Hendy's Blog
The Meaning of Real Prosperity
Here is a traditional story, followed by a hopefully "enlightening" extension... A rich man invited Zen Master Sengai to pen him some calligraphy, hoping he can offer good wishes, which may be treasured from generation to generation for the continued prosperity of his family. Agreeable, Sengai brushed the following - "Father dies, son dies, grandson dies." Seeing this, the man flared up in anger, "I asked you respectfully to write something beneficial to my family's happiness! How could you make such a disrespectful joke?" Sengai explained, "But there was no joke intended. Life is impermanent. If your son should die before you, you would grieve tremendously. And if your grandson were to depart before you and your son, both of you would be shattered. If your family passes away as listed, it will be the 'natural' course of life. This, I consider to be real prosperity."
Here is a fictitious appendix to the story... The same man asked another Zen Master to pen the same words, so as to create another copy for his family, saying it represented a wish for the continuation of family prosperity. The Master was however, not told of his dialogue with Sengai. Just as agreeable, the master wrote "Grandson dies, son dies, father dies." Seeing this, the man once again flared up, "How dare you curse my family! How could you reverse these words of wisdom?" He then explained at length to the Master as to why Sengai wrote those words. The Master listened patiently. Finally finishing, the man exclaimed in exaspersation, "How could you make such a disrespectful joke?"
The Master replied, "But there was no joke intended... If it is such that your son or grandson should die before you, and that you are able to accept it graciously as also part of the 'natural' course of life, then this, I consider as real prosperity - which is to be spiritually prosperous, despite the lack of worldly prosperity. Whatever happens in your family, happens naturally as the play of karma. To demand the world to always function exactly as you wish is to be foolish, and this will only cause yourself unnecessary suffering. The wise abide undisturbed in the midst of unexpected or inevitable changes, while the unwise are swirled about by changes. The Buddha taught us that true prosperity is Enlightenment - the attainment of freedom from desires and delusions; it is not the attachment to any deluded desires. As surprised as "enlightened", the man calmly tore up the two masterpieces, bowing in repentant reverence. -
Shen Shi'anLabels: spiritual
about death
i've been reminded about death so much these days.
i read 2 articles about cancer patient. one still struggling (with little hope, but keep on fighting), the other one has died (choosing to live the best of the rest of his life).
the first is still young and has so much to live for.
the other is a successful business man, at his peak, half a century old.
the first one is a sad, touching story. just how you wish she can live on. but you know, this is reality. it's not always what you want. the fact is, most of the time, it is not what you want. that's what i realized in a hard way, though surely i've already known it.
realization.
whatever you know, you don't really know it until you realize it.
yeah, sure i hope she can win over the battle. that's what i've always hoped for someone dear. that one day, everything will just turn back into what it were before. a happy ending.
nope, that's not the ending. not the happy one. it's the one ended in tears, and a little guilt for not being around, for not being able to help, or being reluctant to help?
struck me hard it did. and i did learn about a lot of things (though mostly are not realized yet)
the other is something that i can say a happy ending. realizing that his life is just a few months left, he felt it's just the right time to live life to the fullest. it's the perfect chance given to him. to spend time with his wife and his children, which probably he talked to less than to his colleagues. to say sorry, thank you, and good bye to everyone. and so it goes.
these 2 people certainly have different approach to their trouble. one turned it into the best part of his life, the other turned it into a great struggle.
it's true that one shouldn't just give up. but it's even better if one can turn their unfavorable situation into favorable. that's really the best.
but for young people, that might not be the case. they have so much to live for. it's very hard to let go. that's why they'll just choose to fight it.
what will i do if i were in that situation? i'm totally unprepared, really. with no one that i can share my burden with.. ah, i'll probably just prepary my mind for the worst, the last breath. i'll just get into religion, ask a lot of questions to some monks. practise meditation.. recite mantra..
sounds like last minute preparation? yeah, this is the current spiritual level i'm at. so sad.
it surely will be different 10, 20, 30 years from now.
funny that men live as if tomorrow will always come.
those that realize (not
know) that death is always around the corner will surely be a better man.
Labels: spiritual
Beer review episode 8 - SINGHA Lager Beer
Ouww.. this is totally bitter. Arghh.. this is torture to my tongue. In the middle, it's not so bitter. Maybe because i use a special drinking technique that i don't know how to do it again? and during the last few part, it's just unbearably bitter. i almost give up on this one.
i wonder if it had to do with me. the haagen also tasted bad the last time i tried it.
Labels: beer
taste weird?
drank haagen just now. it taste weird, very bitter, can't stand it. but managed to drink it all. what's wrong?
was i disillusioned last time?
is the beer not cold enough? (only a few hours on fridge)
was i disillusioned just now?
anyway, the alcohol is taking effect already.
i keep having typo now..
time to sleep. nite...
Labels: beer
Beer review episode 7 - Kirin Lager Beer
oww.. this one is not so nice for me.
it left a bitter taste on your mouth.
but when you drink it, it doesn't taste bitter. it feels fresh though.
let me try again..
yeah, definitely not my taste. i prefer the draft beer, or budweiser, or haagen.
the last drop is definitely bitter.
btw, interesting thing, there is a braille alphabet on top of the can.
i wonder what it is for.. i thought it is the expiriy date. i tried to decode it, but can't find any meaningful match. it's not even a number.
Labels: beer
about sleeping
during this long weekend, my sleeping pattern is really weird. on thursday, i slept at around 10 or 11, too tired. i thought i'd just sleep for 1-2 hours.
then i wake up at 3 am. damn. brushed my teeth, and go back to sleep.
same thing the next day. this time too tired of playing re4. wake up at 3 again. brushed my teeth again. but this time, i didn't continue sleeping. surf the net and whatever until 7 or 8 am.
i wanted to play game again, but some guys are cleaning the aircon downstairs. decided to wait until later. but then, tired again, slept again, until 1 pm maybe.
continued to surf the net and whatever, wanted to sleep at 10 pm coz too tired again. but managed to stay awake until 12. slept until 8 am or so..
almost back to univ holiday lifestyle....
The Gematriculator
And i thought this site is quite evil.
Beer review episode 6 - Budweiser Lager Beer
the american beer. not bitter, light but tasty. in fact, it's very light, almost close to beer + water. a very welcomed taste. even kids will like it, maybe..
it's a very nice beer overall.
something that i would like to have again sometimes.
but i'm dizzy now, maybe because i'm tired after playing RE4 and ironing my clothes so the alcohol have greater effect.
huff, good night.
Labels: beer
Forecastfox code for Bishan, Singapore
SEA;SG;-;BISHAN NEW TOWN;
put that at your forecastfox forecast location code.
why? because for whatever reason, you can't search for bishan anymore using Find Code.
i tried to ask accuweather, but i couldn't submit the question via their web page. it just showed some errors. SUCKS!
Labels: firefox
