Ignorance ignorance ignorance...

Pastor Rony Tan has just apologised to both Buddhists & Taoists for his comments on both faiths. My initial reaction was anger, and I wanted to investigate further by watching the videos. (video 1 & video2). After watching the videos, I was sadden by how Buddhism was misrepresented. Pastor Rony Tan asked a 2-week ex-monk (a Christian Convert - Joseph) to discuss about Buddhism and made the whole religion practice sounded like a joke. Being a Buddhist layman, I found Joseph to be extremely ignorant about Buddhism.

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When Joseph was a monk, he asked "When can I reach Nirvana?"

My first reaction was ignorance ignorance ignorance. With such an ignorant question, I was wondering what had he learnt as a monk or a long-term Buddhist. 

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I just felt that if you do not know anything about Buddhism, you should not misrepresent it. Personally, I have only touched the surface, and I am awed & touched by the Wisdom, the Vastness and the Compassion (The Unconditional Love). I am not upset or angry anymore, as I know they are blinded by Ignorance. They really do not know what they are discussing. I just hope they realise their mistakes.  

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I am happy that I have never attended any Buddhist Talks that criticise other faiths. By degrading other faiths, will never make your own faith a superior one. =)
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May Joseph & Rony find Wisdom and Happiness!

May All Beings be Free from Sufferings!

Young Buddhist Monk

(This picture just put a smile on my face)

Taken from: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/02/colorful_india.html

=)

Death of Singapore's Richest Man....

Ng Teng Fong (estimated with a net worth of US$8billion) passed away today. Well, it really means nothing to me or the people around me. In fact, one of my colleagues was saying that it would be interesting to see who would get the inheritance. I realized that nobody really cares about his death.

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What has he done for the society? What was he remembered for? (Shrewd Businessman?? As written in the article) I knew nothing about Ng Teng Fong, except the fact that he was very rich. Period. Perhaps, he has done some charitable work in anonymity (I hope so).

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I compare him to Iconic Tycoons like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett & Lee Ka-Shing. I would feel sad if anyone of them passed away. They have contributed much to the society, in terms of Philanthropic activities and Business Philosophy, and most importantly, being a role model. Then, I realised that there is NO charismatic person in Singapore (except for LKY). There is no Singapore leader who I could look up to. It is quite sad. Singapore is packed with efficient mediocre people (that includes myself).

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People will remember previous tycoons like Lee Kong Chian and Tan Kah Kee, whom had contributed alot to the society. Interestingly, I saw a Tan Kah Kee Hall when I was visiting UC Berkeley.

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I doubt anybody will remember Ng Teng Fong 10 years from now. I don't even know who was the richest man 20 years ago (I think should be Sam Walton of Walmart). Rich people is only influential during his/her time.

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On the other hand, I would always remember inspirational characters like Ernesto Che Guevara, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Princess Diana, Deng Xiaoping, Einstein (who is more like a Philosopher than a scientist to me) etc... Their spirit is always around... inspiring us and the future generations.

The Boy with Divine Power

Just watched the documentary on The Discovery Channel: The Boy with Divine Power.

It is about a teenager (aka Buddha Boy) who meditates for long period of time. In the documentary, the Discovery Channel crews filmed him continuously for 4 days without food or drink. In today's medical science, most people would be dead.

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While his display of deep medidation is out of this world, I found his message deep and meaningful. While I am skeptical if he is the next Buddha (Buddhists are supposed to question and be critical in thinking), I am VERY SURE that he is no ordinary teenager. There is so much wisdom, depth & compassion in his speeches. That's Amazing.

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Last year november, I saw an article on him while I was going for my paragliding in Porhara.

He was appealing to the Hindus in Nepal not to Slaughter the thousands of animals for religious sacrifice. Unfortunately, the slaughter went ahead.

