What is yours?

As I was going through the deep valley of my life this year, I couldn't help but to wonder how many of us really know,

What is the most difficult thing in our life?

 When is the saddest moment in our life?

What is the saddest thing in our life?

When is the happiest moment in our life?

When is the most peaceful moment in our life?

What is the most satisfying thing in our life?

Kids know better in Love and Respect, as Adult's mind is highly corrupted by Pride!

  

Imagine,

to see our parent im-mobilized, on sick bed, in hospital;

to know the end will happen in any moments;

to realize we could do nothing about it;

to be told "It's ok!" as they had lived their life in fullness;

to accept the law of nature;

to hold their hands as they leave......

Daily Surprise

Each day holds a surprise.

But only if we acknowledge it can we see, hear or feel it when it comes to us.

Let's not be afraid to receive the surprise each day holds 

whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy!

by

Henri J.M. Nouwen

St. Peter's Church - Malaka, Apr 2008.

Up for a Challenge

我最喜欢的回忆是克服困难的过程，

任何一个在生活中勇于面对挑战的人都会同意。

--- 建筑大师贝聿铭

My favourite memory is the process of overcoming difficulties/obstacles,

anyone who dares to face challenges in life will agree.

--- Architect I.M. Pei

Taken from Wikipedia

In 1983, French President François Mitterrand proposed, as one of the Grands Projets of François Mitterrand the Grand Louvre plan to renovate the building and relocate the Finance Ministry, allowing displays throughout the building. Architect I. M. Pei was awarded the project and proposed a glass pyramid to stand over a new entrance in the main court, the Cour Napoléon.^[31] The pyramid and its underground lobby were inaugurated on 15 October 1988. The second phase of the Grand Louvre plan, La Pyramide Inversée (The Inverted Pyramid), was completed in 1993. As of 2002, attendance had doubled since completion.^[32]

The Louvre Palace and the Pyramid, which was completed in 1989 (by night)

The Louvre Palace and the Pyramid, which was completed in 1989 (by day)

Revelation of an Icon

The future belongs to the people, and gradually, or in one strike, they will take power, here and in every country.

The terrible thing is, the people need to be educated, and this they cannot do before taking power, only after.

They can only learn at the cost of their own mistakes, which will be very serious and will cost many innocent lives.

Or perhaps not, maybe those lives will not have been innocent because they will have committed the huge sin against nature; meaning, a lack of ability to adapt.

All of them, those unable to adapt - you and I, for example - will die cursing the power they helped, through great sacrifice, to create.

Revolution is impersonal; it will take their lives, even utilizing their memory as an example or as an instrument for domesticating the youth who follow them.

My sin is greater because I, more astute and with greater experience, call it what you like, will die knowing that my sacrifice stems only from an inflexibility symbolizing our rotten civilization, which is crumbling!

I also know - and this won't alter the course of history or your personal view of me - that you will die with a clenched fist and a tense jaw, the epitome of hatred and struggle, because you are not a symbol (some inanimate example) but a genuine member of the society to be destroyed; the spirit of the beehive speaks through your mouth and motivates your actions.

You are as useful as I am, but you are not aware of how useful your contribution is to the society that sacrifices you.

The Motorcycle Diaries

by

Ernesto CHE Guevara

wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a1/FitzpatrickChe.jpg

Life

A constant good life could be...bad...

because there is no experience to wise it!

A constant happy life could be...senseless...

because there is no sorrow... to mature it!

A constant peaceful life could be...boring...

because there is no conflict... to color it!

For life itself, the joy of wisdom can only come to us when we face it!

Cameron Highlands - Perak, Jul 2011.

The First Act of Every Morning

Let the first act of every morning be to make the following resolve for the day: 

I shall not fear anyone on earth.

I shall fear only God.

I shall not bear ill toward anyone.

I shall not submit to injustice from anyone.

I shall conquer untruth by truth.

And in resisting untruth, I shall put up with all suffering. 

by 
Mahatma Gandhi

A Lady named Liz

At one point in my life, I was pretty confidence. While there, I stumbled - not in the sense of abilities, but in the sense of values. 

