Moving forward! This seems to be some optimistic declaration of new aspirations, inspirations, determinations and resolutions! Alas, I do not know why i say it! I guess if we do not move forward, then we will forever be left behind and live in the shadow of the past! The past where everything is bad, everything is impossible and we feel trap! I hate being trapped! It is like being stuck in limbo, in a void that sees no bottom nor top nor even left and right. When u reach out your hands to touch the side, u have no wall! Sounds science fiction but yet that is one concept that is used in Movie! A void within a space, a room within a room, ever expanding and bending towards the centre. Nevermind if u do not understand what I have written so far. Neither do I!
History is interesting. By the time, i write to this point, whatever i have written earlier has become history. Even our books are history if u think about it. The books are written some time back by the authors with a particular mind set which is totally different now! He or she might have better ideas for the books but at that time, it is probably the best plot! I like history! As i blar blar to this point, I realise I m writing this post for the sake of populating and updating my pathetic blog!
Why is tomorrow a probability? Because anything can happen! However in buddhism, there must be a cause before there is an effect. Thus it should not be a probability, it should be deterministic! Then and again, we can change our karma by performing a good cause and by tranforming that bad cause into something positive. We can make a difference and that is human revolution!
Now to end this blar blar blog, I will quote from Ikeda Sensei's words of wisdom "It is this time and this place that matter--not some other time or place. What matters is here and now--the people here and now."
Monday, April 13, 2009
Monday, March 9, 2009
See no up and blogging blogging
Everytime I walked by people who were trying to promote their credit cards, I was not approached! Well I m not unhappy that they did not. I just do not understand why I m not approached! Is it due to my dressing or to give myself some credit, I look too young to be capable to own any credit cards? Contrary to their oversight, I do have more cards than they presume! Now, I pay my bills regularly although I look "poor" and I do not spend more than I can afford. Thus this makes me the ideal client for any card company cos I will definitely pay back. Then and again, by paying back on time, they do lost interest and interest for credit cards are pretty exorbitant!
Anyway, what is the purpose of holding a credit card? Is it to look good? Is it to fulfil that requirement that all girls want in the guy? Come to think of it, how many Cs are we talking about now? Anyway, Cs in material are not going to last while Cs in care and concern will probably worth much more! Well, some will tell you, all talk and no cash, we will all starve so money is still important! How much is enough? Very subjective answer!
On blogging, I love this piece of conversation between Gurkin and the guys in the movie "Sydney White". Gurkin asked the guys what will be another word to use instead of "douchebaggery". Spanky told him nobody will read his blog. Gurkin replied that the idea about his blog was not being read but about being written! Cool! I thought this might be same as my blog. It is not about being written, it is about being written for my sake and for making my statement felt in the internet space!
I have signed up for Earth Hours and pledge to switch off powers for an hour on 28 March 09 at 8.30pm.
Quote from Ikeda Sense's Words of Wisdom - "The external desertification of the planet corresponds precisely with the spiritual desertification of human life."
Thus if we clear the green from our environment, we are also plucking out that green in our life! Green is a marvelous colour!
Anyway, what is the purpose of holding a credit card? Is it to look good? Is it to fulfil that requirement that all girls want in the guy? Come to think of it, how many Cs are we talking about now? Anyway, Cs in material are not going to last while Cs in care and concern will probably worth much more! Well, some will tell you, all talk and no cash, we will all starve so money is still important! How much is enough? Very subjective answer!
On blogging, I love this piece of conversation between Gurkin and the guys in the movie "Sydney White". Gurkin asked the guys what will be another word to use instead of "douchebaggery". Spanky told him nobody will read his blog. Gurkin replied that the idea about his blog was not being read but about being written! Cool! I thought this might be same as my blog. It is not about being written, it is about being written for my sake and for making my statement felt in the internet space!
I have signed up for Earth Hours and pledge to switch off powers for an hour on 28 March 09 at 8.30pm.
Quote from Ikeda Sense's Words of Wisdom - "The external desertification of the planet corresponds precisely with the spiritual desertification of human life."
