Every night before we sleep, we wonder what if tomorrow never come. What will happen then? Have we say all the things we want to say or do all the things we want to do? We always assume that we will live the next day. The sun will be up and the wind will continue to blow. The thought of tomorrow may not come is when we are sick or in old age. Our habit is to procastinate the things to do or say for another day.
I have written an article that "live is uncertain, death is certain" about a very successful banker in Malaysia who die at a mid age of 60 plus. Another friend told me that he had a rich friend at 51, who took leave from his business in Penang to help his daughter to move her home in Australia and he died of acute ppendicities. When he was in pain, he was given pain killers by her daughter's doctor friends and the next day, the pain persist and he was rushed to hospital and he died of complications. Fate has its own ways and behave misterously.
So, lets live the day and do whatever we want to do and say whatever we want to say to our loved ones. Don't wait to rekindle your love and passions for them. Treat today as its last and enjoy every moment of it.
We should leave our will or words behind to ensure intention is known to our executors. Nothing is right or wrong and what other thinks is not important or matters anymore. The show must go on and our role on the stage is finished. We have to accept this fact.
In our daily life, we can do whatever we can to exercise regularly, eat properly and fine tune our mind-body condition and change our life style to ensure that we are well to live in ripe old age. All these preparation will help to preserve and prolong our health life but in the end, the outcome is never guaranteed to be in our own way.
I have friends who sacrifice their health for wealth or to ensure their the children is properly taken care or ensure a good life for them. Well, we can only our best but we should forget that we have own life to live and we should live it well. Like I say many times, we have be fair to ourself and live out our dreams and live without regret.
My message to all of you is that never hold back your feelings and never shy to express yourself or your desire. Not only that. Don't hold back because of someone's feeling as long as it don't hurt anyone. It is your life and your choice. You travel through your life only once and it will never be the same again.
Namaste.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
China's Long March
It was one of the famous phase in History when Chairman Mao of China lead his comrades on a Long March overing thousands of miles across China to avoid the Kumintang.Thousands of soldiers died on the way. This insight of the experience was revealed to me after watching the movie "Special forces". There have been many films on rescue mission in the East Eurpean countries and in the Middle East but this was quite a different one.
The story line tell of a French women journalizt who was caught by the Taliban in Pakistan because she wrote several articles about the brutality of the Taliban warloads.Finally, the spiritual leader ordered the kitnap and killing of this journalist. This news initiated a rescue mission which involves 6 French special forces.The actors and actress speak their own languages. The Americans speak English, the French spoke in french, the Pakistanis speak their local dialects. The rescue mission was initially a success until they lost their radio contacts and fleed from the Talibans.
The group of soliders and the female journalizt fleed to the mountains closely tracked by the Talibans.
While fleeding from their trackers, they pass through waste lands, hills, mountains,snow, cold rain, snipers, their attackers. Four of the special forces were killed while two were injured and finally, the lady journalist have to gone on by herself through a long stretch of deserts into Afganistan. Finally, she lead the French forces back into Pakistan to rescue the two inured soliders. All is well, ends well. It was a correct decision to push the lady to carry out the final mission. Otherwise, all of them could have been dead. ALthough, the story line have abit of the twist and turns but the acting was good and scenes were real as it was filmed in the mountainous terrains of Pakistan and Afganistan.
The show of comradeship and the scarifice of each member of the mission and their professional attitude towards executing a job shows enormous amount of teamwork spirit. It is not that they love to die on the mission but they die for a purpose and intention. In times of trouble, thier real characters will be revealed.
Everyone of us have a mission or a purpose to do something great. It maybe for your own self or for your loved ones, your village, your town , your country and the world. Just do it well alone or in a team. It maybe successful or it is a failure or you may die on the way, let fate die as you marches on with no regrets.
Namaste.
The story line tell of a French women journalizt who was caught by the Taliban in Pakistan because she wrote several articles about the brutality of the Taliban warloads.Finally, the spiritual leader ordered the kitnap and killing of this journalist. This news initiated a rescue mission which involves 6 French special forces.The actors and actress speak their own languages. The Americans speak English, the French spoke in french, the Pakistanis speak their local dialects. The rescue mission was initially a success until they lost their radio contacts and fleed from the Talibans.
The group of soliders and the female journalizt fleed to the mountains closely tracked by the Talibans.
While fleeding from their trackers, they pass through waste lands, hills, mountains,snow, cold rain, snipers, their attackers. Four of the special forces were killed while two were injured and finally, the lady journalist have to gone on by herself through a long stretch of deserts into Afganistan. Finally, she lead the French forces back into Pakistan to rescue the two inured soliders. All is well, ends well. It was a correct decision to push the lady to carry out the final mission. Otherwise, all of them could have been dead. ALthough, the story line have abit of the twist and turns but the acting was good and scenes were real as it was filmed in the mountainous terrains of Pakistan and Afganistan.
The show of comradeship and the scarifice of each member of the mission and their professional attitude towards executing a job shows enormous amount of teamwork spirit. It is not that they love to die on the mission but they die for a purpose and intention. In times of trouble, thier real characters will be revealed.
Everyone of us have a mission or a purpose to do something great. It maybe for your own self or for your loved ones, your village, your town , your country and the world. Just do it well alone or in a team. It maybe successful or it is a failure or you may die on the way, let fate die as you marches on with no regrets.
Namaste.
The Earth Hour
I am now in total darkness and operating my laptop using the battery. If I don't the laptop, the battery will run flat out. Maybe,you think that it is only my excuse. Well, it is half truth. If I don't use my battery, the battery could run abit longer after the Earth hour observation.
I just want to share this insight with my readers. Learning to live in darkness is a very good experience. We cut out the radio and the TV and we are not distracted and we come back to ourself. We have the chance to be with ourself and our thoughts. It is a very rare opportunity that we can be with ourself in darkness apart from the time, when you are drifting off to sleep.
Most of the time, we are doing things for others or rushing here and there for others and ourself and there is no moment of break and for us to quiet down and bring our thoughts and awareness to ourselves. If we look back in the years that have passed, how many times we have slowed down and think for ourself. The rat race and chasing for wealth and fame keeps driving us at full speed.
Living in darkness is like listening and not talking. I liken "not talking" is good listening or small talking. After we listen thoroughly first, then we analyse and reply. This habit and managed response is the best means of communication. If we shoot off at each remarkor comments from our companions, then we can make a lot of mistakes or wrong judgements. The same principle of living in darkness, we can focus internally or travel inside our mind and observe and have a proper understanding of ourselves.
So, folks, with a bit of hardship or inconvenience, we should not only obsever this one hour of darkness during this earth day but consistently to have such moments of living in darkness to preserve energy and save the mother Earth. So, Oh Shanti!
Namaste.
I just want to share this insight with my readers. Learning to live in darkness is a very good experience. We cut out the radio and the TV and we are not distracted and we come back to ourself. We have the chance to be with ourself and our thoughts. It is a very rare opportunity that we can be with ourself in darkness apart from the time, when you are drifting off to sleep.
Most of the time, we are doing things for others or rushing here and there for others and ourself and there is no moment of break and for us to quiet down and bring our thoughts and awareness to ourselves. If we look back in the years that have passed, how many times we have slowed down and think for ourself. The rat race and chasing for wealth and fame keeps driving us at full speed.
Living in darkness is like listening and not talking. I liken "not talking" is good listening or small talking. After we listen thoroughly first, then we analyse and reply. This habit and managed response is the best means of communication. If we shoot off at each remarkor comments from our companions, then we can make a lot of mistakes or wrong judgements. The same principle of living in darkness, we can focus internally or travel inside our mind and observe and have a proper understanding of ourselves.
So, folks, with a bit of hardship or inconvenience, we should not only obsever this one hour of darkness during this earth day but consistently to have such moments of living in darkness to preserve energy and save the mother Earth. So, Oh Shanti!
Namaste.
If you believe , truth is not necessary
The full philosophy is "If you believe, truth is not necessary but if you don't believe, truth is not enough". This another insight I receive from watching the TV series, "the criminal mind". If you look at the philosophy deelply, you will understand the basic nature of the human mind and behaviour.
This philosophy also illustrate the wide spread belief in supernatural, fung shui, bomoh mind reading or palm reading,etc. Because of this nature, some people can be very superstitious and do not want to understand logic. Just like my article on Ching Ming, the Chinese all souls' day. We give offering of real food to our ancestals and invite them to "eat" first and we eat the real food afterwards. It defies logic and common sense but we keep this custom alive without thinking rationally.
I have also told you that during CNY, Chinese New Year, I was praying with burning joss sticks to the "Goddes of Mercy" and this foreigner told photograph of the people praying and looking amazed and in disbelief. At the temple after we plant the joss sticks into the urns, the caretaker will quickly take out some times within minutes and perhaps, he can re-cycle more later and re-sale and raise funds for the temple. I find it illogical but I have been doing it for years. The belief is that the joss sticks is served to feed the "Gods".
Now, we are in the 21st century yet we still kept this mentality and live in a confused state of mind. However, the belief in our mind can do marvellous and have incredible power. If we believe that we are creativethen we are creative. If we believe we can break the 9 seconds mark in the 100 metre, you can do it if you focus and believe you have the skill. People like Usain Bolt thinks that he can do it and he is moving towards it. Such happenings help to keep this belief alive.
There are many unexplanable things that happen because of the mind and also our strong belief. It works for different people. For some people, they believe that there is ghost but for others, it is all in our mind and no such dimension exist in this world.
Lets drift in this uncertainty and let our wisdom and experience drive us to where we are but at the same time be aware of the Mind.
Namaste.
This philosophy also illustrate the wide spread belief in supernatural, fung shui, bomoh mind reading or palm reading,etc. Because of this nature, some people can be very superstitious and do not want to understand logic. Just like my article on Ching Ming, the Chinese all souls' day. We give offering of real food to our ancestals and invite them to "eat" first and we eat the real food afterwards. It defies logic and common sense but we keep this custom alive without thinking rationally.
I have also told you that during CNY, Chinese New Year, I was praying with burning joss sticks to the "Goddes of Mercy" and this foreigner told photograph of the people praying and looking amazed and in disbelief. At the temple after we plant the joss sticks into the urns, the caretaker will quickly take out some times within minutes and perhaps, he can re-cycle more later and re-sale and raise funds for the temple. I find it illogical but I have been doing it for years. The belief is that the joss sticks is served to feed the "Gods".
Now, we are in the 21st century yet we still kept this mentality and live in a confused state of mind. However, the belief in our mind can do marvellous and have incredible power. If we believe that we are creativethen we are creative. If we believe we can break the 9 seconds mark in the 100 metre, you can do it if you focus and believe you have the skill. People like Usain Bolt thinks that he can do it and he is moving towards it. Such happenings help to keep this belief alive.
There are many unexplanable things that happen because of the mind and also our strong belief. It works for different people. For some people, they believe that there is ghost but for others, it is all in our mind and no such dimension exist in this world.
Lets drift in this uncertainty and let our wisdom and experience drive us to where we are but at the same time be aware of the Mind.
Namaste.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Tonight's dinner at Tao Egate , Penang
My wife have to work late, so I cancel dinner with my 2nd sister and invite her and my daughter and her boyfriend to join me at Tao, a Japanese buffet restaurant at Egate, Penang. We have to reserve a place , otherwise, it was almost full house very night. For RM50 right, you get to eat a lot of varieties of Japanese food.
Of course, they have also alacate but the buffet wsa like that you can eat anything or any amount you like. My wife ordered sashimi, scallop, oyster, maki and rolls , chicken and back to sashimi and it went around and around with different varieties. This is actually very bad for health because we tend to eat more that we need to eat.
We ended with ice cream and ooffee by the end of the dinner, we have over eaten so many times and start to feel heavy My daughter and her boyfriend went over to Tesco to walk around while I sent my wife and my sister home.
Come to think about it, it was fairly cheap to eat in this type of buffet and it was like eat all you can and also at your own risk. We tend ot overeat because of our greed, not hunger.
Egate is filled with restaurants, pubs and cafe. At one end is Paparich and the other end is Starbuck coffee. Both ends were crowded with people and filled to full house. Maybe, tonight was a Friday night and most of the youngsters would take this time to hang out late as tomorrow is a rsst day. Egate is near the sea side but it si separated by a veyr wide road. It is impossible to cross over to the beach area and currently, the beach front is earmarked for property development by IJM who is developing " the light" in this area.
Well, I have been to the Tao several times and each time after eating there, I will shy away for a few months or a year as I will feel I have enough. IN chinese, Tao means the way. So, the way to our stomach or the way to food paradise and you can eat all you want.
My message is that enjoy the food but don't waste. It is s bad karma to waste food and pay back to bad karma is uncertain and depend on the timing. To all you folks, it is a choice that you must exercise " live to eat or eat to live. It is all up to you.
Namaste.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Why are we so protective ?
Human beings are very protective of themselves. Why? There are many reasons and one of them is from our experience. We are hurt by our fellow human beings or we see other people been hurt. From this experiences or sight, we form a protective barrier around us. There are layers and layers of such experiences as we live through our journey of life.
From these protective layers, we formulate a defensive plan to prevent us to be hurt. This defensive plan will prevent us to stretch ourselves to the maximum limits. Lets take a simple example,a bending exercise. When we bend forward to touch our toes, our body will stop the bending if we start to feel a pain in our back. This re-action prevent us from bending forward to touch our toes. If we force ourself, there will be more pain but we will be able to touch our toe. Our body and mind will stop us to exercise our body to the maximum.
Lets say one car suddenly come into your lane, your own protective instinct will make you stamp on the brakes or honk that fella or shout four letter words to scold them. The car could be three or four cars away but your body and mind will act without your controlling it. It is an auto pilot re-action.
The protective instinct also do not trust your own body. When your body feel the pain, you body will shy away from that action or though your body can perform the difficult action. In order to break this mindset, we have to learn to love and trust ourself. If we can remove the protective cover, we can do things which we cannot do in the past. Such action will deem impossible but we can do it now if we break the mindset.
Our body and mind have limitless ability and we must learn to unleash it if we are able to think positive and believe that we can. This ability lies within us and only we can do something about it or change it. It is the power to break a rock if we believe we can do it. Remove the protective instinct and live freely.
Namaste.
From these protective layers, we formulate a defensive plan to prevent us to be hurt. This defensive plan will prevent us to stretch ourselves to the maximum limits. Lets take a simple example,a bending exercise. When we bend forward to touch our toes, our body will stop the bending if we start to feel a pain in our back. This re-action prevent us from bending forward to touch our toes. If we force ourself, there will be more pain but we will be able to touch our toe. Our body and mind will stop us to exercise our body to the maximum.
Lets say one car suddenly come into your lane, your own protective instinct will make you stamp on the brakes or honk that fella or shout four letter words to scold them. The car could be three or four cars away but your body and mind will act without your controlling it. It is an auto pilot re-action.
The protective instinct also do not trust your own body. When your body feel the pain, you body will shy away from that action or though your body can perform the difficult action. In order to break this mindset, we have to learn to love and trust ourself. If we can remove the protective cover, we can do things which we cannot do in the past. Such action will deem impossible but we can do it now if we break the mindset.
Our body and mind have limitless ability and we must learn to unleash it if we are able to think positive and believe that we can. This ability lies within us and only we can do something about it or change it. It is the power to break a rock if we believe we can do it. Remove the protective instinct and live freely.
Namaste.
How I love thee? A book review
How do I love thee? Numbers tell all in book
Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:44AM EDT
By Elaine Lies
TOKYO (Reuters) - When a man thinks his partner is cheating on him, chances are fifty-fifty that he's right. But if a woman suspects her nearest and dearest of being unfaithful, she's correct a whopping 85 percent of the time.
Special intuition? No, simply numbers - as compiled in "Love by Numbers," a wide-ranging and sometimes wacky look at the figures and trends behind how and who people love, drawn up by Australian statistician John Croucher as a tongue-in-cheek way, so to speak, of making sense out of romance and sex.
"Ask men what makes their blood run cold when your partner says it to you and number one in all the surveys I've seen is, 'We have to talk.' Men don't want to talk and if she does she's either going to leave him, found somebody else or found something out about him," said Croucher, a professor at Macquarie University, as an example.
