Once upon a time outside a kingdom there was a dragon. The dragon would come to the people and eat the crops and sheeps causing the people to suffer. The people complained to the King and the King organized a team of the best warriors to kill the dragon.
After a big ceremony they sent the team to the dragon cave. After the warriors went into the cave, those waiting outside heard sounds indicating that there were fightings going on in the cave. After some time, it became quiet, and the dragon didn't appear. So, the assume that the dragon was killed and went back home.
However, the dragon came again the next month. Again, they sent another team of their best warriors. Again, some fighting went on for a while in the cave and the dragon didn't come out. They went back home. However, the dragon came again on the following month.
This went on for many months until they have only one warrior left. Again, after a great ceremony, they sent this warrior to the dragon cave.
This warrior entered the cave, saw the dragon, pulled out his sword, and it didn't took him much effort to kill the dragon. Being the worst warrior in the kingdom, he was curious how could this happen? What happened to the earlier warriors? So, he went deeper in to the cave trying to find out. He saw many gold and treasures inside the cave, and there was a chair made of gold. Still wondering what exactly happened, and being a little tired, he sat on the chair to think.
Showing posts with label wisdom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wisdom. Show all posts
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Killing the dragon
Another story told by a colleague:
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Answer by not answering
A story told by a colleague:
Once upon a time in a forest there was a lion who became a King. As a King he should behave in a royal way, and eating live animal is not appropriate. However, the lion had to do it secretly.
After each daily meetings with all the animals, the lion will ask one to stay behind. He will ask if his mouth smells. If the animal answers "no, Your Majesty, it doesn't smell," he would accuse the animal lying to him and eat the animal. If the animal answers "yes, Your Majesty, it smells," he would accuse the animal dare to say his mouth smell and eat the animal.
Thus, the number of animals decreased daily. A wise rabbit noticed and think something fishy must be happening. One day, this rabbit was told to stay back. When asked the question, this rabbit replied:
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Monday, August 16, 2010
Nice quotes from spam comments
This blog has become a receiver of spam comments. Instead of just wasting my time rejecting each as they appear, not wanting to waste the good part of the comments, so I am posting here the nice quotes in these spam comments:
- 不論做什麼事，相信自己，別讓別人的一句話，把你擊倒。
- 心中醒，口中說，紙上作，不從身上習過，皆無用也。
- 雖天地之大，萬物之多，而惟吾蜩翼之知。
- 河水永遠是相同的，可是每一剎那又都是新的。
- 一個人的價值，應該看他貢獻了什麼，而不是他取得了什麼。
- 一棵樹除非在春天開了花，否則難望在秋天結果。
- 死亡是悲哀的，但活得不快樂更悲哀。
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The if-then logic
人不为己，天诛地灭。
This Chinese idiom sounds wrong, but if so, then it wouldn't be one.
Logically speaking, it is correct, or true.
However, in most cases, we prefer the then to be false. For e.g., if you don't study, you will fail the exam. Thus, that makes not studying a bad choice.
On the other hand, consider this: if we don't punish children, they will not learn. Here, is punishing good or bad? Many would think obviously it is good. Actually, this depends ... on what they will be learning?
Thus, whether 人不为己 is good or bad depends on if 天诛地灭 is good or bad, or if the current "天" and "地" are good or bad. If these are bad, then 天诛地灭 would be good, and therefore 人不为己 would be good.
I think, instead of sustaining a world where 人不为己 is bad, isn't destroying, or actually transforming such kind of world into one whereby everyone is 人不为己, better?
This Chinese idiom sounds wrong, but if so, then it wouldn't be one.
Logically speaking, it is correct, or true.
However, in most cases, we prefer the then to be false. For e.g., if you don't study, you will fail the exam. Thus, that makes not studying a bad choice.
On the other hand, consider this: if we don't punish children, they will not learn. Here, is punishing good or bad? Many would think obviously it is good. Actually, this depends ... on what they will be learning?
Thus, whether 人不为己 is good or bad depends on if 天诛地灭 is good or bad, or if the current "天" and "地" are good or bad. If these are bad, then 天诛地灭 would be good, and therefore 人不为己 would be good.
I think, instead of sustaining a world where 人不为己 is bad, isn't destroying, or actually transforming such kind of world into one whereby everyone is 人不为己, better?
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Ego & rain coat
I attended the talk on 22 Feb, "HINDUISM REDISCOVERED: A Religion in Vogue" by Vivekacharya Pavan Choudary, CEO, Vygon India.