From there on, there were many doubts.  And I tried to comprehend it through all the meanings behind those most powerful statements such as:

1.  "Contentment is not the fulfillment of what we want, it is the realization of how much we already have. We most time actually do not need that much."

2.  "The happiest of people do not necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way."
 3.  "It is true that we do not know what we have got until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives."

 4.  "When the door of happiness closes, another opens, but often times we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.
5.  "The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can not go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches."

Well, it is meaningful.  It is understood, however, it does not resolve the doubts.

As we born, we are instill with values which our family and cultures practice day in and day out.  Over time, it becomes so firmly embedded in us that we might not even know these values are there in us and affecting us in every way we make decision everyday.

My journey came to a cliff, which I could not back up and go backward.  Well, should I jump?

Three incidents happened subsequently.

At that point, I thought - a calm mind is the best for any decisions.  Thus, I halt everything in my life.  Other than eat, sleep, yoga, read and write, I practically do nothing, not even travelling for 3 months. And there I realize, I was living Statement 1.

Then, I felt that calling from Myanmar again.  This is the 3rd attempts to go Myanmar.  Well, it feels fated as it could not have came at a more appropriate time. After 3 weeks in Myanmar, I learnt one absolutely different thing - the thing about people trying to find meaning in their life, the thing about life is suffering taught through Buddhism, the thing about poverty is a suffering in life, etc; all these things that we were taught and embeded in us to form our values, it has a different face in Myanmar.

I am not saying Myanmar people is not poor, I am not saying Myanmar people is not suffering, I am not saying values we learn is wrong; all I am saying is Myanmar people is happy, positive and "trust" that their future is in good hand despite they are being put in such situation. Myanmar people gone beyong believing it; Myanmar people are trusting it and living Statement 2.

I came home, feeling Statement 3. Strange, but true that something is there for me, but I feel so stupid because I do not know how to get it.  

Faith it is. Coincidence it is, a close friend hears what I said, tells me an experience and my mind opens up, and I met Liz.  Timing it is that I was ready to open my mind, as I need the key.  And Liz, my key holder, showed me The Other Me that I have never faced for the past 38 years. Liz showed me why I have never been able to let go Statement 4.

I feel peace finally.  I am happy today and I am heading to Statement 5.

Belum Rain Forest - Perak, Dec 2009.

Greatest Love

The Greatest Sorrow we can feel in our life 

is when we ought to let go those we love most.

The suffering is because of our lack of enlightenment to detachment

in which is what life experience try to teach us.

Chinese New Year at Sandakan, Feb 2010.

Mom is the thrid from the right.

 

Faith & Einstein

Professor : You are a Christian, aren’t you, son?
Student : Yes, sir.

Professor : So, you believe in GOD?
Student : Absolutely, sir.

Professor : Is GOD good?
Student : Sure.

Professor : Is GOD all powerful?
Student : Yes.

Professor : My brother died of cancer even though he prayed to GOD to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But GOD didn’t. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?
(Student was silent.)

Professor : You can’t answer, can you ? Let’s start again, young fella. Is GOD good?
Student : Yes.

Professor : Is satan good?
Student : No.

Professor : Where does satan come from?
Student : From … GOD …

Professor : That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student : Yes.

Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn’t it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?
Student : Yes.

Professor : So who created evil?
(Student did not answer.)

Professor : Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they?
Student : Yes, sir.

Professor : So, who created them?
(Student had no answer.)

Professor : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son, have you ever seen GOD?
Student : No, sir.

Professor : Tell us if you have ever heard your GOD?
Student : No , sir.

Professor : Have you ever felt your GOD, tasted your GOD, smelt your GOD? Have you ever had any sensory perception of GOD for that matter?
Student : No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.

Professor : Yet you still believe in Him?
Student : Yes.

Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student : Nothing. I only have my faith.
Professor : Yes, faith. And that is the problem Science has.
 

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as heat?
Professor : Yes.

Student : And is there such a thing as cold?
Professor : Yes.
 

Student : No, sir. There isn’t.
(The lecture theater became very quiet with this turn of events.)

