru, Ajahn Brahm and she finds him lively, frank and progressive. I shared the same opinion and it was reported that Buddhism is the fastest rising religion in Australia as there are a lot of monastery and highly enlighten monks in Australia. Ajahn Brahm was expel from the Thai monastery as he broke tradition by promoting a female monk in his monastery without consulting his Thai counterparts. This is one of the changes which is needed in today's Buddhism. Everybody is created equal and every person is entitle to their choice of religion and be responsible for their own attainment in enlightenment. There is a good saying " We can provide you the knowledge but we cannot make you learn".
I must admit that a lot of my friends who have slowed down or since retirement have actually gone on such retreat in search of spiritual fulfillment and have gradually entered into the 2nd and 3rd rank of Buddha's life cycle : Birth, old age, sickness and death. When you reach a certain age, this consciousness is getting more vivid and it is a path to the end. But, I must maintain that life is still a journey and not a destination but the facts remain and we have to learn to gradually prepare our self. This may sound passive but it is real. To think or not to think is one's choice and decision. There is never a right or wrong and all of us is responsible for our own actions. Just open and follow your heart and control your mind.
There is a Chinese saying " We can eat at the same table but our path to enlightenment is through our own way".
Namaste
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Our path in life
In the film, LXD , there was this quote. At birth, our path is set for us, when we grow, we choose our path and most of the time our path change or at times, the path find us. This is a very deep philosophy and our life evolves and will continue to evolves.
We can choose the common path which have been curved out by billions of people, or we can choose a path that is less travelled or we can curve out a new patch for others to follow. Whichever way, the end is the same but the journey there will be different.
I was travelling from Dhaka to Palash on a car. It is like a city road to a country side where the road can only accommodate two vehicles . One from the left and one from the right in different directions. The road is full with buses, trucks , cars , motorbikes and people walking on both sides of the road. Everything is in a rush and most of the time , the vehicles moving in opposite directions would have a 50% chance of getting hit by an opposite vehicle. And this incident happens when a truck hit the side mirror of the vehicle I was travelling in and both drivers just move on as if nothing happens. Life is so cheap and fluid. It could be one day , I am here and the next moment, I will be gone.
You may asked me why. Why I choose this path? One of my expatriate colleague told me that this is my life work and since, I started it , I have to finish it. Yes, am I selfish so that I can leave behind a legacy? Or it is an ego trip? Yeah, I have a choice of comfort and safety.
You may say that I am a fortune hunter and I won't denied that a bit more money does help but I think at this age which passed the normal retirement age. It is more of a challenging spirit and to curve out a path in Bangladesh to lay a route to a new frontier. You may say it is non of my business and other people also can do it. Yes, other people can also do it but I want to do it to fulfill my individual vision in life and have satisfaction in life.
I think there is a frontier spirit in everyone of us but the choice of a routine and comfortable life suppress this desire to venture and to create. Whatever path we have chosen or is chosen for us, whatever is within us will not change. So, float like a butterfly and sting like a bee as we fly through your path in life.
Namaste.
We can choose the common path which have been curved out by billions of people, or we can choose a path that is less travelled or we can curve out a new patch for others to follow. Whichever way, the end is the same but the journey there will be different.
I was travelling from Dhaka to Palash on a car. It is like a city road to a country side where the road can only accommodate two vehicles . One from the left and one from the right in different directions. The road is full with buses, trucks , cars , motorbikes and people walking on both sides of the road. Everything is in a rush and most of the time , the vehicles moving in opposite directions would have a 50% chance of getting hit by an opposite vehicle. And this incident happens when a truck hit the side mirror of the vehicle I was travelling in and both drivers just move on as if nothing happens. Life is so cheap and fluid. It could be one day , I am here and the next moment, I will be gone.
You may asked me why. Why I choose this path? One of my expatriate colleague told me that this is my life work and since, I started it , I have to finish it. Yes, am I selfish so that I can leave behind a legacy? Or it is an ego trip? Yeah, I have a choice of comfort and safety.
