A few songs had the "until the end of time" theme. One of them came from Moulin Rouge. Didn't like Nicole Kidman but absolutely loved the song, "Come What May".
Never knew I could feel like this
Like I've never seen the sky before
I want to vanish inside your kiss
Every day I'm loving you more and more
Listen to my heart, can you hear it sings
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change, winter to spring
But I love you until the end of time
Chorus:
Come what may
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place
Suddenly it moves with such a perfect grace
Suddenly my life doesnt't seem such a waste
It all revolves around you
And there's no mountain too high
No river too wide
Sing out this song I'll be there by your side
Storm clouds may gather
And stars may collide
But I love you until the end of time
Chorus
Oh, come what may, come what may
I will love you, I will love you
Suddenly the world seems such a perfect place
Chorus
And in Miss Saigon, we hear "The Last Night of the World". It was very nice and there was a lot of dramatic irony.
In a place that won't let us feel
In a life where nothing seems real
I have found you
I have found you
In a world that's moving too fast
In a world where nothing can last
I will hold you
I will hold you
Our lives will change when tomorrow comes
Tonight our hearts drown the distant drums
and we have music all right
tearing the night
A song
played on a solo saxophone
A crazy sound, a lonely sound
A cry that tells us love goes on and on
played on a solo saxophone
It's telling me
to hold you tight
and dance like it's the last night of the world
On the other side of the earth
There's a place where life still has worth
I will take you
I'll go with you
You won't believe all the things you'll see
I know 'cause you'll see them all with me
If we're together that's when
we'll hear it again
A song
played on a solo saxophone
A crazy sound, a lonely sound
A cry that tells us love goes on and on
Played on a solo saxophone
It's telling me
to hold you tight
and dance like it's the last night of the world
Dreams
they were all I ever knew
Dreams
you won't need when I'm through
Anywhere
we may be
I will sing with you
a song...
A song played on a solo saxophone
So stay with me
and hold me tight
and dance
like it's the last night of the world
And then there is the popular "In My Life / A Heart Full Of Love" from Les Miserables.
MARIUS
In my life
She has burst like the music of angels
The light of the sun
And my life seems to stop
As if something is over
And something has scarcely begun.
Eponine
You're the friend who has brought me here
Thanks to you I am one with the gods
And Heaven is near!
And I soar through a world that is new that is free
EPONINE(to herself)
Every word that he says is a dagger in me!
In my life
There's been no one like him anywhere
Anywhere, where he is...
If he asked... I'd be his
MARIUS & EPONINE
In my life
There is someone who touches my life
MARIUS
Waiting near
EPONINE
Waiting here
A Heart Full of Love
(Marius goes into the garden, leaving Eponine outside the gate)
MARIUS
A heart full of love
A heart full of song
I'm doing everything all wrong
Oh God, for shame
I do not even know your name
Dear Mad'moiselle
Won't you say?
Will you tell?
COSETTE
A heart full of love
No fear, no regret
MARIUS
My name is Marius Pontmercy
COSETTE
And mine's Cosette
MARIUS
Cosette, I don't know what to say
COSETTE
Then make no sound
MARIUS
I am lost
COSETTE
I am found!
MARIUS
A heart full of light
COSETTE
A night bright as day
MARIUS
And you must never go away
Cosette, Cosette
COSETTE
This is a chain we'll never break
MARIUS
Do I dream?
COSETTE
I'm awake!
MARIUS
A heart full of love
COSETTE
A heart full of you
MARIUS
A single look and then I knew
COSETTE
I knew it too
MARIUS
From today
COSETTE
Every day
COSETTE & MARIUS
For it isn't a dream
Not a dream after all.
EPONINE(Interjecting)
He was never mine to lose
Why regret what cannot be?
These are words he'll never say
Not to me...
Not to me...
Not to me...
His heart full of love
He will never feel this way...
And not every heart break is about love. Losing one's mind is also a heart break, especially when it happens to a great mime actress. "With One Look" from Sunset Boulevard tells you. Norma Desmond eventually committed murder. She killed the script writer and it was by tricking her she was in a movie that she could be coaxed into police custody.
Norma
With on look I can break your heart
With one look I play every part
I can make your sad heart sing
With one look you will know
All you need to know
With one smile I'm the girl next door
Or the love that you've hungered for
When I speak it's with my soul
I can play any role
No words can tell the stories my eyes tell
Watch me when I frown
You can't write that down
You know I'm right
It's there in black and white
When I look your way
You'll hear what I say
Yes, with one look I put words to shame
Just one look sets the screen aflame
Silent music starts to play
One tear in my eye make the whole world cry.
With one look they will forgive the past
They'll rejoice: I've returned at last
To my people in the dark
Still out there in the dark....
Silent music starts to play
With one look you'll know all you need to know.
With one look I'll ignite a blaze
I'll return to my glory days
They'll say Norma's back at last
This time I am staying I'm staying for good
I'll be back where I was born to be
With one look I'll be me.
And of course, who could forget "Don't Cry for Me Argentina", a dying First Lady's plea that she is always with them.
