Mindfulness or Mindlessness

Mindfulness or Mindlessness



Being down with an illness is a wonderful experience.

It slows you/a person down.

Everything you do is slow-mo(tion).

Eat, drink, walk, sit etc is slowed down.

Forced to slow down cos' the body can't move fast.

I noticed this in the beginning of the 3rd week after chicken pox.

I was doing things faster. There was a lot of difference.

That's when it started me thinking, wondering, "How come?"

When we are well, we do things very fast, heedlessly, mindlessly, mechanically even.

But when we're sick and down, everything slows down.

You eat slowly, chewing your food slowly.

You drink slowly, sipping your water slowly.

I tried chewing the lettuce slowly and I could taste the sweetness and crispness of it.

I was finally learning to taste my food!

I become more aware.

It was a strange feeling.



My sister mentioned that chicken pox is scary, get it once is enough.

I believe many people feel the same.

However, I hold a different view.

I think it was a wonderful experience that taught me so much.

I think we should not get it as a kid but as an adult - then we will really feel.

It really wasn't that bad. I was having so much fun! Very enjoyable.

It was the best holiday of my life.

And it's an experience I know I definitely would not mind having again and again for all the beautiful lessons it has taught me.



Very often, we get caught up in the race, get sucked in the dramas of everyday life.

Illnesses help to slow us down, put things in perspective (provided we 'see' it) and teach us (provided we are willing to learn).

As a matter of fact, if you think about it, everything in life is teaching us.

Never fear or dislike illnesses or whatever that happens in your life.

Embrace it. Totally, fully, completely. Be One with It.

That's when you really experience life, and 'taste' it as it is.

Cos' very often, we are much stronger than our fears.

And more competent than our worries. Try it.



The next time you come across a problem/fear, pause.

Look back, and you'll realise you have come across this problem/fear before.

After all, why the hurry? Why the haste? Why rush?

Why not slow down, stop and take a breath instead?

Why do we have to be doing things all the time?

Why can't we put them down once in a while, and do nothing?

Some people may say, "Then the world won't move."



The world will always move, with or without you.

Cos' there will always be people who'll keep the world moving, who'll want the world to move, who can't let go.

And that person does not have to be you.

Think about it.



A Buddha is one who was in the race, but stopped. Looked, observed, Analysed.

Turned around and walked the other way-

Away from the crowd.

Away from everyone else.

Away from the world.

Who are you going to be?

Who, would you like to be?






"The ordinary man always sees the darkness and the misery of this world, but the yogi sees the grand beauty and the real nature of the world."

- Venerable Dr K. Sri Dhammananda

"Modern man is so busy with his business of earning for a living that he has no time to live."

- Venerable Dr K. Sri Dhammananda

"Why rush? The more you rush, the faster and the earlier you'll land in your grave."

Gratitude

Gratitude

After a couple of days into my chicken pox, my mum asked if I know/feel hunger yet. I said no.

Not only do I not feel/know hunger, I do not know/feel thirst as well.

I felt this body could go without food and drink.

Actually, I had one such experience once - during one of my meditation session.

Hunger and thirst were not issues at all.

I do believe this is possible.

Unfortunately, I don't have the opportunity to find out.

Cos' I was swamped with food and drink everyday.

There was so much to eat and drink all the time I wonder if I'm having chicken pox.

It sure doesn't feel like it.

My mum and this particular student (and friend) of mine fed me so well I won't be surprised if I put on weight instead of losing weight (like most people) after the illness.

My family and friends do not need to buy me all those fruits, cook all those food and boil all the herbal drinks for me, but they did.

Especially that friend of mine.

She would come to my house everyday, without fail, bringing me one whole basket full of goodies.

And my sister.

She does not need to mop my room everyday, but she did.

I asked myself, " Of what do I deserve such kindness and generosity from my family and friends?"

It was something that was heartening, that touches me deep into the core, that overwhelms me and makes me cry.

Not tears of sadness.

Nor tears of joy.

But tears of immerse gratitude and appreciation for the love and care from my family and friends.

I feel I am very fortunate.

To my family, friends and all those who worked behind the scenes :

Maitre-Light thanks you.

Sincerely from the heart.

For taking such great care of me during the 2 weeks.