"The second one was 'Who was that woman I saw you talking to?' I think for women it was 'What's for dinner?'"
Among the many tidbits in Croucher's book, the result of years of research plus a study of people's behavior in speed dating, are things as disparate as the fact that 68 percent of men think a woman's invitation to have coffee is really an invitation to have sex, or that 11 percent of respondents in the United States have ended a relationship because of a cat.
Given that some 60 to 90 percent of physical communication between humans is due to unspoken signals, a sizeable chunk of the book is devoted to how to translate that body language in the most useful way.
Guys, want to look attractive to women? Wear a red shirt and chat up another woman - or better yet, two women. But if you're a woman, men find you more appealing if you're alone.
A woman who flips her hair or crosses her legs is trying to get a man's attention, as is one who strokes a rounded object like her drinks glass. But if she puts her purse behind her this is not a good sign - the bag is an extension of herself, and she's hiding.
Though Croucher acknowledges that some of the answers, particularly those dealing with sexual partners, are subject to some adjustment, many are a useful guide to how humans think.
"It just tells us about human nature, I suppose... It's like asking a man how tall he is, he'll add on 2 to 3 cm (0.8-1.2 inches) - but if you ask a woman her weight she'll take off 3 kg (6.6 lb)," he said.
"It's a fun thing but it's also a serious thing because you can actually look at the way the rest of the world behaves and their attitudes and human nature and relationships."
One of his personal favorites? The question about whether people would marry their current partner if they knew then what they know now - which in some cases yields negative replies from up to 70 percent of women.
"They ask people do you still believe in love at first sight and do you think you married your soulmate, and only 39 percent of people think they've married their soulmate," he said.
"Twenty-one percent thought they'd married their soulmate but turned out to be wrong, and 32 percent were sure that they didn't. So fewer than 2 in 5 married their soulmate."
Oh, and to answer another one of a relationship's more treacherous questions: 52 percent of men say they would lie if asked by their partner, "Does my bum look big in this?"
(Writing by Elaine Lies, editing by Paul Casciato)
Wed Mar 28, 2012 8:44AM EDT
By Elaine Lies
TOKYO (Reuters) - When a man thinks his partner is cheating on him, chances are fifty-fifty that he's right. But if a woman suspects her nearest and dearest of being unfaithful, she's correct a whopping 85 percent of the time.
Special intuition? No, simply numbers - as compiled in "Love by Numbers," a wide-ranging and sometimes wacky look at the figures and trends behind how and who people love, drawn up by Australian statistician John Croucher as a tongue-in-cheek way, so to speak, of making sense out of romance and sex.
"Ask men what makes their blood run cold when your partner says it to you and number one in all the surveys I've seen is, 'We have to talk.' Men don't want to talk and if she does she's either going to leave him, found somebody else or found something out about him," said Croucher, a professor at Macquarie University, as an example.
"The second one was 'Who was that woman I saw you talking to?' I think for women it was 'What's for dinner?'"
Among the many tidbits in Croucher's book, the result of years of research plus a study of people's behavior in speed dating, are things as disparate as the fact that 68 percent of men think a woman's invitation to have coffee is really an invitation to have sex, or that 11 percent of respondents in the United States have ended a relationship because of a cat.
Given that some 60 to 90 percent of physical communication between humans is due to unspoken signals, a sizeable chunk of the book is devoted to how to translate that body language in the most useful way.
Guys, want to look attractive to women? Wear a red shirt and chat up another woman - or better yet, two women. But if you're a woman, men find you more appealing if you're alone.
A woman who flips her hair or crosses her legs is trying to get a man's attention, as is one who strokes a rounded object like her drinks glass. But if she puts her purse behind her this is not a good sign - the bag is an extension of herself, and she's hiding.
Though Croucher acknowledges that some of the answers, particularly those dealing with sexual partners, are subject to some adjustment, many are a useful guide to how humans think.
"It just tells us about human nature, I suppose... It's like asking a man how tall he is, he'll add on 2 to 3 cm (0.8-1.2 inches) - but if you ask a woman her weight she'll take off 3 kg (6.6 lb)," he said.
"It's a fun thing but it's also a serious thing because you can actually look at the way the rest of the world behaves and their attitudes and human nature and relationships."
One of his personal favorites? The question about whether people would marry their current partner if they knew then what they know now - which in some cases yields negative replies from up to 70 percent of women.
"They ask people do you still believe in love at first sight and do you think you married your soulmate, and only 39 percent of people think they've married their soulmate," he said.
"Twenty-one percent thought they'd married their soulmate but turned out to be wrong, and 32 percent were sure that they didn't. So fewer than 2 in 5 married their soulmate."
Oh, and to answer another one of a relationship's more treacherous questions: 52 percent of men say they would lie if asked by their partner, "Does my bum look big in this?"
(Writing by Elaine Lies, editing by Paul Casciato)
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Rule of law - Dato Ambiga
I was invited by my friend, Teong for a buffet dinner at the Penang Club. I went there with my wife and the speaker for the occasion was Dato Ambiga. The dinner was sumptous and plentiful to eat. The crowd consist of the older folks like me was orderly and nice. I had a variety of food and I glut it down with a glass of beer at the courtesy of Teong. He told his wife that he drink because I drink and I took my wife the same reason for my drinking . HOpefully, these two wowen would not talk about drinking.
Penang Club is a private club behind Citibank at Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah.It is a place for professionals to gather for lunch and a place for drinks in the evening. The club is the only place where they have a all male bar. It has been constantly redicule by the fair sex.They have their own reason for the peculiar rule.
Well, the topic for the night was rule by rule and Dato Ambiga was very well versed in this topic as she was a former Bar council chairperson and the leader for " Bersih". The rule of law means let the natural justice prevail as well as it should have an independent enforcement. We should have an independent judiciary system, An impartial police, a strong bar council and a fearless group of lawyers. The system must ensure the rule of law operate without hindrance.
Dato Ambiga is fearless against corruption and very much against the rule by law interpreted by the Police , MACC and A-G chambers. It is an oppression of the people's right and being very unfair.
The dinner run into the late night and at 10pm while the question and answers were on going.I am abit tired as it was already my bedtime.
Dato was a very good speaker and it is natural chatty as she is a lawyer by profession. She was awarded "the most couragious women's award". No doubt. her appearance was tough and fearless.Running Bersih is no easily task and during the last Bersih2 she was almost suffocated by the tear gas.
We have to stand up to fear and if we fear "fear" , we will be intimidated and suppressed. We have to stand up to corruption and injustice and let there be a voting where the better man win instead of money politics or by way of cheating.
Syabas to courage and no to fear
Namaste.
Penang Club is a private club behind Citibank at Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah.It is a place for professionals to gather for lunch and a place for drinks in the evening. The club is the only place where they have a all male bar. It has been constantly redicule by the fair sex.They have their own reason for the peculiar rule.
Well, the topic for the night was rule by rule and Dato Ambiga was very well versed in this topic as she was a former Bar council chairperson and the leader for " Bersih". The rule of law means let the natural justice prevail as well as it should have an independent enforcement. We should have an independent judiciary system, An impartial police, a strong bar council and a fearless group of lawyers. The system must ensure the rule of law operate without hindrance.
Dato Ambiga is fearless against corruption and very much against the rule by law interpreted by the Police , MACC and A-G chambers. It is an oppression of the people's right and being very unfair.
The dinner run into the late night and at 10pm while the question and answers were on going.I am abit tired as it was already my bedtime.
Dato was a very good speaker and it is natural chatty as she is a lawyer by profession. She was awarded "the most couragious women's award". No doubt. her appearance was tough and fearless.Running Bersih is no easily task and during the last Bersih2 she was almost suffocated by the tear gas.
We have to stand up to fear and if we fear "fear" , we will be intimidated and suppressed. We have to stand up to corruption and injustice and let there be a voting where the better man win instead of money politics or by way of cheating.
Syabas to courage and no to fear
Namaste.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Down memory lane - Georgetown.
Last night, I drove through Georgetown, the town I grew up. During my younger days, I used to walk to Campbell street and Penang road. These are the two main roads fill with shops and it was always bright with many shoppers filing up these two roads until late in the night.
In the town area, there was a few cinemas. The Cathay Cinema, the Odeon, the Majestic, the Rex theatre and the new world park and many more line the streets around these two main roads. Hawkers also line the streets and doing roaring business.
Last night, the images of these great places lie in ruin and most of the cinemas has moved to the Malls like the Prangin Mall, the Gurney plaza, the I-Avenue,etc. The malls have taken away the lights and the shine from these two roads and make the heart of the town like a ghost town with most of the places in darkness.
Another reason for this happening was the creation of new township like Farlim, Bayan Baru and Tanjung Tokong. These township also draw away the crowds and pull the traffic away from the town center.
Gradually, the town was reduced to what it is today. A shade of her glomerous past. The damage have been done and it will take a long time to revive it to its glorious old days. Yes, the process has just began and as O drove through the town, there are spots of activities and the spark is getting brighter by the day. The foreigners are coming back to enjoy its great history and heritage.
It was a town for the back packers but it is now attractive to foreign investors who have been live in this great place. The town is now revive to attract tourist from all through Asia and Europe. Being designated as a heritage site has propel the island into a group of tourist who are poetic and enjoy great cultures and history. Romancing the past is an enjoyment for many.
In the Chinese saying, the Fung Shui is turning in a circle and every 19 years , the good fortune will return. Hopefully, this is the case for Penang. The brightness will return and the shine will come back. The light will chase away the darkness and the beauty will return.
Namaste.
A newly open Italian restaurant, Via Pre, Penang
Dinner at Via Pre , a newly open Italian Restaurant
Last night, I took my daughter and my sisters to a newly open Italian restaurant near to the Penang Ferry Terminal. It is called Via Pre and it is operated by real Italian expatriates. It is located on the same side as the British Council and near the office of DSOP, an office equipment supplier. The building is very old and is now under renovation. You have to slow down your car or vehicle to notice the restaurant as it was hardly noticeable from the outside.
The restaurant was not very big and it house about 12 tables and it was by reservation as the restaurant was always full. The design is a typical Italian restaurant with cool lights and Italian plates and glasses. It was full last night but as the dining guest leave, it was fortunate that we can grap a table. The restaurant must be very new as the waiters were not organized and the services were poor. The ordering is through the owner who speaks English with an Italian slang especially the words “ Fork on the table” and “ peace on you”. Well , just a light bits of jokes here.
We ordered pizza , different types of sphegetti and Italian pork chop . We shared among all of us and it was actually quite filling.. At the last, we ordered, cakes and tiramitsu. The pizza was excellent and for 5 person, the bill was RM461.00. I have warned all of you that it was pricey especially when we did not ordered wine or beer. It was an experience I wanted to have as some of my friends have tried out the joint and they have been talking infront of me. Maybe, it is just ego or an adventuring spirit , I don’t really know.
Lately, there are many such joints in Penang heritage town. The town is still gloomy and dark at night but gradually, the State Government is revitalizing the town and make it more lively with drinking joints, fast food and fashionable boutiques and shopes. The town is gradually been lighted up and this is the good job of the new State Government. Give them another term, I think the whole Penang will be a fun place in the night time.
With such development, the price of land and building have shot up to RM2,000 per sq ft and it has gone beyond the reach of wage earners but it has attracted many foreign investors who have been buying pre-war houses and turn it into hotels, motels and food joints. This is good for tourist trade and make Penang well known in the world. Of course, there are good points and bad points. It we leave it as a ghost town, it is still alright for some as they do not want changes and arm chair critics can start yelling and shouting of poor management. All these clowns is their plying trade.
To all those wonderful people who enjoys eating, please be reminded or be careful of the fat bill if you ever decide to try the joint.
Namaste.
Last night, I took my daughter and my sisters to a newly open Italian restaurant near to the Penang Ferry Terminal. It is called Via Pre and it is operated by real Italian expatriates. It is located on the same side as the British Council and near the office of DSOP, an office equipment supplier. The building is very old and is now under renovation. You have to slow down your car or vehicle to notice the restaurant as it was hardly noticeable from the outside.
The restaurant was not very big and it house about 12 tables and it was by reservation as the restaurant was always full. The design is a typical Italian restaurant with cool lights and Italian plates and glasses. It was full last night but as the dining guest leave, it was fortunate that we can grap a table. The restaurant must be very new as the waiters were not organized and the services were poor. The ordering is through the owner who speaks English with an Italian slang especially the words “ Fork on the table” and “ peace on you”. Well , just a light bits of jokes here.
We ordered pizza , different types of sphegetti and Italian pork chop . We shared among all of us and it was actually quite filling.. At the last, we ordered, cakes and tiramitsu. The pizza was excellent and for 5 person, the bill was RM461.00. I have warned all of you that it was pricey especially when we did not ordered wine or beer. It was an experience I wanted to have as some of my friends have tried out the joint and they have been talking infront of me. Maybe, it is just ego or an adventuring spirit , I don’t really know.
Lately, there are many such joints in Penang heritage town. The town is still gloomy and dark at night but gradually, the State Government is revitalizing the town and make it more lively with drinking joints, fast food and fashionable boutiques and shopes. The town is gradually been lighted up and this is the good job of the new State Government. Give them another term, I think the whole Penang will be a fun place in the night time.
With such development, the price of land and building have shot up to RM2,000 per sq ft and it has gone beyond the reach of wage earners but it has attracted many foreign investors who have been buying pre-war houses and turn it into hotels, motels and food joints. This is good for tourist trade and make Penang well known in the world. Of course, there are good points and bad points. It we leave it as a ghost town, it is still alright for some as they do not want changes and arm chair critics can start yelling and shouting of poor management. All these clowns is their plying trade.
To all those wonderful people who enjoys eating, please be reminded or be careful of the fat bill if you ever decide to try the joint.
Namaste.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Dinner at 8 rows again.
Last friday, I had a family dinner with my SIL, G at 8 row. This time, my wife did all the ordering. We had Taiwanese noodles, their famous buns, fried chicken and some tim sum items. The taste was good and the price acceptable.
We have not met G for some time especially when she is back from Bangkok for a month now. G have been travelling to Singapore and KL and have been keeping herself busy since her husband, J passed away last November. It has been 5 months since then. I know that she is trying to move on with her life. It is not an easy thing as memories will keep on haunting her. Our monkey mind will keep playing tricks on us and keep pulling us back into our past to relive the good moments.
I could see that her white hair on her head is getting more. Appearance for a women is very important and they will do anything to look younger unless she has given up in life or change her priority and live for the day.
ONce, I had a lunch meeting with L and she told me that our old habits die hard and we would change our ways and get out of our comfort zone until something happen and change our focus and way of living. In my previous article, I have wrote about my brother who became more withdran after his heart by-pass. I notice that he is getting back to be himself slowly and surely over time. I hope G will do the same. To get on with her life.
During the dinner, she kept talking and talking about everything just keep herself busy. Loneliness can be very frightening if we are not prepared as past mmeories can be very painful and hurting. For all of us, it is very difficult to let go of our fond memories.
LIving our past has become part of our life and we have to live with it and be friend with it. The more we attempt to force out these memories, the stronger is the re-action and we will be hurt in the process.
Namaste.
We have not met G for some time especially when she is back from Bangkok for a month now. G have been travelling to Singapore and KL and have been keeping herself busy since her husband, J passed away last November. It has been 5 months since then. I know that she is trying to move on with her life. It is not an easy thing as memories will keep on haunting her. Our monkey mind will keep playing tricks on us and keep pulling us back into our past to relive the good moments.
I could see that her white hair on her head is getting more. Appearance for a women is very important and they will do anything to look younger unless she has given up in life or change her priority and live for the day.
ONce, I had a lunch meeting with L and she told me that our old habits die hard and we would change our ways and get out of our comfort zone until something happen and change our focus and way of living. In my previous article, I have wrote about my brother who became more withdran after his heart by-pass. I notice that he is getting back to be himself slowly and surely over time. I hope G will do the same. To get on with her life.
During the dinner, she kept talking and talking about everything just keep herself busy. Loneliness can be very frightening if we are not prepared as past mmeories can be very painful and hurting. For all of us, it is very difficult to let go of our fond memories.
