Duan Wu Jie..

端午节。Dragon Boat Festival.. Or.. Whatever we want to call it. Many Singaporeans don’t really celebrate it anyway. If they do, do they know the significance? I am not here trying to tell the world how much I know. I don’t know well too. I am just so local. Haha..

Anyway, how many people celebrate a festival
because they know its significance,
because they believe in the significance,
because they want to emulate such significance in their own life in one way or another?

The New Year (新年) – Do we really feel like having a new beginning and cherish the new opportunity to be a better person? Do we see the point in the mutual visiting (when in many instances were once-in-a-year visiting)? Precisely, who make visiting an once-in-a-year affair in the first place? Or are we just after the ang baos? …

Qing Ming Jie (清明节) – Do we really feel the gratitude to our ancestors and (for some) sincerely offer to them whatever by burning the “paper equivalence”? Or are we hoping to strike-it-big in return?

Dragon Boat Festival (端午节) – Do we really feel for the patriotism demonstrated by 屈原 (Qu Yuan) so long long ago? Or are we just craving for the rice dumplings?

Hungry Ghost Festival (中元节) – Do we really feel sorry for the beings in the hellish realms and wish to help them in transcending to higher realms? Or are we merely trying our best to appease them out of fear and hope in return, we can strike-it-big (again)?

Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节) – Do we really feel the importance of bonding between human beings, particularly between family members? Or are we just longing for the different varieties of moon cakes?

Christmas (圣诞节) – Do we really feel for the giving spirit and the message of love and happily participated in the giving and loving? Or are we just happy to receive many gifts and happy about the many offers they cooked up?

Etc. Etc. Etc……

Okay, let me save some more “air time” for Dragon Boat Festival, since today is the day.

Actually, well before 屈原 (Qu Yuan), 端午节 was already being widely celebrated for other different reasons.

In Chinese expression :
农历五月五日是端午节，和春节、中秋并列为最重要的三个节庆。端午节时值夏季，正是疾病开始流行的季节，因此端午节的由来，可追溯为驱邪避恶，以求身心的平安，后来加入爱国诗人屈原的传说，更增添了端午节的重要性。

There is another long forgotten practice, I think. There is a belief if anyone can make an egg stand at the noon time of this day, the year will be a good year for him. Yes, I mean 立鸡蛋. Miraculously, seemingly only on this day, at noon time, we can make an egg stand vertically at its broader end. I tried it once in 1997 while I was in South Africa. It worked! One egg was left standing in the kitchen at noon time and I remember it only toppled automatically after dinner time.

You are lucky, I managed to find some photos of those standing eggs as proof. Showing you one here :

~ Standing Eggs ~
We made the eggs stand.

Sunday Picnic

They thought of a gathering, a simple picnic. Wow. Sure. I was looking forwarding to it. They said they will think of a nice venue and then inform me accordingly. The little gathering (a simple picnic) is today but only yesterday, I received the map via electronic means. Looking at the map, I went numb for a while. I admit the silly thought of backing out crossed my mind. But 放飞机 is just not my style.

The place is just too familiar. I don’t need the map actually. When they verbally mentioned about the venue yesterday, I had no idea they were actually referring to that.
不知不觉中，我好像是在回避一些地方。
或许是某一些地方让我想起了一些人、一些事。我好失败，我想。

Nevertheless, I proceeded on with their kind planning. And when I drove into the car-park, many scenes were flooding my mind. I was not really feeling too good.. erm.. I ought to be more in control, I told myself. I managed to, I guess.

Okay, back to that place.
We spent a relaxing time there in the morning. Okay, a sneak preview of how relaxing it was :

We were impressed by the different birds we saw there. The only grouse would be my camera is just not meant to capture birds. There was this tiny weenie bird, totally scarlet, happily pecking the flowers in front of all of us, not more than 3 metres away from us. This bird was not even mentioned in the “birds-you-see-here” signboards placed around. We were also treated with a pair of exotic birds parading less than 2 metres away from us. I read the signboards later and learnt that it is called White-Crested Laughingthrush. I googled the name and this was what I got

Most of the time, we were talking over the food kindly prepared by the ladies. I think that was so cool. We had

And I spilled my cup of soya drink. :(

I think the flora there is kind of rich also. Not long after I’d reached, I captured some shots, I quite like.

