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.
Five regrets of the dying ....extracts
FOR many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die.
When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would have done differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:
1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
his was the most common regret of all. When people realize that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it’s easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honored even half of their dreams and knew that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.
2. I wish I didn’t work so hard.
All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many had not been breadwinners.
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
Often patients would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved.
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
Many did not realize until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called “comfort” of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and themselves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again. –
BRONNIE WARE
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Time will solve all problems
I watch the "Millionaire Singer" programme this evening. This is a Taiwanese singing program whereby the singer needs to remember the lyrics of a song before he can proceed to the next round which awards a bigger reward. This program was suppose to be an entertainment slot but for this evening's program was a bit different.
One of the contestant was a duo sister act which was invited to participate in the program. As the Host interviewed both of them, it turns out that both were not real sisters and they have stop singing together for more than 11 years and both hardly talk to each other despite the fact both of them have performed together for more than 6 years and they won some song awards together. It was reviewed that they quarrel because of their families' problem. One of the Singer took out an award which they have won many years ago to give to the other singer and she also present a greeting card to express her feeling and apologized for all the hurts she has caused in the past. Both of them broke down and cried uncontrollably. It was really a touching and inspiring scene.
The above is a lesson. It is our choice to forgive and forget and to reach out to our friends. It does matter who is right or wrong, Open your heart and release all the pent up feelings , let all the hurts go and reach out for your friends. A lot of us have re-acted in the same way and some people choose to keep the hurts in their heart until they die and some waited for years before letting go and reach out again.
However, I feel that " Time will solve all problems" is a very passive action. Like the example above, it took them 11 years to review their feelings . The opportunity was also due to the Host , who have been kind enough to arrange for such re-union of the two singers. Why should we let time control our life and feelings ? The choice to act now or later is ours and it is all within us to decide when we can exercise our options. So, the latest slogan is "do it now" or " just do it". Don't let time be our master.
The art of letting go can be learned through awareness and our understanding of our self. The realization of letting go is within us and don't rely on time to dull our hurting feelings as the power to forgive, forget and move forward is in our hands.
Loving kindness.
One of the contestant was a duo sister act which was invited to participate in the program. As the Host interviewed both of them, it turns out that both were not real sisters and they have stop singing together for more than 11 years and both hardly talk to each other despite the fact both of them have performed together for more than 6 years and they won some song awards together. It was reviewed that they quarrel because of their families' problem. One of the Singer took out an award which they have won many years ago to give to the other singer and she also present a greeting card to express her feeling and apologized for all the hurts she has caused in the past. Both of them broke down and cried uncontrollably. It was really a touching and inspiring scene.
The above is a lesson. It is our choice to forgive and forget and to reach out to our friends. It does matter who is right or wrong, Open your heart and release all the pent up feelings , let all the hurts go and reach out for your friends. A lot of us have re-acted in the same way and some people choose to keep the hurts in their heart until they die and some waited for years before letting go and reach out again.
However, I feel that " Time will solve all problems" is a very passive action. Like the example above, it took them 11 years to review their feelings . The opportunity was also due to the Host , who have been kind enough to arrange for such re-union of the two singers. Why should we let time control our life and feelings ? The choice to act now or later is ours and it is all within us to decide when we can exercise our options. So, the latest slogan is "do it now" or " just do it". Don't let time be our master.
The art of letting go can be learned through awareness and our understanding of our self. The realization of letting go is within us and don't rely on time to dull our hurting feelings as the power to forgive, forget and move forward is in our hands.
Loving kindness.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Life is a big circle (2)
In his enlightenment, Buddha have taught us that the circle of birth - old age-sickness-death cannot be avoided by any being. The length of each existence on this earth is up to each individuals enlightenment.
Billions of people have evolved before us and billions will also evolved after us , the circle will never be broken. Attempts by scientist to find a formula for longevity have never ceased since ancient times. The search to use stem cells , herbs and medicine to cure all illness will continue to progress and it could be a futile exercise.
To have a meaningful life on this earth is not only to live long but also to live meaningfully and with a purpose. Since ancient times, there is a saying that without death, where is life. This meaning is not about evolution or re-birth and if one can live forever without death, then will life become more meaningful. Where is the need to do anything else except to live in routines or in circles. So, it is not a case of " much is good but little is much". Anything in excess is meaningless and a waste.
We have been arguing on this matter of which is more meaningful " eat to live , or live to eat ". Some people live to eat and enjoy themselves but some just prefer simple food to live. This priority varies in different people and their search for a fulfillment.
Another aspect is some people wants a long life but to others, it is not a matter of how long but how well we want to live. Again, this is up to each individual's priority in life. In order to live longer, it is often a need to live within a box or a tight circle, with clean habits, healthy good and discipline life. And for people choosing to live well, they often go out of their box or circle to explore and take the necessary risk in the search of their favorite exercise , food or adventure. This formula may not hold true for some individuals as there are variations.
Nevertheless, the path of life and death will never change. All of us will have our own quest in life and to search of our purpose in this life. Again, doing nothing is doing something and this could mean live within our own box of comfort and live through life in the simplest way. After all, the end is the same for all of us.
This is our individual choice but the self fulfillment and actualization of our dreams will depend on our own spiritual advancement and achievements. So, follow your heart and your mind.
Namaste.
Billions of people have evolved before us and billions will also evolved after us , the circle will never be broken. Attempts by scientist to find a formula for longevity have never ceased since ancient times. The search to use stem cells , herbs and medicine to cure all illness will continue to progress and it could be a futile exercise.
To have a meaningful life on this earth is not only to live long but also to live meaningfully and with a purpose. Since ancient times, there is a saying that without death, where is life. This meaning is not about evolution or re-birth and if one can live forever without death, then will life become more meaningful. Where is the need to do anything else except to live in routines or in circles. So, it is not a case of " much is good but little is much". Anything in excess is meaningless and a waste.
We have been arguing on this matter of which is more meaningful " eat to live , or live to eat ". Some people live to eat and enjoy themselves but some just prefer simple food to live. This priority varies in different people and their search for a fulfillment.
Another aspect is some people wants a long life but to others, it is not a matter of how long but how well we want to live. Again, this is up to each individual's priority in life. In order to live longer, it is often a need to live within a box or a tight circle, with clean habits, healthy good and discipline life. And for people choosing to live well, they often go out of their box or circle to explore and take the necessary risk in the search of their favorite exercise , food or adventure. This formula may not hold true for some individuals as there are variations.
Nevertheless, the path of life and death will never change. All of us will have our own quest in life and to search of our purpose in this life. Again, doing nothing is doing something and this could mean live within our own box of comfort and live through life in the simplest way. After all, the end is the same for all of us.
This is our individual choice but the self fulfillment and actualization of our dreams will depend on our own spiritual advancement and achievements. So, follow your heart and your mind.
Namaste.
Life is a big circle (1)
Have you ever plot your daily activities over a period of time ? If you have done it, you will notice that there is a certain pattern ie. like small circles making up one big circle. That is your life, making up daily routines. Some people call this a box. Once a while you may want to break out of the circle and do something special but yet you will return to the circle. This is habitual.
Have you ever ask the reason why ? Why are we doing the same thing over and over again ? Wake up in the morning, eat breakfast, work , lunch, take afternoon nap , have dinner , watch TV and then sleep. The next day , the same routine is repeated. Why are we not bored of this routine ? Is it so difficult to break away from the pattern.
If we think read alot or think deeply, we will realized that human being is an habitual animal. We are confortable with routines because anything out of the routine is uncertain and unpredictable. Basically, people hate changes and hope to live and think within their comfort zone. We wear the same brand, like the same colour, the same design, the same smell and like the same food. This routine became more and more embedded in our life as we grow older and older.
There was a story of this man who like in New York City. He works in a big office as a proof reader . His company employ thousands of staff and each person have their own assignments and task. His person work for many years and because of his character and work, he do not mix much or talk much. Each morning, he will ride the train to work and will be back in the evening. His routine have not change for many years. One day, he die in his sleep and after one month, his co-workers did not notice that he has not been coming to work. His office has a system is that if one employee do not handle the job within the same day , the work will be routed to another staff to handle. Only after one month, his section manager notice his absence from work and they went to his apartment to look for him and they only realized that he has been dead for more than one month.
This incident could happen to any one or even you. From now, you need to break your routine to know more people and socialize more so that you have some caring friends who will notice your absence in this world. Take care , folks. It is TGF again.
Namaste.
Have you ever ask the reason why ? Why are we doing the same thing over and over again ? Wake up in the morning, eat breakfast, work , lunch, take afternoon nap , have dinner , watch TV and then sleep. The next day , the same routine is repeated. Why are we not bored of this routine ? Is it so difficult to break away from the pattern.
If we think read alot or think deeply, we will realized that human being is an habitual animal. We are confortable with routines because anything out of the routine is uncertain and unpredictable. Basically, people hate changes and hope to live and think within their comfort zone. We wear the same brand, like the same colour, the same design, the same smell and like the same food. This routine became more and more embedded in our life as we grow older and older.
There was a story of this man who like in New York City. He works in a big office as a proof reader . His company employ thousands of staff and each person have their own assignments and task. His person work for many years and because of his character and work, he do not mix much or talk much. Each morning, he will ride the train to work and will be back in the evening. His routine have not change for many years. One day, he die in his sleep and after one month, his co-workers did not notice that he has not been coming to work. His office has a system is that if one employee do not handle the job within the same day , the work will be routed to another staff to handle. Only after one month, his section manager notice his absence from work and they went to his apartment to look for him and they only realized that he has been dead for more than one month.
This incident could happen to any one or even you. From now, you need to break your routine to know more people and socialize more so that you have some caring friends who will notice your absence in this world. Take care , folks. It is TGF again.
Namaste.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Life is a joke .... just enjoy it .
For a few moments everything was silent in the cab, and then the still shaking driver said, 'I'm sorry, but you scared the daylights out of me.'
The frightened passenger apologized to the driver and said he didn't realize a mere tap on the shoulder could frighten him so much.
A passenger in a taxi leaned over to ask the driver a question and tapped him on the shoulder. The driver screamed, lost control of the cab, nearly hit a bus, drove up over the curb, and stopped just inches from a large plate glass window.
Life is a joke.....You are not what you are.
There was a man who worked for the Post Office whose job was to process all the mail that had illegible addresses.
One day, a letter came addressed in a shaky handwriting to God with no actual address. He thought he should open it to see what it was about.
The letter read:
Dear God,
I am an 83 year old widow, living on a very small pension.
Yesterday someone stole my purse. It had $100 in it, which was all the money I had until my next pension payment.
Friday is Christmas, and I had invited two of my friends over for dinner. Without that money, I have nothing to buy food with, have no family to turn to, and you are my only hope.. Can you please help me?
Sincerely, Edna
The postal worker was touched.. He showed the letter to all the other workers. Each one dug into his or her wallet and came up with a few dollars. By the time he made the rounds, he had collected $96, which they put into an envelope and sent to the woman.
The rest of the day, all the workers felt a warm glow thinking of Edna and the dinner she would be able to share with her friends. Christmas came and went. A few days later, another letter came from the same old lady to God.
All the workers gathered around while the letter was opened.
It read:
Dear God,
How can I ever thank you enough for what you did for me?
Because of your gift of love, I was able to fix a glorious dinner for my friends. We had a very nice day and I told my friends of your wonderful gift.