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See the news report:

Hindu sacrifice of 250,000 animals begins

The world's biggest animal sacrifice began in Nepal today with the killing of the first of more than 250,000 animals as part of a Hindu festival in the village of Bariyapur, near the border with India. The event, which happens every five years, began with the decapitation of thousands of buffalo, killed in honour of Gadhimai, a Hindu goddess of power.

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It is sad, but that is nothing compares to our modern butchery.

Americans consume a million animals an hour!!!

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Ram Bahadur Bomjon's Speech against the Slaughter.

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I was touched by his compassion.

I really hope that he would provide more wisdom to the world after his 6-years of meditation.

Carrying the Past...

This is one of the classic Buddhist Stories that I heard many times and find it very beneficial.

(Buddhist Monastery @ Inle Lake, Burma)

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This version is taken from A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle

Two Zen monks, Tanzan and Ekido, were walking along a country road that had become extremely muddy after heavy rains. Near a village, they came upon a young woman who was trying to cross the road, but the mud was so deep it would have ruined the silk kimono she was wearing. Tanzan at once picked her up and carried her to the other side.

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The monks walked on in silence. Five hours later, as they were approaching the lodging temple, Ekido couldn't restrain himself any longer. "Why did you carry that girl across the road?" he asked. "We monks are not supposed to do things like that."

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"I put the girl down hours ago," said Tanzan.

"Are you still carrying her?"

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A Wonderful Wonderful Evening...

Attended a good friend's wedding with a bunch of good friends.

It was a great feeling to sit around a table with good friends.

It was a wonderful experience to play with my friend's toddler.

It was touching to listen to the bride & groom's speeches.

It is the best vegetarian meal I had in a wedding dinner.

It was a fun to take stupid photos with friends, despite the fact that we are all nearing 30years old.

I am really grateful for friendship.

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I guess, this will be one of the little wonderful memories that I bring with me when I leave this world.

When I looked up the sky, I saw a few stars & a crescent - it looked PERFECT!

Contented, Grateful and Happy.

=)

Dan Gilbert: Exploring the frontiers of happiness

If you like Freaknomics, you will like this video. =)

Celebrating Life....

Recently, I just celebrated my good friends' 30th Birthday... and a few months later, I will turn 30 also.

That's a really scary thought... and that is the time when quarter-life crisis set in.

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We would ask ourselves alot of questions: What have we achieved in the past 30years? What is our benchmark? Society expectation? Peer comparison? Why do we need such unnecessary pressure? Does it mean that if we are below the supposedly "benchmark", then we should be sad or unhappy?

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Are these questions necessary?

What if I am "ahead" of the pack, does it mean that I will be happy?

Will winning bring real & sustainable happiness?

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Life is like a race.

Sometime you are ahead.

Sometime you are behind.

At the end of the race,

you will realise that you are the only person in the race.

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This year, I set certain goals for me to accomplish... and I have been working hard on it... However, I realised that I lost something precious... That's my source of frustration.

I was so engrossed with the goals that I forgot to enjoy my journey (something that I always advocate). I forgot to appreciate the blue sky, white cloud, green trees.... and the beauty of the world.  I forgot to show gratitude towards the good things that I am enjoying now. I lost those magical moments when I am so touched and grateful to be alive.

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Is it worth it?

I am still searching for the path...

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30th Birthday Cake

Celebration of 30years of Wonderful Life!!!

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Another random thought:

When I was younger, I was affected when people say that I was childish.

Maturity was such an important issue.

I wanted to be mature. I wanted to be respected. I think I was just too unsure of myself. As I grew older, I met lotsa older, successful and supposedly more mature people. Well, I must say that I am not impressed with them. Not impressed that alot of them are so vulnerable.... vulnerable to their EGO.

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The great thing about toddlers are that they have short term memory. They seem to forget all the negative things (like scolding), and be happy with the present moment most of the time. They do not have any vulnerable EGO that they need to protect. They just enjoy and be happy with the PRESENT.

That's something that I want to learn.

I want to be childlike...

=)