Peace in every steps - Master Ven

Peace in every step ~ Ven Thich Nyat I have read this book many years ago and this is one of the hundred over books written by Ven. I remembered in this book , the author taught about the walking mantra to be aware of the walking process and the pace of the breathing. Walking mantra is a technique to let the person learned to be conscious of the lifting of the leg and  aware of the feet touching the floor. Every step consciously following the breath. As we walk slow, the breath is slow. The breathing in process and the breath out process is of the same count. Four count in breathing in and four counts in breathing out.  If we increase the count to five count then the breath out is five count. In the same rhythm and speed. The logic is that as we slow down our breathing , our  mind will become more focus and awareness will arise and strengthen.  Master Ven liken a walking mantra to a meditation and  to use our walking to control our breathing and our mind. I have tried it before and it takes great pain to slow down. As I mentioned in my earlier articles, I have seen a European women walk a 10 feet length in 30 minutes and it is amazing as you could feel every bit of your muscles moving in in every step you take. So, peace in every step。 Namaste.

Real living - the meaning and purpose

Real living Why are living in so much constraints and bandage? We should live freely and do what we want to do. Not only living in the present but reaching out to living meaningfully and purposefully. What is living meaningfully? It is simple , just do what we like and living out our fantasies without hurting other people or giving any problem to others. Actually, I have seen the younger generations doing just that. Then what about  living purposefully? This objective is more higher value. It is to be to serve mankind and in pursuit of eternal happiness and to share it with others. I believe people like Ajahn Brahm, Ven Thich Nyat, the Dalai Lama and many of the Tibetan Lamas have set out to do. For many generations the Tibetan Lamas have pursuit happiness and have refine the concept through the years while passing it down the generations and now spreading it to the whole. This is really the highest purpose in life. There many gurus in pursuit of this noble objectives and each of them is achieving their objectives in their own way. The current and future generations will be able to access freely to this way of life to eternal happiness. Namaste.

Transformation in life

WTransformation  in life  I reached out for Ven Thich Nyat's website . I have not been in touch with his teaching for sometime now and I learned what he mend by Engaged Buddhism concept in my attempt to reach him. Recently , I read that he is a actively promoting Zen in the workplace. I remembered I read the book the " diamond  cutter" many moons ago and the author, a Tibetan  was promoting Buddhism in every way of doing business and was really an excellent book to give more meaning to life and business. I went to his website and I choose one of his teaching on " Nirvana". In this video , he talk about misconception  and if we don't do away with misconceptions in our life , than we would be unhappy and fearful. Just like death，people have a lot misconceptions and were fearful about  death. He explained  life and death taking an example of a cloud. The cloud is changing its status from.a being to. Non being. The cloud can change into rain, snow and cloud. When the cloud is the sky , it is a being but when it disappear , it becomes a non being. So, life is endless like the cloud. Only transforming in its status. There is no death and it is just transforming to different beings. So, if we have a proper perception of life , then we can let go and move on easily. The next more important thing is that since everything is in transformation, we should live in the moment and enjoy the process. Namaste.

Genneva Gold - the end of the golden dragon

Gold firm bosses slapped with record 926 charges Kow Kwan Yee | 3:58PM Sep 27, 2013 Six former high-ranking officers of a gold trading company stood in the dock today, facing a record number 926 charges involving transactions amounting to whopping RM5.5 billion. The six, from Genneva Malaysia Sdn Bhd, were charged in a sessions court in Kuala Lumpur under the Banking and Financial Institutions Act 1989, Anti-Money Laundering Act 2001 and Trade Descriptions Act 2011. They are former company directors Philip Lim Jit Meng and Tan Liang Keat as well as business advisers Lim Kah Heng, Ng Poh Weng, Marcus Yee Yuean Seng and Chin Wai Leong. After two-hour long of court proceedings, all of them claimed trial to the charges. It took almost five hours for the court to register the more than 900 charges involved, before proceedings could begin at 3.30pm. Earlier, Jit Meng, 56, and Tan, 41, had pleaded not guilty in another sessions court to making false statements on a website that gold trading was in line with syariah principles. The two accused had allegedly made the false statement on a website (www.gennevaworld.com.my) between Feb 16 and Oct 10, 2012, at 52A-1, Jalan Kuchai Maju 6, Off Jalan Kuchai Lama in Kuala Lumpur. The offence, under Section 18 (1) of the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 carries a fine of not more than RM250,000 and imprisonment for not more than three years, or both, upon conviction. Bail of RM20,000 each granted Both Jit Meng and Tan were granted bail of RM20,000 with one surety each. In another sessions court, the charges were read out to the Jit Meng, Tan, Hah Heng and Ng from Genneva Malaysia. Under the 10 Banking and Financial Institutions Act charges, the four are accused of having received deposits from the public for a scheme involving gold transactions through a current account in the CIMB Bank branch on Jalan Kuchai Lama, without a valid licence as required under Subsection 6(4) of the Act, between Oct 1, 2011 and Oct 1, 2012. The offences, under Section 25 (1) of the same Act, carry a fine of not more than RM10 million upon conviction. On the 10 Banking Act charges, all four claimed trial and sessions judge Mat Ghani Abdullah granted them bail of RM1 million with one surety each. Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Dzulkifli Ahmad argued that bail should not be allowed as the offences were serious, considering that the amount collected was RM5.5 million, from 35,000 depositors. All six charged with money laundering All six accused were charged with committing money laundering between January 2011 and December 2012, at the CIMB Islamic Bank in Jalan Kuchai Lama. They pleaded not guilty to the charge under Section 4 (1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2001, which carries a fine of not more than RM5 million and jail term of not more than five years, or both, upon conviction. All of them were granted a RM100,000 bail with two sureties each. The court then fixed April 7, next year for the start of the 18-day hearing. In Oct, last year, a team comprising Bank Negara, police, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry and Companies Commission of Malaysia personnel raided Genneva's premises. The raid, after which the company's assets and accounts were frozen, resulted in more than 10,000 disgruntled gold trading investors being caught in the middle, some of whom had put their life savings into gold investment.