You may say that I am a fortune hunter and I won't denied that a bit more money does help but I think at this age which passed the normal retirement age. It is more of a challenging spirit and to curve out a path in Bangladesh to lay a route to a new frontier. You may say it is non of my business and other people also can do it. Yes, other people can also do it but I want to do it to fulfill my individual vision in life and have satisfaction in life.
I think there is a frontier spirit in everyone of us but the choice of a routine and comfortable life suppress this desire to venture and to create. Whatever path we have chosen or is chosen for us, whatever is within us will not change. So, float like a butterfly and sting like a bee as we fly through your path in life.
Namaste.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
There is always a lesson somewhere
Yes, I have said before that we should not judge on another person's action or you shall also be judged. But, I really cannot tolerate as these disgusting acts are just too much.
I was travelling by a local airline from Chittagong to Dhaka and the flight was delayed by one and half hours. While we sit there fuming and trying to calm our self down , there was this couple sitting there waiting together with us. The girl just stuck to the man like a leech, practically graping hold of the man and start to pull small hairs from his face and head and this lasted for the whole waiting period infront of about a 100 people. There were so many Bangladeshi at the airport and their religion is Islam. One look at the man and girl, I know the man is flirting with the woman as he was quite old and she was many years younger. I know I should not judge but it really make me uncomfortable. I over heard the man talking in Cantonese while the women speak in Mandarin. Yes, she is one of those wacky China dolls who have posted and caused many havoc to happy homes. I met a friend in Dhaka and he told me that the China girls are everywhere , trying to catch a big fish irrespective of color, race and religion. Just like devil in disguise.
Another China couple was also very annoying , talking for the whole waiting time at the airport and on the flight from Chittagong to Dhaka. I just wonder why they have so many things to talk. Don't they feel tired and be more aware of their surrounding and respect the people around them. This prompted my colleague with me to concur that the China man and women are loud , rowdy and their splash their money around like no body's business. The more money they have, the louder they will talk. This is really a nuisance and irritating.
These two incidents really push me to the edge and I have to dig into my wisdom to keep a peace of mind and to remain calm to complete the journey. Maybe, there is a lesson in these incidents and tell me that I have a lot to learn.
There was this story of a young monk who cannot meditate because a nearby bell was ringing very loud and he gets irritated and went to see the abbot of the temple. He asked the abbot how he can tolerate the ringing bell. The abbot told him that the choice of selecting what to hear depends entirely on the young monk. We cannot get calm or stillness is because we choose to concentrate on the sound or the ringing bell. We know that standing in the middle of the street will caused us to be knock down by on-coming traffic, do we still want to stand in the middle of the street. If we put our hands near the candle, we will get burn, do we still want to put our hands there to be hurt ? So, it all depends on us to stir our mind or focus to something more pleasant and positive. The two above incidents is a good example. Why should I look at them or try to hear what they say, it only hurt me.
Yes, I believe that there is a lesson in any incidents or happening. We just need to be more aware of this test and the choice of our will.
Namaste.
I was travelling by a local airline from Chittagong to Dhaka and the flight was delayed by one and half hours. While we sit there fuming and trying to calm our self down , there was this couple sitting there waiting together with us. The girl just stuck to the man like a leech, practically graping hold of the man and start to pull small hairs from his face and head and this lasted for the whole waiting period infront of about a 100 people. There were so many Bangladeshi at the airport and their religion is Islam. One look at the man and girl, I know the man is flirting with the woman as he was quite old and she was many years younger. I know I should not judge but it really make me uncomfortable. I over heard the man talking in Cantonese while the women speak in Mandarin. Yes, she is one of those wacky China dolls who have posted and caused many havoc to happy homes. I met a friend in Dhaka and he told me that the China girls are everywhere , trying to catch a big fish irrespective of color, race and religion. Just like devil in disguise.