It was interesting during the Q&A session, where he shared his wisdom in answering the questions. I would like to share some of them here.
Someone was telling [or showing off] how he has learned so much from many gurus. He finds them mainly teaching ways to get rid of ego. He was talking for quite long time.
When the speaker finally has the turn to speak, the first statement was roughly saying that all his teachers don't qualified to be gurus. Ego is something that you cannot get rid of. Ego is ... like rain coat, keep it at home, use it only when necessary.
I think this applies to many other things such as anger, unhappiness, desires, etc. How to manage them is the way, while getting rid of them is an illusion.
Similarly, relating to health, we need to learn and be trained to live with and overcome sickness, bacteria, virus, fever, pain, etc. instead of finding ways to live without them. In recent episodes of the drama series Heroes, the cheer leader (what's her name?) with never die capability was complaining that she doesn't feel pain after Syler opened her brain. Then, later, during an eclipse when all lost their special capabilities, she was wounded and later died, not directly from the wound, but from infections. Why? The nurse/doctors asked why she doesn't seem to have any immunity? Don't tell me she hasn't been sicked for her whole life?
Part 2
It was interesting during the Q&A session, where he shared his wisdom in answering the questions. I would like to share some of them here.
Wisdoms from a talk by Vivekacharya Pavan Choudary -- Part 3
Someone was telling [or showing off] how he has learned so much from many gurus. He finds them mainly teaching ways to get rid of ego. He was talking for quite long time.
When the speaker finally has the turn to speak, the first statement was roughly saying that all his teachers don't qualified to be gurus. Ego is something that you cannot get rid of. Ego is ... like rain coat, keep it at home, use it only when necessary.
I think this applies to many other things such as anger, unhappiness, desires, etc. How to manage them is the way, while getting rid of them is an illusion.
Similarly, relating to health, we need to learn and be trained to live with and overcome sickness, bacteria, virus, fever, pain, etc. instead of finding ways to live without them. In recent episodes of the drama series Heroes, the cheer leader (what's her name?) with never die capability was complaining that she doesn't feel pain after Syler opened her brain. Then, later, during an eclipse when all lost their special capabilities, she was wounded and later died, not directly from the wound, but from infections. Why? The nurse/doctors asked why she doesn't seem to have any immunity? Don't tell me she hasn't been sicked for her whole life?
Part 2
Friday, July 18, 2008
Help others to help everyone
I think there is a saying, "feed the cow if you want milk". This is what I felt when I look into this service, Zookoda. It is an email marketing application designed specifically for bloggers. Zookoda enables you to send a daily, weekly or monthly summary of your latest blog posts directly into your visitors' inbox.
Now, the important part is: ... it’s all FREE! Is this a free lunch? Isn't there no such thing as a free lunch?
Consider the above phrase, would you charge your cow for the food you provide to it? Thus, I guess that's why it is free. This can be considered as a type of investment. Just as those countries that subsidized heavily for all their citizens to get educated. Here, it is more like a company that is building up an industry, the industry that it is in.
The parent company is into online advertisement, particularly advertising in blogs. With this free tool, it is helping bloggers to improve their blogs readerships, and this translates into an increase in the value of the advertising time and space of the blogs. This should grow their revenue through growing the industry.
More importantly, as bloggers, we can benefit a lot from Zookoda that enables us to:
Now, the important part is: ... it’s all FREE! Is this a free lunch? Isn't there no such thing as a free lunch?
Consider the above phrase, would you charge your cow for the food you provide to it? Thus, I guess that's why it is free. This can be considered as a type of investment. Just as those countries that subsidized heavily for all their citizens to get educated. Here, it is more like a company that is building up an industry, the industry that it is in.
The parent company is into online advertisement, particularly advertising in blogs. With this free tool, it is helping bloggers to improve their blogs readerships, and this translates into an increase in the value of the advertising time and space of the blogs. This should grow their revenue through growing the industry.
More importantly, as bloggers, we can benefit a lot from Zookoda that enables us to:
- Manage email newsletter subscribers
- Enhance your blog with custom newsletter subscription forms
- Design eye-catching newletters to match your blog design
- Schedule recurring broadcasts for each day, week or month
- View real-time open, bounce, click and unsubscribe reports
- Access mobile users by emailing blog content in text format
Monday, June 2, 2008
No one wants my bike
The bike that is still with me today, thankfully, has been my main transportation tool since Mar 1996. Nevertheless, I have lost a few bikes, and some parts of this bike during these years. Some reasons I guess for this long partnership are: ...
