Caravan Himalaya

Guest Writer: Tiger Ng

Movie: Caravan (Himalaya)

Screened at the Buddhist Library.

Review

This movie is simple, no “big-shot” movie stars, no over-budgeted advertising trick! What Eric Valli used in this movie are the breathtaking views of the Himalayas, the courageous caravan, and the completely non-professional cast (real chiefs, lamas and local villagers) which provide the film with a sense of “authenticity” that is not found in the “money-hunting” Hollywood products.

“Himalaya” delivers a strong message that revolves around power, leadership ability, tradition, and change. A simple question: “When superstition, tradition and culture collide with our own conscience, what would you have done best to avoid conflict?” Probably we can make use of what is uttered by one of the main character in the film, Norbu: "When two paths open up before you, choose the hardest one." Talking about this, Bhante Dhammaratana (The Buddhist Library Spiritual Advisor) has opined that one should always take the hardest path. [This is my own view: there’s no easy way or short-cut in everything we do in our life (be it spiritual or secular). Obstacles in fact serve as our “spiritual teacher” that makes us matured over the course of time].

Indeed, “Himalaya” reflects what is really happening in our modern society today: struggle between old and new, as well as between god-fearing society and self-reliant upstarts. How do you challenge the tradition and belief systems that have been practised for thousands if not hundreds of years? Especially when things happen in accord to what is “prophesised” by those so-called superstitious predictions…

Well, to relate this subject to what is taught by the Buddha, we may want to reflect upon the Kalama’s Sutta. Following is an excerpt from the Kalama Sutta: “It is fitting for you to be perplexed, O Kālāmas, it is fitting for you to be in doubt. Doubt has arisen in you about a perplexing matter. Come, Kālāmas. Do not go by oral tradition, by lineage of teaching, by hearsay, by a collection of texts, by logic, by inferential reasoning, by reasoned cogitation, by the acceptance of a view after pondering it, by the seeming competence of a speaker, or because you think, ‘The ascetic is our teacher.’ But when you know for yourselves, ‘These things are unwholesome; these things are blameable; these things are censured by the wise; these things, if undertaken and practiced, lead to harm and suffering,’ then you should abandon them.”

My principle is simple. I always respect the ancient belief system, even though some of them seem to me rather superstitious. They have survived for such a long time, there must be some reasons for them to exist until now. Some of them are simple innocent belief [for example, whenever someone has urgent toilet business, but there’s no nearby toilet can be found, he would have to settle his “business” at a nearby tree. Before doing this, we were always told during our childhood time that we must ask for “permission” from whatever “things” residing at that tree to allow us to proceed with our urgent business. For me, although this might sound superstitious, but it is a form of respect for all the living (and non-living) things in this world, who knows there might be a tree Deva at particular tree?]. However, if the practice of such belief systems become an obsession and start to disrupt my daily life, and could probably lead to the unwholesome consequences, I would not tolerate them, will try to challenge and clear the “clouds”.

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Michael Jackson's Life & Character by his Birth Date

This is a reading of Michael Jackson's Character and Behaviour based on his date of birth using the "Power of Numbers" calculations. For more about the "Power of Numbers", read here.

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--------reading starts------------

Strong survival instincts and like to control wealth and prosperity. family oriented, creative and artistic. well mannered and have a high taste in life. Not one who takes on cheap things. Will do well in education, artistic works and religion. A popular figure in society.

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Proud in nature and doesn’t like taking on simple jobs. Not one who listen to others' instructions especially one's superiors, but one who look after one's subordinates well.

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Very expressive and always busy and stressed. Suited to be in sales or entertainment because of the love to express and can take the consequential pressure. Will end up alone.

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A good planner and is well organized. Will plan alone and that is why can plan well. However, lack ability to execute.

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Believe in own principles strongly and that will lead to wealth/money. Can be seen as stubbornly sticking to own principles and disregard other people’s urging to the contrary, yet finally achieving what was set out. Must travel out of the country of your birth to make more money.