Thus if we clear the green from our environment, we are also plucking out that green in our life! Green is a marvelous colour!
Monday, February 9, 2009
All not so New Yearsy..
Is after the Chinese New Year! Well I do not really feel the season or rather i did not merge myself in this special season of the Chinese people every year! Chinese New Year seems to be a Han thing and in olden days, there were many customs and traditions that one needed to comply with in order to have a great year ahead! One of these is probably to send the kitchen god back to heaven so that he could give a great report to the heaven emperor on the good deed of the family and ensure enduring good fortune in the new year to come. The most famous Chinese New Year story is probably that of "Nian" or 年. This 年 is a monster that will come down and terrorise the village every new year. It seems like the only way to get rid of 年 is to make lots of noise so comes the tradition of setting off fire crackers to ward off 年 and ensure a prosperous year ahead. Anyway, the main idea is to create the best atmosphere and to have a great start to the new year ahead!
This year I did not go down to the festive market at Chinatown and did manage to take some photos of the decoration along South Bridge Road!
Year of the Cow... mooo mooooooo....
Moo moo year to you!
Ratty bringing in the cow.. ma me moo ma me moo...
The entrance to Chinatown from Chinatown Point!
"The external desertification of the planet corresponds precisely with the spiritual desertification of human life. " - Words of Wisdom from Daisaku Ikeda
I read this in the book "Soul Mountain" - 无极生太极，太极生两仪，两仪生四象，四象生八卦 or rather the english translation of it and I find it really interesting cos it talks about the one but not one of phenomenon and the interconnectedness of things around us! More on this book later.
This year I did not go down to the festive market at Chinatown and did manage to take some photos of the decoration along South Bridge Road!
Year of the Cow... mooo mooooooo.... Moo moo year to you! Ratty bringing in the cow.. ma me moo ma me moo... The entrance to Chinatown from Chinatown Point!"The external desertification of the planet corresponds precisely with the spiritual desertification of human life. " - Words of Wisdom from Daisaku Ikeda
I read this in the book "Soul Mountain" - 无极生太极，太极生两仪，两仪生四象，四象生八卦 or rather the english translation of it and I find it really interesting cos it talks about the one but not one of phenomenon and the interconnectedness of things around us! More on this book later.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Remembering 2008 and advancing into 2009
It had taken me almost the whole of January 09 to find the time to write my reflections for 2008 and resolutions for the year 2009.
2008 was another year to remember and I will review the year using a couple of sub-headings!
First let’s start from Health, Exercise and Keeping Fit:
Going to gym regularly became the practice though pretty reluctant as I struggled to wait up early to start my trainings as early as 6.30am in the morning. However this practice did not continue later in the year as I started to go to gym in the evening. My muscles are tone but I do not see any significantly decrease in weight!
In the later half of the year, I started going to the gym opposite Takashimaya so that I could pop down into Kinokuniya after the work out!
On sickness, nothing major except the normal “morning flu” and bouts of headaches that progressed to migraine on several occasions.
Next will be on Career, Jobs and Living:
In the first 3 months of 2008, I was still miserable in a job that promised but never delivered, tasked to perform mission impossible with no option to say “NO” and a boss that attributed your behaviours to the education levels of your parents (meaning if your parents are not educated, then their ability to bring up their children to persons of ability, integrity and good character is questionable). By the 4th month of the year, I had left this “bottom of the well” to a place of “higher learning”. I thought I will lose my performance bonus but it seems naught! The new job provides new challenges, pretty of “walking about” and learning.
Before I left the old workplace, I was given an opportunity to organize and even lecture in a workshop. This was a great experience and I also got to go on board of warship!
Then we go on to Professional Development, Trainings, Conference and Publications:
Seems pretty a diverse headings but all linked (I think so).
First I venture to better myself by enrolling for the Specialist Diploma in Workplace Safety and Health at the local Polytechnic which I completed by September. This diploma eliminated many of my fine brain cells and imaginations. Good new was my typing skill has improved!
