PLATPOND

What really matter

2010-05-07T18:39:00.000+01:00

Many things in the world today, good and bad, are caused by the acts of human beings. With our knowledge we alter the status quo, making places better to live in, making cars drive better while consuming less gas and many more such instances. On the other hand we also are responsible in cutting down trees, polluting rivers, spilling oils and many more such instances as well.

It is interesting to see that today we see many people, organizations, nations etc.doing their best to reverse the damages which have already occurred, and how they are saving the forest, the waters, having green initiatives and again, many more of such examples.

It is also an interesting observation that this is analogous to a river with one human throwing rubbish at one end and another human collecting it at the other.

The problem here, is mankind.

We may have a better mental faculty as we grow older, but the rate and affinity to new ideas and the absorption rate may not. Children and youths on the other hand, are more ready to embrace new ideas, but they have little reference or experience to challenge them even if they want to.

Education should be the forefront of all nation. The education should at the minimum include critical reasoning alongside worldly knowledge. The moral values must be instilled with very strong sense of "why's" and not just being another subject "taught" in school. Having compassion without wisdom is equally damaging as having no compassion at all, so we must teach our children why it is good to be good.

Children are the leaders of the future. When we have more and more of them coming up in life, each having the spirit of genuine competition without envy, we can only have a level of public debate never before seen ever. The older generations will have a tougher time swallowing this "next-gen" pills, but it is vital to understand this is necessary for the larger benefits to all in the future. One can't really masquerade ignorance or anger with the cleverness of masked kindness. And this is what is so appealing, it's almost foolproof. Can we understand now why it is so important to be ourselves? If we are comfortable in our own skin, and what we portray is what we want to see ourselves in, honestly, genuinely, then what or who can bring us down? The problem is, we behave differently in public than in private. We really think no one is looking when we are alone, don't we?

Nevertheless, this could not happen if we do not have the physical capability to carry the body around, to speak, to write, to see etc. We need to have a health-care system so freakishly good no one will need to ever worry any longer about having any kind of illnesses. Medical knowledge and facilities should be shared thoroughly throughout, countries should not be defined by borders anymore; well there should not be countries to begin with. There isn't a year with no war, and these borders are the result of wars.

Having healthy, happy and virtuous children, what more can the world ask for?

From "The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living" by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler

2010-04-29T09:00:00.000+01:00

"We can see that there are many ways in which we actively contribute to our own experience of mental unrest and suffering. Although, in general, mental and emotional afflictions themselves can come naturally, often it is our own reinforcement of those negative emotions that makes them so much worse. For instance when we have anger or hatred towards a person, there is less likelihood of its developing to a very intense degree if we leave it unattended. However, if we think about the projected injustices done to us, the ways in which we have been unfairly treated, and we keep on thinking about them over and over, then that feeds the hatred. It makes the hatred very powerful and intense. Of course, the same can apply to when we have an attachment towards a particular person; we can feed that by thinking about how beautiful he or she is, and as we keep thinking about the projected qualities that we see in the person, the attachment becomes more and more intense. But this shows how through constant familiarity and thinking, we ourselves can make our emotions more intense and powerful.
We also often add to our pain and suffering by being overly sensitive, overreacting to minor things, and sometimes taking things too personally. We tend to take small things too seriously and blow them up out of proportion, while at the same time we often remain indifferent to the really important things, those things which have profound effects on our lives and long-term consequences and implications.
So I think that to a large extent, whether you suffer depends on how you respond to a given situation."

What is Dhamma? Nothing isn't.

Beliefs create reality

2010-03-30T08:41:00.000+01:00

I started my self-improvement journey (using books as medium) with Anthony Robbins. I vaguely remember his conviction on how a person can be changed instantaneously, even with all the pre-existing conditions from childhood or recent experiences/memories. He always uses the analogy of a table with the four legs as the supporting beliefs. Break all four and the tabletop will have nothing to hold it, and there goes what we hold on to; old perceptions gone and we are free to choose new 4 legs again for a new table.

I too believe in this, even when I have not known of this from him. The thing is, sometimes we are very proud during the journey of self discovery that we think the things that we think are only thought by us, and I was exactly like that. Time passed and experiences showed that although what I thought was not wrong, there are just so many facades in life which are so glaring, in announcing, that we can only recognize right from wrong. And if we can recognize the wrong, it means somehow somewhere, the "wrongs" are within us, and we're part of it.

I'm at a juncture which I'm content with having no preference to things. Having the impartiality for now does take out the excitement and romance of the senses, but I found peace. What we have always wanted to do, in everything we do, to avoid pain and gain pleasure, are nothing but like a dog chasing its own tail. Having let go of the chasing, I hope to see things as they are. And what I experienced was nothing short of magic.

