Millionaire Express; Millionaire Regress

Millionaire Express; Millionaire Regress

This news article set me thinking for the past 1 week.

On the front page, it showed a 35 years old entrepreneur who started his business with S$300K back in 2002 and pocketed S$80m recently by selling to a listed company. The contrast was an updated of 49 years old Fandi Ahmad (The icon of the Singapore football in the 90s), whose fall was dramatic – downgraded from a landed property to living with his mother in a Yishun HDB flat, lost money in his business ventures, his wife was suffering from medical conditions like loss of memory... and he was betting on his football academy and his kids (who were gifted in soccer and are training in AC Milan) to make it big again.

In the early 90s, Fandi Ahmad’s marriage was a big thing in Singapore. He is Singapore’s first millionaire sportsman and married a beautiful Model from South Africa. Back then, he mentioned that he would be so financially well-off that he could retire for the rest of his life in a few years time. He was living the PREFECT life – Rich, Successful, Beautiful Wife, Famous & full of confidence. What more can a person want? Not sure if he has the Wisdom of Life.

Isn’t Life interesting? This really set me thinking.

Who is more successful? The 35 years-old millionaire or Fandi Ahmad (ex-millionaire)?

Life is always in a constant flux of change. 

That’s the law of the impermanence of Life. 

When you are rich, please do not be arrogant, you might fall anytime & tragedy might strike when you least expected it. When you are poor, please do not be discouraged, there is always hope and opportunity in life, you might just strike it big when you least expected it.

I am learning to be detached from identifying myself and others with their financial positions. Well, this is tough when we are living in the world of Capitalism. We identify others with their houses, their cars, their clothes, their jobs, their alma mater, and plenty of other things. I am definitely guilty as well, and at times, I do feel sick and tired of this, as it brings unnecessarily sufferings.

At the end of the day,

Remember “This too will pass.”

One New Experience Each Week - Horse Betting

Feeling that I am lazying in my comfort zone & routine and taking life for granted. So I decided to continue with my "One New Experience Each Week" initiative. And I am glad that I did it. Last Sunday, I went to Turf Club the first time in my life and tried horse betting.

Viewing the horse racing in comfort. 

However, the best atmosphere is at the ground floor with all the "uncles and aunties" shouting loudly & rudely in Hokkien. I understand the excitement of horse racing - the need to do thorough research on the track record of the horse, jockey, the course (long or short distance, sand or soil), the uncertainties like the climate & the unpredictable horse temperament. 

Most of the gamblers are old people. Turf Club is facing a real aging problem!

There are many different ways to bet and the winning odds varies accordingly. You can bet on the winning horse, the top 3 positions, the combination and/or permutation of the top 3 or 4 positions. Yes, it can be quite confusing. If you place a $2 bet on the top 4 positions correctly, your payout is around $9,000. Not bad, but the odds is low.

Self-Help Betting Kiosk which is connected to your ATM, and there is NO LIMIT to the betting sum. This could literally wipe out your savings. Really too convenient and dangerous for those people without self-discipline. This machine should be banned!

I am surprised and disturbed about the sophistication of the whole setup. There is around 30mins interval between each race, and during that interval you could bet on the races in Hong Kong & Macau, and view them "live" on TV. All these horse racing clubs are co-ordinating well to milk more money from the gamblers.

Well, the only happy outcome was that I lost money ($70 on betting & $7 for entrance fees) in 1.5hr. I could really feel the adrenalin rushing and the tense atmosphere during the race. I was a gambler at heart, as I was driven by greed and was taking more risk (betting on the underdog or the "underhorse").   

This is a wonderful experience and lesson for me. I won't come back again, as I would definitely lose more money because of my greedy nature. Losing $70 is a cheap way to understand myself. 

=)

Bye Triathlon & Marathon...

Bye my bike...

I gave away StandChart Marathon ticket last Dec, and gave away my roadbike last month. I would not do endurance sports again, unless there is a very good reason to pick it again.  I felt sad when I bid farewell to my roadbike.