By the way, there was $4 missing.
I think it might have been those bastards at the post office.
Sincerely, Edna
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
A sad story
I have beenin KL for 2 days and as I get out of the airport, I caught sight of my company's driver and he raise his hands to signal me over to his car. Once, I was in the car, I sent him my condolence on the demise of his only son. A tragedy struck his family last week just after Deepavali.
He told me that his son was only 26 years old when he die. He was a very healthy young man and he worked in a Hotel in Penang. After working in the Hotel for 2 years, he got a promotion. He was a promising young man. After he die, the Doctor told him that his son died of a mysterious viral disease. The chance of catching this virus was one in a million and yet this happen to his son. He was very sad and his wife was unable to work since his son's death. Luckily, they still have another daughter. He told me that if his son have told them earlier that he is not feeling well he could have sent him to the hospital earlier and there could be a cure.
Yes, all this "what if" question will float in our head on hind sight.It is very hurting and it is very normal for us to blame our self for not doing enough or take care of the problem earlier, But, have we ever consider that this is his fate and if he is gone, it is always with a reason, We can guess a thousand of "what if", it will not change the reality or the outcome. Why do we need to hurt ourself by torturing our self over something that is not within our control? Does it make us feel better by blaming ourself?
I told my driver that he has to accept the fact and be strong. I also told him to take care of his wife and daughter in this time of grief. He should resort to religion and prayer for strength and wisdom. He told me that he will do just that to strength his support for his family.
Life is unpredictable and like what an earlier article have mentioned before, the future is never guaranteed and what we have is only the present.
To all of you, folks in transit. The past is gone forever, the future may not come and what you have is only now. Don't think twice , just go ahead and do what you want to do.
Lots of loving kindness.
He told me that his son was only 26 years old when he die. He was a very healthy young man and he worked in a Hotel in Penang. After working in the Hotel for 2 years, he got a promotion. He was a promising young man. After he die, the Doctor told him that his son died of a mysterious viral disease. The chance of catching this virus was one in a million and yet this happen to his son. He was very sad and his wife was unable to work since his son's death. Luckily, they still have another daughter. He told me that if his son have told them earlier that he is not feeling well he could have sent him to the hospital earlier and there could be a cure.
Yes, all this "what if" question will float in our head on hind sight.It is very hurting and it is very normal for us to blame our self for not doing enough or take care of the problem earlier, But, have we ever consider that this is his fate and if he is gone, it is always with a reason, We can guess a thousand of "what if", it will not change the reality or the outcome. Why do we need to hurt ourself by torturing our self over something that is not within our control? Does it make us feel better by blaming ourself?
I told my driver that he has to accept the fact and be strong. I also told him to take care of his wife and daughter in this time of grief. He should resort to religion and prayer for strength and wisdom. He told me that he will do just that to strength his support for his family.
Life is unpredictable and like what an earlier article have mentioned before, the future is never guaranteed and what we have is only the present.
To all of you, folks in transit. The past is gone forever, the future may not come and what you have is only now. Don't think twice , just go ahead and do what you want to do.
Lots of loving kindness.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Thick face, black heart theory
This concept of life dates back many centuries in china and there was book written on this subject and it has been idolized as " Black Dark Theory" and in modern times, it is called the theory of thick face, black heart. There is a warning that if your mental attitude is not stable, you should refrain from reading this book, as you could " create havoc in your character". It is a very simple theory, thick face is your shield and black heart is your spear. The objective is to attain your objective at all cost and incomprehensible by human logic and nature.
This theory treat self interest as the utmost priority , ranking above all. In old Chinese saying " if one is not for one self, the heaven will crush and the earth will be destroy", Such is severity of this theory. to achieve personal success, we can even sacrifice the people closed to us. Of course, there is a lot of negativity due to a lost of logical senses and it is very difficult to be understood by a sensible man. It is comparable to a ferocity of a jilt lover or a wounded tiger who will strike blindly and aggressively.
Having said that, the theory is more than lost of complete senses.. The thick face is like a camouflage like a poker face or a joker face to hide the real intention while the black heart is an hidden ability to strike at the most crucial timing. It is a strike to kill. Hence, the combination of an illusion and a mighty strike will almost ensure an assured victory for the proponent of this theory,
There are many such type of people in our close proximity or in our surrounding and their ability varying in difference degree in the thickness of their face and the blackness of their heart. Some are easy to identify but others are just undetectable. It is never to tedious to be careful in the judgement of a person's character before we trust them. " If we are careful, we can sale a thousand years old ship".
Namaste.
Quotation from the book- Thick Face, Black Heart by Chin-Ning Chu :
This theory treat self interest as the utmost priority , ranking above all. In old Chinese saying " if one is not for one self, the heaven will crush and the earth will be destroy", Such is severity of this theory. to achieve personal success, we can even sacrifice the people closed to us. Of course, there is a lot of negativity due to a lost of logical senses and it is very difficult to be understood by a sensible man. It is comparable to a ferocity of a jilt lover or a wounded tiger who will strike blindly and aggressively.
Having said that, the theory is more than lost of complete senses.. The thick face is like a camouflage like a poker face or a joker face to hide the real intention while the black heart is an hidden ability to strike at the most crucial timing. It is a strike to kill. Hence, the combination of an illusion and a mighty strike will almost ensure an assured victory for the proponent of this theory,
There are many such type of people in our close proximity or in our surrounding and their ability varying in difference degree in the thickness of their face and the blackness of their heart. Some are easy to identify but others are just undetectable. It is never to tedious to be careful in the judgement of a person's character before we trust them. " If we are careful, we can sale a thousand years old ship".
Namaste.
Quotation from the book- Thick Face, Black Heart by Chin-Ning Chu :
I have seen many people grow old, but not graciously. Their eyes reflect pain and disillusionment. They have been beaten by life; they have so many broken dreams. The hope and expectations of youth have vanished -- only death awaits...Unlike the warrior who accepts harsh discipline as a privilege and honor, these people are like pieces of grain caught in the millstone, ground down by the wheel of life, in agony and in pain. -- P.19-20
When you conceal your will from others, that is thick. When you impose your will on others, that is black. -- Lee Zhong Wu, P.7
Often we are so concerned with what makes us feel good that we forget what makes us great. Understanding how to surmount pain, doubt, and failure is an important aspect of the game of winning at life. -- P.23
Most of us were taught that when someone slaps you, you should turn the other cheek. This is not always the best course of action. There is a time to submit to being slapped and there is a time to hit back twice so you will not be slapped again. -- P.34
Success also requires the courage to risk disapproval. Most independent thought, new ideas, or endeavors beyond the common measure are greeted with disapproval, ranging from skepticism and ridicule to violent outrage. To persevere in anything exceptional requires inner strength and the unshakable conviction that you are right. -- P.40
The world unfolds to its own rhythm and purpose. It is important for you to strive beyond common human understanding, beyond preconceptions of what should be and what shouldn't be. In time, you will see the perfection in the seemingly imperfect manifestations of the world. -- P.44
There is a popular Chinese maxim: "The hat is good, the shoes are good. However, if you put the hat on your feet, and the shoes on your head, then both become useless." -- P.52
Often the bravest warriors were originally the greatest cowards. The more fear you confront and conquer, the greater courage you will possess.. -- P.55
If you are not concerned about the outcome of a circumstance, you will experience no fear. Whatever the outcome will be, will be, whether you fear it or not. -- P.67
Strange but true, we often abuse those who support and love us the most. -- P.271
A friend of mine once said that the entrepreneur is a person who, in order to avoid working eight hours a day, works sixteen hours a day. -- P.336
Lee (Zhong Wu)...says that a man rises in the world exactly to the same degree that he fears his wife. The peasant treats his wife like a dog or a horse. As a consequence, he is little more than a beast himself. A man who fears his wife will conduct his life properly in order to please her. By conducting his life properly, he will rise in the world. To such a man, his wife becomes a source of strength and a refuge from the misfortunes of the world. -- P.365
Monday, November 22, 2010
Story of love and perseverance : writer unknown
I am a former elementary school music teacher from Des Moines ,
Iowa
At the prodding of my friends I am writing this story. My name is Mildred . I have always supplemented my income by teaching piano lessons -something I have done for over 30 years.I have the ability,and even though I have never had the pleasure of having a prodigy, I have taught some very talented students. However, I have also had my share
of what I call 'musically challenged' pupils - one such pupil being Robby..
During those years I found that children have many levels of musical
Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single mom) dropped him off for
his first piano lesson. I prefer that students (especially boys) begin at an
earlier age, which I explained to Robby. But Robby said that it had always
been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano, so I took him as a
student.
He was a hopeless endeavour. As much as Robby tried, he lacked the sense of
tone and basic rhythm needed to excel. But he dutifully reviewed his scales
and some elementary piano pieces that I require all mystudents to learn.
Over the months he tried and tried while I listened and cringed and tried to
encourage him. At the end of each weekly lesson he would always say 'My
mom's going to hear me play someday'. But to me, it seemed hopeless, he just
did not have any inborn ability.
Well, Robby began his piano lessons and from the beginning I thought it in her aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled, but never
dropped in. calling him, but assumed that because of his lack of ability he had decided
to pursue something else. I was also glad that he had stopped coming - he
was a bad avertisement for my teaching!
Then one day Robby stopped coming for his lessons.. I thought about
Several weeks later I mailed a flyer recital to the students' homes.To my
surprise, Robby (who had received a flyer) asked me if he could be in the
recital. I told him that the recital was for current pupils and that because
he had dropped out, he really did not qualify. He told me that his mother
had been sick and unable to take him to his piano lessons, but that he had
been practicing. 'Please Miss Honor, I've just got to play' he insisted. I
don't know what led me to allow him to play in the recital - perhaps it was
his insistence or maybe something inside of me saying that it would be all
right.
The night of the recital came and the high school gymnasium was packed
with parents, relatives and friends. I put Robby last in the program, just
before I was to come up and thank all the students and play a finishing
piece. I thought that any damage he might do would come at the end of the
program and I could always salvage his poor performance through my 'curtain
closer'.
Well, the recital went off without a hitch, the students had been
practicing and it showed. Then Robby came up on the stage. His clothes were
wrinkled and his hair looked as though he had run an egg beater through it.
'Why wasn't he dressed up like the other students?' I thought 'Why didn't
his mother at least make him comb his hair for this special night?' Robby
pulled out the piano bench, and I was surprised when he announced that he
had chosen to play Mozart's Concerto No. 21 in C Major. I was not prepared
for what I heard next. His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced
nimbly on the ivories. He went from pianissimo to fortissimo, from allegro
to virtuoso; his suspended chords that Mozart demands were magnificent!
Never had I heard Mozart played so well by anyone his age.
After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand crescendo, and everyone
was on their feet in wild applause! Overcome and in tears, I ran up on stage
and put my arms around Robby in joy. 'I have never heard you play like that
Robby, how did you do it?' Through the microphone Robby explained: 'Well,
Miss Honor .... remember I told you that my mom was sick? Well, she
actually had cancer and passed away this morning. And well ..... she was
born deaf, so tonight was the first time she had ever heard me play, and I
wanted to make it special.'
There wasn't a dry eye in the house that evening. As the people from
Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed in to foster care, I
noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy. I thought to myself then
how much richer my life had been for taking Robby as my pupil. No, I have
never had a prodigy, but that night I became a prodigy ...... of Robby. He
was the teacher and I was the pupil, for he had taught me the meaning of
perseverance and love and believing in yourself, and may be even taking a
chance on someone and you didn't know why.
