Human Nature

2500+ of Spam messages in my blog! Although Blogger has done a good job in detecting the Spams but still have 100+ Spams got published in my blog. Thanks for telling me, my dear friend.

I started to reflect about why is it when we started something to enthusiastic and as days go by we no longer so enthusiastic and worse, we forgotten about it! My dear friend told me that it is our human nature. Is it true that it is because of human nature? Ever since I started learning about the Dharma, I realised that we have 5 aggregates: Thoughts, Feelings, Perceptions, Volition and Conscious. Each aggregates are dependent on one another. We are conditioned according to our surrounding.

Perhaps that is why things do not last. Remembered, our favorite toy or doll that we used to hold on dearly during our childhood days, we no longer touched it. That is because one of our aggregates have changed that caused us to detached ourselves from the past. Happiness is in the present moment. We need to use our heart to feel it.

Remembered, I was utterly upset over my own romance relationships. And now, look at me? I have healed myself from these pains and agony. Only when we allow ourselves to learn and grow. Be wise and free from these sufferings. We are after all humans, but nevertheless, use these situations as lessons to be learned and cultivate our own happiness and wisdom.

"When the mind is free from suffering, happiness is attained." - The Buddha

May we all free from sufferings.

P/S: I will still continue to write as writing a post in my blog is still a joy to me. Sometimes, I don't really have the mood or time to write. I will still be writing but depends on conditions haha :D

A great project coming in and A great friend in town

Thia week is relatively smooth and comfortable. Ending a design product catalogue for my client and starting a new Corporate Branding for a friend using nature theme concept. I am hoping to design things which are eco-friendly using nature related elements. I am happy that I have this project coming to be my first Nature Theme project. I will do it with my heart and mind :)

My friend who comes from Philippines came over to stay with me for a week as Venerable You Deng has to go to Taiwan for a week's training. How I get to know her is through Fo Guang Shan Short Term Monastic Retreat last year in August 2012. We still keep in touch all these while because I feel that she is kind and love to help people. Despite I have been helping her to do some English translations from Mandarin to English, I feel that I have affinity with her. She is teaching English in Philippines University currently. I think she has a good heart as she also teach the monastic volunteering at Fo Guang Shan Philippines.

I will be bringing her out these few days. Hope that she can enjoy herself fully before volunteering at Fo Guang Shan Singapore wholeheartedly.

New Business, Fresh Ahead

Today is my new milestone of my life. I have officially startup a design business of my own. It has been a wonderful journey since 2011 when I start to freelance as a designer. Slowly I discovered that I have a great potential to setup my own design business. I enjoy the process of meeting with people, sharing with them my business, what I love to do and know what other business owners are doing. I realise that Business owners support one another.

I met a Business Owner who runs her own business 6 years ago. By running her own business, she can easily earns $120,000 profit per year. Of course, I am aware that different industries have different demands and expectations. Especially from BNI philosophy: Givers Gain. I am impressed that through word of mouth, businesses and profits can be achieved. She tells me that, "Hey you are still young, you need to be stretched." After talking to her, and reflecting what I have done since 2011. I haven't been stretched much, just feel like buying some time to recuperate. It is time for me to come back and YES, I am ready for the new challenges :)

I am honored to have this design business as I grow to be a better and wiser person. Being a business owner, entrepreneur and creative designer, I learnt to have better time management for myself. To balance my own life and my business goals. I believe it can be done, without short change my own health. Since 2011, I have learn to build up my own health, to select and eat my food more consciously and learn to mediate as well. This bring me back to my own inner peace and calmness.

I am thankful for the wonderful support from family and friends. They cheer me on. I will do my best to deliver what I promise:
To give meaningful and quality design work to my clients with my best ability.

To end off with my own quote: "If we never stretch ourselves, we never know how far we can stretch."

A note of appreciation to my mediation teacher

This is the note to myself and a note of appreciation towards my mediation teacher, George Lim. Due to the SMRT incident and some world issues, I felt the unfairness and unhappiness in this world.

Fortunately, I talked to my mediation teacher. He said in each moment there are two side of the situations, either we are looking at an opportunity to learn or we are looking at the problem. Only when we are able to generate loving kindness to ourselves and to learn to see things as they are. Then we are able to give loving kindness to other people and giving other people constructive advises. I feel much better after talking to him.

May I be able to send loving kindness to myself and other people. May I be able to protect my own happiness. May I be truly happy and free.