1. My and/or its luck.
2. My bike had been heavily improvised, although not necessarily useful improvisions.
3. My bike is made ugly intentionally. Just found 8 ways to ugly your bike.
4. I avoid parking in places meant for bicycle parking, which I consider them as "shopping areas" for bicycle theives.
5. I choose to park it at open space where it is visible from some people gathering places in close vicinity. If I were a thief, I would presume that it belongs to someone among those people.
6. Regular usage. Don't park outdoor untouched for more than 2 days, especially during school holidays.
I have mainly used a simple coiled cable lock, which I enjoy its conveniency. To me, no lock can withstand those steel rod cutters that construction workers have easy assess to, I supposed.
Update: After another five years since this post, it is now ok for me to put up a pic of this bicycle in its recent appearance.
1. My and/or its luck.
2. My bike had been heavily improvised, although not necessarily useful improvisions.
3. My bike is made ugly intentionally. Just found 8 ways to ugly your bike.
4. I avoid parking in places meant for bicycle parking, which I consider them as "shopping areas" for bicycle theives.
5. I choose to park it at open space where it is visible from some people gathering places in close vicinity. If I were a thief, I would presume that it belongs to someone among those people.
6. Regular usage. Don't park outdoor untouched for more than 2 days, especially during school holidays.
I have mainly used a simple coiled cable lock, which I enjoy its conveniency. To me, no lock can withstand those steel rod cutters that construction workers have easy assess to, I supposed.
Update: After another five years since this post, it is now ok for me to put up a pic of this bicycle in its recent appearance.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
All eggs in one basket
A quick thought I had today. The saying that it is unwise to put all eggs in a basket. However, I think there are situation when this might not be that wise ... .
I am thinking about extreme case where you have only 1 egg. So, is it wise to break it and put a several portions of it into different baskets? Oh, basket leaks, use bowl instead. Still, in this case, these portions have to be consumed soon or else they will be spoilt.
I am thinking about extreme case where you have only 1 egg. So, is it wise to break it and put a several portions of it into different baskets? Oh, basket leaks, use bowl instead. Still, in this case, these portions have to be consumed soon or else they will be spoilt.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Love to do good things
I just saw an advice in a book about wisdoms of mothers of famous people. One passage title is "do not force children to do things they dislike." I didn't read the main passage, but I guess most likely it explains the cons of forcing children to do things. I would like to cast it slightly differently ... .
First of all, what are those things that adults would want to force children to do? I bet many of these are "right" things to do. However, such right things may not be likable by children. Thus, the likelihood of adults forcing them to do it. So, the above wisdom seems to suggest "relax, don't force, and lets nature takes its course."
Nevertheless, I agree that we should not "force," regardless how rightful the thing we want children to do. However, the essence is to educate and guide children to like doing right things. In this sense, forcing is not tackling the liking to do the right things, but just the external outcome of children doing it.
I should have mentioned this before, I hate to see parents "forcing" children to greet other adults when meeting other adults. This is the time to observe whether children are doing it, deducing how much they like to do it, but not the time to "educate" or force them to do it. With the observation, at later time when circumstances are suitable, then we make efforts to explain/guide/educate them to like to do it. Observe again next time round, and keep educating.
Of course, if the things we want the children do aren't that "right," e.g. playing piano, then the more we shouldn't force them.
First of all, what are those things that adults would want to force children to do? I bet many of these are "right" things to do. However, such right things may not be likable by children. Thus, the likelihood of adults forcing them to do it. So, the above wisdom seems to suggest "relax, don't force, and lets nature takes its course."
Nevertheless, I agree that we should not "force," regardless how rightful the thing we want children to do. However, the essence is to educate and guide children to like doing right things. In this sense, forcing is not tackling the liking to do the right things, but just the external outcome of children doing it.
I should have mentioned this before, I hate to see parents "forcing" children to greet other adults when meeting other adults. This is the time to observe whether children are doing it, deducing how much they like to do it, but not the time to "educate" or force them to do it. With the observation, at later time when circumstances are suitable, then we make efforts to explain/guide/educate them to like to do it. Observe again next time round, and keep educating.
Of course, if the things we want the children do aren't that "right," e.g. playing piano, then the more we shouldn't force them.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Destiny and Lineage
It has been some time since I seriously wrote something here. The ranking of this blog has been dropping :( However, I doubt I have something serious to write about now. May be I can talk about the Mas Selemat escape, but that is not too relevant to this blog. Or may be I can talk about some drama that I have been watching, such as CSI, Lost, 24 hour, etc. Ah, thought of something to write :)
Do you feel proud to be selected/recruited/employed by your current company? Would you prefer to be proud? I think it is nice to feel being valued, and being expected to be able to create more value for the company. It is nice to have a company willing to commit the costs for hiring me.