Student : Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 degrees below zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
(There was pin-drop silence in the lecture theater.)

Student : What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Professor: Yes. What is night if there isn’t darkness?

Student : You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it is, well you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?
Professor : So what is the point you are making, young man ?

Student : Sir, my point is your philosophical premise is flawed.
Professor: Flawed? Can you explain how?

Student : Sir, you are working on the premise of duality. You argue there is life and then there is death, a good GOD and a bad GOD. You are viewing the concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.
Death is not the opposite of life: just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?
Professor : If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, yes, of course, I do.

Student : Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The Professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going.)

Student : Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor. Are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a scientist but a preacher?
(The class was in uproar.)

Student : Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain?
(The class broke out into laughter. )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures, sir?
(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable.)
Professor : I guess you’ll have to take them on faith, son.

Student : That is it sir … Exactly ! The link between man & GOD is FAITH. That is all that keeps things alive and moving.

P.S.
I believe you have enjoyed the conversation. And if so, you’ll probably want your friends / colleagues to enjoy the same, won’t you?
Forward this to increase their knowledge … or FAITH.
By the way, that student was EINSTEIN.

**Note**

Extract from Cory Jone's note in facebook.

Limitation versus No Limit

I am only ONE.

BUT STILL I AM ONE.

I CANNOT DO everything.

BUT STILL I CAN DO SOMEthing.

AND BECAUSE I cannot do EVERYthing.

I will not REFUSE TO DO THE SOMETHING THAT I CAN DO. 

**Taken From Print on the BROS bottle**

Trail to the Summit - Mt.Kinabalu, Dec 2004.

 

the land Melaixia

Once upon a time, there is a land called Melaixia.

Older Version

The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and laying up supplies for the winter. 
The Grasshopper thinks the Ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the Ant is warm and well fed. The Grasshopper has no food or shelter so he dies out in the cold.

Modern Version (To be exact, Melaixia version)

The Ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and laying up supplies for the winter.
The Grasshopper thinks the Ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the Ant is warm and well fed. The Grasshopper has no food or shelter so he shiveringly calls a press conference and demands to know why the Ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while Grasshoppers are cold and starving.

Broadcasting station 1, 2 and 3 show up to provide pictures of the shivering Grasshopper next to a video of the Ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

The majority of the Melaixian Parliment stunned by the sharp contrast.

How can this be that this poor Grasshopper allowed suffering so?

Kitely stages a demonstration in front of the Ant 's house.

Nasli goes on a fast along with other Grasshoppers demanding that Grasshoppers to be relocated to warmer climates during winter.

Most of the related people criticizes the Melaixian Government for not upholding the fundamental rights of the Grasshopper.

The local newspaper and the internet is flooded with online petitions seeking support to the Grasshopper (many promising Heaven and Everlasting Peace for prompt support as against the wrath of God for non-compliance).

Deputy minister immediately passes a law preventing Ants from working hard in the heat so as to bring about equality of poverty among Ants and Grasshoppers.

Herhammudin makes 'More Special Reservation' for Grasshoppers in Educational Institutions and in Government Services.

The Ant; fined for failing to comply with 30% sharing and having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes; its home is confiscated by the Government and handed over to the Grasshopper in a ceremony covered by Broadcasting station 1, 2 and 3.

Chief Minister announces to the whole Melaixian that this is part of the New  Government Transformation Program and all have to respect, no question ask and have to follow it.

Many years later, the Ant has since migrated to the US and set up a multi-billion dollar company.

Hundreds of Grasshoppers still die of starvation despite reservation somewhere in Melaixia because of loosing lot of hard working Ants and feeding the Grasshoppers, Melaixia is still a developing country!!!

All because the ANTS are still doing their work.............................

**Note**

Sorry, it is a fiction!

I am not claiming this mine.  But I don't know who this belongs to as it was forwarded through so many emails.

Addiction vs Passion

In a day, you feel agitated, im-patient and can not sit still

because you have not had that one thing you feel you need,

you have an Addiction!

Mine is coffee and chili!

When you have different activities you like to do,

but you have limited amount of time and money,

and you give up the rest of the things you could and would have done,

for that one thing you can not stop doing,

you just found your Passion!