LIving our past has become part of our life and we have to live with it and be friend with it. The more we attempt to force out these memories, the stronger is the re-action and we will be hurt in the process.
Namaste.
Loneliness, my friend.
In our journey through life, there are many moments that we are alone by ourself . For some people, this becomes a fear and for some, it is a blessing to be alone. Loneliness mean different things to different people. Why do we need to feel loneliness?
Many of us fear to eat alone or travel alone or even sleep alone. It may give the impression that we have friends or no one loves us. To be successful, we should have many good friends and people want to be with us. This is a wrong perception. What is more important is what is our real need. When we are lonely, we have the space to be with ourself and this is the most important companion to us. Not others , making noise, laughing , talking , eating ,etc . Yes, the most important person in our life is ourself.
Loneliness is our friend. Our best friend. It is the moment we are in touch with our own self and we should treasure these precious moments when our friend , loneliness is with us. We can talk to ourself , re-set our priority, do the things we like and enjoy the peace and tranquility without having to take care of other people’s feelings.
If we feel scare if we are alone, it means that we are not confident of facing our ownself. If we love ourself hen we should treasure the private moments. Why don’t we like ourselves ? If we love ourself than other people will love us. Our love for ourself is like magnet which pulls others to love or like us. Why is it not right to love ourselves? It is our basic right to be ourself and love ourself and this is our choice. No other people can decide for us.
During one of my yoga session, my teacher asked all of us to declare our fear and my teacher’s fear is to be lonely and not like by other people. When my wife know this , she quietly to me that it is okay to be lonely and why should be scare of loneliness? Why should we depend on others to make ourself happy? Loneliness is a friend and not a monster or a demon. Yes, I concur with her on this perception. It is okay to be alone and do the things by ourself.
This afternoon, I was having a conversation with my sister , Jo and she told me that she find peacefulness in the quiet of the night. If we treat loneliness as our friend, then we will welcome lonely times. I told Jo that when we are lonely, we could also find peace through meditations. We can have the time to travel inside us and know ourself more . By knowing ourself , we will be able to control our mind and body to fulfill what we set to do and find the purpose in our life to be a better person.
Some people just switch on the songs and music and occupy themselves and draw the attention away from their ownself. This is the wrong thing to do, if we have the chance we shall face ourself and make friend with ourself and explore our own potential after knowing more about ourself.
It is your own journey and we have to find ourself in time of loneliness . Lonliness is our friend.
Many of us fear to eat alone or travel alone or even sleep alone. It may give the impression that we have friends or no one loves us. To be successful, we should have many good friends and people want to be with us. This is a wrong perception. What is more important is what is our real need. When we are lonely, we have the space to be with ourself and this is the most important companion to us. Not others , making noise, laughing , talking , eating ,etc . Yes, the most important person in our life is ourself.
Loneliness is our friend. Our best friend. It is the moment we are in touch with our own self and we should treasure these precious moments when our friend , loneliness is with us. We can talk to ourself , re-set our priority, do the things we like and enjoy the peace and tranquility without having to take care of other people’s feelings.
If we feel scare if we are alone, it means that we are not confident of facing our ownself. If we love ourself hen we should treasure the private moments. Why don’t we like ourselves ? If we love ourself than other people will love us. Our love for ourself is like magnet which pulls others to love or like us. Why is it not right to love ourselves? It is our basic right to be ourself and love ourself and this is our choice. No other people can decide for us.
During one of my yoga session, my teacher asked all of us to declare our fear and my teacher’s fear is to be lonely and not like by other people. When my wife know this , she quietly to me that it is okay to be lonely and why should be scare of loneliness? Why should we depend on others to make ourself happy? Loneliness is a friend and not a monster or a demon. Yes, I concur with her on this perception. It is okay to be alone and do the things by ourself.
This afternoon, I was having a conversation with my sister , Jo and she told me that she find peacefulness in the quiet of the night. If we treat loneliness as our friend, then we will welcome lonely times. I told Jo that when we are lonely, we could also find peace through meditations. We can have the time to travel inside us and know ourself more . By knowing ourself , we will be able to control our mind and body to fulfill what we set to do and find the purpose in our life to be a better person.
Some people just switch on the songs and music and occupy themselves and draw the attention away from their ownself. This is the wrong thing to do, if we have the chance we shall face ourself and make friend with ourself and explore our own potential after knowing more about ourself.
It is your own journey and we have to find ourself in time of loneliness . Lonliness is our friend.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Chinese All Souls Day : "Cheng Ming"
I just came back from visiting my deceased Parent's resting place in one of the temple's match box apartment in Mount Eskine. My Parents have been desd for many years and it has been my family's duty to visit them once a year. My parents are believers in Toaist and we have been carrying out the Taoist ritual for them every year. In one of my article, I have expressed doubts whether they are able to receive our offerings to them.
In modern times, we offered them paper Iphones, Ipads, TVs and the latest TV series, etc. All these things end in smoke and we hold the believe that they will be able to receive all these offerings. We hold on to the hope and that keep us alive.
During the ritual, we burn joss sticks and candles for them and we offer the favorite food of our parent. We arrange all the food on the table and we invite them to eat. The food are real edible cooked food or cookies. After arranging the food and lighting up the candles, we will take two coins and toss on the ground to ask my deceased parents whether they are ready to it. If the result of the coins is a head and a tail, this means they are here to eat or they are eating already. If both the coins showed heads, it means they are not ready but they are grateful for the offering and if it is both tails, they are laughing at us. So, we have to keep on tossing the coins until it is a head and a tail.
After getting the nod that my deceased parents are ready to eat, we will have to wait for them to finished eating. How can we know whether they have finished or not ?. Yes, again, we have to toss the coins to get a head and a tail to indicate that they have finished eating the offerings. We are doubtful of this ritual but sometimes, it is very difficult to get the head and tail and we have to continue to waiting and tossing the coins again and again. Well, whether it is the right things to do or not, nobody knows and that is the reason why we still have the hope even if the procedure looks foolish. We have done it for more than 20 years now and why should we stop unless we can see the truth.
That is not the end. After getting the correct combination or result, we have to pack up all the edible food and bring one set of joss stick, one cup of wine and another cup of tea and all the paper offerings wiht some rice to the a designated area for burning all these offerings except the edible food. After burning all the paper offerings, we bring the food back to our home and we cook it for our lunch or dinner. This way we do not waste food. THis is a logical thingking.
But, to the christians, such offering or praying to the deceased parents is forbided. It is considered an offering to the devil. However, I don't agree to this belief and everyone of us have a choice to keep our belief and our hope. Whatever which make us feel good or happy, we have a choice to make. You can talk until the cows come home, it is still our choice. Don't judge us unless you want to be judge by others.
Next weekend is the real day of the "cheng ming" and the whole cemetery will be pack and the roads leaving to the cemetery will also be jam pack especially in Penang. However, for the christians, they also have their all souls' day and they only offer simple prayers and flowers.
The "cheng ming" is a cultural event and the offering of food is because in ancient China, the ancestal graves are located very far away from home. They have to travel on foot. So, the offering of edible food is for them to eat after the prayer session as lunch before they come back to their home. But, this practice has never changed since the invention of motor cars when the travelling is only within minutes and hour.
Unless we have a clear guidance from GOD or our creator, we can only guess what is right or wrong and follow the right path. In the meantime, we will continue to the things we think is right and let it to hope to carry the message to our beloved and deceased family members or friends.
Lets it be whatever is the outcome.
Namaste.
In modern times, we offered them paper Iphones, Ipads, TVs and the latest TV series, etc. All these things end in smoke and we hold the believe that they will be able to receive all these offerings. We hold on to the hope and that keep us alive.
During the ritual, we burn joss sticks and candles for them and we offer the favorite food of our parent. We arrange all the food on the table and we invite them to eat. The food are real edible cooked food or cookies. After arranging the food and lighting up the candles, we will take two coins and toss on the ground to ask my deceased parents whether they are ready to it. If the result of the coins is a head and a tail, this means they are here to eat or they are eating already. If both the coins showed heads, it means they are not ready but they are grateful for the offering and if it is both tails, they are laughing at us. So, we have to keep on tossing the coins until it is a head and a tail.
After getting the nod that my deceased parents are ready to eat, we will have to wait for them to finished eating. How can we know whether they have finished or not ?. Yes, again, we have to toss the coins to get a head and a tail to indicate that they have finished eating the offerings. We are doubtful of this ritual but sometimes, it is very difficult to get the head and tail and we have to continue to waiting and tossing the coins again and again. Well, whether it is the right things to do or not, nobody knows and that is the reason why we still have the hope even if the procedure looks foolish. We have done it for more than 20 years now and why should we stop unless we can see the truth.
That is not the end. After getting the correct combination or result, we have to pack up all the edible food and bring one set of joss stick, one cup of wine and another cup of tea and all the paper offerings wiht some rice to the a designated area for burning all these offerings except the edible food. After burning all the paper offerings, we bring the food back to our home and we cook it for our lunch or dinner. This way we do not waste food. THis is a logical thingking.
But, to the christians, such offering or praying to the deceased parents is forbided. It is considered an offering to the devil. However, I don't agree to this belief and everyone of us have a choice to keep our belief and our hope. Whatever which make us feel good or happy, we have a choice to make. You can talk until the cows come home, it is still our choice. Don't judge us unless you want to be judge by others.
Next weekend is the real day of the "cheng ming" and the whole cemetery will be pack and the roads leaving to the cemetery will also be jam pack especially in Penang. However, for the christians, they also have their all souls' day and they only offer simple prayers and flowers.
The "cheng ming" is a cultural event and the offering of food is because in ancient China, the ancestal graves are located very far away from home. They have to travel on foot. So, the offering of edible food is for them to eat after the prayer session as lunch before they come back to their home. But, this practice has never changed since the invention of motor cars when the travelling is only within minutes and hour.
Unless we have a clear guidance from GOD or our creator, we can only guess what is right or wrong and follow the right path. In the meantime, we will continue to the things we think is right and let it to hope to carry the message to our beloved and deceased family members or friends.
Lets it be whatever is the outcome.
Namaste.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
LIfe is uncertain, death is certain
I saw this obituary section in the newspaper today consoling the death of Roger Tan, a reputable ex-banker. He died at 63 and he was well praise as a caring man. In one of his obituary, he quoted }m life is uncertain, death is certain". This message to awaken those sleepy heads and those ostrich who put their head in the sand and leave their butts out. Whatever we do or however, we avoid, death will come knowing at your door one day. Even the Pope or king must die.
Recently, a high ranking Pope in Egypt died and 12 million christians in the country moun his death and King of Tonga died in Hong Kong. An a deputy OCPD of Police in Penang died while playing badminton. How great or how small you are, you must face death. It is an inevitable fact.
LIfe is uncertain because you don't know when death will come calling. Tomorrow is never guaranteed and every day things are changing. Everything is impermanent and temporary. Why are we so uptight about material wealth or personal angers or with love ones? Life is a passing moment and we have to pass on sooner or later. us
This afternoon I have a lunch with my two female accountant friend. One of them,Su told us that she is very scare about cremation and the burning of the body would be very painful. We console her that the body will feel nothing when a person is already dead. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. I told her that I know two friends who wish their body ot be cremated and their ashes throw into the sea. They just vanished.
If we accept death, we will be able to let go and live in the moment. But, if we still feel that we can live forever and grap on to our belongings and material wealth, then sorry-lah, you will be disappointed.
In our busy life, we have to slow down and remind ourself that we are just humans and we should be aware of the realities of life and death.Without death, life have no meaning. It is only an eternal boredom and a blank space. There is nothing to scare about death and start to live your life and do whatever you want to do.
Namaste.
Recently, a high ranking Pope in Egypt died and 12 million christians in the country moun his death and King of Tonga died in Hong Kong. An a deputy OCPD of Police in Penang died while playing badminton. How great or how small you are, you must face death. It is an inevitable fact.
LIfe is uncertain because you don't know when death will come calling. Tomorrow is never guaranteed and every day things are changing. Everything is impermanent and temporary. Why are we so uptight about material wealth or personal angers or with love ones? Life is a passing moment and we have to pass on sooner or later. us
This afternoon I have a lunch with my two female accountant friend. One of them,Su told us that she is very scare about cremation and the burning of the body would be very painful. We console her that the body will feel nothing when a person is already dead. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. I told her that I know two friends who wish their body ot be cremated and their ashes throw into the sea. They just vanished.
If we accept death, we will be able to let go and live in the moment. But, if we still feel that we can live forever and grap on to our belongings and material wealth, then sorry-lah, you will be disappointed.
In our busy life, we have to slow down and remind ourself that we are just humans and we should be aware of the realities of life and death.Without death, life have no meaning. It is only an eternal boredom and a blank space. There is nothing to scare about death and start to live your life and do whatever you want to do.
Namaste.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Taking a day at a time
I have heard of a saying that life is good as long as you can eat and sleep well. Eating with good appetite and sleep like a log is something very basic but it is very illusive at times. When we lost our sleep, we lost our appetite and vice versa. Both are connected in certain ways and have direct impact on each other.
In the book " The Secret", there is a chapter which talks about be thankful for each passing moment from the moment you wake up, you are thankful because a good sleep the night before. You are thankful that you could open your eyes and see the day, you are able to wake up without pain, you can walk steadily to the toilet and you still have the teeth which you can brush and be able to use the water to clean your mouth. When you sat on the toilet bowl, you are able to release your shit smoothly and easily. You are able to see your loved ones and eat your breakfast with good appetite and you can read your newspaper without glasses and after dressed up and have a job to attend to and have a car to bring you to your office. You still can think well and work well and still can earm a salary to keep you and your family well.
There are many people who cannot do one or more of the things you can do everyday for one reason or another. These are basic actions or duties but you are very fortunate that you can do all these things with ease. You should treasure the moments and be thankful for what you have , the basics.
There are people who are born as the lesser children of GOD or there are people who have defects in the process of growing up. The basic functions becomes a difficult chorus for them to perform.
Yes, we should be thankful to GOD or our creator who have blessed us and provide for us to be able to do the basic things. There is wisdom that when we have feet, we are critical of our toes or the skin on our leg or the shaoe of our toes and legs until we see someone who have lost his both feet. We have to learn to be contented and appreciate the basic things that we are having and be humble and thankful.
So. live each day in perfection , think positive and live in contentment and happiness, for today could be your last in perfection.
Namaste.
In the book " The Secret", there is a chapter which talks about be thankful for each passing moment from the moment you wake up, you are thankful because a good sleep the night before. You are thankful that you could open your eyes and see the day, you are able to wake up without pain, you can walk steadily to the toilet and you still have the teeth which you can brush and be able to use the water to clean your mouth. When you sat on the toilet bowl, you are able to release your shit smoothly and easily. You are able to see your loved ones and eat your breakfast with good appetite and you can read your newspaper without glasses and after dressed up and have a job to attend to and have a car to bring you to your office. You still can think well and work well and still can earm a salary to keep you and your family well.
There are many people who cannot do one or more of the things you can do everyday for one reason or another. These are basic actions or duties but you are very fortunate that you can do all these things with ease. You should treasure the moments and be thankful for what you have , the basics.
There are people who are born as the lesser children of GOD or there are people who have defects in the process of growing up. The basic functions becomes a difficult chorus for them to perform.
Yes, we should be thankful to GOD or our creator who have blessed us and provide for us to be able to do the basic things. There is wisdom that when we have feet, we are critical of our toes or the skin on our leg or the shaoe of our toes and legs until we see someone who have lost his both feet. We have to learn to be contented and appreciate the basic things that we are having and be humble and thankful.
So. live each day in perfection , think positive and live in contentment and happiness, for today could be your last in perfection.
Namaste.
Be fair is subjective.
A fair assessment is very subjective and it varies from person to person. What is fair to your perception, may not be fair from other's view point. So, how do we measure fairness ? Do we need to adjust our assessment with other people's judgement or are we blind to their suggestions?
Basically, we must follow our heart and assess the situation with an open heart and give points for job obligation we imposed on other people.For example, if we give more responsibility to a person, we should accord him or her the right benefits or the pay package. This is only logical and fair. If we overload a person with a heavy responsibility and do not recognize their contribution, then these people will not be happy and some will suffer in silence or some will choose to leave their employment or your company.
