Go back to where you came from

It is now the most watched documentary in Australia.

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/go-back-a-ratings-winner-for-sbs-20110622-1ged3.html 

To watch it online. 

http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/goback/episodes/page/i/1/h/Episodes/ 

Happy watching. 

The cast of  "Go back to where you came from".

请多保重

偷拍. 

被发现啦. 

在Jungle Trekking时, 看到了这温馨的一幕.

十分钟里, 俩人并没有交谈. 就那样静静的坐着. 

一切尽在不言中. 

亲爱的朋友们, 请多保重. 让我们一起慢慢变老.

老来互相调侃， 当然也互相勉励.

我可是会活的很老的.呵呵. 

魔术师

乍看一下， 很像魔术师， 就抛下朋友， 跟了上去。
拍完照后， 把他跟丢了， 还蛮失落的。
事后回想， 会失落是因为那一顺间， 我把他当成了我生命里的魔术师，
可以把我不喜欢的都变走的魔术师。

再见他的话， 会对他说：" Hey mate, so... Harry is your friend ?"  呵呵。

Dhammacakka Day Gift

HS, thanks and I owe you once. 

Eighth core value: Reflection

  

Long long time ago, in a monastery, all the monks practice meditation every evening.  There is a kitten in the monastery always kacau the monks when they are meditating.  So the old Abbot tied this kitten on the pillar every time before they go to meditate.  After long long time, the Abbot passed away but the kitten is still being tied on the pillar every time they meditate until it grows old and dies. Then the monks buy another kitten and tied it on the pillar every time they want to meditate. They practise this for a long long time. Until there is a sutra and catatan on the benefits of tying a kitten on the pillar while meditating.  The moral of the story is we cannot follow tradition merely without asking why. We cannot follow things blindly but must understand why we do that.  E.g. why we must bounce three times when paying respect? Why we must offer fruit, flower and water to the Triple Gems so on and so forth.  The Buddha never taught us to do all these. The Buddha only shared with us the essential things that will lead us to the Nibbana which are the Four-Noble truths and Noble Eight-fold path.  This is because the Buddha knew that human mind is very easy to create ideology.  The way we do Puja is a cultural thing or a way of paying respect.  Once ideology is being created, human mind will cling on it and believe that it is the truth.  Clinging creates attachments.  Attachments are afflictions.  It is this affliction which keeps us in the Samsara and makes us not able to be freed.

We can do reflection in a truthful way to achieve liberation from affliction. Affliction refers to attachment due to greed, hatred and delusions.  We have to reflect every day: Do I have greedy thought today? Do I act greedily today? Do I say something which will lead to greedy action? Do I have any hatred thought? Do I get angry today? Why do I get angry? What are the objects and subjects that make me feel angry? Do I have frivolous thought, action and speech today?  We must reflect sincerely and truthfully. Or else it will become justification but not reflection.

One can study Buddhism very well, like an Abhidhammist.  But still there are Abhidhammists who are depressed. So, knowledge has to be coupled with reflection then only it is called as LEARNING.

Learning is not simply adding on information.  Learning only happen when a person reflects and finally realizes the truth then only a person can be transformed. A teacher cannot transform us. A teacher can only inform. Inform us the knowledge. We have to always reflect and walk the path on our own. The Buddha didn't save Angulimala. It was Angulimala did the reflection on the Buddha's word. Then he realized that was true and finally transformed himself to a better person. 

Adding more knowledge is like adding more water to a fountain.  But it is not like lighting a lamp which will dispel the darkness. Only wisdom can dispel darkness.

Footnote: 

Eight core values

·        Compassion: The passion to the community. Be passion in helping and supporting each other. 

·        Courage: Able to cope with adversities and having the courage to go on.

·        Respect

·        Integrity

·        Service

·        Faith

·        Learning

·        Reflection

Song dedication to a VVIP

I would like to dedicate a song to a VVIP in my life.
Message to her is " 这些年来， 辛苦了。
"Many thanks to you for all these wonderful years. Love you."

Her name is Lee Yean Low. 呵呵呵。 :D

Songwriters: Baker, Gary / Wilson, William Lon

I know this pain
Why do lock yourself up in these chains?
No one can change your life except for you
Don't ever let anyone step all over you
Just open your heart and your mind, mmm
Is it really fair to feel this way inside?

Chorus

Ooh some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then baby are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry
Don't you know?
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can you hold on for one more day
Things'll go your way
Hold on for one more day (one more day)

You could sustain (you could sustain , you could sustain)
Mmm or are you comfortable with the pain?
You've got no one to blame for your unhappiness (no baby)
You got yourself into your own mess (ooooooo)
Lettin' your worries pass you by (lettin' your worries pass you by)
Baby don't you think it's worth your time
To change your mind?