Similarly, do you feel proud to be borned into your family? ... Would you prefer to be proud? However, which family one is being borned into is out of the person's choice, unlike the case of choosing which company to send resume to. Nevertheless, we want to be proud. If already being proud, we should want to be more proud. In another words, it is our destiny to create value for our family, and to our lineage.
In this perspective, I can better appreciate the Chinese saying, 不孝有三无后为大. On looking up this phrase, I just learned that the other two are also very relevant (my own translation):
阿意曲从，陷亲不义，一不孝也； (First unfilial [non-]action: Blind obedience, not correcting parents' mistakes, and thus allowing parents ending up in dishonorable state.)
家贫亲老，不为禄仕，二不孝也； (Second unfilial [non-]action: Being poor when parents are old, yet still not working so as to take good care of them.)
不娶无子，绝先祖祀，三不孝也。 (Third unfilial [non-]action: Being unmarried [or w/o a wife], and without child [or a son], and thus discontinuing the lineage passed down from ancestors.)
三者之中无后为大。 (Among the above three unfilial [non-]actions, without descendants is the worst.)
In a way, regardless we like these or not, or we are able to achieve these or not, these and many other roles and responsibilities are our destiny.
Do you feel proud to be selected/recruited/employed by your current company? Would you prefer to be proud? I think it is nice to feel being valued, and being expected to be able to create more value for the company. It is nice to have a company willing to commit the costs for hiring me.
Similarly, do you feel proud to be borned into your family? ... Would you prefer to be proud? However, which family one is being borned into is out of the person's choice, unlike the case of choosing which company to send resume to. Nevertheless, we want to be proud. If already being proud, we should want to be more proud. In another words, it is our destiny to create value for our family, and to our lineage.
In this perspective, I can better appreciate the Chinese saying, 不孝有三无后为大. On looking up this phrase, I just learned that the other two are also very relevant (my own translation):
阿意曲从，陷亲不义，一不孝也； (First unfilial [non-]action: Blind obedience, not correcting parents' mistakes, and thus allowing parents ending up in dishonorable state.)
家贫亲老，不为禄仕，二不孝也； (Second unfilial [non-]action: Being poor when parents are old, yet still not working so as to take good care of them.)
不娶无子，绝先祖祀，三不孝也。 (Third unfilial [non-]action: Being unmarried [or w/o a wife], and without child [or a son], and thus discontinuing the lineage passed down from ancestors.)
三者之中无后为大。 (Among the above three unfilial [non-]actions, without descendants is the worst.)
In a way, regardless we like these or not, or we are able to achieve these or not, these and many other roles and responsibilities are our destiny.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
GOING... GOING... GOING... and still GOING S T R O N G!
The more I think of it, the more I feel that human is stupid trying to out smart Nature, which is truly a master piece. Just by simply living away from city, the article, Living past 100: on Pulau Ubin, Singapore, describes some old but healthy people on an island just 5 minutes boat ride from mainland Singapore.
I myself has gained weight when my riding was significantly reduced from average of 1.5 hour daily (2 x 0.45hr trips), to 3-4 hour weekly (2 x 1.5 hour + misc.), and my IPPT result deterioriate from being able to be awarded $200 without training to merely passing or getting only the $100 award even with training!
I just watched the documentary, Life after People on the History Channel, which suggests that if one day human being just disappeared from earth, life goes on, while most of the human built stuffs will be gone in 1000 years, and almost all will be gone in 10000 years. 10000 years may be longer than our recorded history, but it is much much shorter than the earth's age.
In another documentary, I realized that [manufacturing of] sugar was "discovered" only a few centuries back. Imagine dining without sugar had been the norm for thousands of years!
Madam Asiah prefers to grow old on the island. 'All I did on the mainland was eat and sleep ... guess what happened?
In a cycling blog, I read someone from the Netherlands (or has been working there), where riding is a common form of transportation, felt the need to cycle because he found he is virtually in sitting position whole of the day everyday.
Madam Asiah prefers to grow old on the island. 'All I did on the mainland was eat and sleep,' she recalled. 'I fell sick. My joints ached from lack of use.'