I am grateful to meet my mediation teacher and the things that he has taught me. I am glad that I have meet another good teacher in my life.

Path to Peace

It has been quite awhile since I blog. Today I visited a girl's blog, Shi Wuling who wrote about her own sharing. I find this phrase very meaningful. Before we can even help others, we need to find our own inner peace. When we know how to do it, we will be able to guide other people to find their own peace and happiness. 

I remembered Master Hsing Yun once wrote：

我愿做一支蜡烛，燃烧自己，照亮别人。

"I would like to be a lighted candle which keeps on burning and give other people's light." I find it very meaningful and I was touched by his words. 

This life journey is meaningful when we use our time wisely and able to benefit more people. There is always life lessons on this day and today I pick up this life lesson. To be able to have my own inner peace and happiness. 

I am really fortunate to meet friends who have helped me along the way. I am grateful to meet these friends and thanks for their wonderful advises that I can become a more wiser and compassionate person. May all beings have their own happiness and able to appreciate the surroundings and what they have provided with. 

Everyone of us has abundance of good fortune. It is how we are able to see it with our own mind. I am really grateful and thankful for all the things I have. I felt the calmness and the peace within myself. It is indescribable as I felt it from my heart. The feeling is bliss. I thank the universe for the wonderful experience. I no longer feel pain and I felt a strong sense of gratitude and love within me. Thanks myself for the willingness to be healed and let go all the sorrow behind. 

Today is indeed a beautiful and wonderful day to enjoy :D May we all be thankful to have this day to live. 

Looking forward 2013

2012 is coming to the end and 2013 is coming on our way. Still the same goal that I want to be happier and healthier in 2013. I looked back at my past posts. I realised that I have been putting some conscious effort to make myself healthy. It is a good progression.

2013 Action Plan:

My focus and plan for this year are
1) Spend quality time with the nature, exercising, meditate
Make sure sleep before 11pm. To have quality sleep. 
Mediate 5 mins daily and mediate twice weekly with a group of like-minded people.
Daily 3 times a week: Every Monday, Thursday and Sun (Swimming)
Mindful what I eat food
I can slim down
Yes, I Did. From 65kg to 58kg. 8 more kg to go. By June 2013.
I will take good care of my body.
Slowly slimming down my body to my ideal weight 50kg.

2) Continue to build bonding and spend quality time with family and friends

3) Improve my drawing skills
Focus on 2 drawing skills: line drawing and pointillism.

4) Followup - Write my book about gratitude. 30th October 2013. Need to allocate time.
Started but still collecting the stories

5) Take up new interesting courses like Calligraphy Painting in Jan 2013, cooking, making dresses

6) Continue my Year Two Buddhist studies
At Fo Guang Shan and Guang Ming Shan Starts on 3rd March 2013. 

7) Finding more businesses for my freelance work to sustain my current lifestyle at least $3000 a month Focus on building business relationships

8) Increase knowledge through reading, listening and observation. Review weekly on my progress

9) Teaching Mi Tuo Students every Saturday morning. Starts on 12th January 2013.

Applying 4 Golden Rules
1. Go and do what is needed to be done
2. Avoid doing what is shouldn't do
3. Learn to be patience and learn to wait
4. Must be eager to learn

Perseverance is the word to have a healthy body, mind and spirit.

Review 2012 Action Plan:
My focus and plan for this year are
Spend quality time with the nature, exercising, meditate
Yes I DID
Started to sleep before 11pm. 
Slept before 12 midnight.
To have quality sleep. 
Yes I Did
Mediate 10 mins daily.
Mediate twice a week
Daily Exercise.
Exercise 1-2 times a week
Enjoy my food
Yes I Did
I can slim down
Yes, I Did. From 65kg to 58kg. 8 more kg to go. By June 2013.
I want to take good care of my body.
Slowly slimming down my body to my ideal weight 50kg.

Spend quality time with family and friends
Yes I DID

Improve my drawing skills
Yes I DID, however needs to practice diligently

Make a book
Yes I DID, Make an illustrated children book for Siew Birthday

Write my book about gratitude
Started but still collecting the stories

Take up interesting courses like learning mug making, origami, maybe ballet hahaha
Yes I DID, Take up mug making, clay making, origami and dancing

Of course attend Buddhist classes
Yes I DID! At Fo Guang Shan and Guang Ming Shan. Took my 3 refuges and 5 precepts under Venerable Master Hsing Yun

Finding more businesses for my freelance work to sustain my current lifestyle
Started but still not stable enough to sustain my current lifestyle. Have to put in more effort and time

Attend my Toastmasters meetings monthly
Yes I DID

Room for improvement.