Chorus

Noo noo, some day somebody's gonna make you want to
Turn around and say goodbye
Until then baby are you going to let them
Hold you down and make you cry
Don't you know?
Don't you know things can change
Things'll go your way
If you hold on for one more day
Can you hold on for one more day
Things'll go your way (oh things'll go your way)
Hold on for one more day

I know that there is pain
But you hold on for one more day
And you break free from the chains
Yeah I know that there is pain
But you hold for one more day-acap

Self Service

We always think that doing voluntary work is a sort of giving.
In fact, we are the ones who gain the most when we give.
When you're doing service, you're serving yourself the most.

Be daring to give or to share as you won't lose anything.
Be mindful when selecting voluntary work that you want to get involved as it cost you the most expensive resource in your life which is time.

树在脱皮

冬天，树在脱皮， 意境就像蝴蝶破蛹。
“树皮一层层的，仿佛要脱掉旧衣换新裳一般”。
这些树都长在我家门前。
天天经过， 提醒我要一层层的认识我自己，
接受丑陋的自己， 慢慢净化自己， 就像大树脱皮一样。

蝴蝶破蛹，大树脱皮，人也要不停的重组才能成长。

脱皮 (1)

脱皮 (2)

脱皮 (3)

脱皮 (4)

人其实很小。。。

如果你的视野很广的话。

甘孜州.

Dandenong Ranges National Park, Melbourne.

Self-check 8: It's never too late ...

... to grow old disgracefully.

You are as old as your mind,
not the calendar.
Make each day a new day.
Refuse to relive old days.
Make bold plans.
Set new personal bests.
Journey into the unknown with abandon.

"Remember to learn something and unlearn something every day."
metta

Genomics is there to stay

I was amazed...

I guess John Quackenbush was right when he said genomics is there to stay. Thanks for sharing, Prof!

小心, 隔墙有耳！！

如有雷同，纯属巧合。 :)

Mind labels with perception

In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions out of their own minds and then believe them to be true.
Our life is the creation of our mind.
The Buddha

There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.
Shakespeare

看不清楚是因为戴了有色眼镜(perception).
So how does perception begin to form in our mind?

Daniel Gilbert 在 Stumbling on Happiness 书中提到, 验究显示因为我们有 memory (we remember how we felt)所以才会有perception. We perceive things as we think they are. When we are doing this, the brain gets information from memory (past experience), visual perception (present experience) and visual imagination(prospection).

越说越觉得跟 Paticca Samuppada 有关...

It's time 是时候了

前几天父亲节打电话回家时， 察觉老爸老了， 而我长得很大了。
退休后的他，生活素质下降了。时间都花在睡午觉及看电视。

当时是这样想的， 是时候我来当爸爸的爸爸了。
It's time for me to be my father's father and my mother's mother wholeheartedly and unconditionally.

首先，催他去换副眼镜。 看得清楚是很重要的！呵呵
再来，鼓励他在家门前空地种些小菜。
然后，让他帮我跑点腿。
。。。

要记住的是， 我不是要改造他， 只是要帮他再次的找到自己。
老爸， 接招吧。

Happiness

Happiness arises from the timely company of friends.
Happiness arises from having few needs.
Happiness arises from accumulated virtue at life's end.
Happiness arises from seeing beyond suffering.
~ Dhp v331 ~

Welcome!!

May you have a beautiful life!!

Success vs Value

Try not to become a man of success but a man of value.
~ Albert Einstein ~

A man of value is a man of success. How true it is?

Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude to get what he desires.
~ Thomas Jefferson ~

Hibernating ...

想冬眠，因为觉得我又在迷失于花花世界里了。
让我静静的， 一个人再次的找到平衡点。

生活，不过如此吧。
呵呵
跌倒了，再爬起。
迷路了，再走过。
做错了，再改过。
没什么大不了的。

想冬眠，也可能是因为现在是冬天吧。
低温让人懒洋洋的。
冬天，是我想家的季节。:)
还好，还有个家让我想。 哈哈哈

Dalai Lama

''Peace of mind, you can't buy it from a supermarket. You can buy a diamond ring, but you can't buy peace of mind,'' Dalai Lama declares.

Who can give you the peace of mind?
Answer: Yourself

Koala - Phascolarctos cinereus

Ajahn Kalyano said koala represents 'metta',my Buddhist name, that's why people like to hug kaola.

So... I'm a koala.

