God is what you perceived

This is a story sent by a Christian via email.  The message seems to be very subtle. It has a universal message, as well as different opposing interpretations in accordance with your own perception of what you choose and want to believe. If we can just put aside our personal perceptions which sometimes may be wrong of even offensive to others, and just focus on the wider universal  message of the unversal truth; then the world will be a better place.

Take the example of this story which you are going to read.  If you are a Christian, your perception is that God is ever present and you must have faith in Him, as was what the sender of this email message wrote, "God still sits on the throne. You may be going through a tough time right now but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can....Keep the faith!"

For those who don't believe in God, they would refute this Christan writer, and the ensuing  foolish petty squabble between the two teams will gradually ignite into a big fire!

However if we were to open our hearts and minds, and read the message with a little wisdom in us, then we can just interprete that with simple things in life like sharing some chips and a good hug will bring happiness to all parties.  

Hope everyone is happy now.  But please don't eat too much chips and drink too much sweet drinks.  They are not good for health.

Now enjoy reading the email message:

 A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey.


When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old man. He was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old man looked hungry, so he offered him some chips. He gratefully accepted it and smiled at him.


His smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer. Again, he smiled at him. The boy was delighted!


They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.


As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old man, and gave him a hug. He gave him his biggest smile ever..


When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?"


He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? He's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"


Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked, "dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?"


He replied "I ate potato chips in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."


Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime! Embrace all equally!


Have lunch with God.......bring chips.


Send this to people who have touched your life in a special way. Let them know how important they are. I did!!!!


God still sits on the throne. You may be going through a tough time right now but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can.


Keep the faith!

My instructions were to pick four people that I wanted God to bless, and I picked you.


Please pass this to at least four people you want to be blessed. This prayer is powerful, and prayer is one of the best gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for one another.


Here is the prayer:


Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and e-mail buddies reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace. Bless their homes, families, finances,their goings and their comings. In Jesus' precious name, Amen


Now I picked more than four, so can you!


Patience w/ family = Love



Patience w/ others = Respect


Patience w/ self = Confidence

My kind of future PM of Malaysia

This is my kind of future Prime Minister of Malaysia.  YB Nurul Izzah Anwar.  Judge for yourself.

The curse of mankind : Human trafficking

(Anuradha Koirala : CNN Hero of the Year 2010)

The curse of mankind : Human Trafficking.  This encompasses every conceivable form of human exploitation.  The first in line is human sex slavery.  There are human animals who have no conscience at all exploiting innocent girls.  These people are actually not fit to even be classified as animals, for animals do not indulge in this despicable activity.

Human trafficking exists in almost every country.  But to consider Nepal is far from everyone's mind.  Fortunately Nepal has a saviour, Anuradha Koirala.  She was voted CNN’s Hero of the Year in 2010. Her sole mission? To rescue innocent girls who have been tricked and enslaved in the sex trade in Northern India.

If you want to read more please go to my "Hubpages" site by CLICKING HERE:

Please support Maiti Nepal.  I just did.

Meditation to see things as they really are.

(The imposing Main Meditation Hall of the Dhamma Malaya Vipassana Centre, Gambang, Kuantan, Malaysia)

To-day I wish to write about meditation.  What a boring subject.  Rightfully this should be posted in my Buddhist blog "Life Is Like That".  I am writing about the meditation as taught by the Buddha over 2500 years ago.  Actually it has nothing to do with the so-called "religion".  Buddha never introduced any sectarian religion.  He just revealed the universal truths of existence.  These truths you can see for yourself.  Truth like the impermanence of anything and everything in existence.  Truth like the unsatisfactoriness of our existence.  Truth like all of us carry a heavy baggage within ourselves; greed, hatred and egoism.  But then again, people will want to point finger that Buddhism is still a religion because they want to believe in something else.

Be that as it may, let's talk about meditation in the Buddhist perspective.  The main object of Buddhist meditation is to train the mind to see reality, to see things as they really are.  Do you know, we look but don't see?  Once we can come to terms with the laws of nature, understand and accept them as they are, we will begin to change our way of thinking, and we will live in a more accommodating and understanding way of life.  We don't fight nature anymore.  We flow with nature.  Then we have nothing to complain, our lives will be more peaceful.

I have done meditation since I was a young man, but never achieve  much as I was and still am not a serious enough meditator.  Next week I shall be going for a 10-day meditation retreat.   Away from everything; purely meditation from 4.30 in the early morning till 9 at night, for 10 consecutive days.

This course is introduced by S.N. Goenka  and is taught by him and his assistance in centres around the world.  Fortunately for me, they have started one in Penang, hidden by the hillside, up from the Rifle Range Flats area. I will be in the very first batch. 

For those interested to find out more, please go to the following sites:

Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka

Malaysia Vipassana Centre

Vipassana at work in Malaysia : Video

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(Postscript :  I had to postpone this trip due to unforseen circumstances.  I shall update in due course)

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Update 29 December 2012: I have attended the 10-day course on 5 December 2012.  To read please CLICK HERE.