Do we have sex discrimination? Do we pay more to a male than to a female? Some people said that the male need to support his family and we should pay him more. But, what about the females ? Don't they also have a family or themselves to support? This view of male must be paid more than female is an out of date notion. We should look at meritocracy. If the female can perform better than the male , we should pay them more than the male. What is wrong having the whole company of female working for us ? Aren't they human ? However, it is sad to notice that people are still having this old fashion thinking that male should be paid more than female? It is getting very strange. From my experience working with female apart from female going on maternity leaves, they are performing as good as the male ? But, if the job involved manual jobs and strength, then it is a different matter.
We have to be objective and not subjective in our judgement and open our mind and heart to assess a situation and make a fair judgement. Irrespective of sex, we should promote fairness based on meritocracy.
Syabas to all the ledies...
Namaste.
Basically, we must follow our heart and assess the situation with an open heart and give points for job obligation we imposed on other people.For example, if we give more responsibility to a person, we should accord him or her the right benefits or the pay package. This is only logical and fair. If we overload a person with a heavy responsibility and do not recognize their contribution, then these people will not be happy and some will suffer in silence or some will choose to leave their employment or your company.
Do we have sex discrimination? Do we pay more to a male than to a female? Some people said that the male need to support his family and we should pay him more. But, what about the females ? Don't they also have a family or themselves to support? This view of male must be paid more than female is an out of date notion. We should look at meritocracy. If the female can perform better than the male , we should pay them more than the male. What is wrong having the whole company of female working for us ? Aren't they human ? However, it is sad to notice that people are still having this old fashion thinking that male should be paid more than female? It is getting very strange. From my experience working with female apart from female going on maternity leaves, they are performing as good as the male ? But, if the job involved manual jobs and strength, then it is a different matter.
We have to be objective and not subjective in our judgement and open our mind and heart to assess a situation and make a fair judgement. Irrespective of sex, we should promote fairness based on meritocracy.
Syabas to all the ledies...
Namaste.
Monday, March 19, 2012
The need of a balance life - news
Executives see worsening work-life imbalance
Mon Mar 19, 2012 1:55PM EDT
By Adam Tanner
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (Reuters) - Media executive Oscar Gomez Barbero gave a bleak assessment of his work-life balance.
"I feel compelled to be constantly in touch with my work, including weekends and holidays, but you learn to live with this situation," said Barbero, the chief technology officer at Spanish and Portuguese-language media group Prisa.
"When you are part of the most important decision-making bodies of a company, there are no limits on dedication. I have little time for family or social activities."
In recent years, many companies on Wall Street and beyond have embraced the mantra of flexible hours and work-life balance. Read any image-building column written by a top executive, and he or she is likely to stress the importance of getting to a child's soccer game or concert.
The idea of flexibility and fewer total hours on the job has clear popular appeal. The 2007 book "The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich," for example, became a huge best seller. But tales of short hours and relaxed work environments do not mesh with reality for many senior managers. The problem is that modern communications may allow less time in the office, but compel them to work around the clock, according to 10 executives in six countries interviewed as part of a larger Harvard Business School survey.
Some grimly predict that those seeking to get to or stay in the executive suite will have to be plugged in almost constantly.
Without a company publicist to cast a positive spin on corporate life, the executives spoke bluntly about how technology increasingly captures their off hours and fills their lives with stress. All subsequently gave their consent for Reuters to reprint their remarks, and two, including Barbero, agreed to have their names published.
"There is no getting away, not at all, no, not when you are in a higher position," said Susanne Meinl, director of human resources at marketing firm Design Hotels AG in Germany. "A call center agent, they just leave the office and go home and not bother about anything, but if you have a position with a lot of responsibility ... 24/7 availability is a given, has always been and will always be."
One Canadian executive described what some might see as a dream job: luxurious life on a Caribbean island, huge paycheck, high profile as a hedge fund manager. It wasn't.
"In my 30s I worked 80 hours, 90 hours," said the executive, who is now chief financial officer of a publicly traded Canadian company. "I had a young child and dedicated all of my time to my career, and this clearly was not a good way of living. And as a result of that, I went through a divorce."
Of course, earning big money and being part of the 1 percent rather than the 99 percent does give the executives more choices, particularly concerning early retirement. "For me the reward of this lifestyle is that I'll be able to alter my lifestyle much earlier," said a top official at a California biotechnology company.
One executive said his wife really enjoyed the upscale living his salary provided for the family, even if he was not around that much.
To be sure, all of those interviewed said they found their jobs interesting, and Design Hotels' Meinl drew a stark contrast between the executive suite and a menial position elsewhere. Cashiers in a supermarket "will not burn out in the way someone burns out like me. I mean, they are bored and not appreciated."
One top international airline executive said a tragedy -- the loss of a child in the fifth month of his wife's pregnancy -- reinforced the need to balance work and home.
"The always-online kind of approach is, from my point of view, close to noise, close to pollution," he said. "In a top management job, how can you work strategically smart if you are embedded in noise?"
An executive who is afraid to delegate, he added, "should be prepared to get emails at night."
For many executives, though, balance is elusive, and their jobs have become an endurance test.
A CEO of another biotech company says he works 11 or 12 hours a day and is always on call. "Sometimes I stop and think whether or not I can continue with what I am doing with the level of stress that I have and then what always surprises me is that I am able to accommodate it and go to the next level of more stress," he said.
He now regrets that he was not around much when his two teenage children were smaller, so he wants to do better with his 6-year-old.
"All of a sudden I have turned around and my kids are no longer living at home, they are in college and then I have a little one at home," he said.
Why then does he devote so much time and effort to his job?
"It's not an objective; it is not something I want to do," he said. "I think that people today expect that you are available and going to be available at all times, and if you don't return an email within an hour, or even minutes, then people think that you are not paying attention to them.
"I feel like if I take a vacation, it is not going to be a vacation because I am going to be working all the time."
The balance shifts even more toward the company and away from "my time" as a manager gets higher up the ladder, the executives say. If anything, most interviewed expected demands on their time to increase in the years to come.
"Technology has created an expectation that you are connected," said Meinl, who enjoys yoga in her free time. "With the economy, there is definitely more expectation for employees to deliver now ... Work-life balance will become harder." Those who use personal time for work will be the great economic winners as technology advances, the California biotech executive said.
"I hate to say it," he said, "but I think the technology is just enabling the people who are really hungry for success to climb quicker, further, and your middle America, your blue-collar worker, (for whom) technology is a convenience to just enjoy life a little bit better, is not going to benefit from it economically.
"The problem is just going to get worse and worse, where you have got a small group of people who are just leveraging technology to be 24/7, you know, anywhere on the planet and that will make them more productive people, but it will separate them even further from the rest of society.
"I can see a scenario where you have people who have every five minutes of their lives planned out and technology on the fly and data coming to them left and right, and I can see where most people would look at that and say ‘Oh my God, that's awful.'"
(Adam Tanner is a Reuters correspondent on a 2011-12 Nieman fellowship at Harvard.)
(Editing by Martin Howell and Lisa Von Ahn)
Mon Mar 19, 2012 1:55PM EDT
By Adam Tanner
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (Reuters) - Media executive Oscar Gomez Barbero gave a bleak assessment of his work-life balance.
"I feel compelled to be constantly in touch with my work, including weekends and holidays, but you learn to live with this situation," said Barbero, the chief technology officer at Spanish and Portuguese-language media group Prisa.
"When you are part of the most important decision-making bodies of a company, there are no limits on dedication. I have little time for family or social activities."
In recent years, many companies on Wall Street and beyond have embraced the mantra of flexible hours and work-life balance. Read any image-building column written by a top executive, and he or she is likely to stress the importance of getting to a child's soccer game or concert.
The idea of flexibility and fewer total hours on the job has clear popular appeal. The 2007 book "The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich," for example, became a huge best seller. But tales of short hours and relaxed work environments do not mesh with reality for many senior managers. The problem is that modern communications may allow less time in the office, but compel them to work around the clock, according to 10 executives in six countries interviewed as part of a larger Harvard Business School survey.
Some grimly predict that those seeking to get to or stay in the executive suite will have to be plugged in almost constantly.
Without a company publicist to cast a positive spin on corporate life, the executives spoke bluntly about how technology increasingly captures their off hours and fills their lives with stress. All subsequently gave their consent for Reuters to reprint their remarks, and two, including Barbero, agreed to have their names published.
"There is no getting away, not at all, no, not when you are in a higher position," said Susanne Meinl, director of human resources at marketing firm Design Hotels AG in Germany. "A call center agent, they just leave the office and go home and not bother about anything, but if you have a position with a lot of responsibility ... 24/7 availability is a given, has always been and will always be."
One Canadian executive described what some might see as a dream job: luxurious life on a Caribbean island, huge paycheck, high profile as a hedge fund manager. It wasn't.
"In my 30s I worked 80 hours, 90 hours," said the executive, who is now chief financial officer of a publicly traded Canadian company. "I had a young child and dedicated all of my time to my career, and this clearly was not a good way of living. And as a result of that, I went through a divorce."
Of course, earning big money and being part of the 1 percent rather than the 99 percent does give the executives more choices, particularly concerning early retirement. "For me the reward of this lifestyle is that I'll be able to alter my lifestyle much earlier," said a top official at a California biotechnology company.
One executive said his wife really enjoyed the upscale living his salary provided for the family, even if he was not around that much.
To be sure, all of those interviewed said they found their jobs interesting, and Design Hotels' Meinl drew a stark contrast between the executive suite and a menial position elsewhere. Cashiers in a supermarket "will not burn out in the way someone burns out like me. I mean, they are bored and not appreciated."
One top international airline executive said a tragedy -- the loss of a child in the fifth month of his wife's pregnancy -- reinforced the need to balance work and home.
"The always-online kind of approach is, from my point of view, close to noise, close to pollution," he said. "In a top management job, how can you work strategically smart if you are embedded in noise?"
An executive who is afraid to delegate, he added, "should be prepared to get emails at night."
For many executives, though, balance is elusive, and their jobs have become an endurance test.
A CEO of another biotech company says he works 11 or 12 hours a day and is always on call. "Sometimes I stop and think whether or not I can continue with what I am doing with the level of stress that I have and then what always surprises me is that I am able to accommodate it and go to the next level of more stress," he said.
He now regrets that he was not around much when his two teenage children were smaller, so he wants to do better with his 6-year-old.
"All of a sudden I have turned around and my kids are no longer living at home, they are in college and then I have a little one at home," he said.
Why then does he devote so much time and effort to his job?
"It's not an objective; it is not something I want to do," he said. "I think that people today expect that you are available and going to be available at all times, and if you don't return an email within an hour, or even minutes, then people think that you are not paying attention to them.
"I feel like if I take a vacation, it is not going to be a vacation because I am going to be working all the time."
The balance shifts even more toward the company and away from "my time" as a manager gets higher up the ladder, the executives say. If anything, most interviewed expected demands on their time to increase in the years to come.
"Technology has created an expectation that you are connected," said Meinl, who enjoys yoga in her free time. "With the economy, there is definitely more expectation for employees to deliver now ... Work-life balance will become harder." Those who use personal time for work will be the great economic winners as technology advances, the California biotech executive said.
"I hate to say it," he said, "but I think the technology is just enabling the people who are really hungry for success to climb quicker, further, and your middle America, your blue-collar worker, (for whom) technology is a convenience to just enjoy life a little bit better, is not going to benefit from it economically.
"The problem is just going to get worse and worse, where you have got a small group of people who are just leveraging technology to be 24/7, you know, anywhere on the planet and that will make them more productive people, but it will separate them even further from the rest of society.
"I can see a scenario where you have people who have every five minutes of their lives planned out and technology on the fly and data coming to them left and right, and I can see where most people would look at that and say ‘Oh my God, that's awful.'"
(Adam Tanner is a Reuters correspondent on a 2011-12 Nieman fellowship at Harvard.)
(Editing by Martin Howell and Lisa Von Ahn)
Sunday, March 18, 2012
My lunch date with Alice
Last Friday, I had a lunch with my bankers, Alice and her colleague,Mandy from KL, together with my colleague,B. The meeting started off with Mandy talking about her mother and her family and how they love and go around eating good food. Her mother operates a restaurant and she picks up her cooking skill from her mum. She was very chatty and talk about her upcoming trip to Penang to search for good food especially the Char Koay Teow.
In the middle of the lunch, Mandy change the subjet to yoga and that she has been practising yoga for the past 9 months and she likes it very much. She talks about a silent retreat for 7 days and how she was taught not to talk for 7 days together with her mum. But, the way she is talking, I think the impact of the silent meditation has worn off and she gradually is regaining her usual self.
There is a Chinese saying " we can change an Empire but we cannot change our basic character". To unlearn is very tough and painful. Talking is an expression of our thoughts and our desire and it is a way of expression and communication. But, it we stretch it beyond its intention, it is use to attack, criticise , gossip and back mouth others.
The Dalai Lama in his latest posting in his website says " We criticize others easily but we must practise self discipline and look at ourself daily and criticize ourself. In this way, we are aware of our weakness and not to see these weaknes in others. This awareness will discipline us to talk less and more effectively.
Just a moment ago, I went into my facebook and I read my daughter's friend,E'a message " silence is our biggest cry". It prompts me to think that E must be trying to send some message. Is she trying to tell us that she is crying deep in her heart from hurt? can we suffer silently in pain? Is this the most noble thing to do? Can cring in silence help in her problem? It depends. Most of the time, we solve our own problems by ourself without telling people and some times, telling other people our problem does not help at all and in case, it could hurt us if these people talk too much. But, if we have problem which is caused by other people, we should tell them and asked them not to hurt us anymore. This is a defensive action and a positive one especially in protecting one's human rights. So, good luck to you,E and it is your choice to decide your actions.
Coming back to the lunch. Obviously, Alice have not much chance to talk about herself or potentially business with us. It save the day for us as we are not prepared to advance our business relationship with her bank. At the end, it was a hush hush time to talk briefly about business and we were on our way.
This meeting have make me aware of the conflicting intention of Alice and Mandy and how the dominance of Mandy over the lunch and talk all about herself and her family. It is also a wonder how can a person so readily promote her ownself and her agenda. Well, in a Chinese saying " one type of rice can feed 100 type of people with different personality".
Well, our fate miggle and our patch cross each other and each shall go our own ways in our own journy of life.
Namaste.
In the middle of the lunch, Mandy change the subjet to yoga and that she has been practising yoga for the past 9 months and she likes it very much. She talks about a silent retreat for 7 days and how she was taught not to talk for 7 days together with her mum. But, the way she is talking, I think the impact of the silent meditation has worn off and she gradually is regaining her usual self.
There is a Chinese saying " we can change an Empire but we cannot change our basic character". To unlearn is very tough and painful. Talking is an expression of our thoughts and our desire and it is a way of expression and communication. But, it we stretch it beyond its intention, it is use to attack, criticise , gossip and back mouth others.
The Dalai Lama in his latest posting in his website says " We criticize others easily but we must practise self discipline and look at ourself daily and criticize ourself. In this way, we are aware of our weakness and not to see these weaknes in others. This awareness will discipline us to talk less and more effectively.
Just a moment ago, I went into my facebook and I read my daughter's friend,E'a message " silence is our biggest cry". It prompts me to think that E must be trying to send some message. Is she trying to tell us that she is crying deep in her heart from hurt? can we suffer silently in pain? Is this the most noble thing to do? Can cring in silence help in her problem? It depends. Most of the time, we solve our own problems by ourself without telling people and some times, telling other people our problem does not help at all and in case, it could hurt us if these people talk too much. But, if we have problem which is caused by other people, we should tell them and asked them not to hurt us anymore. This is a defensive action and a positive one especially in protecting one's human rights. So, good luck to you,E and it is your choice to decide your actions.
Coming back to the lunch. Obviously, Alice have not much chance to talk about herself or potentially business with us. It save the day for us as we are not prepared to advance our business relationship with her bank. At the end, it was a hush hush time to talk briefly about business and we were on our way.
