How did Gautama Buddha reach Enlightenment (Nirvana)?

Happy Bak Chang & 32nd Dragon Boat Festival 2011

32nd PENANG INTERNATIONAL DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL 2011

 TELUK BAHANG DAM, PENANG, MALAYSIA

 11 & 12 JUNE 2011

Happy BaK Changs Festival :
Happy Dumpling Festival on the 6th of June 2011 and hope you will be able to savour the nicest and delicious “chang”. Instead of we do the talking and the writing, we will let these “Changs” or dumplings to do the talking themselves. Happy eating and happy dumpling festival again!

The morning has broken.

Sitting in my living room, I felt a sense of peace and relaxation following  a good sleep last night. Of course, it is just another day and the show must go on. Will be off to work soon. i remembered a song, "The morning has broken " sang by Cat Steven and it just means dawn has come. The moment which the day has began, turning darkness into day light. At that turning point, it is the start of a day.

Why is it so important ? So, many days have passed unnotice. Just let it pass as if nothing happens.  Yes, of course, there is nothing we can do but that moment is the awakening of our sense to the real world. The awakening of our consciousness and all of senses will come alive.

The beginning of a day will normal influence our condition of our body and mind. A bad day before or a rough night will set the tone from the beginning of our awakening. If we do not manage it , our mind will run wild and determine our mood, emotions and happiness. If we take care and time to wind the experiences of the past day and night, we will be able to live a much meaningful and enjoyable life. Our consciousness and awareness to this reality will give us the wisdom to judge and decide what is good for us going into the day.

Naturally, we would like to keep the peace and tranquility of the morning through out our day and to avoid the conditions which will affect our happiness. A simple meditation exercise to calm the mind and condition our body will be a good step forward in the day. Many thoughts will start to flow into our mind when the moment, we regain our consciousness to the day. Just watch it , acknowledge and do nothing about it and let it go. If you are in constant practice, it Will become natural and this will have a calming effect on mind and body. Just like I have mention in the previous article " Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder", by just sitting by the sea side and looking out in the vast horizon is a form of meditation. The eyes could be looking at the distance but our internal mind will be acknowledging the thoughts and memories going through our mind.  It will be a difficult task to handle the thoughts because our mind tends to take actions to fix the thoughts but after sometime, you will be able to handle your awareness and things will start to slow down and you will get a sense of joy and contentment by controlling your mind.

Have to go off to work now. I will definitely have  a nice day as the days is getting lesser in my life.

Namaste.

Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.



Dedicated to Sarah. Hope you have found the joy in the beauty or the beauty in the joy.




















I have written an article on this subject before in this blog but I am tempted to further expand this subject a bit further.  I was told by my SIL, MC that her relative, SA likes to spend hours sitting on her balcony and look out to the Ocean and the horizon marking the skyline between the sky and the sea. Yes, this is an immense joy which cannot be expressed in words.

I have told this story before and I want to say again here.  Once, there was a great monk who often invite his stdents to follow him when he is out in a walk. His condition for his student is very simple. They must not say a word during the walk. So, one day, a student followed during his evening walk and the sunset was so beautiful and the colours of the sky was so well blended like  a master piece and the student could not hold back his joy and exclaimed " what a beautiful picture". Immediately, the great monk stop his walk and sent the student back to his monastery. Beauty cannot be described in words. When you used words to express its beauty, you have down graded the beauty. Beauty can only be felt in the heart. The incredible feeling of  Oneness with the beauty. We absorbed our self in the beauty and if we described it, we are separated from the beauty and the feeling is spoiled.

So, sitting at the beach, looking out into the sea and listening to the calming sound of the wave is to be one with nature and you absorbed your self into into the same picture. You are there and yet , you are not there because you have emerged your self into the picture. I have mentioned before, the same thing happen in meditation.  For meditation practitioners, this feeling is understandable as your mind is in One with your environment and the incredible peace and calm, you will enjoy and it is very difficult to get out of this stance because it has a wonderful and incredible feeling.  You could sit hours , fully absorb in the peace and beauty.

Meditation can also be by sight or sound and inter-changing between sight and sound. The focus on a far distance project in the horizon or the movement of an object in the distance could memorized you and slow down your breathing and empty your thoughts or the calming sound of the wave , sweeping towards the shore and give out a rhythmic sound which calms the nerves , slow down our breathing and bring peace to your mind. It is really an incredible feeling of peace and Oneness.

I have this experience when I was on holiday with my family in Andaman Hotel in Langkawi.  I was lying on a bed placed on the sea side, resting. When I closed my eyes, I just focus on the sound of the waves slowly sweeping on the shore and a complete calm and peace came over me. I was not meditating but soon, I dozed off and when I woke up a few hours later, I felt I have the best sleep ever.  I was so fresh and peaceful es if  I came out of a deep meditation. It was bliss and joy. I could nevert forget this piece of my life history.

As I say in my earl er article, doing nothing is doing something. That is to be one with your self and your surrounding. If you like to sit and watch the ocean and the waves, you should continue it and  enjoy it to the fullest. Be One with nature.

Namaste.

A call to curb Smoking.... this is long overdue.

16:17 30May11 BER-RPT: WHO CALLS FOR TOUGHER LAWS ON SMOKING

BEIJING, May 30 (Bernama) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) called for"tougher laws and enforcement" that will prevent premature deaths from tobacco-related diseases, Xinhua news agency reported citing a statement released on Monday.

The WHO statement says the tobacco epidemic kills nearly 6 million people worldwide each year, mostly from heart disease, stroke, cancer and emphysema.

"Tobacco-related deaths account for 63 percent of deaths from non communicable diseases in the world today," it says, adding that "passive or second-hand exposure to tobacco causes an estimated 600,000 deaths a year globally."

Dr. Michael O'Leary, WHO China Representative, said, "Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death, in the world and in China. Every year in China, about 1 million people die from a tobacco-related heart attack, stroke,cancer, lung ailment or other disease. That does not include the people --more than a quarter of them children -- who die from exposure to second-hand smoke."

The statement says the socio-economic cost of tobacco use is a reason for alarm, and that the annual death toll from the global epidemic of tobacco use could rise to 8 million by 2030.

It says having killed 100 million people during the 20th century, tobacco use could kill 1 billion during the 21st century.

In observance of World No Tobacco Day on Tuesday, WHO calls on governments and stake holders worldwide to use the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control ( WHO FCTC) as the basis for laws for "a 100 percent ban on indoor smoking, comprehensive bans on advertising ,promotion and sponsorship, bans on sale to minors, graphic health warnings and higher prices and taxes for tobacco products," it says.

"These are policy measures that will save lives and will also result in billions of dollars saved by preventing diseases, productivity losses and deaths from tobacco use," the statement says.

It quotes Dr O 'Leary as saying, "Today we wish to highlight the treaty's overall importance, to stress China's obligations as a Party to the treaty andto promote the essential role of the Conference of the Parties and WHO in supporting China's efforts to meet those obligations."

Shifting through dimensions

Is this real or an illusion ?

Last night, I was lying on a hotel bed in Chittagong and now, I have arrived home and sleeping on my bed in Penang. Through space,time and dimension. If you look at a rainbow, you could see so many colours and if you know the phenomena, it is actually a reflection of light at different angles from the earth. Could it be an existence of a few dimensions through space and time. Just wondering.