Robby was killed years later in the senseless bombing of the Alfred P
Murray Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April, 1995. This is a beautiful and touching story of love and perseverance. Well
worth the read.
Your thought is your life
was very impressed with this quote from the Tao Te Ching, a book of life which was written 2500 years ago and it is still relevant. Since it is relevant, it is timeless and the author must have written this book with a very deep thought which span across time and space. The author, Lao Tze is a great sage whose vision cross over many Universe. To see is not to see, to hear is not to hear because what you see or hear is an illusion or falsehood.
The phrase your thought is your life is taken from the book and this phrase have intense meaning. You are what you think you are. If you change your thoughts , you change your life. Our entire life is guide and control by our thoughts. Hence, in meditation, we calm our mind and tame our thoughts. Our thoughts are influenced by many external factors. For example, what we learn , hear , see and read. Our thoughts are guide by layers and layers of past knowledge and images of many events. All these information form our thoughts and our life. When see some thing, we are looking through a color lens which is formed by our thoughts and we will re-act according to the internal scrip to handle a particular situation. Hence, to free our thoughts, we have to delete all our past knowledge to see a thing more objectively, real and a new life.
In the book, it also mentioned " if you change your way of looking at a thing, the thing will also change". We maybe wondering how can a static thing change. When Lao Tze talk about the change, it is not in its physical form, but rather our perceptions of the thing changes as we become more aware. The color will become more vivid ,much brighter or darker or dull. Our visual image will change as the colors evolve through our eyes.
If we get to read and understand this book of life, it will open up our wisdom eye and allow us to dwell from within to free our self from restrictions, limitations and illusions. If you can manage with controlling others, it would be like you but not really you. A reflection of you in a timeless space and forever in transition.
Namo Arbithaba.
The phrase your thought is your life is taken from the book and this phrase have intense meaning. You are what you think you are. If you change your thoughts , you change your life. Our entire life is guide and control by our thoughts. Hence, in meditation, we calm our mind and tame our thoughts. Our thoughts are influenced by many external factors. For example, what we learn , hear , see and read. Our thoughts are guide by layers and layers of past knowledge and images of many events. All these information form our thoughts and our life. When see some thing, we are looking through a color lens which is formed by our thoughts and we will re-act according to the internal scrip to handle a particular situation. Hence, to free our thoughts, we have to delete all our past knowledge to see a thing more objectively, real and a new life.
In the book, it also mentioned " if you change your way of looking at a thing, the thing will also change". We maybe wondering how can a static thing change. When Lao Tze talk about the change, it is not in its physical form, but rather our perceptions of the thing changes as we become more aware. The color will become more vivid ,much brighter or darker or dull. Our visual image will change as the colors evolve through our eyes.
If we get to read and understand this book of life, it will open up our wisdom eye and allow us to dwell from within to free our self from restrictions, limitations and illusions. If you can manage with controlling others, it would be like you but not really you. A reflection of you in a timeless space and forever in transition.
Namo Arbithaba.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
In a grey mood
A happy day to all. It is raining out there again. We are in the midst of a raining season and the weather is abit cooling but wet. Heard that the Penang bridge is closed for a few hours because of a marathon event. I will need to cross the bridge this morning to sent my May back to her University. She is having a project meeting today. Well, that is the job of a father, going through thick and thin for someone you loved.
Well, I have not particular topic in this message except bits and pieces of my thoughts in a wet and grey morning. Last nite, I attended a birthday dinner for my 2nd sister at a nearby restaurant. The food was so-so but the environment was abit noisy with am elderly christian couple renewing their marriage vows with songs praising GOD and praying for a blissful life together Well, it is okay but it would be better if the group can arranged it in a private room so that other people can have a nice and peace dinner. Well, maybe, it is fault of the restaurant management for this inappropriate arrangement.
Recently, I have found that expressing our feelings through writing is a good way to manage our thoughts and while writing, it is like a meditation in progress. We are also in deep thoughts,be focus and aware. We are linking up our heart to our mind and touch base with all our emotions and pressure points.. A total relaxation. Maybe, this is a good way to manage our emotional intelligence and to still our mind through one thought.
The book ," The Road Less Travelled" came to my mind and it has been nagging my mind to re-visit its content and to share its wisdom with all of you. Basically, the message is to avoid travelling a path which is commonly travelled by the general public but to open your own path through this world. The roads through life have been curved out and arranged by the billions of people before us and it is very normal for us to use this ready roads. But, these roads may not be what we want in life and don't hesitate to curve out a path of your own. Like a say before, we travel through this life but once. Use your own GPS to search for your own satisfying or enlightening path. Do wait , time flies and will be gone in a blink.
Namaste.
Well, I have not particular topic in this message except bits and pieces of my thoughts in a wet and grey morning. Last nite, I attended a birthday dinner for my 2nd sister at a nearby restaurant. The food was so-so but the environment was abit noisy with am elderly christian couple renewing their marriage vows with songs praising GOD and praying for a blissful life together Well, it is okay but it would be better if the group can arranged it in a private room so that other people can have a nice and peace dinner. Well, maybe, it is fault of the restaurant management for this inappropriate arrangement.
Recently, I have found that expressing our feelings through writing is a good way to manage our thoughts and while writing, it is like a meditation in progress. We are also in deep thoughts,be focus and aware. We are linking up our heart to our mind and touch base with all our emotions and pressure points.. A total relaxation. Maybe, this is a good way to manage our emotional intelligence and to still our mind through one thought.
The book ," The Road Less Travelled" came to my mind and it has been nagging my mind to re-visit its content and to share its wisdom with all of you. Basically, the message is to avoid travelling a path which is commonly travelled by the general public but to open your own path through this world. The roads through life have been curved out and arranged by the billions of people before us and it is very normal for us to use this ready roads. But, these roads may not be what we want in life and don't hesitate to curve out a path of your own. Like a say before, we travel through this life but once. Use your own GPS to search for your own satisfying or enlightening path. Do wait , time flies and will be gone in a blink.
Namaste.
Friday, November 19, 2010
The sound of music
Today is saturday. Here I am sitting in my yoga cum meditation room listening to Kenny G's sax music. It was a wonderful experience been able to have a good nite rest and feeling good after some yoga stretching. There is so much soul in Kenny's music and helps to calm me down and make me feel totally relax.
The use of right music in meditation is very important. There are fast music to bring up our tempo in life, there are sexy music which put us in the mood for love , there are also music which can jive up our imagination and our mood and of course, there are music to draw us into deep meditation. When you at a spa for massage, the music would soft, slow and smooth to allow all our pressure points to open up and to absorb the effect of the massage.
Kenny's music maybe appropriate now under the current conditions of relaxation but the sound of Sax can be very sad under certain occsaions and may not be appropriate. Too much of each type of music can also be borring and become jittery and unpleasant.as our mood and situation changes. So, it is wonderful to have so many type of music to suit each occasion and boost the atmosphere.
To understand this arrangement or selection is really an art itself as itdraws out each individual's exposure , knowledge and skill. Just imagine the need to select the music for an occasion of a few hundred people of all races, culture and languages. As I say before, human's emotions and feelings is the most variable factor and the outcome is most unpredictable. If thake the emotions of these people into consideration, it would make the task extremely difficult.
Just now, it was a grey sky and now, the sun just came out and the mood start to change as Kenny's music continues under the changing circumstances. Kenny's music skill is perfect but his perfection is wearing out as I start to come out of the deep relaxation.
So, a good day to all you kind people , keep up the lively spirit and enjoy each moment as you live through the day.
Namaste.
The use of right music in meditation is very important. There are fast music to bring up our tempo in life, there are sexy music which put us in the mood for love , there are also music which can jive up our imagination and our mood and of course, there are music to draw us into deep meditation. When you at a spa for massage, the music would soft, slow and smooth to allow all our pressure points to open up and to absorb the effect of the massage.
Kenny's music maybe appropriate now under the current conditions of relaxation but the sound of Sax can be very sad under certain occsaions and may not be appropriate. Too much of each type of music can also be borring and become jittery and unpleasant.as our mood and situation changes. So, it is wonderful to have so many type of music to suit each occasion and boost the atmosphere.
To understand this arrangement or selection is really an art itself as itdraws out each individual's exposure , knowledge and skill. Just imagine the need to select the music for an occasion of a few hundred people of all races, culture and languages. As I say before, human's emotions and feelings is the most variable factor and the outcome is most unpredictable. If thake the emotions of these people into consideration, it would make the task extremely difficult.
Just now, it was a grey sky and now, the sun just came out and the mood start to change as Kenny's music continues under the changing circumstances. Kenny's music skill is perfect but his perfection is wearing out as I start to come out of the deep relaxation.
So, a good day to all you kind people , keep up the lively spirit and enjoy each moment as you live through the day.
Namaste.
ONE BEDROOM FLAT... a touching reality
WRITTEN BY AN INDIAN SOFTWARE ENGINEER..
A Bitter Reality
As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree inSoftware Engineering and joined a company based in Dubai , the land of braves and opportunity. When I arrived in the Dubai , it was as if a dream had come true.
Here at last I was in the place where I want to be. I decided I would be staying in this country for about Five years in which time I would have earned enough money to settle down in India .
My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat.
I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents every week using cheap international phone cards. Two years passed, two years of Burgers at McDonald's and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down.
Finally I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10 days of holidays and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant and was actually enjoying hopping for gifts for all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then there will be talks. After reaching home I spent home one week going through all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one candidate..
In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to Dubai , after giving some
money to my parents and telling the neighbors to look after them, we returned to Dubai .
My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week. Our
savings started diminishing.
After two more years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked me to come to Indiaso that they can see their grand-children.
Every year I decide to go to India… But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a distant dream. Then suddenly one day I got a
message that my parents were seriously sick. I tried but I couldn't get any holidays and thus could not go to India ... The next message I got was my parents had passed away and as there was no one to do the last rights the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grand children.
After couple more years passed away, much to my children's dislike and my wife's joy we returned to India to settle down. I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return to the Dubai ....
My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in India ... My 2 children and I returned to Dubai after promising my wife I would be back for good after two years.
Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an American and my son was happy living in Dubai ... I decided that had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India ... I had just enough money to buy a decent 2 bedroom flat in a
well-developed locality.
Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode.
Sometimes I wondered was it worth all this?
My father, even after staying in India , Had a house to his name and I too have
the same nothing more.
I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM.
Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing. This damned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these children are losing their values and culture because of it. I get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright. Well at least they remember me.
Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again who will be performing my last rights, God Bless them.
But the question still remains 'was all this worth it?'
I am still searching for an answer..................!!!
START THINKING
IS IT JUST FOR ONE EXTRA BEDROOM???
LIFE IS BEYOND THIS ..DON'T JUST LEAVE YOUR LIFE ..
START LIVING !
A Bitter Reality
As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree inSoftware Engineering and joined a company based in Dubai , the land of braves and opportunity. When I arrived in the Dubai , it was as if a dream had come true.
Here at last I was in the place where I want to be. I decided I would be staying in this country for about Five years in which time I would have earned enough money to settle down in India .
My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat.
I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents every week using cheap international phone cards. Two years passed, two years of Burgers at McDonald's and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down.