Migration ? Yes or no.

Migration to other Countries. Nowadays, this is a  very favorite word. Oh, do you know that person or so-and-so have migrated  to Australia or new Zealand or USA  ? So, we yak and chat about this matter. Hey. Why  ? It is for their  children's education leh . But , for Australia, our wealth will be only one third，Then how.? We can get a job woh but we will be 2nd class citizen . Who say? Now. Malaysia , we are also 2nd. Class citizen. But, the savings on education and other welfare will  be enough to pay back  the lost in wealth. Coupled with good air ,environment and better security leh. But we will missed the good food in Penang. No-lah, you can fly back anytime mah for the food. Haiyoo, I am getting old how to fly?  Hey, once go due there oredi lah. Yes , these communication is a hot topic. Especially , the latest news that Malaysia is one of the most corrupted country. High crime rate, racist leaders, uncompassionate  act against Chin Peng and stupid ministers, doubtful elections ,etc. Every little bit of unfairness push someone closer to this decision o migration. Wrong perceptions or wrongful understanding strengthen this intention . So, it is not a simple decision but years of these wrongful actions make easier for people to make the correct decision. Namaste

Today -A massive 2 hours drive to work

It was a hectic and upsetting day. First thing, my car wiper broke into pieces on a heavy raining morning , the moment I start my wiper. Could not find a motor accessory shop at 8 am and driving in circles to look for an early bird. Finally, I found one and luckily , the owner was about to open his shop. OMG, at least there is help. After the repair, I saw a long queue in front of All seasons Mall so I turn back and head for the hills and I got right smack into a massive jam. Thinking twice, I reverse and took the normal route and head back to All Seasons Mall and smack into the jam and wait for my turn. The queue was not moving but I have to wait patiently. The rain was very getting more heavier and I could inch forward following the massive jam in front. I took me an hour to get through a 1KM jam and finally, I was caught again along Green lane and have to move with the slow tempo and I broke free after turning into Island glades. I was calm but silently swearing at the messy traffic swing in and out of my way. Finaly, I reach my office at 10.00am. I was really tired and worn out but I head to my board room for a meeting. I have missed one meeting in the morning. Is this disaster fated? It has been raining like occasionally and it is one of those expected happening but only which day , we would not know. Yeah, I looked up at the sky and asked GOD , why today? If it not today, it will be another day , right ? So, let it be and let it go. This uncertainty in life makes life more meaningful and challenging. It gives hope but Ven Thich Nyat teach us to live in the present and avoid future fear. Live in the present and let the uncertainty unfold like a movie. If you have such big heart and mind, it is really a blessing but until now, I still asked "why it has to happen today?". Namaste.

Memory of my mother.

Memory of my mother. I missed her very much even after she have passed away for more than 18 years ago. My memory if her is still so deep and sharp. She loved all her children and especially me because I am the youngest son. She really takes good care of me since my childhood. When I graduate from college and after I got a job, I was playful after work . I played in a musical band and I hang out with my band mates. I was going out late in the night jamming with my mates and socializing with the female singers. At that time, the girls were so crazy with musicians and soon I had a girlfriend and she followed me all around after work.  In certain period of my working life, I  invested in some business with my brother and I was busier and I spend very little time with my mother.   Later, I broke up with my girlfriend  and I got to know my wife  at work and we spend more time working. But, there is one thing, every evening , I never failed to eat the dinner cooked by my mother. After dinner, I always spend a short time with her chatting. Even on rest days , I spend a short time after dinner or lunch to chat with her。 Later in her life, I spend more time going out in my car and going places to eat. But. It was a short time of one year when I got more time to spend with her, she passed away. I remembered vividly that faithful day. My mother not well after she was discharged from Hospital . That morning before going to work I dropped in to see her and she was sleeping . I got close to her face and softly tell her tha I am going to work. She knob her head and asked me to go to work。I thought everything would be alright . In the afternoon, at 4pm , I got a call that she has passed away. I rushed home and I sat beside her lifeless body and cry. I cry out for her as I sat there.it was for a long time until my sister came to call me downstairs. I was shocked and sad. My mum have left me forever. My message to the young ones: spend time with your parents. Love them when they are around and it is pointless to cry or missed them when they are gone. All of us are caught in the rat race and seeking materialistic returns. Money is not everything. Just slow down and think and you will understand what I am telling you. Spend time with your love ones for you only travel this journey but once. Rejoice the time you are with them.. Wonderful experience. Namaste.