No wonder I enjoy hugging and sleeping so much. :)

Loving You by MinnIE RipErton

Happy Wedding, Yar Ching!

Price Tag bY JEssiE J.

Don't be afraid as you have your heart to guide you.
Do continue to protect your heart.

Luck

Luck is often merely the result of persistent careful work coupled with astute observation. Hence, don't just sit there and wait for luck. Instead, let's work hard to EARN some luck. hehe

Birthday Message

A birthday message that I want to remember :)

Happy Birthday, little Lee Yean.
Look back of your past ages and ask yourself:
Do you feel proud of yourself?
Youth, as said, is not the state of age but rather the state of mind.
I know you just teased yourself over the age,
but I seriously believe we'll keep young and curious towards knowledge and learning, and in the process to be wiser. :)
Again, Happy Birthday.

Pindapata

休息

我想休息所以决定休息。

The Summary

To be remembered:
Wisdom is the essence,
Compassion is the outcome,
Mindfulness is the method.

~Benny Liow~

Word + Wording

我在想， 文字很历害只是因为阅读人的想象与扁见吧！
文字只是文字， 所有的东西都只是阅读人的个人的诠释罢了。

Open your ears

Remember to not only open your eyes, but ears as well then you can get some very good advices from others :)

Many thanks to you, Shin Foong and Happy Birthday!!
May you grow from a big boy to a big man soon keke :)

过去， 现在， 未来

我们常怀念过去，期待未来，忘了现在。
真的是性难移，惯难改。
要警惕自己， 不好好把握现在，以后那有好的过去可怀念？
看，死性难改。 又在期待未来了。。。
做人， 难啊。
Life is tricky that is why it's so wonderful. :D

It's Einstein again :D

“Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.”

~ Albert Einstein ~

Ahh.. Einstein, I love you so much :)

慈

"True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring."

~ Martin Luther King, 1967 ~

缘

所有单身者，难过时，就用这安慰自己吧.

若有缘， 再苦味也是甜。
若无缘， 藏爱在心田。

莫歌星莫首歌的歌词。

Copy上瘾... 呵呵

Rojak -2

关于爱

1. Love brings out the best in us, sometimes the worst.
2. Why love if losing hurts so much? We love to know that we are not alone.
3. Live with no regrets, love with no excuses.
4. Love is also care for others, with love we are not living for our own.
5. ‎A life with love will have some thorns, but a life without love will have no roses.

Copy cat :)

今天，来做个拷贝猫。。

Rojak- 1

"Though one should live a hundred years idle and inactive, yet better, indeed, is a single day's life of one who makes an intense effort". Dh v.112

因為幸福沒有捷徑 只有經營...

我试着让生活变得简单
对幸福或寂寞顺其自然
偶尔傻傻孤单 偶尔傻傻浪漫
不怕大喜大悲那麽难负担
不想再背负太多期盼
对好奇或关心顺其自然
只是那点不安 只是那点心酸
总会忽然扩散 让心又累又茫然....

Stubbornness

Being stubborn in something which is right, I called it tenacity.
Being stubborn in something which is not right, I called it stupidity.

But, who is there to judge what is right and not right???

Preference

Nice people attracts kind attention. ~JG~
Sadly, we just cannot run away from having preference and perception.

Dukkha

Suffering is depending on the arising of causes and conditions.
It is not depending on either you or me.
But, you and I may be one of the causes or conditions.

Please pray for Japan

We pray for their strength and resolve in facing this calamity. We also pray for the deceased and wish for their well-being in the after-life.

俩年

俩年了， 离乡背井。
再过俩年又俩年， 就可以回家了。

:)

走路

我们总是一直在走路。
有时候一起走， 有时候一个人走。
一起也好，一个人也好， 总要把路走好。

心被关住

心被关住 = 闷
所以要把心打开， 接受大家与自己的优缺点， 心才不会闷。

House vs Home

He gives her a house; She gives him a home. :)

压力

因为要求高，所以不容自己出错， 不容自己说不会。
错了就难受； 不会就自责。
让自己越来越难受， 越来越压力。

忘了学无止境，忘了没有人什么都懂，忘了错了可以改过，忘了不会可以学习。

Waiting...

No one wants to wait forever ??!!

A Quote

‎"If we all tried to make other people’s paths easy, our own feet would have a smooth even place to walk on.” ~ Myrtle Reed ~

Incubating...

新年快乐

New year message from a friend:

I won't wish you have a year full of joy, as life is only complete with ups and downs. I wish you be able to cherish more the wonderful parts of life and,
be stronger to confront the challenges.

