1) Those of you who are parents will be familiar with this :
When children fight, parents have no peace ... and get headaches.
If there's a God / Creator, and as a 'parent' of those who call themselves his 'children',
I bet he is probably having a huge, massive headache right now, and no peace too - seeing how his 'children' are fighting and arguing among themselves.
Since they are all 'children' of the same 'parent', why are they fighting and arguing?
Wouldn't it be nice that they help each other, embrace each other and work with each other, instead of fighting?
Maybe this is what people call 'sibling rivalry'.
Interestingly, isn't this what we, the world, is experiencing right now?
No peace ... and headaches.
2) Everyone likes to be first.
Even during Chinese New Year.
There's a belief that the first to put joss stick in the urn of the Kwan Yin Temple at Waterloo Street, at the stroke of 12, will bring one good luck for the new year. ( Watched this on TV some years back )
However, looking at the way all are pushing and shoving, I don't think anyone will get any luck at all!
Have you ever wonder why, in the temple of Compassion, NONE is showing compassion, or practising it?
And all are blindly following a SUPERSTITIOUS tradition that does more harm than good.
If only they had read THE KALAMA SUTTA.
3) It seems to me that people like to burn.
Otherwise, why would they, come rain or shine, stand round a scorching and smoky fire, inhaling all that smog and haze, and get themselves and their family 'jewels' roasted?
And in the process, create a 'beautiful' Heaven-like ambience to their immediate surroundings, with strange-looking particles floating around.
It's funny they don't burn the real thing.
Firstly, it'll help save a lot of trees and the environment,
Secondly, it'll help save a lot of time and effort going to get the fake money, etc and then folding them into nice shapes.
Have you ever wonder who gets the cash?
The departed loved ones?
I don't think so ...
Cos' the only people I see collecting the burnt cash ( or rather, ash ) are the cleaners.
And if you were to ask if they've benefitted, or become richer from it ( collecting the burnt cash ), they'll probably think you're mad.
So, nope, definitely not them either.
Perhaps the only ones who benefit and get the cash (the real cash) are the shopkeepers who sell these fake money etc.
Surely there must be a better, and a more environmentally friendly way to show our respect and filial piety to our ancestors, and to remember our loved ones by -
For example, appreciate them when they are alive.
Or, do good in their names after they're gone.
Wouldn't that be better and more meaningful?
To truly benefit the departed loved ones, wouldn't it be better to use the money to make donations to charities, temples etc in the names of the loved ones, to benefit more people, rather than buying these fake money etc to burn?
I'm sure making donations will help earn plenty of merits, too, not just for the departed, but also for those who are still alive.
4) I think humans spend a lot of time talking -
Over the phone, on the net, sms, face-to-face meeting etc.
Yak yak yak, blah blah blah, lah lah lah .....
Wouldn't it be good if we can spend a little less time talking, and a little more time keeping quiet, being silent, reflecting and observing, studying and learning about the mind, Life and things around us?
The world would be a much happier and peaceful place.
Otherwise, why do you think they say 'silence is golden', and 'Empty vessels make the most noise'?
Note to All Readers :Please know that the alternatives suggested above are just suggestions. They are merely alternatives which I feel, if we can, perhaps consider.
Thank you... :)