Finally I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10 days of holidays and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant and was actually enjoying hopping for gifts for all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then there will be talks. After reaching home I spent home one week going through all the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one candidate..
In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to Dubai , after giving some
money to my parents and telling the neighbors to look after them, we returned to Dubai .
My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week. Our
savings started diminishing.
After two more years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked me to come to Indiaso that they can see their grand-children.
Every year I decide to go to India… But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a distant dream. Then suddenly one day I got a
message that my parents were seriously sick. I tried but I couldn't get any holidays and thus could not go to India ... The next message I got was my parents had passed away and as there was no one to do the last rights the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grand children.
After couple more years passed away, much to my children's dislike and my wife's joy we returned to India to settle down. I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return to the Dubai ....
My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in India ... My 2 children and I returned to Dubai after promising my wife I would be back for good after two years.
Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an American and my son was happy living in Dubai ... I decided that had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India ... I had just enough money to buy a decent 2 bedroom flat in a
well-developed locality.
Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode.
Sometimes I wondered was it worth all this?
My father, even after staying in India , Had a house to his name and I too have
the same nothing more.
I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM.
Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing. This damned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these children are losing their values and culture because of it. I get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright. Well at least they remember me.
Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again who will be performing my last rights, God Bless them.
But the question still remains 'was all this worth it?'
I am still searching for an answer..................!!!
START THINKING
IS IT JUST FOR ONE EXTRA BEDROOM???
LIFE IS BEYOND THIS ..DON'T JUST LEAVE YOUR LIFE ..
START LIVING !
Tomorrow is never promised .......
One day a woman's husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't "anymore". No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more "just one minute." Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye or say "I love you."
So while we have it, it's best we love it, care for it, fix it when it's broken and heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage.....And old cars... And children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.
Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a sister-in-law after divorce. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what.
Life is important, like people we know who are special.. And so, we keep them close!
I received this from someone who thought I was a 'keeper'! Then I sent it to the people I think of in the same way... Suppose one morning you never wake up, do all your friends know you love them?
I was thinking...I could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that needed rekindling or three words needing to be said.
Let every one of your friends know you love them. Even if you think they don't love you back, you would be amazed at what those three little words and a smile can do.
Live today because tomorrow is not promised..
So while we have it, it's best we love it, care for it, fix it when it's broken and heal it when it's sick. This is true for marriage.....And old cars... And children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.
Some things we keep -- like a best friend who moved away or a sister-in-law after divorce. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what.
Life is important, like people we know who are special.. And so, we keep them close!
I received this from someone who thought I was a 'keeper'! Then I sent it to the people I think of in the same way... Suppose one morning you never wake up, do all your friends know you love them?
I was thinking...I could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that needed rekindling or three words needing to be said.
Let every one of your friends know you love them. Even if you think they don't love you back, you would be amazed at what those three little words and a smile can do.
Live today because tomorrow is not promised..
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Luck or hard work?
How much of luck and how much of hard work do we need to be successful in life? This is a very difficult question. Some people believe that the more luck we have , the less work we will need to put in. Is this so simple. There is this Hokkien song " Ai piah kar ae nyah" which means we need to put in more hard work before we can win. The lyrics also mentioned that we need 70% hard work and 30% luck to win. This percentage seems to be more reasonable.
When we say we need luck? There is no assurance but only hoping that it is there for us or given by our creator or whoever rules our life. It can be pre-destined or set forth in advance when we come out from our mother's womb. Some people go to the extent of praying to deities, God or even seek fortune tellers to adjust our fung shui to increase the percentage of luck coming our way. In Hong Kong, there is this Wong Tai Sin Temple which specialized in giving out hope and luck to their believers. If you believe the deity, you will get the luck. This is the slogan coming out of most people's mouth. Again, this is anybody's guess and it could be a myth or make beliefs.
The hard work part is more important because it depends on one self for their own success This is more tangible or real but again ,some people work very hard but yet they are not successful. They do not meet the right people or have guardian angels and gets no where in their career or business and in life. Again, some people are born lucky or born with a silver spoon in their mouth and do not need to work at all in their whole life or are born in high places. So, we definitely do need the luck as well.
It is a must that luck and hard works needs to work together. lets focus our self in doing the hard work and hope that the luck factor will work in our favors. This is a more practical approach to life and not the other way.
Namaste.
When we say we need luck? There is no assurance but only hoping that it is there for us or given by our creator or whoever rules our life. It can be pre-destined or set forth in advance when we come out from our mother's womb. Some people go to the extent of praying to deities, God or even seek fortune tellers to adjust our fung shui to increase the percentage of luck coming our way. In Hong Kong, there is this Wong Tai Sin Temple which specialized in giving out hope and luck to their believers. If you believe the deity, you will get the luck. This is the slogan coming out of most people's mouth. Again, this is anybody's guess and it could be a myth or make beliefs.
The hard work part is more important because it depends on one self for their own success This is more tangible or real but again ,some people work very hard but yet they are not successful. They do not meet the right people or have guardian angels and gets no where in their career or business and in life. Again, some people are born lucky or born with a silver spoon in their mouth and do not need to work at all in their whole life or are born in high places. So, we definitely do need the luck as well.
It is a must that luck and hard works needs to work together. lets focus our self in doing the hard work and hope that the luck factor will work in our favors. This is a more practical approach to life and not the other way.
Namaste.
Judge and be judged
This is a very fair statement. Judge and be judged. In other words, judge not others, if not, others will judge you. If we decide to judge others according to our standard, then we have to be judged by others according to their standard. Otherwise, it would not be fair,
There was this farmer who was at the heaven's gate after he die and while waiting for his turn, he heard this conversation between the gatekeeper and a man who was stop by him at the heaven's gate. The gatekeeper ask him whether he has sin in his life. The man replied to the gatekeeper that he has not committed any sin in his life. But, the gatekeeper told the man , how he had lied, talk bad about other people and committed adultery when he was alive. The dead man was turn away from heaven. Then, suddenly another dead man just walked pass the heaven's gate without been stopped by the gate keeper. So, the dead farmer was very surprised and he asked the gate keeper. Sir, why isn't the man been interviewed. The gate keeper told the dead farmer that the man who walk pass heaven's gate have not judged on others and so he shall not be judged.
Many a times, we look at people with our colored lens and we zoomed into their shortcoming or negative habits. We are not balanced in our judgement as this is based on our own standard which could be bias. Whatever choice, decision or action taken by a particular individual , he or she will be responsible for it. We cannot decide whether it is right or wrong as we do not know what is happening or based on what reason, the decision is make or action is taken.
What our eyes see does not necessary what it seems to be. We are influenced by our thoughts , our past experience, the movies we see, the books we read and also the TV commercials which project an image with an objective. Things should be look at beyond surface level and the truth will prevail.
Everybody is in control of their own destiny and have a decision of their own as this is their life journey in transit. Whatever decision they make is their own business and is none of our concern unless the decision is harmful to others or touch on the rights of others. Any harmful or illegal acts is taken care by the law.
As a parting word, everyone is equal in the eyes of the creator or the so called "GOD". If you do not want to be judged by others,then don't pass judgement on others.
Live and lets live.
Namaste.
There was this farmer who was at the heaven's gate after he die and while waiting for his turn, he heard this conversation between the gatekeeper and a man who was stop by him at the heaven's gate. The gatekeeper ask him whether he has sin in his life. The man replied to the gatekeeper that he has not committed any sin in his life. But, the gatekeeper told the man , how he had lied, talk bad about other people and committed adultery when he was alive. The dead man was turn away from heaven. Then, suddenly another dead man just walked pass the heaven's gate without been stopped by the gate keeper. So, the dead farmer was very surprised and he asked the gate keeper. Sir, why isn't the man been interviewed. The gate keeper told the dead farmer that the man who walk pass heaven's gate have not judged on others and so he shall not be judged.
Many a times, we look at people with our colored lens and we zoomed into their shortcoming or negative habits. We are not balanced in our judgement as this is based on our own standard which could be bias. Whatever choice, decision or action taken by a particular individual , he or she will be responsible for it. We cannot decide whether it is right or wrong as we do not know what is happening or based on what reason, the decision is make or action is taken.
What our eyes see does not necessary what it seems to be. We are influenced by our thoughts , our past experience, the movies we see, the books we read and also the TV commercials which project an image with an objective. Things should be look at beyond surface level and the truth will prevail.
Everybody is in control of their own destiny and have a decision of their own as this is their life journey in transit. Whatever decision they make is their own business and is none of our concern unless the decision is harmful to others or touch on the rights of others. Any harmful or illegal acts is taken care by the law.
As a parting word, everyone is equal in the eyes of the creator or the so called "GOD". If you do not want to be judged by others,then don't pass judgement on others.
Live and lets live.
Namaste.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The power of friendship
Have you ever look into the meaning of friendship? It is like colour, having 500 different shades. Yes, from the lightest to the darkest. Every few people know that one colour have more than 500 shades according to International standards. If you do not apply the International standard, there could be countless shades varying from each individuals preference.
You may wonder why I use this comparison. My purpose is to illustrate the different depth of a friendship and in some cases, the tone of its depth fluctuates within a certain degree according to our emotions and happening of the day.
Some friends are plain white, very superficial and loose or just mere acquaintance and this is often at the first introduction or impression when two individual meet. As the relationship grow, the colour gets deeper and darker and that is when the foundation of a friendship is formed. The speed of the colour turning from a light colour to a darker colour depends on the character , chemistry , attraction and trust of two individuals. Sometimes, people can fall in love at first sight while some people dated over 5 years or more, without getting married or some relationship gets stagnant at a certain point without moving or certainly the relationship is rekindle due to some reasons.
The depth of a relationship does not only gets darker or fluctuate within a range but it can turn a darker colour from dark to paste, then medium to white. This happens when a relationship is dead. Some friends becomes bitter enemies and adversaries due to some event or incidents. But, there is also a possibility of enemies becoming friends again if the misunderstanding is resolved.
People often gets hurt if they are too trusting or jump into a relationship filled with their own expectations and their own judgement. The relationship should grow deeper like the different shades of a colour in a gradual toning from light , paste , medium and to dark and the darkest. In this way, the foundation will be strong and the true colours of a person can be exposed or understood by the opposite party. There is often a high rate of divorce for young people who love blindly and too trustingly as relationship needs time to growth and need experience to crystallize. Like a small plant growing into a big tree and where the roots hold firmly and strongly.
In the spiritual aspect, certain people believe that relationship is set in heaven and everything is pre-destined to either family members, good friends ,enemies or husband and wife. It also explain that why we fall in love at first sight or why we like a certain person on first sight. They believe that such happenings is because these people are related to us in our earlier life and this life, we cross our path again. The evolution of a relationship can be through many life time and through several Universe.
This message was written due to my face book experience with a group of young people at AIMST University and I hope that this platform will lead them to a deeper understanding and management of their relationship. There is an old Chinese saying " It is good to meet but staying together is a different matter". To make our life easier, we have to look at the positive side of an individual and this will make us feel better and good.
Namaste.
You may wonder why I use this comparison. My purpose is to illustrate the different depth of a friendship and in some cases, the tone of its depth fluctuates within a certain degree according to our emotions and happening of the day.