(Evita:)
It won't be easy, you'll think it strange
When I try to explain how I feel
that I still need your love after all that I've done
You won't believe me
All you will see is a girl you once knew
Although she's dressed up to the nines
At sixes and sevens with you
I had to let it happen, I had to change
Couldn't stay all my life down at heel
Looking out of the window, staying out of the sun
So I chose freedom
Running around, trying everything new
But nothing impressed me at all
I never expected it to
Chorus:
Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
And as for fortune, and as for fame
I never invited them in
Though it seemed to the world they were all I desired
They are illusions
They are not the solutions they promised to be
The answer was here all the time
I love you and hope you love me
Don't cry for me Argentina
(chorus)
Have I said too much?
There's nothing more I can think of to say to you.
But all you have to do is look at me to know
That every word is true
Heart break. Death. Insanity. There are lots of examples where life makes a mockery of people and yet, despite the brutality of reality, people are best able to capture these moments. You wonder if there are that many hurt souls out there. I also find it weird that there is a resonance, even for people who've not had a broken heart.
Enjoy.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Verbs used in proofs
CLEARLY: I don't want to write down all the "in-between" steps.
TRIVIAL: If I have to show you how to do this, you're in the wrong class.
OBVIOUSLY: I hope you weren't sleeping when we discussed this earlier, because I refuse to repeat it.
RECALL: I shouldn't have to tell you this, but for those of you who erase your memory tapes after every test...
WLOG (Without Loss Of Generality): I'm not about to do all the possible cases, so I'll do one and let you figure out the rest.
IT CAN EASILY BE SHOWN: Even you, in your finite wisdom, should be able to prove this without me holding your hand.
CHECK or CHECK FOR YOURSELF: This is the boring part of the proof, so you can do it on your own time.
SKETCH OF A PROOF: I couldn't verify all the details, so I'll break it down into the parts I couldn't prove.
HINT: The hardest of several possible ways to do a proof.
BRUTE FORCE (AND IGNORANCE): Four special cases, three counting arguments, two long inductions, "and a partridge in e."
SOFT PROOF: One third less filling (of the page) than your regular proof, but it requires two extra years of course work just to the terms.
ELEGANT PROOF: Requires no previous knowledge of the subject matter and is less than ten lines long.
SIMILARLY: At least one line of the proof of this case is the same as before.
BY A PREVIOUS THEOREM: I don't remember how it goes (come to think of it I'm not really sure we did this at all), but if I'm right, then the rest of this follows.
TWO LINE PROOF: I'll leave out everything but the conclusion, you can't question 'em if you can't see 'em.
BRIEFLY: I'm running out of time, so I'll just write and talk faster.
LET'S TALK THROUGH IT: I don't want to write it on the board lest I make a mistake.
PROCEED FORMALLY: Manipulate symbols by the rules without any hint of their true meaning (popular in pure math).
PROOF OMITTED: Trust me, It's true.
TRIVIAL: If I have to show you how to do this, you're in the wrong class.
OBVIOUSLY: I hope you weren't sleeping when we discussed this earlier, because I refuse to repeat it.
RECALL: I shouldn't have to tell you this, but for those of you who erase your memory tapes after every test...
WLOG (Without Loss Of Generality): I'm not about to do all the possible cases, so I'll do one and let you figure out the rest.
IT CAN EASILY BE SHOWN: Even you, in your finite wisdom, should be able to prove this without me holding your hand.
CHECK or CHECK FOR YOURSELF: This is the boring part of the proof, so you can do it on your own time.
SKETCH OF A PROOF: I couldn't verify all the details, so I'll break it down into the parts I couldn't prove.
HINT: The hardest of several possible ways to do a proof.
BRUTE FORCE (AND IGNORANCE): Four special cases, three counting arguments, two long inductions, "and a partridge in e."
SOFT PROOF: One third less filling (of the page) than your regular proof, but it requires two extra years of course work just to the terms.
ELEGANT PROOF: Requires no previous knowledge of the subject matter and is less than ten lines long.
SIMILARLY: At least one line of the proof of this case is the same as before.
BY A PREVIOUS THEOREM: I don't remember how it goes (come to think of it I'm not really sure we did this at all), but if I'm right, then the rest of this follows.
TWO LINE PROOF: I'll leave out everything but the conclusion, you can't question 'em if you can't see 'em.
BRIEFLY: I'm running out of time, so I'll just write and talk faster.
LET'S TALK THROUGH IT: I don't want to write it on the board lest I make a mistake.
PROCEED FORMALLY: Manipulate symbols by the rules without any hint of their true meaning (popular in pure math).
PROOF OMITTED: Trust me, It's true.
What I don't know about Karma
Probligo and I had had a wonderful conversation about my problem-child status. We came to the conclusion that neither of us were Smarties.
A Programmer and an Engineer were sitting next to each other on an
airplane. The Programmer leans over to the Engineer and asks if he wants
to play a fun game. The Engineer just wants to sleep so he politely
declines, turns away and tries to sleep. The Programmer persists and
explains that it's a real easy game. He explains,"I ask a question and
if you don't know the answer you pay me $5. Then you ask a question and
if I don't know the answer I'll pay you $5." Again the Engineer politely
declines and tries to sleep.
The Programmer, now somewhat agitated, says, "O.K., if you don't
know the answer you pay me $5 and if I don't know the answer I pay
you $50!" Now, that got the Engineer's attention, so he agrees to the
game. The Programmer asks the first question, "What's the distance from
the earth to the moon?" Then Engineer doesn't say a word and just hands
the Programmer $5.