This meeting have make me aware of the conflicting intention of Alice and Mandy and how the dominance of Mandy over the lunch and talk all about herself and her family. It is also a wonder how can a person so readily promote her ownself and her agenda. Well, in a Chinese saying " one type of rice can feed 100 type of people with different personality".
Well, our fate miggle and our patch cross each other and each shall go our own ways in our own journy of life.
Namaste.
Happiness and less tension promote longevity -news
Pint-sized former Mr Universe turns 100 in India
Asia | Updated today at 03:35 PM
KOLKATA, India (AP) - A former Mr Universe who is one of the shortest winners of the body building contest has turned 100, saying on Sunday that happiness and a life without tensions are the key to his longevity.
Mr Manohar Aich, who is 150cm tall, overcame many hurdles, including grinding poverty and a stint in prison, to achieve body building glory.
His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gathered Sunday in the eastern city of Kolkata to celebrate his birthday the day before. Hindu priests chanted prayers while a feast was laid out to honour Mr Aich, winner of the 1952 Mr Universe title.
Rippling his muscles and flashing a toothless grin, Mr Aich says his ability to take his troubles lightly and remain happy during difficult times are the secrets to his long life. That, and a simple diet of milk, fruits and vegetables along with rice, lentils and fish have kept him healthy.
Asia | Updated today at 03:35 PM
KOLKATA, India (AP) - A former Mr Universe who is one of the shortest winners of the body building contest has turned 100, saying on Sunday that happiness and a life without tensions are the key to his longevity.
Mr Manohar Aich, who is 150cm tall, overcame many hurdles, including grinding poverty and a stint in prison, to achieve body building glory.
His children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren gathered Sunday in the eastern city of Kolkata to celebrate his birthday the day before. Hindu priests chanted prayers while a feast was laid out to honour Mr Aich, winner of the 1952 Mr Universe title.
Rippling his muscles and flashing a toothless grin, Mr Aich says his ability to take his troubles lightly and remain happy during difficult times are the secrets to his long life. That, and a simple diet of milk, fruits and vegetables along with rice, lentils and fish have kept him healthy.
Friday, March 16, 2012
On the lap of the Buddha
Many years ago, I bought a book which tell the story of a western monk who sort the solace of the Buddha. The monk was the author of the book " On the lap of the Buddha". When I woke up this early morning, this book came to my mind and the thought could not be put to rest and the message continued to poke me to write something about it and share this wisdom with everyone of you who are fated to cross my path in life.
This man have HIV and he became a monk to find peace with himself. During his time, there was no cure for HIV and it was a matter of time before he die. He knows the reality and to keep himself in peace, he practice meditation and study the religious philosophy of the Buddha to make peace with himself and his disease. He learns to accept the facts and make friend with the disease instead of fighting himself or the sickness. He lives for a few more years and died a peaceful death.
The book tells about his journey through life and how he faced the illness and himself and letting himself go and accept the final goodbye. He tells about the peace and the goodness of Buddhism during this brief association with Buddhism.
The message in the book was a reflection of the basic Buddhist philosophy of impermanance and the nothingness. Everything in life is nothing, just an illusion. We see what we want to see with our eyes, we hear what comes to our ears and we believe what we read or see or heard without totally understanding it. We live in a make belief world of materialism.
We live as if we will never get sick and die and we can live forever and push the facts of life and death to the back of our head. We run and walk too fast and missed all the beauty and good things in life. We worked hard for our employers and seek recognition and monetary rewards for our work. We take care of our employer and others more than 80% of the time and spend less than 20% of our time on ourself. We run in circles everyday and came back to the same point in life and starts all over again. It is not that we are stupid but we refused to believe and face the reality. We believe that we have many tomorrows and things will remained the same. It will go on and on until eternity until we reach a point that we realize that all the good years in us is gone forever.
Maybe, it is good for us to go through life with this make-belief and not to see the hard facts of life like a dummy. Perhaps, to be a fool and to be happy is the best way to past through life. What is there to think or know ? Does it make any difference in the end result? Death is still waiting for us and we end in the same way. This is another selfish thought but does it matter?
What we do in life is our choice? Whether we live throught it consciously or foolishly, it is our choice. As long as we are aware or unaware, we should live through it our way and with no regrets. Again, why regrets? It had already done and gone.
Well, have a good journey and life is nver a destination but a journey. Your journey is make up of all your choice and decisions on the way. Look back to be wise but go forward with the wisdom.
Namaste.
This man have HIV and he became a monk to find peace with himself. During his time, there was no cure for HIV and it was a matter of time before he die. He knows the reality and to keep himself in peace, he practice meditation and study the religious philosophy of the Buddha to make peace with himself and his disease. He learns to accept the facts and make friend with the disease instead of fighting himself or the sickness. He lives for a few more years and died a peaceful death.
The book tells about his journey through life and how he faced the illness and himself and letting himself go and accept the final goodbye. He tells about the peace and the goodness of Buddhism during this brief association with Buddhism.
The message in the book was a reflection of the basic Buddhist philosophy of impermanance and the nothingness. Everything in life is nothing, just an illusion. We see what we want to see with our eyes, we hear what comes to our ears and we believe what we read or see or heard without totally understanding it. We live in a make belief world of materialism.
We live as if we will never get sick and die and we can live forever and push the facts of life and death to the back of our head. We run and walk too fast and missed all the beauty and good things in life. We worked hard for our employers and seek recognition and monetary rewards for our work. We take care of our employer and others more than 80% of the time and spend less than 20% of our time on ourself. We run in circles everyday and came back to the same point in life and starts all over again. It is not that we are stupid but we refused to believe and face the reality. We believe that we have many tomorrows and things will remained the same. It will go on and on until eternity until we reach a point that we realize that all the good years in us is gone forever.
Maybe, it is good for us to go through life with this make-belief and not to see the hard facts of life like a dummy. Perhaps, to be a fool and to be happy is the best way to past through life. What is there to think or know ? Does it make any difference in the end result? Death is still waiting for us and we end in the same way. This is another selfish thought but does it matter?
What we do in life is our choice? Whether we live throught it consciously or foolishly, it is our choice. As long as we are aware or unaware, we should live through it our way and with no regrets. Again, why regrets? It had already done and gone.
Well, have a good journey and life is nver a destination but a journey. Your journey is make up of all your choice and decisions on the way. Look back to be wise but go forward with the wisdom.
Namaste.
A hard day's night
This is a title to a song sang by the Beatles. One of lyric quote “ it has been a hard days night and I have been working a dog “. How true is this statement? But then, how difficult can it be ? It only needs deep thoughts and time. Everything can be resolved but the outcome is uncertain that is all. Good , bad or ugly. There will be an end result.
A problem cannot be resolved is not a problem. It is already a certainty and a dead fact. So, what can we do about it. We can only accept it and manage around it. So, how can that be a problem. I have always maintain that there can only be quitters and no failures. If we continue to focus on a problem, there will be a solution and the outcome will be what we expect.
So, there is a very popular saying “ let sleeping dogs lie”. Another more dramatic wisdom is “ why flock a dead horse ? “. The horse is already dead and if we continue to whip it , it is of no use. Why waste your resources and energy ?
We have to analyst whether it is a problem or a dead fact. This is very important to understand the status of the problem. Often, it is very vague. On the surface, it is a problem and it needs efforts or focus to handle it but in actual fact, it is already a dead fact if we do not understand or know the underlying situation. We have to get all the facts above or underlying in order not to waste our effort.
One example of a dead fact is that it is raining now and you cannot change that fact or stop the rain but to find a solution not to get wet or stay in-door or postpone the event in an open field. If your car got into accident, you know that you have to report to the police and you will need to pay a penalty or a fine and if worst, you have to pay for the repair.
The difference between a dead fact and a problem is, you car’s wheel is loose when you are traveling in it. Do you want to stop , slowdown or drive to seek help from a mechanic before you get into an accident. So, you can still control the outcome and do something to avoid it.
If it is clear in our mind, we will reduce a lot of problems and will live a more happier life and not to waste our precious time on the matter which the outcome is fixed. It is better to be more analytical and clear in our understanding.
Namaste.
A problem cannot be resolved is not a problem. It is already a certainty and a dead fact. So, what can we do about it. We can only accept it and manage around it. So, how can that be a problem. I have always maintain that there can only be quitters and no failures. If we continue to focus on a problem, there will be a solution and the outcome will be what we expect.
So, there is a very popular saying “ let sleeping dogs lie”. Another more dramatic wisdom is “ why flock a dead horse ? “. The horse is already dead and if we continue to whip it , it is of no use. Why waste your resources and energy ?
We have to analyst whether it is a problem or a dead fact. This is very important to understand the status of the problem. Often, it is very vague. On the surface, it is a problem and it needs efforts or focus to handle it but in actual fact, it is already a dead fact if we do not understand or know the underlying situation. We have to get all the facts above or underlying in order not to waste our effort.
One example of a dead fact is that it is raining now and you cannot change that fact or stop the rain but to find a solution not to get wet or stay in-door or postpone the event in an open field. If your car got into accident, you know that you have to report to the police and you will need to pay a penalty or a fine and if worst, you have to pay for the repair.
The difference between a dead fact and a problem is, you car’s wheel is loose when you are traveling in it. Do you want to stop , slowdown or drive to seek help from a mechanic before you get into an accident. So, you can still control the outcome and do something to avoid it.
If it is clear in our mind, we will reduce a lot of problems and will live a more happier life and not to waste our precious time on the matter which the outcome is fixed. It is better to be more analytical and clear in our understanding.
Namaste.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Clean your plate , waste not
Clean your plate, save the world?
Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:11PM EDT
By Lisa Baertlein and Ernest Scheyder
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Cleaning your plate may not help feed starving children today, but the time-worn advice of mothers everywhere may help reduce food waste from the farm to the fork, help the environment and make it easier to feed the world's growing population.
Hard data is still being collected, but experts at the Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit in Chicago this week said an estimated 30 percent to 50 percent of the food produced in the world goes uneaten.
The average American throws away 33 pounds of food each month -- about $40 worth -- according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, which plans to publish a report on food waste in April.
In a year, that means each person throws away almost 400 pounds of food, the weight of an adult male gorilla. (Graphic, U.S. food waste in 2010: http://link.reuters.com/fad27s )
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 23 percent of eggs and an even higher percentage of produce ends up in the trash.
"We forget we have all these fresh fruits and vegetables, and at the end of the week we have to throw them away," said Esther Gove, a mother of three young children in South Berwick, Maine. "Now, I don't buy as much fresh produce as I used to."
But the impact of food waste stretches far beyond the kitchen.
Agriculture is the world's largest user of water, a big consumer of energy and chemicals and major emitter of greenhouse gases during production, distribution and landfill decay. Experts say reducing waste is a simple way to cut stress on the environment while easing pressure on farmers, who will be called on to feed an expected 9 billion people around the world in 2050, versus nearly 7 billion today.
"No matter how sustainable the farming is, if the food's not getting eaten, it's not sustainable and it's not a good use of our resources," Dana Gunders, a sustainable agriculture specialist at the NRDC, said at the Reuters Summit.
In richer nations, edible fruit and vegetables end up in landfills because they are not pretty enough to meet a retailer's standards, have gone bad in a home refrigerator or were not eaten at a restaurant.
In developing countries, much food spoils before it gets to market due to poor roads and lack of refrigeration.
High food prices are another factor, since some people can't afford the food that's produced, said Patrick Woodall, research director and senior policy advocate for Food and Water Watch.
"It's not a situation where you have to massively ramp up production," Woodall told the Reuters Summit. "Even in 2008, when there were hunger riots around the world, there was enough food to feed people, it was just too expensive."
WASTE NOT
DuPont is working with farmers in Kenya to extend the life of raw milk. Often farmers have to travel up to 20 kilometers to get their milk to market, and due to the country's high temperatures, much of the milk gets wasted, Jim Borel, an executive vice president with DuPont, said.
"This has broad application, but we're focused on Africa right now," Borel said.
Europe is a leader in tackling food waste, but the United States is catching on as producers, facing tepid sales growth, look to control costs.
For example, a General Mills pizza plant found a way to use heat to make toppings stick to frozen pizzas better. The system is expected to prevent thousands of pounds of cheese and other pizza toppings from going to waste each year.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said 33 million tons of food waste hit landfills and incinerators in 2010, the largest solid waste product in the system. EPA has launched a program to address the issue.
Experts from EPA and other groups have floated a variety of recommended fixes. They say clarifying "sell by" and "use by" dates could help consumers avoid throwing food in the garbage too soon. Some food could be "rescued" and used in soup kitchens, while certain leftovers could be used as animal feed.
Increasing composting could boost soil health and drought resistance, while also easing the burden on landfills and reducing decomposition of garbage into greenhouse gas methane.
Gove, the Maine mother, has found her own solutions. She buys frozen blueberries and raspberries instead of fresh ones that may spoil; purchases meat in bulk; and freezes what she doesn't immediately need. She also has introduced her kids to frozen banana treats, which means she's able to keep the fruit longer.
"Milk is one thing we don't waste, though," she said. "My kids go right through it."
Researchers say people of every age -- especially children -- contribute to the food waste problem.
Gove said she has cut waste by starting with smaller meal portions for her children, who get more only when they ask. Still, she says, there is a limit to how far she'll go.
"I definitely don't want to get rid of my kids," she said.
(For other news from Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit, click on http://www.reuters.com/summit/FoodandAgriculture12 )
Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:11PM EDT
By Lisa Baertlein and Ernest Scheyder
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Cleaning your plate may not help feed starving children today, but the time-worn advice of mothers everywhere may help reduce food waste from the farm to the fork, help the environment and make it easier to feed the world's growing population.
Hard data is still being collected, but experts at the Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit in Chicago this week said an estimated 30 percent to 50 percent of the food produced in the world goes uneaten.
The average American throws away 33 pounds of food each month -- about $40 worth -- according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, which plans to publish a report on food waste in April.
In a year, that means each person throws away almost 400 pounds of food, the weight of an adult male gorilla. (Graphic, U.S. food waste in 2010: http://link.reuters.com/fad27s )
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 23 percent of eggs and an even higher percentage of produce ends up in the trash.
"We forget we have all these fresh fruits and vegetables, and at the end of the week we have to throw them away," said Esther Gove, a mother of three young children in South Berwick, Maine. "Now, I don't buy as much fresh produce as I used to."
But the impact of food waste stretches far beyond the kitchen.
Agriculture is the world's largest user of water, a big consumer of energy and chemicals and major emitter of greenhouse gases during production, distribution and landfill decay. Experts say reducing waste is a simple way to cut stress on the environment while easing pressure on farmers, who will be called on to feed an expected 9 billion people around the world in 2050, versus nearly 7 billion today.
"No matter how sustainable the farming is, if the food's not getting eaten, it's not sustainable and it's not a good use of our resources," Dana Gunders, a sustainable agriculture specialist at the NRDC, said at the Reuters Summit.
In richer nations, edible fruit and vegetables end up in landfills because they are not pretty enough to meet a retailer's standards, have gone bad in a home refrigerator or were not eaten at a restaurant.
In developing countries, much food spoils before it gets to market due to poor roads and lack of refrigeration.
High food prices are another factor, since some people can't afford the food that's produced, said Patrick Woodall, research director and senior policy advocate for Food and Water Watch.
"It's not a situation where you have to massively ramp up production," Woodall told the Reuters Summit. "Even in 2008, when there were hunger riots around the world, there was enough food to feed people, it was just too expensive."
WASTE NOT
DuPont is working with farmers in Kenya to extend the life of raw milk. Often farmers have to travel up to 20 kilometers to get their milk to market, and due to the country's high temperatures, much of the milk gets wasted, Jim Borel, an executive vice president with DuPont, said.
"This has broad application, but we're focused on Africa right now," Borel said.
Europe is a leader in tackling food waste, but the United States is catching on as producers, facing tepid sales growth, look to control costs.
For example, a General Mills pizza plant found a way to use heat to make toppings stick to frozen pizzas better. The system is expected to prevent thousands of pounds of cheese and other pizza toppings from going to waste each year.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said 33 million tons of food waste hit landfills and incinerators in 2010, the largest solid waste product in the system. EPA has launched a program to address the issue.
