All Things But None

As we cross the threshold into the millennium, more and more people have begun to ponder the question of time. According to reports, the United States has spent millions of dollars to build an eternal clock. It will only strike once every century, to remind people to slow down their steps and to reflect upon their shortcomings. To understand and successfully utilize time has indeed become a worthwhile issue for modern people.

Many people often complain how time flies, while others complain about how time crawls. Some spend their time in search of fame and fortune instead of spending time with their loved ones, while others waste their time on trivial matters instead of using time to better themselves. If students are unwilling to spend time in the classroom, how can they acquire knowledge and broaden their horizons? If farmers are unwilling to spend time plowing their land, how can they reap a full harvest? It is clear that the way time is perceived is dependent upon how time is used.

Once upon a time, someone asked a Chan master to teach him how to manage time. The Chan master replied, “When time passes, it never returns; every second is thus precious.” Hence, whoever can use time wisely has control of his or her life. It does not matter how old you are; what is important is how you manage your time.

“For a person who is exhausted, the road is long; for a person who cannot sleep, the night is endless; for a person who does not understand the truth, the reality of birth and death is far-reaching.” We must understand that the past will never return, the present is gone in a blink of an eye, and the future is fast approaching and will become the past in a moment. An eminent master once said, “A day’s time is more precious than the treasure of the universe.”

As long as we can understand the fleeting essence of time and learn how to use it wisely, we can break the boundaries of time and transcend the limits of temporal space. As long as we can learn to treasure every second of our lives and seize every moment, we will be able to realize and experience the truth in the saying, “a moment is eternity.” In this way, precious time is not limited to the tolling of an eternal clock.

Text: Venerable Master Hsing Yun

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This is nothing we haven't heard or read before. But to me, it's inspirational. It still is no matter how often I'm being reminded.

Anyway, I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. Mine was good, well-rounded. Saw my family, met with friends, did a bit of shopping, gave away stuff to Goodwill, eating out, dining in, worked around the house a bit, played, relaxed, browsed at a bookstore, read ol' plenty at home... What more could I ask for! When I saw my folks this weekend, I also took my 96yo grandmother shopping. But before that, I took her to the nearby Buddhist temple and just walked around a short bit. She's not very mobile, but she was still able to see the important parts of the temple.

I remember when I was young in Hong Kong, she used to have me bow down to the little Buddha and Guanyin statues in the house; which I'll never forget. Y'know she's been an inspiration to me all my life, and I definitely have her to thank for! All these years... Thanks grandma! This weekend I bought her 2 blouses while I was out. Her wardrobe consists of all dark pieces, so this time I got her something more appropriate for the season. I had wrapped it up in a nice box with a bow and when I showed it to her, all she said was "When will I be able to wear these new clothes!". It's true, and in the back of my mind, when will she!?! I only felt a knot in my stomach while I hung them up.

While in the car, she also told me that I should 'find a nice girl and get married', because a man should indeed get married when it's time and it's just the proper thing to do. Remember the part from the movie The Road Home? Again, I diligently told her that I won't be getting married and that I doubt that I ever will. I remember years ago I tried to tell her about me and my boyfriend at the time, but I don't think she understood so I just dropped the subject. These days, I don't think I'll ever tell her. People say that 'truth shall set you free'. Does it really? What would I personally gain if I told her about me? Breaking her heart. Will it set me free knowing that she'll be troubled and worried by it? And somewhere in my heart, there's something in me that truly believes this is part of the reason why she's still hanging on, has to do with her seeing me finally getting married. Bless you grandma.

I hope I get to spend more time with my grandma and my parents. I'm trying. “When time passes, it never returns; every second is thus precious.” And I guess the same thing can be said for our fragile lives, as well. Time waits for no one.

My favorite piece of music/chanting dedicated to you Medina. I hope you can hear me.

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Currently listening:
彌陀聖號 (千華調)

Currently listening:
Lunz - Lunz

Where is justice in nature when only the fittest survive? Where is justice in society when the wealthiest and the most powerful have all the advantages? In this world, it seems natural for the strongest to exert undue power over the weakest. It is no surprise that the rich oppress the poor, the smart ridicule the dumb, the old bully the young, and the healthy insult the disabled. Where do we find justice in all of this?