Our spontaneous re-actions

When someone change lane in front of us and threaten our safety, we yelled 4-letter words, show our third finger , honk and curse and swell... you idiot, you bloody fool , etc. This is a natural re-action. Your life and your property is threaten. Why do we let this spontaneous action and our anger take control of us and make us miserable ? We can take it calmly and have a laugh over it if there is finally no harm come to us. It is a choice. Like I say is it you in control or your emotions is taking over you? After the incident, you feel all hot up and upset for a few seconds or a few minutes or for the whole day. This is again another choice. Why are you hurting yourself while the person who have committed the crime drove away living happily ever after while keep biting your nails ? All these are choices and it depends on your status of your mind. Are you in control or your mind is controlling you ? Some of us may not be conscious that we have a mind. Where is the mind ? In our head, our heart , our stomach or in our toes ? Where ? It is so abstract that we cannot actually pin point where it should be. In order to train your mind, how do we control it , if it is abstract or when we don't know where it is located in our body? However, if you try a small exercise, a breathing exercise than you will know where is your mind. Just follow your breath. Breath in and breath out slowly and you focus on your breath. By following your breath, you will realized that your thoughts is following your breath and the consciousness of your thoughts is your mind. It is very subtle but you can sense that your focus and your breath is moving in the same direction and you are conscious and aware of it. This is the mind that I am talking about. That spot of consciousness. Your mind is empty as your follow that spot and if you start to think of something or a thought, the spot will disappear and your mind will be occupied. By focusing on the spot, you arecontrolling your mind but once you lost the spot your mind will control you. So , what choice you exercise or response to an occasion depend so the condition of your mind. If you mind is discipline, we can control your re-action but if your mind is weak, you will yell and cry and curse. So, go within yourself and look for your mind and tell your mind that you are the master of your life and you will decide on your actions instead of letting loose. Namaste.

A parent's love.

A Parent's Love Even the fiercest tiger will never eat their own  cubs. This saying shows that a parent's love for their children is unlimited. Then, why do some children thinks that their parent love them less? There is always a story behind each episode. Every person have their own chemistry and attractions. This is a very personal thing . Sometimes , we can see odd couples hanging out or getting married. Their appearance or their upbringing can be so different but they fall in love so deeply.  Some people said their fate is sealed in heaven. Maybe some case is like this  but I think it is the growing up and the cummulation in our experience in life . It could be  movies, our upbringing , influence from our peers , our studies and learning from daily life, etc. There are thousand and one thing or factors that mould a person's like and dislike or attraction or rejections. Everybody when young would not be able to distinguish what they like or dislike and only when they are growing up and from their experience then they form a defense around them. By then. The mind takes control over their choice and they act spontaneously to their mind which decide how they are to act. They lost themselves to their monkey mind and also lost themselves. For a person to dislike a person at first sight or at any instance. It is not their choice. Everyone of us have a Buddha heart, or a compassionate heart with loving kindness. We are born with love and we are able to love others especially our children which is unconditional. To break away from the control of our mind and our experience, we need to understand the working of our mind. We have to aware of its naughty nature and we have to train and tame it. We must be the master over it instead of letting the mind control us. Once we gain control ，we must get rid of the bad experience in us and tell it that we have enough and wants it out of our life. We have to face it and make it weaker and fade away. These experiences are the past already and we should not let the past control our future. We must enforced ourself by telling our mind that we are in control and repeatedly re-enforced this ability to build up the confidence  that the power lies within us to change. To change from the bad to the good and from hatred and dislike to love. Unconditioned  love for everyone. Peace and love to the world. If you can reach this level , you will find that your parents maybe having this weakness and you should understand and reach out to them. Their hurting words and actions may not be their own choice but the work of their bad experience and their thoughts. If you understand this point then you are stronger then them and you will realized that everything is illusion. The feeling of like and dislike is unreal and comes to nothing. It is only illusions and experience that is driving us and the people around us. At this point, you will be enlighten. A deep sense of realization will rise up insight us. Namaste.

Ajahn Brahm in Penang - October 2013

BSWA 9-day-retreat in January 2014 New Booking Information For BSWA 9 Day Retreat 17 - 26 January 2014  (Please note new changes to time and manual bookings) We are most pleased and grateful to have Ajahn Brahmavamso, available to lead our next 9-day retreat. For information about Ajahn Brahmavamso please see www.ajahnbrahm.org  Bookings for Full Members of BSWA (or equivalent – see below*) will open on 25 October 2013, Friday 6.00pm WA time  (or check  http://timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=196 )  If you are not yet a Full member the closing date for applications for this retreat is too late to apply in time for this retreat. Please check http://dhammaloka.org.au/memberships.html for more information about becoming a Full member in time for future retreats. (Note that Full Members receive priority only for 9-Day retreats, not for weekend retreats, where bookings open for all applicants at the same time.) For others, bookings open on 1 November 2013 if available.

