This story I am about to tell you has been told and re-told countless times. I'm sure my version is somewhat different from the original one, if one could possibly trace back to it. But I hope the meaning is not lost.
During the Liang Dynasty in China, Da Mo went to see the Emperor Wu at the imperial palace.
Emperor Wu was a devout follower of Buddhism. Naturally, he was delighted to receive this traveller from afar.
Emperor Wu told Da Mo:" I have built many pagodas and temples all over my realm. I have toiled for a time as a monk at a temple. I have read as many buddhist sutras and scripts as I possibly can. How much merits have I gained from these acts?
Da Mo replied:" None."
"Why do you say that?"
"The true path is void."
"Then, what is the highest attainment one can achieve in the Buddhist path?"
"Since its void, how can there be any highest attainment?"
The Emperor was taken aback and immensely unhappy with the answers, and promptly sent Da Mo away.
Family Image
Monday, February 25, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Pluses and Minuses, Positives and Negatives
Hi,
If the world only has +,
E.g. A
+6 +7 = +13
+6 x +8 = +48
+8 / +2 = +4
in short, whatever you do to "+", you will always end up with "+"
On the other hand, if the world only has "-", you have a paradox, because you will invariably end up with "+" and "-".
E.g. B
-6 -7 = -13
-6 x -8 = +48
-8/ -2 = +4
So what can we draw from this?
I am sure there are many:
1.
+ = no change, or permanance. or no variety
- = change, or impermanance, or variety
2.
+ = no paradox
- = paradox
3.
?
If the world only has +,
E.g. A
+6 +7 = +13
+6 x +8 = +48
+8 / +2 = +4
in short, whatever you do to "+", you will always end up with "+"
On the other hand, if the world only has "-", you have a paradox, because you will invariably end up with "+" and "-".
E.g. B
-6 -7 = -13
-6 x -8 = +48
-8/ -2 = +4
So what can we draw from this?
I am sure there are many:
1.
+ = no change, or permanance. or no variety
- = change, or impermanance, or variety
2.
+ = no paradox
- = paradox
3.
?
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
My Brother Left for University of Queensland
My brother left for Brisbane to start his uni at the University of Queensland.
We sent him off last Sunday morning. Yes I can wake up early when it is really important. (so if i were ever late, you know where you stand... haha...). Kitiara's fans will understand the italics. But i digress...
The flight was at the new airport Terminal 3. Looks new.
My dad accompanied him. He will be there for 1 week, to help Tony settle down. My mum had to stay back because she needed to stay back to "bai ti gong" * on the 8th of the first month of lunar new year.
*to pray to the Heaven God. a tradition mostly conducted by Hokkiens in Singapore (needs verification).
I am certain she was sad to see Tony leave. I just hope Tony knows the extent (AND AS SUCH STUDY EXTRA HARD).
My brother will succeed in anything he set out to accomplish if he tries hard enough. This trip will no doubt be a stern test to his resolve. If he comes back with good grades, he comes back not only with good grades but a never-before-gained self-confidence of the first sentence of this paragraph.
Hmmm, looking back it was 11 years ago me and my brother were in opposite shoes. 11 years.
I hope he enjoys the full experience of oversea study, as I did (and yes that includes sleeping all day and waking at 7pm to watch the Simpsons; and to those who fail to appreciate that - it's your loss).
I wanted to wish him all the best, but i don't remember I said that to him. As we were walking back to the carpark to collect my car, I was feeling quite down. But suddenly, a thought came to me as vividly as it happened some 11 years ago - when I wished a friend "all the best", and he replied in his youthful conviction:"Don't worry, I'm in Good Hands!".
We sent him off last Sunday morning. Yes I can wake up early when it is really important. (so if i were ever late, you know where you stand... haha...). Kitiara's fans will understand the italics. But i digress...
The flight was at the new airport Terminal 3. Looks new.
My dad accompanied him. He will be there for 1 week, to help Tony settle down. My mum had to stay back because she needed to stay back to "bai ti gong" * on the 8th of the first month of lunar new year.
*to pray to the Heaven God. a tradition mostly conducted by Hokkiens in Singapore (needs verification).
I am certain she was sad to see Tony leave. I just hope Tony knows the extent (AND AS SUCH STUDY EXTRA HARD).