Ha. But just before we intended to explore the area, it started pouring and we were trapped. Kids when trapped do this :

The adults? OMG, they were so prepared. They were studying ??!! Haha..

If the weather was better, we would have seen more. I have yet to “survey” the summit. I heard the view is awesome. One of these days, I think I will be back. Yes, back to this same place that brings me.. erm.. mixed feelings.

This place is Bukit Batok Nature Park (BBNP).

Allow me to also mention how we made the exit out of the park today. I think it was quite funny. It was still raining, but we were tired of waiting as we don’t have enough umbrellas for the eight of us. But we got to get back home to do other stuffs. I tell you, we did it the grand way. We noted we had brought along some white ground-sheets. We made one of these our "umbrella" and we “snake” out of BBNP together. The ground sheet is about 1 metre by 4 metres. 4 of us stood in a single file along the length of the ground sheet, picked up the ground sheet and placed it slightly over our heads. And we walked (or was that marching?) under the rain that way. We can’t help laughing our lungs out. I tried imagining the aerial view of our act, from high above, through the canopy of the park. We must have looked much like a big fat white snake trespassing BBNP.

Oh, let me insert a picture showing you the actual ground :

(I shall try to process the other photos some other time...)

Music Reloaded & Tonight I Pray for..

Spent a good half of the day deleting “unwanted” songs from iTunes. I think I had deleted 1/3 of them, leaving behind only slightly more than 800 songs and I saved a few giga bytes of free space. They were further classified into different categories by putting them into different “sources”. Now, the Party Shuffle makes more sense. Every song appearing is what I feel like hearing.

Some songs/musics are just so uplifting. The same message when being sung with a beautiful tune (instead of just saying it) can really make a difference. Just the melody without lyrics can leave plenty of space for our imagination. Wonderful.

I am now thinking : 琴、棋、书、画，我懂多少？
Aiyoh.. Malu sia.. 看来我全都一知半解。
如果以古代的标准来衡量，我好像很没有用 leh. Mm..
不谈这些了。

世界的莫个角落，
今早摇荡到天昏地暗的时候，
我们好像都还暖卧于被窝里。

我们是应该觉得庆幸生长于狮城？
"I’m so lucky. Singapore no natural disaster. "
还是因生长于狮城所以觉得麻痹？
"What? Earthquake? Okay lor."

一波未平一波又起的厄运你作何想？
"Volcano activity still so threatening. And now .."
潮起潮落我们好像也是那么过一天？
"Life goes on man.."

一样是米却养百样人也画出异样的命运。
"How come he so good life huh? Mm.. Mine is like...”
一样是生长于地球却酸甜苦辣各自品尝。
"Different taste hor. But they always say different experiences gather different wisdom leh. Don't know true not?"

我们最低限度可否生活过的埋怨少一点？
"Life is tough, but I’m tougher.."
我们最基本是否应该为当地人诚心祈祷？
"Tonight, I pray for.."

Not Forgetting Fun During Work

Almost the entire department was down to do sorting at the dungeon. Our dungeon is a rather spacious enclosure just below the hall, away from view from the external world. I am implying there wasn’t any *little pal in sight also. We were sorting out the thousands of soft toys related to our 20th anniversary celebration. But with the man-power we had, the sorting didn’t actually take long.

When the sorting was done and we were supposed to be waiting for further instructions.. Hehe.. That’s when the interesting part came. We noted the empty table-tennis tables around, the nets were set, there were baskets of ping-pongs and some old table-tennis bats were lying around. Ha.. Four of us automatically toke up the bats and sweat-it-out together over a table-tennis table. Yes, while we were still wearing our “formal working attire”. I wouldn’t say we were good players, but the game was fine and most importantly, it was over good actions and laughters.

I must say it was quite an enjoyable experience. Oh, should I say “experiences”? I mean, we cooperated so well and the work was done so smoothly and we didn’t forget to have some good clean fun during work.