Stay present, avoid future fear

Yeah, I read the Thich Nhat's article on " Zen in workplace". His philosophy is that if people are happy, the organization will be successful. The success of an organization is not earning as much money as possible or to be number one always. But, the parameter in everyone's mind is to be number one and to earn as much profit as possible instead of keeping the zen spirit in the working environment. All the management gurus are preaching the same " be number 1". I agreed that meditation will keep us aware of the present environment instead of running around or working ceaselessly and keep our mind occupied with our work all the time, running from one project to the next. Searching for ways to make more profit and neglect our family or balance our working life. If we slow and comtemplate, we will realized that half of our life is gone searching for success. In the future, there are alot of uncertainties and if we do not change or move forward, we will be grip with fear. The fear of losing and dying. Hence, to be in the present will make us aware and to thread cautiously and staying alert for danger. The measurement of happiness have various parometers and it is different from one person to another. But, all of us have one common need, is to be happy. If running around working makes a person happy , then by all means keep to that routine. But, stop once awhile to measure that happiness. Whether you are really happy or not or you refuse to think about happiness or do not know that you can be happier. Slow down, relax, sit back , calm down and silent your mind via meditation, then you will be more conscious of what is lacking in your life or what do you need. This is only a simple exercise but it can bring great benefits to your mind and your body. Namaste.

SiTiGun, a coffee joint in Penang

At SiTIGun , Nagore Road Penang I had  lunch at NineThai with my family and my favorite niece Jean and after that we move over to SiTIGun for a cup of coffee. SiTIGun is a coffee joint which serves pastry as well. The shop is pretty small and there no Aircon except a blower and ceiling fans. The shop is decorated with old model coffee machines and it is lightly decorated with simple fixtures. The mable tables are not many and since the shop have an open setting , there is a breeze blowing across the shop on a windy day. My wife told me that it will be very nice sitting there and drinking coffee as we watch people walk by in spring and autumn. But in Penang , the four seasons are warm, hot,hotter and hottest.  The afternoon heat make me drowsy as I ordered a cup of latte, my wife ordered a coffee, my daughter M a Mocca and my niece a jasmine tea. We sit there just sipping our drinks as we chat. On the background , there was a trumpet music and I think it goes well with the drinks. I can tell you that it was the best latte that I have tried so far in my life. Wonderful texture and body. Smooth and exciting and it really give me the oomp. The price of my latte is only RM8.00 for a cup and it was really worth the money. Wonderful experience drinking latte in such a frenzy heat and with ear piecing music. The combination must be excellent. Namaste.

Let the forms sets in - Yoga practice

Let the form fit in - Yoga Sometimes, my young yoga teacher can be a bit of " deep sea" and in proper English , it means  " very wise" and is difficult to comprehend. Anyway, she is a psychology student and teaching yoga is only part time. I think yoga enhance our psychological thinking in some ways. Let the form sets in means do not force the form but let it gradually shapes in at your own pace. If you force the form, your body will harden and it will be painful and stressful to the body. In the long run you will enjoy yoga and will instead leave the practice. If  we gradually and gracefully let the forms sets in, we not only enjoy it and also build a strong foundation in our practice.  Nothing should be force into or out into a shape. To have perfection , every thing or action should be like water which form its own shape. Water find its own level and find its way to the deepest part of a form. Namaste.