Some friends are plain white, very superficial and loose or just mere acquaintance and this is often at the first introduction or impression when two individual meet. As the relationship grow, the colour gets deeper and darker and that is when the foundation of a friendship is formed. The speed of the colour turning from a light colour to a darker colour depends on the character , chemistry , attraction and trust of two individuals. Sometimes, people can fall in love at first sight while some people dated over 5 years or more, without getting married or some relationship gets stagnant at a certain point without moving or certainly the relationship is rekindle due to some reasons.
The depth of a relationship does not only gets darker or fluctuate within a range but it can turn a darker colour from dark to paste, then medium to white. This happens when a relationship is dead. Some friends becomes bitter enemies and adversaries due to some event or incidents. But, there is also a possibility of enemies becoming friends again if the misunderstanding is resolved.
People often gets hurt if they are too trusting or jump into a relationship filled with their own expectations and their own judgement. The relationship should grow deeper like the different shades of a colour in a gradual toning from light , paste , medium and to dark and the darkest. In this way, the foundation will be strong and the true colours of a person can be exposed or understood by the opposite party. There is often a high rate of divorce for young people who love blindly and too trustingly as relationship needs time to growth and need experience to crystallize. Like a small plant growing into a big tree and where the roots hold firmly and strongly.
In the spiritual aspect, certain people believe that relationship is set in heaven and everything is pre-destined to either family members, good friends ,enemies or husband and wife. It also explain that why we fall in love at first sight or why we like a certain person on first sight. They believe that such happenings is because these people are related to us in our earlier life and this life, we cross our path again. The evolution of a relationship can be through many life time and through several Universe.
This message was written due to my face book experience with a group of young people at AIMST University and I hope that this platform will lead them to a deeper understanding and management of their relationship. There is an old Chinese saying " It is good to meet but staying together is a different matter". To make our life easier, we have to look at the positive side of an individual and this will make us feel better and good.
Namaste.
Encounter with Zen places
I have visited private eateries which have peaceful settings and design to combine with good food and I want to share these zen like encounters with all of you. It is a wonderful experience,
Today is a public holiday and I took a ride to Sungei Petani with my wife to visit my daughter and upon reaching there, I decided to have lunch with my family there. On the way, I remembered an eating place which was recommended by a friend a few months ago and I decided to call him for a direction. He was not available , so I called another friend for help. He told me that he had not eat at the place before but it is somewhere near Giant supermarket in Sungei Petani near to the South entrance. So, I asked my wife to switch on the GPS but the reception was poor due to the cloudy weather. Anyway, I got to Giant and I stop near to a petrol station to ask for the direction to this Thai restaurant. I told the counter girls that I don't know the name of the eatery but they straight away told me, it must be Mae Saelong Thai Restaurant. The place must be very famous because it was so close to their lips. One of the counter girls draw me the direction and off I go with my family towards this place The roads gets smaller and smaller and I was driving into a private housing area with parks and mud roads.
Finally, I reach the eatery. While I park the car, my wife and daughter get down to survey the restaurant. I followed them and I was shock to find a restaurant in a private housing area and the setting was amidst the nature with coconut trees and those dreamy tress in the West Lake in China and the main hall of the restaurant was surrounded by water. The restaurant sinks into the pool of water surrounding the wooden structure. It is like we are back to Nature and my daughter told me that it is like eating in a resort like Pulau Tioman. It was relaxing and the food was good and the price was reasonable. It is an amazing encounter and I would like to recommend to all nature lovers to visit this place to enjoy its gracefulness and beauty.
After reaching Penang, I decided to check another eatery by myself and I remembered another friends recommendation of a private eatery in Air Itam. The name is Lau Ee. I drove towards the direction as indicated by my friend and I reach the place after passing through narrow and small lanes. This is another private housing area and the restaurant is at a dead end . The outside looks like a bungalow with many air-con units. I parked my car and ring a bell and I was invited inside. Ow! It was another world inside with glass panels surround a pond with waterfalls. The Chinese carps was huge ones swimming in the pond. It was so simple and yet so relaxing. I fell in love with the natural setting and I could feel so much energy and Chi in the place. I have yet to eat in the place. Hopefully, come Saturday, I can have dinner there and I will share the encounter with all of you.
Meantime, peace and love to all of you.
Namaste.
Today is a public holiday and I took a ride to Sungei Petani with my wife to visit my daughter and upon reaching there, I decided to have lunch with my family there. On the way, I remembered an eating place which was recommended by a friend a few months ago and I decided to call him for a direction. He was not available , so I called another friend for help. He told me that he had not eat at the place before but it is somewhere near Giant supermarket in Sungei Petani near to the South entrance. So, I asked my wife to switch on the GPS but the reception was poor due to the cloudy weather. Anyway, I got to Giant and I stop near to a petrol station to ask for the direction to this Thai restaurant. I told the counter girls that I don't know the name of the eatery but they straight away told me, it must be Mae Saelong Thai Restaurant. The place must be very famous because it was so close to their lips. One of the counter girls draw me the direction and off I go with my family towards this place The roads gets smaller and smaller and I was driving into a private housing area with parks and mud roads.
Finally, I reach the eatery. While I park the car, my wife and daughter get down to survey the restaurant. I followed them and I was shock to find a restaurant in a private housing area and the setting was amidst the nature with coconut trees and those dreamy tress in the West Lake in China and the main hall of the restaurant was surrounded by water. The restaurant sinks into the pool of water surrounding the wooden structure. It is like we are back to Nature and my daughter told me that it is like eating in a resort like Pulau Tioman. It was relaxing and the food was good and the price was reasonable. It is an amazing encounter and I would like to recommend to all nature lovers to visit this place to enjoy its gracefulness and beauty.
After reaching Penang, I decided to check another eatery by myself and I remembered another friends recommendation of a private eatery in Air Itam. The name is Lau Ee. I drove towards the direction as indicated by my friend and I reach the place after passing through narrow and small lanes. This is another private housing area and the restaurant is at a dead end . The outside looks like a bungalow with many air-con units. I parked my car and ring a bell and I was invited inside. Ow! It was another world inside with glass panels surround a pond with waterfalls. The Chinese carps was huge ones swimming in the pond. It was so simple and yet so relaxing. I fell in love with the natural setting and I could feel so much energy and Chi in the place. I have yet to eat in the place. Hopefully, come Saturday, I can have dinner there and I will share the encounter with all of you.
Meantime, peace and love to all of you.
Namaste.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
In the cold of the night
Yes, the rain have stopped after drizzling for most of the evening and night. The weather is a bit cool and quiet as most people prefer to stay at home. Now is sleeping time as it approaches midnight. I was feeling a bit restless fighting against my sleepy eyes to keep awake. I still have some unfinished business as I search the face book for the latest posting from my daughter, May. I have not heard from her since dinner as she is in outstation studying. I know she is not happy and I could feel it inside me.
It is very funny. If you feel strongly for a person and if you are able to quiet down and you reach out for that person,you could feel for her as if she is very near. This is what medical practitioner call Telepathy. The inter-connectedness between people. On TV, we see how people can used their mind to bend objects and how some people can communicate without seeing each other or talking to each other. There is a belief that if you stare at another person long enough through you third eye or wisdom eye , the hidden eye between your normal eyes, that person can feel your heat wave and Will response by looking back at you. This is how boys tackle girls in some old fashion movies.
From ancient times until now, some religions believes in aura, a heat source surrounding our body and in modern day technology , some advance weapons have been designed to identify human existence by detecting their heat wave. Some religious practitioners also can detect disease by looking at a person's aura and after considering its brightness, dimness and colors , they can detect health problems in an individual.
Such kind of connecting ability have been more obvious and capable thousands of years ago and through time, it has fade away unless this skill is maintain intentionally by such group of people in hills and jungles. For city folks, such ability have become almost non-existent.
This is not the out-of -the-body experience linked to meditation but the ability to be receivers of body messages from someone you care. Such ability needs complete calmness and silence in the mind and maintaining the openness of our heart to search for the connection.,
Wonderful, my daughter is feeling better now. Time to sleep. Good night to all of you loving people, see you in my dreams.
Namaste.
It is very funny. If you feel strongly for a person and if you are able to quiet down and you reach out for that person,you could feel for her as if she is very near. This is what medical practitioner call Telepathy. The inter-connectedness between people. On TV, we see how people can used their mind to bend objects and how some people can communicate without seeing each other or talking to each other. There is a belief that if you stare at another person long enough through you third eye or wisdom eye , the hidden eye between your normal eyes, that person can feel your heat wave and Will response by looking back at you. This is how boys tackle girls in some old fashion movies.
From ancient times until now, some religions believes in aura, a heat source surrounding our body and in modern day technology , some advance weapons have been designed to identify human existence by detecting their heat wave. Some religious practitioners also can detect disease by looking at a person's aura and after considering its brightness, dimness and colors , they can detect health problems in an individual.
Such kind of connecting ability have been more obvious and capable thousands of years ago and through time, it has fade away unless this skill is maintain intentionally by such group of people in hills and jungles. For city folks, such ability have become almost non-existent.
This is not the out-of -the-body experience linked to meditation but the ability to be receivers of body messages from someone you care. Such ability needs complete calmness and silence in the mind and maintaining the openness of our heart to search for the connection.,
Wonderful, my daughter is feeling better now. Time to sleep. Good night to all of you loving people, see you in my dreams.
Namaste.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Contentment is bliss
Once I read a very good article relating to contentment and how our expectations in life influence this factor in our life.
There was this professor who receive a lot of complaints from his graduated students about the stress in their work life and how their income is unable to sustain their life style. So, he summon them to his house to have a tea party. He told out all his cups of different make and brand. Some are very basic and some are very expensive in value. He filled them up with tea in his kitchen and then bring it out to serve his students. His students took one cup each and after that, the professor place the balance of the cups which is not serve on the table and asked his student what did they notice. His students could not understand his intention and told the professor, that it is a just a few cups which was not served. Finally, the professor told them that the few cups left behind are those cheap and simple cups and all the expensive cups have been taken by them. The analogy is that a cup is still a cup and it does the same job and the tea in the cups are the same. The choice of the cup lies with each person . If one choose to use an expensive cup, then he or she will need to pay more sustain that type of life style. Why are we stress and feel frustrated, it is because we are chasing for something which is more than the basic. we want to keep up with the Jones, we want to be brand conscious , we want the best of everything and all these criteria indicates the achievement of an individual. Is it so important to have such a huge ego?
One more example is that a General in the army was summon to see the King . When he arrive there, the King told him that he is very thankful to him for winning so many battle for his country and he wanted to reward him. The King told the General that all the land which is encircle by him will be given to him. So, the General jump on his horse and ride day and night to cover as many land as possible so that the King can give it to him. He forgot to eat on proper time and he ride on all weathers whether rain or shine. In days, he fell sick but he did not stop and he carry on riding. Until he fell of his horse and was dying. Finally, he was awaken and he call his sons to his death bed. He expressed regrets that he has been very greedy and now after he died, he only need a piece of land measured 6ft by 6ft for his burial.
What is the use of the acres of land which he has accumulated and it will make a different if he has been contented.
Both these examples illustrate that that our illusions and expectation is the cause of our discontentment. What we need is a good home and enough food to eat and we will be able to pass the day. Of course, you may say that this is very passive and the whole world will not improve if we just keep to our basics. Yes, you maybe correct, the choice lies with each individual. Some are destined to do big things and some are contented with what they have. In the end, we have to do the things which make us happy and peaceful. Greed is the source of all evils and we need to be aware of its bad influence . We need to strike a balance in our life to be blissful.