This year I have been exercising at least once or twice a week. There are times where I exercise daily. Siew told me that I should put exercising into my lifestyle so that exercising is my routine. What she shares do make sense. I started to put into my life at least 3 times a week. Discipline starts to set in. I slowly becomes more alert and focus.

Plan without action is as good as not having any plan. I really glad that I started to take care of my own body and health. Working towards a healthy and happier lifestyle. Yes, it is about my well being. I glad that I have slowly working towards what I needed. Feel great sense of purpose, gratitude and satisfactory towards my life. I feel more excited and happier about my life as I am doing what I like :)

佛光山的学习感想

在机缘巧合中，我参加了佛光山2012年8月的短期出家。有人说，“出家” 就是把心带 回家。当时，我根本不懂它的意思，只想体验僧团的平静生活。其实僧团生活是过得很充实的，就是懂得活得简单，活在当下。一点也不浪费宝贵的生命，时间。

很多人打了一辈子工，每天忙忙碌碌，也不知道为了什么。糊里糊涂就这样过了一生。在被社会的一把尺，以富裕来衡量时，我看见富裕的人不一定快乐，贫穷的人也不一定不会可怜。在佛的面前，人人平等，没有所谓的贵贱，没有分别心，每个人都可以成佛。从佛法里，了解快乐的定意在于懂得知足，取舍。

我开始问我自己的生命价值在哪里？让我再一次领悟到生命的价值不在于我到底富不富有，而是我的生命价值观。

我很感恩能接近善知识，因为它让我清楚的知道我的生命价值观到底是否正确。有多位的师父的引导，我的心也踏实了很多。有一位师父问，“你有每天观自己的心吗?” 这才让我庞然大悟！以前我把习惯当作理所当然，原来好的习惯是让我建立基本功夫。有了好习惯，做事情也顺心了许多。原来要改坏习惯，还真要，每天自己的叮咛，才可以慢慢的把坏习惯改掉。有心要改，一定行！

虽然只见星云大师一面，他的智慧让我受益。在短期出家的开式中，他和我们分享我们要学习 “无的生活”。他说无的空间很大，无里又富有。我一直在思考，领悟到因为没有才有更多创造空间。就联想到像佛光山一样从无到有，现在的伟大成果，也是因为星云大师和师父们一点一滴慢慢累积成的。这是多么有智慧的一句话啊！

另一句话，他说，“做自己的贵人”。我想每个人都有自己的明灯照亮自己的路，只要靠自己的努力，信心，多看，多听，多学，多问，有正知正见一定能做出成绩来的。我要用我的心来感受世界，我要用我的智慧来帮助，关怀身边的人。

不只是跟星云大师学习，佛光山的师父都是我学习的好榜样。导师再怎么好，心净还是要靠自己。每天与佛相应，这次真的把心带回家了。谢谢这一路来的教导，真的获益良多。祝福大家，感恩！

Connection with Vegetarism

Last Thursday, I attend my dharma teacher's talk about Vegetarism. There are some gluesome scenes shown on now the animals are badly treated and slaughtered. I wrote some feedback to my teacher and he asked me if I ever see animals that are not killed in a brutely way for food consumption? I was speechless.

Everyday I have been praying for the well beings of all beings. How can all beings be truly happy when I am eating some of them? It does sets me to think that perhaps we are doing more harm than good by being a meat eater.

I went to the website of the Vegan Society, it is the websites that promote Vegetarism. I love the clips of the videos shows how Vegan can be living more healthy and be more compassion as know that no animals are being killed for them. I can start a Vegan Day for myself every week.

There are some of the thoughts by the Vegans. I think it is really inspiring.



All the videos are found here for viewing.

Present Moment

This morning I recieved a very wise quote from a friend. Although she is non Buddhist, she gave me a quote said by the Buddha. Was very thankful for my friend to send me this quote. Perhaps the Buddha knows that I am having some emotional feeling yesterday and gave this quote to my friend to forward it to me. Haha :D

Somehow or rather, I felt much better after recieving this quote. It reminds me of to seriously moving on and stop dwelling on the past as it is history. The past no longer comes back. Every sec will become a history sec by sec. Every future sec will become every present sec. Thus, each moment is very important and precious.