I myself has gained weight when my riding was significantly reduced from average of 1.5 hour daily (2 x 0.45hr trips), to 3-4 hour weekly (2 x 1.5 hour + misc.), and my IPPT result deterioriate from being able to be awarded $200 without training to merely passing or getting only the $100 award even with training!
I just watched the documentary, Life after People on the History Channel, which suggests that if one day human being just disappeared from earth, life goes on, while most of the human built stuffs will be gone in 1000 years, and almost all will be gone in 10000 years. 10000 years may be longer than our recorded history, but it is much much shorter than the earth's age.
In another documentary, I realized that [manufacturing of] sugar was "discovered" only a few centuries back. Imagine dining without sugar had been the norm for thousands of years!
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Nature has its reasons
A research found that preterm birth tied to lifelong problems. The researcher said the research raises an important question concerning the long-term effects of advances in prenatal and neonatal care. “Preterm survival is improving now because of interventions we have in pregnancy and neonatal care. However ... something looks good may not be good.
, it may be that we’re improving survival while adversely affecting the overall health and quality of life in the long run.”
In many things, Nature has its reasons, which many of them we are not aware and even dislike them. Recently, I think more people start to realize that fever is not a bad thing as it is the way our body handle illness. Getting rid of fever might be an act welcome by the causing agents of the illness.
Thus, for people who want to act smart by giving birth earlier for conveniency, think thrice to the power of many thrices! If ending our life prematurely is wrong, terminating a life in the womb prematurely should be equally wrong!
, it may be that we’re improving survival while adversely affecting the overall health and quality of life in the long run.”
In many things, Nature has its reasons, which many of them we are not aware and even dislike them. Recently, I think more people start to realize that fever is not a bad thing as it is the way our body handle illness. Getting rid of fever might be an act welcome by the causing agents of the illness.
Thus, for people who want to act smart by giving birth earlier for conveniency, think thrice to the power of many thrices! If ending our life prematurely is wrong, terminating a life in the womb prematurely should be equally wrong!
Monday, March 24, 2008
Chili and pepper
Read this Judith Bowman's tip in in her book "Don't Take the Last Donut" in TodayOnline.com:
In the context here, I would say, "Don't add chili to your food before without tasting it first." I bet most people here would fail this etiquette. However, what the hack, people here dislike etiquette.
We all think we know what not to do during an interview. But I'm sure you didn't know you should never add pepper to your steak ... You may add, but...
We all think we know what not to do during an interview. But I'm sure you didn't know you should never add pepper to your steak without tasting it first during a lunch interview.
Why? Human resource executives never hire anyone who seasons their food before tasting it. This signals a level of hastiness and rush to judgment.
In the context here, I would say, "Don't add chili to your food before without tasting it first." I bet most people here would fail this etiquette. However, what the hack, people here dislike etiquette.
Spending your money on others is good for you
There is this saying in Chinese, 助人为快乐之本, which roughly means the basis of happiness is generated by helping others. A research shows that money might buy happiness—when you spend on others, which makes the above more correct scientifically.
However, the first two results from surveying how do people spend their money might have the cause and effect in the other way. ... Why do I suggest so? The people who gave more to charity are probably already happy people who have or feel that their own needs are satisfied, and therefore see a part of the money they have as extra and are willing to give to charity. Of course, I don't deny that the acts probably makes them feel happier and they'll continue to do so.
The third result from an experiment, where some people were given money and also told how to spend them, specifically shows that it is the way they spend money that influence their level of happiness.
However, the first two results from surveying how do people spend their money might have the cause and effect in the other way. ... Why do I suggest so? The people who gave more to charity are probably already happy people who have or feel that their own needs are satisfied, and therefore see a part of the money they have as extra and are willing to give to charity. Of course, I don't deny that the acts probably makes them feel happier and they'll continue to do so.
The third result from an experiment, where some people were given money and also told how to spend them, specifically shows that it is the way they spend money that influence their level of happiness.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
The Vacuum Law
I attended the talk on 22 Feb, "HINDUISM REDISCOVERED: A Religion in Vogue" by Vivekacharya Pavan Choudary, CEO, Vygon India.
It was interesting during the Q&A session, where he shared his wisdom in answering the questions. I would like to share some of them here.
This is another meaningful story he told. As I can't remember every words, I am retelling it from the story I think I heard.
A farmer prayed to God and asked to be made wealthy. God agreed and assure him that his house will never be lack of grains. Indeed, he was happy to find that every morning he finds a full bag of grain no matter how much he has used up the day before.