Namaste.
There was this professor who receive a lot of complaints from his graduated students about the stress in their work life and how their income is unable to sustain their life style. So, he summon them to his house to have a tea party. He told out all his cups of different make and brand. Some are very basic and some are very expensive in value. He filled them up with tea in his kitchen and then bring it out to serve his students. His students took one cup each and after that, the professor place the balance of the cups which is not serve on the table and asked his student what did they notice. His students could not understand his intention and told the professor, that it is a just a few cups which was not served. Finally, the professor told them that the few cups left behind are those cheap and simple cups and all the expensive cups have been taken by them. The analogy is that a cup is still a cup and it does the same job and the tea in the cups are the same. The choice of the cup lies with each person . If one choose to use an expensive cup, then he or she will need to pay more sustain that type of life style. Why are we stress and feel frustrated, it is because we are chasing for something which is more than the basic. we want to keep up with the Jones, we want to be brand conscious , we want the best of everything and all these criteria indicates the achievement of an individual. Is it so important to have such a huge ego?
One more example is that a General in the army was summon to see the King . When he arrive there, the King told him that he is very thankful to him for winning so many battle for his country and he wanted to reward him. The King told the General that all the land which is encircle by him will be given to him. So, the General jump on his horse and ride day and night to cover as many land as possible so that the King can give it to him. He forgot to eat on proper time and he ride on all weathers whether rain or shine. In days, he fell sick but he did not stop and he carry on riding. Until he fell of his horse and was dying. Finally, he was awaken and he call his sons to his death bed. He expressed regrets that he has been very greedy and now after he died, he only need a piece of land measured 6ft by 6ft for his burial.
What is the use of the acres of land which he has accumulated and it will make a different if he has been contented.
Both these examples illustrate that that our illusions and expectation is the cause of our discontentment. What we need is a good home and enough food to eat and we will be able to pass the day. Of course, you may say that this is very passive and the whole world will not improve if we just keep to our basics. Yes, you maybe correct, the choice lies with each individual. Some are destined to do big things and some are contented with what they have. In the end, we have to do the things which make us happy and peaceful. Greed is the source of all evils and we need to be aware of its bad influence . We need to strike a balance in our life to be blissful.
Namaste.
Who am I ?
Billions of people have came before me and in the Universe, I am just like a tiny spark of dust , so who am I ? Nothing , just another speck of dust in transit in a short journey if we look at the quantum leap. Do you realize that the higher we go up in the sky, our size gets smaller and the same applies to time, if we look at time in a quantum leap, it is just a blink of any eye. So, where is our ego ?
If we look at the mirror, we are just a mass of protoplasm with a brain and network of nerves and the six senses. However, to us it is a perfect me. When I was young, I have this question of who am I and I have been searching for the true meaning of life until my tertiary education and until now, I am still searching for the "Truth" or the "Tao".
On my lips, I have been questioning the existence of GOD or the Creator. If without this holy being , how can I be so perfect. In the bible, Men is created in the image of GOD while in Buddhism, there is no GOD but the Universe is created by a " Big Bang" and evolves until now. Comparing these two concepts, it is easier to accept that there is GOD because it is so easy to explain what we are today.
If GOD exist, which GOD is He? A Christian GOD , Taoist GOD, Bahai GOD or an Islam Allah ?
Which is the "Tao" or the way ? Another question is why GOD have created so many races who fight against each other or create so many natural disaster to kill of mankind. Is there a need to balance the numbers through this way. It is a very difficult question and through the centuries, the establishment have created the image and teaching of GOD and have also created an institution on each belief. Maybe, to stop torturing our self, we just accept one religion and make our self to believe it completely instead of asking this endless question.
In Buddhism, the believe is in our own awakening and enlightenment. In some extremes, we can achieve enlightenment is short spells which means total bliss. In meditation, we are improving our ability to prolong this short spell of eternal bliss and gain enlightenment in the end. This religion also taught us to concentrate on the present moment and do not think of the past and future and become more aware and conscious of the present. Is this suppressing our search for GOD? In the context , GOD is macro and we have to go minute and concentrate on the micro of life. Yes, I can find more solace in Buddhism , but still the answer to the existence of GOD remain unanswered.
There are some people who claim that GOD come into their life and they changed forever and accept GOD into their life. Why is it happening to only certain people and not to everyone. Is GOD so choosy or those who do not see GOD in their life are naughty or bad people. In some religion , they try to explain that " many are called and few are chosen". Why are these few so privileged and special in the eyes of GOD? I have been trying to communicate with GOD but futile and I have to concentrate on my own spiritual development through Buddhism. Hopefully, I can see the light one day and get enlighten to know the answer to " who am I "?
Until then, I have to live with a purpose and hope to touch the life at least one person a day to nurture my power of enlightenment and awareness.
Namaste.
If we look at the mirror, we are just a mass of protoplasm with a brain and network of nerves and the six senses. However, to us it is a perfect me. When I was young, I have this question of who am I and I have been searching for the true meaning of life until my tertiary education and until now, I am still searching for the "Truth" or the "Tao".
On my lips, I have been questioning the existence of GOD or the Creator. If without this holy being , how can I be so perfect. In the bible, Men is created in the image of GOD while in Buddhism, there is no GOD but the Universe is created by a " Big Bang" and evolves until now. Comparing these two concepts, it is easier to accept that there is GOD because it is so easy to explain what we are today.
If GOD exist, which GOD is He? A Christian GOD , Taoist GOD, Bahai GOD or an Islam Allah ?
Which is the "Tao" or the way ? Another question is why GOD have created so many races who fight against each other or create so many natural disaster to kill of mankind. Is there a need to balance the numbers through this way. It is a very difficult question and through the centuries, the establishment have created the image and teaching of GOD and have also created an institution on each belief. Maybe, to stop torturing our self, we just accept one religion and make our self to believe it completely instead of asking this endless question.
In Buddhism, the believe is in our own awakening and enlightenment. In some extremes, we can achieve enlightenment is short spells which means total bliss. In meditation, we are improving our ability to prolong this short spell of eternal bliss and gain enlightenment in the end. This religion also taught us to concentrate on the present moment and do not think of the past and future and become more aware and conscious of the present. Is this suppressing our search for GOD? In the context , GOD is macro and we have to go minute and concentrate on the micro of life. Yes, I can find more solace in Buddhism , but still the answer to the existence of GOD remain unanswered.
There are some people who claim that GOD come into their life and they changed forever and accept GOD into their life. Why is it happening to only certain people and not to everyone. Is GOD so choosy or those who do not see GOD in their life are naughty or bad people. In some religion , they try to explain that " many are called and few are chosen". Why are these few so privileged and special in the eyes of GOD? I have been trying to communicate with GOD but futile and I have to concentrate on my own spiritual development through Buddhism. Hopefully, I can see the light one day and get enlighten to know the answer to " who am I "?
Until then, I have to live with a purpose and hope to touch the life at least one person a day to nurture my power of enlightenment and awareness.
Namaste.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Right speech and right action
Today, we celebrate the release of the Lady of Myammar, formerly known as Burma. Aun San Suu Kyi. Upon her release from her 15 years house arrest, her immediate statement to her party followers was that there is a right time to speak and the time to be silent. This is a deep wisdom and is very strategic and philosophical. If she continued with her strong attack on the Junta, she maybe jailed again or lock away in some place. Enough is enough.
Looking at her advise from the Buddhist context, under the eight fold path, there is dharma of right speech and right action. Burma is a Buddhist country and not long ago, the Monks were protesting against the Junta and quite a number was killed in the demonstration. Alot of people may have forgotten it and it is normal as we tend to have short memory. Whatever happen is only fleeting moments.
Lets talk about the right speech, if we continue talking , we are not listening. Using the right word at the right occasion and at the right time is an art. The art of speaking. We need to speak clearly , at the right speed and the right tone. If we continue speaking without any pause, it will end up as making noises and people get irritated. We should be mindful of the subject and putting it in the right context and make it meaningful.
On the right action, which The Lady professed could be interpreted as sometimes, we have to be quiet and listen to the wind before talking action. Keeping quiet is also effective listening and communication. By listening effectively is also speaking as we have to know what the other speaker is trying to convey to us before we response. We have to also think before we talk.
This is a very difficult art and also have very strong philosophical tone , There is also a very wise phrase " Wise man thinks alike, fools seldom differ" . The art of speaking is also involved the readers and audiences.
To all of you, I hope we all are wise man and thanks for reading and supporting my blog.
Namaste.
Looking at her advise from the Buddhist context, under the eight fold path, there is dharma of right speech and right action. Burma is a Buddhist country and not long ago, the Monks were protesting against the Junta and quite a number was killed in the demonstration. Alot of people may have forgotten it and it is normal as we tend to have short memory. Whatever happen is only fleeting moments.
Lets talk about the right speech, if we continue talking , we are not listening. Using the right word at the right occasion and at the right time is an art. The art of speaking. We need to speak clearly , at the right speed and the right tone. If we continue speaking without any pause, it will end up as making noises and people get irritated. We should be mindful of the subject and putting it in the right context and make it meaningful.
On the right action, which The Lady professed could be interpreted as sometimes, we have to be quiet and listen to the wind before talking action. Keeping quiet is also effective listening and communication. By listening effectively is also speaking as we have to know what the other speaker is trying to convey to us before we response. We have to also think before we talk.
This is a very difficult art and also have very strong philosophical tone , There is also a very wise phrase " Wise man thinks alike, fools seldom differ" . The art of speaking is also involved the readers and audiences.
To all of you, I hope we all are wise man and thanks for reading and supporting my blog.
Namaste.
Age is just a number
While I was having my breakfast at my usual coffee shop, I saw an auntie walk into the shop. There is nothing unusual as it is a normal sight at any coffee shop. But , this auntie is about 60 year old or more. Her long hair was tied up as pony tail, she was wearing a sleeveless T-shirt and a sport pant with a tattoo on one of her arm. Such type of dressing is for the young yuppies of today. There is nothing weird if we are in the West but for our Asian culture, it looks abit out of place. It could be my upbringing and exposure to life. There are dressing for older people and certain type of dressing for young people. This is a funny distinction but it is make up by people and it is staying that way unless we change our mind-set,
Yesterday, I was at a yoga class. The teacher is new to me and there are alot of young girls in the class. I want to make it clear that I do not take up yoga because of young girls but purely for health, The girls were at their early twenties and perhaps first time to yoga class They were wobbling and shaking and could not even perform the tree pose. The tree pose is simple pose with your two palms together at the chest level and standing on one leg with the other leg on the thigh. Alternating the left and right leg to complete one set.
In my earlier article, I told you about one yoga teacher who is about 60 plus and she perform her routine with ease and strength. a wonderful sight and I think it is a class above most of the youngsters. If we keep our health and our strength, through yoga or weight lifting and with proper diet and proper relaxation and enough sleep, we can delay our aging process. Our body can stay young and powerful while we age.
I took up Tai Chi when my master who is already 72 years old could let me punch him or push him as hard as possible and he did not move an inch but he only place one finger from each hand on my chest and with a push, I was flung back three feet. He has enormous strength and chi. He has impressed me since I took ,up the exercise and I believe that Tai Chi can make us stronger despite our aging process.
Since then, I have seen many old grand masters performing their internal strength and the wonderful growth of Chi.