Now, its the Engineer's turn. He asks the Programmer,"What goes up a
hill with three legs and comes down on four?" The Programmer looks at
him with a puzzled look, takes out his laptop computer, looks through
all his references and after about an hour wakes the Engineer and hands
the Engineer $50. The Engineer politely takes the $50 turns away and
tries to return to sleep.
The Programmer, a little miffed, asks, "Well what's the answer to the
question?" Without a word, the Engineer reaches into his wallet, hands
$5 to the Programmer, turns away and returns to sleep.
Yeah, we both don't know. But I can guess he's probably a programmer or an engineer while I'm just the manager pushing the buttons. Heh!
So, the new Fermat's (Last + 1) Conjecture is now: What next to seek so that Enlightenment is possible.
The issue of karma was probably obliquely mentioned somehow but I am sure if it did, we did not give it a good airing.
So, my question will be: Who is in charge of calculating Karma? I don't know if this is rhetorical. But there is a belief that if you kill a cockroach (for example) so that by ending its life, you could help it get reborn into a higher realm of existence, apparently, it won't happen. Part of the explanation is that the cockroach is so used to its existence that it could not adjust its mindset fast enough to allow it to move out of that realm of existence.
I want to know if there is another way out of rebirth other than Enlightenment and finally Nirvana.
A Programmer and an Engineer were sitting next to each other on an
airplane. The Programmer leans over to the Engineer and asks if he wants
to play a fun game. The Engineer just wants to sleep so he politely
declines, turns away and tries to sleep. The Programmer persists and
explains that it's a real easy game. He explains,"I ask a question and
if you don't know the answer you pay me $5. Then you ask a question and
if I don't know the answer I'll pay you $5." Again the Engineer politely
declines and tries to sleep.
The Programmer, now somewhat agitated, says, "O.K., if you don't
know the answer you pay me $5 and if I don't know the answer I pay
you $50!" Now, that got the Engineer's attention, so he agrees to the
game. The Programmer asks the first question, "What's the distance from
the earth to the moon?" Then Engineer doesn't say a word and just hands
the Programmer $5.
Now, its the Engineer's turn. He asks the Programmer,"What goes up a
hill with three legs and comes down on four?" The Programmer looks at
him with a puzzled look, takes out his laptop computer, looks through
all his references and after about an hour wakes the Engineer and hands
the Engineer $50. The Engineer politely takes the $50 turns away and
tries to return to sleep.
The Programmer, a little miffed, asks, "Well what's the answer to the
question?" Without a word, the Engineer reaches into his wallet, hands
$5 to the Programmer, turns away and returns to sleep.
Yeah, we both don't know. But I can guess he's probably a programmer or an engineer while I'm just the manager pushing the buttons. Heh!
So, the new Fermat's (Last + 1) Conjecture is now: What next to seek so that Enlightenment is possible.
The issue of karma was probably obliquely mentioned somehow but I am sure if it did, we did not give it a good airing.
So, my question will be: Who is in charge of calculating Karma? I don't know if this is rhetorical. But there is a belief that if you kill a cockroach (for example) so that by ending its life, you could help it get reborn into a higher realm of existence, apparently, it won't happen. Part of the explanation is that the cockroach is so used to its existence that it could not adjust its mindset fast enough to allow it to move out of that realm of existence.
I want to know if there is another way out of rebirth other than Enlightenment and finally Nirvana.
Movies in my mind
I've been getting odd dreams. I don't usually dream much. I rarely dream, if you ask me.
But I've been getting very realistic dreams. They are not nightmares. They are just that - movies in my mind.
I can't remember what I had dreamt of but I know that I had had dreams and they were very vivid, very well scripted and interesting.
I also know I am terribly tired.
But I've been getting very realistic dreams. They are not nightmares. They are just that - movies in my mind.
I can't remember what I had dreamt of but I know that I had had dreams and they were very vivid, very well scripted and interesting.
I also know I am terribly tired.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Gin and chthonic
I did a double take when I saw the dictionary.com word of the day entry for today.
chthonic - dwelling in or under the earth; also, pertaining to the underworld.
OMFG!
The word has Greek origins, where khthón, the Greek word for earth.
Sigh...
When will I ever be ready for the GRE?!
chthonic - dwelling in or under the earth; also, pertaining to the underworld.
OMFG!
The word has Greek origins, where khthón, the Greek word for earth.
Sigh...
When will I ever be ready for the GRE?!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Information Overload
It rarely happens to me but there is now one.
I'm facing a rather serious case of information overload and I am so not going to deal with all the information at one go.
They'll be triaged and those that have a deadline gets treated first.
Now, take a number, sit down and groan. When you go soft and slump over, I'll attend to you.
So now you know why medics in the field often ignore those who make a lot of noise? Because you hell have a lot of energy to make those noise and you probably are not as badly injured as those whose life is part of the blood spurting out of their wounds. Wow! Graphic. I like...
I'm facing a rather serious case of information overload and I am so not going to deal with all the information at one go.
They'll be triaged and those that have a deadline gets treated first.
Now, take a number, sit down and groan. When you go soft and slump over, I'll attend to you.
So now you know why medics in the field often ignore those who make a lot of noise? Because you hell have a lot of energy to make those noise and you probably are not as badly injured as those whose life is part of the blood spurting out of their wounds. Wow! Graphic. I like...