When I was in school, I read the novel " Travelling around the world in 80 days". It was a wonderful novel and if we were to travel the same distance in today's speed if could be done in 48 hours or less. It is an amazing improvement through time. Could there be a time door or a door to a different dimension ? In our dreams, we can shift from dimension to dimension. We could fly and walk on water.  Our dreams can be as real as it can be.

There are reports of missing planes  and ships over the Bermuda Triangle and it cannot  be explained. Some movies have portray that these planes or ships just past through a time door and slip into another dimension. So far, such mysteries have yet to be solved by scientific means.

Actually, in our mind, we have our own Universe and my Universe is different from your Universe. Our own Universe is seen through our 6 senses and it is the commutation of these senses in our mind, that we project our own Universe. In simple words, I am looking at the world from my own dimensions and it forms my Universe. Each of us have our own dimension and if we see it in the same angle, then what we see could be the same. But, it is near impossible as what we see is also influence by our other senses.

What I have said is not backed up by scientific findings but our mind is so powerful that if we  could use more of it, we could see more truth in what we see with the existing power of our mind. Moving from dimension to dimension could also be done through meditation when we are in touch with our true self. We can attempt to break the egg shell to reveal the york which is our true self.

Namaste.

There are plentiful of difficult people in this world

Now, It am sitting in Bangkok International Airport waiting for my connecting flight. Just finished another tour of duty to Bangladesh. During my meeting there, I faced a lot of difficult people, who only cares for their interest. Their non-compromising attitude caused me much distress and tense moments. In most cases, I just laugh it off as I know getting anger is like picking up a burning charcoal and throw at the people who hurts you. In the process, we burn our self first before it hurts the people around me or my adversary. Anyway, it is hurtful all around but on one occasion, I blow my top by walking away to calm down and went face my adversary. It takes a stronger person to forget and forgive.

Yes, there are plentiful of difficult people around us all the time. Sometimes, a friend or a family member can become difficult if their interest  or happiness in threaten. It is the reality and we have to face them. How shall we handle these difficult people ?

I have finished reading the book " The joy of living " , written by a young and wise Tibetan Monk who is going around the world preaching the Dharma.  He said in his book that " Everybody wants to be happy and to avoid unhappiness". This advise carries deep meaning and if you apply this wisdom to your life, you will have the answer to my question above.  You will not only make the difficult man a happy person but in return, you will also be happy. The formula is simple. Less difficult people around you, less difficulties and you will be more happy. But , it is deeper than that  Not that people are inter-related but sharing a common platform will make all of us happy and make the world  a happier place.

Coming back to the wisdom of " Everybody wants to be happy and to avoid unhappiness". If you keep to this wisdom, you will realize that if we do not make people unhappy, they will not be difficult to us. If we cross their path, threaten their survival or make their life difficult, it is very logical that they will try to get rid of  you or get you out of their path.  Sane people will not simply find fault with you unless they are in some way been hurt by you or having pressure from other people.

Of course, you will ask how shall we re-act , when some people is been difficult to you ? Shall we keep quiet and do not fight for our rights ? This is passive and the difficult person will take advantage of your passiveness. If we look at it from another angle, can confrontation solve the issue ? So, the only way is not to response , keep your distance and ask for time to resolve the problem which is existing between you and difficult people. You  have to find a solution which is a win-win situation and pull off from the argument and repeatedly look at the situation from the view of your adversary.  If you consider and look long enough, you will find a compromising solution which is in the interest of everyone.

I am not perfect and I am trying to find my true self.  I realize that when there is a stronger action , there is a stronger re-action and human beings are not predictable.  We always consider our welfare or our interest first and keep it within our tight grip. The tighter we hold on to an item, the more harder it becomes when we have to let go.  Everything is impermanent and a passing illusion.  I

n the end, when we have to leave this world, it is not hard to die but it is always difficult to  give up the material things and pleasure that we have in this materialistic world.

Namaste.

Three things (Good Wisdom)

 



A place called CTJM

At night, the ropes can move ... can it ?

It was as if  I was walking through time and space  and back into the past. It is  a dissipated factory in Chittagong, a jute producing factory. There are  so many old machines. it is unbelievable, like I am in another world. A God foresaken place . Most of the machine have stopped operation but a few of them are still in operations. It is a spinning and weaving mill and the product is gunny sacks.

I believe that when it was in full operation, there were thousands. Standing there, I have the feelings that the workers are operating these machines , so busy and  all the chattering noise from the machines filling the air with activity.  I sense their presence as if they coming alive 50 years ago , tolling over the jute and machines. The section that is still operating is using machines that have been  operating more than 50 years old, a heritage. The machines were rusty and the jute waste were piling all over the place and huge piles  near the machines A strange world of dirt and flirt among the waste and finished products. There was no electricity and the factory use the natural light coming through the glass panels on the ceiling. A huanted place or I am in  a different dimension.

The scene was like a nuclear disaster area devoid of people and with obsolete machines lining the production floor. It will a good museum and preservation of the old machines will keep the past history alive. It will be a waste to demolish and destroy the machines as it will wipe off a milestone in  the past.

I was walking through history with a French personnel who have been staying in Chittagong for the past 15 years and his wife is a Bangladeshi. He told me that it was amazing the factory is still here and some section is operating. He shared his sentiment of taking a stroll through history in space and time. Many people have pass through this place and they have left their foot prints there. Faceless and nameless now as a spec of dirt in this Universe.  Their time have come and gone and so has their existence.  We will be the same after another 50 years. Faceless and nameless.

Do not despair as there are billions of people came before us and will come after us. Some became famous and some became saints but most of us will pass through as known and unknown.  This is a  reality and we should accept it  as soon as possible and live  a life as fully as possible in a nameless stage.

Namaste.

How is my mood today ?

When I woke up , I pick a magazine lying on my table and turn the first page. These words catches my eye:
 " Everything depends on my mood or maybe my mood depends on everything". These few simple words carry  a very strong meaning. It amplify whether you are happy or not. Your re-action to others and to yourself depends on your mood while your mood against depends on many factors which could be external or internal. Everything is wired up.

I have written an article about the recipe of our emotions. Like recipe for food. If we make a dish and if we add different portion of spice, salt , sugar or milk ,etc , the outcome could be sweeter, hotter or more creamy. The outcome varies with each alteration of the components we put into dish. Just like our emotions. If we sleep well. we will feel more balance and if we do not enough sleep, we would be agitated or emotional.  Our mood depends on so many factors and any shift in one of the factors , the outcome would be vary a little or very much.

The factors affecting our mood is sight, smell, taste, hearing and touch. These five elements are the recipe for happiness or anger.  If we control these elements properly, we can control the outcome. In Buddhism, we use our mind to control all these elements. We have to be aware and acknowledge the cause and effect of these elements and we choose not to re-act to it. However, it is very difficult because of our past mental conditioning which have install a quick response system or mental habits.  If we break the routine or choose to take the opposite action, it will break the habit and review our truth self or self awareness.  If we are successful, we return our self to our true and original self.

All of us chase after happiness and we avoid unhappiness. If you acknowledge and accept this truth, we will grow in confidence in handle our self and others. This understanding is the basis of universal love and feelings. We have to understand this wisdom and this will work for all of us.