~ Bitter and sweet experiences should have the same weight in our lives as they both teach us something. ~

Essential and non-essential

Focus, focus, focus. I need to focus on what is essential and not the non-essential. Who can help me???

我性本恶

当心，我性本恶 ！！

Learning

I finished schooling; but I never finished learning.

~ DR ~

Love and to be loved

Why always want to be loved, why don't be someone who loves instead?

~m~

New Year 2011

My 2011 resolutions are
- Be POSITIVE
- Develop my capacity for everyone :)
- Be healthy

My sincere apology to those who I hurt intentionally or unintentionally by deeds, speech or action. May you forgive me.

May all be safe, happy and well always.

With love,
Lee Yean

NIL

There is no stupid question in this world :)

~gh~

One of My Random Thoughts

Know the outside world.
Know the inside world.
Create a balance between outside and inside worlds.
Build a bridge then we can cross over two worlds.
By doing so, you may then live like a frog.
A frog which is able to breath in water and on land.

My First Day with Monash University

Take note of these sacred dwellings so appropriately described as "Laboratories". Ensure that they proliferate, for they are the temples of the future.

~ Louis Pasteur ~
Academy of Science
Paris
March 4, 1868

Go go go

If you have no fear then you're not taking the challenges so go go go. :)

A Gentle Reminder

If you are only 'fairly sure', proceed with confidence. But if you feel you are completely sure, proceed with caution.

The Shawshank Redemption

Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.

Paradox, Humour and Change

Dan Millman: Life has just three rules?
Socrates: And you already know them...
Dan Millman: Paradox, humour, and change.
Socrates: Paradox...
Dan Millman: Life is a mystery. Don't waste time trying to figure it out.
Socrates: Humour...
Dan Millman: Keep a sense of humour, especially about yourself. It is a strength beyond all measure.
Socrates: Change...
Dan Millman: Know that nothing stays the same.

For One More Day - Mitch Albom

A reminder from the book "A child embarrassed by his mother, is just a child who has not lived long enough."

Thinking outside the box

Suddenly, I recalled what my friend said to me long long time ago:" People say we have to think out of the box, but why do we have to think with a box? We have to think without a box..."

Till now, I cannot really understand how to practice what he shared: to think without a box.

Is the 'box' referring to 'perception'?

We think we are thinking outside the box only because we cannot see how big the box really is. Imagination cannot easily transcend the boundaries of the present, and one reason for this is that it must borrow machinery that is owned by perception. Daniel Gilbert.

Spiritual Athlete

Don't become a victim of spiritual athlete who goes to one meditation retreat after another.

It's not a matter of gaining a particular kind of special experience but is a matter of understanding the nature of all experiences.

Albert Einstein (2)

"That which is impenetrable to us really exits. Behind the secrets of nature remains something subtle, intangible, an inexplicable. Veneration for this force beyond that we can comprehend is my religion" -Albert Einstein-

Is this force = Kamma??

Leader vs Followers

A leader can only be a good leader if he is supported by good followers ~DR~

Faye Wong

我眼中的我， 也只是一部分真实的我。

A better way

Where there is a will, there will be a way.

Cannot Be Bothered By Details???

Discipline is based on pride, on meticulous attention to details, and on mutual respect and confidence. Discipline must be a habit so ingrained that it is stronger than the excitement of the goal or the fear of failure. ~ Gary Ryan Blair ~

Grudges

May I bear no grudges against anyone or anything.

The Secret Teachings of All Ages

~ To live in the world without becoming aware of the meaning of the world is like wandering about in a great library without touching the books. ~

Repression vs Suppression

Suppression is done mindfully to not allowing the distracting thoughts in taking control of our mind. Suppression can be translated as "to arrest", e.g arresting the motion of a moving object. To bring the uncontrollable mind to stillness. Repression is done after compulsion, fear and without realizing what we are doing.

As defilements are not permanent or independent but based on causes and conditions so suppression sometimes can be used to 'fight' with our defilements.

Commitment

Thing that we have committed we have to deliver; not only we have to deliver but have to do it WELL. Simply because our commitment affects others.

内敛

“内敛，可以说是我们为人处世的传统方式。
不以物喜，不以己悲，是一种内敛；
智欲圆而行欲方，胆欲大而心欲小，也算一种内敛；
凡事不张扬，得意时不忘形，富足时不骄矜，位卑或者贫穷时也不谄媚，更是一种内敛。

内敛也是适可而止，是含蓄，是不夸张，是给人家留个面子。
无比的坚定统一，也是内敛。

摘自（雅虎知识堂）

What is wisdom?

Knowing how to response in every situation and bringing a positive result to a situation requires timely mindfulness.