For all the love, the care, the hard work, the effort, the time and the energy which all of you gave to me.

Thank you.

I'm very grateful and thankful to all of you.

Namaste :)

Chicken Pox and Me

Chicken Pox and Me



On March 6th, I was diagnosed with chicken pox.

What an experience! It practically took my breath away.

It enriched my mind and life totally.

It's amazing how something as mundane and common like chicken pox can teach us many things about Life.

There were many nights which I could not sleep.

As a matter of fact, I could not sleep most of the time during the chicken pox period.

I remember one particular night when I could not sleep.

So, with my blanket wrapped around me, I walked, to and fro, in my room.

It was during this 'walk' that this entry was 'born'.


It was a wonderful experience.

My body was in pain. I felt old. So old.

But it helped me understand a few things:


1) This body will decay (grow old) just as a flower bloom, blossom, wither and die.

2) This body will diseased just as a plant with white spots on its leaves.

3) This body will die just as the leaves that we find on the ground after a rain.


Regardless of young or old, we're all subjected to these.

Cos' this body is not ours to begin with.

If it is, we should be able to control it, but we can't.

We can't ask the body not to grow old, not to fall sick, or not to get chicken pox, and not to die.

It's a natural process of things.

Nature's Laws.


This body is impermanent, unsatisfactory and not 'Me' - not self.

If it was permanent, why do I feel cold one moment, and hot the next?

Why can't I 'tune' the temperature to be constant?

If it was satisfactory, why do I feel aches and pains in my body?

That caused me not to be able to sleep, lie down, or even sit?


Most important of all,

If it was 'self' (i.e me), why can't I ask the body to be well?

That the aches and pains to go away?

That the red sores and water bubbles that pop up on my face and body that makes me look like a hideous monster, to disappear?

Why is this body so old, weak, torn and tattered when I want it to be energetic and young?

Because, as in many things in life, this body is not permanent, not satisfactory, and definitely, not me, not mine, and not self.

It was suffering.

I could go neither left nor right.

I felt like I want to die but could not.

I was suffering. In pain.

This body, this life, is suffering, painful.

That makes me wonder : Why is it that people cannot die, or are afraid to die, or don't want to die?

Because of attachment, craving, desire.

We hold on to things.

We want things to stay the same.

We want to be young, youthful, fresh, green, energetic.

We want only pleasures and not pain.

We can't accept the realities of life. The truths of things.

That's why.


With chicken pox, I see that this body is ugly.

It's nothing but a mass of heaped up sores filled with pus, unknown liquids, scars etc.

How beautiful can that be?

"All that's mine, beloved and pleasing, will change and vanish."

So says The Buddha.

How true!


People who see/think the human body is beautiful, or trying to maintain/keep it beautiful, or beautify it by going to the gyms, spas, surgeries, etc are just wasting their time and money, and hiding behind the shades of delusion/ignorance.

Just as a house or building etc that's beautiful on the outside does not mean it's beautiful on the inside.

Or, a beautiful house does not mean the occupants are just as beautiful.

At the end of the day, it's really only our deeds that tell more about us, than our beautiful 'facade' (this body).

5 Remembrances -

I am of the nature to decay.

I have not gone beyond decay.

I am of the nature to be diseased.

I have not gone beyond disease.

I am of the nature to die.

I have not gone beyond death.

All that is mine,

Beloved and pleasing, will change and vanish.

I am the owner of my kamma;

Heir to my kamma;

Born of my kamma;

Related to my kamma;

Abide supported by my kamma.

Whatever kamma ( i.e. good or evil ) I shall do, of that I shall be the Heir.

- The Buddha

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"Your wealth can only edify your house but not you.

Only your own virtue can edify you.

Your dress can adorn your body but not you.

Only your good conduct can."

- Venerable Dr K. Sri Dhammananda

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Earth - Do You Know She's in Pain ?

Earth - Do You Know She's in Pain ?



Once upon a time, there was a girl called Earth.

Earth was born with vast forests, nature and lush greenery.

She was a happy child, surrounded by lots of love and positive energy.

Earth had a childhood sweetheart called Humans.

Earth loved Humans very much.

One day, Humans told Earth that he wants to move out of the forests, into the city, and asked Earth to go along with him.

