All Things But None

"A woman cries as she walks by a line rescuers just before they are going to search for victims after the earthquake at Beichuan County in Mianyang of southwest China's Sichuan province, Tuesday, May 13, 2008. The official death toll after Monday's powerful 7.9 magnitude earthquake rose Tuesday to nearly 12,000, and thousands remained buried or missing."

Looking at the above photo is so heart-wrenching for me! Did she lose a friend? Her mother? Her child? I cannot possibly begin to comprehend what she's going through at that moment. Sometimes the world seems like a cruel and tragic place, but there are still good reasons to go on... and we must survive no matter what. At least this is what I believe in - today.

There seems to be many catastrophes happening around the world these days... I will make a small donation to an organization where my company will match the amount. I feel very helpless today...

Peace to all.

--

Photo: The Associated Press/Color China Photo

In the Sutra of Forty-Two Sections, the Buddha asked his disciples, “How long is one’s life?” One of the monks replied, “A few years.” The next one answered, “A few days!” Another one said, “Less than one day!” Another responded, “Between meals!” Finally, the Buddha said, “Life lasts for the duration of one breath.”

Life is extraordinarily precious and yet it is based on a short breath, so breathing is extremely important to us. When there is sunshine, we do not recognize its importance, nor when there is a river, do we appreciate the value of a single drop of water. While we are still able to breathe, we never think about how precious and important a single breath is to us! However, once breathing ceases, wealth, status, fame, friends, and family all become meaningless.

Look at our senses: our eyes allow us to see, our ears hear, our arms and legs enable us to move, and our mouths allow us to talk. However, once breathing stops, our eyes, ears, and body no longer function because our life exists on the strength of a breath. Through our eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and body all have their exclusive functions, only a breath can substitute for and even override all of them. Breath, unlike our eyes, cannot be used for seeing, but it can feel the differences in the atmosphere. Breathing is not used for hearing like our ears, but it can sense the anomaly in a relationship.

Breathing can feel the changes in the environment outside our body and also perceive the thought processes inside our mind. When we are relaxed and carefree, we can breathe easier, heaving a huge sign of relief. Conversely, when we are under pressure, we may become short of breath. Breathing shows us life’s versatility. It can sense if the air is fresh, and it can also observe the volatility of life. Therefore, looking after our breathing is protecting our lives.

Breathing can also be used for cultivation in adjusting one’s life and purifying one’s mind. In observing how we breathe in and out, we become aware of the condition of our bodies and minds. Rapid and short breathing signifies a flustered and unstable mind, and smooth breathing is indicative of a harmonized mind. Hence, the practice of counting breaths has always been emphasized repeatedly during meditation instruction.

Since we live in this world, we must cherish our breathing as we cherish our lives. When there still exists a single breath, we must make use of the opportunity to fulfill all our obligations, accomplish all our responsibilities, and make good on all our promises. For any commitment we make to our country and community, parents and children, or friends and relatives, we must act appropriately and expediently. To build and strengthen our affinity with others, we should make prompt and good use of every single breath.

Text: Venerable Master Hsing Yun

--

“Life lasts for the duration of one breath.” My heart turns a knot when I read this. I am doing some 'house-cleaning' on my blog and I found this piece, typed it out May of 2007 but was never published, and now it's finally seeing light!

We're on such a magical journey! "One breath!" Sometimes I feel like I'm walking with stars in my eyes knowing that there's so much to explore, with many wonderful things to learn from every one and every thing, yet all the while clutching my heavy heart in one hand!

The magic will not last forever! I think about where I will be when I draw my last breath... Where will I be when the magic is gone? What will I become?

A BIRTHDAY
My heart is like a singing bird
Whose nest is in a water'd shoot;
My heart is like an apple-tree
Whose boughs are bent with thick-set fruit;
My heart is like a rainbow shell
That paddles in a halcyon sea;
My heart is gladder than all these,
Because my love is come to me.

Raise me a daïs of silk and down;
Hang it with vair and purple dyes;
Carve it in doves and pomegranates,
And peacocks with a hundred eyes;
Work it in gold and silver grapes,
In leaves and silver fleurs-de-lys;
Because the birthday of my life
Is come, my love is come to me.

Text: Christina Georgina Rossetti

--

I've always liked this poem... I came across this piece by Rossetti about 2 decades ago and I did a search yesterday, and now, here it is again after all these years. Today is my love Alec's birthday and I wish him the best of health and many joyous moments... and these are the things that we can always work on.

I don't quite recall but I think this song is one of Alec's favorites!! Happy Birthday Babe... and many, many more - together!

--

Currently listening:
Alphaville - Forever Young [Unplugged Version]

Remember I was thinking of abandoning this blog? Well, I was sort of 'encouraged' by someone [a blogger named Steven to be specific! :-)], his words swayed my decision a bit and tonight I've decided to stick around a while longer. Now I feel like I'm backing out of a good deal or something! Ouch!

Actually, I was thinking of coming up with another site in the middle of shutting this one down, but thanks to my lazy arse, I haven't even started. So yeah, I'm still here at the moment and am re-opening the comment section. Yay... for me! :-)

With the comment closed, I just felt like a shut-in! Aah! Now I feel much better... like opening a window to let in the breeze! Thanks again Steven!!! :-)

I want to see this: Chris & Don! It looks lovely. Here's the movie trailer. Catch it this June.