However, he didn't feel that God has granted his wish, which was to be wealthy. He was actually a little angry that God is so stingy only making his bag of grain full at the beginning of each day. Year after year, as his family enjoyed the never empty bag of grain, deep in his heart he was always wondering why is God so stingy?
Finally, he passed away and met God. He asked about this life long question he had. God explains, I am not stingy, but rather, it was you who is stingy. ... How is this so? If you were to share most of your grains to others, just imagine only a mere 2% of them return you something, wouldn't you become very wealthy? Instead, you kept this blessing I gave you to yourself. Thus, the blessing didn't grow into bigger blessings.
He then brought up a recent case in real life. Somewhere in Canada a corn farmer has been winning awards for producing very good quality corns. When reporters ask him for his secrets recipe, his recipe is not any secret. He has always shared all his knowledge and know how about farming good quality corns to other farmers. Then, as everyone produces good corn, he is more motivated to do more research and study how to improve. As a result, he has been able to keep winning.
Below is an excerpt from a speech by Rev. Sun Myung Moon, God's Hope for Man given on October 20, 1973 in Washington, D.C.
---
Jesus came as a savior, but his teaching was, "... the Son of man came not to be served but to serve ..." ( Matt 20:28 ) Jesus taught that the greatest love in this universe is to give one's life for his enemy. The teaching of the Bible is contrary to the common rule of our worldly society. It is exactly the opposite of the way of this self-centered world. The Bible teaches complete giving and total sacrifice. "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matt 10:39 ) It seems almost foolish to think seriously about living this way in man's evil society. But once you know God's principle, you discover that there is actually no wisdom greater than this.
Jesus Christ's teachings hit the very core of this fundamental truth. The more you give the more you receive. God rewards total giving with total love, and total sacrifice with total life. Giving creates room for God's love to enter The more room and the greater the vacuum created by your giving, the faster you will be filled by the flow of God's love.
---
Thus, share, what we've already been given, because the reason we were given these things is for us to share it out.
I would like to call this The Vacuum Law.
Part 1
Part 3
It was interesting during the Q&A session, where he shared his wisdom in answering the questions. I would like to share some of them here.
Wisdoms from a talk by Vivekacharya Pavan Choudary -- Part 2
This is another meaningful story he told. As I can't remember every words, I am retelling it from the story I think I heard.
A farmer prayed to God and asked to be made wealthy. God agreed and assure him that his house will never be lack of grains. Indeed, he was happy to find that every morning he finds a full bag of grain no matter how much he has used up the day before.
However, he didn't feel that God has granted his wish, which was to be wealthy. He was actually a little angry that God is so stingy only making his bag of grain full at the beginning of each day. Year after year, as his family enjoyed the never empty bag of grain, deep in his heart he was always wondering why is God so stingy?
Finally, he passed away and met God. He asked about this life long question he had. God explains, I am not stingy, but rather, it was you who is stingy. ... How is this so? If you were to share most of your grains to others, just imagine only a mere 2% of them return you something, wouldn't you become very wealthy? Instead, you kept this blessing I gave you to yourself. Thus, the blessing didn't grow into bigger blessings.
He then brought up a recent case in real life. Somewhere in Canada a corn farmer has been winning awards for producing very good quality corns. When reporters ask him for his secrets recipe, his recipe is not any secret. He has always shared all his knowledge and know how about farming good quality corns to other farmers. Then, as everyone produces good corn, he is more motivated to do more research and study how to improve. As a result, he has been able to keep winning.
Below is an excerpt from a speech by Rev. Sun Myung Moon, God's Hope for Man given on October 20, 1973 in Washington, D.C.
---
Jesus came as a savior, but his teaching was, "... the Son of man came not to be served but to serve ..." ( Matt 20:28 ) Jesus taught that the greatest love in this universe is to give one's life for his enemy. The teaching of the Bible is contrary to the common rule of our worldly society. It is exactly the opposite of the way of this self-centered world. The Bible teaches complete giving and total sacrifice. "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matt 10:39 ) It seems almost foolish to think seriously about living this way in man's evil society. But once you know God's principle, you discover that there is actually no wisdom greater than this.
Jesus Christ's teachings hit the very core of this fundamental truth. The more you give the more you receive. God rewards total giving with total love, and total sacrifice with total life. Giving creates room for God's love to enter The more room and the greater the vacuum created by your giving, the faster you will be filled by the flow of God's love.
---
Thus, share, what we've already been given, because the reason we were given these things is for us to share it out.