When our leader appeared much later, she noted the work done and was pleased. When she noted how much we had perspired, she even commended our effort. Erm.. Haha.. She didn’t know that the perspiration was over the game and not over the sorting. :P

~ Dive In ~
We weren't that playful. However, we really dive in at every opportunity to have fun, giving no regards of our attire (just like this kid).
The *little pals give me a reason to stay ; the fellow colleagues give me another reason not to go.
There may be many other reasons for me to feel sad. But, looking at the bright side, there are certainly equally many other reasons for me to be happy, just like the sorting and the gaming today, for examples.

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有一位圣者这么说：

既身为一介修士，不可热闹的昏了头！模糊的迷了路！
致久难返，则哀莫大焉！

Slow Down . Slowed Down

I am walking much slowly now. Not really out of choice, but out of circumstance. Heh.. The nerve at the back of my right knee hurts badly and I simply can't walk fast. 就是使不出『凌波微步』. Hence, I am walking slowly ( and gracefully :p ) to minimize the awkward limping in my advancement. People actually think I am just tired, as they noticed my unusual walking speed. I never walked that slowly.

I don't rush from place to place now.
I have slowed down.
And magically, I am more aware of the little details along my every journey.
I saw crack-lines on walls, taking the shape of some pictures, I had never noticed.
I noticed the stares of the tortoises (at me) in the pond whenever I walked past.
I didn't know the plants we have here actually flowered in pretty colours.
Unmistakably, that is the scent of that kind of flower.
The cob-web at that corner seemed to have suggested something. Mm…
Erps.. And that is how he wears his pants.
Oh what's that I saw? A hole along the fence!
And, oh dear, how he has aged …

Along with a slowly walking speed, comes with more thinking space.
I gave thoughts to many things, many issues in just one day. Mm…
Did I walk too fast in the past, and thus missing many things along the journey?
How silly I was, thinking I was helping but actually causing more hurt.
How naïve I was, thinking I could make a difference when their beliefs are already so deep-rooted.
How simple-minded I was, thinking I have changed when I am still repeatedly making the same mistake…

I don’t mind being simple-minded if I can really change for the better.
I don’t mind being naïve if I can really make a difference to anyone.
I don’t mind being silly if I can really provide assistance to people around me…

~ Caught Speeding ~
Maybe, being fast may not necessarily always lead us anywhere safely? Heh..

Want to Walk, Walk Big Big lah..

I wasn’t that much of a walker-lover actually. But since W asked me along, I gamely gave a “yes”. And there I was this morning¹ near our national stadium, merging with the crowd participating in my first ever Big Walk.

For obvious reason, I wasn’t participating in the competitive category. I was just a fun-walker. How right! The crowd made it quite impossible to jog too, unless we were really in front together with those competitors. Haha..

We weren’t actually walking fast, okay just briskly maybe. Yet, we past a number of competitors² despite starting off about 20 mins later. Yeah! But I have to admit, the walking experience was quite tiring for my pair of legs.

We met quite many familiar faces among the crowd… from present and ex - *little pals to some colleagues. I think the feeling is kind of interesting. I mean the crowd was significant (just look at the news coverage later tonight) and yet we are able to bump into one another. What’s that probability? Mm...

~ ~ THE CROWD . THE CROWD ~ ~

It was meant to be a 10 km walk, but I’m quite sure we covered much more than that. We were talking and walking for another 45 mins or so (after crossing the finishing line) just to visit a particular stall we have in mind, for lunch. Yummy! We like it.

Mentally I feel quite refresh now! Physically.. erm… What’s that strange feeling I have got on my right leg? Weak man… I was practically limping on my way, walking back home.

On such a fine Sunday, instead of idling at home, we had decided to sweat-it-out and gave our tummy a yummy treat. I think it was a pretty cool idea.

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¹ In order to be punctual, I woke up at 5:30am okay. Erm.. The early-birdie timing is the main reason why FC and LS back out.

² We can tell the competitors apart by the different coloured number tags.

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有一位作者这么说：

有一个人去应征工作，随手将走廊上的纸张屑捡起来，放进了垃圾桶，被路过的口试官看到了，因此他得到了这份工作。

原来获得赏识很简单，养成好习惯就可以了。

答应谁、想要为某 ...