DC Cowboys
I had to share this. This was what I found from a blogsite of a new friend, Walt, whom I met because of karma.
Watch this - DC Cowboys = Brokeback meets Broadway. Fun!
Watch this - DC Cowboys = Brokeback meets Broadway. Fun!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
The Pretty Lady
Once upon a time a big monk and a little monk were traveling together. They came to the bank of a river and found the bridge was damaged. They had to wade across the river. There was a pretty lady who was stuck at the damaged bridge and couldn't cross the river. The big monk offered to carry her across the river on his back. The lady accepted. The little monk was shocked by the move of the big monk. 'How can big brother carry a lady when we are supposed to avoid all intimacy with females?' thought the little monk. But he kept quiet. The big monk carried the lady across the river and the small monk followed unhappily. When they crossed the river, the big monk let the lady down and they parted ways with her.
All along the way for several miles, the little monk was very unhappy with the act of the big monk. He was making up all kinds of accusations about big monk in his head. This got him madder and madder. But he still kept quiet. And the big monk had no inclination to explain his situation. Finally, at a rest point many hours later, the little monk could not stand it any further, he burst out angrily at the big monk. 'How can you claim yourself a devout monk, when you seize the first opportunity to touch a female, especially when she is very pretty? All your teachings to me make you a big hypocrite The big monk looked surprised and said, 'I had put down the pretty lady at the river bank many hours ago, how come you are still carrying her along?'
This very old Chinese Zen story reflects the thinking of many people today. We encounter many unpleasant things in our life, they irritate us and they make us angry. Sometimes, they cause us a lot of hurt, sometimes they cause us to be bitter or jealous .. But like the little monk, we are not willing to let them go away.We keep on carrying the baggage of the 'pretty lady' with us. We let them keep on coming back to hurt us, make us angry, make us bitter and cause us a lot of agony. Why? Simply because we are not willing to put down or let go of the baggage of the 'pretty lady'. We should let go of the pretty lady immediately after crossing the river, that is after the unpleasant event is over. This will immediately remove all our agonies. There is no need to be further hurt by the unpleasant event after it is over.
Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.
All along the way for several miles, the little monk was very unhappy with the act of the big monk. He was making up all kinds of accusations about big monk in his head. This got him madder and madder. But he still kept quiet. And the big monk had no inclination to explain his situation. Finally, at a rest point many hours later, the little monk could not stand it any further, he burst out angrily at the big monk. 'How can you claim yourself a devout monk, when you seize the first opportunity to touch a female, especially when she is very pretty? All your teachings to me make you a big hypocrite The big monk looked surprised and said, 'I had put down the pretty lady at the river bank many hours ago, how come you are still carrying her along?'
This very old Chinese Zen story reflects the thinking of many people today. We encounter many unpleasant things in our life, they irritate us and they make us angry. Sometimes, they cause us a lot of hurt, sometimes they cause us to be bitter or jealous .. But like the little monk, we are not willing to let them go away.We keep on carrying the baggage of the 'pretty lady' with us. We let them keep on coming back to hurt us, make us angry, make us bitter and cause us a lot of agony. Why? Simply because we are not willing to put down or let go of the baggage of the 'pretty lady'. We should let go of the pretty lady immediately after crossing the river, that is after the unpleasant event is over. This will immediately remove all our agonies. There is no need to be further hurt by the unpleasant event after it is over.
Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.
The Frogs
A farmer came into town and asked the owner of a restaurant if he could use a million frog legs. The restaurant owner was shocked and asked the man where he could get so many frog legs! The farmer replied, 'There is a pond near my house that is full of frogs - millions of them. They all croak all night long and they are about to make me crazy!' So the restaurant owner and the farmer made an agreement that the farmer would deliver frogs to the restaurant, five hundred at a time for the next several weeks.
The first week, the farmer returned to the restaurant looking rather sheepish, with two scrawny little frogs. The restaurant owner said, 'Well... where are all the frogs?' The farmer said, 'I was mistaken. There were only these two frogs in the pond. But they sure were making a lot of noise!'
Next time you hear somebody criticizing or making fun of you, remember, it's probably just a couple of noisy frogs. Also remember that problems always seem bigger in the dark. Have you ever laid in your bed at night worrying about things which seem almost overwhelming like a million frogs croaking? Chances are pretty good that when the morning comes, and you take a closer look, you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.
The first week, the farmer returned to the restaurant looking rather sheepish, with two scrawny little frogs. The restaurant owner said, 'Well... where are all the frogs?' The farmer said, 'I was mistaken. There were only these two frogs in the pond. But they sure were making a lot of noise!'
Next time you hear somebody criticizing or making fun of you, remember, it's probably just a couple of noisy frogs. Also remember that problems always seem bigger in the dark. Have you ever laid in your bed at night worrying about things which seem almost overwhelming like a million frogs croaking? Chances are pretty good that when the morning comes, and you take a closer look, you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.
The Turtles
A turtle family decided to go on a picnic. The turtles, being naturally slow about things, took seven years to prepare for their outing. Finally the turtle family left home looking for a suitable place. During the second year of their journey they found a place ideal for them at last!