I spent some money, energy and lotsa of time purchasing triathlon related items, participating in races, and training almost every day.  I understand why people can get addicted to triathlon. I understand why people could wake up at unearthly hour of 5am to cycle. I understand why people feel sad if they don’t exercise. I understand why people can be so inspired by triathlon.

I am really glad that I picked up the sport. It was a wonderful experience to feel alive and push my limit. I would also miss the time when I train with my friends. I would miss the excitement of participating in the race, swimming in the sea during sunrise, running hard even though I was tired...

The best thing about triathlon is that it breaks my self-limiting belief. There is immense self-satisfaction to overcome challenges and pushing myself hard. And it was kinda cool to do triathlon, as it is a lifestyle associated with the more affluent & fit people.

When i first started, I set my goal at finishing Olympic Distance Triathlon. Then I completed Half Ironman Triathlon, but I would never complete a full Ironman Triathlon. That’s okay with me.

Unfortunately, the doctor had recommended me not to do endurance sports anymore, and coincidentally, I think it is the right time to spend my time and energy on other more important aspects of life. It comes a time when I started asking myself: What do I achieve at the end of the day? Am I still enjoying triathlon as much as before? Should I spend my time, energy and effort on more important things? Am doing it to prove to others or myself?

Well, there is a time for everything. Been there Done that. Time to move on...

“The medals don’t mean anything and the glory doesn’t last. It’s all about your happiness” – Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I am happy that I have experienced it. I am happy to give it up as well. =)

What Would You Say If You Had Only 5 Minutes Left To Live?

Taken from:

http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/2011/02/5-minutes-left-live/

“Because we do not know when we will die, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. And yet everything happens only a certain number of times, and a very small number really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, an afternoon that is so deeply a part of your being that you cannot conceive of your life without it? Perhaps four, or five times more? Perhaps not even that. How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it all seems limitless…”

• Life is precious. It is short. It is wonderful. It is fun. It is filled with limitless possibility.
• Do good things for other people. You don’t have to do this all the time, for we are not saints. But do it more often than you have previously done. And you may be surprised how good it makes you feel.
• Stop caring about stuff. With just one minute left before I die I cannot believe I wasted hours and days earning extra money to buy a bigger car, a bigger telly, and jeans with a fancy brand badge sewn onto them.
• In all the spare time saved by not needing to buy expensive stuff I would encourage myself to spend more time outdoors, climbing up hills, sledging down them, jumping into rivers, walking the streets of my home town talking to people. Read more books, listen to more music, watch less lazy TV.
• Laugh more, whinge less.
• Run more, eat less.
• Take time now and then to stop and watch the sunrise or set, watch the power of a summer thunderstorm, look up at the full moon, or kick your feet through a pile of crunchy autumn leaves. The world is a wild and beautiful place. And it is easy to forget that when we spend so much time indoors.
• Don’t settle for “good enough”. Make your life as interesting, varied, exciting and challenging as possible. You will regret it if you do not.
• Strive to live each minute as though you had but five more minutes to live.

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I totally agree and I could not have said it better.

=)

I always remind myself not to take sunrise/sunset for granted.

Like Milk? Watch this....

Be a voice for animals at AnimalsAustralia.org

Painful Truth...

We must be responsible for our actions.

Reduce Dairy Intake...
It takes courage and commitment to make the change.

This is Home

Home is a place where I feel safe...

This is Home...

Inspiring Note on the Egypt Revolution

I came back from Egypt more than 1 month ago, and I did not sense any resentment towards the government during my short visit. I thought the suicide bombing at Coptic Church during new year eve was big thing, but it was nothing compared to the triumph of the people's revolution. Egypt is the sickest country i ever visited, its rampant corruption is like a chronic disease weakening the nation. 