Nowadays, it seems like our lives are full of confusion and contradictions. There is no longer a sharp contrast between black and white, or right and wrong. Instead, there are gray areas where there is no definite or absolute definition of rightness or fairness. So many judgments are passed on the basis of appearance or family background. If a person comes from a good family, his or her stock immediately rises; if a person comes from the ghetto, his or her stock immediately falls. Since we see the world through an hourglass, where do we expect to find justice?

The situation is even worse in politics, where every decision is based on personal interests or needs. It is common practice for politicians to forego public welfare in the interest of big corporations. We do not need to look any further than a candidate’s campaign finances, of which most of the money is made up of funds from big companies and special interest groups. Therefore, a promise to the voters is just an empty promise, a ploy to gain election or re-election. When a promise goes unfulfilled, how many times have we seen elected officials making excuses, or placing the blame on others? Do we honestly think that there is justice in politics or government?

Where is justice when money and power and fame and fortune are deciding factors in society? Where is justice when the wealthy can push their way through everything, while the poor must suffer indignity? Where is justice when cheating is allowed and honesty is punished? Where is justice when selfishness is praised and lending a helping hand is ridiculed? Where is justice when the weak are bullied and the aggressors are feared? Where is justice in this world of inequality?

Someone once said, “Unreasonableness cannot win over reason, rationality cannot take precedence over law, legality cannot defeat power, and nothing is more superior than universal truth.” What is the universal truth that reigns over everything else? It is the law of karma, based on the principle of causation. No matter who or what you are in life, no one can escape karma or death, for the law of cause and effect applies equally to every living being. According to the Buddha’s teachings, karma or volitional activity bears fruit in accordance with weather one’s actions have been wholesome or not. It is a natural process, unsupervised and undisturbed by any supernatural power or force. By increasing our credit balance of good deeds, we alone have the ability to modify the course of karma.

Therefore, it is imperative that everyone understands how karma works, for true justice resides in karma. Neither money nor power can alter the course of karma; neither fame nor fortune can change the result of karma. A doer of bad deeds will always reap the fruit of retribution, while a doer of wholesome deeds will always reap the fruit of goodness. In the end, no one is exempt from the universal truth of karma and causation.

Text: Venerable Master Hsing Yun

Yeah, me mentioning about Success again... D'oh! You guys are like: "Oh enough already!" hehe! I can't help it! [Wait, isn't that a song? :-)] While I was visiting my folks this past weekend, I stopped by the Hsi Lai Temple to browse for books and music. I've been there a good few times and lately I just drive in and out to visit their bookstore/gift shop. Not too much of a book selection but enough for me to visit.

I've been going to Borders quite a bit these days, and everytime I'm there, I frequent the subject on Eastern Thoughts. Although I've bought many, there are only a good few books that I have which I truly enjoyed reading. This weekend at the temple I came across a series of books by Venerable Master Hsing Yun. I know very little about him since I never did any research, but what I'm reading now and experiencing has been such a delight. He came out with a series of books based on these articles which he has written a few years ago. Here's a brief description on where these articles came about:

Since the inauguration of the daily paper, The Merit Times, in Taiwan on April 1, 2001, I have been writing an article each day for the column "Between Ignorance and Enlightenment." It is now nearly two years and I am still writing.

In the beginning, I was only trying it out, thinking I would finish in a couple of months. However, response from readers has been very enthusiastic, and I just could not stop writing.

Among the feedback from our readers, the staff at The Merit Times reported that many people subscribed to the paper because they wanted to read "Between Ignorance and Enlightenment." Some readers also indicated that after reading the column, their interests and skills in writing had improved. They were even able to gain acceptance to a university with their polished writing skills. Other readers made scrapbooks of the articles and used them as bedtime reading.

In addition, after reading the column some people who previously had numerous unwholesome habits have changed for the better. For instance, they have quit smoking, drinking, and gambling. There were also cases where family members had problems getting along with each other and they were inspired by the articles. Their families have become harmonious and joyful, filled with laughter and warmth. Some students wrote reports based on the articles and obtained high grades and commendation from their teachers.