After seeing that auntie with the trendy young wear, it just bring up all these experience and memories. There is nothing wrong to wear anything you like as long as you feel comfortable. We have to break away from our conservative outlook and mind-set and achieve a break through. Don't let what other dictate our life style. We go through this journey but once. Live well.
Namaste
Yesterday, I was at a yoga class. The teacher is new to me and there are alot of young girls in the class. I want to make it clear that I do not take up yoga because of young girls but purely for health, The girls were at their early twenties and perhaps first time to yoga class They were wobbling and shaking and could not even perform the tree pose. The tree pose is simple pose with your two palms together at the chest level and standing on one leg with the other leg on the thigh. Alternating the left and right leg to complete one set.
In my earlier article, I told you about one yoga teacher who is about 60 plus and she perform her routine with ease and strength. a wonderful sight and I think it is a class above most of the youngsters. If we keep our health and our strength, through yoga or weight lifting and with proper diet and proper relaxation and enough sleep, we can delay our aging process. Our body can stay young and powerful while we age.
I took up Tai Chi when my master who is already 72 years old could let me punch him or push him as hard as possible and he did not move an inch but he only place one finger from each hand on my chest and with a push, I was flung back three feet. He has enormous strength and chi. He has impressed me since I took ,up the exercise and I believe that Tai Chi can make us stronger despite our aging process.
Since then, I have seen many old grand masters performing their internal strength and the wonderful growth of Chi.
After seeing that auntie with the trendy young wear, it just bring up all these experience and memories. There is nothing wrong to wear anything you like as long as you feel comfortable. We have to break away from our conservative outlook and mind-set and achieve a break through. Don't let what other dictate our life style. We go through this journey but once. Live well.
Namaste
Friday, November 12, 2010
Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder
This phrase " beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder" was written by Shakespeare, the famous author of many good classical English novels and literature. Anybody who read English literature should know who Shakespeare is, otherwise , he will look very foolish.
What is the meaning of this phrase ? It simply means that the perception of beauty is different for different people. There is a similar Chinese saying " Each type of flower attracts different admirers. For example, some people like rose ,some like sunflower , some like cactus and many more.
In our current generation and in certain countries, slim girls are deemed to be beautiful but in other countries and cultures, plum girls are considered to be more beautiful. So, one man's food is another man's poison under different cultures ,religion or race. There is no such thing as absolute beauty in every body's eyes.
Our perception of beauty have been influenced by our education, our family electronic medias , magazines and most of all , through advertisement. If you look at advertisements in the newspaper or magazine and on TV, the producers used slim shape models to advertise their products. Hence, the Establishment happens to define what is beauty in our mind and our expectation.Like in mantra chanting, a constant repetition of a certain image depicting what is beauty will form our understanding and vision in our mind.
In our daily example, we frequently see odd couples whereby the lady is slim and beautiful while the man is the opposite ,which we deeded as fat and ugly but they are a loving couple. There could be some special relations in the relationship but sometimes, what we see as ugly is beautiful to the opposite sex. Just like the classic film " Beauty and the Beast ". Their loving attraction is strong and firm while their relationship is full of love and care.
The phrase talk about what the eye can see but it is more than just the sight. In love, the recipe is more complex as it involves also the inner beauty instead of just the external appearance. The inner beauty comprises of knowledge, speak, wisdom , gracefulness and many other aspects. It has been said that the external beauty fade with time but the inner beauty is like wine, the older the better. It fragrance of beauty is expressed in a Chinese song, " fragrance come in the night".
Apart from both the external and inner ingredients, the chemistry of two person is very important. This is a harmonizing effect like the magic of North and South pole. Opposite poles attracts and sometimes, it is very difficult for outsiders to know the chemistry. It just happen as if it is pre-destined in heaven. Love is like fools rushes in when angels fear to threat. It is sometime senseless and uncontrollable. It could be the sweetness and magic of the chemistry. Some ladies would look for a person who resemble their father or teacher or their idols and so on and so forth. It is a strange game but if it makes you happy, pursue and enjoy it. Taste the sweetness when it last and hopefully, it can last forever.
In my view, there is no absolute beauty or a perfect beauty. It never exist and will never exist as the expectation of each person is so variable . Folks, there is always a partner out there waiting for you. Just move in and reach out and touch a hand. If you don't try, you will never know.
Love to all.
Namaste.
What is the meaning of this phrase ? It simply means that the perception of beauty is different for different people. There is a similar Chinese saying " Each type of flower attracts different admirers. For example, some people like rose ,some like sunflower , some like cactus and many more.
In our current generation and in certain countries, slim girls are deemed to be beautiful but in other countries and cultures, plum girls are considered to be more beautiful. So, one man's food is another man's poison under different cultures ,religion or race. There is no such thing as absolute beauty in every body's eyes.
Our perception of beauty have been influenced by our education, our family electronic medias , magazines and most of all , through advertisement. If you look at advertisements in the newspaper or magazine and on TV, the producers used slim shape models to advertise their products. Hence, the Establishment happens to define what is beauty in our mind and our expectation.Like in mantra chanting, a constant repetition of a certain image depicting what is beauty will form our understanding and vision in our mind.
In our daily example, we frequently see odd couples whereby the lady is slim and beautiful while the man is the opposite ,which we deeded as fat and ugly but they are a loving couple. There could be some special relations in the relationship but sometimes, what we see as ugly is beautiful to the opposite sex. Just like the classic film " Beauty and the Beast ". Their loving attraction is strong and firm while their relationship is full of love and care.
The phrase talk about what the eye can see but it is more than just the sight. In love, the recipe is more complex as it involves also the inner beauty instead of just the external appearance. The inner beauty comprises of knowledge, speak, wisdom , gracefulness and many other aspects. It has been said that the external beauty fade with time but the inner beauty is like wine, the older the better. It fragrance of beauty is expressed in a Chinese song, " fragrance come in the night".
Apart from both the external and inner ingredients, the chemistry of two person is very important. This is a harmonizing effect like the magic of North and South pole. Opposite poles attracts and sometimes, it is very difficult for outsiders to know the chemistry. It just happen as if it is pre-destined in heaven. Love is like fools rushes in when angels fear to threat. It is sometime senseless and uncontrollable. It could be the sweetness and magic of the chemistry. Some ladies would look for a person who resemble their father or teacher or their idols and so on and so forth. It is a strange game but if it makes you happy, pursue and enjoy it. Taste the sweetness when it last and hopefully, it can last forever.
In my view, there is no absolute beauty or a perfect beauty. It never exist and will never exist as the expectation of each person is so variable . Folks, there is always a partner out there waiting for you. Just move in and reach out and touch a hand. If you don't try, you will never know.
Love to all.
Namaste.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Somewhere out there
Accidentally, I stumble on to this song and it got stuck in my head as if it wants to spread its message to all of you readers. The message is that somewhere out there, there is somebody thinking about you, somebody praying for you, somebody talking about you , longing for you and waiting for your love , for your understanding and forgiveness. Many at one time, some at one time or one at one time. You are not alone. What you need to do is to reach out to them, think about them, feel them and look out for them. They are always there for you.
This is the hope of life. Once I read an article that there are two things that keep us alive, that is, love and hope. With love we will be lonely and feel unwanted and without hope, life will be meaningless. With love , you have hope and with hope you have love.
Slow down and go in within yourself to search for your dreams and reach out to find your dreams.There is something you need to do for the people around you, the people you love.
There is a saying " when love is in the air, everything turn magical". You can survive on water and air, when you heart is filled with love. Open your heart to receive this love or to give this love. Love makes the world go round.
As for hope, the hope of a better tomorrow , the hope to find true love or to give limitless love is also magical. We should never under estimate the power of love and hope. It is inspiring and motivating. It is within all of us to build on these two positive factors and have a purpose driven life. In our journey of life, there are so many circles. All our life is full of circles and we need to break through them and to do something special each day for our self or for the people around us. Have positive thoughts and give out positive energy to make this world a better place.
Open our eyes, be focus , extend your thoughts and feelings and reach out for someone out there is waiting for you to give you love or to receive love. Have a good journey.
Namaste.
This is the hope of life. Once I read an article that there are two things that keep us alive, that is, love and hope. With love we will be lonely and feel unwanted and without hope, life will be meaningless. With love , you have hope and with hope you have love.
Slow down and go in within yourself to search for your dreams and reach out to find your dreams.There is something you need to do for the people around you, the people you love.
There is a saying " when love is in the air, everything turn magical". You can survive on water and air, when you heart is filled with love. Open your heart to receive this love or to give this love. Love makes the world go round.
As for hope, the hope of a better tomorrow , the hope to find true love or to give limitless love is also magical. We should never under estimate the power of love and hope. It is inspiring and motivating. It is within all of us to build on these two positive factors and have a purpose driven life. In our journey of life, there are so many circles. All our life is full of circles and we need to break through them and to do something special each day for our self or for the people around us. Have positive thoughts and give out positive energy to make this world a better place.
Open our eyes, be focus , extend your thoughts and feelings and reach out for someone out there is waiting for you to give you love or to receive love. Have a good journey.
Namaste.
Smile, an everlasting smile
I received a message on the face book from my daughter who said that those people smile too much is actually trying to hide their pains behind their smile. I thought about it for a while and realized how true it can be. We have been asking everyone to smile, so the whole world smile with you and smile is free and yet it is so contagious. It brightens up one's day. So, please smile, smile and smile.
Is there such thing as over-smile ? It has never came across my mind until I saw a video clip which my sweet daughter May sent to me. In this Thai video , there was this GRO (guest relationship officer) standing at the entrance of the club. She was smiling and welcoming the club members and her smile gets wider and wider and wider. Suddenly, there was a "pop" sound and her smile busted and her face ended with a plaster. It was a joke, how can a smile burst ? Funny story.
However, if a person continued to smile and smile too much, is it true that he trying to hide his pain or hurts. There could be some truth because if we smile, it should be a relax and graceful smile. The smile should come from within automatically and without the person having to put an effort to pull up the muscles. A beautiful smile comes from a beautiful inner you. But, if we put an effort to pull on a smile, it is a fake as the outside smile does not reflect your inner feelings. Such type of smile is not good and unhealthy. There needs to have a harmony between your outer smile and your inner you to be genuine and truthful.
I remembered the yoga class I attended on last Sunday. She was a new yoga teacher and the first thing , she asked us to do is to smile and keep smiling. Nobody in the class smile except her and of course, she has a sincere smile as I believe she has a beautiful inner self. She looks plum, happy and radiant. I wonder why nobody smile and I think it is very unnatural to smile at everybody including strangers. We are afraid that they may think that we a cuckoo. Our fear inhibit our smile even though we have a beautiful inner self.
A smile is a smile and it has to be done automatically at the right time, place and people . Otherwise, some angry people may think that we are making fun at them and get a slap on our face.
Like Bee Gee's "Words".... smile and everlasting smile and the smile could mean everything to me.
Have a beautiful inner you and you will give out a beautiful smile wherever you go.
Namaste.
Is there such thing as over-smile ? It has never came across my mind until I saw a video clip which my sweet daughter May sent to me. In this Thai video , there was this GRO (guest relationship officer) standing at the entrance of the club. She was smiling and welcoming the club members and her smile gets wider and wider and wider. Suddenly, there was a "pop" sound and her smile busted and her face ended with a plaster. It was a joke, how can a smile burst ? Funny story.
