Book: Second Suns: Two Doctors and Their Amazing Quest to Restore Sight and Save Lives

I enjoyed reading about the amazing lives of these 2 doctors - Dr. Geoffrey Tabin (Harvard trained doctor who is the fourth person in the world to complete the seven summits) and Dr. Sanduk Ruit (Top eye surgeon, who came from a humble background). Both doctors are compassionate human beings who brought light to so many poor blind people who have no access to/can't afford medical treatment.

Unfortunately, the author David Oliver Relin committed suicide last year. He did a great job sharing the stories of these 2 doctors.

Below are some quotes taken from the book that resonated with me:

+++

About Dr. Sanduk Ruit motivation to study hard to become a doctor and help many other poor people. Ruit's younger sister who died in her teens due to TB. 3 out of  his 5 siblings died young due to fever, diarrhea and TB.

"A fifty percent survival rate. Unacceptable, unacceptable, unacceptable. The more I (Dr Ruit) thought about it, the more I realized Yang La didn't have to die. None of my brothers and sisters had to die. They died because resources the rest of the world had were not available to us. And after a month or so of spinning around with my thoughts, suddenly I saw the path I had to follow. It was straight and clear. I realized I had to become a doctor. I had to become someone who could go out and get those resources. I had been working hard, but I had to work harder. Real Study began after that"

+++

Tabin said "my heros weren't the people who asked "Why?". They were the ones who asked "Why not?".

+++

Dr Geoff Tabin, at the peak of his climbing career, became the 4th person ever to complete Seven Summits. The comedown from such a monumental achievement can be disorientating, even depressing.... Tabin kept picturing the ecstatic face of the no-longer-blind sherpa woman and realized he wanted to help others like her more than he wanted to climb any mountain.... he aims for an achievement not of an individual nature, but of a more universal, more meaningful sort."

Tabin did have time to refine his priorities. None, he realized, ranked higher than to alleviate suffering

+++

Dr Ruit encounter with His Holiness the Dalai Lama

"But you humble me, Dr Ruit", the Dalai Lama said. "You humble me with your compassion. I am just a simple Buddhist monk. I often wish I had some technical skills, so I could be of greater use."

+++

A quote from Lao-Tzu

"Fill your bowl to the brim and it will spill.

Keep sharpening your knife and it will blunt.

Chase after money and your heart will never unclench.

Care about other people's approval and you will be their prisoner.

Do your work, then step back. The only path to serenity"

+++

These 2 gentlemen certainly inspired me by their compassion and sacrifices.

Do support them at at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalayan_Cataract_Project

More information on this book: http://www.cureblindness.org/second-suns-book/

Certainly, there is a mis-allocation of resources in the world.

Certainly, the world is not fair.

However, we can do our small part to make it better.

Lessons learnt from a HIV patient

Raped after drink was spiked, celibate gets HIV

The Straits Times
July 13, 2008

By Braema Mathi

Bill (not his real name) is an accountant with a multinational company.

Although well-read, the 49-year-old had never bothered to find out more about Aids and other sexually transmitted diseases because he was celibate.

That lack of curiosity is something he now regrets deeply.

'I wish I had known about PEP. I could have been HIV-free now, even if I cannot erase what happened to me,' he told The Sunday Times.

He said he had contracted the virus after being raped during a trip to Taiwan in March this year.

He had hired a guide from the Internet to show him the scenic sights of Hua Lian, known for its mountains and hot springs.

The guide turned up at the hotel the evening before the tour to discuss the itinerary. They chatted over canned orange juice from the mini bar in his room before Bill went into the bathroom to freshen up for dinner.

The next thing he knew, he was lying naked - three hours later - on his bed. There were blood and semen on the sheets as well as in the toilet bowl when he used the bathroom. He suspected the guide of spiking his drink before raping him.

Lost, frightened and ashamed, he decided to bury the episode.

'I blamed myself for being so trusting. I felt that no one would believe me if I said that I had been raped,' said the tall, handsome man who started abstaining from sex a few years ago after a few failed relationships with women and struggles with his sexual identity.

He did not see a doctor upon returning to Singapore. Six weeks later, however, he experienced a deep pain and bleeding from his anus.