These responses from different walks of life greatly reinforced my sense of duty for the column. Because of this mission, which I feel I must should myself, I am motivated to write each and every day. Regardless of how busy my schedule in propagating the Dharma may be, I can always find time during the day to make connections with the readers through my writing.

Text: Between Ignorance and Enlightenment I: All in a Thought

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I've read books that went over my head many a times. Whatever the cause, there are just certain books that are simply difficult for me to read and absorb [Is it me or the books? It's probably me!]! The articles from Between Ignorance and Enlightenment is different. Since they were written to be read by the general public, they're like little life snippets. One can spend a few minutes reading and from that you get something genuine out of it. Like from the previous Success story:

To me, simple yet poignant. Sure he could use fancier words, but here, there isn't really the need. At any rate, I'll be posting more of his articles up. Again, here I'm not trying to instruct or give lessons from someone else's teaching, but I'm just fascinated by his views and simple observations that I hope you'll enjoy the articles as much as I am now.

In this world, there are those who succeed easily in their careers, and there are others who are good at nothing. Just as some who excel academically and become renowned scholars, others spend their lives getting nowhere in their undertakings. Farmers who harvest a bumper crop are successful in their cultivation, and workers who achieve high production are also successful at their jobs. In today’s democratic elections, winning the election means success, and losing means failure. In the past, many people successfully built their enterprises, but some could only help others to succeed. As the saying goes, “The success of a general in the battlefield is based on the bones of thousands.” Success is therefore often based on the strength of many.

Some find it hard to succeed in anything they do and fail easily in whatever they attempt. This may be ascribed to poor timing as well as to having insufficient causes and conditions. Then, there are those who appear to be successful but are actually failures, and others who seem to have failed but can be considered a success overall. There are many causes in history in which unscrupulous rulers succeeded in taking control of a country, only to be deemed failures in the history books. There were others who lost power or even became captives of their enemies, yet they were lauded for their integrity. Genghis Khan was a fierce conqueror and succeeded in his conquests of many countries, but his ruthlessness only earned him the fear of his subjects. Former President Richard Nixon was successful in enhancing the international status of America through his foreign policies, but the Watergate scandal brought him great infamy in history.

The line between success and failure is indeed very fine. Those who succeed may breed arrogance, and those who are arrogant are doomed to fail. But those who fail yet do not cease in their efforts are the ones who reap the final fruit of success. In this world, we may fail in our finances, our careers, or in love, but if we succeed as a human, then we are successful in life.

The definition of success is not based on social status, material wealth, academic achievement, or physical attributes. Rather, it is judged on the scales of conscience and moral values. Some give up their lives for a righteous cause. Do you regard them as failures? Others own billions of dollars in personal assets, but are despised by everyone. Do you consider them to be successful? Therefore, success and failure are not absolute, for the most important standard lies in whether or not conscience and moral judgment exist within us.

Text: Venerable Master Hsing Yun

A dreamlike but dark story of lost innocence and the random justice of nature, told with curious images from a distant childhood. When an idol is found in the stomach of a rabbit, great riches follow, but for how long?

The above is a brief synopsis from animate!, on a short named Rabbit by Run Wrake. It caught my eye earlier this year when I first saw it. In fact, I liked it so much I bought the DVD and sent it to a friend of mine, who's a working cartoonist-to-be. Anyway, it talks of greed, deceit and lost innocence. Who doesn't like all of that? *smirk*

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On a not-so-totally different topic. I'm just about to finish this ol' book called As You Think by Marc Allen, which in actually a 2nd edition from the original book As A Man Thinketh by James Allen [no relation to one another]. Remembering that I purchased the original version back in my college days, and last week coming across it again at a bookstore... quite a treat to pick it up again. It was a good read then, and it's still a good read now.

The aphorism, "As we think in our hearts so are we," not only embraces the whole of our being, but it is so comprehensive as to reach out to every condition and circumstance of our lives. We are literally what we think, our character being the complete sum of all our thoughts.

As the plant springs from, and could not be without, the seed, so every one of our acts springs from the hidden seeds of our thoughts, and could not have appeared without them. This applies equally to those acts called "spontaneous" and "unpremeditated" as to those that are deliberately executed.