Experts from EPA and other groups have floated a variety of recommended fixes. They say clarifying "sell by" and "use by" dates could help consumers avoid throwing food in the garbage too soon. Some food could be "rescued" and used in soup kitchens, while certain leftovers could be used as animal feed.
Increasing composting could boost soil health and drought resistance, while also easing the burden on landfills and reducing decomposition of garbage into greenhouse gas methane.
Gove, the Maine mother, has found her own solutions. She buys frozen blueberries and raspberries instead of fresh ones that may spoil; purchases meat in bulk; and freezes what she doesn't immediately need. She also has introduced her kids to frozen banana treats, which means she's able to keep the fruit longer.
"Milk is one thing we don't waste, though," she said. "My kids go right through it."
Researchers say people of every age -- especially children -- contribute to the food waste problem.
Gove said she has cut waste by starting with smaller meal portions for her children, who get more only when they ask. Still, she says, there is a limit to how far she'll go.
"I definitely don't want to get rid of my kids," she said.
(For other news from Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit, click on http://www.reuters.com/summit/FoodandAgriculture12 )
After a hard day's work
There is a chinese saying " we can die of physical exhaustion but we cannot think ourself to death". In another word, our physical body have limitations while our mind is much more flexible. Our mind can tolerate the 50.000 times of thought changes per day and if we push up for 1000 times, we will die of exhaustion.
How shall we recuperate from physical tiredness? Of course, we can rest and sleep and let our body recover over time. But, the faster recover is to put yourself in total relaxation and motivate your body to heal itself. If you can slip into a deep sleep than by all means but if your mind is restless while your body is tired, then these contrasting moods may only end in a restless and tired sleep. Its recovery will not be 100% effective.
There is a type of yoga called " green yoga" which helps to relax the body and mind and bring these two factors to the same harmonized mood and lettng the body to relax effectively.
The green "yoga" have a lot of breathing routines that relaxes the different organs in our body and bring the body to a total relaxation by syncronizing the same mood in the whole body. There are several technique like alternate breathing from the nose, slowing down the breathng by using your hands to touch the various part of the body and there are so many techniques we can use. But, basically, relaxing your heart and mind is the most important step. The mood in the heart controls the whole body and all its vital organs.
Remember it is important to harmonize the mind and body to enjoy total relazation. Slow down the heart beat and melt your heart to bring the same feeling to the whole body and it will affect the mind.
Enjoy your practise if you are attempting.
Namaste.
How shall we recuperate from physical tiredness? Of course, we can rest and sleep and let our body recover over time. But, the faster recover is to put yourself in total relaxation and motivate your body to heal itself. If you can slip into a deep sleep than by all means but if your mind is restless while your body is tired, then these contrasting moods may only end in a restless and tired sleep. Its recovery will not be 100% effective.
There is a type of yoga called " green yoga" which helps to relax the body and mind and bring these two factors to the same harmonized mood and lettng the body to relax effectively.
The green "yoga" have a lot of breathing routines that relaxes the different organs in our body and bring the body to a total relaxation by syncronizing the same mood in the whole body. There are several technique like alternate breathing from the nose, slowing down the breathng by using your hands to touch the various part of the body and there are so many techniques we can use. But, basically, relaxing your heart and mind is the most important step. The mood in the heart controls the whole body and all its vital organs.
Remember it is important to harmonize the mind and body to enjoy total relazation. Slow down the heart beat and melt your heart to bring the same feeling to the whole body and it will affect the mind.
Enjoy your practise if you are attempting.
Namaste.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Hugs and kisses
In many forms of yoga, the basic philosophy is to melt your heart when you are in the yoga pose. Of course, there are basic steps like shins-in, thights-out poses and finding your balance to get into an effortless state. To get into the state of effortless suspension, we have to melt our hearts and hug ourself.
Talking about hug ourself, how do we do it? In the first place, have you hug others? It you have been doing that, it is easy to imagine what is the feeling. In the western world, giving other people a hug is customary. What is the big deal? But, to some Asians, it is a personal taboo. It has the feeling that it is an intrusion to our privacy. Our body is private and it cannot be touch. If we have such feelings, then it will be very difficult to really feel the effectiveness of this yoga teaching and embed such relaxation in the pose.
When you hug a person, it does not mean wanting of sex or to be personal, it is a feeling of passion, a true feeling for the person we meet or in contact When we hug, there is a feeling of compassion and in touch with the other person. It totally relaxes the heart and harmonized the feeling of the two person in contact. Naturally, it opens the heart and melt it down. You have release a geniune concern for that person. For some culture, it ends with a kiss on the forehead or the cheek.
For me, I am a passionate person if you really know me. In my life, I have been hugging my parents when I am young. I hug my mum whenever I see her. I hug my sisters , my niece and nephews. Then, of course, my wife and daughter. Those people, I feel attached and love. For my nieces,it comes naturally because I do not see them everyday and in rare moements, when I meet them, I will chase after them for hugs. I feel good after the hugs and kisses on their cheeks. It is to release all my "miss you" feelings. It really feel good. I do not know whether the other people feels my feeling but I think they could receive and understand my gesture.
Many people thinks that hugging is sex. It is nonsense but of course, we do not simply hug strangers on the street. This is a wecko act and it is nuts. We can get a tight slap or get into trouble. But, for some people, even they meet the first time, they can easily ease into a hug. It is like a natural act and it just come into being.
If we have a true loving kindness and a great compassion for all beings, this act of hugging will crystallize the feeling of passion and a loving concern for others. We should try to show love to our love ones and through this act, it will save a lot of talking. There is a saying " a picture says a thousand words" and in this case, a hug expressed a million words. Sometimes, the words cannot do the perfect job and it is like a diluted cup of coffee and you are missing the "omph".
LIfe is short and don't keep your feelings to yourself. Show it and feel it. It will lead you to a great journey through life.
Namaste.
Talking about hug ourself, how do we do it? In the first place, have you hug others? It you have been doing that, it is easy to imagine what is the feeling. In the western world, giving other people a hug is customary. What is the big deal? But, to some Asians, it is a personal taboo. It has the feeling that it is an intrusion to our privacy. Our body is private and it cannot be touch. If we have such feelings, then it will be very difficult to really feel the effectiveness of this yoga teaching and embed such relaxation in the pose.
When you hug a person, it does not mean wanting of sex or to be personal, it is a feeling of passion, a true feeling for the person we meet or in contact When we hug, there is a feeling of compassion and in touch with the other person. It totally relaxes the heart and harmonized the feeling of the two person in contact. Naturally, it opens the heart and melt it down. You have release a geniune concern for that person. For some culture, it ends with a kiss on the forehead or the cheek.
For me, I am a passionate person if you really know me. In my life, I have been hugging my parents when I am young. I hug my mum whenever I see her. I hug my sisters , my niece and nephews. Then, of course, my wife and daughter. Those people, I feel attached and love. For my nieces,it comes naturally because I do not see them everyday and in rare moements, when I meet them, I will chase after them for hugs. I feel good after the hugs and kisses on their cheeks. It is to release all my "miss you" feelings. It really feel good. I do not know whether the other people feels my feeling but I think they could receive and understand my gesture.
Many people thinks that hugging is sex. It is nonsense but of course, we do not simply hug strangers on the street. This is a wecko act and it is nuts. We can get a tight slap or get into trouble. But, for some people, even they meet the first time, they can easily ease into a hug. It is like a natural act and it just come into being.
If we have a true loving kindness and a great compassion for all beings, this act of hugging will crystallize the feeling of passion and a loving concern for others. We should try to show love to our love ones and through this act, it will save a lot of talking. There is a saying " a picture says a thousand words" and in this case, a hug expressed a million words. Sometimes, the words cannot do the perfect job and it is like a diluted cup of coffee and you are missing the "omph".
LIfe is short and don't keep your feelings to yourself. Show it and feel it. It will lead you to a great journey through life.
Namaste.
Dinner at Canton-I in Qbee
After a heavy lunch, I opted to bring my guest to Canton-I, a Chinese noodle and congee shop with Tim Sum. I was impressed with the fine fish or wantan congee which was smooth and tasty. Included in the dish, I also ordered fried pork with crispy skin and a few variety of vegetables and Tim Sum
My guest ordered Oulong tea and I ordered a flower tea. My drink was unique and I have not been drinking this type of tea for some time now. It was plain and simple and yet tasty.
To-night my guest continued his investment story and the good and bad experience in his investment in shares. Somethings he will win big and some time, he will lost big. This is the wheel of fortune which keeps on changing up and down. He is a valuer and he looks for fundamentals and the background of the story. He is so passionate about investing, he could talk the whole night and day. Actually, I was abit tired and worn out by the stories about his investments.
I told him that he could become a very successful and a good remisier because of his passion. People who pursue their hobbies and interest is actuallt enjoying yourself and there was never work involved.
One of my colleage at the dinner was bored and hope that his fire would subsided but it was actually not. The more he talk, I feel that he feels stronger. His emotions and passions shines through.
Silent is golden and restraining yourself could enforced the energy in our body and we can work continuously. When we do the right thing our joy and the other curreny is the same. Whether our boys are doing sometime bad, I will apologized locally and realize our moment to every one of us.
Namaste.
My guest ordered Oulong tea and I ordered a flower tea. My drink was unique and I have not been drinking this type of tea for some time now. It was plain and simple and yet tasty.
To-night my guest continued his investment story and the good and bad experience in his investment in shares. Somethings he will win big and some time, he will lost big. This is the wheel of fortune which keeps on changing up and down. He is a valuer and he looks for fundamentals and the background of the story. He is so passionate about investing, he could talk the whole night and day. Actually, I was abit tired and worn out by the stories about his investments.
I told him that he could become a very successful and a good remisier because of his passion. People who pursue their hobbies and interest is actuallt enjoying yourself and there was never work involved.
One of my colleage at the dinner was bored and hope that his fire would subsided but it was actually not. The more he talk, I feel that he feels stronger. His emotions and passions shines through.
Silent is golden and restraining yourself could enforced the energy in our body and we can work continuously. When we do the right thing our joy and the other curreny is the same. Whether our boys are doing sometime bad, I will apologized locally and realize our moment to every one of us.
Namaste.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
I have a devil sleeping on me.
It was years ago and the memory was vivid as I remember the night, I felt a devel was sleeping on me. I could not moved or yell but continuing struggling to wake up or push the devil away. I was frozen stiff and was awake and was aware that I could not move. It was fearful.
I do not know the reason why it happen to me. Maybe because I am exhausted or too tired that I had this feeling. This absurb feelings.
My yoga teacher was asking us to bring out our fear and let our heart melt it away. The last few days I have been thinking to myself about melting this memory away. The more I fight it, the more it gets real and stronger. What shall I do ?
I could only focus on my ability to melt my heart and one day, it will open up and this scary memory could just fall out and disappear. My finges should be gripping it too tight but I must learn to let go of my grips and let the things I am holding fall out. Yes, the same impact like melting the heart.
During my yoga practise, the more I relax my heart, the more deeper is my pose. My shoulders just sinks into my body following the direction of my melting heart. In the midst of doing this pose, there was a surge of energy and it becomes effortless and easy.
When can I bring the devil from my mind and let the positive energy destroy it and I will become lighter and better. I do not know when the memory of the devil will come out again but I will try to keep a melted heart to let it fall out.
I will end this message with an "OM" and may I have the strength to kill the memory of the devil in me.
Namaste.
I do not know the reason why it happen to me. Maybe because I am exhausted or too tired that I had this feeling. This absurb feelings.
My yoga teacher was asking us to bring out our fear and let our heart melt it away. The last few days I have been thinking to myself about melting this memory away. The more I fight it, the more it gets real and stronger. What shall I do ?
I could only focus on my ability to melt my heart and one day, it will open up and this scary memory could just fall out and disappear. My finges should be gripping it too tight but I must learn to let go of my grips and let the things I am holding fall out. Yes, the same impact like melting the heart.
During my yoga practise, the more I relax my heart, the more deeper is my pose. My shoulders just sinks into my body following the direction of my melting heart. In the midst of doing this pose, there was a surge of energy and it becomes effortless and easy.
When can I bring the devil from my mind and let the positive energy destroy it and I will become lighter and better. I do not know when the memory of the devil will come out again but I will try to keep a melted heart to let it fall out.
I will end this message with an "OM" and may I have the strength to kill the memory of the devil in me.
Namaste.
My dinner at EQ Japanese Restaurant , Kampachi
It is valuation day and my Company employed an agent to carry out a valuation exercise of our factory[s assets. Agent Y was a friend from past exercise and we start work almost immediately when he arrived from KL to Penang on a 8.00am flight.
It was a hard day's work and it involved a lot of walking under a stuffy and hot environment in the factory. It was quite a rush because of the huge number of assets and parts involved in the scope of work.
We had a short and fast lunch and we continued to work into the late afternoon. I was fortunate to have brought along my assistant and she did all the walking while I was in the office attending to my work and answering emails. The exercise dwell into the late evening and I suggest to sent my agent,Y back to his hotel and have an early dinner in his hotel EQ.
Due the early evening, there was not so much customers and we ordered a sushimi, a chawan mushi, a chicken terayaki, a tempura, two eel rice and two char soba. It was a simple and typical dinner and it was quite pricey. The restaurant is called Kampachi and it has several outlets in Malaysia. It is one of the better Japanese restaurant in Penang and Malaysia.
From the start of the dinner, agent Q have been taking about how he invested in the stock market and he choose his counters based on his analysis on each company's fundamentals. He make loses in the past and recently, he is more experience, losing one in five investments. He also invested in houses and apartments but now the price of property has gone too high. He bets on fundamentals and invest only in plantations shares with strong fundamentals. He also favors gambling counters as he believe in good or bad times, there is a need for gambling.
He kept talking and never seem to stop to breath and he enjoys rattling through the whole dinner. Once a while, I will break his thoughts and talk aout the coming GE13 in June. He was also passionate about Politics and he start to blast the ruling BN Government. He said that he feel cheaped and the education of his children is getting too expensive and beyond the reach of ordinary people who choose to study in private colleges.
There are such people who can keep on talking for hours and they have endurance to last longer than necessary. I was already ear full and I told him that I have to go home. So, this ends the conversation and as I was walking to my transport home, the words start dropping from my ear. My ears were getting lighter and lighter.
It was a day of hard work and a earful day.
Namaste.
It was a hard day's work and it involved a lot of walking under a stuffy and hot environment in the factory. It was quite a rush because of the huge number of assets and parts involved in the scope of work.
We had a short and fast lunch and we continued to work into the late afternoon. I was fortunate to have brought along my assistant and she did all the walking while I was in the office attending to my work and answering emails. The exercise dwell into the late evening and I suggest to sent my agent,Y back to his hotel and have an early dinner in his hotel EQ.
Due the early evening, there was not so much customers and we ordered a sushimi, a chawan mushi, a chicken terayaki, a tempura, two eel rice and two char soba. It was a simple and typical dinner and it was quite pricey. The restaurant is called Kampachi and it has several outlets in Malaysia. It is one of the better Japanese restaurant in Penang and Malaysia.
From the start of the dinner, agent Q have been taking about how he invested in the stock market and he choose his counters based on his analysis on each company's fundamentals. He make loses in the past and recently, he is more experience, losing one in five investments. He also invested in houses and apartments but now the price of property has gone too high. He bets on fundamentals and invest only in plantations shares with strong fundamentals. He also favors gambling counters as he believe in good or bad times, there is a need for gambling.
He kept talking and never seem to stop to breath and he enjoys rattling through the whole dinner. Once a while, I will break his thoughts and talk aout the coming GE13 in June. He was also passionate about Politics and he start to blast the ruling BN Government. He said that he feel cheaped and the education of his children is getting too expensive and beyond the reach of ordinary people who choose to study in private colleges.
There are such people who can keep on talking for hours and they have endurance to last longer than necessary. I was already ear full and I told him that I have to go home. So, this ends the conversation and as I was walking to my transport home, the words start dropping from my ear. My ears were getting lighter and lighter.
It was a day of hard work and a earful day.
Namaste.
Monday, March 12, 2012
We should change.