Purpose driven life

2010-03-30T06:13:00.000+01:00

I had a harder-than-usual wake-up call recently. The same thing which has always been nagging at me, gnawing bit by bit what I am, but the "better" part of me, i.e. pride always managed to fend itself. Well not anymore, last few days have been pure bliss; having at least a glimpse of the answer to the question "What do I want it to be?". And I'm carrying this blissful feeling all day long. I know this is right. This is something I have to do to remedy the tortured soul this long while.

And so today I took the first step, and it was not an easy step, literally. I took the wrong turn, met a few crazy drivers, couldn't find a parking spot etc.. But I did manage to end up where I wanted to go. I did not expect the experience to be awe-inspiring or anything near that. It was a casual conversation, filled up some forms and a quick chat.

And that's it. My life is officially now in Chapter 3.

*Ego wrote this post. "My" post will ensue...

"Whatever you want it to be"

2009-04-26T03:15:00.001+01:00

This is where I started the purposeful life. The power of this statement lies in the kind of person we currently are. And more and more I see examples of man and women who live by this, whether or not they realize it. We have the power to choose. It is a right, and never should be a privilege. We choose to be what we want. The helplessness set in when we give in, when we resign to the so called "facts of life", that we are powerless, or are limited in what we can do.

This is the essence:

Examine the person you are, be the person you are, and if you want to change, make sure it's for the right reasons. Along the journey, you will realize the things that are important to you. Not urgent. Important. This is the way to become who you want to be, not out of thrill, or momentary inspiration. It must be something that can sustain you, that can push you one more step when you feel like giving up. First step is always the longest stride. Decide what you want, for you alone will be living with the consequences. Sure, there's always free rides, what's worth the prize, is always, always worth the fight.

The purpose of life.

2009-04-26T02:52:00.001+01:00

I'm sure many of us ponder sometimes on this question, and I'm also sure a lot just leave the question after not finding a satisfactory answer. We revisit it once in a while, and unless we find the answer, there's always this nag that keeps chewing at our heart.

Some of us are lucky to have found the answer, however unacceptable to others, which makes us feel the world makes sense again. It's usually in these "a-ha!" moments that we experience life changing emotions, making the decisions and move on with a renewed outlook. We become a new person.

I would like to share mine, having found "my" answer sometime ago, and while I don't expect this to make sense to all, at least put it in your life's context and see if it fits. I've been searching, asking, pestering, many people, knowledgeable people, people who I respect for their answers. And none of it made sense to me.

The persons we are.

2009-04-26T02:39:00.000+01:00

Progress of mankind as we know has come with a hefty price tag, whether we realize or not. We take pride in creating something out of nothing, the skyscrapers, bridges, even themed parks. We take refuge in the comfort of what these things bring, that we are better than our parents. We are always more knowledgeable than the previous generations, and wiser than the next, aren't we?

We feast on new things which interest us, something that no one has ever seen. This is the reason why I think we have all the animosities all around. We are so deep in stretching out that we forgot the very outreached arms are actually attached to ourselves. We forgot to take care of the body, the mind, the spirit, of us.

But all is not lost, in all histories, we can always see spots of bright blobs everyday. The tales of simple human beings overcoming the odds, of us knowing, understanding and realizing what really matter. And aren't these tales which actually touch us in the deepest of our hearts? Which makes us want to be better?

We strive to be better, to visualize where we want to be, and we forgot to be just where we are. It's always "what's next", always "just one more", always want to be someone, have to be someone. We believe in contentment stifling progress. If only we see progress as an improved oneself.

Too..

2009-04-23T04:30:00.000+01:00

I was on my way to work yesterday morning and was stuck in a slow moving river of vehicles. The reason became apparent soon as I passed the scene of accident; a motorcycle was by the roadside, and suddenly I saw the motorcyclist (or rider) covered in black plastic bag.

My heart sank, right there. I felt so weak, powerless. Emotions took over and I couldn't function for the day. I keep thinking about the deceased, how he would have never thought that it will be his last day here, how his family would be so devastated to get the news.

Before I could pick myself up, I saw this:

Brothers in desperate bid to save mother
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=13866&icid=2&d_str=20090422

I just couldn't take it. Too much adversities, too little love. Too much to do, too little time...

Snippets...

2009-04-23T03:35:00.000+01:00

1. I don't know how politicians, or anyone who are not truthful, can look at their children straight.

2. There has got to be a better way for umbrella users to get into their car in downpour.

3. Dogs are the best healers. Innocence breeds honesty.

arrgghh..mental block...tbc

Someday I'll Be Saturday Night...

2009-04-23T03:28:00.000+01:00

Sometimes when we get weary of the world around us, we will at one time or another be tempted to give up, give in, or just give away. And more often than not, the temptations have the upper hand. We ask "why me?", but somehow we are still here today. We are here, thus we are winners, we stick around. We get battered every day and yet we are left standing. But sometimes, we just need a break...

Anyway, this is one of my favorite bands, if only they are performing here again, bet your ass I'm gonna be there...