For about six months they cleaned the area, unpacked the picnic basket, and completed the arrangements. Then they discovered they had forgotten the salt. A picnic without salt would be a disaster, they all agreed. After a lengthy discussion, the youngest turtle was chosen to retrieve the salt from home. Although he was the fastest of the slow moving turtles, the little turtle whined, cried, and wobbled in his shell. He agreed to go on one condition: that no one would eat until he returned. The family consented and the little turtle left.
Three years passed and the little turtle had not returned. Five years...six years... then on the seventh year of his absence, the oldest turtle could no longer contain his hunger. He announced that he was going to eat and begun to unwrap a sandwich. At that point the little turtle suddenly popped out from behind a tree shouting, 'See! I knew you wouldn't wait. Now I am not going to go get the salt.'
Some of us waste our time waiting for people to live up to our expectations. We are so concerned about what others are doing that we don't do anything ourselves.
For about six months they cleaned the area, unpacked the picnic basket, and completed the arrangements. Then they discovered they had forgotten the salt. A picnic without salt would be a disaster, they all agreed. After a lengthy discussion, the youngest turtle was chosen to retrieve the salt from home. Although he was the fastest of the slow moving turtles, the little turtle whined, cried, and wobbled in his shell. He agreed to go on one condition: that no one would eat until he returned. The family consented and the little turtle left.
Three years passed and the little turtle had not returned. Five years...six years... then on the seventh year of his absence, the oldest turtle could no longer contain his hunger. He announced that he was going to eat and begun to unwrap a sandwich. At that point the little turtle suddenly popped out from behind a tree shouting, 'See! I knew you wouldn't wait. Now I am not going to go get the salt.'
Some of us waste our time waiting for people to live up to our expectations. We are so concerned about what others are doing that we don't do anything ourselves.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Living Rich
Incredible, it must be, to be really rich.
Someone I know of bought a camera for $2 700+ in May and then resold it for $1 700 today. Without batting an eyelid.
How filthy rich is that?
Someone I know of bought a camera for $2 700+ in May and then resold it for $1 700 today. Without batting an eyelid.
How filthy rich is that?
The New iPhone
The iPhone advertisement in Singapore made many claims, that almost everything on the iPhone is very fast.
The advertising folks forgot to tell the users that the iPhone will also help you work up a bill with your phone companies VERY FAST!
The advertising folks forgot to tell the users that the iPhone will also help you work up a bill with your phone companies VERY FAST!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Mad Housing
School term started this week at the university where I am teaching. It's been a mad house so far as I struggle to straighten out my admin and lessons. It feels worse when I am an instructor compared to when I was a student.
This blog will have to wait.
PS. Probligo, I would like to continue our discussion, if you would be interested to.
This blog will have to wait.
PS. Probligo, I would like to continue our discussion, if you would be interested to.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
In Response to Probligo
I have written the entry on "What I Still Don't Know" because I had thought about things that could be premature to be discussed. But that does not mean that the seed could not be planted in people's minds and allowed to germinate.
I recall how Siddharta sought out many teachers and tried many forms of cultivation, including asceticism, before he managed to ward off Mara the temptress and attain Nirvana.
He sought to free himself and all sentient beings from suffering the whole time he cultivated himself. When he was cultivating himself under different teachers, he was not taught to not crave, not cling, not desire. But he had realised that life was suffering but he was not sure why. That was why he left home and started practicing the way which he hoped would end suffering.
It was after a long time of cultivating himself and finally discovering the power of meditation in helping him focus on the true problems that plague all living things. During his meditation sessions, he also recalled his previous lives and much more, before coming to the realisation that life's sufferings are caused by greed, craving and clinging. Prior to that, Mara the temptress came and tempted him big time to end his search for Enlightenment.
I ask what is the next big thing that the coming Buddha, Bohdisattva Matreiya needed to "discover" so that he would be able to take the final step towards Buddha-hood.
Religion cannot be forever stuck in some backwaters. A progressive religion that desires to stay the course needs to cater to the needs of the people. A religion that stops moving with the times will fall apart.
Human needs are innate and irrational. And in times of spiritual ruins, a saint or a prophet or a buddha usually comes to help the people out: Moses received the 10 Commandments and went on to achieve great things. Prophet Mohammed brought Islam to the people. Of course, I don't know how people treat Moses - is he a saint?
Buddhists had different Buddhas come and probably left teachings behind. Our scriptures bear testimony to this fact. The last Buddha left the lessons on clinging and greed. We know the lessons. Whether we can cultivate our faculties to overcome such inner demons remain insurmountable challenges for many of us.
But clinging and greed are not the most debilitating of ills that people are facing now. True, clinging and greed do undergird many of these ills but there must be some new lessons that need to be learnt.
For instance, letting go. Or having the magnanimity and graciousness not to take offense over every single thing. But these are lessons already made known. Our parents always told us to let our younger siblings "win" or have their ways, regardless. Isn't that obvious to all?
I don't claim to be religiously smart. So you may be right - I may have walked past the next cause for Nirvana and not realise it. But what I lament is the fact that I have not cultivated my mental acuity to know that I have let something precious slip by me, if it had.
Yet weirdly, if I go after spiritual awakening, it could be about greed; deep down, it's a part of "greed" to want to be more "sensitive" than the common man. This is not righteous. At least not in my opinion.
If you have read my posts, I told you about my experience in Sri Lanka, before the tsunami. If I had been able to warn people accurately about all these things, I might have done some good. But then, I might also be regarded as obstructing god's wrath and stopping people from getting their condign judgement and punishment. Or I could just be treated as a fortune teller, and nothing more.