答应 A 要做的事情，如今只做大约一半；
答应 B 要做的事情，如今还未开始提笔；
答应 C 要做的事情，如今好像有心无力；
答应 D 要做的事情，如今担心时间不够；
答应 E 要做的事情，如今觉得能力不足；
想要为 F 做的事情，如今不知如何开口；
想要为 G 做的事情，如今怎么毫无行动；
想要为 H 做的事情，如今胆却误会重重；
想要为 I 做的事情，如今心向开始动摇；
想要为 J 做的事情，如今机会似乎渺茫。
... ... ...
到底还有多少个“答应谁”、“想要为某”... ?

Heh... Some kind souls are telling me...
我是否也应该尝试“答应我”、“想要为己”...?
But wouldn’t life be kind of boring this way?
Okay, I will certainly know how to take good care of myself. Thanks! :)

I still believe that we need to be a good person to do justice for our existence, or else...
However, what do we mean by a “good person”? How would you define it? Look at the people around us. More or less, we see the “goodness” in a person by what he/she actually thinks, says and does, with respect to the people around him/her.

So in the process of “答应谁”、“想要为某”, perhaps we can really learn to be a better person (provided we do it right).
Ultimately...
“答应他”也是“答应我”...
“帮助了他”也是“提升了我”...

Frankly, we don't even have to think that much. It's just plain happiness that we can do something for someone/anyone.

Time / Capability no enough, man. And there are simple still so much for me to learn, un-learn and re-learn. But I shall still try. Reminding myself : Even the greatest person on earth also have 24 hrs per day nia. Haha..

~ ~ Lost? ~ ~

在这世界，只要人人关心人人、人人有人关心，
彷徨而无助的心灵应该会少很多吧...

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有一位伟大的父亲这么说：

哪怕天下所有人都看不起你的孩子，做父母的也要含热泪地欣赏他、拥抱他、赞美他，为自己创造的生命而永远自豪。孩子的成长道路犹如跑道和战场，父母应该为他们多喊『加油』，高呼『冲啊』，哪怕孩子 1000 次跌倒，也要坚信他们能 1001 次站起来。

这爱是那样的纯粹，不含一丁点儿杂质，不管付出多大的代价，不管这种付出有没有结果，爱是不变的，爱是不能中断的，爱是不讲条件的。

Virtual “World Tour”

I was just playing with Google Earth. I took a simple tour and the itinerary includes :

Forbidden City @ Beijing, China

Niagara Falls @ Ontario, Canada



Great Pyramid @ Giza, Egypt



Petronas Tower @ Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia



Statue of Liberty @ New York, USA



Sydney Opera House @ Sydney, Australia

Wow! With Google Earth, can travel (virtually).
But certainly nothing beats reaching there in person. This June… erm... shall get real, shall travel. :)

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有一位作者这么说：

没有种不好的庄家，只有不会种庄家的农民；
没有教不好的孩子，只有不会教的父母和老师。
农民怎样对待庄家，决定了庄家的收成；
父母怎样对待孩子，决定了孩子的命运。

Solving his (and my) “Problem”

There is a little gap in a certain topic which I fail to close. I mean I had always tried to avoid that in my explanation, and over the years no one really questions me. This little “problem” has been with me since very long ago. I thought it was just my “problem”. It was there, but lying there in super low profile unless someone were to dig it out.

Today, someone just did that. I mean he asked me about that weakest spot of mine, something which I have been always trying to hide. Mm.. Of course, I was frank enough to acknowledge my ignorance about the topic. I can’t possibly bluff my way through. So he walked away without an answer. This kept me thinking on the “problem” for a few hours. Strangely, all of a sudden I became so determined to solve the “problem”.

Ladies and gentlemen, I did it. Gladly, I went to him to offer an explanation. He was convinced and was equally glad. He was glad, no just because he had gotten an explanation that cleared his doubts, but he is now much more confident to share with his *little pals. So he is really asking on behalf of his *little pals. Nice! I am glad just because I feel I can be of some help to someone, in some little ways I know.

When the “problem” is mine alone, I just couldn’t bother too much. But when I know something is of concern with someone I know well, I am much more determined to offer my assistance. Maybe, as what I shared with some others some time ago, when we solve the “problems” of others, our “problems” are automatically diminished or even solved by itself. Heh..