Namaste.

Down by the Palash River

Today, I am in Palash , Dhaka , Bangladesh. I have came to visit the project site again for the third time and this time, it was more intense and in greater details.  I was invited to take a ride down the Palash river.  It was a very long river  and both banks are filled with factories including many brick factories.  It was a waste as the water was dirty and muddy. It was a pitiful sight.

The river have been raped many times over by dirt and flirts flowing into the river.  I was here during the last December  and I took a ride down the river in the early morning. It was misty and the cold wind was brushing up my cheek and it was so refreshing. The river then was also muddy but with the rising morning sun, it was quite a sight and I did not pay attention to the water. After doing down the river, I came to release how badly the river have been hurt so severely.

I believe it was once a magnificent river which provides the waterways to cargo shipments and there could be a thriving fishing industry. Since the industrialization of the area, it has been sick for a long time.  When I was there this afternoon, I could see the setting sun over the horizon of the river. It was a beautiful sight.  Comparable to the rising sun's beauty. Either scenery has its charm and beauty.and it would be much better during the winter months.

When float down the river , the end of the river is a shipping depot  with several ships docking at the depot and after it, was a magnificent bridge across the river. There are signs and sights of continuous improvement in the area  In the name of development , nature have been destroyed and the mother earth have been hurt in many ways.

Green , green grass of home. Lets sit up and do something to support the go green project  and save the mother earth. If you change your mindset towards green concept, you will change your life to support it ,

Namaste.

An old friend came calling

An old friend came calling yesterday and today. He had just arrived from KL. A friend of many years and we had some good times together when I visit KL. He is my drinking pal and he had some bad experience in his career.

I pick him up after my day's work and I took him to a mall near Sunway hotel and we start to search for a drinking hole. To my surprise , they do not have a pub or a decent drinking joint in the mall and we have to get out of the mall to look for one. Finally, we walk along the road lining the mall and ended back to his hotel and we managed to drink at one of the restaurant next to the hotel.  Ow! I wonder. What had happen to all the pubs or drinking joints in the Sebarang area.

We sat down and we start to catch up with each other's career. He told me that he has two more years to retirement and he can continue if he wants. He told me that in our working life, we can do ten things right but if we make one mistake, we will be reprimanded or sack. This is what happen to him when he was a top manager at a local bank. He make a bad call on a deal which his boss had approved but they charged him for making the bad call. He was terminated and he took up a court case with the bank. It has been six years now and he told me that if he die, the case will be finished. He advised me to be careful and do not be as careless as him and protect myself. Nobody is going to look after you except yourself.

This is a message that I want to convey to all of you. Don't exceed your authority and if you need to do it, please get the necessary support or approval and be transparent to your management. Put on record if you need to.  It never plan to fail but fail to plan and get yourself in trouble. A clean sheet of paper and one black dot is enough to make the paper dirty and render it worthless and get discarded.

I do not mean that you should do nothing. In china, there is a saying " if you don/t  do anything, nothing can be wrong". This is a survival technique but we should not live or worth with this lame philosophy.  We should do what is right or need to do but do it in a smart or orderly way. I would like to tell you  a story of two mouse.

One day, two mouse was chased by an old cat and each of them ran in a separate hole. The cat could not get to them as the hole was so small, so the cat waited in front of the two hole. The two mouse could not get out because once they get out, the cat would eat them. So, both stay in the hole but there was no food in the holes. Finally, one of the mouse decided to try his luck and make up his guts to run out and make a dash for it. The mouse kept staying in the hole hoping the cat will get up and move away. In conclusion, the mouse that took the courage to get out, survive and the cat choose to stay is the hole , die of hunger. The reason is that the old cat had died while waiting for the mouse to come out. The moral of the story is that have gut to make the different and the challenges in life instead of living in a tortoise shell.

Whatever happen in our life, we take it at its stripe and move forward. Come what may, we just make things happen and amidst all the CYA(over your ass) people around us. Let the sleeping dogs ly while we get on with our life and do what needs to be done.  Walk with our head held high.

Namaste.

Age is just a number ? Is it ?

I have always believe that age is just a number. I have many friends and I have also seen many old people living a young and energetic life style. As if that there is no age barrier.

One of them is my Tai Chi Master. He is about 74 years old and he is still very fit.  He have the internal strength to take blows from young man and he can push you a few feet away with two fingers. He still walk very fast, eat well and talk very loud.  He is a very good walking example of a kungfu master.  Although, he is bald and have the skins like old people but his youthful spirit never diminishes. 

Another person is a 64 years old Yoga teacher who still practice her full routine and execute complex and complicated stance and pose. Wonderful body shape but age is showing on her face.  She is full of energy and youthfulness. There many younger people who would be able to match her ability.

I have seen this two examples and I follow them and became their students. I have practice Tai Chi for 3 years and Yoga for 4 years. Now, my yoga teacher is a SYT,  a sweet young thing but she is serious and very discipline. She is a no nonsense girl of 24 years old. Very systematic and meticulous. Her class is always intense...Ow!!! OMG,

I should be very fit by considering the activity I have been through but I still suffers intense pain all over my body after each session especially the joints after the yoga class.  The Tai Chi class is not so tedious and often it is very relaxing and refreshing. I wounder whether there is something wrong with me especially the continuing discomfort after every class. I dare not asked my yoga teacher but I guess that yoga is an exercise which continue to stretch your muscles and pushing your stretching limits in very turn and pose. Take example of a lotus sitting position, after 55 years of inactivity the joints which is involved in the sitting position could have harden or fixed at a certain angle. If you were to stretch and pull the joints to widen its flexibility, it will suffer immense discomfort and pain after the exercise.

Another point is that my recovery rate is getting longer and longer. I used to recover very fast from injury but if age catches up, you could feel the tiredness and lingering pain which will drag on longer. Nothing can reverse this aging symptoms. You can slow down aging but you cannot escape aging. It is a reality that every old ages and die one day. Some live a longer life , others a shorter one. This is a fact that all of us must face. You can apply all the cosmetics you want or operate umpteen times by using plastic surgery, the fact that everyone will age. If we go against nature, the outcome could be disastrous and scary. Some part of your face may just fall off.

My conclusion is that aging is not a number but a real fact . We can slow it down but we cannot escape it. So, for all of you, do everything in moderation and you will have a happier life.

Namaste.

The life of Buddha - BBC news

Last night, I saw the YouTube video on the FB which was posted by my friend , SB.  She is a staunch Buddhist and she do a lot of charity work for her temple.  I say syabas to her for sharing the video. After that, I went to YouTube and download all the 5 segments for all of you. I watch all the five parts last night and I was quite impressed with the recording.

The video starts with the life of the Buddha since birth and how his mother die after he was given birth in the Himalayas mountains and his father was a chieftain among the tribes. He grown up in the palace and have good life and all the pleasures of power. His father kept him from the misery of the outside world until he was a grown up man. At birth, the wise men have predicted that he will either be a good leader or a great teacher and that was the reason, the father restrict his movement to be in the palace.

When he was old enough, he was restless and he wants to know the true meaning of life and once day, he escape out from the palace and could see the suffering outside the palace.  He kept wondering out of the palace until one day, he wants to go far to search for the truth meaning of life.