The future will only happen when I am able to take action on the present moment. It is no longer important what will be in the future. Every future is the present. It is important and precious about what is going on in this present moment.

I feel consoled and warmed after understand the meaning of this quote. It really helps and I slowly learn to love myself, my loving parents, my dear sis, my dear friends. As I progress spiritually, I do hope that my loving kindness can radiate to more people in my life so that more people are benefit to this loving kindness. I guess I will need to practise more diligently so that more people can benefit from it. I also do hope that one day I will be able to meet the Amitaba Buddha because I have a lot of questions to ask him.

May I be well and happy and may others be well and happy.

爱情真心的领悟

啊，多么痛得领悟，你曾是我的全部！



这歌词是来自辛晓琪的这首歌的领悟。曾经抱着重重的爱情包袱，今天我终于觉得自己已经放下来了。扛了１０多年的包袱也该是时候放下了。回想起来我到低在执著着什么？

我想应该是我根本都放不下。明知道很痛，已经是过去事了，却不肯放手，还在根根于怀。就不知不觉地把伤痛给了另一段感情。就这样，每一段感情都不可能有幸福的一天，因为我根本都不想放下第一段感情。

就算再好的男生在我面前，我一直在惩罚我自己，我还是一直觉得不会有好的结果。因为我已经判爱情死刑了，怎么会有好的结果呢？

幸好老师今天让我领悟到一个道理。每一颗感情都有始有终。不需要太直著，只要真心地对待他，就算有一天会离开，也不需要太伤心。因为我曾经真心真意的爱过他，也就足够了。

今天想祝福我曾经爱的人和爱我的人。大家就为自己眼前的幸福，好好的经营吧，祝福你们幸福和快乐。:)

别再为爱受苦！

Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain

Matthieu Ricard is a Buddhist monk, photographer, and author. He has lived and worked in the Himalayan region for forty years. One of the scientific test shows that he is considered the happiness man in this world. This video shares his wisdom on how mediation can train one's mind and bring closer to our true happiness.

http://vimeo.com/49587835

I enjoyed the part where he mentioned about many people thought that sensory pleasures are form of happiness. Sensory pleasures are unsubstainable. They are seen as fleeting wind, comes and goes quickily.

True happiness is timeless. It is the way of being. Inner qualities give us the ability to dealt with ups and downs of life.

The well being consists of inner peace, loving kindess, wisdom, compassion, confidence, freedom. These inner qualities that we cultivate will help us to handle the external situations better and more efficiently. Having a clear, peaceful and stable mind is important. The fitness of the mind is as important as fitness of the body. Meditation gives emotional balance and benefits to the society.

Those people who cultivates self discipline, generosity, patience, concentration, diligence, enthusiam effort and wisdom are more successful in life.

I am glad that I am slowly cultivating in this direction :) May all be well and happy.

Life affirmations

In June 2012, I was asked to empowered myself with life affirmations and my own beliefs to take charge of my own daily life. During then, I couldn't understand how does life affirmations actually can help. To me it is just a sets of statements that I do not resonate.

However, today I starting to write down what are the things I affirm. I felt I am connected with these statements thus these sets of affirmations will help me to promote life or celebrate life.

21 statements
1) I am grateful for all the things I have or going to have.
2) I am courageous to take up the life challenges.
3) I am honest with myself and other people.
4) I am kind to myself and other people.
5) I am open-minded to things that I am unaware.
6) I am decisive in my decision makings.
7) I am a leader who leads by example.
8) I am creative in my work.
9) I am clear about what I am doing and going to do.
10) I am here to make beautiful things to enhance the quality of people life.
11) I am wealthy in my mind and my heart.
12) I am accountable to my own actions.
13) I am respectable and respect others.
14) I am thankful to have loving family and friends.
15) I am appreciative to people who have helped me.
16) I am patience with myself and other people.
17) I am enjoying each day of my life.
18) I am glad that I am able to help people around me.
19) I am able to manage my time and use it wisely and purposefully.
20) I am creating my wealth each day.
21) I am building healthy relationships each day.

Confusion to Clarity

Life sometimes can be so strange. Perhaps it is due to my lack to understanding. I remembered that I created a blog named Cycle of Life. This blog was created because I wanted to have a connection with the Universe. I wrote how I feel towards myself and how I view about certain things.