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Aggressively looking for businesses and opportunities, but end up in vain.

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A risk taker, and ventures/business/career will be successful. Have windfall luck.

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Have the charisma to talk and attract many people around, more so, from the opposite sex. A friendly person.

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A planner who believes strongly in own principles. Eventually lead to preset goal. One who plans with motives in mind.

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Have many obstacles in life

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When it comes to money, one who believes only in own principles. There are obstacles making money. But ironically by being too careful can lead to being cheated.

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One who makes money in service-oriented work or situations that require expressions, like sales or entertainment. Wants to be rewarded by money before doing something.

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Major health hazard/operation. (Metaphysical) Metal element cutting through the body.

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Talent: Very creative

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Outward impression: Have a 'no-nonsense' look.

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Subconscious: Very aggressive/fast.

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Old age: No money, but at least 2 properties.

--------end of reading-----------

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Is your behaviour and character (and hence destiny) sealed upon your first breath at birth?

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Find that out! Get a FREE summary reading by emailing me your name, date of birth and gender. The reading will be done manually by myself (not generated by a computer).

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The Futurists - China

Date: 10 June 2009

Time: 7.30pm

Place: Smith Street, Chinatown, Singapore

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Global Sounds Cafe or the Fireplace Cafe they call it now, was once again closed and we have to 'take it to the streets' and settle for a table along Smith Street downstairs.

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The Futurist Group (Acceleration Aware Group) is an informal group that meets once a week to discuss about the future based on a given theme. We are bankers, students, gold investors, entrepreneurs, webmasters, writers, photographers, teachers, technologists,...etc. If you are interested in what the future may bring you, how it'll affect you or want to enjoy the intellectual exchange of liberal views of the future, this is the place. Anyone can join in the meetings. There is no membership fees to pay. Enjoy!

Politics

This is the 10th Anniversary of the Tian An Men Incident in 1989. Stefan was there when it happened and experienced it first hand.

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How will the future of China look like?

Will it be a Soaring Dragon? or a Crouched Tiger?

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China is an ideologically bankrupt nation in that it is no longer a communist economy. They hold the nation together by using the 'we are all Chinese' slogan. It is an illusion as not all Chinese nationals are Han Chinese. In order to keep the country together peacefully, China will have to maintain a certain growth rate to avoid a revolution. It also has to maintain an illusion that such a growth is trickling down to the common people.

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In recent years, the growth and the policies to maintain such economic growth have been desirable.

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If Chinese leaders fail to deliver the economic growth promised, there can be despotism and chaos. It is difficult to conceive that there can be a loose federation of Chinese states, just like in the European Union.

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One of our participants feel that the breakup of China is unlikely and we cannot compare it to the 1920s when the Chinese military only had 4 aircraft fighters and 8 tanks.

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So far, the Chinese government has advocated the best technological changes that are purely functional to their survival, like the WTO, the Internet and any technology that improves their labour productivity. They are implements that give them incremental advantages over their neighbours.

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We agree that China and the US are both about the same in their intent as big countries to dominate the world, but the Chinese are more honest. This is so at the moment. It is to be seen if they will behave the same once they become more influential in world affairs.

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At this point, we noticed that our Chinese (from China) participant is feeling a little uneasy over our liberal speculations of the perilous breakup of her country. I guess there are some topics that will remain very sensitive to discuss with any Chinese for a long time to come. They are:

1. The war past with Japan

2. Tibet

3. 100 years of shame

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Our Chinese friend (participant) feels that it is still better for China to operate with centralised control as then resources can be shared, even though there are cultural and religious sensitivities in Tibet and Xinjiang.

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Economics

Recently in Guangzhou, two-thirds of the factories had shutdown. 20 million people had to return to the villages. When the export model economy collapse, there could be a breakdown. However, this is very unlikely. The Chinese government now subsidises production of household consumer goods so that they can be made affordable to rural Chinese folks, thus stimulating the demand.