Anyway, what do we mean by "problem"? How are our so-called "problems" compare with the real problems out there, the real problems faced by many people we know or do not know? Nevertheless, I would agree whole-heartedly that one's life need not be always smooth-sailing. But even when there are "waves", we just have to be strong enough to face it, to "cut the waves". And during our co-existence in planet earth, wouldn't it be great if everyone tries to help each other to lessen the "ill-effects" of each other's "problems".

Life goes on. Let's live on. Let's offer in our own little ways...

Hey, surely these doggies need a helping hand to freedom.
Ready to offer yours?

Always His “Babies”..

I happened to be with WK. We met his father. His father was working at that moment as a waiter, yet upon seeing his son, he appeared so jovial and came over and chatted so light-heartedly with WK. There was much warmth in their casual exchanges. I exchanged greetings with his father too. Although it was the first time we met, he even teased WK to give me a treat. Ha..

What I’m describing seems to be such a normal thing between a father and son. However I still find it heart-warming knowing that WK is 39 year-old and his dad should be easily past 65 year-old.

Perhaps, in the father’s eyes, his sons and daughters are always his “babies”. Age is never an issue.

I then ask, in our own eyes, is our father always our dear daddy – the way we emotionally/physically/psychologically clinched on when we were really their babies? The thought of 老莱子 (in 戏彩娱亲) springs to my mind now. :)

~ Holding Hands ~
A father holding the hand of his baby may be thinking :
This is the time I can hold your hands. When you grow older, you may not want me to hold your hands anymore.
A father kissing his baby may also be thinking :
This is the time you allow me to kiss you and like my kisses, you may not let me kiss you when you grow older.

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有一位圣者这么说：

重新检视我对天之奉献，深层反思我待人之心念。
谦逊必须是真实态度，过于自损是一种惯性伪善。
真实是看清自我缺失，了解本身能力界限。
不必刻意褒贬自己，只须认知精进应是无间断。
礼仪非规范，德格贵在自然。
导心误差，莫只企图改变世界茫乱。

Serious = Adorable

C and C were lazy fellows. Mind you, I am using the past tense here.
All of a “sudden”, they become so adorable. I am switching to the present tense here.
They prepare their work, submit their work (although the quality of which may be further improved), come to remedial lessons voluntarily, answer on-the-spot questions posted to the class, etc. I can sense they are aiming high and know where they are going.

I tell you, all *little pals who are serious with their work are so adorable.

Perhaps, it is always the attitude of someone that impresses me more easily. Okay, I am also equally impressed by one’s aptitude in areas which I have little knowledge in. Erm… Somehow, my thinking is still skewed towards the belief that “it’s the attitude and not the aptitude that determines the altitude”.

It’s natural that as we are approaching to the end of the year, all the *little pals will be getting more and more serious. And that’s when they become more and more adorable. And that’s when I will harness inexhaustible energy to match all their enquires. Gladly! :)

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有一位圣者这么说：

谩说烦恼难解，休言道理无味。
饥食稠粥有馀香，暖卧半床好入睡。

Mothers . . .

One day, I told my mother I shall be back home for dinner, but I returned pretty late. While I was walking from the lift and towards my main door which was opened, I noticed (through the metal grill) my father was sitting in the living room. I also noticed that my mother was walking towards the sofa. Immediately when she sat down, I reached the main door, took my key out and was about to open the metal grill. At that moment, my mum noticed that I had returned. She jolted from her seat, got up and walked into the kitchen. And I heard her saying almost to herself, “I go and warm the food first.”

Just tell her what I like to eat and I can be sure I will have the same dish on almost alternate days until I signal “maybe a change is better”.

Those are her subtle ways of showing concern and care. Many other ways too… I can only be thankful.

On a different note, I would like to ask how many of us would describe our mother/father as “naggy”. Not surprisingly, our so called “naggy” mother/father may also describe our grand mother/father as “naggy” too. Heh.. I wonder if that is a natural trait to observe by parents? But when we listen (not hear only) deeper into the nagging, do we find the forces behind are still care and concern?