Yes, I have experienced the rampant corruption in China as well, but at least, the Chinese are Very Very hardworking and competitive. Unfortunately, my overall impression of Egyptians are corrupted, lazy and incompetent. The law enforcers could not be trusted, as they are corrupted. The tour guides and "friendly" people on the street are trying to cheat tourists' money. 

I have met nice and honest people as well, but those are rare gems in the big city like Cairo. I am really happy that the people are frustrated with the status quo, and they should be. It is the triumph of the people!

   

One of the elderly activist in Cairo.

Felt really inspired after reading this on my IPhone.

How many of us have been cowards?

How many of us have the courage to challenge Status Quo?

How many of us could feel inspired & happy when we are put in a difficult situation?

Financial Education – Rich Dad’s Conspiracy of the rich

While I do not totally agree with Robert on everything, there are some key things that I concurred and learnt from him. Below are some the things I want to share from the book:

Three Kinds of Education:

1. Academic Education: This includes the ability to read, write and solve basic math problems
2. Professional Education: This is knowledge of a trade in which to earn money. (ie. Going to medical school to become doctor)
3. Financial Education: It is not so much about how much money you make, but how much money you keep, how hard your money works for you. (This is the one lacking in most people)

Why Money Is Not Taught in School?

The purpose of the foundation (the General Education Board) was to use the power of money, not to raise the level of education in America, as was widely believed at the time, but to influence the direction of that education... The object was to use the classroom to teach attitudes that encourage people to be passive and submissive to their rulers. The goal was – and is – to create citizens who were educated enough for productive work under supervision but not enough to question authority or seek to rise above their class. True education was to be restricted to the sons and daughters of the elite. For the rest, it would be better to produce skilled workers with no particular aspirations other than to enjoy life – Edward Griffin (1903) on Rockefeller’s General Education Board

Key Takeaways:

Learn how to use debt: Debt is not bad. Misuse of debt is bad. Debt cam make you rich, and debt can make you poor. If you want to get ahead financially, you need to learn to use debt, not abuse it.

Learn to control cash flow: If you are in debt, your cash flows from you to others. If you are going to be financially secure, you need to learn to have more cash flowing into your pockets.

Prepare for bad times and you will only know good times: One saw the depression as an opportunity, and the other saw it as a crisis.

Real Estate Tips:

1. Invest in B-Class apartment buildings: Rent to working class people (not to the rich or the poor).
2. Buy in areas where there are jobs: The real value of real estate is related to jobs
3. Own property where there are natural or government constraints: own apartments where there is no-growth boundary around the city, or properties bordered by river or sea (nature constraint) that prohibit further growth. In another words, limited supply land for real estate (Think: Manhattan and Singapore)
4.  Stay with what we know. 

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Hope we will reach financial freedom in our own ways.

Live your dream! - Advertisement Based on True Story

It is never too late to live our dream. =)

"It is never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliot.

Human Planet by BBC

The World is Awesome!

The Spirit of the Human Race is equally Awesome!

My traveling experiences are awesome because of spectacular sights and interesting people. 

Wonderful!

=)

What No Longer & Not Yet Exists

Taken from one of my favourite books:

" One day a Tibetan came to see an old wise man whom I happened to be visiting with at the time… He began telling him all about his past misfortunes, then went on to list everything he feared for the future. All this time the wise man calmly roasted potatoes in a little brazier on the floor before him. After a while he told his plaintive visitor:“What’s the point of worrying about things that no longer exist and things that do not yet exist?” Nonplussed, the visitor stopped talking and remained silent for quite some time alongside the sage, who occasionally handed him a hot, crusty potato.

Inner freedom allows us to savor the lucid simplicity of the present moment, free from the past and emancipated from the future. Freeing ourselves from the intrusion of memories of the past does not mean that we are unable to draw useful lessons from our experience. Freeing ourselves from fear of the future does not make us incapable of approaching it clearly, but saves us from getting bogged down by pointless fretting.