Zen in our work place - Ven Thich Nhat

Google and other global Internet companies are connecting to the power of mindfulness and meditation in order to drive sustainability and happiness. WHY on earth are many of the world’s most powerful technology companies, including Google, showing a special interest in an 87-year-old Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk? The answer is that all of them are interested in understanding how the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, or Thay as he is known to his hundreds of thousands of followers around the world, can help their organisations to become more compassionate and effective. In a sign that the practice of mindfulness is entering the mainstream, Thay has been invited later this month to run a full day’s training session at Google’s main campus in California. Thay, who has sold over two million books in America alone, is also meeting more than 20 CEOs of other major US-based technology companies in Silicon Valley, to offer his wisdom on the art of living in the present moment. He plans to discuss with them how they can develop a deep understanding of the inter-connectedness and inter-dependence of all life and offer practical tools to better integrate mindfulness in their daily work, in the products they design and in the vision they have for how technology can change the world. The event will end with the practice of walking meditation. The work of Thay has been acknowledged by several global leaders over the past 50 years. Current World Bank president Jim Yong Kim has said his practice is one “in which one can be deeply passionate and compassionate toward those who are suffering”, while Martin Luther King nominated him for the Nobel peace prize in 1967 for his work in seeking to end the Vietnam War. King said that conferring the award “would re-awaken men to the teaching of beauty and love found in peace. It would help to revive hopes for a new order of justice and harmony.” Despite his advancing years, Thay, who was ordained 71 years ago, is currently in the middle of a punishing three-month tour of North America, immediately after a similar period running retreats across Asia. His network of monks and nuns represents the world’s fastest growing monastic order and his week-long retreats in upstate Toronto, New York, Mississippi and California, each with a capacity of more than 1,000 people, have sold out in a matter of days. Thay, who warns that civilisation is at risk of collapse from the environmental and social damage caused by the voraciousness of our economic system, offers an alternative vision that focuses on true happiness, which he believes we have sacrificed on the altar of materialism. His teaching is based on transforming our suffering by letting go of the scars of the past as well as worries about the future, via meditation and mindful living. Pointing to our addiction to consumption as a clear sign we are trying to paper over our suffering, Thay suggests we should go in the opposite direction, to the very heart of our pain, in order to transcend it. He believes that for business to play a role in slowing the runaway train of capitalism, corporate leaders need to recognise they have made a fundamental error in their narrow-minded belief that profit on its own equates to success. For that to happen, the corporate world needs to undergo a fundamental shift in consciousness by recognising the importance of integrating spiritual principles into its daily life. In an interview on the art of suffering, Thay said: “You have to consider your idea of happiness. You think it is possible only if you win, if you are on the top. “But it is not necessarily like that, because even if you are successful in making more money, you still suffer. You compete because you’re not happy and meditation can help you to suffer less. “Many of us think you can only be happy when you leave other people behind; you are number one. You do not need to be number one to be happy. “There must be a spiritual dimension in your life and in your business, otherwise you cannot deal with the suffering caused by your work or your daily life.” Recalling his meetings with King, which were pivotal in the decision of the civil rights leader to come out against the Vietnam war, Thay said President Obama missed out a key ingredient when he last week celebrated the 50th anniversary of the landmark “I have a dream” speech. “When President Obama said let freedom ring, he is talking about the kind of freedom coming from outside; political and social freedom, but even if you have a lot of freedom to organise, to say things, to write, you can still suffer a lot as you don’t have the freedom inside – from your anger and fear,” says Thay. Central to King’s vision was the development of the Beloved Community and Thay has concentrated his energy on building more than a thousand “sanghas” of lay practitioners around the world. But is it possible for business leaders to create transformation through the building of a community ethos within their companies? Thay believes that bringing mindfulness and meditation into corporations will help them to turn away from their destructive ways and recognise the inter-dependence of all life. “Meditation practice can help business to suffer less,” he says. “That is good already because if your employees are happy, your business can improve. “If your business is causing environmental problems, then because you have practised meditation you may have an idea of how to conduct your business in such a way that you will harm nature less. “Meditation can calm your suffering and give you more insight and more right view on yourself and on the world and if you have a collective wisdom, then naturally you will want to handle and conduct your business in such a way that will make the world suffer less.” Bringing mindfulness into the workplace can also help prevent employees from becoming overwhelmed by their work, according to Thay, but business leaders need to lead by example. While many senior executives are starting to speak out about the importance of sustainability, Thay says few connect this to the internal culture of the organisations they run. “If he (business leader) spends all the time taking care of the corporation, he does not have time for himself or his family, but it is important to recognise that the business will profit if he is more calm, more loving, more compassionate and understanding,” he says. Electronic distractions Partly to blame is the increasing speed and reach of computers, which makes it increasingly hard to find time to reflect and be inspired. Thay talks of the importance of developing the art of aimlessness, rather than the non-stop creation of more projects. “People believe that happiness is in the future and the point of aimlessness is to stop running and find happiness in the here and the now,” he says. “True happiness cannot be without peace. If you continue to run, how can you have peace and you run in your dreams also. That is our civilisation. “We have to reverse this trend. We have to go back to ourselves, to our beloved ones, to nature, because electronic devices help us to run away from ourselves. We lose ourselves in the Internet, business, projects and we have no time to be with ourselves. We do not have the time to take care of our beloved ones and do not allow Mother Earth to heal us. We are running away from self, family and nature.” While most business leaders find it difficult to talk openly about the pressures they face, there are high profile examples of executives who share Thay’s concerns. Erin Callan, the former chief financial officer of Lehman Brothers, who resigned months before the bank’s bankruptcy, put her head above the parapet earlier this year to write about how work had completely consumed her. “When I left my job, it devastated me,” she wrote in the New York Times. “I couldn’t just rally and move on. I did not know how to value who I was versus what I did. “When I wasn’t catching up on work, I spent my weekends recharging my batteries for the coming week. Work always came first, before my family, friends and marriage – which ended just a few years later.” While Thay worries about the destructive force of technology, he recognises its dualistic nature and therefore its power also to do good. This is why he will call on the technology CEOs he meets to concentrate on developing apps and other devices that can help bring people back into balance. “We need to have an awakening and when I talk to Google and the other companies, I will tell them to use their intelligence and goodwill to help us create the kind of instruments to come back to ourselves, heal ourselves,” he says. “We do not have to reject or throw away all these devices but can make good use of them.” He talks of developing apps that can help people to calm their anger when it arises and refers to a watch he designed, on which every hour is marked by the word “now”, rather than a number. Google has asked the Buddhist monk to talk on the subject of intention, innovation and insight, which he says can all benefit from the practice of mindfulness. Thay was invited to visit Google in 2011 and since then mindfulness practices have blossomed at the technology giant, including a growing number of people taking part in its formal mindfulness training programme, “Search Inside Yourself”. Meditation rooms have also been created within many of the company’s offices. He says: “Staff at Google want to know how to transform their suffering just like all other living beings. “Many of them are very young and intelligent so they can understand the teaching and practice well and can spread this and they have the means to do that. “It will help for them to know that everyone has the wish to do good because all of us have Buddha nature. When you look at the path which is not noble, you can see the other path. “So looking into suffering you see the way of happiness; that is the teaching of the four noble truths and you do not need to be Buddhist to understand that. “Our society needs a collective awakening in order to save ourselves from the crisis we are in. So the practice is that awakening should take place in every step, every breath. And if you have awakening you know you have a path of happiness. You stop suffering and then you can help other people to do the same.” – Guardian News & Media

Benefits of Kopi-O . Believe it or not?