The video showed how he practice the different forms of meditation and almost die from an extreme form of meditation to search for the truth. One day, he saw a sitar player , tuning his guitar and he notice that the sitar player do not let the strings too loose or too tight and only in the balance and the sitar will let out good music. He finally realized that we should not torture our body to the extreme and we only follow the middle path in search for truth.

The video goes on to show how he attained enlightenment and how the internal demons came out to disturb him and how he prevail and gain enlightenment in his thirties and how he spend the rest of  his 40 years to spread the dharma and the tools to attain the truth. The basic of the Buddhist philosophy is the four noble truth which ends suffering.  Buddhism is an art of living and not a religion and by keeping our mind in clarity and mindfulness, we will enjoy eternal happiness and free of suffering. There is no God in Buddhism and we believe that our mind is our Universe and one of the many Universe.  New Universe are created all the time and this principle co-incite with the Big Bang theory.

A good insight into Buddhism from a journalist view and we will have a basic understanding of Buddhism if we watch the video.  Don't miss it and see whether what impact it will be on you.  The video is like a treasured painting hanging on the wall, if it is fated that you will own it, the time will come and it will be yours. Don't force yourself to accept it, analyse it and test it to get its real truth.

Namaste.

The Life of Buddha: (BBC): 5/5

The Life of Buddha: (BBC): 4/5

The Life of Buddha: (BBC): 3/5

The Life of Buddha: (BBC): 2/5

The Life of Buddha: (BBC): 1/5

Beware - rape case all time high (news)

Rape at all time high, gov't looks the other way

Ho Yock Lin • 2011-05-20 10:32:23 +0000
All Women’s Action Society (Awam) notes with concern The Malay Mail’s front page story yesterday on the alarming rate of sex crimes statistic saying that 10 women become victims of rape every day and that on average in every two-and-a-half-hours one woman gets raped, according to latest statistics released by Bukit Aman.

However, we’d like to add that while these police statistics are alarming, they don’t convey the true scale of the crime. Applying the general rule of thumb that only one in 10 cases of rape is reported, the more accurate picture is approximately one rape happenning every 15 minutes in this country.

This means that each year in Malaysia, the number of victims are enough to fill Bukit Jalil stadium to capacity. If we include other sexual crimes such as incest and harassment, experienced not just by women alone but also the transgendered and  people of all ages, the numbers would easily double.

According to the 2010 Malaysia Millennium Development Goals report, Malaysia ranks among the highest in the world for reported cases of rape.

Sexual violence has reached epidemic levels in this country. It is a widespread social, development and public health issue that needs to be radically addressed and dealt with. Prior to this report, these statistics were classified as ‘sulit’ and withheld by the police, suggesting a sweep-under-the carpet mentality which betrays a resistance to openly and seriously tackling this issue.

Similarly, our government’s ambitious Government Transformation Programme and National Key Result Area to reduce crime makes no mention of reducing sexual crimes, betraying perhaps a disconnect with the reality of that sexual violence is huge dimension of crime in Malaysia.

The pitifully low rate of prosecution of 162 rapes in 2009 also suggests that our court system is also failing. Meanwhile, the Women’s Ministry is virtually silent on tackling issues of sexual violence.

Rape is a crime that is seemingly committed with impunity, where perpetrators escape the law and get off scot free.

We need a national strategy to deal with sexual crimes, which includes the involvement of all agencies such as service providers, the judiciary, the police, and medical staff. Prevention strategies which promote education, awareness of gender equality and securing women’s rights are long-term enabling environment for reducing this crime.

We need to approach this epidemic with the guts, the will and the resources to truly eradicate sexual crimes.



Ho Yock Lin is acting president of All Women’s Action Society.

Tropical Fringgi - a secluded place off Holiday Inn

I was searching for Mah Sing's new project in Batu Fringgi, the Fringgi Residency on the internet and I could see the advertisement of the project and I pick up my phone to call Mah Sing to enquire about the project.  The voice on the other line told me that the project have not been launched yet and she asked me whether I am interested in Tropical Fringgi. What Tropical Fringgi ? I have never heard about the project. The sweet voice asked me whether I would like to visit their show room. I told her I would and will be coming to their office in the afternoon.

By the way, I was going to E&O office at Tanjung Tokong to do some paper work and it was  in the same direction. After visiting E&O's office, I drove towards Batu Fringgi. I have not been to the place for the past six months and I was also curious to see the development along the tourist belt. During the route, I could see that there are already alot of condos on my left hand side and going further , more and more conds appeared on my right hand side. I drove pass infinity, HR residence, Mutiara condo, Moonlight Bay, Raya Sayang  and took a right turn after Golden Sands on the left and before Holiday Inn. I just sensed that the show room will be some where there. Yes, I was right. I drove along a new road cutting through the Kampongs and pass International College on my right and I drove further up towards the hills and at the end of the road , I saw the guard house of Tropical Fringgi.  In front of me was a vast open hill and ample flat land for more resorts to come. It was like a big opening in the jungle up in the hills.

I drove through the guard house and drive slowly towards the show house. I found the sales office housed in one of the semi-D units. I met the sales personnel and they told me that they are from Mah Sing but handling the sales of the completed units . There are about 32 units and only 11 units are still available. It is all two and half semi-D houses fully completed with OC but the S&P is still pending the house rules in the project. It is going to be a guarded and gated resort and it cost about RM1.7million per unit to 2.5 million depending on the size of the individual lots.  I visit one of the show house and I was told that more condos will be build on the top of the hills lining the resort. 

It was a surprise for me that there is still so much land in the Fringgi area for more massive projects to come in the near future. The development along the Fringgi tourist belt is so amazing and moving so fast. There is a property boom in Penang now and there are so many projects in the pipeline to offer to investors. We have read reports that the house prices have gone up 30 to 40 % and it has gone beyond the reach of the average wage earners but yet, more houses or condos are coming up as the price of property goes higher. This is really strange.  I have asked one of the housing agent and he told me that one of the reason is that many local Penang people have gone overseas to work and they bring back their money to Penang to buy property for their retirement or for their family. Anther reason is that there are many Singaporean and China investors who are very interested in Penang because of the current state government.  Well, it maybe true but it is not good for the local residents who will need to move to the main land or up in the hills or to the far corners of the island to have a decent living.

Whatever, it is a matter of demand and supply. The land on the island is limited while there are so many investors hunting for a good retirement home. Money is everything if it comes to owning a property. Come what may, Penang will become another Singapore, Hong Kong  and Taiwan, an expensive island in the sun.

Namaste.

Doing nothing is doing something.

It makes no sense in the normal thinking. When we do nothing, we are idle and we take no action to doing something, so how can we say that we did something by doing nothing.  On the surface, it seems confusing, if you think deeper, it makes alot of sense.

When we do something, it means that we are involved in an external activity with something or someone and if we do nothing, we are with our self. Who is more important ? Our self or other people? I don't mean that if we have attained selfless status or not , just a simple question who is more important. Of course, it is our self right? How can we take care of other people if we cannot take care of our self first? So, we should treasure the time that we have with our self. We should do deep in within to know our weakness and our strength to make us a better person.