Such freedom has aspects of clearheadedness, and joy that allow us to accept things peacefully without sinking into passivity or weakness. It also allows us to use all life’s circumstances, favourable and adverse, as catalysts for personal change, and to avoid becoming arrogant when they are favourable and depressed when they are not."

On Loss and Gain

Taken from: Wildmind

"Loss is not really loss if we don’t hold onto it. Gain is not ephemeral if we do not continually invent strategies to make it permanent. Fundamental joy is somewhere outside of this loss/gain calculus."

Kindness and Compassion

Prior to my trip to the Israel, my friend, who is a staunch Catholic, told me that she was happy that I am going to the Holyland, and I might be converted to Christianity. She said something like “you never know what the Lord will do to you”. I was a bit apprehensive, as I did consider converting to Christianity when I was in my teens. Studying in missionary school and surrounded by Christian and Catholic friends and teachers, the peer pressure and influence was quite strong, until an incident when someone insulted Buddha, and thankfully, I could not believe his accusation and that spurred me to understand Buddhism better.  

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The environment will definitely influence a person’s view of things and life. When I was travelling in Tibet, it seemed that the only thing that matters was Buddhism. The Tibetan Lamas and the some travellers I met were totally immersed in Tibetan Buddhism. I was totally absorbed into it as well.

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When I am in the corporate world, it seems that the only thing that matters is making money. How to make more money? Where to make the money? How to get a bigger share of the pie? How to influence and convince others? How to beat competitions both internally and externally? How to play or avoid office politics? Money seems to be the main religion in that context.

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When I was visiting the Valley of Kings in Luxor, Egypt, I got a sense that the Pharaohs had total faith in the Egyptian Gods, and spent all the resources and time to build their tomb for an eternal afterlife. The beliefs in Egyptian Gods lasted at least 3000 years till the last Pharaoh. The great Romans and Greeks (including Alexandra the Great) believed Pagan Gods. Those are great empires and civilizations that lasted for centuries. Many great philosophers also came from those civilizations, and definitely, they would have many debates about religions and Gods.

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If I was born in Ancient Egyptian time, I would most probably believe in the Egyptian God. If I was born in Athens, I would most probably believe in Zeus and Hercules. If I was born in Saudi Arabia, I would most probably believe in Prophet Mohammed and Allah. If I was born in USA to a Christian family, I would most probably believe in Jesus Christ.

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The point is our narrow view of the world is shaped easily by our environment and the dominant force/power during that period. It can be easily manipulated and influenced.

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After visiting the Wailing Wall of the Jews, the crucification site of Jesus Christ, the temple where Prophet Mohammed ascended to Heaven, Mt Sinai where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God, and having more understanding of the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity & Islam), there are so much inconsistencies that I became more sceptical about religions.

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Most importantly, religion has created so much division among people. People, esp those in the Middle East, are carrying so much historical and religious baggage and burden. So many cruelties and atrocities had been committed in the name of God/Allah/Jesus and Justice.  Labelling people as Jews, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus etc... just creates more segregations and alienations.

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Ultimately, what is the objective of religion? Salvation? Redemption? Eternity? Fearful of God? Obedient to God? Personal Relationship with God? Be graced & embraced by the creator?

It is about having Happiness and Peace.

May be we should labelling each other and start seeing each other as fellow human beings who have hopes and fears. We are the same. We all hope to be happy and want to avoid sufferings. Whenever we see other being as being different, we would have less empathy and love for that being.

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In my opinion, the most important qualities of being a human being is 

Kindness and Compassion. 

And that’s my religion!

Travel: Jordan, Israel, Palestine & Egypt - Dec 2010

http://boon-jordan-israel-egypt-2010.blogspot.com/

Clockwise From Top Left:

(Pyramid, Jesus Christ Crucification, Great Sand Sea Desert, Luxor Hot Air Balloon, Wailing Wall, Nile River, Petra's Treasury, Sunrise at Mt Sinai, Dome of Rock.)

Beautiful Things in Life: Sky & Cloud

I was walking along the street.