Mine is simply travelling and writting!

the Sum of Human Happiness

Not what you have, but what you use;

Not what you see, but what you choose;

Not what seems fair, but what is true;

Not what you dream, but what you do;

Not what you take, but what you give;

Not as you pray, but as you live.

These are the things that mar or bless

the Sum of Human Happiness.

- Author Unknown

Learn a Life Philosophy

Because of the incident I faced in my previous job, I had to visit the industrial relation office (IRO) in the labour department.  As I felt that the incident has impacted me quite heavily, there is no way to avoid it.  When I arrived at the IRO last week, walked into the lift, I saw this quote pasted inside the lift,

"Keep away from the people who try to belittle your ambitions.

Small people always do that, 

but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."

Mark Twain

It couldn't have put in a righteous place than this.  It gives everyone a sense that somehow, somewhere, even long ago, someone has understood how we, those who need to visit the IRO, feel!

Air Famosa Fort - Malaka, Apr 2008.

Guide to a Better Life by Professor Randy Pausch

Personality:
1. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
2. Don't have negative thoughts of things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
3. Don't over do; keep your limits.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously; no one else does.

5. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

6. Dream more while you are awake.
7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..
8. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
10. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

13. Smile and laugh more.

14. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Community: 
15. Call your family often.

16. Each day give something good to others.

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

19.Try to make at least three people smile each day.
20. What other people think of you is none of your business.
21. Your job will not take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
22. Put GOD first in anything and everything that you think, say and do.
23. GOD heals everything.
24. Do the right things.
25. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
26. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
27. The best is yet to come!

28. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

29. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it!
30. If you know GOD you will always be happy. So, be happy.

In Memory of Mar 11, 2011

Looking back at the tsunami which happen to Japan on that's day, it is a good reminder to us on a couple of thigns in life.

First and for all, we can't fight nature.  Then, we better live harmonious with it.  Next, adapt as there is no other way. We also have to remind oureslves, in order to live without regret, we have to forgive ourselves for things that we didn't do because it is not within our ability and we have to forgive ourselves for things that we should have done but didn't do.

Pangkor Island, Dec 2006.

Life is not a fairy tale.  If it is good so far, be cautious to maintain it. If it has not been easy, you are on the right course. I wish  I have not done many things I shouldn't have, but then, I will never learn.

3 8 (Three Eight)

In our ethnic culture, we called those women who spoke nonsense all the times - 3 8 (Three Eight). 

Just like the not so English way of saying - when I was small instead of when I was a kid. So, I understand the meaning of 3 8 as like that since I was small.  In a way, 3 8 is a word meant for women.

Well, when I get to know the significance of the word 3 8, it is when I was told March 8 is the International Women's Day.  What a conincidence? Ya.  As you can see, the meaning of 3 8 goes back a long way. As traditionally, women were being deemed a weaker race, being treated more unfairly in all aspects and do not have the right for their own human right to begin with.  In 1909, International Women's Day was found to make awareness for women as an equal race and their right so should be deemed as full.

In Mar 8, 2008, the date brings another significancy.  It is after years of independent, the Malaysian comes to realize their right in deciding a government that they wanted instead of they're given. In that very day, it was the 1st time we Malaysian do not have 2/3 majority government as the people as voted the opposition into 5 states of goveernment out of the 13 states.  It was also a day the whole country felt awaken because the people did not speak any loud, did not go through violence, did not go through demonstration but Voted in Silence to Voice Out What is really in Their Mind - the Malaysian people wanted Change! Well, I know it sounded a bit chessy, a bit American and a bit timid but it is that simple.  The Malaysian people knows that if they don't start to vote for a change, their own government who manage their country will be left way behind by this complexly rapid changing world.

There you go, 3 8.  It sounds nothing as first, but it seriously is that important and significant!

Two Wolves

I got this message from an email where the author is not identified.

One evening, an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all."
"One is Evil -  It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego."
"The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Why so Special?

Okay, what is so special today?

Well, not exactly anything, just bacuase it is Feb 29 and is 4 years once kind of day so everyone said you must do something special.