垃圾桶

今天， 我是大大的垃圾桶。很荣幸。

王力宏「伯牙絕弦」MV

人生在世， 知音难求。

Lovely Birthday Cards

Fear

“We cannot banish dangers, but we can banish fears. People living deeply have no fear for death.” Anonymous

QC

QC your own work, word, act, and thought but not others'.

Wedding vs Marriage

When you prepare for your wedding, don't forget to also prepare for you marriage. Best wishes.

A Perfectionist

It's a jinx to be a perfectionist. hmm.. sometimes..

Choosing not to Grow Up

Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. -- Chili Davis

Nalanda Buddhist Society: Ajahn Kalyano Visited Nalanda

Nalanda Buddhist Society: Ajahn Kalyano Visited Nalanda

Universal Problem

Viewing the 'other' as a 'stranger' is not the problem; the problem is dissolving the "strangeness". By Ron Adams

Demystifying The Thesis by Ron Adams

Dear Academic,

Knowledge is your power, words is your tool. So activate your hunger for words.

Best wishes
Ron Adams

The most beautiful day of my life

Every morning, tell yourself:"Today is the most beautiful day of my life." :-)

Effective Delivery

Metro Trains chief executive Andrew Lezala explaining to the public about the Melbourne's train network. The Age, 1 August, 2010.

''Because we have a spider [network], if we want to have a spider's web we have to have the buses connecting the legs up effectively,'' he said. ''The buses have a vital role to play.''

''When the services get to the centre, they cross over each other a lot,'' Mr Lezala said. ''If you traced the path of all the trains it would be like spaghetti. We need to get it so it is more like lasagne, so we have got … flow through the middle, so if one line is in trouble it doesn't affect another line.'

What I learnt from the e-mail, 7%

1. Agree to disagree.
2. Time heals everything. Give time time.
3. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
4. Forgive everyone everything.
5. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one does.
6. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

Sati Sampajanna

Three factors of meditation:
1) Sati – mindfulness, not forgetting or remembering,
2) Sampajanna – alertness, awareness or wakefulness,
3) Appropriate effort.

Suffering

Notes from Vassa one-day retreat with Ajahn Kalayno

1. Some suffering in life are subtle and we don't even know we are experiencing them.
2. Suffering is to be understood and dealt with wisely but not to be avoided.
3. Some suffering cannot be avoided, e.g. old age, death...

Miscellaneous
Hearing is just hearing: When you are mindful, you'll notice the whole hearing process. 1) I hear that 2) I give meaning to that (he is praising me) 3) I know that I am receiving praise 4) I check the truthfulness of the saying (you'll be able to do that only when your wisdom and mindfulness are strong enough)

Practise to think, say and react in a neutral way, e.g.
1) The cow is eating the grass on the field. (not the ugly cow is eating the grass on the field...)

Being a RI teacher

Children of Victorian, here I come!!

Time

Time is a concept.
It's conditioned by the absence or presence of your desire towards something.

When you want something so much but you haven't got it yet or you haven't been satisfied then you will feel that time passes so slow ...so slow...

A timely motivation to metta

1) We'll be able to detach at the end, only if we have tried hard enough in the first place.
2) Don't give up hunting until you get the best meat
3) Give more patience
4) Aim HIGH

Misc

" Many folk like to know beforehand what is to be set on the table; but those who have laboured to prepare the feast like to keep their secret; for wonder makes the words of praise louder." ~ The Return of the King ~

Home

What does this word mean to you?

Answers:
1. A place where I feel comfortable and relax
2. "My sweetheart is here, this is my home"
3. A place where my parents are living
4. A place within
5. This is home where I know I won't be alone
6. A place where everyone loves you no matter what

Jimmy Cliff - I can see clearly now

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun shiny day

I think I can make it now, the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun shiny day

Look all around, there's nothin' but blue skies
Look straight ahead, nothin' but blue skies

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
You're the rainbow I've been prayin' for
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun shiny day

Do it

"People often think: I need to go an MBA or something first. It's rubbish," says Charles Armstrong of Trampoline Systems. "The surest way to learn... is to do it."

"And the sooner you do it the better because as our lives proceed we have more to lose."

Quoting from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/10322902.stm

Status conscious

Am I becoming more and more status conscious?

Definition of "status conscious" is to want to have a high material standard of living by, for example, owning the latest gadgets and wearing fashionable clothes...

Learning to become a better one

Everyday I learn something and unlearn something.

难

很多事情， 难的也好，只要用心去做就不难了。
因为你用心，专心时你就不会在乎它难与否。

加油了。

Others

Do not presume or aspect others to think like you do, always.