Another China couple was also very annoying , talking for the whole waiting time at the airport and on the flight from Chittagong to Dhaka. I just wonder why they have so many things to talk. Don't they feel tired and be more aware of their surrounding and respect the people around them. This prompted my colleague with me to concur that the China man and women are loud , rowdy and their splash their money around like no body's business. The more money they have, the louder they will talk. This is really a nuisance and irritating.
These two incidents really push me to the edge and I have to dig into my wisdom to keep a peace of mind and to remain calm to complete the journey. Maybe, there is a lesson in these incidents and tell me that I have a lot to learn.
There was this story of a young monk who cannot meditate because a nearby bell was ringing very loud and he gets irritated and went to see the abbot of the temple. He asked the abbot how he can tolerate the ringing bell. The abbot told him that the choice of selecting what to hear depends entirely on the young monk. We cannot get calm or stillness is because we choose to concentrate on the sound or the ringing bell. We know that standing in the middle of the street will caused us to be knock down by on-coming traffic, do we still want to stand in the middle of the street. If we put our hands near the candle, we will get burn, do we still want to put our hands there to be hurt ? So, it all depends on us to stir our mind or focus to something more pleasant and positive. The two above incidents is a good example. Why should I look at them or try to hear what they say, it only hurt me.
Yes, I believe that there is a lesson in any incidents or happening. We just need to be more aware of this test and the choice of our will.
Namaste.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Wisdom : The choice of re-action
There was a young monk who was begging from house to house.
There came a Rich Person who was super arrogant and egoist.
The Rich Person started giving bad words and abusing the monk for no reasons.
The monk was still cool, calm and composed.
The Rich Person got wilder because he thought that the monk will lose his temper.
So he started to shout more and give more bad words.
Still there was no reaction from the monk.
The Rich Person called him close and then pushed him into the mud.
The monk fell and all his belongings scattered.
But still the monk did not say anything and was very cool.
This perplexed the Rich Person so he called the young monk and asked the secret of the monk's coolness. The monk did not reply directly, but asked the rich man who was sitting on the horse. Sir, whose horse is this?
Rich Person: Mine obviously
Monk: If you give me this horse whose will it become?
Rich Person: I do not want to give you the horse but if I give you the horse it will belong to you.
Monk: Good, you want to give but I do not accept the horse, then whose will it become?
Rich Person: If you do not accept the horse it will be mine, obviously.
Monk: You gave me so many Bad Words, I did not accept any. So all of it is yours!
(Writer: unknown)
In transition
The time in Bangladesh is two hours behind the Malaysian time and I am aware that it is already 12 mid night in my home country but my mind is playing a fool with my consciousness as it is only 10 pm here in Bangla. Shall I sleep or not ? My awareness is fighting with my consciousness. On one side, it is already late and on the other side, it is still early. If I sleep now , I will be up by 5 am local time and it is still early in the morning. So, I want to put my thoughts on my blog.
I have just finished a dinner with my colleagues in Bangla and we also sang a couple of songs at the restaurant's Karaoke Room. The songs we sang were from the 70's and 80's , with songs like born free, bridge over troubled water , dreams ,etc. My feelings were a bit confused as I drift back to my earlier years when I was playing a band. It was a carefree day and my friendship with my band friends was wonderful and we spend a lot of time together. We dis-band after I got married and my band friends just moved on and we seldom catch up with each other.
After a few years after we dis-band, I called up my bassist and asked where are all the other band players especially my rhythm guitarist. He told me to look for him in the underworld as he has moved on. I was taken aback and feel bad that I did not look for him earlier. Well, this is life. We are so caught up in the rat race and to start a family, we just become too focus on our well being that we neglect those friends who have grown up with me and share a music bond with me.
Now in strange land and after re-visiting some of the old songs, my past memories flow back to me and make me think of my band friends and the wonderful time we have together. Why can't we think of them earlier and called them to refresh the friendship before it is too late.
