Coffeeshop Talk - Cyberspace

[Talking to myself while waiting for my Bee Hoon at my neighbourhood corner coffeeshop.]

Where do you live?

Cyberspace.

Where is Cyberspace?

Everywhere.

What do you mean? Can you give me an example?

In the memories of computers. They are interconnected. Ah yes, ... the Internet.

Why do you live in Cyberspace? Did you choose to live there?

No, I was tricked into it. Then it became convenient. Now I can't live anywhere else.

Why can't you live anywhere else?

It's convenient in Cyberspace.

Isn't it more convenient to switch off?

Switch what off? You can't switch Cyberspace off. It is there. Will always be.

I mean, you can switch your computers off. Your smartphone off.

And my smartTV off too?

Yes. Disconnect.

Then where will I be?

Here. Now.

Now? What do you mean 'Now'?

Now. The moment. The breath you take.

You mean, like you and me now? I don't get it. And then what?

And then we are present together. Enjoying the moment.

Enjoy what? So boring.

Have you tried?

Tried what?

Being in the moment.

[Silence.]

Not for very long.

Why?

Cos' I feel that I am missing out.

What will you miss out?

I don't know. I don't even know what I will miss out. Isn't that more scary?

So you are living in fear?

[Silence]

Yes.

Yes what?

Yes,... you know... it is hard...

Say it.

Ok, ok... beat it. Yes, I am living in fear. Fear of missing out. Fear of not knowing what is to come. Am I wrong?

You are not wrong. You are not right either. There is no right or wrong. Only choices and consequences. What have you chosen?

Chosen? What do you mean?

You have chosen Fear haven't you?

Yes. So?

So what are the consequences?

Liddat lor.

Do you feel comfortable? Relaxed? Peaceful?

[Pause]

Not really.

So these are your consequences. Now you can make a different choice. Do you want to make that choice? Live in the moment.

Ok, let us post this online so that more people are aware.

... Oh crap! How come? Singtel 4G is down?!!!


For more Coffeeshop Philosophies, click here.

Coffeeshop Thoughts

My head is 'wandering' and 'wondering'. 'Wandering' because it cannot stay as still as I like it to be; and 'wondering' what is going to come up next. The latter, robbing me of my present. 

The mind is both a friend and a foe, and it is crucial to know when one should call for a separation. A separation when it is needed to allow the soul to continue in peace. I have no two minds about that!

It is with a peaceful soul that one can command the mind to be its servant. Then the mind will synchronise and it too will be peaceful. Just like a grand tree, the soul is always peaceful. It is the emotional winds that blow that make the leaves of the grand tree (the soul) flutter. But emotions do not constitute the soul. They are merely temporary states of mind that will blow over.

 -- written using my iPhone while willing my time away in a coffeeshop.

ps. Why did the first sip of the tea tastes so different from the last sip of the tea? Did somebody swap the cup?


For more coffeeshop philosophy, click here.

Acting the Villain

Many faces, same soul.

Which one of this is the real me?

Of late, I have been playing villains. Casting directors love actors with a beard. They seem to associate beards with villains, or perhaps they are playing to the likes of audiences that love to see their villains larger than life - with beards, gold chains, tattoos and other ferocious looking ancillaries. Villain roles are tiring. As an angry and yelling screen character, the first and most affected person would be me. The rule is that whenever we get aggressive or violent, we feel lousy. Whenever we think aggressively, we feel lousy, as we would be the first recipients of such thoughts.

Thankfully, the same goes for any type of thoughts, including loving or peaceful ones, as we feel their immediate glory and peace. Loving thoughts precedes a calm and peaceful mind and it begets loving thoughts from others around us. Recently, I had the good fortune of doing a shoot by the shore of a placid lake. The environment was so congenial that I actually felt more relaxed after the shoot than when I started.

This really means that I should choose to act in more calm and peaceful films than violent and nasty ones. Sadly, there are more nasty ones around, as there is more demand for them. As Ekhart Tolle said, "... more pain films demanded by pain bodies...".

In real life, we too have to make our choices, and I would choose a peaceful story any day.

If you like to visit my actor's blog, click here.

Sound of Peace

Sounds of Peace performed by David and Carmen, is a night of sounds from singing brass bowls, chimes and tamborine organised by the Brahma Kumaris, at the Alliance Francaise Theatrette in Singapore. The coordinated sound from these instruments was very soothing and I left the place feeling very peaceful.

Music samples:

Spirit

Calm

Ah Por

Ah Por is an 82 year old Hakka immigrant from China. She has now lived in Singapore for over 40 years.

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I went to Ah Por's place to massage my neck. All the late nights and stress had resulted in my chronic neck pain that needs regular fixing. At 82 years old, Ah Por's hands are far stronger than all the other young masseuse I have been to in Singapore. She told me that she has been practising Qi Gong since the age of 10. No wonder! Her eyes are extremely alert, and she is also physically and mentally very agile. Ah Por's massage was effective, but also very painful!!! Only go to Ah Por if you can bear the pain!

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Ah Por is calm and unhurried. There is a sense of peace and serenity with her. After the massage, she asked me to rest on the massage table and to get up only when I was ready. Then as I sat on her sofa after getting up, she even pulled a low stool for me to rest my feet. I feel a little embarrased with that.

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As I sat down, I noticed there were some plastic bottles of solution. I asked whether they were massage oil, and she told me that they were solutions to apply on the head for hair growth. It is a family secret formula. Before I knew it, Ah Por was already applying them on my hair. She normally retails them at S$10 each bottle, but for me, it is free! She gave me a bottle as a gift.

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Then, it was time to leave. I asked how much the massage costs and she replied that it was S$12. Huh? Only S$12!!! I decided to pay her more and also told her that I would buy the bottle of hair lotion she gave me. To my amazement, she refused to accept money for the hair lotion. She insisted it was a gift for me. Then, she also refused to accept extra payment or tips. She said, she has enough money to eat and live and doesn't need more. Even till the end, because of the lack of small change, she told me that she owed me S$1 and that she will put that into account for my next massage session.

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I feel so inspired by Ah Por. She is so contented with life. Though her tiny 3 room apartment is spartan and old, she refused to accept any more money. And she is so caring to the people she serves. Perhaps that is her secret to a healthy old age. One that serves others and ask for only enough to live on.