Very often we tell the people besides us that we should change because the world is changing and nothing remained static. We are telling other people to change but we don't change. We can see the errors in other people but we cannot see ours. Our eyes are make to look out and not look in. If we slow down and focus our eyes inwards and then, only we can see ourself If we look at the mirror is only a reflection of outer self and we can see what is inside us from the reflection in the mirror.
If we are observant and be more aware, we will notice everything is changing over time. Something rots faster than the others and plastics takes a few life time to degrade and melt back into the earth. Even the things we see not moving is actually moving because of the speed of our eyes and our thoughts is syncronizing with the changes.
One thing for sure, our body and mind is changing over time and eventually, it shall disintegrate and returns to the earth. If we regain our consciousness and awareness, we will realize that we are floating in the river of time and every seconds is pushing by us. Everything is changing. If we chose to be stagnant then we will realize that we are out of time or out of trend with time.
When we talk to the younger generations, they say we are stubborn or nasty as we hold on to our beliefs and old fashion thoughts. It is because we are not changing with time. The things we hold on has become obsolete and old. This generation gap is a difference in opinion. Some people have refused to changed while the younger generations is changing very fast with the help of technology. With the internet, the whole generation have changed and information is readily available to open up the mind of the younger generaations while the old one is still capture in a dream.
In order for us to change, we have to follow changes which is moving. So, for the old people, there is no internet and it is important for the older generation to get in the same platform to communicate with the younger generations. Facebook is another platform of change where people is influencing the thought of others through this communicaiton routes. People are learning faster and wider through these electronic platforms.
The world is moving at supersonic speed into space of knowledge and the older generations should take a giant step to leap into the same league and to be relevant. We have to let go the old thoughts and move into a new arena.
Knowledge is power and sharing knowledge empowered everybody in the process.
Namaste.
If we are observant and be more aware, we will notice everything is changing over time. Something rots faster than the others and plastics takes a few life time to degrade and melt back into the earth. Even the things we see not moving is actually moving because of the speed of our eyes and our thoughts is syncronizing with the changes.
One thing for sure, our body and mind is changing over time and eventually, it shall disintegrate and returns to the earth. If we regain our consciousness and awareness, we will realize that we are floating in the river of time and every seconds is pushing by us. Everything is changing. If we chose to be stagnant then we will realize that we are out of time or out of trend with time.
When we talk to the younger generations, they say we are stubborn or nasty as we hold on to our beliefs and old fashion thoughts. It is because we are not changing with time. The things we hold on has become obsolete and old. This generation gap is a difference in opinion. Some people have refused to changed while the younger generations is changing very fast with the help of technology. With the internet, the whole generation have changed and information is readily available to open up the mind of the younger generaations while the old one is still capture in a dream.
In order for us to change, we have to follow changes which is moving. So, for the old people, there is no internet and it is important for the older generation to get in the same platform to communicate with the younger generations. Facebook is another platform of change where people is influencing the thought of others through this communicaiton routes. People are learning faster and wider through these electronic platforms.
The world is moving at supersonic speed into space of knowledge and the older generations should take a giant step to leap into the same league and to be relevant. We have to let go the old thoughts and move into a new arena.
Knowledge is power and sharing knowledge empowered everybody in the process.
Namaste.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Life is short
Sometimes,we think that we can live forever and push the thought of death deep in our mind. It is a taboo to talk about death. Nobody likes to read about death or think about death. But, the topic is very real and definite. It is only a matter of time.
Yet,if we cannot control the time of death, then why should we talk or think about it. Yes, this one of the reason, we have refused to control by this thought and live today as if it is the last. We should not procastinate things that we need to do and just do it as it comes. We are not the master but time is the master and what we have is only now. So, just do the things you want to do and enjoy doing it at the same time. Don't wait for tomorrow may not come.
I have written countless article on this matter but it keep coming back to me to remind you,folks. The importance of NOW.
In one of my article, I have wrote that my 2nd brother had a by-pass and I sense that his character have changed very much. From a quite chatty person, he was withdrawn and refuse to do anything but resting on the sofa and watching TV. He only answered me when I asked him a question. I feel that the spirit is gone and he has no desire to work or move. I hope this only temporary and he will recover in time. His re-action to life as if he has suffered a serious trauma. Another chance in life but again, he realised that it is very fragile.
Yeah,during this weekend as I rest myself, I could feel that time really flies very fast. Days turn in weeks and into months and into years. The show must go on and nobody is indispensable. We are just a dust in the Universe and so is our impact. So immaterial and just like a speck of dust.
There are several choices in our life. We can choose to be idle, dormant, lively or an important person. We have a role to play and the role depends on what we want and aspire. Some people have big dreams and some very small dreams. But, it is very important that we are bappy.
Onee, someone told me that HAPPY is make up of only 5 letters but it is so difficult to find happiness. I know it is difficult but if we are contented than we can find happiness. How to measure contentment? How much or what do we have in order to be contented? Again, it is a very difficult question because contentment varies with individuals. Some people is contented with a small house but some others will be contented after they have a big bungalow. Again, the contentment is shifting everyday as Greed or having more is the motivation factor. We have manage greed or the desire to want more before we can have a manageable contentment target.
Managing our mind and to become more aware of the fragility of life and the passage of time could manage our desire or greed and bring down our contentment level to a more simple and achievable level. If we can do that, we will be happy. Remember, life is short, so slow down and re-focus and enjoy a blissful journey.
Namaste.
Yet,if we cannot control the time of death, then why should we talk or think about it. Yes, this one of the reason, we have refused to control by this thought and live today as if it is the last. We should not procastinate things that we need to do and just do it as it comes. We are not the master but time is the master and what we have is only now. So, just do the things you want to do and enjoy doing it at the same time. Don't wait for tomorrow may not come.
I have written countless article on this matter but it keep coming back to me to remind you,folks. The importance of NOW.
In one of my article, I have wrote that my 2nd brother had a by-pass and I sense that his character have changed very much. From a quite chatty person, he was withdrawn and refuse to do anything but resting on the sofa and watching TV. He only answered me when I asked him a question. I feel that the spirit is gone and he has no desire to work or move. I hope this only temporary and he will recover in time. His re-action to life as if he has suffered a serious trauma. Another chance in life but again, he realised that it is very fragile.
Yeah,during this weekend as I rest myself, I could feel that time really flies very fast. Days turn in weeks and into months and into years. The show must go on and nobody is indispensable. We are just a dust in the Universe and so is our impact. So immaterial and just like a speck of dust.
There are several choices in our life. We can choose to be idle, dormant, lively or an important person. We have a role to play and the role depends on what we want and aspire. Some people have big dreams and some very small dreams. But, it is very important that we are bappy.
Onee, someone told me that HAPPY is make up of only 5 letters but it is so difficult to find happiness. I know it is difficult but if we are contented than we can find happiness. How to measure contentment? How much or what do we have in order to be contented? Again, it is a very difficult question because contentment varies with individuals. Some people is contented with a small house but some others will be contented after they have a big bungalow. Again, the contentment is shifting everyday as Greed or having more is the motivation factor. We have manage greed or the desire to want more before we can have a manageable contentment target.
Managing our mind and to become more aware of the fragility of life and the passage of time could manage our desire or greed and bring down our contentment level to a more simple and achievable level. If we can do that, we will be happy. Remember, life is short, so slow down and re-focus and enjoy a blissful journey.
Namaste.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Joy to the world
When I was young, there was a catch phase " work and no play make Jack, a dull boy". That was years ago and now, the catch phase "balance life". The new term means we should balance work with our private life or leisure time. It took so many years for people to re-coin a similar wisdom in life. It is never easy because we are a member of the human race and this means everyday is a rat race. chasing for more wealth, more status and more power. The motivation is "more".
There are two factors which give fire for us to pursue material achievements and that is "Greed" and the "fear of losing". During one of my yoga session, my teacher asked all her student to disclosed their fear and one of them say her fear is "poverty". Yes, this is very real especially for those young people who have yet to save enough to have the "enough" financial security and freedom. At different stages of one's life, this could be one of the main concern and this provides the motivation and inspiration for people to be greedy. There is nothing wrong with wanting to have more or get more but often this desire can drive us to cross the line of sanity and caused conflict among people.
The fear of losing is actually " our ego". We must always do better or more intelligent or stronger than others. We cannot lose and we must protect our "face" and not to embarass ourself or our family. We must be doctors, lawyers, engineers or accountants to have the income and status and not out of own choice and interest.Such decisions will cause us misery and hardship in our life. If we do not want to do work, it is to do something we like or have passion for. However, another way of thinking is that competition inspire improvements. But, at the same time,it caused sufferings. In competition, it is always winners takes all.
Our personal sufferings often is not only confine to ourself. It spreads through our actions and thoughts and it hurts the people around us or who come in contact with us. We influence other people or act as mentors to them or through our words and actions inspire them and transfer our suffering to them. In extreme, we could hurt our loved ones physically and mentally.
Many great teachers have advise us to slow down and look into ourself and search for a balance. A balance in life and not to get all worked up and ran a mad race. In yoga practise, if your pose is balance, your body will carry yourself and it will be effortless and painless. Your mind and body will shine naturally and you will be a joyful suspension without awareness. You are in perfect harmony with all the elements in yourself and the external elecments.
When we are in this mode, our inner joy will shine through and brigthen the world and your positive energy will make your circle of friends shine as well. Don't under estimate this power or your power to bring joy to the world.
Namaste.
There are two factors which give fire for us to pursue material achievements and that is "Greed" and the "fear of losing". During one of my yoga session, my teacher asked all her student to disclosed their fear and one of them say her fear is "poverty". Yes, this is very real especially for those young people who have yet to save enough to have the "enough" financial security and freedom. At different stages of one's life, this could be one of the main concern and this provides the motivation and inspiration for people to be greedy. There is nothing wrong with wanting to have more or get more but often this desire can drive us to cross the line of sanity and caused conflict among people.
The fear of losing is actually " our ego". We must always do better or more intelligent or stronger than others. We cannot lose and we must protect our "face" and not to embarass ourself or our family. We must be doctors, lawyers, engineers or accountants to have the income and status and not out of own choice and interest.Such decisions will cause us misery and hardship in our life. If we do not want to do work, it is to do something we like or have passion for. However, another way of thinking is that competition inspire improvements. But, at the same time,it caused sufferings. In competition, it is always winners takes all.
Our personal sufferings often is not only confine to ourself. It spreads through our actions and thoughts and it hurts the people around us or who come in contact with us. We influence other people or act as mentors to them or through our words and actions inspire them and transfer our suffering to them. In extreme, we could hurt our loved ones physically and mentally.
Many great teachers have advise us to slow down and look into ourself and search for a balance. A balance in life and not to get all worked up and ran a mad race. In yoga practise, if your pose is balance, your body will carry yourself and it will be effortless and painless. Your mind and body will shine naturally and you will be a joyful suspension without awareness. You are in perfect harmony with all the elements in yourself and the external elecments.
When we are in this mode, our inner joy will shine through and brigthen the world and your positive energy will make your circle of friends shine as well. Don't under estimate this power or your power to bring joy to the world.
Namaste.
Temptations - our inner demon
As I have mentioned before we have our six senses and sense is a gateways for the influx of temptations.If you notice, some monks have six burn points on their heads and these burn points are to closed the thesen gateways. These spots or points are the sense of taste, the sense of smell, the sense of hearing and sight and the fifth is the sense of desire and sixth is the sense of ego or self. The last sense is a very power sense which severe the relationship with our family and becoming a monk, we have to be a universal self.
When the Buddha was meditating and near enlightenment, he was seduced by the offer of sex by the demons. He had to fight against the temptation and win over it to get enlighten. In our daily life, apart from the five senses, we are also tempted by beautiful beings. For man, it is the beautiful and sexy lady and for women, handsome and fit looking man. If you notice, all the man and women in the advertisemnet and film are very beautiful. Only the beautiful qualify for these roles. But, in actual life, most of the people are either overweight, ugly or unattractive. So, there is a saying what you see may not be the truth. It is often the eyes that betray us.
The outlook often betrays the eyes and beautiful things may not be good always and good things may not be beautiful. If we pursue a relationhship and gets into the actual life, it may not be what we what or like. So, we should think carefully and explore a relationship. Once, we cross the line, it may have severe circumstances and consequences. It will not only complicate your life or your family and it could even cause you pain, hurts or finanical losses. So, before we enter into any relationship, it is better to be extremely careful and not doing it impromptu.
The temptation of sex and cravings is very strong and everybody who enters into the relationship would think that they can control the outcome or emotions. But, often than not, human relationship is unpredictable and its outcome cannot be controlled. If we make the wrong choice, we will have to endure the hurt and the pain of human sufferings. This is the reason why monks never marry and stay away from women. The temptation of the flesh is very strong. A lot of monks who have come near to enlightenment have sway and choose to be a lay Buddhist because they failed to defy sex and cravings.
Then, we have this question in our mind. If sex is a deterrant to sainthood or enlightment, then why GOD create man and women? Why GOD have to give us this test and set up an obstacle to enlightenment? The Creator or GOD should only create one sex either male or female. But, the Creator GOD want the people to live and multiply but let the people to search for a way to perfect themselves to be like HIM. There is a saying "Many are called but only a few are chosen".
How perfect is perfect? It is never easy to be perfect and to be sinless. Our mind is constanty wondering and our senses are constantly testing us. Every few people can pass the test to be perfect. Our appearance or the appearance of other people is misleading and illusional. A perfect appearance may not be a perfect being and often, it can be judge wrongly most of the time if we judge the appearance.
If we want control of senses or our sinful acts, we need to discipline our body and mind. It is not be forcing but by an indepht understanding of our self and the environment until the point of a natural loving kindness and great compassion for all living beings. You emerged yourself the universe and become as one.
Namaste.
When the Buddha was meditating and near enlightenment, he was seduced by the offer of sex by the demons. He had to fight against the temptation and win over it to get enlighten. In our daily life, apart from the five senses, we are also tempted by beautiful beings. For man, it is the beautiful and sexy lady and for women, handsome and fit looking man. If you notice, all the man and women in the advertisemnet and film are very beautiful. Only the beautiful qualify for these roles. But, in actual life, most of the people are either overweight, ugly or unattractive. So, there is a saying what you see may not be the truth. It is often the eyes that betray us.
The outlook often betrays the eyes and beautiful things may not be good always and good things may not be beautiful. If we pursue a relationhship and gets into the actual life, it may not be what we what or like. So, we should think carefully and explore a relationship. Once, we cross the line, it may have severe circumstances and consequences. It will not only complicate your life or your family and it could even cause you pain, hurts or finanical losses. So, before we enter into any relationship, it is better to be extremely careful and not doing it impromptu.
The temptation of sex and cravings is very strong and everybody who enters into the relationship would think that they can control the outcome or emotions. But, often than not, human relationship is unpredictable and its outcome cannot be controlled. If we make the wrong choice, we will have to endure the hurt and the pain of human sufferings. This is the reason why monks never marry and stay away from women. The temptation of the flesh is very strong. A lot of monks who have come near to enlightenment have sway and choose to be a lay Buddhist because they failed to defy sex and cravings.
Then, we have this question in our mind. If sex is a deterrant to sainthood or enlightment, then why GOD create man and women? Why GOD have to give us this test and set up an obstacle to enlightenment? The Creator or GOD should only create one sex either male or female. But, the Creator GOD want the people to live and multiply but let the people to search for a way to perfect themselves to be like HIM. There is a saying "Many are called but only a few are chosen".
How perfect is perfect? It is never easy to be perfect and to be sinless. Our mind is constanty wondering and our senses are constantly testing us. Every few people can pass the test to be perfect. Our appearance or the appearance of other people is misleading and illusional. A perfect appearance may not be a perfect being and often, it can be judge wrongly most of the time if we judge the appearance.
If we want control of senses or our sinful acts, we need to discipline our body and mind. It is not be forcing but by an indepht understanding of our self and the environment until the point of a natural loving kindness and great compassion for all living beings. You emerged yourself the universe and become as one.