I have to admit I honestly do not know. What is the next thing that we should awaken in our pursuits to become freed from the cycle of life and death?
Christians believe in no after life. I am not here to say whether this is right or wrong. People are free to choose and believe in their religions. But don't force one's beliefs down another's throat. I'd say if all who believed in the Christian God went to heaven, heaven is going to be really packed by now. But that's a thought. And, if not for the sake of illustration, I would have let it remain a thought.
I have had Christian friends whose sole purpose in life is to politely run down other religions and claim that all other religions arose from Christianity. I do not go into any discussions on such things. These people even attempt to rationalise things like why the Chinese word for murderer and brother sounded identical to claim that China used to be a Christian state. I listen politely, even if I disagree, and seek the first available instance to end the conversation. Such discussions do not interest me.
What good does it make for us to regressively trace things just to prove superiority? I am more interested to see how things will develop as we move in the new direction. Moreover, I do not preach my religion - my only claim is that my religion is one of choice and lifestyle. I am a lip-service Buddhist, if you force me to label myself.
Marketing a religion is an interesting concept but unless that brings about a new level of awareness and discovery about the true meaning of life, the product is hard to sell. The sellers would end up merely going through the motions.
So, to say what I think I thought but am sure I really don't know, I somehow feel that the loss of a soul, some kind of identity, could be the next big thing. Something different from the id, ego or superego. Different from the idea of self, of I, me, my and mine. I can't place a finger on it but I would like to propose that it is more like the idea of the incarnation of the pure-self.
When we are conceived, we are probably the purest at that moment. Those cells were probably not programmed or intended to strap bombs to thenselves and detonate them to kill others. It is the development of a consciousness that we become who we are. Could it then be the control of the consciousness so that we are able to return to the state of the pure-self?
I really don't know.(I really dislike these four words, because one of my tutors did it to me when I asked her a question. She took out her handkerchief, spread it open, buried her face in it, looked up at me, took a deep breath and said, "I really don't know, Eugene." And then I got scolded after class for asking that Aussie Grandma "difficult Grammar questions".) This is the first time I actually put pen to paper my thoughts of such a topic. I don't even know if I make sense. But I certainly know there is a long path ahead if I ever want to escape from the cycle of birth and death.
I haven't read Monkey. I'll probably try and make a bid to read it. Since you've got me to this point, Probligo, feel free to add your points of view. We might have different ideas and we can agree to disagree.
I recall how Siddharta sought out many teachers and tried many forms of cultivation, including asceticism, before he managed to ward off Mara the temptress and attain Nirvana.
He sought to free himself and all sentient beings from suffering the whole time he cultivated himself. When he was cultivating himself under different teachers, he was not taught to not crave, not cling, not desire. But he had realised that life was suffering but he was not sure why. That was why he left home and started practicing the way which he hoped would end suffering.
It was after a long time of cultivating himself and finally discovering the power of meditation in helping him focus on the true problems that plague all living things. During his meditation sessions, he also recalled his previous lives and much more, before coming to the realisation that life's sufferings are caused by greed, craving and clinging. Prior to that, Mara the temptress came and tempted him big time to end his search for Enlightenment.
I ask what is the next big thing that the coming Buddha, Bohdisattva Matreiya needed to "discover" so that he would be able to take the final step towards Buddha-hood.
Religion cannot be forever stuck in some backwaters. A progressive religion that desires to stay the course needs to cater to the needs of the people. A religion that stops moving with the times will fall apart.
Human needs are innate and irrational. And in times of spiritual ruins, a saint or a prophet or a buddha usually comes to help the people out: Moses received the 10 Commandments and went on to achieve great things. Prophet Mohammed brought Islam to the people. Of course, I don't know how people treat Moses - is he a saint?
Buddhists had different Buddhas come and probably left teachings behind. Our scriptures bear testimony to this fact. The last Buddha left the lessons on clinging and greed. We know the lessons. Whether we can cultivate our faculties to overcome such inner demons remain insurmountable challenges for many of us.
But clinging and greed are not the most debilitating of ills that people are facing now. True, clinging and greed do undergird many of these ills but there must be some new lessons that need to be learnt.
For instance, letting go. Or having the magnanimity and graciousness not to take offense over every single thing. But these are lessons already made known. Our parents always told us to let our younger siblings "win" or have their ways, regardless. Isn't that obvious to all?
I don't claim to be religiously smart. So you may be right - I may have walked past the next cause for Nirvana and not realise it. But what I lament is the fact that I have not cultivated my mental acuity to know that I have let something precious slip by me, if it had.
Yet weirdly, if I go after spiritual awakening, it could be about greed; deep down, it's a part of "greed" to want to be more "sensitive" than the common man. This is not righteous. At least not in my opinion.
If you have read my posts, I told you about my experience in Sri Lanka, before the tsunami. If I had been able to warn people accurately about all these things, I might have done some good. But then, I might also be regarded as obstructing god's wrath and stopping people from getting their condign judgement and punishment. Or I could just be treated as a fortune teller, and nothing more.
I have to admit I honestly do not know. What is the next thing that we should awaken in our pursuits to become freed from the cycle of life and death?