In my new job, I was also required to attend trainings to learn the basic trades of the job. I was also certified in CPR-AED and hopefully in 2009, I will receive my Instructor qualification.
In the first half of the year, I finished the formatting of a book and brought it to publication. This book was very well received when it went on sale during a related conference in September. For the conference, I was part of the publication team where my formatting skill is further honed and fine-tuned. I guess nothing brings more satisfaction when you see the fruit of your effort being published! From publishing the two books, I learnt much on ISBN and its applications!
I took my second try with Law and it din turn out well, thus I decided to give it up academically.
Now we move on to Friends, Family, Entertainment and Life:
My nephew is born in March and he is such a darling! Many of my friends gave birth in 2008 too and one of them gave birth to her second son! I guess meeting with friends were not that frequent so 2009 must be better!
No traveling in 2008 outside the country and the furthest I went was probably Changi Airport!
Many friends got married too and I was invited to be the “sister” for two of the weddings!
I could not remember the number of times I went to the cinema but I did purchase many VCDs and DVDs to make up for the “loss in opportunity”. Books are always my constant companions but I shan’t do them justice here as I have decided to write a list of books and short reviews later (This should be my 2009 resolutions!).
On a personal note, I gave up my “obsession” or rather hopeless insistence on somebody! Yeah, please cheer for me!
Lastly and an important component is Gakkai Activities:
Beginning of the year, I got myself involved in the Future Division’s Musical entitled “The Little Prince”. This was a musical performed by Students for students and we did 3 shows altogether. The music was original and not copied from any existing pieces!
In October, we had a Chapter Friendship meeting that began planning since the beginning of the year. I took part in my first ever hip-hop dance. Well, most of the time, I did more singing than dancing! It was most significant as we managed to gather most of the young YWDs from the chapter in this dance!
Friday Rendevous workshops started in April 08 on every 3rd Friday of the month. We had grooming, EQ, hair styling make-up, Aroma therapy and even counsellng. As part of the workshop committee, I tried to attend all the sessions. I was the moderator for the session on SOKA education where I “interviewed” 2 graduates from Soka University Japan and US respectively.
I ended my short stunts in the English district to move to a Chinese district in the same chapter.
This year I finished my 1 million daimoku which I started in 2007.
There were other activities but too many to write them here and I really cannot get the diary habit started! 2008 was a year of change and guess changes were seen as the world economy took a turn down and a new president for the USA!
2009 will be another challenging year and I have yet to set my resolutions. However this will be done!
I pray for world peace and heighten environmental awareness among all! Someone told me that a slowing economy will do the environment good as pollution will be reduced with decreased industrial productions and reduction in transportations!
“We need to awaken to a common consciousness of being all inhabitants of Earth. This consciousness is not to be found in some distant place. It will not be found on a computer screen. It lies in our hearts, in our ability to share the pain of our fellow human beings. It is the spirit that says: "As long as you are suffering, whoever you are and whatever your suffering may be, I suffer also."
- Words of Wisdom from Daisaku Ikeda
2008 was another year to remember and I will review the year using a couple of sub-headings!
First let’s start from Health, Exercise and Keeping Fit:
Going to gym regularly became the practice though pretty reluctant as I struggled to wait up early to start my trainings as early as 6.30am in the morning. However this practice did not continue later in the year as I started to go to gym in the evening. My muscles are tone but I do not see any significantly decrease in weight!
In the later half of the year, I started going to the gym opposite Takashimaya so that I could pop down into Kinokuniya after the work out!
On sickness, nothing major except the normal “morning flu” and bouts of headaches that progressed to migraine on several occasions.
Next will be on Career, Jobs and Living:
In the first 3 months of 2008, I was still miserable in a job that promised but never delivered, tasked to perform mission impossible with no option to say “NO” and a boss that attributed your behaviours to the education levels of your parents (meaning if your parents are not educated, then their ability to bring up their children to persons of ability, integrity and good character is questionable). By the 4th month of the year, I had left this “bottom of the well” to a place of “higher learning”. I thought I will lose my performance bonus but it seems naught! The new job provides new challenges, pretty of “walking about” and learning.