Namaste.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Melt your heart - Yoga philosophy
Yesterday, my yoga teacher told me to melt my heart during the yoga pose. How to melt our heart ? During my yoga session with my previous yoga teacher , Jack , he told us to open our heart. Melt our heart or open our heart is the same ? My understanding is that both action is to boost loving kindness and great compassion to all living beings. Why is the jargon different ?
My understanding is the by melting our heart, we soften it and let go all our angers. If we hold our angers, our heart will be tighter like we hold on something with our hands. If we let go our grip, the things we hold will drop out . So, if we melt our heart and let go of the grips, our angers will vanish. If the knots and angers in our heart vanish, it will make us lighter and we will experienced a floating sensation or suspension without awareness. It will come naturally. It is like a frozen margerine and when you leave it for a while outside, it just melt into liquid form. At that stage, it can hold nothing including anger.
Then, what is impact of opening our heart ? It is just the same as melting our heart. If we open our heart, then all the angers will drop out and with an open heart, positive energy from the Universe will come into your heart and will empower you to give out great compassion as well to all the living beings.
Whichever technique you use, the end will be the same. This is to make you let go of your anger and in return, you will be able to experience loving kindness and great compassions to all living beings. According to my yoga teachers, such compassion or passion will change your life and will unite you with your yoga mat to experience the floating sensations., Your body will naturally hang in balance without straining your body, leg and hands. When you hang in balance, there is a weightless feeling and there is no effort on your part. The body can balance itself for a long time and you will experience total relaxation and a loving feeling.
I have only briefly experience such feelings and I am still pursuing to experience a long spell under this effortless pose. Hope you will be able to find a way to experience the same. After the difficult pose, you will find yourself re-energized and refresh.
Happy hunting.
Namaste.
My understanding is the by melting our heart, we soften it and let go all our angers. If we hold our angers, our heart will be tighter like we hold on something with our hands. If we let go our grip, the things we hold will drop out . So, if we melt our heart and let go of the grips, our angers will vanish. If the knots and angers in our heart vanish, it will make us lighter and we will experienced a floating sensation or suspension without awareness. It will come naturally. It is like a frozen margerine and when you leave it for a while outside, it just melt into liquid form. At that stage, it can hold nothing including anger.
Then, what is impact of opening our heart ? It is just the same as melting our heart. If we open our heart, then all the angers will drop out and with an open heart, positive energy from the Universe will come into your heart and will empower you to give out great compassion as well to all the living beings.
Whichever technique you use, the end will be the same. This is to make you let go of your anger and in return, you will be able to experience loving kindness and great compassions to all living beings. According to my yoga teachers, such compassion or passion will change your life and will unite you with your yoga mat to experience the floating sensations., Your body will naturally hang in balance without straining your body, leg and hands. When you hang in balance, there is a weightless feeling and there is no effort on your part. The body can balance itself for a long time and you will experience total relaxation and a loving feeling.
I have only briefly experience such feelings and I am still pursuing to experience a long spell under this effortless pose. Hope you will be able to find a way to experience the same. After the difficult pose, you will find yourself re-energized and refresh.
Happy hunting.
Namaste.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
That lovely feelings ..
Is it true that love last forever? What is love? Just a passing feeling or now and forever commitment? Many people are committed for life and some still love to the end. Committment or love? These are two separate matters. Being committed is a feeling of responsibility and care while love is a true passionate feeling. The joy of been together and with no feeling of responsibility. A complete truthful attachment for both parties and a joyful one.
Can love last for a life time? Twenty or thirty years or maybe 50 years? I think there is such perfect love but the percentage is very small. Most people are still committed to each other out of their own selfish need of maintaining a family or pursuing their responsibility. The fear of breaking up or losing someone or being alone can be scary matter. It is our own selfish needs of wanting love instead of a geniune care for our better half.
There is a theory of a 7 years' itch. Most newly married couples will get bored with each other after 7 years as their true colors had by now been revealed to their partners and incompatibility roar its ugly head or the excitement of love could have dried up. The lost of interest in each other is gradual and there is = often a need for a child to keep the marriage together. Keeping the family together is more like a responsibility. This concept is more true to Asians but to the westerners, the bond is more loose and the need to feel good for one's ownself over rides the principles of responsibility. In another word, each person is very independent and self centered. The younger generations in Asia is moving towards the trend of the west.
If love is lost, the want of freedowm prevails. Trying to be together may not be the best option as if love is lost. The meed to be together could be more stressful and bad for each other.Especially for contrasting characters ie restful and restless people. Why are we scare of being alone and suffer in silence? The line between love and care is very grey and unclear. The relucntance to hurt your partners, may be one of the reason people still keep their marriage together.
Can love come back in a second wind? Yes, there is a possibility of couples recovering their love for each other. The chances is very rare. Grumbling is music to the ears when there is magic of love is in the air can become a pain in the ass if case of love lost.
The tradition and the expectation of the establishment makes separation or divorce a taboo or prohibits such actions. This concept have been around for many years when people starts to have a sense of owing each other and the importance of marriage to have a family.Howeve, everything is man make and we are living in the confinement of other people's ideas and establishment. But, who are they to tell us how to live and behave? By their own morales, they believe they rule the world and keep peace in the society. The sense of ownership is a selfish ego and this concept have good and bad points. It is up to each individual.
Love can be emotional and if it is not controlled properly, it could run out of control and caused irreparable harm as well. This is also one of the factor that binds two people together for life. The scary feeling of hurting each other. A self sacrificing step to tolerate the incorrigible behaviour of another. It can be also right or it can be wrong and depends on the choice of the people involved.
Finally, it is our choice to break the mental block or our mindset and truly live a happy life. The concept of marriage is like a contract and an agreement with two people who agreed to possess each other and they shall live by the norm of the society even there is no more love. Nevertheless, it is a choice for us and it is entirely up to us to honor the pledge.
Namaste & loving kindness.
( For those who read the article before this version, I need to express my apology because I fell asleep half way and it could have been published unintentionally).
Can love last for a life time? Twenty or thirty years or maybe 50 years? I think there is such perfect love but the percentage is very small. Most people are still committed to each other out of their own selfish need of maintaining a family or pursuing their responsibility. The fear of breaking up or losing someone or being alone can be scary matter. It is our own selfish needs of wanting love instead of a geniune care for our better half.
There is a theory of a 7 years' itch. Most newly married couples will get bored with each other after 7 years as their true colors had by now been revealed to their partners and incompatibility roar its ugly head or the excitement of love could have dried up. The lost of interest in each other is gradual and there is = often a need for a child to keep the marriage together. Keeping the family together is more like a responsibility. This concept is more true to Asians but to the westerners, the bond is more loose and the need to feel good for one's ownself over rides the principles of responsibility. In another word, each person is very independent and self centered. The younger generations in Asia is moving towards the trend of the west.
If love is lost, the want of freedowm prevails. Trying to be together may not be the best option as if love is lost. The meed to be together could be more stressful and bad for each other.Especially for contrasting characters ie restful and restless people. Why are we scare of being alone and suffer in silence? The line between love and care is very grey and unclear. The relucntance to hurt your partners, may be one of the reason people still keep their marriage together.
Can love come back in a second wind? Yes, there is a possibility of couples recovering their love for each other. The chances is very rare. Grumbling is music to the ears when there is magic of love is in the air can become a pain in the ass if case of love lost.
The tradition and the expectation of the establishment makes separation or divorce a taboo or prohibits such actions. This concept have been around for many years when people starts to have a sense of owing each other and the importance of marriage to have a family.Howeve, everything is man make and we are living in the confinement of other people's ideas and establishment. But, who are they to tell us how to live and behave? By their own morales, they believe they rule the world and keep peace in the society. The sense of ownership is a selfish ego and this concept have good and bad points. It is up to each individual.
Love can be emotional and if it is not controlled properly, it could run out of control and caused irreparable harm as well. This is also one of the factor that binds two people together for life. The scary feeling of hurting each other. A self sacrificing step to tolerate the incorrigible behaviour of another. It can be also right or it can be wrong and depends on the choice of the people involved.
Finally, it is our choice to break the mental block or our mindset and truly live a happy life. The concept of marriage is like a contract and an agreement with two people who agreed to possess each other and they shall live by the norm of the society even there is no more love. Nevertheless, it is a choice for us and it is entirely up to us to honor the pledge.
Namaste & loving kindness.
( For those who read the article before this version, I need to express my apology because I fell asleep half way and it could have been published unintentionally).
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
I was upset today - that was my choice
I have a yoga class today at 7.15pm and it took me about half an hour from my working place to my yoga center. At 6.30pm, I started to wait for my wife to come down from her office to my car. I texted her that I was waiting for her and she text back that she will be late. I texted her to remind her of the yoga class. She replied that she will be late. I was in suspense. Is she going to the yoga class or not? It leaves me wondering while I waited for her.
At 6.55pm, she came running to my car and I took her that we shall be late and she say that we can still make it. As usual, I speed to my destination and after closing the Penang bridge, I turn to the right instead of the left which is of lighter traffic. The right will be a shorter distance and when I passed Tusco, I know I was wrong. I quickly make a turn to my right over the overhead bridge and come out into Jelutong road. I make a left instead of a right and I ran smack into a bad jam. The cars was crawling and moving inch bhy inch. I decided to overtake all the cars infront of me and came face to face with a policeman. He look at me and then he went to his bike. I make a uquick turn at the roundabout and also into the direction of an on-going traffic. One bike almost went smack into me. I was lucky as the bike rider make to sway away. I continued my journey towards my yoga center.
The traffic on the road was very heavy and all the cars was moving in a snail opace. What I do but to tag along ? Finally, I reached my yoga center. It starts to rain but we managed to get in the center quite dry.
There was only a few students and I believe it was because of the traffic and the rain. Yeah, we were late by 15 minutes but we pretend as if everything was okay. My yoga teacher was paying attention to us. Maybe because we are late but what the hell. We continued to do our post and after sometime, my teacher came and adjust our post. Yeah, she was a young lady and I believe she do not possess enough wisdom to be a guru.
My message in this write up is to impress on all of you is that our journey is make happen with our choices. My wife have decided to come down late, it was her choice and my choice to wait for her, I decide to take the left instead of the right and again run smack in a bad jam. Yeah, we arrived late and my teacher was not happy. It was a result of the series of choices that I have make or my wife make for us. The choice we choose will determine our journey and the outcome of our life. Our choices could have push us to our limits or have caused difficulties or pain to us. There is nothing we can do about it, so, we look into ourselves and locate the joyful moments and bring it out to mitigate the pain and burn away the suffering. This act will make our life better and happier. It is not point staying in the doldrums and we have to find happy moments in our memory to lift us out of the depressionary doldrums.
Our life journey is make by our choices and our decision. It can be simple , it can be complicated and it could be hurtful or happy, it is up to us.
Namaste.
At 6.55pm, she came running to my car and I took her that we shall be late and she say that we can still make it. As usual, I speed to my destination and after closing the Penang bridge, I turn to the right instead of the left which is of lighter traffic. The right will be a shorter distance and when I passed Tusco, I know I was wrong. I quickly make a turn to my right over the overhead bridge and come out into Jelutong road. I make a left instead of a right and I ran smack into a bad jam. The cars was crawling and moving inch bhy inch. I decided to overtake all the cars infront of me and came face to face with a policeman. He look at me and then he went to his bike. I make a uquick turn at the roundabout and also into the direction of an on-going traffic. One bike almost went smack into me. I was lucky as the bike rider make to sway away. I continued my journey towards my yoga center.
The traffic on the road was very heavy and all the cars was moving in a snail opace. What I do but to tag along ? Finally, I reached my yoga center. It starts to rain but we managed to get in the center quite dry.
There was only a few students and I believe it was because of the traffic and the rain. Yeah, we were late by 15 minutes but we pretend as if everything was okay. My yoga teacher was paying attention to us. Maybe because we are late but what the hell. We continued to do our post and after sometime, my teacher came and adjust our post. Yeah, she was a young lady and I believe she do not possess enough wisdom to be a guru.
My message in this write up is to impress on all of you is that our journey is make happen with our choices. My wife have decided to come down late, it was her choice and my choice to wait for her, I decide to take the left instead of the right and again run smack in a bad jam. Yeah, we arrived late and my teacher was not happy. It was a result of the series of choices that I have make or my wife make for us. The choice we choose will determine our journey and the outcome of our life. Our choices could have push us to our limits or have caused difficulties or pain to us. There is nothing we can do about it, so, we look into ourselves and locate the joyful moments and bring it out to mitigate the pain and burn away the suffering. This act will make our life better and happier. It is not point staying in the doldrums and we have to find happy moments in our memory to lift us out of the depressionary doldrums.
Our life journey is make by our choices and our decision. It can be simple , it can be complicated and it could be hurtful or happy, it is up to us.
Namaste.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Our confused mind
There was a great saying " Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die".It sound pretty confused right ? If we gets to go to heaven, then why we want to stay on earth. Isn't this funny? We are not sure right? whether there is a heaven or not or do we qualify to go to heaven. Are we pure enough or gather enough points or merits to qualify for heaven.
In our life, there are a lot of secrets and most of the time, we keep the secrets very well and deep inside us. There is also a saying " don't judge a book by its cover". There are a lot of well dressed man or women and they are wolves in the sheep skin. Some people keep their secrets real well inside their memories and they kept a good outside appearance. If you go to the book store, you will notice that they are beautiful hardcover books or excellent book designs but it is utterly rubbish inside. A good book do not need a good cover and it is spread by word of mouth.
I remember of a management theory. Once, a tiny bird flew right into a snow storm and it fell onto the ground frozen and buried under the snow. Along came a snow wolf and it offers to shit on the bird to make it come alive. The bird was grateful and when it came up from the snow, the wolf grapped and eat it alive. So, Beware of the snow wolves and they are like people who help you for their own agenda and finally, you will get eaten up or killed. Snow wolves are beautiful animals as well.
This morning, I heard from the radio that there are girls, who are all welling to share their wealth with the handsome casanovas. They know that they have been cheated but they are willing to it. These casanovas use the power of words and actions to capture the hearts of the girls. There are cases of handsome man or beautiful women who have been checking so many man and women at the same time. These are secrets of these handsome man or beautiful women. Their appearance is captivating and beautiful but inside , they are real cheats.
Who can say that they are pure 100% without impurities? How can anybody be sure that they can go to heaven if there is one ? If we do not create sins against mankind but we are not be able to control of mind or our thoughts. So, there is a saying " Judge not, lest you be judged by others".
So, no wonder nobody want to die to go to heaven because we are not sure that we 100% pure and good. Sometimes, the action in the mind is more savage than that which is perform on the outside.
Namaste.
In our life, there are a lot of secrets and most of the time, we keep the secrets very well and deep inside us. There is also a saying " don't judge a book by its cover". There are a lot of well dressed man or women and they are wolves in the sheep skin. Some people keep their secrets real well inside their memories and they kept a good outside appearance. If you go to the book store, you will notice that they are beautiful hardcover books or excellent book designs but it is utterly rubbish inside. A good book do not need a good cover and it is spread by word of mouth.
I remember of a management theory. Once, a tiny bird flew right into a snow storm and it fell onto the ground frozen and buried under the snow. Along came a snow wolf and it offers to shit on the bird to make it come alive. The bird was grateful and when it came up from the snow, the wolf grapped and eat it alive. So, Beware of the snow wolves and they are like people who help you for their own agenda and finally, you will get eaten up or killed. Snow wolves are beautiful animals as well.
This morning, I heard from the radio that there are girls, who are all welling to share their wealth with the handsome casanovas. They know that they have been cheated but they are willing to it. These casanovas use the power of words and actions to capture the hearts of the girls. There are cases of handsome man or beautiful women who have been checking so many man and women at the same time. These are secrets of these handsome man or beautiful women. Their appearance is captivating and beautiful but inside , they are real cheats.
Who can say that they are pure 100% without impurities? How can anybody be sure that they can go to heaven if there is one ? If we do not create sins against mankind but we are not be able to control of mind or our thoughts. So, there is a saying " Judge not, lest you be judged by others".
So, no wonder nobody want to die to go to heaven because we are not sure that we 100% pure and good. Sometimes, the action in the mind is more savage than that which is perform on the outside.
Namaste.
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