Act is the blossom of thought, and joy and suffering are its fruits; thus do we gather in the sweet and bitter fruits of our own planting.

What we are was designed and built by our own thoughts in our minds. If we nurture ignorant or evil thoughts, pain will soon follow. If our thoughts are healthy and beneficial, joy will follow us as surely as our shadows follow us on a sunny day.

Text: James Allen

But again I ask: Are we truly who we think we are? Have a fantastic weekend everyone. Safe and soundly.

Oh how time flies... When I first posted this picture up, that was about 3 years ago and on the same post, I mentioned Ryan & Daniel [Hello dear!] had just added me on their blog lists. And to this day, I'm STILL on there! And that they're still blogging, how wonderful is that! :-)

I thought of this picture cuz I was remembering the song Floatation, by The Grid... How I used to love it and I still do! And remember the song Swamp Thing which was played in John Waters' Pecker, the part near the end where everyone was dancing? Anyway, I remember meeting this one guy, how and where I don't recall, but he was just a cool kid and we were pretty much the same age back then, and this was aeons ago. He played this particular song for me back at his pad on his spiffy turntable, and then we just talked... No sex, just talked... We never saw each other again after that! Funny how a song can conjure up certain memories which seemed long lost.

And the picture, well you can figure that one out! I don't think I've ever mentioned that I was a photo major back in college. I studied for about a year and a half, but after that, I just couldn't afford the tuition anymore. Even back in the old days, tuition and expenses to any art institute is astronomical! I never wanted my folks to pay for my education anyway, they work hard enough already.

So speaking of photography, thanks to Jeffrey from Contextual Musings, I was introduced to Pod's yummy-eye-candy weblog - THE BAD PHOTOGRAPHER [and I think "bad-ass" is more like it!]! Every picture tells a fantastic story, and his writing is quite lyrical, too! Looking at these particular entries: TEN SQUARED, THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE AIR and SET ADRIFT... they are quite something aren't they? So yeah Poddy, not trying to butter you up or anything, I just like them and want to tell the world... well, the few peeps that come and visit anyway! heh!

BTW, did you know that the new Pink Martini's CD Hey Eugene! came out yesterday? Saw them like 4 times. I used to be such a huge fan when they first came out, but not so much these days! But the song Hey Eugene! is such a fun song for them to perform live... and Sympathique was simply marvelous.

Enough for this morning. I think next time I'll post a video. I'm thinking maybe a saintly wabbit?

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Currently listening:
The Grid - Floatation [Subsonic Grid Mix]

Hi. Good morning. I hope everyone had a good Mother's Day weekend. I called my mom Friday night and we chatted a little bit regarding our plans on Sunday. Since my sister Vivien and I usually meet up with our folks on the weekends, this particular weekend she wasn't available since she had to work. So my mom 'excused' me and said to visit her and my dad next week instead. I obliged! Aren't I a terrible son? I asked if she wanted to meet at Forest Lawn instead to visit my grandparents' gravesites, but she said they had already did this past Thursday. So I called her up again on Sunday to chat and then to found out my aunt was visiting that day, so at least she had good company. I love you mom!

Alec went to see his grandparents Sunday but I decided to stick around instead. So I went for a little shopping while he was gone. Have you shopped at American Eagle Outfitters before? I have actually never been in that store until about a month ago. I've passed by one many times but never had the urge to go in. Don't you have to be under 25 in order to wear their clothes? Anyway, they actually have very decent casual / work dress shirts there. Alec and I went shopping for some shirts for his birthday a couple weeks ago... Have you been to BR lately? Their dress shirts are between $68 to $98. Ouch! So yeah, we didn't buy anything there. Yesterday I even opened up a c/c account with them. I haven't done such a thing since back in high school. Oy! At any rate, go shop there! :-)

Another thing... A couple of months ago I was browsing thru Urban Outfitters and I happened to hear this 'whistling' song... and I liked it. Now I've been shopping at AE for a good few times, and every time I've been in there, they were always playing that same 'whistling' song as an intro, but never the entire track, to their other videos/songs. And every time I asked 'em sales persons, "Uh, I dunno!", "It's not on the track listing! Sorry!", and even "Oh I've seen them recently but I don't remember the name of the band [or the title of the song for that matter! Dratz!]".