During my depression, I was so fearful about looking at the things I wrote to the Universe. From my understanding, Universe is the signal or energy that we send out to the system. This energy will be able to attract what we send out. I was so confused and somehow I thought that having the name "Cycle of Life" will screwed up everything. It was really silly of me. When I reread what I wrote. It is nothing scary. Those articles that I wrote are the thought moments that I feel during that point in time.

Thanks to the Buddha's teachings that makes me have more clarity. Things change to the positive side, so did I.

I really glad that I revisit the website and it is really not as scary and fearful that I have imagine it to be. I actually silly enough to think that I can changed the whole world from the words that I used. Nevertheless, I have changed the name to "Letters to the Universe". So that it will no longer create that kind of confusion and uncertainties.

When I look back now, it is really myself who created such a big drama into my life. This whole drama makes me cherish my love ones more and I get to know that I really need to trust and love myself completely. Though this drama is a short period of time. I have learn to take time to reflect and most importantly, taking back my own power and strength.

Craving

Today's buddhism class is about craving. There are two types of cravings: the gross craving and subtle craving.

When I learn about craving, I thought that as long as the amount needed or used was extreme, it is considered craving.

It is interesting to know about subtle craving. It means that when we are attached to things for more and more, it is subtle craving. For example the craving for a promotion or craving for material things. I think unhappiness arises when we didn't get what we wanted. That is because we have attachments and desire for it.

I personally think craving can be seen as a form of addiction too. For example to queue for an iphone or a bubble tea drink for no good reason. Even when we are attached to certain people, especially to our love ones, when they leave us, we feel pain and hurt. Main reason is because we can't accept that the person has left us.

My greatest learning for today is to realise that the way to embrace change is to have the mindset of everything that we have, doesn't really belong to us. There is a chinese saying, "天底下有不散的宴席 means there is always an end in every gathering. There will be a day we need to leave this world. When we need to let go, just let go. There is time for everything. What's most importantly, we are able to depart swiftly, happily and peacefully.

Geek Girls Experience

Have a great time at this study group workshop for a month. Almost lost touch with web programming, glad that I picked it up again. Really happy to know some of the cool, geek girls here :)

This workshop is interesting and basically let those girls with no programming background to attend such study group so that they have a better understanding of what web programming language is all about.

Although I have basic web programming knowledge, but I have lost touch for many years. Therefore, I have to relearn all the techniques and terms used in programming. Programming is a skill that you need to use in day in and day out. If not, will be easily forgotten. Even the expert programmers sometimes, they may even need to refer code helps to get some work done.

I am glad that I get to know these group of fun loving girls who have interest in learning the web coding. I like the part where we are assigned to come out with our own designs and programming project that we wanted to do. I really spend a day to conceptualise and design the portfolio and I really love what I do. It is a fun and enjoyable experience. Even when I was sharing my ideas and why I do this project. I could feel that the excitement within me. I enjoyed the learning design process and coming out with the end product, I also enjoyed sharing my knowledge with them as well.

I do hope that I can stay in touch with the geek girls so that I can continue to learn and having a group of like-minded learning friends with me so that we can learn and grow together. :)

林育群 - 人海中遇見你

I like this song very meaningful especially my sis forward this song to me :) I really grateful to have such a wonderful sister in my life. Thanks for being my loving, jovial and kind sister. Love you :)

I want to radiate this loving kindness to my parents, friends and people I have met. Thanks for meeting you this lifetime.

范瑋琪 - 因為

I have heard this song before many years back but I didn't know is sing by Fan Fan. Nice Lyrics :)

總在我家巷口和你分手　彷佛偶像劇一樣　
覺得我們就要發生些什麼

總在回家時候不知所措　想再打電話給你　
可是再見剛剛才說過

有一種想要擁抱你的衝動

想靜靜看著你的笑容　讓你藏在懷中　
直到我每天的盡頭

因為想一個人而寂寞　因為愛一個人而溫柔

因為有一個夢而執著　因為等一個人而折磨

因為想一個人而解脫　因為愛一個人而寬容

因為有一個夢而放縱　因為等一個人而漂泊

因為想一個人而寂寞　因為愛一個人而溫柔

像夜的矇矓　你的深情難懂　我的世界因為你而不同

因為想一個人而解脫　因為愛一個人而寬容

像風的自由　你的深情難留　你的背影　是我最美麗的所有

Taking charge of my life

After attending yesterday's class "Working with emotions", I do have some insights about myself. I realised the importance of taking control of my own life. Emotions come to me moments to moments. I feel that I have some clarity finally.