Ladies/Gentlemen out there, will you eventually be “naggy” mummy/daddy too?
Okay, I can almost “hear” you saying no.
Erm... But ...
- Our daddy / mummy thought that way too, before they have us.
- See the way we treat our younger siblings (if you have any), do we observe that we may “discipline” or “nag” them the way our parents do to us? :P

Hahaha..

Anyway, on this special day, someone shared his thoughts about parents (and I think it’s rather touching) :
一身的简朴
一生的简朴
我们回家给你们拍张照片
在你们看来都是孝顺
我们已经很久不在你们身边
你们相携相扶
以成彼此几乎唯一的依靠
曾经那么辛苦和忙碌
是为了我们都够少受些苦
现在我们都长大成人了
你们为什么还要这样的劳累
我们是你们唯一的希望
是你们任劳任怨的原因
是你们含辛茹苦的动力
是你们无怨无悔的选择
小时候我们还给你们挠过背
长大后就再没有了
当妈妈给你挠背时
你们还总夸我们懂事
为了我们芝麻点的小事
你们会起个大早走很远的路
你们那样的焦急
却从不跟我们提起
我们每次远行
你们都是那么的放心不下
即使走出很远很远
都走不出你们牵挂的视线
你们一直撑着这个家
不经意间我们才猛然发现
你们老了，真的老了
而且越来越苍老
树欲静而风不止
子欲养而亲不在
我们总是用太多的借口安慰自己
你们却有太多的理由原谅我们
曾经给我们剪指甲的母亲
皱纹多了，眼睛花了
曾经强壮无比的父亲
瘦弱得那样可怜
似乎从不生病的你们
现在不得不去医院
似乎从来没有眼泪的你们
现在也会流下无言的泪
你们总是跟我们说
在外要照顾好自己
你们总是说家里一切都好
不用挂念我们 … …
你们最挂念的是我们
我们最挂念的却不是你们
你们曾经给予我们最无私的爱
却在你们最需要爱和温暖的时候
只能左手温暖右手
节目越来越多
我们往往都能记住
我们却需要相互提醒
五月的第二个星期天是母亲节
六月的第三个星期天是父亲节

And I think the following song sang by 杨坤 and 谭晶 “summarizes” pretty well.

天下父母心

[The Song]
[The Lyrics]

Introducing : Changi Point Boardwalk

A lazy morning?
Nope!
Since I bother to land myself in the early hours at Changi, I think I am not that lazy. Hee..

Mm.. Drove along Cranwell Road and found this (my first shot of the day) :

I actually spent around 2 and a half hours there, exploring the trail. It wasn’t a long trail, just that I was walking really slowly, absorbing the energy smothering the region. I also took some photos along the way.

My second shot being this :

Ha. The resolution of the original photo is good enough for me to zoom in and read the name of the road clearly. So, this picture became my instant portable map for the trip.

The pictures below explain why the name “Boardwalk” (most of the time, I was walking on broad board)...

Looking out at the sea, the views can be rather enchanting…

I’d never seen these sign boards below :

Actually, instead of telling me what not to do, they gave me an idea of what I should be doing. *Evil Grin*

More photos here.

I think it’s quite a nice place to visit during the evening time too. Jogging might be fine. Strolling (with someone) could be good. Or just aimlessly walk and relax lah. You can’t possibly be lost. Heh.. I heard the sunset there is quite a draw too. ;P

I Didn’t Know I’d Made Her Cry

I am so bad. I really didn’t know I’d made C cry, once upon a time. I happened to be chatting with her CT. I made a remark as to how much she has progressed lately. Her CT contributed C’s progress to her determined nature and her courage to ask. Her CT related an incident where she even encouraged C’s classmates to learn from C. It was then, C told her CT about one of her consultation experiences with me.

C told her CT that during one of the consultation sessions in the early part of the year, I seemed to be at the brim of “bursting” for the kind of questions she asked. She was so scared. The session was no too long. She went back home and cried pretty badly.

Upon hearing this, I went quite numb. A little shiver went up my spine too, I guess. Aiyah.. Felt quite bad lah. It must be quite traumatizing for her.