Suddenly, I feel so flimsy and uncertain like flowing through time in a strange land and suspend in transit. My psychical body in here now but my mind is back in the past. This is a mis-match and caused an uncomfortable and uncertain feeling of lost.
Hope that all you readers understand my thoughts and my feelings and learn from my mistake. You do not need to get your self lost in pursuance of your well being and severe ties with your good friends. You can do both and you will feel more fulfilled in the end.
Namaste.
I have just finished a dinner with my colleagues in Bangla and we also sang a couple of songs at the restaurant's Karaoke Room. The songs we sang were from the 70's and 80's , with songs like born free, bridge over troubled water , dreams ,etc. My feelings were a bit confused as I drift back to my earlier years when I was playing a band. It was a carefree day and my friendship with my band friends was wonderful and we spend a lot of time together. We dis-band after I got married and my band friends just moved on and we seldom catch up with each other.
After a few years after we dis-band, I called up my bassist and asked where are all the other band players especially my rhythm guitarist. He told me to look for him in the underworld as he has moved on. I was taken aback and feel bad that I did not look for him earlier. Well, this is life. We are so caught up in the rat race and to start a family, we just become too focus on our well being that we neglect those friends who have grown up with me and share a music bond with me.
Now in strange land and after re-visiting some of the old songs, my past memories flow back to me and make me think of my band friends and the wonderful time we have together. Why can't we think of them earlier and called them to refresh the friendship before it is too late.
Suddenly, I feel so flimsy and uncertain like flowing through time in a strange land and suspend in transit. My psychical body in here now but my mind is back in the past. This is a mis-match and caused an uncomfortable and uncertain feeling of lost.
Hope that all you readers understand my thoughts and my feelings and learn from my mistake. You do not need to get your self lost in pursuance of your well being and severe ties with your good friends. You can do both and you will feel more fulfilled in the end.
Namaste.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Don't cry for me - Bangladesh
I am in Bangladesh now, a land of 160 million people. Formerly, it was part of a united India and then, part of the country break away and form Pakistan and from there, it further dis-integrate into East and West Pakistan. Later, East Pakistan changed its name to Bangladesh.
The country have evolved and is becoming more developed as more and more investors came to invest in the textile industry. The country depends heavily on their garment industry and have been successful sub-contractors for many brand names in the US and Europe. My association with the country dates back more than 20 years ago as my employer exports substantially to this country.
The Government of this country have been changing hands between two iron ladies, Madam Haslina and Madam Kaleda. Their feud has been personal and dates back decades with each claiming personal and family attacks on each other. It is amazing to see how the country moves on with such an check and balance mechanism. Each parties takes turn to purge and discredit each other when each party takes over the government. The army have been impartial and strong in this country to keep the stability. Bangladesh is one of the most corrupted countries in the world. Even with this political problem in the background, the country is growing very fast. The main reason is due to its large population to provide the necessary labor support and its education system is based on the British system and most of the people can speak very good English. United India was once a colony of the Great British Empire and this is one of the good things that the Empire have left behind for the country.
A huge portion of the population of the people earned just enough to survive on a hand to mouth situation. About 20 years ago, the people is so poor that there is a huge pool of beggars everywhere and they will swamp around you when you come out of the airport. Now, you can hardly see beggars around but corruption is rampant.
When we came out of the airport this afternoon, one of the porter rushed to help us to unload our stuff into a trolley and keep telling us that there is no problem. Sir, no problem, he say again to assure us. But, my colleague and myself, smile and say " yes, you have no problem but we have a problem". What we mean is that we will need to give him a tip for this service. It is their habit to dictate the amount of tips they want. My colleague have a wonderful encounter on the same occasion. We were allowed to stay in the waiting area at the airport by an officer due to a national strike going on outside. After the security outside of the airport gets better and on our way out of the airport lounge, my colleague wants to give him a small tip to show our appreciation but he points to a bigger currency note in my colleague's hand. This incident shows the hunger of the people for money, survival and a better life.
