All Things But None

Sometimes people would ask me: "How are you doing?", and I tend to say "I'm good!" I'm always good. That seems to be my answer to everyone these days. But how good am I? I could be happy as a clam, but if I had the choice to choose whether to be happy or content, I'd pick the latter. Happiness to me is simple yet profound, and there almost seems to be an airiness to it; contentment is more quiet, and I think it comes from much deeper within us.

I don't know how I could be genuinely happy when I think about what's going on around the world. On the media I see people spend millions of dollars on things they don't need, while in other parts of the country others are gravely ill with little food on the table. The contrast is maddening. The world seems a topsy-turvy place, but not a day go by I don't tell myself how fortunate my life is, and to be here.

You ride on a horse,
while I ride a donkey.
Looks like you are better off than me!
Turning around,
I see a man pushing his cart.
Some are better off than me,
but others less fortunate than myself.

I remember the above story that I read a long while ago. All in the end, doesn't it come down to your own attitude and on how you see your life?

xoxo

Today is my sister Medina's birthday. She would've been 58 years old. This morning I visited my folks and my mom made lunch. A few simple yet delicious Chinese dishes. It was a good celebration.

Happy Birthday sis!

I saw a flyer from this movie a couple of months ago. I hope to catch an early evening show this weekend: Up The Yangtze.

Have a good day everyone! xoxo

It is the very essence of meditation: just this. To remain aware of just this is meditation -- watching it, observing it, with no condemnation, with no evaluation, just remaining like a mirror.

The mind can live only in the past and through the past, or in the future and through the future. The present moment becomes its grave: The mind cannot exist in this-ness. And to be in a no-mind state is to be in meditation.

This can become one of the greatest secrets. It can become the very key that unlocks the door of the divine. When something is passing through the mind, remember: just ithis. Don't say it is good, don't say it is bad; don't compare it. Don't desire that something be otherwise. Whatever is, is, and whatever is not, is not.

Everybody creates much misery out of this tension. People try to attain that which is not and tend to forget that which is.

For example, when you cry, just deep inside make it a meditation. Just say deep down, just this. Don't evaluate it, don't think it should not be. Don't think about what others will think. Let it be, and you just be a cool, distant watcher. Crying is neither good nor bad -- nothing is ever good or bad; things simple are. If we don't judge, the mind starts disappearing. And to see reality without the mind is to see the truth.

Text: Osho

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The mind cannot exist in this-ness. "Rajneesh" Chandra Mohan Jain sounded a bit 'out there', maybe even came across as being pompous, but I still like him. I admire his fresh-thinking. The above was another entry that was 'saved' from last November and never posted. I still feel like talking about the devastating news in Sichuan and Myanmar, but I won't.

When I think about it, I think my life is pretty exciting without the excitement. Or maybe it just appears to be boring?!? Boring on the inside, fun on the inside?? 'nuff said. I wish you all a very good day today!! Just this.

xoxo

"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.

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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

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“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

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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!

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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!!! :-)