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One of our participants brought a paper presented by Mingli, an ex-political prisoner in China. He predicts that China will progress as US and Europe will stagnate.

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Demographics:

There are two glaring demographic quirks in China:

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1. That due to female infanticide, there will be a shortfall of women. 30% more men than women in the countryside. How are they going to manage it? The communist party tried to address this shortfall, but has failed. Perhaps, those men that can afford will marry foreigners and those who can't may practise polyandry. Polyandry has inherent advantages of keeping the integrity of farm plots (without fragmenting them by inheritance).

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2. That there will be a generation of single child spoilt brats, more notably known as 'Little Emperors'.

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Will these points above lead to collapse?

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Books

From Amazon.com :

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How often can you peek behind the curtains of one of the most secretive governments in the world? Prisoner of the State is the first book to give readers a front row seat to the secret inner workings of China's government. It is the story of Premier Zhao Ziyang, the man who brought liberal change to that nation and who, at the height of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, tried to stop the massacre and was dethroned for his efforts.

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When China's army moved in, killing hundreds of students and other demonstrators, Zhao was placed under house arrest at his home on a quiet alley in Beijing. China's most promising change agent had been disgraced, along with the policies he stood for. The premier spent the last sixteen years of his life, up until his death in 2005, in seclusion. An occasional detail about his life would slip out: reports of a golf excursion, a photo of his aging visage, a leaked letter to China's leaders. But China scholars often lamented that Zhao never had his final say... more

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Excerpts from the book:

Part 1, Chapter 4: 'The Crackdown' (Pp. 33-34)

On the night of June 3rd, while sitting in the courtyard with my family, I heard intense gunfire. A tragedy to shock the world had not been averted, and was happening after all.

I prepared the above written material three years after the June Fourth tragedy. Many years have now passed since this tragedy. Of the activists involved in this incident, except for the few who escaped abroad, most were arrested, sentenced, and repeatedly interrogated. The truth must have been determined by now. Certainly the following three questions should have been answered by now.

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First, it was determined then that the student movement was “a planned conspiracy” of anti-Party, anti-socialist elements with leadership. So now we must ask, who were these leaders? What was the plan? What was the conspiracy? What evidence exists to support this? It was also said that there were “black hands” within the Party. Then who were they?... more

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The meeting ended here.

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Points to ponder:

• So, do you think China will be a Soaring Dragon or a Crouched Tiger?
• Do you think it'll surpass the United States as the World Superpower?
• Or will it face political turbulence and breakup as its export strategy is disrupted by the current financial crisis and economic slowdown?
• Is the current surging interests of many people to learn the Chinese language, Chinese art Chinese medicine and Chinese cuisine a sign of the resurgence of China as an economic power?

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Do leave your comments.

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Next meeting:

Topic: Buckminster Fuller's View of the Future.

Date: 24 June 2009, Wed

Time: 7.30pm

Place: Hair Affair, B1-10, Adelphi Mall (opposite Funan IT mall, nearest station City Hall), Singapoare

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Other past Futurist meeting posts:

• Survivalism
• Life Extension
• Pakistan
• Artificial Intelligence

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Creating An Effective Service Experience

Date: 11 June 2009

Time: 8.30am

Place: German Business Centre

Host: Macwurth Team International

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Attended this Breakfast Meeting hosted by Macwurth Team International (MTI), a management consultant company.

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Note: I am not an MTI employee nor am I or will I benefit monetarily from this post.

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What should we focus on if we want to provide an effective service experience?

Some contributions from the participants:

• Quality
• Understanding (needs and expectations)
• Availability
• Speed of Response
• Consistency
• Integration
• Empowerment
• Creating good experience.

"Needs" and "expectations" are not necessarily the same. We know what the client needs, but their expectations are sometimes very different from what they need.

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"But, the customer is willing to pay for it what!" someone retorted arrogantly.

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"Let's first stick to the subject that 'needs' and 'expectations' can be different. We'll come to the customer willingness to pay later," I replied.