I have been seeking for answers for many years, asking what is the purpose of my life. Whenever I cant find any answers, I just live quietly with my life and from time to time attended various self development courses, hoping to that I may get the answers that I want. Walking through all the rollercoaster of my emotions then finally today I realised that I just want the inner peace and lasting happiness within my heart.

Yes, there are many teachers out there to teach about life. But what truly make senses to me is how I really feel about life, how I walk through my own obstacles and challenges and how I get my own wisdom and develop compassion.

All these things that I need to learn is to do and experience it. There is no better way of experience then to learn from the experts and to do it.

I bought a book yesterday called "Be your own Life Coach." written by Jeff Archer. Although I only read a couple of pages and about living healthy lifestyle. I get to learn more about myself. I am truthful about myself. The top 5 things that makes me happy:

1. Joy of Crafts
When I am doing craft work, experimenting how to make the products look great and pleasing. I felt a sense of achievements. That explains whenever I look at those gift wrapping, origami, craft papers, handwork related work, I could pick up within secs. It is effortless to me because I truly enjoy what I do and immerse myself into making things.

2. Joy of Relationships
I love being with my family, friends and people that I care about. They are the people who enriches my life. I love being with them. The quality time that I spend with them are meaningful and I cherish the time with them. I understand relationships need to be built and not taken for granted. In the past, I cant appreciate the bonding and love. I felt it is unnecessary.

But now, things have changed. I started to value people relationships. Why two people or a group of people are together, it is simply because of the karmic affinity. We do not know when these karmic affinity is going to end, thus we need to cherish the people around us. The best gift I can give to my love ones is my attention and presence at the present moment.

3. Joy of Swimming
Swimming is always my favourite sport. Even though I have tons of activities I like to join. However, swimming allows me to be myself, to be relax, to stay calm, at ease and composed. I love the water that touches my skin. Cooling and peaceful. :)

Before I learn how to swim, I already fall in love with the water. That's the reason for so many years, despite I can't swim well at all. I never give up on learning how to swim! Swimming gives me courage and strength as well. Having phobia in the past, does not weaken my belief of learning how to swim properly. Now I can swim at least 4-5 laps, feeling at ease!

4. Joy of Traveling
I love traveling because it broadens my horizon. I get to learn more things and culture from other countries. Even though it is usually a short trip. Last time I envy those people who can travel a lot. But now, I no longer have these thoughts of enviousness because it is unnecessary. I just need to work within my own means. There will be time where I get to travel and experience the culture from the various countries.

Perhaps I can start writing down the list of places that I will like to visit and plan accordingly. I think it will be more realistic and I get to materialise it.

The next country I want to visit is London in 2013. Partially is because I want to visit my Uncle Bob and Aunty Lyn and Cousin Jason. I want to fulfill this trip as I want to spend quality time with my relatives who are dear to me. Working towards my London Trip!

5. Joy of Smiling
I feel that life without a smile is meaningless to live. I love to smile and giggle a lot especially with my dear friend, Siew Siew. I remembered one day my ex boyfriend told me that I become crazy whenever I am with Siew Siew and he didn't like it. I was affected when he said that. I didn't dare to tell Siew Siew because I worried I will affect her as well. Even though, we are no longer together, I already believed from that day onwards, I reduced the times I smile. I always find reasons that I need to smile then I smile. That was so painful!

Having this awareness, I know that I do not need to be the worrisome kid that I used to be. So what if I smile and laugh for no good reason, does that going to harm or kill anyone? The answer is NO! I was too bothered by some negative remarks that I have forsake my true self. That was really silly and how it affected my well being, which I didn't even realise it!

Nowadays, I didn't mind what other people think when I laugh or smile because it is my true nature and character. I love smiling and this is the fact!

Being Grateful

Yesterday after writing about living life fully. I felt a sense of calmness and bliss within me. It is a subtle yet i felt the positive energy around me. This morning when I woke up, I felt the thought of being grateful and thankful for all the good things and moments that happened to me be it in the past, or at the present moment.