Kopi-O KOSONG- good for you! Without milk or creamer and less/no sugar. By Sylvia Booth Hubbard, Newsmax For many years, coffee was considered a vice, linked with sleepless nights and cigarettes. But scientists have discovered that coffee contains potent  antioxidants that can fight numerous ailments, including heart disease and  diabetes.According to the American Coffee Association, 54% of Americans  drink coffee on a daily basis, and they drink, on average, over three cups each. The diseases coffee can benefit include: Dementia. Drinking moderate amounts of coffee during middle age - classified as three to five cups daily - can decrease the  risk of dementia by 65%, according to a 2009 study by Swedish and Finnish

The day goodness die

The day ,  goodness die I have many experience with bad sales man especially commission agents and it will start will a bang and end in total disaster. Disappointing indeed. However, there are also good ones. My first experience is my life insurance agent who was my friend . She proposed to me a life policy and after getting my signature on it . She keep proposing an increase in the insured amount in a few attempt and after gradually fade away。She continue to sent me a few greeting cards and after that she became an MIA. I found out later there were many red lines in the policy。Period. The next one was another friend who introduced me to mutual funds and I supported him to put my savings according to his plan。Then I realized that administration cost and fees were  very high and deducted up front and I asked for a discount and subsequently he gave me a rebate。When I gradually withdraw from the funds ,he objected but I insisted and when I sell down , he also become an MIA. There were a few more occasions and disappointment  but nothing different from the first two incidents. What bring up this subject is because I met another type of commission agent recently through a friend. He is a property agent and he recommended me to buy an apartment and asked me to introduce my friends to him. If I buy in a group, he will give me more freebies and items. Suddenly, the response to his project was good and he change his terms and tell me , he is only an employee and his boss is not agreeable tot he terms. So. I complained to my friend who introduce me to him and this is his response to me " what do you expect from him, he is only a commission agent". Yes , my friend is right . As a commission agent , he has the right to change his words. Period. This countless experienced of unprofessional agents have toughen my guards against them and even ignore them from the first instances. So, goodbye to commission agents. Namaste.

The star meditation

The star meditation This pose in yoga is to bring your thoughts to a slow and calm level and this is effective to facilitate sleep. You just have to lie on your back in a dead man pose . Your legs stretch out with you hands by your side and the palms facing towards the sky . Just let the body , hands and legs sinking into the floor under you as you relax the whole body. Now , focus on your breath and flow the breath as you breath in and out. After a few breath, you stop and breath down from the top of your head . For some believers , they draw their  breath with the universal power from above. Then pull your breath to your heart and fill up your head and direct your breath out to your right hand until the tip of the fingers. Then breath in slowly and pull the breath towards your heart and fill it up again  until it is full. Repeat this breath in and out in this manner to your right leg and breath out fully to the toes and breath again to fill your heart and the move it to your left leg and then your right arm and to your head  in the breath in and out routine. After breathing out through your head , again you draw the breath from above and this time going into  clock wise direction  in the same breath in and out pattern. Starting with your left hand , then your left leg, right leg , left hand and again breath out through the head. By now you have done a full circle and you start from the beginning , breathing in from above pulling the universal energy with you. Remember to relax your heart when you breath in and breath out slowly to the tips of your hands and legs. Some people include their private parts in the routine. After your right leg, you breath out to the tips of your private part and breath in through the private part.some practitioner feel that the breath will be dirty by toxins stored there. In the process, you will realize and be aware that you will become calmer and more relax and as you slow down your motions ,you will drift into a deep meditation as your thoughts will be focus on your breath and this will also preserve your energy in your body. Open your heart to receive each breath and this is like messaging your heart slowly. Enjoy your breath and your journey. Namaste.

Change or not to change ?

Change or to be left behind If we do not change to adjust ourselves to the changes inside us or outside, we will become obsolete or extinct like the T-Rex . Dead and gone. This happens to individuals, associations , political parties ,etc which involves people. If you look deeply ,you will see the real cause of a death, that is people. The cycle of life - birth, age,sickness and death applies to everything that involves people. A person become great or an association become famous or the death of a political party is due to people in it or managing it. So, Man in the 4M concept is the most important. A lousy association or a political party is because of lousy people behind it. However, Man is a complicate animal which have big egos,greedy and stubborn. So, the outcome from an event involving Man or people is always unpredictable. There is two thoughts to the issue: Is it pre-destined or is it a choice which determines the outcome in one's life? Can the choice be also pre-destined? It is a very difficult question and If we leave it as it is , can the outcome be different? It goes back to the question, if I do not study , can I be smart? Or if I do buy a house , can I have a house? The questions will go on and on. Of course, there  is something  which logically can get the answer but there are complex issues which needs the pre-destined factor. Like the complex question do we keep the heritage Penang or move it to be a modern city. The answer to this question is deeply divided. Namaste.