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Are customers' expectations always reasonable? If not, whose fault is it?

For instance, there could be a customer that doesn't maintain the machine until it conged out. Then it became very expensive to repair it.

At that point, the customer is willing (or compelled) to pay whatever it takes to get the machine going again for production. Now, the customer is willing to pay for their 'unreasonable expectations'. Hang-on! If the customer is willing to pay, then are the 'unreasonable expectations' now 'reasonable expectations'?

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Is it the consultant's fault not being able to educate the customer?

Or is it the customers' fault for being so ignorant? So laid-back...etc.

But then, why should the customer deal with you? You must be able to provide value to the customer. Should one of the values be about educating the customer?

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We then broke up into three groups to discuss about how to provide "Effective Customer Service Experience". The three different service sectors are:

• A Car Dealership
• Financial Services
• Manufacturing

I was in the Car Dealership group. We concur that the dealership should provide:

• Vehicle Recovery Service
• Arrangements for insurance and loans
• Servicing
• Car grooming
• Club memberships

Should all the services be provided FREE (oops! I mean included in the price of the car), or should only the basic services be FREE and offer the premium services at a fee?

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Also Car Club memberships differ. A Suzuki Swift car club is very different in nature and perceived prestige of a BMW club. Hmm... much of these are 'perceived' (not real), so I wonder why still so many people continue to fall for it! :)

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It is said that the mid-class brands of cars have very smug showroom salesmen. They don't care much, because it is a common and popular category where customers that come in have already decided to buy the car as a 'workhorse' and not a 'race horse'. 'Racehorses' like BMWs, would need attentive salesmen, as the customers tend to be more fussy and obsessive about quality.

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So, we feel that it depends on the class of cars that one is selling. Profit margins are different, prestige is different and it will attract different sets of customers. So selling a BMW would be very different from selling a Proton Saga.

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One of our participant, had a pleasant experience selling her old Mitsubishi. When she arrived at the garage to sell the car, there was a long queue of cars waiting to sell-in (the garage offerred a good buying price). She thought, "Oh gosh!", but then the security guard came and greeted, "Good morning M'am. How are you today?", then dished out the morning newspapers for her to read while waiting. What followed was a very pleasant service experience and none of them (the sellers) felt impatient or frustrated, even though they had to wait for a long time.

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So she said that car dealers should advertise about their customer and sales services, and sales-persons too, not just the cars. These days as technology is so advanced, all cars are reliable, perform reasonably well and can have any add-on luxury, like GPS systems...etc. So the competitive edge should be the service experience.

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Before we ended, the facilitator brought out an interesting case of the Cycle and Carriage dealership, which for a long time was the sole Mercedes Benz distributor. Everyone that walked into their showroom was treated like a Prince. However, over time, they also distributed the low end Proton Saga. Now, did they continue to treat all customers like a Prince? Can they afford to treat the high ends and the low ends the same? This is food for thought.

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Questions:

Have you learned something from this post?

Do you think you should treat the humble Proton Saga customer the same way as you treat the prestigious Merc customer?

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Is it cost-effective to provide the same high quality and luxurious treatment to both categories of customers?

What do you think you would do if you are the car salesman? Assume you will earn more from the sales of a Merc.

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What will Love do?

What will you do if you put Love first?

What will you do if money (the commissions) does not matter to you?

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Many thanks to Macwurth Team International. The breakfast was lovely. During the tea time, some participants came over to me and said that I am a 'maverick', as I threw in tricky out-of-the-box questions. I didn't think so. I think I am an average human being, with the privilege to think freely. I think once one is too much in a big company, one is forced into standard company processes, and that's when the intelligent average human being becomes a human-doing. He stops thinking outside the processes and the company.

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Incidentally, today's Daily Contemplation is:

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It is difficult to see the picture when you are inside of the frame.