And oh it's 'nothing'! :-)

Who dares it, has no courage;
To whom it is missing - feels well;
Who owns it, is bitterly poor;
Who is successful - is damaged;
Who gives it, is as hard as stone;
Who loves it, stays alone...

--

It's fun to rehash old material innit? It's wacky re-reading some of my old entries. This one was from January 7th, 2004, not that I came up with it, but this has to be my fave riddle of them all... I'll post the answer on my next entry! Toodle-pip! xoxo

IN YOUR HEARTBEAT
In my travels as a teacher, I often speak to groups in diverse religious settings. These include Christian churches, Jewish synagogues, Islamic mosques, and Hindu or Buddhist temples. Some are mixed gatherings made up of people from all kinds of religious and cultural groups. Often I make it a point to begin my lectures with a message reminding my audience that we are all true equals on this planet.

I usually say, "For a moment, let's put aside our religious and other identities and personal beliefs. Let us recognize that first we are all human beings, and only next come our personal beliefs or identities. We have gathered here to share the truth and explore spiritual wisdom that will help all of us realize our common goal to find happiness and live in peace. In this moment, let us remind ourselves that we are all human beings whose hearts need to be nurtured."

In spite of all the knowledge that we have accumulated in the arts and sciences and the technological progress we have made, we have much work to do to realize that we are all members of one family. We need to expand our hearts so that we can love, care for, and show compassion to all people who inhabit this planet of ours.

Nature makes us all equal in human worth, and it is only biological or survival needs (such as the dark skin color of those whose ancestors had to cope with intense sun) that make us look different. It is ego that causes people to take these differences and label others as either superior or inferior.

We are divided by color, class, nationality, and race. We are divided by language, wealth, and religion. Nature's gift of diversity among human beings, which adds magnificent beauty to the human community, has been wrongfully used for perverted applications such as discrimination and war.

Our spiritual journey requires that we take bold and brave steps to look beyond society-defined reality and see the truth of oneness. Let us always remind ourselves that we belong to only one race, the human race. Let us step beyond the external differences and look into people's hearts and minds, to see that everyone really is the same.

Here again we can learn an important lesson from children. Human babies come to this earth having pure, unadulterated minds. Unlike adults, they do not carry judgmental attitudes, dogmas, labels, mistrust, and fears that produce discriminatory attitudes. In my travels around the world, I have held babies of all kinds - black, white, Asian. The emotional warmth that they provide is so pure that one can only respond to them with love and care.

Observe how very young children of different backgrounds relate to one another when they are together. Because barriers such as color, nationality, race, and sex are not part of a child's world, their togetherness is one of purity. To any objective observer, the way children interact among themselves would undoubtedly be the ideal model of harmonious coexistence. Their harmony is due to accepting things as they are; in other words, they do not wish that the other person be like them.

Why can't adults live in harmony like children? As we discussed in the first chapter, it's because as we grew up we were exposed to various forms of mental pollution within the family and at different societal levels. In the process, the natural instinct to live harmoniously was replaced by various man-made prejudices based on nationality, skin color, language, and the like.

There is a wonderful lesson that we adults can learn from children: the need to shed those acquired prejudices, which are based on trivial superficialities, and begin to relate to one another as human beings with the same essence, the same inner beauty.

Text: Bhante Y. Wimala - Lessons of The Lotus

--

The above was first posted back in February of 2006. Were you here? :-) I was re-reading the book last night and it made me smile. I believe that was the first book on Buddhism I've ever read... and it's been a fantastic journey since. Anyway, I've turned off the comments, for I'm thinking around early May I should be done with this blog. A new life awaits... Have a great day everyone!! xoxo

--

Currently listening:
Thomas Otten - A Quiet Moment

Y'know I've always wanted to pair this song up with a particular picture. I'll use this one! And nope, no more uploading to Flickr! In fact, I will delete my account up there soon enough and just do a page with a simple picture viewer. It'll be my own little thing.

Enjoy your day everyone!

--

Currently Listening:
Cocteau Twins - An Elan

Love is divine. If anything is divine on the earth, it is love -- and love also makes everything else divine. Love is the true alchemy of life, because it transforms base metal into gold.

There are ancient stories, many stories in almost all the languages of the world, that somebody kisses a frog and the frog becomes a prince. The frog had been cursed; he was simply waiting for some kiss to be showered on him. He was waiting for love to come and transform him.

Love transforms -- that is the message of all those stories. The stories are beautiful, very indicative, symbolic. It is only love that transforms the animal into the human; otherwise there is no difference between humans and other animals. The only difference, the possible difference, is love. And the more you live through love, as love, the more humanity is born in you. The ultimate, the omega point, is when one has become love. Then not only is the animal transcended, even the human is transcended. Then one is divine, one is God. The whole of human growth is love's growth. Without love we are animals. With love we are human. And when love has become your natural being, your very flavor, you are God.

Text: Osho

--

Is this love we seek but the love we give?

Do you watch the BBC? If do you, you may have seen this nature segment on the flying penguins about a week ago! Thanks to Alec, in case you missed it, here again is that fascinating promotional video! You'll love it and it's definitely worth a look! :-)

Happy Monday! ehehe!