My day started off with nothing special. Just because I had an acupunture session yesterday, which remove my shoulder pain that had been for months so I sleep really well last night to wake up at 6.30am going for an early morning walk with Jean.  I ended up running and feeling like 10 years ago, younger :-).

As it is not a common day, I get into the wierd kind of mood on advocation.  Malaysia, one of those countries we are not sure where our governement got the idea that an Rare Earth processing plant is a good idea for future advancement and development.  The matter of issue has been boiling in the country for more than a year, but the voice of the people seems to be ignored for the longest time while an Temporary Operating License was issued recently.  On Feb 26, 2012, the nation went in a huge peaceful demonstration to show the government that the people does not want such plant to be built nor operated in the land of Malaysia.  Such plant will produce radioactive waste such as thorium.  The danger of radioactive and health issue will be permanently around for Malaysian once the plant get in to production.

As I said, today is the day for advocation.  I posted numereous links and comment in facebook regarding the issue, the side effect and the rejection toward this particular government idea.  The links such as 

1) Mandarin News from CCTV

2) Spoken in Malay by a Western Australian against a Western Australian's company

3) Reply of Western Australian Government on question for radioactive waste - thorium
4) Report by The New York Times - Mitsubishi Quietly Cleans Up Its Former Refinery

5) Report by The New York Times -Taking a Risk for Rare Earths

6) Report by The New York Times - The Fear of a Toxin Rerun

All the information shows the good reason why this processing plant is not build in Western Australia, does not accept by Western Australian even though it is a Western Australian company, but we Malaysian don't know where our lovely government got the idea that it is good for the Malaysia people.

Again, for the longest time, Malaysian's voice is ignored.  Where is the justice for us?

I shall quote

Let the first act of every morning be to make the following resolve for the day: 

I shall not fear anyone on earth.

I shall fear only God.

I shall not bear ill toward anyone.

I shall not submit to injustice from anyone.

I shall conquer untruth by truth.

And in resisting untruth, I shall put up with all suffering. 

by Mahatma Gandhi

Our Split Personality

Everyone got at least 2 selves.

One Self is true to yourself, but always in the dark.  But it is an honest self.
It knows everything about you; your strength, your weakness, your preferences, your integrity, your values. In this self, we feel torment, unjust, badly treated, emotion and torture. The worst thing, this self can be cruel too.  Because it knows you so well and it can be so honest, meaning that it can also be so blunt it hurts. But if you can face this self, face it with honesty, be true to yourself, you could release your suffered soul from everything and anything.  You feel it hurts and torment you.  But from the torment and struggle, the healing normally make you or this self a stronger and better person.

Another Self, we take it out and show people at work, to socialize, with friend and family.  Not so real, it is just the way we want the society to see us including our family. We portray ourselves with this self. 
Work one, we want to portray a normal self.  But, the work one, is the worst self. This self is normally with some of these identities - pushy, lazy, irresponsible, manipulative, those not so good sides start to surface causing by the tension and stress related to power, money, status and pride.
Friend one, normally very surface because it is to socialize.  Socialize does not mean it has to be with sincerity. This self could be different from the one at work, but it is easier to manage as normally socializing does not take up big part of the time in our life.  It could be just only for show, no hanky panky after a couple hour.  

True good friend, ah ha, well, it is up to the person to decide how much he/she wants to show their true self. However, it can never be the true self. We will never know a person if we only know this self. ***Note - not even for your spouse or children.

Family one, this could be a 3rd self or same as the 2nd self. It could be nicer, if the family is good, or it would be worst, if the family is suck.

An over-lapping Self, the 1st self plus the 2nd self.  This happens when a person want to be sincere but struggle with the matter of trust.  Although I would say, there is no one in the world is the same alike ourselves.  Thus, trusting another person with 100% sincerity and honesty will eventually (most the time) got us hurt because eventually we will come to understand that we could not expect anyone in such.  But during the struggle, an over-lapping self formed.  This scenario is common in family and "good" friend.  Normally, the person will show the best of them - fun, responsible, loving, but can never show their true self.