Her CT continued that the next day, she came to ask for a consultation session again. I think I vaguely remember that now. I also recalled that she even had a little problem sketching a general straight line when I first met her last year. She persisted on and made reasonable progress till the end of her year one and made it to year 2 this year. Especially lately, we met for consultation pretty often and I can see that she is progressing pretty well, topping the class occasionally, but she could be at the other end of the spectrum occasionally also.

At the beginning of the year.. erm.. perhaps I wasn’t feeling right myself then. I was … mm…
I never have the intention to hurt anyone. I’ve always hope the learning experiences/journeys of my *little pals could be enjoyable and in years to come, they may recall the experiences/journeys with a tinge of sweetness. The only relief would be that this young lady is very determined and she could left that isolated incident behind and persevere on.

Me, on my side, better go and do some reflections and not to hurt anyone, even unintentionally, even when I’m down and out, even when.. mm..

~ Calm ~
A simple picture, reminding me to be calm always.

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有一位圣者这么说：

善良的懦弱强化了邪恶的狠毒，
各体的自私破坏了群体的前途。
怨他人虚荣之清高者，正是渴求荣誉之痴徒。
未反诸己便思影响他人，浅陋心志凭何立足。
爱心来自我肯悔罪督促己，才有力量解万毒。

A Visit to ISD Heritage Centre

ISD = Internal Security Department

A visit there was quite an eye opener, leaving one feels that espionage, terrorism, foreign subversion can be so real (even here).

Some standard questions are
- Can Singapore be sabotaged by other countries?
- Are racial and religious conflicts still possible in Singapore?
- Has Singapore ever been a target or haven for terrorists?
- Does anyone spy on Singapore?

There are evidences to attest that the answers for the above questions are all affirmative.
Scary leh.

While most will agree that the answers are affirmative, but how are we “dealing” with it? Are we alert enough of the strange happenings around us?

The department actually conducted a simple experiment some time ago (to check how alert we may be). They asked one of their own guys to dress up as a suicide bomber. That is, he had to wear a bomb around his body, the way a suicide bomber does. Since that kind of bomb is quite a large one, there was such an unnatural bulge protruding in front of the guy, underneath the t-shirt he was wearing. He was walking around one of the entrances of our Raffles MRT station. There were streams of people. That place was kind of crowded at that time. Yet, no one gave him a second glance. Mm…

What would we do, if we were among the crowd at that moment and saw such a guy walking around? The advice is to alert the police lor, if we sighted anything unusual.

Remember the two occasions where bombs went off at Bali? Mm..

The trip was educational. I saw a lie-detector, a cipher, microdot, ...

~ Running Freely ~

We certainly hope to be living in a country where the youngs and olds alike, may run freely without fear.

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有一位圣者这么说：

独处是与心灵沟通最好的时刻，不必恐惧内心浮起的善恶。
升华必在每个层次淬炼，纯化能量喂养心的饥渴。
享受寂寞时的宁静，将使自己更明哲。

(Small) Talk about < 宝莲灯 >

[ 宝莲灯 ] is currently running in Channel 8, every Monday to Friday, from 7pm to 8pm. I’m not promoting it. There are many versions of it and I just want to make sure we are talking at the same ground.

Between [ 时装戏 ] and [ 古装戏 ], I admit that I have a “soft-spot” for the latter. Usually, I don’t feel as much if I were to miss an episode or two of some [ 时装戏 ], but erm… I will long for the next episode of a [ 古装戏 ] that I am following. I can’t really explain the trend. Never mind.

However, I don’t get the same feeling after watching a few random episodes of the [ 宝莲灯 ]. I don’t think they depicted the deities correctly. All the deities are too humanized. But again, we are only human, how can we truly understand the thoughts of the deities?

I have seen other versions of [ 宝莲灯 ], but they all put [ 二郎神 ] in quite a bad-light. Heh.. And dear [ 孝天犬 ] was to be despised (accordingly to the series). I don’t know [ 二郎神 ] and [ 孝天犬 ] personally (duh!), but I don’t think the portrayals are right.

Mm.. We can still learn something from the show though (I think). Just observe for yourself how [ 沉香 ] demonstrated [ 孝 ] . The bonding is indeed rather touching. Will we go that far, do that much for our parents? Okay, I hear that you say “yes”.