He went to a polyclinic where he told his story. Uneasy that the next consultation was a month later, he went to a GP who referred him right away to the Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Control (DSC).

A series of tests found him HIV positive. There were also lesions on his anal wall and he had anal warts, gonorrhoea and chlamydia too.

Blinking back tears, the devout Buddhist said: 'Imagine - from having no sex to getting everything at one go.'

He added: 'I have been responsible all along. I have not hurt anyone, only myself, by keeping quiet and not seeking help earlier.'

He is currently undergoing counselling and more tests to ascertain the degree of his infections.

'I must remain positive and build up my immunity,' said Bill.

'This is lifelong and I must be strong.'

+++

I read this article 5 years ago and have totally forgotten it until I met the victim last week during my volunteering session. My first impression: He is very different from the other patients - he speaks well, very composed, polite and educated. In fact, he had some listed companies annual reports beside the hospital bed.

He shared with me that he had decided not to dwell in the past (since nothing could be undone) and do his best to be positive and focus on the future. He decided to do the things he previous never had the opportunity (eg. being a waiter in a restaurant/ a greeter in a hotel). He is also helping some of the underprivileged people in the community.

Instead of self-pitying and sinking into depression, he decided to move forward and help other people. The most amazing thing is that he has forgiven the rapist (who passed him the HIV Virus and other STD diseases).

Freedom

I guess forgiveness really set you free.

Free from anger.
Free from sadness.
Free from guilt.


I thank him for giving me a good lesson in life.
May he and everyone be free from suffering. =)

Where there is life, there must be death.

I was happy to learn the teachings of Master Sheng Yen, but I was also sad to know about him after his death and that I do not have the good fortune of learning from him. A good Dharma teacher is a rare gem. Even with great following from Businessmen to Politicians to Celebrities, he still remains a simple humble monk. That's a mark of a great Master.

"If the mountain won't move, build a road around it.

If the road won't turn, change your path.

If you are unable to change your path, just transform your mind."

"A passing boat leaves no traces upon the waters;

A bird's flight leaves no trace in the sky;

When fleeting success, failure, gain, or loss leaves no trace upon the heart,

the great wisdom of liberation has been achieved."

"Where there is life, there must be death. If one cannot face this reality it will become one’s greatest barrier in life, if one can regard death merely as a fraction within the eternal time and space then death is not an end to life but the beginning of the next."


"Busy with nothing, growing old.
Within emptiness, weeping, laughing.
Intrinsically, there is no "I".
Life and death, thus cast aside."


"The meaning of life lies in serving,
the value of life in giving."


"Our value depends not on how long we live,
but on how much we contribute."


"The deeper our compassion,
the greater our wisdom and the fewer our vexations."


"What I am unable to accomplish in this lifetime,
I vow to push forward through countless future lives.
What I am unable to accomplish personally, 
I pray for everyone to join forces to promote."

"The universe may one day perish, 

yet my vows are eternal"

- The Most Venerable Master Sheng Yen (1931-2009)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheng-yen

For more, you can refer to this website.

A tribute to an extraordinary lady - Teresa Hsu

Teresa Hsu

(7 July 1898 – 7 December 2011)

Aged 113 years old

Source: TODAY Online

Despite her near-celebrity status for her tireless work in caring for the less privileged, Ms Teresa Hsu had shunned the public eye - up until her death last week. 

Ms Hsu died last Wednesday at the age of 113 - she was Singapore's oldest living person - but news of her death only emerged this week in a posting on the website of Heart to Heart Service, a charity which Ms Hsu had set up. 

"In accordance with her wish to depart quietly and peacefully, and her instructions not to make any announcement to the media, as well as not to conduct or perform any rituals or ceremonies that will cause disturbance and inconvenience to others, she was cremated on the same day," said the statement by Mr Sharana Rao, a colleague at Heart to Heart. 

"She has further instructed that no claim be made of her ash by whosoever."

Teresa's mother said 

"We ate yesterday.

They haven't eaten for two days.

They have more right to the food."

After eating grass to satisfy her thought of hunger, Teresa said to herself

"As long as I'm able to

let nobody need to eat grass."

"I will still share my rice bowl.