My brother will succeed in anything he set out to accomplish if he tries hard enough. This trip will no doubt be a stern test to his resolve. If he comes back with good grades, he comes back not only with good grades but a never-before-gained self-confidence of the first sentence of this paragraph.
Hmmm, looking back it was 11 years ago me and my brother were in opposite shoes. 11 years.
I hope he enjoys the full experience of oversea study, as I did (and yes that includes sleeping all day and waking at 7pm to watch the Simpsons; and to those who fail to appreciate that - it's your loss).
I wanted to wish him all the best, but i don't remember I said that to him. As we were walking back to the carpark to collect my car, I was feeling quite down. But suddenly, a thought came to me as vividly as it happened some 11 years ago - when I wished a friend "all the best", and he replied in his youthful conviction:"Don't worry, I'm in Good Hands!".
Friday, February 1, 2008
Annual Buy New Clothes for Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year around the corner!
Well, this year my wife refuses to buy new year clothes for me. I can only speculate on the reasons: 1. She thinks she has bad taste for clothes, so leave the choice to a better judge - me - instead; 2. I'm getting fatter and as such, and naturally, I am more picky on clothings - must not be too tight, otherwise it will be uncomfortable, or, must not be too loose or I'll look fatter than I really am.
During much younger days I used to shop for new year clothes with my friends (in some years with cousins). A full day event. I would receive about $100 from my mum (the amount would later be hotly debated and fought for as I got older...). It was the only time of the year where I got to spend more than $100 on clothings at one time. And with so much money in my pocket and the complete freedom to buy any clothes the budget allowed, I got to experience the full effect of consumersim and marketing attention. That kind of makes one feel important and adult dont' you think so? Definitely a major highlight of a year.
Now the scenario has somewhat changed. I mean, who'd shop with me? Everyone I know have partners or families to occupy them. It kinda feels weird to go shop alone.... but on another note, I think it feels weirder to have another friend accompanying me to shop. I mean, can you imagine 2 or 3 guys in their 30s shopping together along Orchard Road joustling with kids half their age? I can.
Also, my attention span for shopping has been lacking somewhat as the years roll on. My lovely wife can attest to that. Wait till she relates to you my Ultraman Syndrom. I'd probably spend less than half an hour on this shopping trip: walk-in, choose, check price tag, pay and go.
Or, maybe I should try to re-kindle the exhiliration of my younger days, by pretending like I'm 15 walking down Orchard Road with $100 in my pocket trying to decide how much to spend on a rare McDonald's meal so I still have enough left to buy the clothes I have been eyeing for months.
Well, this year my wife refuses to buy new year clothes for me. I can only speculate on the reasons: 1. She thinks she has bad taste for clothes, so leave the choice to a better judge - me - instead; 2. I'm getting fatter and as such, and naturally, I am more picky on clothings - must not be too tight, otherwise it will be uncomfortable, or, must not be too loose or I'll look fatter than I really am.
During much younger days I used to shop for new year clothes with my friends (in some years with cousins). A full day event. I would receive about $100 from my mum (the amount would later be hotly debated and fought for as I got older...). It was the only time of the year where I got to spend more than $100 on clothings at one time. And with so much money in my pocket and the complete freedom to buy any clothes the budget allowed, I got to experience the full effect of consumersim and marketing attention. That kind of makes one feel important and adult dont' you think so? Definitely a major highlight of a year.
Now the scenario has somewhat changed. I mean, who'd shop with me? Everyone I know have partners or families to occupy them. It kinda feels weird to go shop alone.... but on another note, I think it feels weirder to have another friend accompanying me to shop. I mean, can you imagine 2 or 3 guys in their 30s shopping together along Orchard Road joustling with kids half their age? I can.
Also, my attention span for shopping has been lacking somewhat as the years roll on. My lovely wife can attest to that. Wait till she relates to you my Ultraman Syndrom. I'd probably spend less than half an hour on this shopping trip: walk-in, choose, check price tag, pay and go.
Or, maybe I should try to re-kindle the exhiliration of my younger days, by pretending like I'm 15 walking down Orchard Road with $100 in my pocket trying to decide how much to spend on a rare McDonald's meal so I still have enough left to buy the clothes I have been eyeing for months.
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