-- Author Unknown

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Suggested reading: "Selling Fear", click here

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Coffeeshop Philosophy

Just noticed this coffeeshop philosophy at 99Central. Many of you in Singapore would have been to this place, but have you noticed or read their philosophy written on their tables? I haven't, as all the time when I have been there, I was merely eating and looking at my food, ie. till yesterday. It says:

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Our Philosophy

Customer is the most important visitor in our premises.

He is not dependent on us.

We are dependent on him.

He is not an interruption on our work.

He is the purpose of it.

He is not an outsider on our business.

He is part of it.

We are not doing him a favour by serving him.

He is doing us a favour by giving us an opportunity to do so.

"We smile because we want to, not because we have to."

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Would do good if more businesses follow this modest coffeeshop philosophy.

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Compassion in Action

30th May 2009, 7.30pm

"Compassion in Action: Transforming Lives in the Himalayas", by Venerable Bhikku Sanghasena, from the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre, Ladakh, India, at the Buddhist Library, Lorong 24A. Geylang, Singapore

About the Speaker:

Venerable Bhikkhu Sanghasena established the Mahabodhi International Meditation Center in 1986 to offer both spiritual instructions as well as desperately needed humanitarian services to impoverished people in the remote land of Ladakh. Come and listen to how he turns his vision into reality and his great works in this “forgotten” region.

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This talk is written as a first-person account for the purpose of readability. It is not an ad-verbatim record of the speaker. Any errors that arise are mine.

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We have less than two hours this evening for this talk. After this time in Singapore, I don't know when I can be back here, so we have to make full use of this time. I'll try to tell you as much as I can during this time. As such, we may overrun the time. You may get home a little late, so I hope you won't be complaining. Or that your body is here, but mind somewhere else. Try to be in the present. Listen intently and do not anticipate before the sentences are finished, or to think, "Oh, I already know this already...". Or to think, "Always the same old thing. Same thing said before...". There's no new Dhamma. Dhamma is always the same, as it is eternal.

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Be simple, kind and receptive. Clear you head to allow. More knowledge does not bring enlightenment. Listen with an open mind. That way, you can learn more.

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The "3 H" mantra. Head thinks, Heart feels, and Hand acts. It is simple. Dhamma doesn't necessarily need to have something you don't understand.

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There is a story about a university professor who seek the advice of the zen master.

Zen master: What can I do?

Professor: I have this problem. Can you please advice? Please help me.

Zen master: I can't help you. I can't give you anything.

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Then the Zen master continues to pour a cup of tea to the professor, while the latter holds the cup. The Zen master pours till the cup is full but didn't stop after that. He kept pouring and the tea overflow out of the cup on the professors hands and on the table.

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Professor: Stop. Master the tea is overflowing.

Zen master: So is your mind. Your mind is full and unless you empty it, there is nothing that can go in.

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So clear your mind. Be in the present. Leave what is in your mind aside. You can take it back later after this talk. Only for this two hours, after that you can do what you want. Just like your shoes downstairs. You haven't renounced your shoes. *laughters*

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Nothing is preventing us to be relaxed and happy. Smiling is a special gift. Only human beings can smile. If you don't utilise it (smile), so what does it mean? A smile costs nothing. If you can't be happy here, where can you be? You can't make someone else responsible for your happiness. We are born to be happy. Smile and radiate love.

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There is a funny teacher. He laughs and teaches laughing meditation. You have to laugh. If you can't laugh, you laugh artificially. Then everyone starts laughing. Then all the laughing becomes real (not artificial). Learn to smile, then bring about higher levels. Live happily now, don't wait to do that when you are reborn.

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Otherwise, you are only living in your head. Scientists live in their head. They need heart and hands. Religious people also need heart, and not to wage religious wars against others.

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Human beings have achieved many feats in history. We have climbed the highest mountains, sent men out to space, invented robots and computers...etc. But are human beings happy? Is there less fear, more contentment, less diseases? Or are there more?