I would like to call this The Vacuum Law.
Part 1
Part 3
One handed Judo
I attended the talk, "HINDUISM REDISCOVERED: A Religion in Vogue" by Vivekacharya Pavan Choudary, CEO, Vygon India last night.
It was interesting during the Q&A session, where he shared his wisdom in answering the questions. I would like to share some of them here.
I've heard this story before. It is about a handicapped person without an arm learning Judo from his master. The master asks him to master only one technique. Although he doesn't really understand why is it so, he eventually master this technique almost perfectly. During a competition, everyone was surprised to see all his opponents lost to him one after another. ... Why did he win? Later, the master explained the reason. The technique he mastered is not a foolproof one, but there is only one way to counter it, which is to grab on to his arm that he doesn't have.
The speaker was emphasizing the importance to find the right adviser. The right adviser will understand your strengths and weaknesses and give advices that will optimize your achievements.
Making best use of one's strengths is usually more obvious than dealing with weaknesses. Another sentence he made was "When people throw stones at you, build a castle." I think this is similar to what I perceived from his new book title, "When You are Sinking Become A Submarine: Winning Through Wisdom & Creativity". When one is a hand less than others, or under attack, or in an undesirable state, how to recognize advantages and opportunities is even more important and beneficial.
Part 2
It was interesting during the Q&A session, where he shared his wisdom in answering the questions. I would like to share some of them here.
Wisdoms from a talk by Vivekacharya Pavan Choudary -- Part 1
(He mentioned Karatae instead.)
(He mentioned Karatae instead.)
I've heard this story before. It is about a handicapped person without an arm learning Judo from his master. The master asks him to master only one technique. Although he doesn't really understand why is it so, he eventually master this technique almost perfectly. During a competition, everyone was surprised to see all his opponents lost to him one after another. ... Why did he win? Later, the master explained the reason. The technique he mastered is not a foolproof one, but there is only one way to counter it, which is to grab on to his arm that he doesn't have.
The speaker was emphasizing the importance to find the right adviser. The right adviser will understand your strengths and weaknesses and give advices that will optimize your achievements.
Making best use of one's strengths is usually more obvious than dealing with weaknesses. Another sentence he made was "When people throw stones at you, build a castle." I think this is similar to what I perceived from his new book title, "When You are Sinking Become A Submarine: Winning Through Wisdom & Creativity". When one is a hand less than others, or under attack, or in an undesirable state, how to recognize advantages and opportunities is even more important and beneficial.
Part 2
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Be truthful first
There have been much emphasis on speaking positive and encouraging words to children, or anybody, rather than negative ones. Our words are either blessing or curse. Yet, some may over do it by ignoring the need to be truthful, and just say positive words that paint a false picture. Especially when the facts are, sort of, "negative". For example, what should we say to a kid who had scored badly, say 10%, in a test? ... What would you say?
Should we tell him that he hadn't done badly, and should be thankful that he still managed to scored 10%? Is this better than telling him how stupid/lazy he is that he failed badly and scored only 10%? The former is "positive" but to say he hadn't done badly is falsehood. The latter is obviously negative, but rightly state that he failed badly.
In a post a few years back, I mentioned about an article I read that stresses on the importance of consistency in raising up children. Once we started speaking words that are not true, children will notice our inconsistence, and eventually treat our words as unimportant.
Another article I read more recently talks about when parents praise their kids, they need to do it in alignment with the facts. When parents over praise their kids, like the above "positive" statement, kids will be less willing to strive harder for better results.
I think the first pre-requisite in speaking is to be truthful. Then, we choose to speak it in a positive way. In the above example, we should let the child know he has failed badly in the test. Try to substantially work with him on how can we, together, make it better next time. When a plan has been worked out, we can positively emphasize that we appreciate his willingness to want to improve. Thus, there is no falsehood, there is encouragement, and there isn't condemnation.
This is not only about kids. In general, being truthful is so much more important than speaking positively.
Should we tell him that he hadn't done badly, and should be thankful that he still managed to scored 10%? Is this better than telling him how stupid/lazy he is that he failed badly and scored only 10%? The former is "positive" but to say he hadn't done badly is falsehood. The latter is obviously negative, but rightly state that he failed badly.
In a post a few years back, I mentioned about an article I read that stresses on the importance of consistency in raising up children. Once we started speaking words that are not true, children will notice our inconsistence, and eventually treat our words as unimportant.
Another article I read more recently talks about when parents praise their kids, they need to do it in alignment with the facts. When parents over praise their kids, like the above "positive" statement, kids will be less willing to strive harder for better results.