Then, I realized the beauty of Sky and Cloud.

I was so touched and awed by its beauty that tears began to fill my eyes.

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Really grateful to be alive.

Sometimes we forgot that we are alive.

Sometimes we forgot that being alive itself is a form of miracle.

Beautiful Things in Life: My Niece reciting Chinese Poems.

Such a joy to watch her growing up.

=)

The fate of almost all male chicks

I felt really sick after watching this video....

I am challenging myself not to take egg or egg-related products for at least one month. It would be challenging and diffcult, as I will be traveling for the next few weeks. Would you do the same?

Alex the Talking Parrot

Well, it just shows us that animals are intelligent beings, hence, they experience love, fear, anger and other emotions just like us. If everybody see animals in this light, would they still eat them? Would a pet owner eat his/her pet? Animals are more than just food on the table, they are living beings with emotions. 

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Think about this when you want to eat them.

May All Beings be free from sufferings!

One New Experience Each Week - Photo with Ajahn Brahm

Yes!! Finally, I managed to get a Photo with Ajahn Brahm, who is one of the Best Dharma Teachers I ever met. The first time I attended his talk was in early 2009, and since then, I try to attend all his talks. I always leave his talk in peace, happiness and laughters. Yes, he jokes quite a lot.

He is indeed a very wise, compassionate, kind and humorous monk. I felt grateful towards Ajahn Brahm for sharing so many wisdom and great stories, and also inspire us to be kind and compassionate.

The purpose of this photo is to remind me to be grateful for his wisdom, sharings and teachings. 

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Last week's talk was on "Creation vs Evolution" - he did present his view on this topic based on his scientific background and Buddhist training, however, he also emphasized that such a topic is creating so much division and tension in the present world. Every religion is trying to argue and establish its own claim.

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Is it really that important to argue this topic?

Isn't it more important to have harmony in this world?

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Below is a classic story of a poison arrow shared by Buddha:

The Buddha always told his disciples not to waste their time and energy in metaphysical speculation. Whenever he was asked a metaphysical question, he remained silent. Instead, he directed his disciples toward practical efforts. Questioned one day about the problem of the infinity of the world, the Buddha said, "Whether the world is finite or infinite, limited or unlimited, the problem of your liberation remains the same." Another time he said, "Suppose a man is struck by a poisoned arrow and the doctor wishes to take out the arrow immediately. Suppose the man does not want the arrow removed until he knows who shot it, his age, his parents, and why he shot it. What would happen? If he were to wait until all these questions have been answered, the man might die first." Life is so short. It must not be spent in endless metaphysical speculation that does not bring us any closer to the truth.- Thich Nhat Hanh, in Zen Keys

Buddhist Perspective on Terrorism

In recent years, unfortunately, terrorism related news are always on the headline. It seems that the world political leaders do not know the best way to handle this complex situation. 

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I found compassion and wisdom in Ven Thubten Chodron views on Terrorism, and I totally agree with her. She is an American and below is her view on 9-11 & Terrorism. This is a rare gem!

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Taken from "Dealing with Life's Issues - A Buddhist Perspective" by Ven Thubten Chodron

If you like this article, you can download the e-book from this link.

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Question: The Buddha preached non-violence. How do we reconcile this with the concept of justice that the American government and many people internationally are demanding after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.? Is revenge a solution? How can innocent victims be compensated for their loss and suffering?

Reply: I haven’t heard the word “justice” used in Buddhism. I haven’t read that word in the scriptures or heard it in a teaching. But some other major world religions speak of “justice” a lot, and it’s a major concept or principle in those faiths.

What does “justice” mean? In listening to people use this word nowadays, it seems to mean different things to different people. For some, justice means punishment. In my experience, punishment doesn’t work. I work with prisoners in the States, and it is clear that punishment does not reform people who have nothing to lose to start with. In fact, punishment and disrespect only increase their defiance. Punishment doesn’t work with individuals, and I don’t think it works on an international level either. The Buddha never advocated punishment as in “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”. Instead, he encouraged compassion for both the victims and the perpetrators of harm. With compassion, we try to prevent people who could potentially do criminal and terrorist activities from harming others in the future.