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What happened to humanity? Humanity has lost its directions, like a ship lost in the sea. Humanity is busy running. For what?

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There is a story of an on-flight announcement from the captain of an aircraft.

Captain: I have good news and bad news. The good news is that every part of the aircraft is working. The bad news is that we have lost our directions.

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Isn't this where humanity is at the moment?

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Some Westerners have told me that they like meditation, but finds no time to do it. No time? Cannot be! Most of your work are done by machines.

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In Ladakh, most work is done by hand. Just to cook a rice soup, it took my mother the whole day. She has to start early in the morning, to collect dung, firewood, then make the fire, blow air to raise the fire, collect the ingredients...etc. It is labor-intensive and very time consuming.

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Here in Singapore, the machine does most of the work. You have to do laundry? Put the clothes in, press the button and then meditate. *laughters*

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You have invented ways to keep yourself busy - to fill up the time freed by technology. So check where you spend your time. You don't have to read every article in the newspaper, go shopping less, cut down on entertainment, television...etc, then you have time for meditation. You use technology the right way, you can reach enlightenment faster. You have books about buddhism and spirituality. You want to listen to a discourse by the Dalai Lama, just put in the DVD. Don't understand and wants him to repeat? Just press a button and listen to him again.

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In the old days, people walk from Ladakh to Lhasa to see the Dalai Lama. It took three months. It was a long and hard journey. Some die along the way. Then in Lhasa, they have to wait a long time for the Dalai Lama. Then when he comes, you are just able to see him on his balcony as he waved to you. Just these brief moments, you have to learn all the sutras there. *laughters*

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Cut your time for the worldly things that are not essential. Spend time on the essential. Meditation, prayer, chanting, reading, discussions, reflections...etc. If you miss a meal sometimes, never mind. Eating never seems to be missed. *laughters*

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Real beauty comes from beauty of the heart. Inside and outside beauty. Otherwise, it is only half. Beautify the heart with love and compassion.

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We have forgotten the purpose of life. Don't know how to live this life meaningfully. Don't go to search for the Buddha anywhere. Buddha is in you. Not even one centremetre between Buddha and you. Point to the moon, but don't hold on the finger.

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I'll tell you this story. Don't worry and ask if this story is true or not...etc. This story has a message and that is more important.

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There is this beautiful world. It is so beautiful, but there was nobody there. No human beings. So god thought, it would be nice to have some human beings there to enjoy all the beauty of the world. So he created human beings.

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The next day, he heard a knock on the door from human beings. There were two of them. They were there to complain to god because they have a dispute with one another. God is puzzled. It is such a beautiful world, why are these human beings in dispute? It is not even one day and they are already in dispute. God then listened to their complaints and asked them not to find faults in one another and live peacefully. They agreed and promised to live happily. Then went home.

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Next day, again there was a knock on the door and it was the same human beings and they have the same problem, fighting each other. God opened the door and asked them to be happy and not to fight anymore. They agreed and went home.

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The next day, again there was a knock on the door. God peeked out of his window and saw the two feuding human beings. "Again? Oh dear" god thought, and decided not to open the door and went to hide somewhere.

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Then god called all his ministers. He told them he has a problem.

Ministers: What you are god. How can you have problem. You must be joking.

God: Seriously. I have a problem with these feuding human beings and they are looking for me to solve their problem everyday. I don't know where to hide.

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Minister: You can go and hide in Mt Everest.

God: No, that won't work, Hilary and Tenzing will come up very soon.

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Another minister: How about the moon?

God: No, the Americans will go there soon.

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Another minister: How about the depths of the ocean?

God: No they will make submarines and go and find me there.

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Then one very wise minister came to god and said, "God, I know where you can hide, where the human beings will find very hard to find you."

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God: Where?

Wise minister: In the human beings' hearts. They won't seek for you there.

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So there is nothing to seek outside.

Nothing. No-thing. Nobody. No-body. You are Buddha.

