Thursday, October 06, 2011

Remembering Steve Jobs (1955-2011)

It is one of those moments in life when you remember for a long time… what you were doing, where you were… when you heard the news. I also vividly remember those moments during 11 sept 2011 and the death of Michael Jackson.

I am really sad. I certainly have never felt so sad when other rich tycoons or businessman died.  Steve Jobs had many labels – Visionary, Leader, Creative Genius, Innovator, Tycoon, and most importantly, an Inspiration. His life is an inspiration. His speeches were inspiring (esp. the commencement speech at Stanford University on 2005).




Below are some of the quotes that I would always remember:

“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me … Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful… that’s what matters to me.”

“When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart….

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
...

Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish.

Quoting from Wildmild Buddhist Meditation:
Steve Jobs, who was a Buddhist, talked eloquently about how an awareness of impermanence enriched his life.

Even the greatest innovator and visionary of our time does not escape the Law of Impermanence. (And Steve understood it). Nobody or Anything has ever escaped this Universal Law. Rather than being sad about it, be aware of the Impermanence, use it as a strength and reminder to live the best possible life. 


“Screenshot of Apple Website using my IPhone”
This is my way of remembering Steve Jobs.

Thank you Steve. 
May you rest in peace.
May you seek refuge in Buddha.

Even death is not to be feared by one who has lived wisely
- Buddha



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