The other day, when my sister  came back to Penang with her husband to spend a few days with my sister, she was very happy. One night, she had a quarrel and scolded her son very severely when he asked permission not to attend his tuition in KL because he had injured his leg but Sister was furious and accused him of lying. She shouted at him and refused to believe his son. After that, she was upset and hurt. All of us advise her to calm down and I told her in private to take care of her self first. If she hurt her self over her quarrel with her son, it will not be worth it.  Anger is like a picking up a hot burning charcoal and throw at the person you love. It burns your hand and hurt the person you love.

I relate this incident is because she had a choice. Either she gets angry or do nothing. If she gets angry she hurt herself and her relationship with her son or choose to keep quiet and preserve her health and trust her son. By doing nothing, she do not hurt her self or her son. If we are angry, we should do nothing because everything we do or say is wrong. You have lost your awareness and logic and the mental habits have taken over, you are just a victim.  This is one aspect of my message.

We feel guilty if we just sit and do nothing, our fixating mind would not allow us to do that, we have to do something . Sitting alone does not look so good and is not right. This is not true. If we are alone, we are actually doing alot of thngs. We are resting our mind and our body and give them time to recuperate and heal. We can mediate and calm our mind and we can seek eternal happiness and we can be with our self in quiet moments.
By not taking any decision is a decision itself.  This is another dilemma. If you are sleepy and if you let yourself to decide whether to sleep or not, is a decision itself because you let your body to decide when to sleep. If you decide to leave your money with your bank and let the bank decide the amount of interest you make is also your decision. Don't blame it on your bank, you have make a decision not to decide,

In our daily life, there are many such incidences and sometimes, if there is no solution, we will leave it to luck or time to resolve it. Don't be mistaken, this is also our decision. We blame, justify or give excuses and become a victim, this is also the consequences of our decision.  Every step we move or everything we do, we will have to decide. So, doing nothing is doing something.

My advise is to face the problem squarely and whether to decide or doing nothing , we must be aware that this is our decision. The consequence of this decision will fall on us. Being alone is not that you are alone, you are with your self and we do not need to be seen to be with other people all the time. Spend more time on our self and reflect our self. You should know yourself best and you should take care of your self first before you become selfless if that is the way you want.

Namaste.

Laughter is the best medicine.

Laughter is the best medicine;
Who have the best laugh or the last laugh;
It will be the person who laugh the most and longest;
Laughing is contagious and infectious;
If you are aware of your laughter, you will be happy ;
Happy people laugh all the time;
So, stay happy and laugh and the whole world will laugh with  you.

Namaste.

Meditation Music

Heart Sutra (Sanskrit) Buddhist chanting

My meditation experiences.

When I was young,  I  sit crossed legged  and I close my eyes and still my mind.  When my mum saw me doing it , she told me that I have to do it in the correct way and if not, I will go crazy. I was a little scare when I closed my eyes and focus, there was so many thoughts going through my head. It was like a waterfall and I forced myself to still my mind. The more I try to still my mind, the strong the thoughts came back. But, I was able to secure moments of calmness during some sessions. Later, I got some basic training in the breathing meditation and I was much relieved and became more understanding and stable.

In meditation, we cannot forced our mind to stop thinking. The mind is very active and generating thoughts is its basic function. Stilling the mind is like trying to stop the flow of the waterfall. If you use stones and rocks to block the waterfall, you are forcing the water to accumulates and its force will push away the stones and rocks.  So, we have to accept the nature of the thoughts coming into our mind. We accept it , aware of it , acknowledge its presence and do  nothing about it.  Focusing on the thoughts is a way of meditation.  Your posture have to be right and you adopt the 8 points in managing  your posture.

There are many ways of meditation. You can concentrate on your breathing , counting the in and out of our breath to the count of 4,8,or 10. The choice is yours. If you are tied, you can switch to concentrate on your feelings  ie from your head to your toes , moving from one spot to the next.  From the head to the nose to the mouth and slow move down point by point to your toes. This is also practice in yoga to relax the body. But, do get too relax ,otherwise, you will doze off.  If you are bored , you can concentrate on a slow and soothing music or touch or single point focus and also on your experience. There are many other ways of meditation. You can switch the meditation  methods so that you do not get bored, you have to rest your practice in between short breaks.  If you repeatedly tried the methods mentioned, calmness will sets in. It starts in brief spells and the spells will get longer and longer. You will find happiness when you see things more clearly and become more aware.  Meditation can improve the communication between the different part of the brain and you will get a more balanced mind and your overall capabilities will improve. Currently, there are no scientific findings but increasing your awareness of your self, the surrounding and understanding will be good enough to practice meditation regularly.

Another effective way is through chanting. Sometimes, we do not understand some practice and we just accept it.  Just accepting it without seeking the truth meaning is not good. When we see the monks bow three times before the statute of Buddha , we are surprise why the wise monks bow to a rock or a statute. The statute have no significance by itself. It has no superpower or do not give out magic. But, it symbolized the existence of  a great teacher, that is Buddha. The bowing and praying is  a show of respect to a great teacher that has achieved enlightenment. Nothing more than that.  If the monk bows three times, the first bow is for peace, the second bow is for compassion and the third bow is for love. The choice of each bows meaning is personal and it is not fixed. The bow is also a reminder to us to seek harmony, peace and kind compassion for all human beings or living things.  After the bow, the monks will proceed with chanting in the language of their choice. Why do Buddhist chant ? The chanting is a repetition of a vow. A repeated reminder . If we repeat our vow, we refreshes our commitments and if it is done often it help to change our mental habits which we have accumulated during our past experiences. The self reminder is a powerful tool and it enforces our beliefs and commitments to seek happiness.

Sometimes, we wonder why do we chant in Sanskrit , the language of Buddha ?  The reason is that these language have used in  chanting through thousands of years  and it has been registered in the Universe for a long period.  The belief is that if we used the Sanskrit language , it will sent a more power message and invoke more power within our mind and body. It is a personal choice but we must understanding the vows in the chants.

There are many misunderstanding when we look from the outside in and after knowing the purpose, we will be more comfortable and at ease to pursue the practice. I am not a great meditation master but I am keen to practice meditation and compassion and love for all living beings.  My message is that I wish to share my experience and thoughts will of all of you , folks.  Have  a happy journey through life.

Namaste.

We are chasing after a moving train.

Our thoughts are continuous. Our mind is restless and fixating. Our body is continuously changing and beating. What are we ? We are an evolving creature and on the move all the time like a moving train. The thoughts is like the cabins linking together and moving in a sequence. Our breathing is beating fast and our heart move in a rhythm and like the sound of the falling rain.

Do we need to live like that ? So , tightly bounded and on the fast track. No  time to stop and stare and to enjoy the beauty surrounding us. Enjoy the clean and cooling air in the morning and on the hills. In no time, the train will reach a stop and some of the passengers will get out and some passengers will move in and it will move on.  That is life. Some people are with us for a longer period  ie a few stops and some will step out in the first or second stop. A few will accompany us to the end of the line.

We can see this analogy and yet, we pay no attention to it. We are blind to the facts.  Just like a marathon runner who continue running until the end of the race. The mind is always focus on the body and the breath while preserving the energy to reach the end. No time to enjoy the beauty and happenings around him or her.
In good times, we finished the race and if our condition is not good, we drop out of the race at certain point.
If our life is in this condition, it is useless and mindless. Just a rat race.