I think the first pre-requisite in speaking is to be truthful. Then, we choose to speak it in a positive way. In the above example, we should let the child know he has failed badly in the test. Try to substantially work with him on how can we, together, make it better next time. When a plan has been worked out, we can positively emphasize that we appreciate his willingness to want to improve. Thus, there is no falsehood, there is encouragement, and there isn't condemnation.
This is not only about kids. In general, being truthful is so much more important than speaking positively.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Even the devil can cite Scripture
Shakespeare said it this way: "Even the devil can cite Scripture for his purpose."
I think it happens in this research: A function for "gay genes" after all?
Just because gay men do not have their own family to take care of, and therefore ... are available to offer more time and care for their nieces/nephews, the researchers suggested this as an evolutionary support for gay way of life.
Rather than suggesting an obvious common sense that children with more adults who, regardless of sexuality, are available to take care of them are better than those with only their own parents, the researchers seem to have preset what their conclusion should be and designed a limited research for their purpose.
Furthermore, this is done with the knowledge of many other similar failed research attempts to make such conclusion in modern societies. Instead, they argue, or rather blame and accuse that, it is due to "anti-gay biases", gay men couldn't do the same as in the selected "relatively un-westernized land", Samoa. By the same logic, I say it is because the modern societies lack "traditional, tribally-based cultures, that often have tighter-knit families," such that little support for adults, regardless of sexuality, to take care of their nieces/nephews.
It is not "anti-gay biases," but "family and marriage unfriendliness" in modern societies that we should focus on!
I think it happens in this research: A function for "gay genes" after all?
Just because gay men do not have their own family to take care of, and therefore ... are available to offer more time and care for their nieces/nephews, the researchers suggested this as an evolutionary support for gay way of life.
Rather than suggesting an obvious common sense that children with more adults who, regardless of sexuality, are available to take care of them are better than those with only their own parents, the researchers seem to have preset what their conclusion should be and designed a limited research for their purpose.
Furthermore, this is done with the knowledge of many other similar failed research attempts to make such conclusion in modern societies. Instead, they argue, or rather blame and accuse that, it is due to "anti-gay biases", gay men couldn't do the same as in the selected "relatively un-westernized land", Samoa. By the same logic, I say it is because the modern societies lack "traditional, tribally-based cultures, that often have tighter-knit families," such that little support for adults, regardless of sexuality, to take care of their nieces/nephews.
It is not "anti-gay biases," but "family and marriage unfriendliness" in modern societies that we should focus on!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Forgiveness
After reading a thought for today message (see below), I thought: Hmmm... between one who is only 10% responsible for a problem, and another who is 90% responsible, I think the latter need forgiveness more.
I think to forgive someone is regardless of the percentage of responsibility he/she is to be blamed for, which is again regardless of ... whether this percentage is a fact or is what we imagine of.
There are two parts, one is forgiving, and the other is redemption. Forgiving does not erase the need for redemption, while the redemption need not be demanded by the forgiver.
I think God is right, He is in a very unfair situation, but He forgives freely.
---
From www.ThoughtForToday.org.uk: "Why is it hard to forgive others? Usually because we believe that they are 90% to blame for the problem, that I am not as bad as they are. So I start to carry the load of other people's actions. If my ego is too hurt, I will have the sense of correction, of justice: 'I know I am right', 'That is not fair'. But if I start to forgive from the heart, sincerely, then this kind of feeling and attitude begins to dissolve. I remain humble and this forgiveness will bring me closer to others. Then I do not carry regrets or anger, I just let go and remain light."
I think to forgive someone is regardless of the percentage of responsibility he/she is to be blamed for, which is again regardless of ... whether this percentage is a fact or is what we imagine of.
There are two parts, one is forgiving, and the other is redemption. Forgiving does not erase the need for redemption, while the redemption need not be demanded by the forgiver.
I think God is right, He is in a very unfair situation, but He forgives freely.
---
From www.ThoughtForToday.org.uk: "Why is it hard to forgive others? Usually because we believe that they are 90% to blame for the problem, that I am not as bad as they are. So I start to carry the load of other people's actions. If my ego is too hurt, I will have the sense of correction, of justice: 'I know I am right', 'That is not fair'. But if I start to forgive from the heart, sincerely, then this kind of feeling and attitude begins to dissolve. I remain humble and this forgiveness will bring me closer to others. Then I do not carry regrets or anger, I just let go and remain light."
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