If compensation for loss means revenge, then as Gandhi said, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”. Revenge doesn’t work. It does not undo the past. It only provokes more anger, hatred and violence, which causes both sides to suffer more. If victims of a tragedy think that somebody else experiencing suffering will alleviate their grief, they haven’t understood their grief. When we want others to suffer and we rejoice in their pain, how do we feel about ourselves? Do we respect ourselves for wishing others to suffer? I don’t think so. It seems to me that in the long run, holding grudges and cultivating vengeance only make us feel worse about ourselves. It neither relieves our grief nor pacifies dangerous situations.

If justice means preventing others from doing more harm, that makes a lot of sense. From a Buddhist perspective, those who have perpetrated great harm are suffering and have little control over their minds and emotions. They might harm others in the future. We have to prevent them from doing that for their own sake as well as for the sake of the potential victims. These people create tremendous negative karma when they harm others and will suffer greatly in future lives. Cultivating compassion for people on both sides — for the perpetrators and for the victims of terrorism — is extremely important. Motivated by compassion, we try to capture the people who perpetrated the terror and imprison them. We do this not because we want to punish them or make them suffer, but because we want to protect them from their own harmful attitudes and actions that damage themselves and others.

I am not saying that Buddhists advocate remaining passive when confronted with danger or harm. We can’t just sit back and hope that it doesn’t happen again. That does not make sense. We have to be pro-active in preventing future harm. We must find the people who support terrorism and stop their activities. But we do so motivated by compassion, not by hatred, anger or revenge. In addition, we must be honest about what we contributed to the situation and remedy that.

One New Experience Each Week - Vegetarian Buffet

Had my first vegetarian buffet @ Lingzhi. The food was delicious & expensive (a treat by K), but most importantly, it was the thought of accommodating my dietary needs that touched me, esp when none of them are vegetarians. 

Vegetarian Steamboat!

Vegetarian Dim Sum

(I thought I would never eat Dim Sum anymore... it tasted like the real thing. I missed the taste, but I do not miss eating pig or chicken.)

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My Dear Spice Gang

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K is settling down. Another K is taking 1 year sabbatical leave to think about life. Life is always in a constant flux of change, and no matter what happens, I am always grateful and thankful to know this group of wonderful friends. 

=)

A New Phase of Life...

Quite alot of things happened in this 2 weeks. This will definitely be one of the turning points of my life - not sure if it is for better or for worse. Experienced lotsa different emotions - Apprehension, Anger, Disappointment, Fear and Excitement. 

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Always learning more about other people and myself. Learning not to be too emotional at times, as it is pointless. Learning to refocus and reflect on the important things and people in my life. Learning to embrace uncertainties. 

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There are lotsa uncertainties and challenges in the road ahead, but I am excited about it.

(Photo taken in Tibet - 2005)

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Two days ago, I was reading an article about a fund manager whose entire life's reputation is at risk, as he uproots himself from London and focus entirely on China. His remarks resonated with me:

You don't want to get to the end of your life and say "Why did I not have a go at that?" 

- Anthony Bolton, fund manager. 

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A Wise Quote from a Japanese Buddhist Monk -  Nichiren (1222-1268), who started Nichiren Buddhism (e.g. Soka Gakkai)

"suffer what there is to suffer,

enjoy what there is to enjoy"

and drawing inspiration from my fellow Buddhist - Steve Job's speech at 2005 Stanford Commencement:

"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."

One New Experience Each Week - Groomsman in a Church Wedding

A Protestant Church

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Groomsman

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Have attended a lot of church weddings, and this is my first time being a groomsman in a Church Wedding. Fortunately, there is nothing much for me to do, but to usher the guests, to accompany the groom, try to look smart. Haha...

The Art of Being Happy

A wise quote that I like very much.