Slow down and cool down and we will see things more clearly instead of in a blur. Relax and enjoy the minute and simple things in life. What is the rush ? The end is the same but the journey can be different.
Just raise your awareness from within and you will feel the greatness that has elude you.

Namaste.

The joy of living - a preview of the book

The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness 

We often hear and talk about the different way of thinking - Eastern or Western and left brain vs right brain. But rarely do we see a work that brings it all together in easy to understand language. The Joy of Living really does a great job of explaining how the mind works and how to make the mind work for you and what you want.

"The mind is the source of all expereince, and by changing the direction of the mind, we can change the quality of everything we experience. When you transform your mind, everything you experience is transformed."

The book is divided into three parts. Part one is "The Ground". To trully understand the benefits of meditation, you need to understand how the mind works and what we need to do to make it work for us. Here Yongey goes into great detail to explain the different parts of the brain and their function. He also enlightens the reader with the movement of scientific research concerning the mind and how the Eastern and Western thoughs are moving toward the same goal.

Part two is The Path. Here Yongey gives detailed instructions on the various methods of meditating. His explanations are very easy to understand and follow. Unlike many books I have read on meditation, he tries to make it simple and workable. He is not so much concerned with technique as he is with results.

Part three is The Fruits. This is simply a recap of the benefits to be gained from meditation.

Even if you never plan to do any formal meditation, there is a lot to be learned from this book. Basically we grow up thinking in dualistic terms - that is self vs others, mine vs theirs, having or not having. When we think this way, we are bound by limitations. This way of thinking is a habit and habits can be changed.

There are basically two concepts that cause the majority of our problems - attachment and aversion. We become attached to the way we want things to be and have an aversion to change. The lessons about reality and preception are extremely good.

Do not expect to read this book once and become enlightened. There are many concepts that will take time to sink in and become part of your way of thinking. It is a book that will need to be studied and the concepts put into practice to give you the ultimate - The Joy of Living.

Wisdom from Buddha (1)

All that we are is the result of what we have thought.

If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him.

If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought,

happiness follows him,

like a shadow that never leaves him.

Buddha

 

Morning wisdom - maharaji

If someone wants peace in their life, they can have it. 
If they don't want it, they don't have to have it. 
The river doesn't pull people into it; it just flows. 
Those who want to quench their thirst can. 
Those who don't want to can let it go by. 
The river goes its way, it makes its journey. 
The fact that it flows, means there is a possibility. 
All I am doing is presenting that possibility. 
This isn't about converting people; it is about inverting people. 
This is about turning within. 
There's a big difference between the two, because what we are looking 
for is within, and that's where we can find it.

Higgs particle - a step forward ? (news)

Riddle of 'God particle' could be solved by 2012:

LONDON - PHYSICISTS said on Tuesday they believed that by the end of 2012 they could determine whether a theorised particle called the Higgs boson, which has unleashed a gruelling decades-long hunt, exists or not.

'I'm pretty confident that towards the end of 2012 we will have an answer to the Shakespeare question for the Higgs boson - to be, or not to be?,' Rolf-Dieter Heuer, director general of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN), told a press conference at Britain's Royal Society.

CERN runs the world's biggest particle collider, located on the outskirts of Geneva.

One of the first tasks assigned to the giant machine has been to step up the quest for the Higgs to resolve one of physics' great puzzles: why some particles have mass and others have little, or none.

The Higgs - named after British physicist Peter Higgs who mooted its existence in 1964 - is one of the last missing pieces in the so-called Standard Model, a unified theory of all the particles and forces in the Universe.

'By the end of 2012 we will either discover the Standard Model Higgs Boson, if it exists, or we will rule it out,' said Fabiola Gianotti, who is the spokesman for CERN's biggest particle-collider lab called Atlas.

A rythm of madness - you or me ?

 Some of the articles or comments on the various  by me may sound strange but I am only looking at a different angle or perspective. There is an old  poematic rythm which goes like this " Some people laugh at me for beign crazy or mad but I laugh at these asme people for not seeing the truth in life ".

There is a simple test which I want you readers to do  to understand my message. Please look at an object in front of you. Look at it directly and take note of its features , then move to your right and look at the same object  and you try to notice the features and you will note that it is different from the features from the previous angle and now , move to the left and look at the same features. Now, recap what you see and  take note of the difference in the features from the various angles. Even if the left and right features are the same due to the nature of the object, the background will be different. From this exercise, we will see that what we see depends on what we see and where we stand.

During one of my visit to a friend's house during a  hindu religious holdiay, I notice a Buddha statute hanging on the wall.  There was something special in the statute . It has a pair of moving eyes. If I move from left to right , the pair of eyes will follow you and it you go from right to left , it will move in the same direction and which angle you are looking at the statute, the pair of eyes will be eyeing you.  It is abit scary but there is alot of wisdom in the statute. To have a correct view of things, your eyes must  move to see all the facts infront of you . This correct view will give you the correct actions and do not depends on the mind alone to act spontaneously.  Human beings are impatient creatures and the mind will re-act in the first instance without letting you to see things correctly before taking actions.  With one look, your mind will form the picture and project an object which makes you feel that you have make the decision. Just hold the re-action and see more and learn more to dispel the image formed by your mind's first look and you will find your true self and you will detate actions from your true self.

It is not so hard to understand. Just try the test and hold your actions and slow down your movement. Don't walk too fast and live life superficially. Slow down your tempo and you will see more details and realize how beautiful is the world and you know what you have missed in life. Slow down and live.

Namaste.

Today is Wesak Day - a day of Enlightenment

I had my vegetarian breakfast and I went to pay my respect to the Great Teacher , Buddha which was housed in a shed, set up on a basket ball court near my house. Previous years, I will go to a proper temple and mingle with believers to pray to Lord Buddha with joss sticks .  The whole temple will be engulf in smoke and we will emerge with tears in our eyes. It is not out of compassion but the re-action of the eyes to the smoke, Have you hear the song " Smoke gets in my eyes" ? In recent years, most of the temples have forbid praying to the Buddha with joss sticks. Yes, it is getting modern. However, some flexibility is given to the traditional believers who have refused to change their old habits. 

Do you know the reason why people used joss sticks to pray to the GODS and the dead ? When we pray, we do not know whether it has been heard or not ? So, when we pray with the joss sticks, the smoke is supposed to carry the message to the GOD and the dead. In some horror movies, the ghost eat joss sticks and candles for food and for the Taoist sect, if more joss sticks are burn for the Deities, they will be more powerful in their magic and spiritual powers. Well, these beliefs have been passed down from generations in the Chinese history. People along the way have created such superstitions and become folklore in some areas. People in this generation is getting smarter and is more daring to challenge illogical   theories or beliefs.

So, Religion have also changed and changed in an intelligent way. Buddhism is not a religion and Buddha cannot give  you anything even if you pray relentlessly for your wish to come true. Buddhism is a way of life and its teaching is to lead you to eternal happiness within yourself. So, Buddhism is GODLESS , so how can it be a religion.  If we believe in Buddhism so who creates us ? If there is no creator , then who can we be so perfect and how can the whole Comos move or operate in harmony. Yes, it is easier to believe in GOD and use GOD  to answer  all these old aged  questions. It is easy and plain simple. So, why Buddhism do not provide the ultimate answer to existence.