Before I left the old workplace, I was given an opportunity to organize and even lecture in a workshop. This was a great experience and I also got to go on board of warship!
Then we go on to Professional Development, Trainings, Conference and Publications:
Seems pretty a diverse headings but all linked (I think so).
First I venture to better myself by enrolling for the Specialist Diploma in Workplace Safety and Health at the local Polytechnic which I completed by September. This diploma eliminated many of my fine brain cells and imaginations. Good new was my typing skill has improved!
In my new job, I was also required to attend trainings to learn the basic trades of the job. I was also certified in CPR-AED and hopefully in 2009, I will receive my Instructor qualification.
In the first half of the year, I finished the formatting of a book and brought it to publication. This book was very well received when it went on sale during a related conference in September. For the conference, I was part of the publication team where my formatting skill is further honed and fine-tuned. I guess nothing brings more satisfaction when you see the fruit of your effort being published! From publishing the two books, I learnt much on ISBN and its applications!
I took my second try with Law and it din turn out well, thus I decided to give it up academically.
Now we move on to Friends, Family, Entertainment and Life:
My nephew is born in March and he is such a darling! Many of my friends gave birth in 2008 too and one of them gave birth to her second son! I guess meeting with friends were not that frequent so 2009 must be better!
No traveling in 2008 outside the country and the furthest I went was probably Changi Airport!
Many friends got married too and I was invited to be the “sister” for two of the weddings!
I could not remember the number of times I went to the cinema but I did purchase many VCDs and DVDs to make up for the “loss in opportunity”. Books are always my constant companions but I shan’t do them justice here as I have decided to write a list of books and short reviews later (This should be my 2009 resolutions!).
On a personal note, I gave up my “obsession” or rather hopeless insistence on somebody! Yeah, please cheer for me!
Lastly and an important component is Gakkai Activities:
Beginning of the year, I got myself involved in the Future Division’s Musical entitled “The Little Prince”. This was a musical performed by Students for students and we did 3 shows altogether. The music was original and not copied from any existing pieces!
In October, we had a Chapter Friendship meeting that began planning since the beginning of the year. I took part in my first ever hip-hop dance. Well, most of the time, I did more singing than dancing! It was most significant as we managed to gather most of the young YWDs from the chapter in this dance!
Friday Rendevous workshops started in April 08 on every 3rd Friday of the month. We had grooming, EQ, hair styling make-up, Aroma therapy and even counsellng. As part of the workshop committee, I tried to attend all the sessions. I was the moderator for the session on SOKA education where I “interviewed” 2 graduates from Soka University Japan and US respectively.
I ended my short stunts in the English district to move to a Chinese district in the same chapter.
This year I finished my 1 million daimoku which I started in 2007.
There were other activities but too many to write them here and I really cannot get the diary habit started! 2008 was a year of change and guess changes were seen as the world economy took a turn down and a new president for the USA!
2009 will be another challenging year and I have yet to set my resolutions. However this will be done!
I pray for world peace and heighten environmental awareness among all! Someone told me that a slowing economy will do the environment good as pollution will be reduced with decreased industrial productions and reduction in transportations!
“We need to awaken to a common consciousness of being all inhabitants of Earth. This consciousness is not to be found in some distant place. It will not be found on a computer screen. It lies in our hearts, in our ability to share the pain of our fellow human beings. It is the spirit that says: "As long as you are suffering, whoever you are and whatever your suffering may be, I suffer also."
- Words of Wisdom from Daisaku Ikeda
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Christmas atmosphere..
Is the holiday season! People are taking leaves and going for holidays or just to laze around at home or even to do shoppings! Recession? Hmm.. well, why are there still so many people at Orchard Road? Shopping centres in the suburban areas or regional towns are expanding. Jurong Point extension is such an example. I have not been to Jurong Point for donkey years and a plan to visit that place is high on my list of "adventure" in this small island. Jokes aside and let's get down to something more serious! Okay, there is nothing really serious about a blog and I don think people should take seriously to what one's blog. A blog is a place to ventilate or rather to tell the cyberspace some things that will bore your friends or rather no one wants to hear. This is because as a friend, you are suppose to "listen" more and not talk the world of yourself! Anyway, enough of crapping and perhaps it is also time to write that year end reflections and new year resolutions!