I felt happy and the feeling is beyond words. When we are the difficult state, we continue to believe that things will be fine, work diligently on what we can do and eventually, work out something great. Somehow or rather, more and more positive things will come by and makes me feel grateful about.

How I overcome my own negative emotions into a blissful state of mind, it is really amazing. Meditation of reciting Amituofo's name helps me a lot. From a confusion state of mind to a sense of blissful within, requires time and effort.

Clearing the stray thoughts and focus on the name of Amitfuo's name, helps me to dilute the confusion and increase clarity. I felt that it is through daily effort of being grateful and mindful about the people, events and things around me, makes me real and authentic.

In the past, I always feel that I need to be gracious, I need to be knowledgeable, I need to be someone great. But the true fact is I am already the person I always wanted to be, which is being my own self. There is no need to be change to someone else that I am not. Being real and authentic is far more powerful than being someone that I pretend to be, which is fake.

How many people realised that how fortunate we are to be able to accept entirely for who we are. There are a lot of people out there, trying so hard to be someone who they are not, change face, doing physical surgery work, trying hard to fit into the society and business models, just to win the recognition of their bosses and the colleagues. Is it truly necessary?

Losing our identity just makes us losing our self confidence and self worth. At the end of the day, it is not the money that goes into our pocket. It is our own wisdom, values that are cultivated and genuine happiness that fill our hearts, that is important.

I must really thank Buddha and the Universe to give me the guidance of being real and authentic. They give me the strength to live, to love and to give unconditionally.

Live Life Fully

This week has been an amazing week because I felt that I'm slowly understand what life is all about. The topic of meaningful of life has been bother me since many years back till I felt a bit numb and a bit of pain, as I couldn't figure out how to deal with my life.

Cruising day by day, seems like it becomes a comforting thing to do. I have questions for what is the meaning of life for many years back. Are our life just sleep, eat, study, work, get married and have kids and depart when time is up? Until this week, after attending Shi an's class about his sharing about the meaning of life. I get some glimpses of wisdom and light.

Shi an shared a video about a professor invited a group of students for a tea session. During the session, the professor prepares a pot of coffee and assorted sets of cups. There are cups made of glass, porcelain, clay, gold, wood etc. He asked the students to choose the cups that they like. All the students picked their cups and looking at each other which cups did their peers choose and starts to compare whether their cups are good enough. The professor saw the situation and said,"It doesn't matter what cups are you holding. Most importantly is the quality of the coffee. The coffee represents our life. How well have we live? The happy person may not have the best of everything. But he made the best out of what he has."

I finally realised that how ignorant I was to look at what cup I was holding without noticing the importance of the quality of my coffee. One fine day, when Buddha ask me how well have I live? How well have I let go? How much have I learn? I really hope that I can answer all these questions.

Yesterday, I attended the "Working with emotions" Workshop. It is an another amazing experience for me. I get to realise that I can make my own choices in my life. I have a couple of "Ah-ha" moments. I am glad that Siew has attended this course with me. Even sometimes life may throw us with some difficult situations, these situations help us to grow wiser and better person. We can always choose a better and positive solutions.

Being appreciative is also makes me realise the goodness of people around me. Compare to last time, I noticed that I didn't resist much about taking positive actions as I know I must do something about my life proactively. Another good news is I realise I love myself. I started to care more about myself. Yes, I was too stingy with myself in the past. Too stingy to the extend that even I did something right, I also felt that it was nothing to be worth sharing and appreciate.

I teared a lot because I was feeling lacked of love and trying to get love from other people. The truth is, of course it didn't work. Self Love is a process of understanding oneself and able to love oneself unconditionally. For example, despite of the good things or bad things that happens, I am still able to love and accept myself unconditionally. That is what self love is all about.

I started to take baby steps out of my own comfort zone, of cos with calculated risk. Life has become more meaningful and interesting. I no longer complain, rather I felt that I am very fortunate. Fortunate that I have loving family, who truly genuinely love me unconditionally. I have a loving and sincere friends who stood by me when times are really bad. What more can I ask, except to take good care of myself and learn the lessons that I need to learn.

Everyone of us has something to learn and share with everyone. As long as open our hearts and learn to love and trust unconditionally, we will feel that we have so much, so much more to give.

I have choose to face my life bravely and appreciate meaningful moments once again. This is the best gift I ever give to myself. Actually it is beyond words... if you understand what I mean..

Here is the quote by Anthony Robbins which I find it very meaningful.