Yes, this is a difficult questions but modern science is still work on the theory of the "Big Bang"  after failing to find GOD using the modern equipments.  The modern theory studying the MIND have in many aspects co-incite with the teaching of the Buddha, There are many modern text which supports the teaching of the Buddha in the management of the MIND. In Buddhism , everything we see is an illusion and it is a projection of the eye and manipulated by the mind according to our mental habits. The whole universe exist in our mind while we form the whole universe.

Today, my message is that change your perception and your will change your mind and it will finally change you. In one of my yoga teaching, we seek the power from the Universe from above and bring it down to our heart and our body  and load it with our compassion  and unleash it out to all the people close to us or unknown to us by way of a blue light and absolve all their problems, hurts and pains and pull it back from them and sent it back to the Universe for cleansing. We repeat this process to spread our compassion to the world and seek happiness for everyone.

Happy Wesak Day.  Your Enlightenment starts with you and within you.

Namaste.

Compassions from Taipei

In quantum physic, space and time is infinite.  When you zoom down into the molecules to the protons, there is space between each minute particulars. A chair not a chair as the protons or atoms will be moving randomly and fluid. Some times, it appears and some times, it disappear. But, when you see the chair from the top of a skyscaper, you cannot see the chair and if you go higher and look down, the cahir will be a dot and it disappears. This the principle of quantum physics.  So, time is also infinite.

I was at a dinner tonight in a Taipei restaurant and most of the people are strangers in the room, I was sitting here and I try to sense the time. I will know the dinner will end in one or two hours and I was there during the start and the end  of the dinner. This is just a short time and in a quantum sense, it could be just a blink of an eye. Zoom, it is already in the past. There is no past, no future and no present,  I have told you that we have only the present but if we zoom in closely, into the minute seconds, by the time, you say you have the present, it is already done as time is fluid and moving.

It is so scary to reflect on what is happening around me. Everything is moving at extreme speed and changing around me. I could not hold it for a moment to enjoy it more as time slips through my fingers. So, taking each breath and hold it and let it go  in a slow and appreciating way and you will realize what I mean. You can hold your breath but you cannot hold passing time.

Namaste.

It has lost its magic - anything and everything

Yeah. I understand the meaning and the feeling especially in a relationship. I read this message in  my niece"s  FB. I have a message too for all of you. Nothing is static and everything is evolving. You can choose to be a victim or you can decide your fate.  In my previous articles, I have told all of you that every step forward in your life is your choice and I want to re-iterate that you are fully responsible for your action and decision. There is no two hoots about it.

Our body have five senses, ie sight, taste, hearing , smell and touch. Our world is seen through these five senses and our mind will react according to these senses. Our mind is like a "loose string monkey" jumping and reacting through these five windows. There is the reason why some Buddhist monks have six burn marks on top of their head.  These burns are marks to seal these five windows and the sixth marl is to break away from the earthly world. These marks act as reminders in some Buddhist sects.

To make things simple, our mind acts independent from us and it will react automatically to the various senses. The mind have a mechanism to interpret and act in the best interest of the body. But, it may not be necessary the correct decision. The mind is influenced by our experience, learning and feelings and our mind make it look as if  it is our decision. Sometimes, when we heard some rumor , we reacted strongly  without knowing  and checking the background and to know whether it is the truth. The mind, when it hears a rumor , it will make a decision immediately  based on the limited information and our mental habits formed from past experiences. If we understand our mental habit and we could change the way we think, it will break the hold of  the mental habit on our mind.  The situation could be different and the ending should be better and happier.

So, when we feel that the magic is gone, it is really our thinking or it has been manipulated by the mind based on its mental habits? It is not really us. If we take the time to understand the incident in more details and understand the origin of the magic and see the incident from a different light or perspective, everything could be different.  The magic is always there and we have not taken the time to feel and look for it. It could be that we are looking at it in a different angle and shifting our goal post  or we have missed it or mistakenly taken it as magic.

Do not be mislead by the illusionary world outside. It is just a manifestation of our thoughts through the five senses and is not real. We should seek our true mind within us. The reality is inside us and we should seek it in the right place.  Buddha have taught many ways to seek the truth and to have eternal happiness . This is the path you should choose.  Happy seeking and Happy Wesak.

Namaste.

Quantum mechanics in our life

Yes, this is the last night for me to stay in Taipei. I could not sleep and feel like sharing my feelings with all of you , folks.  My trip have been informed to me many months ago and now , it is at the tail end of my trip.  Just now, I went to the biggest night market in Taipei  and it was raining. It was a very strange feeling because I would not have gone there if I choose  not to leave my dinner earlier and it was raining.  But, it just have to happen and I have to write about it to share it will all of you.

It was a yuppie night market will shops and shops of trendy clothing, shoes, hats and followed by one straight rows of little eateries. Local foods , tipbits , strange looking meats and parts.  The most is clothing shops managed by young Taiwanese girls and some calling you to come into their shops. It is a scene like the ancient brothels where the hostress will ask you to come it for a drink . Very much similar. It is located in a well connected back lanes and brightly lighted.

When I walk through the lanes, it was like walking through a tunnel of time and it has to happen and it  was  fated that I see these people at this time and at this place. It was like a scene in a movie and I was like the actor going through the actors and actresses in the back lanes.  It could be the first and the last time , I see them and they see me. This was a brief encounter in the rain. The scene is finished and each person moved on with their life.

This short space of time will never be there in a quantum leap. Why I say that is because if you are standing in a high tower with a telescope in  your hands, if you zoom it in on the back street you will see me but without the telescope, I would be like a dot of dust or maybe you can see me or see me not. What I am trying to tell you is that space is infinite and it never change and all the things that happen within the space is not there and it never exist. There is an eon in a space and a space in an eon, it depends how you look at it.  We are there and we are not there and depending on your perspective,

Just like the four days in Taipei and if I reach home to Penang , it does not exist anymore. It never had happen. Just imagine and grasp my message.  There is no past, no future and no present. If you break down the minutes into micro seconds, you are chasing against the time because it never stop and hence, there is no present. Everything is not static and evolving all the time. How do you hold it?  So, don't stop living and loving because time stops for no one

Namaste.

The eight postures in a meditation exercise

I would like to share something I have learned and I believe it will help your to meditate and see your true self. I have tried the exercise and have touch base with my mind and have a glimpse of clarity.

1. Sit crossed leg with the left leg on your right thigh and the right leg on your left thigh. If you feel uncomfortable , just sit with your leg folded ;
2. Your arms should not be too close to your body, leave some space between your arm and your body ;
3. Your lips should rest comfortably on top of each other ;
4. Your tongue rest comfortably behind your upper front teeth;
5. Your spinal cord should be straight, if you are uncomfortable , rest your back against the wall;
6. Your neck should rest on your shoulder and keep upright;
7. Your palm rest on your tight , with both palms facing upwards;
8. Your eyes should be open and be aware of your thoughts moving through your mind.

If your posture is right, you will be sitting stable and like a glass of water , if it is placed on a even table, the water in it will be still and all the residues will settle and the water is clear. If you sit properly, you Will have the same effect, your mind will be clear. Don't fight your thoughts. Just watch your thouts coming in and out and do not act on it ,just relax your mind. Your mind is like the waves , it will continue to hit your mind , just watch it and accept it.