However, if a person continued to smile and smile too much, is it true that he trying to hide his pain or hurts. There could be some truth because if we smile, it should be a relax and graceful smile. The smile should come from within automatically and without the person having to put an effort to pull up the muscles. A beautiful smile comes from a beautiful inner you. But, if we put an effort to pull on a smile, it is a fake as the outside smile does not reflect your inner feelings. Such type of smile is not good and unhealthy. There needs to have a harmony between your outer smile and your inner you to be genuine and truthful.
I remembered the yoga class I attended on last Sunday. She was a new yoga teacher and the first thing , she asked us to do is to smile and keep smiling. Nobody in the class smile except her and of course, she has a sincere smile as I believe she has a beautiful inner self. She looks plum, happy and radiant. I wonder why nobody smile and I think it is very unnatural to smile at everybody including strangers. We are afraid that they may think that we a cuckoo. Our fear inhibit our smile even though we have a beautiful inner self.
A smile is a smile and it has to be done automatically at the right time, place and people . Otherwise, some angry people may think that we are making fun at them and get a slap on our face.
Like Bee Gee's "Words".... smile and everlasting smile and the smile could mean everything to me.
Have a beautiful inner you and you will give out a beautiful smile wherever you go.
Namaste.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Sex and immortality (3) - An article on the subject
Sunday October 31, 2010
Don’t suffer in silence
By CHERYL POO
cherylpoo@thestar.com.my
Erectile dysfunction is often the prelude to major health problems. Seek medical help, experts advise.
AN impotent man may face a host of other physical problems that can be rather serious in nature.
This was the main message highlighted at a discussion on erectile dysfunction organised by Pfizer recently.
“Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a very serious matter for a man and his family because the problem is not just a psychological one. There could be major health problems behind it, ones that are potentially fatal,” said celebrity host and presenter Asha Gill, who facilitated the enlightening discussion between two local health experts – Prof Dr Low Wah Yun of the faculty of medicine, University of Malaya, and Dr Siti Norazah Zulkifli, a health research consultant.
Erectile dysfunction (or more commonly, impotence) describes a condition where men cannot achieve or keep an erection. Impotency does not discriminate, and is not, contrary to common misconception, something which only plagues older men.
According to a study led by a scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles’ David Geffen School of Medicine, about 6.5% of men as young as 20 to 29 reported ED; and this went up to 77.5% when it came to men aged 75 years and above.
Discussing the psychological and physical health complications surrounding untreated erectile dysfunction. From left: Asha Gill, Prof Dr Low Wah Yun, and Dr Siti Norazah Zulkifli.
Bear in mind that this survey was conducted in the Western hemisphere, where people are generally more open-minded.
Consider our Asian culture, where such matters are generally eluded or guarded zealously within marriages and never discussed even amongst the closest of friends, let alone a stranger in a clinic. While many people tend to think that the problem of impotency crops up because of poor circulation, the truth is that ED is usually associated with a more complex health problem that the individual is facing.
Diabetes, nervous system disorders, and Parkinson’s, to name a few, are among the staggering list of health problems that have been associated with ED.
“You see why there’s a good reason for men to seek medicinal help. We can understand how difficult or embarrasing it would be to seek help, but bear in mind that his overall wellbeing is at stake. Impotency takes a toll on self esteem, relationship, and general health,” Prof Low said.
“Women often feel trapped when their partner suffers from this problem because they are helpless and frustrated from the fact that they cannot turn to anyone to share their grievances out of fear of embarassment to both parties. In some cases, the marriage falls apart because the couple are not even able to discuss the problem between themselves,” observed Dr Siti. “People should not wait until their marriage comes to this,” she urged.
Although the Malaysian community is largely a reserved one, it appears that many individuals are “coming out” and seeking help.
“The local people’s interest in seeking help is becoming more apparent. Centres that offer the traditional treatment of ‘urut batin’ are becoming more popular. This suggests to us that people want help,” Dr Siti continued.
As for professional aid, most physicians are trained to detect erectile problems. “Sometimes, just as the patient is about to leave the clinic (for a general health check-up), he or she may bring up the topic of ED and appear to inquire on someone else’s behalf. The doctor should advise them to book another appointment so as to help the individual address the matter more comfortably,” Prof Low said.
Unlike women (in general) who undergo annual check-ups such as the Pap smear, men do not have scheduled periodic health examinations, and therefore, stand a higher risk of undetected health issues.
As for treatment, specialists are able to gauge and grade the hardness of the penis and duration of erection, and treat accordingly.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to the level of satisfaction that the patient (and his partner) feels. It also depends on the quality of life that the couple is contented with. An elderly couple, for instance, may be perfectly happy with showing their affections by just hugging and kissing.
“In any case, the emphasis here should not be on full restoration, but rather, on the couple rekindling their intimacy,” Dr Siti concluded.
Sex and immortality ( 2)
There is an old Chinese saying " sex can disturb our mind and character". Like I have mentioned before human beings are emotional creatures and we need self discipline to calm our mind and do so, we have to eliminate the source.
However, there was an article in a prime English newspaper , whereby the writer reported that in China , those male who suffers from pre-mature ejaculations recovered by watching porn movies. There are also reliable health reports that a healthy sex life promotes good health and strong body. It cannot be denied that sex can released pent-up emotions and unhealthy fluids but it has to be done in a more cultured and orderly manner and within the fine arms of the law.
How does sex enhance immortality ? Strange. In Buddhism, Monks practice celebracy and this will be harmful for them, right? The Monks are able to use their mind to relax their body and control their thoughts , hence, they are in control of their emotions. Their body in its natural way will be able to dispose off the unhealthy fluid. Nature will take care of it all in its special ways.
Okay, lets talk about the link between sex and immortality. If we have too much sex, we will be low in energy and weak in our thoughts. This will hurt our body and will kill us faster while reasonable occasion of sex will help to relax the body, exercise the heart, release pent up emotions and unhealthy fluid and provides some real good exercise. A loving relationship with your husband or wife is also another life booster which gives us a peaceful and intimate feeling. A feeling of complete trust and care and acceptance by your partner. This happiness prolong our blissful life.
Talking about sex is a taboo in Asian culture and is an embrassing subject as this is a very personal matter. So, sometimes, people suffer in silence and hold back their frustrations. This leads to a lack of complete trust between husband and wife and pent up emotions. Sex is a way of communicating the love and caring thoughts and it builds strong relationship which is good for the body and soul. Anyway, in Buddhism , there is no such thing as the soul. Hence, for Asians, it would be in their best interest to break the taboo and treat sex education and sex discussion as a normal subject of communication and promote a healthy life style.
Like what Buddha says : Follow the middle path. Everything should be done in moderations including sex. Avoid the extremes and you will have a long and fruitful life.
Namaste.
However, there was an article in a prime English newspaper , whereby the writer reported that in China , those male who suffers from pre-mature ejaculations recovered by watching porn movies. There are also reliable health reports that a healthy sex life promotes good health and strong body. It cannot be denied that sex can released pent-up emotions and unhealthy fluids but it has to be done in a more cultured and orderly manner and within the fine arms of the law.
How does sex enhance immortality ? Strange. In Buddhism, Monks practice celebracy and this will be harmful for them, right? The Monks are able to use their mind to relax their body and control their thoughts , hence, they are in control of their emotions. Their body in its natural way will be able to dispose off the unhealthy fluid. Nature will take care of it all in its special ways.
Okay, lets talk about the link between sex and immortality. If we have too much sex, we will be low in energy and weak in our thoughts. This will hurt our body and will kill us faster while reasonable occasion of sex will help to relax the body, exercise the heart, release pent up emotions and unhealthy fluid and provides some real good exercise. A loving relationship with your husband or wife is also another life booster which gives us a peaceful and intimate feeling. A feeling of complete trust and care and acceptance by your partner. This happiness prolong our blissful life.
Talking about sex is a taboo in Asian culture and is an embrassing subject as this is a very personal matter. So, sometimes, people suffer in silence and hold back their frustrations. This leads to a lack of complete trust between husband and wife and pent up emotions. Sex is a way of communicating the love and caring thoughts and it builds strong relationship which is good for the body and soul. Anyway, in Buddhism , there is no such thing as the soul. Hence, for Asians, it would be in their best interest to break the taboo and treat sex education and sex discussion as a normal subject of communication and promote a healthy life style.
Like what Buddha says : Follow the middle path. Everything should be done in moderations including sex. Avoid the extremes and you will have a long and fruitful life.
Namaste.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Sex and immortality (1)
Yesterday, I read an article about a famous personality who renounced her Catholic faith for sex and immortality. This is an interesting subject as this involved the fundamentals in life. Just like sleep, food , the desire to have sex is natural and the wish to live longer and forever is our basic desire. There is nothing wrong with persuing the two subject matter. It is only restricted by our conservative establishment and also the different existing cultures. All these constraints and restrictions are created by Man.
In Buddhism, the basic principle is to avoid sex , which is the souce of evil and this destroy our self discipline and our core character. Sex is void or empty and on top of sex, there is a knife. What this phrase mend is that sex is double edge sword, it brings you the joy but at the same time, it also brings suffering. Why suffering ? The reason is that it stirs your emotions and feelings and lead you to do wrong things. It caused conflict in human relations as we have been taught that our creater have created one woman for one man and the other way around, When we talk about sex , we linked it to love and controlling the feeling of love is an extremely difficult factor. The basic Buddhist practice is to control our emotions by strengthening our mind.
In ancient chinese belief , rich old man pays big money to have sex with young girls . According to the traditional belief, this gives the old man a youthful chi or live force and strengthen the health of the old person and enhanced his mortality and longivity. There could be some truth in it as we need to maintain the Ying and Yang forces in our body to remain healthy and this is could be one of the way to keep the youthfulness and a strong body. Having said that, this is not acceptable in our society and we should refrain from following such practice. Furthermore, it is illegal to do such things.
Whether, legally, morally or spiritually, in some extreme religious practice , sex is used as a tool to attain deep meditation and to reach a high level of consciousness. It is not an easy task and it is better to be careful in executing this way of self fulfillment and should be done under guidance.
Until this point, wait for my part 2 on the subject.
Namaste.
In Buddhism, the basic principle is to avoid sex , which is the souce of evil and this destroy our self discipline and our core character. Sex is void or empty and on top of sex, there is a knife. What this phrase mend is that sex is double edge sword, it brings you the joy but at the same time, it also brings suffering. Why suffering ? The reason is that it stirs your emotions and feelings and lead you to do wrong things. It caused conflict in human relations as we have been taught that our creater have created one woman for one man and the other way around, When we talk about sex , we linked it to love and controlling the feeling of love is an extremely difficult factor. The basic Buddhist practice is to control our emotions by strengthening our mind.
In ancient chinese belief , rich old man pays big money to have sex with young girls . According to the traditional belief, this gives the old man a youthful chi or live force and strengthen the health of the old person and enhanced his mortality and longivity. There could be some truth in it as we need to maintain the Ying and Yang forces in our body to remain healthy and this is could be one of the way to keep the youthfulness and a strong body. Having said that, this is not acceptable in our society and we should refrain from following such practice. Furthermore, it is illegal to do such things.
Whether, legally, morally or spiritually, in some extreme religious practice , sex is used as a tool to attain deep meditation and to reach a high level of consciousness. It is not an easy task and it is better to be careful in executing this way of self fulfillment and should be done under guidance.
Until this point, wait for my part 2 on the subject.
Namaste.
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