Earth loved Humans dearly, and because of her deep love and affection for Humans, she agreed.

When they arrived in the city, Earth was very surprised.

There were no trees or forests, but buildings and factories.

Everyone was in a rush, and the energy was not kind and gentle, but very cold and unfeeling.

Even the air - it wasn't clean and fresh.

In the buildings, it was all stale, recycled air conditioning, and outside was all smog and haze.

Construction was everywhere.

Land was cleared; trees, forests and nature felled, burned and destroyed to make way for buildings, and more buildings to be added to the already congested concrete landscape.

Earth thought to herself, "Why do they have to dig so much? If they continue digging, one day this place will sink."



Earth didn't like the city at all.

In fact, she felt miserable.

But for Humans' sake, she tried to adapt.

The days passed and Earth got herself a job.

She thought she would be happy but she soon found out that she was wrong.

It was all work and no rest.

The office environment was also not pleasant.

The people were mean and nasty.

Earth observed that there was so much politics and fighting.

Everyone was fighting for personal gain or playing political games.

Everyday was like in a war zone - shooting and firing, burning and bloodshed.

Earth didn't like it at all. She was depressed. She was tired.

She felt burnt-out with all the work, stress and negativity.

But she could not tell Humans. Cos' Humans seemed disturbed lately.

Besides, she didn't want to be a burden.

So, she bottled her emotions.

As the air was terribly polluted, Earth soon developed a cough, which became chronic.

She also came down with a flu that didn't seem to go away.

As Earth's lungs weakened, she discovered more ailments.

She constantly feel hot.

Her body seemed to heat up by itself, and many times, she found herself perspiring profusely.

Sometimes, she felt as if she was going to explode.

On and off, she would also get chest pains.

As if that was not bad enough, her relationship with Humans deteriorated.

Humans became unreasonable and demanding.

He was no longer kind, loving and gentle.

Instead, he was selfish and greedy.

For no rhyme or reason, he would vent his anger and frustrations on Earth.

Earth thought that Humans was stressed with city life and work, and so, even though she was very hurt, she continued to be loving and kind, patient and understanding, and gave in to Humans' demands.

But Humans was ungrateful and totally ignored Earth's efforts.

Even though Earth was unhappy, she would keep it to herself.

Earth felt sad. Every night, she would cry herself to sleep.

One day, Earth saw Humans with another girl, Craving/Greed/Lust.

She thought they were colleagues of friends.

But when they started behaving intimately, she was shocked.

She could not contain her emotions anymore.

She was hurting badly inside. Her chest was in pain. Her heart was pounding furiously and her body temperature kept increasing. She felt the blood rushing to her head.

As she held one hand over her chest, she went up to confront Humans.

But Humans was unrepentant.

He abused Earth instead.

Earth was devastated. She was heartbroken. She felt as if her whole body was torn apart, and her heart shattering to pieces.

All of a sudden, all the bottled emotions seemed to rush out.

Earth started shaking violently and breaking out in cold sweats.

That's when she went to see a doctor who told her that if her body temperature and heart rate continue to rise, her arteries may burst, she may get a heart attack and die.

To help calm herself down, Earth decided to seek alternative therapy.

The energy healer told Earth that her aura was very weak.

That she needed long-term intense healing surrounded with lots of positive and loving energy in an unpolluted environment.

Earth also tried attending different religious services.

Both helped to calm and relax her for a while, but because the environment is such that there's lots of negativity and pollution, her ailments kept recurring, with no recovery in sight.

One day, as Earth sat on a bench in a park near her home.

She reminisced about the good old days -

Where there were trees and nature and space, and not buildings, factories and waste.

Where the air is fresh and clean, and not smog and haze.

Where the people are always helpful, and not fighting for some political power or personal gain.

Where the people are nice and friendly, and not cold, mean and nasty.

Where the energy is positive, loving and kind, and not negative and filled with anger, enmity and hate.

Where there's lots of giving and generosity, and not selfishness and greed.

Where Humans used to love and take care of her, and not abuse, take advantage and neglect her.

Where she was healthy, strong and in the pink of health, and always happy, and not sick and weak and depressed like now.

As Earth was thinking, she fell into a deep sleep.