During our flight, there was no passenger at the business class area and it is incredible to see those passengers in the economy class going to occupy the business class seats. Such act is not allowed in an international airline. This is Bangladesh whereby rules and regulations are persistently tested and challenged by the local people as if the whole country is like a big family.
Having related all these negative incidents, Bangladesh is definitely growing by leap and bounce as investors keep searching for low cost producing countries to maximize their profits or for survival. The emergence of a strong pool of middle class intellectuals augur well for the country.
Like my local friends said with pride to me :" You will cry twice when you are in Bangladesh. Once is when you come to their country and see the poor people who struggles for their daily survival and the other time is when you leave Bangladesh because you love it too much". Initially, I disagree with this remark and my interpretation was : " yes, I will cry in seeing the poverty in the country and I will cry again when I leave the country because I am so happy to get out and back to civilization". However, this perception is changing as I could see that involving in the change in the country in whatever small or big way is meaningful and self fulfilling,
My humble wish for the best to this country.
Namaste.
The country have evolved and is becoming more developed as more and more investors came to invest in the textile industry. The country depends heavily on their garment industry and have been successful sub-contractors for many brand names in the US and Europe. My association with the country dates back more than 20 years ago as my employer exports substantially to this country.
The Government of this country have been changing hands between two iron ladies, Madam Haslina and Madam Kaleda. Their feud has been personal and dates back decades with each claiming personal and family attacks on each other. It is amazing to see how the country moves on with such an check and balance mechanism. Each parties takes turn to purge and discredit each other when each party takes over the government. The army have been impartial and strong in this country to keep the stability. Bangladesh is one of the most corrupted countries in the world. Even with this political problem in the background, the country is growing very fast. The main reason is due to its large population to provide the necessary labor support and its education system is based on the British system and most of the people can speak very good English. United India was once a colony of the Great British Empire and this is one of the good things that the Empire have left behind for the country.
A huge portion of the population of the people earned just enough to survive on a hand to mouth situation. About 20 years ago, the people is so poor that there is a huge pool of beggars everywhere and they will swamp around you when you come out of the airport. Now, you can hardly see beggars around but corruption is rampant.
When we came out of the airport this afternoon, one of the porter rushed to help us to unload our stuff into a trolley and keep telling us that there is no problem. Sir, no problem, he say again to assure us. But, my colleague and myself, smile and say " yes, you have no problem but we have a problem". What we mean is that we will need to give him a tip for this service. It is their habit to dictate the amount of tips they want. My colleague have a wonderful encounter on the same occasion. We were allowed to stay in the waiting area at the airport by an officer due to a national strike going on outside. After the security outside of the airport gets better and on our way out of the airport lounge, my colleague wants to give him a small tip to show our appreciation but he points to a bigger currency note in my colleague's hand. This incident shows the hunger of the people for money, survival and a better life.
During our flight, there was no passenger at the business class area and it is incredible to see those passengers in the economy class going to occupy the business class seats. Such act is not allowed in an international airline. This is Bangladesh whereby rules and regulations are persistently tested and challenged by the local people as if the whole country is like a big family.
Having related all these negative incidents, Bangladesh is definitely growing by leap and bounce as investors keep searching for low cost producing countries to maximize their profits or for survival. The emergence of a strong pool of middle class intellectuals augur well for the country.
Like my local friends said with pride to me :" You will cry twice when you are in Bangladesh. Once is when you come to their country and see the poor people who struggles for their daily survival and the other time is when you leave Bangladesh because you love it too much". Initially, I disagree with this remark and my interpretation was : " yes, I will cry in seeing the poverty in the country and I will cry again when I leave the country because I am so happy to get out and back to civilization". However, this perception is changing as I could see that involving in the change in the country in whatever small or big way is meaningful and self fulfilling,
My humble wish for the best to this country.