Christians believe in no after life. I am not here to say whether this is right or wrong. People are free to choose and believe in their religions. But don't force one's beliefs down another's throat. I'd say if all who believed in the Christian God went to heaven, heaven is going to be really packed by now. But that's a thought. And, if not for the sake of illustration, I would have let it remain a thought.
I have had Christian friends whose sole purpose in life is to politely run down other religions and claim that all other religions arose from Christianity. I do not go into any discussions on such things. These people even attempt to rationalise things like why the Chinese word for murderer and brother sounded identical to claim that China used to be a Christian state. I listen politely, even if I disagree, and seek the first available instance to end the conversation. Such discussions do not interest me.
What good does it make for us to regressively trace things just to prove superiority? I am more interested to see how things will develop as we move in the new direction. Moreover, I do not preach my religion - my only claim is that my religion is one of choice and lifestyle. I am a lip-service Buddhist, if you force me to label myself.
Marketing a religion is an interesting concept but unless that brings about a new level of awareness and discovery about the true meaning of life, the product is hard to sell. The sellers would end up merely going through the motions.
So, to say what I think I thought but am sure I really don't know, I somehow feel that the loss of a soul, some kind of identity, could be the next big thing. Something different from the id, ego or superego. Different from the idea of self, of I, me, my and mine. I can't place a finger on it but I would like to propose that it is more like the idea of the incarnation of the pure-self.
When we are conceived, we are probably the purest at that moment. Those cells were probably not programmed or intended to strap bombs to thenselves and detonate them to kill others. It is the development of a consciousness that we become who we are. Could it then be the control of the consciousness so that we are able to return to the state of the pure-self?
I really don't know.(I really dislike these four words, because one of my tutors did it to me when I asked her a question. She took out her handkerchief, spread it open, buried her face in it, looked up at me, took a deep breath and said, "I really don't know, Eugene." And then I got scolded after class for asking that Aussie Grandma "difficult Grammar questions".) This is the first time I actually put pen to paper my thoughts of such a topic. I don't even know if I make sense. But I certainly know there is a long path ahead if I ever want to escape from the cycle of birth and death.
I haven't read Monkey. I'll probably try and make a bid to read it. Since you've got me to this point, Probligo, feel free to add your points of view. We might have different ideas and we can agree to disagree.
Doing "Nothing"
Many people would consider reading as doing "nothing". After all, what's the big effort required in turning pages or flicking the wheel of the mouse down so that your eyes can feed the logos to your brains.
But while everyone thinks time slows down when "nothing" is done, I keep finding myself short of time doing my "nothing".
And I get terribly exhausted too.
But while everyone thinks time slows down when "nothing" is done, I keep finding myself short of time doing my "nothing".
And I get terribly exhausted too.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
SARS and the aftermath
Finally visited the Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium for the first time.
It has long replaced the Mount Vernon Crematorium but this is the first time I set foor into its very modern, albeit human-less facility.
All caskets are delivered into the burners by machines. Human interaction can be kept to the minimum.
This is all the result of SARS. The highly contagious disease needed drastic measures to counter. So Singapore had to have something to make sure that the dead do not continue to spread their germs.
It's sad that the bereaved ones now watch behind a glass wall as the coffin gets rolled down tracks on a pre-programmed mechanical arm which sends it right into the burner.
All people can do is really watch. Then file out and leave.
Hopefully the grieving at the wake and the closure at the crematorium will help restore the ones facing the loss. Perhaps it is indeed true that once out of sight, it could well be out of mind.
It has long replaced the Mount Vernon Crematorium but this is the first time I set foor into its very modern, albeit human-less facility.
All caskets are delivered into the burners by machines. Human interaction can be kept to the minimum.
This is all the result of SARS. The highly contagious disease needed drastic measures to counter. So Singapore had to have something to make sure that the dead do not continue to spread their germs.
It's sad that the bereaved ones now watch behind a glass wall as the coffin gets rolled down tracks on a pre-programmed mechanical arm which sends it right into the burner.
All people can do is really watch. Then file out and leave.
Hopefully the grieving at the wake and the closure at the crematorium will help restore the ones facing the loss. Perhaps it is indeed true that once out of sight, it could well be out of mind.
Funeral Drama
The eldest daughter wailed at the top of her lungs and her cries reverberated off the walls of the viewing gallery as the casket made its way into the incinerator. The second daughter, who had had to look after the old lady after dementia ate her better senses away for the past few years was less hysterical in comparison.
Even while the eldest was the wealthier among them, she had decided not to be involved in looking after the demented mother. She even said that her sister's act of taking their life giver into her care was akin to knocking her head against a brick wall.
Yet when the final scene came, even before the coffin made its appearance in the viewing gallery, she bawled her lungs out.
In stark comparison, the rest of the family of about 50 who made the journey to the crematorium were more sedate. They made no bones that the old lady was better off dead.
She gave them a quick one. Despite her decade long battle with dementia, she was able to move on her own. While she may forget to control her bowels now and then, she lived like she was normal. What was missing was her recent memories. But she did remember glimpses of me, especially when she, her second daughter, my grandmother and I went to Malaysia on a week long trip some 18 years ago. When she collapsed from a stroke on Monday morning, she died the same evening at 2025 hours. She did not regain consciousness or inconvenienced them in any way.
