Friday, September 26, 2008

Book: Shambhala

Just finished reading this book.
I could not stop reading it.
I hope it will never end.
Shambhala: The Road Less Travelled in Western Tibet
by Laurence J. Brahm
About:
In a shop in Lhasa, Laurence Brahm stumbles upon an ancient Buddhist sutra, Shambhala Sutra. His purchase of this ancient sutra sets him off on a journey in search of the mythical Shambhala, known to the rest of the world as "Shangri-La". In this illustrated account of his journey, Brahm uses the sutra as a guide as he ventures into some of the most remote places in Tibet. There he meets monks, living Buddhas, nomads, and a Bodhisattva in disguise, who point out to him how they thought the road to Shambhala should be followed. Finally, the road leads him to Tashilumbo Monastery, where the Eleventh Panchen Lama resides and it here that the Shambhala Sutra calls home.
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Now, I had a strong urge to explore the Western Tibet, which I did not cover the last trip.
It reminded me of my Tibet trip, which covered Central & Eastern Tibet.


On the way to Shigatse from Lhasa...

Scenery along the way...


Tashilumbo Monastery, Shigatse

where Panchen Lama and Shambhala Sutra resides...

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My favourite phrase:

THE BODHISATTVA

"There is a Bodhisattva, a beautiful girl, who wishes that all people crossing from here will not be poor"

- Shambhala Sutra

Friday, September 19, 2008

Finding simplicity in a messy world

Just came back from a business trip from Shanghai and Hong Kong.
The world is going crazy now.
The political situations are worsening around the world.
The sub-prime issue is affecting the whole world.
(AIG might collapse -> there goes my insurance policy)
Another great depression might be around the corner.
People lie, cheat, bully, plot and all sorts of nasty things
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The source???
Greed, Attachment, Ego, Ignorance
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Fortunately, I know that I can always sleep well at night.
My bed might be cheap, but a peaceful sleep is priceless.
The photo below encapsulates my current feeling:
Taken @ Hong Kong Airport
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My Cheap Slipper
Nothing fanciful
Nothing complicated
But very comfortable and reliable
Just a simple slipper bringing me around the world
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In the end
I am just a passerby trying to enjoy my journey

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

HAND

This hand fed me when I was an infant crying out loud in hunger ...
This hand pulled me up when I fall down while I was learning to walk...
This hand guided me when I was lost...
This hand cared for me when I was sick...
This hand hitted me when I was naughty...
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This is my mum's hand.
I am enjoying its warmness while I can.
I am eternally grateful to this HAND

Monday, September 01, 2008

News Paper Article: Jet Li

When I was young, Jet Li was one of my favourite actors because of the flim "黄飞鸿".
Jet Li displayed excellent martial art skills and righteousness in the movie
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However, as I grew older, I was no longer keen in all the Kung-fu shows and blockbusters movies. I did not take much notice of Jet Li and his films.
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Recently, I found that Jet Li was a changed person, as I found him to be more philosophical.
He championed alot of Charity Works in Mainland China, especially the Sichuan Earthquake Disaseter. Whenever he spoke at press conference, his words made alot of sense and it appealed to me alot. Below was a recent article about him:


“。。。成功是几千万分之一的几率,不过失败和成功都很正常。”
“这个世界没有什么是不变的,我接什么戏都有可能。”
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I saw Jet Li 6 months ago in Shanghai airport (alone), but I did not approach him for photograph. Missed opportunity. :(