From the time we were children, we were taught to be somebody. Everyone wants to be Somebody. Nobody wants to be Nobody. Is there Someone who wants to be Nobody? *laughters*

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Try to be nobody for a minute, ... then 2 minutes. If you can, you are enlightened for that time. Enlightenment is for human beings. So, read, recite, understand and follow.

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Do in this life. Go deep. Not just superficial and not just offerings. Be aware of the precepts and take responsibility. You have to work on yourself. Nobody can liberate you. Teachers can only give you something to inspire you. Compassion, love and kindness will lead to no killing and starvation in the world.

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Further, we are shown slides of the Mahabodhi International Meditation Centre, started by Ven Sanghesena. A very impressive project, as they started from a barren desert with no water and tree. Now they have planted 30,000 trees, built the centre and a boarding school for five hundred children.

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See video below of a similar slideshow presented in Kuala Lumpur recently.

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After the video, we did a closing Prayer of Compassion.

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Friday Dhamma

29th May 2009

This is the regular Friday Dhamma talk by Dr Aaron Lim of the Bodhifellowship in Malacca, Malaysia.

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I had a terrible stomach ache and was not very attentive during the session. The notes are based on what I remember, as I didn't take notes that evening. The notes are written in first-person account, for readability. It is not an ad-verbatim record.

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For those of you who are new to this centre, you may find this place to be a little strange. It is not only strange to Muslims but also can be strange to others. Sometimes, we have the air-con servicing man here and he thought it is a church, as he saw the picture of Jesus Christ, but then later he saw also the picture of Buddha, Baba...etc.

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The Earth is said to be 4.5 billion years old, of which mankind exists for only 500,000 years. Before that, there were dinasaurs roaming around. There were no human beings then. What we watched on movies about dinasaurs chasing early primitive men are but the imagination of the movie maker.

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Then came an asteroid that hit Earth and then annihilated all the dinasaurs. So at that time, there were no dinasaurs and there were no human beings. So at that time, was there God?

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We know that we are living on the Earth's surface, which is really sitting on moving plate tectonics. That is, long ago the land mass of the Americas were connected to the land mass of Africa, but it has since drifted so far apart. So geological changes are constantly happening on Earth. After some time, the countries that we know of will not be there anymore. So there may be no more Singapore, Malaysia...etc. So, we have to drop our attachments to what we are fixed with.

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When we pray, it should not be a prayer of lack. If so, you will get more lack. Give prayers of gratitude that the money is already there. For those who have more will be added to you, for those who do not have, more will be taken away from you.

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About in-born talent.

What is it? Is there such thing as an inborn talent?

If you are good at something from very young, it means that you have done it before in your last incarnation. For instance my son - from a very young age, he has already exhibited an entreprenerial flair. Now he is meeting up with bigger players in business. Now at the time when he was little, his acumen and interest in business cannot have come from me. I didn't know how to impart such knowledge at that time.

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But be careful, for a blessing in one incarnation can be a burden in the next incarnation. For instance there is this little boy who was a Ripoche in his previous incarnation and refused to be touched by his mother. So, the mother ended up loving the other son more, as he likes to be hugged and cuddled by his mother.

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It is human of the mother to react more lovingly to the child that is more approachable. Likewise, if I am a hotel guest and if I leave everything the same way in the room after using it, I will be liked more by the inn-keeper. Then next time, I will be treated better. So be a breeze and leave things the same way they are everywhere we go. Everyone loves a breeze. Nobody likes a tornadoe.

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Put love first:

Put love first in whatever you do. Love supersedes any other reasons. When I was in Tonga, I was presented with a roasted suckling pig in one whole piece for my feasting. It was right there in front of me, the highest honour given to a guest by the Chief. I had to 'officiate' the dish, by cutting the roasted pigling up. It was hard, but I did it. I also ate a piece of it. Now does that matter? They are all but form.

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I am not against vegetarians, but it is important not to get to this vegetarian snobbery too. That means, showing up one's superiority because of the choice to be a vegetarian.

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