Namaste.
Respect the dead but take care of yourself
Today, I received an SMS from a friend and her name was not listed in my hand phone. The message say that her mum have just passed away peacefully in the morning at 9.30 am. Immediately, I call the number to check out who the sender was and when the voice came over the phone, I recognised her voice and I sent my condolence to her on the demise of her mum. She told me that her mum have no complains about her health and it just happen. It was a shock to her.
My memory also jump back into my past when I received a phone call from my nephew telling me that my eldest brother was in trouble. He was staying with my second sister and she was out marketing. I called my wife to go over to check it out and she asked me to go to my sister's house immediately. I was at work and I took leave and drive to my sister's house. On entering, my nephew was there in the living room and he asked me to go up stairs. Half way up the stairs , I saw my eldest brother lying on the floor, dead. He has suffered a heart attack in the morning. We all know that he is sick and have a bad heart and he was scheduled to go for operation at the General Hospital Heart ward the following month. He never make it to that day. I searched high and low for my second sister and finally, I manage to locate her and she rushed back home to help my sister-in-law to handle his funeral.
This memory also kick start another memory about the death of my mother and my father and subsequently, my uncle and aunties. There a sequence of death due old age or illness. The unpleasantness and discomfort of these memories can affect our mood and our outlook in life.
Like I have mentioned in my earlier article, we cannot escape the cycle of birth-old age-sickness-death as professed in the Buddhist teaching. My adopted Buddhist teacher , Ajahn Brahm have talk about this subject countless times and have given an example that when a strong wind blow in the night, the next morning , there will be a lot of leaves on the ground. Some are old leaves and some are young leaves. All these happenings are pre-destined. It is a matter of : if it is not now , it will be later.
A lot of the wise teachers have asked us to concentrate on the "now" or the present and I would like to advise my friend, SF that tomorrow is never promised and what we have is now. You have to grief but at the same time, you have to let go. What is gone , is gone and you cannot do anything about it but you can make a difference now to your self. Start living and doing the things you want to do and enjoy your life fully. Respect the dead but take care of yourself and be strong.
Namaste.
My memory also jump back into my past when I received a phone call from my nephew telling me that my eldest brother was in trouble. He was staying with my second sister and she was out marketing. I called my wife to go over to check it out and she asked me to go to my sister's house immediately. I was at work and I took leave and drive to my sister's house. On entering, my nephew was there in the living room and he asked me to go up stairs. Half way up the stairs , I saw my eldest brother lying on the floor, dead. He has suffered a heart attack in the morning. We all know that he is sick and have a bad heart and he was scheduled to go for operation at the General Hospital Heart ward the following month. He never make it to that day. I searched high and low for my second sister and finally, I manage to locate her and she rushed back home to help my sister-in-law to handle his funeral.
This memory also kick start another memory about the death of my mother and my father and subsequently, my uncle and aunties. There a sequence of death due old age or illness. The unpleasantness and discomfort of these memories can affect our mood and our outlook in life.
Like I have mentioned in my earlier article, we cannot escape the cycle of birth-old age-sickness-death as professed in the Buddhist teaching. My adopted Buddhist teacher , Ajahn Brahm have talk about this subject countless times and have given an example that when a strong wind blow in the night, the next morning , there will be a lot of leaves on the ground. Some are old leaves and some are young leaves. All these happenings are pre-destined. It is a matter of : if it is not now , it will be later.
A lot of the wise teachers have asked us to concentrate on the "now" or the present and I would like to advise my friend, SF that tomorrow is never promised and what we have is now. You have to grief but at the same time, you have to let go. What is gone , is gone and you cannot do anything about it but you can make a difference now to your self. Start living and doing the things you want to do and enjoy your life fully. Respect the dead but take care of yourself and be strong.
Namaste.
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