There will always be problems... not matter how hard I try or how well I do. There are too many things in the world that is beyond my control - at least, I can control my reaction, if I am wise enough. And what is life without problems and challenges? It is an opportunity to grow and to be wiser. If you do not learn from the problem/challenge, it will always be back until you learn how to handle it.

And if you are mentally prepared to handle the worst case scenario, you can handle almost anything fearlessly.

Today, a colleague asked me "Why are you still able to smile?"

My reply was "That's the best thing to do now."

Smile!

It is free!

=)

One New Experience Each Week - Sky Park

The problem with alot of people, including myself, is that we assume we have all the time in the world to visit the places of interest in our home country. Hence, we always procrastinate to visit the places of interest. For instance, I have not visited the Singapore Night Safari (The World's first nocturnal zoo) since it opened in 1994.

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Part of my "one new experience each week" is to visit all these places in Singapore.

This week is the new Icon of Singapore - Marina Bay Sands

View of Singapore Skyline from the Sky Park

Infinity Pool with a Great View

While the view is wonderful, the best part of the visit is spending some quality time with family. And seeing my little niece getting excited and fascinated by the sights is one of the best experiences. 

Mama, Keena & Papa

=)

Inspiration: Aung San Suu Kyi - Release

Aung San Suu Kyi is recently released from her house arrest. I am extremely happy to hear that. She is such an inspiration - giving up so much in life for democracy and peace in Myanmar. She could easily lived a comfortable life outside of Myanmar, yet she chose to return to her homeland. Her strength and resilience is amazing.

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Visited Myanmar back in 2008, and it is the best country to visit in South-East Asia. The Burmese are great people and they deserve to have peace and good life.

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History has shown us that violence and brutality will never win the hearts of people. Tyrants (like the Burmese Junta) will never last. There are inherent flaws in using force and violence, and systems built on fear will eventually collapse. Ultimately, the good values would triumph - equality, democracy, fairness, freedom etc...

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Aung San Suu Kyi is the beacon of hope for Myanmar.

=)

One New Experience Each Week - Buddhist Tattoo

Yes, I finally inked "Om Mani Padme Hum" on my body

The Tibetan Mantra of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.

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While I was choosing a tattoo studio, I walked past a studio with the statue of Goddess of Mercy (The Chinese manifestation of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva), and I immediately felt that it is the right place to be inked. Not surprisingly, one of the tattoo artists also has the same tattoo. 

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This is my 2nd tattoo and it has equally deep meaning for me as my first tattoo.  And I am very happy to have this tattoo accompanying me till the end of my journey.

=)

Quotes

Some very wise quotes taken from a friend's FB:

Clementine:
What do we do?
Joel:
Enjoy it. Say good-bye.

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Letting go. You never really possess things, you merely hold them for a while. If you are unable to give them away, you are held by them.

Real Charity

Selected Excerpt from Real Charity 

By Ven KSri Dhammananda Maha Thera

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"You perform real charity if you can give freely without expecting anything in return. The act of true charity is wholesome, has no strings attached, and leaves both the giver and recipient free.

Among people who practise charity, there are some who give as a means of attracting others into their religion or creed. Such an act of giving which is performed with the ulterior motive of conversion cannot really be said to be true charity.

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There are many things which a person can give. He can give material things: food for the hungry, and money and clothes to the poor. He can also give his knowledge, skill, time, energy or effort to projects that can benefit others. He can provide a sympathetic ear and good counsel to a friend in trouble. He can restrain himself from killing other beings, and by so doing perform a gift of life to the HELPLESS BEINGS which would have otherwise been killed. He can also give a part of his body for the sake of others, such as donating his blood, eyes, kidnsy etc..."

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I just realised that choosing to be a vegetarian is also an act of charity. The word "Helpless Beings" strike a chord with me. Farm animals are helpless beings. I believe everybody should understand their actions (ie. eating animals) and think about the deeper effects of their actions.