It is never a simple exercise, it would not happen like you feel the  sweat after a jogging exercise. After many attempts, you will feel a bit comfortable and calmness will prevail. Just keep at it like Tai Chi and qigong, you have to practice consistently before you feel it. Once you feel it ,just go for it and make it part of you.

Namaste.

Hotel Hyatt in Taipei , Taiwan

Hotel Hyatt is next to the Taipei 101 and there are many tall building in the area housing many supermarkets. There are also several night markets around the area.

Last night, I visited the Linjiang night market and I have the experience of  the Taiwanese Tofu. It is not smelly but one bite is enough to sent you to whichever place you do not want or want  to go. One person's poison is another person's meat.  Good experience and hopefully, it will not destroy my feelings for Tofu.

Namaste.

Joy of living - a reflection of what I have learn.

I have read a few chapters of the book and find it very enlightening from a different angle.  I have read many Buddhist books by the Dalai  Lama, Ajahn Chad and many others and  the writer Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche combined the  Buddhist philosophy with the scientific findings of  the West to show its similarity and to present a complete picture of the Mind. Interesting revelation and I will pursue to read on.

One of the interesting point is that the Mind is not in the brain and the Mind is like a symphony without a conductor with each group of cells playing their  parts in a pattern to play out the music. The patten have is set of behaviour which is formed by past experience. I have played in a band and during the jam sessions, each of the band members have alibi within the sync to express our feelings. It was a wonderful feeling and after the session, we will be in a complete resting stage. I think the writer is trying to express the process of the mind in this abstract and subtle way.

Yes, I agree with the writer that Buddhism is a way of life as I have mentioned before and  it has alot of scientific support.  Buddha, the Great Teacher have attained Enlightenment  and have awaken. He achieved a break through in the vastness of the Mind and unlocked its greatness. He did not keep it to himself  and he spread it to his disciples so that people can use his experience to live a purpose and meaningful life and enjoy pure happiness.

There a lot of people who attempted meditation and want to see immediate results ,just like eating and after that you feel full and satisfy. However, meditation needs constant training and you should measure the result after each attempt. Each attempt could come to nothing and you should expect it and accept it, Relax and flow with the breath and when it come, it will come.  In the process, there should be no expectation but total relaxation following the breath and  fully aware of our thoughts. If you do it correctly and persistently, it will achieve glimpse of enlightenment or total peace. Once, you taste the sweetness, you will understand. Like the writer say in his book, if you give a sweet to a mute, the mute will know the sweetness but he will not know how to tell you.

So , good luck to all of you . Try it and sweetness will come one day. Meanwhile, I will read on and learn from this young  Buddhist Master.

Namaste.

Taipei 101 - 2nd tallest building in the world

Which is the tallest of them all ? A few years ago, the KL twin tower was the tallest building in the world and it was over taken by Taipei 101 and now there is a competition between Shanghai Tower and Dubai Tower ? There is no end to this competition and our PM Najib is considering another big one in KL.

Prestige and image is important. Being the tallest illustrate skill and ability at the expense of necessity. The Hyatt Hotel in Taipei is next to 101. The building looks magnificent and it is rock solid among the tall buildings.

There is a Chinese saying " there is always another mountain taller than this one" . Nobody have the absolute intelligence in all fields. There is always a cleverer one in another field. Lets live in humility.

Namaste.

Wesak Day -17th of May 2011

Wesak Day is observed by devotees to celebrate Buddha's birthday, enlightenment and achievement of Nirvana.

From very early in the morning devotees flock to temples to meditate as well as participate in candle-lit processions.

As a sign of benevolence, doves are set free and other charitable acts are also performed by devotees such as providing free meals. Monks usually gather to chant sacred sutras all day long.

Yesterday was Mother's Day

This is a belated greetings to all the Mothers. You have been doing a marvellous job in raising your children and keeping them from harm's way.  Your greatness and sacrifice is beyond comparison or description. Bravo and cheers to all of you. Never give up and keep trying.

I came from a big family, three sisters and two brothers. My mother and father work hard to raise all of us and make us what we are today. Honest, hardworking and God fearing. Every time, I think of my mother, I regretted for not spending enough time with her. After graduation, I was always on the move and have plenty of activities like playing a band and mixing with my friends.  I took my mum for granted and when she was gone, I told myself that I should have known better. Time and age spares no one.

During the festivals, my mum would make several good dishes and we can eat all we want. All the chicken, pork and meat. We are a meaty family and we especially like the fatty portion of the pork. This is the Cantonese culture. We grill, fried and steam all kind of meat especially the pig knuckles. By the way, I was told that now, the trend of favoring fatty pork are coming back because it has anti-aging qualities.  This could be true because the Chinese believe that skin will nourish the skin and the knuckles will benefit the joints and the brain will benefit our brains.  I am not joking here. When I was young and before I go for any exams, my mum will cook alot of brains for me so that I can remember things. Yes, coming to think about it, it  is abit messy and hopefully, it is true. My mum know what is best for me.

This is the trust we have in our mothers. They always give the best to us and when we are sick, they gave us love and passion. They are not far away as we grow and when we get married, we treat our spouse better than them. Our mothers provide for us and groom us into useful human beings and yet, we married, we provide for our spouse more than her. Yes, we have to start a family and we should have mutual respects for our partner but lets know forget those who gave birth to us and provide for us. They are the greatest Mother.

However, lets not forget , this coming weekend is the Father's Day.  To all the great fathers, bravo and cheers to you as well. You work hard to make our day and you protect us when we are in danger.  You have discharge your duties passionately and became a model to the boys. Keep it coming and make your family a happy one.  Happy Father's Day.

Namaste.

Flow with time ... just relax and drift.

When I wake up this morning , I am face with another Monday blues as I forced myself to get ready for work. Time really move so fast and this is the beginning of a new week. Whether I resist it or accept and move on with time is not a choice as I have a full day's commitment before leaving on a trip to Taiwan. I have to accept it and flow with time and this makes it easier on me.

Once, I read a book about the crabs under the river bed. To hold on their positions, the crabs will hold on tight to the rocks and resist the downward current to maintain their place. There is so much familiarity in the spot they holding and so much uncertainties flowing down the river. We are in the complacent mode as this is our natural to hold on to the familiar surroundings. We just cannot let go as the fear starts to eat us up. However, one of the crab decided to let go and flow down the river and as he pass all the other crabs, he wave at them. All the other crabs just laugh at him and say that he is going to die. However, the crab which let go of his grip found a better muddy place at the mouth of the river and so much more food and friends around him. Just let go and flow with Master Time and you will feel more relax and enjoying.

All of us only go through life once and what is the use of living in a routine and feel comfortable about it. We should break out and flow and live with Time. It will never come back again and what is gone is gone. We are full of bondage , knots and restrictions. We keep thinking of others and forget our self. We are walking in routines and in  meaningless circles. We are thinking that what we are doing is the best and not to rock the boat. So small is our world and we think it is the best for us.

Break out and be liberated.  Look for the things you want to do in life before it is too late. Don't hold on to your beliefs to tight , be open and receptive. Flow with Time and drift with your desires. Breaking your box or your taboos as I know that you want to break free. Break free to live again. Don't wait, do it now.

Namaste.