------------------------------------------------------------
Hey man, I'm alive
I'm takin' each day and night at a time
I'm feelin' like a Monday but someday I'll be Saturday night

Hey my name is Jim, where did I go wrong
My life's a bargain basement, all the good shit's gone
I just can't hold a job, where do I belong
Been sleeping in my car, my dreams move on
My name is Billy Jean, my love was bought and sold
I'm only sixteen I feel a hundred years old
My foster daddy went, took my innocence away
The street life ain't much better but at least I'm getting paid

And Tuesday just might go my way
It can't get worse than yesterday
Thursdays Fridays ain't been kind
But somehow I'll survive

Hey man, I'm alive
I'm taking each day and night at a time
Yeah I'm down, but I know I'll get back
Hey, hey, hey, hey, man I gotta live my life
Like I ain't got nothing but this roll of the dice
I'm feeling like a Monday but someday I'll be Saturday Night

Now I can't say my name or tell you where I am
I want to blow myself away, don't know if I can
I wish that I could be in some other time and place
With someone else's soul, someone else's face

Oh, Tuesday just might go my way
It can't get worse than yesterday
Thursdays, Fridays ain't been kind
But somehow I'll survive

Hey, man I'm alive
I'm taking each day and night at a time
Yeah I'm down, but I know I'll get back
Hey, hey, hey, hey, man I gotta live my life
I'm gonna pick up all the pieces and what's left of my pride
I'm feeling like a Monday but someday I'll be Saturday night

Saturday night
Here we go

Someday I'll be Saturday night
I'll be back on my feet, I'll be doing all right
It may not be tomorrow baby, that's ok
I ain't going down, gonna find a way

Hey, hey, hey
Man I'm alive I'm taking each day and night at a time
Yeah I'm down, but I know I'll get back
Hey, hey, hey, hey man I'm gonna live my life
Like I ain't got nothing but this roll of the dice
I'm feeling like a Monday but someday I'll be Saturday night

I'm feeling like a Monday but someday I'll be Saturday night
Saturday night ... all right
All right ... all right
Saturday night

------------------------------------------------------------

Tupperware--continued

2009-04-22T03:06:00.000+01:00

...so, what do we do? We were so certain if we take care of the different tupperwares we would be taken care of. Of course there are some who just go with it and pray that they are taken care of.

we have to throw away the notion that life is something that we can easily perceive; the same goes with the notion that it is impossible to understand. We can't have the ostrich mentality and think that by focusing on what we think is right, it is right. Doing the right things and doing things right are two completely different, albeit not mutually exclusive, actions.

My point is, we must look at things holistically (I've been holding myself so hard to not using this word, but alas!). I say "must" and not "should" because that is the only way we can feel complete. Have you ever had the feeling that you're happy in some areas of your life but not in others, and then scrambling to address those inadequacies? That's like patching a wet, leaking clay bowl while thinking it will dry in time for you to enjoy life.

If you've not tried it, give meditation a chance. Don't get anti-climaxed by the simple solution, and don't think the value is diluted by the mass following. It's non glamorous, but simple things are usually just that, simple and unglamorous.

Tupperware

2009-04-22T01:49:00.000+01:00

I am a pretty religious person, or at least i'd like to think that I am. Not because I staunchly observe the rites and rituals of it, but because religion as I know is something which we can't separate from "the others". Bear with me, I'm coming to the point soon...

We focus a lot in making our lives easy, or easier; and to do this, we tupperware everything. We have the physical tupperware, the emotional, mental, spiritual etc.

And once we think we have everything covered, we then zoom in into each of the tupperware, and look for ways to better ourselves in the said area. Most obvious examples, we improve physically by exercising and eating right, emotionally by attending self help courses, reading motivational books etc, spiritually by having faith, praying, and performing the respective requisites. Very close to the point now...

When we consciously think of ways to improve in these areas, we will slowly tend to do for the sake of doing, to just want to check off the things we've done, so that we will see ourselves as having accomplised something, and feel good about it.

But this does not prepare ourselves one bit to the things that matters. We think they do, after all we ARE tending to the things that are important to us. Remember that the things that should scare us is not what's in front of us. These we can actually handle rather simply (another topic for another time). It's the thing that hit us out of nowhere, that just make our knees weak, hearts pumping, adrenaline rushing. These, not many are prepared.

to be continued...

Equality between men and women

2009-04-22T01:40:00.000+01:00

This is actually a rather stupid an argument topic, just like saying we should save the whale because it will be extinct and the next generations will lose a treasure.

There can never be equality. Having equality will in the end tilt the favor to the women, which negates the whole intent of having this equality at the first place. "How?", you asked. Think about it, if women can do whatever men are doing, especially "traditionally men's tasks", like careers of choice, ways of communicating, status in a family, in society etc., and at the same time expecting men to be gentlemen and open doors, hold handbags, pamper etc., aren't all these pointing to the disadvantaged men?

To the women out there, you can convince me of either being equal in the way you behave yourselves, OR the way you are being "behaved", ie treated, but never both. I subscribe to the equality of opportunities availed to both sexes, but treatment? That I will fight with any eves out there, anytime.