Another good piece of news for this season is my friend has just given birth to her second son on the 15 December (Monday). Have to make time to visit her 8). Second piece of news is my boss is on vacation until next year - YEAH. Third piece of news is there is no 3 piece of good news!
Below are some photos taken this holiday season at ORCHARD ROAD:
Along route to Takashimaya.
Rows of Teddy bears forming a tree, displayed at Takashimaya Shopping Centre. I want one of those cutties.
Decorations on the Christmas Trees at Ngee Ann City. I wonder whether they recycle the same tree every year! Is good if they did that!
Welcome to Orchard Road and a Merry Christmas to you.
The other big and tall Christmas tree just outside Paragon. I like this one!
I tot i took more photos. Anyway, 6 is better than none.
"Iron, when heated and pounded, becomes a fine sword. Likewise, Buddhism teaches that our true strength and potential cannot be forged without hardships. " - Extracted from "Human Revolution" by Daisaku Ikeda's Words of Wisdom.
Merry Christmas to all!
Another good piece of news for this season is my friend has just given birth to her second son on the 15 December (Monday). Have to make time to visit her 8). Second piece of news is my boss is on vacation until next year - YEAH. Third piece of news is there is no 3 piece of good news!
Below are some photos taken this holiday season at ORCHARD ROAD:
Along route to Takashimaya. Rows of Teddy bears forming a tree, displayed at Takashimaya Shopping Centre. I want one of those cutties. Decorations on the Christmas Trees at Ngee Ann City. I wonder whether they recycle the same tree every year! Is good if they did that!Street decorations. Not that impressive.
Welcome to Orchard Road and a Merry Christmas to you.The other big and tall Christmas tree just outside Paragon. I like this one!I tot i took more photos. Anyway, 6 is better than none.
"Iron, when heated and pounded, becomes a fine sword. Likewise, Buddhism teaches that our true strength and potential cannot be forged without hardships. " - Extracted from "Human Revolution" by Daisaku Ikeda's Words of Wisdom.
Merry Christmas to all!
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Finest Ingredients!
Am watching this show titles "料理天王" which is a Korean movie on cooking. Just learnt that the finest ingredient needs not be the freshiest or most beautiful ingredent! In fact the most unsightly or "bent"truck can be used to make the best charcoal. The guy who sells vegetables in the market is in fact the best chef in town! The most important ingredient in any culinary culture is probably the "heart" or rather you must enjoy cooking and put your heart into the dish! Yeah, my piece of culinary advice which i believe is true because this is how i cook.
Besides cooking, not using the best ingredient can be applied in other areas as well. You can make a cute teddy bear without using the best cloth or the best fur. The basic ingredient is the know-how and the patience to sew it all together! In fact, a home-made teddy bear is a teddy bear made with love from the maker!
Probably when we are the best, there will be no place for improvement! Would not life be boring if we cannot keep on improving ourselves and learning something about ourselves every day? Every day is a self discovery day for myself. I won say i improve everyday but i want to be a better person, a more filial and understanding daughter and also a better employee at work. It is not easy doing all these and I will lapse into my old not so good self again! Human revolution is really not easy and it should not be else nobody will want to do their best!
"When your determination changes, everything will begin to move in the direction you desire. The moment you resolve to be victorious, every nerve and fiber in your being will immediately orient itself toward your success. On the other hand, if you think, "This is never going to work out," then at that instant every cell in your being will be deflated and give up the fight. Then everything really will move in the direction of failure. " - Words of Wisdom by Ikeda Sensei.
Some plans before the end of the year involve doing up the OEHS website, writing up my book reviews and cleaning my bedroom!
Besides cooking, not using the best ingredient can be applied in other areas as well. You can make a cute teddy bear without using the best cloth or the best fur. The basic ingredient is the know-how and the patience to sew it all together! In fact, a home-made teddy bear is a teddy bear made with love from the maker!