~ Bonding ~
I think this beautiful picture depicts the bonding between human relationship pretty well. Believe me, strong bonding doesn't come that "naturally", most (if not all) of the time. It takes effort on both sides. The one who understands it, starts first.

Back to the little point I am saying. I think it’s never really easy to understand the thinking of the many deities and the enlightened ones. Many times, we even misinterpreted their teachings. Other times, we even suspected their teachings. (Examples are left out purposely). Just ask ourselves, did we ever felt “strange” after reading a paragraph or two in the Bible or Scriptures? That is, we question their teaching. Questioning is good, but many choose to just interpret in some unfavourable ways and decided that this is not what they want. Would we miss out something then? I think it might be better to humble ourselves and seek clarification with the seniors (you find more comfortable with), rather than walking away from it. The truth might be there waiting for you.

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有一位圣者这么说：

愤世不能救世，而若连一点愤世之热情都被冷漠心态取代者，将会成为被世间遗弃的人。
人生有多久，君子志气与生命同存。
振奋吧！ 回头吧！莫让心魔魔了你又魔了你领导的千万人。

Live a Life that Matters

Sunny Sunday, the skyline so well defined
Feeling relax and wish to hit the coastline
But, there are things to set them right
Maybe another day, should be just fine

But it’s a Sunday, let me think of something as a nice compromise
Oh, just by eating something light, with a company by my side
And reading the newspaper line by line, will be as fine
Not surprisingly, PAP’s victory issue being the headline

Anyway, some thoughts ran through my mind
Mainly thinking about life
Chanced upon an article
Allow me to summarize

Hope the topic discussed is not being too heavy
But it really concerns you and me
Take some time reading
Let’s live a life more enriching

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Life :
Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end.

There will be no more sunrise, no minutes, hours or days.
All things we collected, whether treasured or forgotten will pass to someone else.
Our wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.
It will not matter what we owned or what we were owed.
Our grudges, resentments, frustration, jealousies will finally disappear.
So, too, our hopes, ambitions, plans and to-do lists will expire.
The wins and losses that once seemed so important will fade away.
It won't matter where we came from, or on what side of the tracks we lived at the end.
It won't matter whether we were beautiful or brilliant.
Even our gender and skin color will be irrelevant.

So, what will matter? How will the value of our days measured?

What will matter is not you bought, but what you built; not what you got but what you gave.
What will matter is not our success, but our significance.
What will matter is not we learned, but what we taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage or sacrifice that enriched, empowered, or encouraged others to emulate our example.
What will matter is not our competence, but our character.
What will matter is not how many people we know, but how many will feel a lasting loss when we are gone.
What will matter is not our memories, but the memories that live in those who loved us.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.
It's not a matter of circumstance but of choice.

Choose to live a life that matters.

Some Impressions

I just learnt (from C) that, some days ago some of my fellow colleagues gathered informally and were talking about some daily practices of some prominent local figures, they read about in the papers. I was somehow dragged into their conversation.

A : Wa, everyday, Mr X wakes up 6 am in the morning, eats his breakfast, reads the papers, goes for a jog, … and then meditates for 20 minutes.
B : Is it? So Nanzi also mediate right?
C (who is supposed to know me better) : Oh, this ah? I am not too sure leh.
B : Mm.. So Nanzi jogs very often right?
C : Oh, this one ah? Erm.. I don’t think so. Haha..

Interesting. I didn’t know that’s how they see me. Flattered somewhat. I did not probe further (from C) why they have that kind of impression of me. Nevertheless, we can only be sure, whatever we do, whatever we say, everyone is watching. Ha, it’s only sensible that we are mindful of our actions or speech then. Don’t get me wrong. I am saying this not because we are being watched. Rather, it’s the only way to be fairer to ourselves as our actions or speech may reap favourable or unfavourable consequences accordingly.

Even when we are alone, I think we ought to be mindful of our thoughts too. Perhaps, during those periods of “perceived loneliness”¹, our thoughts may reveal our true self.

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¹ We will never be really alone. HE is watching, listening, if no one does.

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Of course, this is not true all the time. But it does bring across the importance of the willingness to make an effort to communicate in order to make any relationship last meaningfully.