My bowl of rice with you. 

This is now my life.

to share what I have with those who are hungrier than I.

Even equally hungry, 

we share half a bowl."

"In life there are always problems.

You solve your problems to the best you can

and you accept the rest." 

+++

I remember watching her (100+ years old) on a TV programme where she was still helping people 20-30 years younger than her. I was really amazed by her energy and passion. She really walks the talk. I read that she became a nurse at the age of 47 years old, even the school only accept people below 25 years old. I am glad she persisted.

It is really amazing that she was still thoughtful and humble by requesting for a simple funeral.

She lived a simple & humble lifestyle - Meditation, Yoga, Vegetarianism.

Amazing Lady.

Amazing Life.

Thank you for making this world a better place.

Thank you for inspiring everyone of us.

Thank you for being a role model.

__/*\__

The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch

I watched this last lecture in late 2007 when Randy Pausch was still around. I thought that since he was so positive and optimistic, may be a miracle might happen. Despite knowing that his odds was low, I was still saddened by the news of his departure.

I wrote about it in 2009.

I read his book and watched his lecture again, there are still so many lessons to be learnt. Below are my key takeaways:

"The brick wall are there for a reason. They are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something."

"Never lose the childlike wonder"

"People are more important than things"

--> Randy poured coke onto the back seat of his new convertible car, to tell his niece & nephew that it is okay to mess up his things. Later that evening, his nephew vomited in his new convertible. Don't get upset over things.

"Don't complain, just work harder."

"Why do pancakes need to be round?.... We (Randy & his nephew & niece) were always making weirdly shaped animal pancakes."

"Complaining does not work as a strategy. We all have finite time & energy. Any time we spend whining is unlikely to help us achieve our goals. And it won't make us happier."

"It's not how hard you hit. It's how hard you get hit and keep moving forward."

"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer."

"If you want something bad enough, never give up."

" Someone asked Randy 'Wow, you got your tenure early. What's your secret?'

He replied 'It's pretty simple. Call me any friday night in my office at ten o'clock and I'll tell you.'

Hard work is like compounded interest in the bank. The rewards build faster." 

"No regrets, give it the best shot"

"Showing Gratitude is one of simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other."

French Buddhist Monk Matthieu Ricard

Read an article on the Straits Time about Happiness by Matthieu Ricard.

Taken from the Article:

"Dr Matthieu Ricard, 65, is the Dalai Lama's French interpreter and a monk in Nepal's Shechen Monastery, from the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He completed his PhD in cell genetics in 1972 under the supervision of Nobel Prize winner Francois Jacob at the Institut Pasteur, in Paris. Though he moved in rarefied circles as the son of celebrated French philosopher Jean-Francois Revel and abstract water colourist Yahne Le Toumelin, he moved to Darjeeling in India to study Tibetan Buddhism at the age of 30.

.

.

.

Garbed in burgundy and saffron robes, and carting a laptop, Dr Ricard loves the secluded life, yet is globally connected. He travels with the Dalai Lama, attends the World Economic Forum in Davos, runs humanitarian and heritage projects. Last year, he counted 70 airline boarding passes.

'Personally, I feel wonderful looking at Himalayas from my hermitage. It is 3m by 3m with a big window facing the mountains. There is no heating, no hot water. It's paradise,' he says.

'The only reason I come down is to serve. 

Compassion should be put in action, otherwise it is sterile.'"

+++

I got to know about him when I was in Kathmandu 2 year ago searching for a book to read during my 2 weeks Everest Base Camp trek. I was fortunate to chance upon his book "Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill.", which is one of the best books I ever read. 

May be it is his scientific and philosophical background coupled with Buddhism philosophy, I found a lot of wisdom and clarity in his book. I am grateful for that.

"...The fact is that without inner peace and wisdom, we have nothing we need to be happy. Living on a pendulum between hope and doubt, excitement and boredom, desire and weariness, it's easy to fritter away our lives, bit by bit, without even noticing, running all over the place and getting nowhere. Happiness is a state of inner fulfillment, not the gratification of inexhaustible desires for outward things." - Matthieu Ricard

In another words, if you want to find lasting happiness outside of yourself, 

it would be a futile effort eventually.