Probably when we are the best, there will be no place for improvement! Would not life be boring if we cannot keep on improving ourselves and learning something about ourselves every day? Every day is a self discovery day for myself. I won say i improve everyday but i want to be a better person, a more filial and understanding daughter and also a better employee at work. It is not easy doing all these and I will lapse into my old not so good self again! Human revolution is really not easy and it should not be else nobody will want to do their best!
"When your determination changes, everything will begin to move in the direction you desire. The moment you resolve to be victorious, every nerve and fiber in your being will immediately orient itself toward your success. On the other hand, if you think, "This is never going to work out," then at that instant every cell in your being will be deflated and give up the fight. Then everything really will move in the direction of failure. " - Words of Wisdom by Ikeda Sensei.
Some plans before the end of the year involve doing up the OEHS website, writing up my book reviews and cleaning my bedroom!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
History is a peek into the future..
I have been reading this book entitled "The Britannica Guide to the 100 Most Influential Scientists". It gives a brieft account of the people that had made a difference in the field of Science from BC to current. Science more than 2000 years ago comprised of philosophy, astronomy, logics etc. What we have today is built up and developed from these people/ philosophers of the past. One built upon another to make the possibility of reachig Mar no longer a vision but something that will be possible in the near future. I guess from history, we should learn from the mistakes so as not to commit the same errors in our time. However, human beings are forgetful and arrogant creatures as we trust and strongly believed we are more intellient than our ancestors. We think this way because of what we have and what we are now - better and more prosperous, better understanding and treatment of diseases resulting in lower mortality and longer life, advance in technology and the advent of nanotechnology allows us to search even deeper into the micromolecular and nanomolecular level. At this point, we should stop and think that all these are possible not because we are smarter, is because we have inherited and built upon what our ancestors had started. History than is our cornerstone to the future, we should not dealt too long in it but advance with it.
Just finshed FD's meeting this afternoon ad we talked about the eight winds which in buddhism refer to the 4 postive and 4 negatives conditions that can influence our life. The eight winds are prosperity, decline, disgrace, honor, praise, censure, suffering, and pleasure. As human we are constantly swayed by this eight winds. We should not avoid this eight winds but we should face this eight winds and counter them in our strides. In buddhism, a life without troubles and fill only with pleasantness is not happines which is also not really possible in real life. When we face with problems, we should have the wisdom to overcome them through chanting daimoku. The joy of overcoming our adversities will bring more joy to ourselves than merely without or avoidance. This will become our experiences and make us stronger and better human beings!
The second Soka Gakkai president, Josei Toda, once wrote: “Absolute happiness is a state such that, whatever your situation, you feel an immense sense of worth and satisfaction; and wherever you are, to be alive is itself a joy…. Even when we encounter situations that make us angry, we become angry joyfully. When we establish such a state of life, our life is one of boundless joy” (The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, vol. IV, p. 80).
Today is another lazy saturday!
Just finshed FD's meeting this afternoon ad we talked about the eight winds which in buddhism refer to the 4 postive and 4 negatives conditions that can influence our life. The eight winds are prosperity, decline, disgrace, honor, praise, censure, suffering, and pleasure. As human we are constantly swayed by this eight winds. We should not avoid this eight winds but we should face this eight winds and counter them in our strides. In buddhism, a life without troubles and fill only with pleasantness is not happines which is also not really possible in real life. When we face with problems, we should have the wisdom to overcome them through chanting daimoku. The joy of overcoming our adversities will bring more joy to ourselves than merely without or avoidance. This will become our experiences and make us stronger and better human beings!
The second Soka Gakkai president, Josei Toda, once wrote: “Absolute happiness is a state such that, whatever your situation, you feel an immense sense of worth and satisfaction; and wherever you are, to be alive is itself a joy…. Even when we encounter situations that make us angry, we become angry joyfully. When we establish such a state of life, our life is one of boundless joy” (The Wisdom of the Lotus Sutra, vol. IV, p. 80).
Today is another lazy saturday!
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