While the acting was convincing and some friends and lesser relatives were visibly moved to some tears, the minute I got on the bus to return to the place where the wake was held, the stories came forth.
It always pays to sit beside some perceptive aunt on the way back as she would be most forthcoming in sharing the stories. I'm usually the one they would tell the story to. I don't know why, but I guess I'm blessed this way. (I believe my involvement in these last rites does not go unnoticed. Compared to my other more aloof cousins, I must be the more lovable one. It also helps to be chubby and possibly cuddly, I think.)
The aunt opened her tirade with "The one who has done the least cried the loudest. People would therefore think she was the most aggrieved. But there are lies, half-truths and truths. The truth is, she has the least right to steal the limelight. The rest of them act their part in thinking that the old lady is better off dead."
Me, "I think she was feeling guilty?"
She, "I hope she is. If she still knows (what it means to be) guilty. She never wanted the mother or to care for her. So what right does she have to act this way? That's why when you are able to put up a show..."
The rest of the story is up there.
Even while the eldest was the wealthier among them, she had decided not to be involved in looking after the demented mother. She even said that her sister's act of taking their life giver into her care was akin to knocking her head against a brick wall.
Yet when the final scene came, even before the coffin made its appearance in the viewing gallery, she bawled her lungs out.
In stark comparison, the rest of the family of about 50 who made the journey to the crematorium were more sedate. They made no bones that the old lady was better off dead.
She gave them a quick one. Despite her decade long battle with dementia, she was able to move on her own. While she may forget to control her bowels now and then, she lived like she was normal. What was missing was her recent memories. But she did remember glimpses of me, especially when she, her second daughter, my grandmother and I went to Malaysia on a week long trip some 18 years ago. When she collapsed from a stroke on Monday morning, she died the same evening at 2025 hours. She did not regain consciousness or inconvenienced them in any way.
While the acting was convincing and some friends and lesser relatives were visibly moved to some tears, the minute I got on the bus to return to the place where the wake was held, the stories came forth.
It always pays to sit beside some perceptive aunt on the way back as she would be most forthcoming in sharing the stories. I'm usually the one they would tell the story to. I don't know why, but I guess I'm blessed this way. (I believe my involvement in these last rites does not go unnoticed. Compared to my other more aloof cousins, I must be the more lovable one. It also helps to be chubby and possibly cuddly, I think.)
The aunt opened her tirade with "The one who has done the least cried the loudest. People would therefore think she was the most aggrieved. But there are lies, half-truths and truths. The truth is, she has the least right to steal the limelight. The rest of them act their part in thinking that the old lady is better off dead."
Me, "I think she was feeling guilty?"
She, "I hope she is. If she still knows (what it means to be) guilty. She never wanted the mother or to care for her. So what right does she have to act this way? That's why when you are able to put up a show..."
The rest of the story is up there.
Funny Thoughts
I wonder if it will come a day when people die, get stuffed in a plastic bag and then tossed in the garbage and incinerated with the rubbish.
Simplicity and Complicity
Last night was the final night of the funeral wake of my second grand aunt (maternal side).
Final prayers were in full swing and in accordance to Taoist tradition, her entire family were involved.
Extended family members were excluded, or if you prefer, exempted, because the bereaved family was already very numerous. The human chain formed as part of the prayers to leading my grand aunt's soul to the "Gates of Hell" was long enough to require tables to be shifted out of the way so that the symbolic walking around can be performed.
As the family began their rites, it caught my attention that the whole clan has chosen to ditch all the funeral garb and peripherals. The men folk were dressed only in a white t-shirt and dark coloured pants while the women folk did not even have the basic head scarf! That's so underdressed. She was after all an 87-year old matriarch of the family. Isn't this too shabby?
My goodness! Such an act of filial impiety. Wow! I cannot imagine how they could do that.
Later, I heard that the leading Taoist priest performing the rites actually told the family that the eldest grandson is the oldest one. By tradition, and this is still held true, the eldest grandson is the oldest son of the eldest son! Goodness gracious. Is this guy for real?
And for the first time, I saw Carlsberg served at funeral wakes! Are they literally taking the concept of "clubbing" a little too far?
I am all for simplicity and moving with the times. But to veer off by so much, isn't that too disrespectful?
Final prayers were in full swing and in accordance to Taoist tradition, her entire family were involved.
Extended family members were excluded, or if you prefer, exempted, because the bereaved family was already very numerous. The human chain formed as part of the prayers to leading my grand aunt's soul to the "Gates of Hell" was long enough to require tables to be shifted out of the way so that the symbolic walking around can be performed.
As the family began their rites, it caught my attention that the whole clan has chosen to ditch all the funeral garb and peripherals. The men folk were dressed only in a white t-shirt and dark coloured pants while the women folk did not even have the basic head scarf! That's so underdressed. She was after all an 87-year old matriarch of the family. Isn't this too shabby?
My goodness! Such an act of filial impiety. Wow! I cannot imagine how they could do that.
Later, I heard that the leading Taoist priest performing the rites actually told the family that the eldest grandson is the oldest one. By tradition, and this is still held true, the eldest grandson is the oldest son of the eldest son! Goodness gracious. Is this guy for real?
And for the first time, I saw Carlsberg served at funeral wakes! Are they literally taking the concept of "clubbing" a little too far?
I am all for simplicity and moving with the times. But to veer off by so much, isn't that too disrespectful?
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