The End Of The World?

Last week, a complete solar eclipse covered major parts of India and China.

In ancient days, such an event would fill the people with fear and terror that the sun has been swallowed. In fact, ancient Chinese legends have it that it is the heavenly dog that is devouring the sun when an eclipse happens.

From a fengshui point of view, a solar eclipse is an omninous event as it portends a period of bad things happening in the world. Since the sun is the source of Yang Qi, when it is covered by the moon and the whole world becomes dark, the event is generally regarded as not very good.

However, this solar eclipse provides you with an opportunity to reflect on the true insight of impermanence.

Just as the solar eclipse is not permanent, it also holds true that everything changes and nothing is permanent.

Even the sun will die one day. So, why are we so attached to all the transient things on earth?

Therefore, take courage when you experience a solar eclipse and meditate on the truth of impermanence.

Time Is Our Present Breath

Many people who are born and died lived a mindless and unexamined life.

They are so busy "living life" that they forget the very fundamental things about themselves.

Their egos obscured who they really are.

Yes, they can buy beautiful things to make themselves feel good and indulge in activities that supposedly bring them happiness.

And yet, many of them are never even aware of their breath going in and out of their bodies.

That is how far away they are from their true selves. That is how mindless they are.

Think about it a little bit. What is more important than your own breath?

Without it, you are no longer alive.

With every breath that you take, you consciously mark every second of your time. Every breath is time and the Present.

So, breath in and out consciously. Meditate on your breath in the quiet moments of your "busy" lives. Find the Truth within you.

Give thanks for the breath going in and out of your bodies.

Be grateful that your breath is giving you life.

Rejoice in the simple activity of breathing...

Happy All The Time...

If you were to ask anybody around you, one of their life goals is to be happy. Some may define their dreams as to achieve happiness in their lives.

Even if you achieve happiness, can you truly say that you are happy all the time?

No, that would be impossible.

Why?

It is very simple. Life moves in cycles. There are times when you are happy and times when you are not. That is the duality of all human existence.

It is as natural as daylight and night-time. There can be no darkness without the light. There can be no up if there is no down. There can be no right if there is no wrong. This is the principle of duality.

Happiness is a state of our mind. It is the mind that tells you when you are happy.

Certain events or occurrences that happen in your life and your mind interprets the event that this should make you happy. So, the body will release the various "happy" hormones in your body and you will feel a sense of happiness.

But this state of happiness will not last. As like everything in life, it is transient. So, after that feeling of happiness has passed, you will feel no-more-happy. This is the dual state of being happy.

An enlightened sage will know that it is futile to grasp at happiness. You just cannot make happiness stay in your life due to the changing conditions of life.

So, the wise sage will just maintain a state of equanmity. If happiness comes, he recognizes it, holds it for a while and let it go with no attachment. If sorrow comes, he would do the same thing.

Therefore, if you experienced happiness, be thankful for the grace of that happy occurrence. Do not chase after it and try to prolong its presence. It cannnot be done.

Enjoy the small episodes of happiness that comes into your life and be grateful for the opportunity to feel the happiness...

You Don't Have To Do The Big Things

How many times have we felt the need to take action but held back or hesitated because we were afraid that we would be embarrassed or we think that the results would be insignificant?

How many times have we turned away from addressing a problem or resolving an issue because we think that we are inadequate to the task or think that what you do is inconsequential.?

How many time have we thought that we cannot contribute to society because we are too poor, we do not have the power or we are just a nobody?

Please don't!!

Be courageous and take concrete actions. Do not think that what you do will be of no consequences.

Just like a pebble thrown into the pond, the ripples will spread far from the centre of where the pebble enters the water. You do not know how far-reaching are the results of your actions.

You do not need to do the BIG things.

Why? Because not everybody have the capability or capacity to do the BIG things.

BIG things like President Obama changing a country for the better. BIG things like Oprah building schools for the poor in Africa. BIG things like a scientist discovering a cure for cancer.

You can start by doing the smaller things.

How about giving freedom to a caged bird so that it can fly and sing its beautiful songs? How about a word of kindness to someone who needs it desperately? How about nurturing a child by reading a book or sharing your time with him.

As long as you do it with the goodness of your heart, the Universe will register your intentions and create good karmas down the line.

So, do not hesitate. Each small things will slowly accummulate into BIG things. You may not know the impact your small gestures may have in the lives of someone else.

So, please be brave and just throw as many pebbles as you can into the pond....

Believe That You Can

In each of our life's journey, the most important thing that we possess is the ability to think and discern between what is right and wrong.

Our mind, the life experiences that we have and the values that we were exposed to help us develop our belief systems.

What we believe help shape our responses and actions to the world around us.

We set goals and dreams that we want to achieve.

But how many of us can truly say that we have achieved all that we dreamt?

Why is it that some people seem to be able to fulfilled their dreams and live a fulfilled life of success and happiness?

It is because these people simply believe that they can. They believe that they can achieve all that they set out to do.

Life's battles do not alway go the strongest, the fastest or the richest.

It goes to the person who thinks he can and believes it in every fibre of his being...