Samsung 46" smart TV offer by SEC

Samsung 46" smart TV Today I bought a Samsung smart TV at SEC on their 50 anniversary  offer. It was an amazing TV which can hooked up to the Internet and you can see the Internet  news or read the articles including YouTube. The difference  between a standard and a smart TV is only RM200 and a Sharp TV 52" was almost the same price as the Samsung 46" smart TV. By looking at the two comparable then you will find that Sharp emphasize on size while Samsung is on intelligence. Who would care  better? I think intelligence will win the battle as functionality is more preferred feature as society gets smarter. Go for fellas as this offer is something you  cannot resist. Namaste..

IMM "pan mee" at All Seasons, Farlim,Penang.

'I mum mum'  at the All Seasons Mall, Farlim I had my dinner at the  I Mum Mum  noodle shop with my Colleague K on last Friday .  IMM is having a franchise in Penang and the one at Farlim is the third shop in Penamg. The shop only serves noodles and a variety of them and with some simple veggie side dishes. The noodles can be served  in a dry or soup style and with pork, chicken in different recipe and with crispy "foo chut" or deep fried bean stalks. I have been at the shop three times already and my friend had the noodle at the franchise shop in Bayan Lepas.  My conclusion is not only the taste is excellent and it is very economical at RM4.50 per plate and the servings are reasonably big.  It is recommendable to try and enjoy the food. Namaste.

NineThai Restaurant in Penang

Dinner at NineThai Restaurant   NineThai is located next to Little Shanghai and Oppersite  Continental Bakery at Jalan Nagore,  Penang.  My family was looking for dinner to-night and we wonder from 1s Avenue to Macalister Road and into Lorong selamat and into Burmah Road and into Nagore Road and we went past Little Shanghai and I saw a Thai Restaurant and my wife like to try it and we had Thai Food for dinner. My wife ordered a Tom Yum, a steam fish, a fried pork leg and fried eggs.  The food was delicious but a bit spicey。I was sweating profusely from the spicy Tom yum and spices from the steam fish. My wife loved the spices and the chilli hot taste. All of us despite the chilli hot  we almost finished the Tom yum and also all the food. The fried pork leg was very crispy and  the taste was very good. My  daughter M  like my wife love the food so much but agreed with me that it was spicy. It is recommendable as this is genuine Thai and for all the food and drinks , it only cost me RM129 for whole dinner. The only thing I forget to ask is why they are called "NineThai" and I think most probably, nine is a  dry good number for the Thai People. Namaste.

Born free again.

Born free again Everyone of us have  bondage in life. As we grow older the bondage gets more and more until we suffocate. The reverse happen when we grow old, we start to reduce our  bondage and bagged . Some people let it go faster than the others. Those people achieved it earlier felt liberated and born again。  This is no difference from the born again status like in Christianity. The feeling of liberation and freedom. This feeling warrant a significant change in our mindset which a fundamental requirement to let go of our  bondage. Each bondage is like adding a chain on our body and each chain weight us down. Each step of our life is heavier as each chain is added. The chain is like demons , our bad experiences, fear , worries ,needs, greed,etc and it has many forms and shades. Their basic role is to restrict our  thoughts and our life and give us misery, hardship,suffering and unhappiness. If we break each chain, the lightness in our body will return and if we continue to break the chain, we will be able to break free and see daylight and happiness. The feeling is the same as we have beaten obesity and we can run and jump freely. At this stage, we are broken free. Our journey in life will enter a different phase and our mind will be clearer and we can see better. We can "see" through life and we will look at life and the world differently and live more meaningfully . The. breaking of the chain is actually clearing our mind and controlling our thoughts.  If our mind is discipline and  clean then we have entered into a different realm and we will live in enlightenment and eternal happiness. Namaste.

Today's yoga session

Today's yoga session The yoga session is getting tougher  in every session and the teacher just keep pushing us to our breaking point. Everyone was tired out towards the end of the session bit the teacher keep telling us " do it one more time". I think my yoga teacher  is a perfectionist and a technocrat . Normally, this type of people are bad  businessman. As a good businessman, he or she needs to feel the pause of the class and adjust it systematically. This can only be done if you have separate classes for elementary. Intermediate or advance. If you mixed them together , it would be like a bunch of mixed elements . If she practice the advance pose, she will kill the starters and she slows down for the starters, the advanced members will be bored. So, there has to be a balance of difficult and simple pose and this is the most difficult routine to arrange。 Again, the body conditions of the different members of  the class fluctuate day to day and this again needs to adjusted by the teacher. If the teacher failed to understand the class , then the number of students will get less. So, a successful teacher who is touch with feelings and body conditions of each member of the class and he or she should continued to observe and be aware and adjust the tempo of the class to many every student comfortable with the class. To be a perfectionist do not necessary be a good teacher but the one who cares and aware will be a good teacher and a businessman. Namaste.