So I Googled it yesterday and it happened to be Young Folks by Peter, Bjorn and John. I've been wanting that friggin' song ever since I heard it the first time... And it just so happened I HAVE that friggin' song on my computer, when it first came out earlier this year when I downloaded for a friend of mine, a CD which I've never listened! Anyway, isn't this the silliest post ever?

Well lastly, here I'm playing it! And did you know that AE has been around for 30 years now? I didn't realized that until I captured this artwork from their website this morning. And to boot, that was the year my family came over to this good ol' U. S. of A., back in 1977 - TODAY - May 14th!

So yeah, happy anniversary to me and to my family, celebrating 30 years in America - a place now we call home, and a day I will never forget. Happy Monday everyone.

PS. Oright, postage is now officially 41 cents as of today! heh!

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Currently listening:
Peter, Bjorn and John - Young Folks

It's funny how these 6 little words can make my heart go pitter-patter... And I think I will stand by this for many years to come.

Have a fantastic day today everybody and a wonderful weekend, too. xoxo

PS. I may seem a bit 'stifling' from all these posts, but I'm really not [so I was told!]. In real life, I'm actually a fun person [with a big potty mouth] to be around. teehee!

The following was from my very first blog entry, dated January 29th, 2003. It was one of the 'stories' that I read back in my early college years. I remember typing it out and printing the piece on my Apple Stylewriter II, and kept it in my wallet for years to come. It's still one of the more memorable pieces that I've ever read.

I was never too good of a reader cuz seems like anything longer than a chapter I get distracted. These days, I believe my favorite past times is reading, but not too intensely... maybe someday I'll get there. I find it comforting because when you do come across a story of the heart, some words you can simply hold on to for many lifetimes.

Have a great day! xoxo

Text: Hashim the Sidqi, on Rumi

I posted the lyrics to this Mickey 3D's Respire video back in February of 2003. Were you here? Talk about me being oldskool... I will even dig up songs/videos dating 20 or even 30 years ago. Wait, did they have music videos back then?

Anyway, the translation is rough, and I forgot where exactly I copied it from. So if you've seen this before, well, hmm... maybe you can watch it again! heh! So that's it for now, I'll try to think of something more meaninful to say next time! :-)

Toodles n' have a great Tuesday! xoxo

BREATHE
Come here little one and listen to me
I'm going to tell you the story of being human
In the beginning there was nothing and in the beginning everything was good
Nature moved forward without the need for a path
Then man arrived with his big shoes
Giving kicks to the face in order to get respect
The one-way streets that he planned
Arrows multiplied across the plain
And all the elements were controlled
In two or three moments, the story was changed
Tomorrow is not the eve of when we will reverse our direction
We have even begun to foul the deserts

You have to breathe
And that's saying a lot
You aren't going to die from laughing
And that's saying a lot

In a few years, the last leaf will have been gobbled up
And your children will only have one eye in the middle of their foreheads
They will ask you why you have two eyes
And you will be passed off and as a fraud
They will say to you "How could you have let this happen?"
And you will defend yourself, telling them very quietly
"It isn't my fault, it was the fault of people in the past"
But there won't be anyone left to wash your hands
You will tell them about the times when you could eat fruit in the long grass of the meadows
When there were animals everywhere in the forest
And how in the springtime the birds would come back

You have to breathe
And that's saying a lot
You aren't going to die from laughing
And that's saying a lot

You have to breathe
And that's saying a lot
You aren't going to die from laughing
And that's saying a lot

The worst part of the story is that we are slaves
And sometimes we are assassins who cannot look at trees without feeling guilty
Half defrocked and 100 percent miserable
And so there you have the story of being human
It isn't very happy and I don't know what the ending is
You weren't born in a cabbage patch but rather in a hole that one fills up everyday like a pit of manure

You have to breathe
And that's saying a lot
You aren't going to die from laughing
And that's saying a lot

It's tomorrow that everything will worsen

You have to breathe
And that's saying a lot
You aren't going to die from laughing
And that's saying a lot

Yesterday was a day of celebration [but isn't everyday?]... but aside from that, I got to thinking a lot. Listening to my music in the car on my way to work, I cried a little... driving back home, I cried some more. I wasn't bawling. Thinking that the month of May is Alec's birthday, and also my sister Medina's on the 26th, but she won't get to celebrate hers anymore. I remember the pictures that was taken last year on her birthday with her 2 sons and my brother... her being thin as a rail yet putting up a brave smile that could warm anyone's heart. But maybe that was just part of the reason why.....