Will Humans realise the mistake, start making amends, and learn to respect Earth again,

Or will Earth self-destruct and die a slow and painful death?

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"As we create, we destroy."

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"The 'end' of the world lies not in the forces of nature, nor in the hands of some Supreme Being (God/s), or any other beings (ETs, UFOs etc) BUT in the hands of mankind/humankind.

Mankind/Humankind alone, through an ignorant, delusioned and selfish mind, can and will destroy civilisation.

It's through the irresponsible and egoistic acts of Mankind/Humankind that civilisation will be destroyed.

Natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcano eruptions, tsunamis etc are all symptoms/results of anger, enmity and hate that is expressed by humans -collective anger, enmity, hate etc of human and living beings manifesting in/through nature.

It's the mind that needs to be changed.

Everything begins from the mind, and therefore will have to end with the mind. (The way in is the way out)

If we don't change our minds (ie. our thinking, attitude, action etc), we'll self-destroy ourselves."

"Man can change the atmosphere of the Universe.

If man is cruel and wicked, always lives against the laws of nature and the cosmic law; through his acts, words and thoughts, he pollutes the whole atmosphere.

As a result of such misdeeds and thoughts, nature may not produce things which man requires for his living but instead man may be faced epidemics and various kinds of disasters.

If, on the other hand, man lives in accordance with this natural law, leads a righteous way of life, purifies the atmosphere through the merits of his virtues and radiates his loving kindness towards other living beings, he can change the atmosphere in order to bring about better results for the happiness of man."

- Venerable Dr K. Sri Dhammananda

P.S : Did you spot the deforestation, global warming, depletion/weakening of the ozone layer, wars, mankind's anger, mankind's abuses on Earth, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis etc?

If you did not, read Again ... :)

Life's Lessons

Life's Lessons



If you read my earlier entry on "Expectation vs Acceptance" - (http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/01/expectation-vs-acceptance.html), you'll probably know that my mum broke her wrist from a fall 2 years ago.

After the accident, she kept wondering how and why she fell.

Some people she spoke to suggested that she seek some master's help.

For my sisters and I, each time she asked, I would either keep quiet, or I would tell her, "It's over already. Important thing is you're okay now."

My eldest sister told her she's fortunate that she only broke her wrist - a minor injury, cos' it could have been worst.

How true!

But does my mum listen?

Of course not!


Did I tell you my sisters and I are 'invisible'?

Besides, which human would want to listen to boring facts, even if it's for our own good?

But sensational, spicy, juicy stories?

Oh yeah! Count us in anytime!

It's only Humans' nature.


One day, a year and a half later, she brought up the subject again.

This time, I was not so sympathetic.

For the past one and a half years, she had been saying the same thing over and over again, like a worn-out tape recorder - to the point that now, my sisters simply ignore her.

Ha! Ha! Now she gets a taste of her own medicine ... Ha! Ha!

Anyway, it's been one and a half years and the 'mystery' of her fall hasn't been solved.

I was determined to 'solve' it.

So that day, when she brought up the issue the one hundred and millionth time, okay I exaggerated, but you get the idea.

Anyway, I said this to her,

"Does it help? Knowing the reason behind your fall. So what if you know the reason? What difference does it make? Does it mean that by knowing the reason, you can reverse things, that you wrist will be as it was before? What's done cannot be undone. What are you going to do about it? It's past and over already. Accept, move on. Important thing is you're fine and your wrist has recovered. Like sis said, you're fortunate that you only broke your wrist. It could have been worst. Some people become paralysed or die after a fall, you did not. Be thankful! The floor was wet and slippery, you were careless, you rushed, you fell. That's all to it. Learn from the incident : not to rush about so much. Walk slowly and carefully, especially when the floor is wet and slippery."

Guess what?!

'Mystery' solved! I haven't heard her mentioning that topic since. (Hee Hee)

You see, the thing is, whatever that happens to us in life is to teach us, to show us the way.

Important thing is : What are we going to do about it? What can we learn from it?

Many people meet with setbacks, misfortunes or failures in life, or accidents, terminal illnesses etc, and they keep asking why; sinking deeper into sadness and depression and self-pity.

The point is, Does it help?


A yoga master once said this to me, "You had a hard life."

My reply to him was, "Depends on how you look at it."