Fearful of death

It is a taboo to talk about death. Nobody wants to know about death or your fear of death. It is a normal instinct and nobody in the right mind would like talking about such subject. But, it is real and yet we do not want to face it or talk about it. I am now reading a book about death. The writer was a very famous professor and politician and he write about his last days in this world. He was a cancer patient like the writer of the book " chasing daylight". Both are prominent man and they list out their wishes and thoughts during this twilight years of theirs. Why people only talk about their death in their dying days ? Are they become more fearless when facing death ? We will die faster if we were to talk about death ? or should we get depressed ? Yeah , people are only interest in life and not the end. Well, they are right. But, talking about death will bring us more life, more awareness and making us live the present moment. Yes, we can behave like an ostrich hiding our head in the sand and stick out our backend and let others kick it. It is so ironical. Everyday, there is death in this world and new life also came into this world. When there is death, there is death. Nobody can avoid it. But, why we are so fearless when facing death? Why cann't we be more fearless when we are alive ? To be fearful , does it make our life longer ? Yeah, being thrifty can make us rich , but be fearful and behave cowardly , does it prolong our life. There is no logic and substance in this thought but it is only a comforting thought. So, fellas, live fearlessly and live in the present moment. Namaste.

Quick guide to the benefits of meditation

Meditation for the mind and body.... silence and a calm mind gives you a perfect rest..

Quick guide to the benefits of meditation

Namaste.

Back from Bangladesh with an experience.

Back from Bangladesh I am just got back from Bangladesh and there was some experience I wanted to share with all of you.  I was staying at the Westin Hotel in Dhaka and last night I had a dinner with a VIP at the Italian Restaurant in the same hotel.  On my way up to the restaurant, I took a lift and after I have pressed for the lift , I step back and waited. Suddenly, the lift door open and standing in the lift was a long hair middle black age women. She was quite huge and she stared at me without smiling . I was shocked to see a dead face women staring at me without moving. After a few seconds she started to move and I was relieved . At least, she moved and not  just vanished. I believed that she was also shocked to see me staring at her. A huge  stoned face Chinese man looking at her. I think she was equally shock and after I moved she was relieved. There is a Chinese saying " if a human scared another human, there is no medicine to cure this fear". It will need the person to cure themselves.  What it mean is that the experience is registered in our mind and we have deepen our fear. This fear will weaken our mind and will haunt us for the rest of life. Such images or experience will surface in the right moments to shake your confidence and instill fear in all of us.  Hence , we have face these fears and tell them enough is enough and push them out of your mind. The more Ee do it , the weaker will be such image and our mind will rule over it and gradually shut it out. Namaste.

Demons in our life

Demons in our life The fear factor in us varies between individuals. Some people can be  very confident while some can be very scary.  For those who are scary, they spend most of their times fighting their internal demons instead of living. These internal demons influence the mind to think of the.various possibilities and keep the mind in a suspicious mood. The mind creates its own story and  interpretations and make them edgy and confrontational。Always in a negative mind and creating a figment of our own thoughts. When two of our enemies or people we don't like gets  together, we will think they are talking about us or if the two crack a job and laugh , they are laughing on us. We think we are the star in their topics or the object of their jokes or laughs. How do we kill these demons? Since it exits within us it is only we can destroyed it without destroying ourselves. These demons are not illness of the body, it is the weakness of our mind. Since it is the mind problem , we have work with our mind and identify its source and strengthen the mind to removed its weaknesses. Since , it is our mind , we should be the master and don't be a slave to it. Be what you want to be. There is a saying " If you want t to be , the. Let it be me". Namaste.

Lying on my bed, thinking.

Lying on my bed . thinking Many thoughts went through my head as I lay on my bed trying to sleep. It has been a quiet weekend and I went around to finished my weekend chorus. Certain part of the day it was raining and now it is drizzling late in the night. The thoughts of my wife's second uncle keep coming into my thoughts. I saw him on Saturday with his wife and he has a tube sticking out from his neck. He was a businessman before and was doing quiet well until his son gambles away his house and his retirement funds. We used to meet on Sunday at my father in law's condo. The uncles and aunties will gather there and enjoy a few rounds of mahjong and followed by a dinner at the condo. He told me that he used to practice "Tai Chi" and taking brisk walks and now he is getting old and getting sickness. He told me that when we aged, we have to take care of our food and health. The thought of him let me wonder that everyone of us will need to go through the cycle of birth, aged, sickness  and death. I saw on TV this evening , the funeral of Thailand's white dragon or the "Pak Loong Wong". He is a very famous personality and he is consulted by many famous celebrities of Thailand and Hong Kong as he considered a Demi-god who can tell the fortunes of his followers. Even this Demi-god also need to abide by the basic cycle of life preached by Buddha. I have read about the research in stem cells as scientist try to grew a brain from stem cells. Maybe one day, a person may not need to die as scientist can grow stems to repair the dying heart ,brain and the vital organs just like the worn out parts of a motor vehicles and they can break the basic cycle of life. At that time, is there  more meaning to life? Namaste.