The Game of Life... How often do you play? Do you play enough? Are you paying enough attention? I ask myself similiar questions every day. Remembering a moment when you were really, really happy... and do you recall an incident when everything made you sad? Sometimes I don't wish to crave for any of it... so it seems. Like I said before, I would just like to be somewhere in the middle.

A blogger friend of mine in response to my email the other day, saying that he's a 'seeker of the truth'. I used to think that about myself... but then I got to thinking again, that truth isn't something - even as a concept - that one can truly grasp. I'm beginning to realize that I'm more of a seeker of the 'unknown'... for a lack of a better word. And isn't the ultimate truth is what's happening - now? Right this moment?

I'm not trying to be philosophical or anything remotely like that, I'm just thinking out loud. Maybe I was a happier self then, or even him... I'm okay - truth be now - and that's good enough for me.

I listen to this particular track almost every time when I'm alone in my car. Even though I haven't the slightest idea on what they're saying, somehow it soothes me. And I come back to it again and again... Happysad.

Thanks again for visiting, as always. Have a wonderful and a safe weekend everyone. Catch you all next week! xoxo

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Currently listening:
Chant 14 - Track 3

Thanks to disembedded from Et Cetera: Publick and Privat Curiosities, for enlightening me with this animated piece called Life and Music by Trey Parker & Matt Stone, inspired by Alan Watts... the message is clear and simple, and I like it a lot. I guess it goes back to what I wrote about success... Somewhat!

Also thanks to Kris for telling his readers, including me, about this book called This I Believe. One article that he particular pointed out was There Is No God by Penn Jillette, which I find oddly interesting enough. I emailed the article to Alec to see if he's heard of such a program on NPR since he's an avid listener. He said yes and replied back to me with his favorite article: Always Go to the Funeral by Deirdre Sullivan. Since today is Alec's birthday, so yesterday right after work, I went and bought him the book from a local bookstore, along with a few good shirts that I got him a few days ago.

So tonight I think I'm going to take him out to dinner rather than me cooking, but not before I get him a personal birthday cake [for two] after work. Mmm... can't wait. Oh I'm also sending him this Life and Music piece since he's been working way too hard lately. heh! Happy Birthday Babe and have a great day everyone!!

The Flying Lizards can stand the test of time! I remember getting their long-awaited import long playing [LP; sounds funny doesn't it?] Top Ten and the 2 maxi-singles: Dizzy Miss Lizzie and Sex Machine. Remember those? I got really excited and that was back in 1984/85!

Their sound was so fresh and radical at the time and they were, and are still, one of my favorite bands. But they weren't a band really according to Mark, and I must agree... the Lizards were more of just an experimental project. When Money came out, a good song indeed and it was widely played but yet all I cared about was the B-side, the instrumental version aptly named Money B.

Back then I absolutely had to get the Top Ten compact disc when it first came out, because it included a bonus track in the end: Top Ten Again. I was beyond excited [and as most of you know, I get excited very easily! Everyday! heh!]!! But I couldn't play the damn thing cuz I didn't have a CD player 'til a year later!

So right, this post is all about Mr. Cunningham and me being excited! And Wilhelm would be excited too [I think], to find out that I have the Beatles' [Larry Williams really!] Dizzy Miss Lizzie playin' Currently listening!

Track listing: tutti frutti, dizzy miss lizzie, sex machine, what's new pussycat, suzanne, then he kissed me, whole lotta shaking goin' on, purple haze, great balls of fire, tears, top ten again

Have you heard Dizzy?

Put your little hand in mine...

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Currently listening:
The Flying Lizards - Dizzy Miss Lizzie / Dizzy