Life to me is neither hard nor easy. It just is.

It depends on how we 'look' at it.


Just as I wrote in my entry on 'Happiness Is' - (http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2006/12/happiness-is.html ) -

'A beautiful world can only be seen through the eyes of a happy heart.'

If we have a happy heart, the world will always be and appear beautiful.

It's up to us to see beyond the imperfections of life and discover how perfect life actually is.


To me, Life has a way of settling itself.

Not that we slump back, give up and do nothing.

Some don't even try.

Rather, we make an effort, we continue to do our best, whatever we can, and at the same time, allow the situation/life to unfold.

We accept.


I must add that my mum is a very strong woman.

I admire her cos' at her age, when she broke her right wrist, and her being right-dominant, she trained herself to use her left hand.

She made her left hand so strong that it's as efficient and effective as her right.

She may question why and how she fall, but at the same time, she accepts, and made the effort.

Likewise, I accept.

I accept whatever Life 'throws' at me.

I won't say it's easy.

But I feel that it's through the setbacks, the failures, the falls, the stumbles and the obstacles that I learn;

That helps me to grow and mature, and makes me who, what and how I am today.

If I fail a particular lesson, I know it'll come back again and again until I learn whatever that's needed to be learned.


I never let life get me down.

If Life throws tomatoes at me, I make ketchup out from it. Or, tomato soup.

It's healthy, prevents cancer and packed with lots of vitamin C.

If Life piles dung on me, I grow flowers and fruit trees.

I get to enjoy the beauty of the flowers and the nutrients of the fruits.

Very healthy!

This, to me, is Life.

The way I 'see' it.




"Instead of complaining about darkness, why not light a candle."
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"Know that things are happening perfectly the way they should,

No matter how imperfect it seems."




"In life, Focus on the journey, and not the destination;

For the lessons lie in the journey, and Not the destination."




"Whatever that's meant to happen, will happen

No matter how you try to prevent it from happening;

Whatever that's not meant to happen, will not happen

No matter how you try to make it happen.

So accept, and not resist,

Surrender and not control;

Let go, and let Nature be."

The Search

The Search

During one of my walks in the park, some parts of the song 'The Search is Over" by Survivor came to my mind.

And it is from this song that this entry is born.

I have adapted it as follows so as to express myself fully.

Enjoy! :)

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I was living in a 'dream'

Where nothing is forever

Taking on the world

That was just my ego's style

Then one day it hit me

Like a lightning from the blue

Every which way I turn

I discover there's nothing new

That's when I look in front of my eyes

I can see Forever

The search is over

It was in front of me

Right before my eyes

With me all this while .....

"Very often, what we want in life -

Love, Happiness etc is right in front of us

But we don't 'see' it

Cos' our eyes are too clouded

Our minds too deluded

Take a moment and 'see' -

Really 'see'

I've ended my search

I hope you'll end yours soon, too."



"Look no further;

Look within.

Look not in the external -

For the external will only confuse you.

Go inwards,

Look deep within.

For it's here where all secrets lie

It's here where all answers lie

And, it's here where Truth lies.

Go inwards -

To the heart of it all.

If you want love, it's here where you'll find love.

If you want joy, it's here where you'll find joy

And, If you want peace, it's here where you'll find peace.

For it's here (deep within us) where it (attachment/craving) all began.

And it's here where it (cycle of samsara) will all end

Through beginningless time, endless time."

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"Because of Attachment/Craving, there's Life.

Because of Life, there's Suffering.

Because of Suffering, there's Kamma.

Because of Kamma, there's Rebirth.

Because of Rebirth, there's Cycle of Samsara."

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"The battle is not between ourselves and others (external),

But between ourselves and ourselves (within)."

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"You can win all the battles,

You can win all the wars.

But there's no Real Victory

Until you conquer yourself."

- The Buddha

Human's Hunger

Human's Hunger



Humans are 'hungry' -

Hungry for Power :

Political Power

Religious Power

Psychic Power

Nuclear Power

Academic Power

Financial / Money Power

Status Power

Power Power Power ...



Ha! Ha! Ha!

So Silly!



If only they know

There's only One Power -



The Power of Love

Universal, Unconditional Love.



Then perhaps

They won't be so 'hungry' anymore!