Please take good care of your health

This post is a "copy & paste" from a cancer survivor's blog :

Please reflect very seriously on CT Chang's closing advice:
"I am also sending out a message to all healthy people. You can see how difficult the life of a cancer patient can be. Please spend sometime on your health. It's worth it."

Day After Day

The other day, an anonymous reader said "by writing every single day, and mentioning about your cancer, wouldn't that be reminding you constantly that you are not well, and you continue to dwell in the sea of depression?" I did give a short reply then but today, I thought I would thought I would touch on that topic a little more. I am happy he or she asked that question.

When you discovered you have cancer, after all the initial shock or whatever you want to call it, you will quickly wake up and realise that you now have cancer. Some people chose to remain angry questioning "why me?" and can spend their rest of the remaining life angry with every one and still not get an answer. Some others chose to accept the reality and make the best out of it. No matter which path one chooses, as a cancer patient, we live with the cancer day in and day out. Once you have cancer, it will stay with you forever. Even after in remission, you are living with the fear of recurrence.

There are so many things happening in a day. From the moment I wake up, I feel the sickness, it's only a question of whether its was better or worst than yesterday. Of course, many cancer patients keep themselves busy with various activities throughout the day. Hopefully during those times, the mind is off the illness. When the illness is improving or stable, then it is much easier to manage. But when the illness is progressing, got more things to think about. There are many things a cancer patient has the decide as well. For example, if the cancer has spread, do you tell it to your family, siblings and parents? When in pain, do you show your pain in front of your family, siblings and parents? Like I was coughing blood, I had to do it quietly because if my parents see me oozing so much blood, it will cause them great pain. Also when I need to cry, I have to find a solitary place to do it, hiding my emotional pain. When I am depressed, I have to act in a normal way and yet at the same time pacify my emotions. Otherwise people around you get worried too. Then there are therapies to consider and research. Funds running low. And the lists goes on.
One of the main charcteristics of cancer is pain, excruciating pain at times. It sticks with you 24 hours a day whether you are aware of it or not. At times when the pain score is low, maybe 2 or 3, the pain is in the background and I can mostly ignore it. This is considered comfortable and of course as the pain score rises, the only way to keep the pain at bay is to take pain killers. My worst experience was in Chongqing, China after my TAE procedure. Morphine is the mother of all pain killers. Even after receiving the morphine jab, I could still feel the excruciating pain. If it was possible I would want to end my life then.

I find blogging very therapeutic. It allows me to express my thoughts and emotions, reflect on what's going on with me, my life and my illness. It also allows me to come into contact with many people, especially other cancer patients as well. The mutual sharing and support for each other. Some readers go out the way to write to me, phone me and console me while others prefer to write in the comments. Some readers go even further by providing me with some funds or training. All these helps me to cope better.

I am also sending out a message to all healthy people. You can see how difficult the life of a cancer patient can be. Please spend sometime on your health. It's worth it.

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 I  made a comment on his post:

Hi Chang,

I am past 60. Each day I live to remind myself that another day alive is a bonus. My top priority is good health. And I try my best to eat right, drink right and think right. The specter of death at anytime is very real to me.

Thank you for sharing your honest thoughts and feelings with us. It certainly is very therapeutic.

I take the liberty to "copy & paste" your posting in my blog. Hope your permission is given.

Take care.

Three-Word Phrases That Make Relationships Better

Asian cultures are not so expressive in inter-personal relationship, especially expressing themselves physically with tender hugs and kisses.  Words are equally hard to come by when expressing our true feelings.  Perhaps in this particular situation, we can learn from our Western counterparts.

There are many things that you can do to strengthen your relationships.

Often the most effective thing you can do involves saying just three words.

When spoken sincerely, these statements often have the power to develop new friendships,

deepen old ones and even bring healing to relationships that have soured.

The following three-word phrases can be tools to help develop every relationship.

Let me help:

Good friends see a need and then try to fill it.

When they see a hurt they do what they can to heal it.

Without being asked, they jump in and help out.

I understand you:

People become closer and enjoy each other more when the other person

accepts and understands them.

Letting your spouse know - in so many little ways - that you understand them,

is one of the most powerful tools for healing your relationship.

And this can apply to any relationship.

I respect you:

Respect is another way of showing love.

Respect demonstrates that another person is a true equal.

If you talk to your children as if they were adults you will strengthen the bonds

and become closer friends. This applies to all interpersonal relationships.

 

 

 

I miss you:

Perhaps more marriages could be saved and strengthened if couples simply and sincerely

said to each other I miss you. This powerful affirmation tells partners they are wanted,

needed, desired and loved.

Consider how important you would feel, if you received an unexpected phone call

from your spouse in the middle of your workday, just to say I miss you.

Maybe you're right:

This phrase is very effective in diffusing an argument.

The implication when you say maybe you're right is the humility of admitting,

maybe Im wrong. Let's face it. When you have an argument with someone,

all you normally do is solidify the other persons point of view.

They, or you, will not likely change their position and you run the risk of seriously

damaging the relationship between you.

Saying maybe youre right can open the door to explore the subject more.

You may then have the opportunity to express your view in a way that is

understandable to the other person.

Please forgive me:

Many broken relationships could be restored and healed if people would admit their mistakes

and ask for forgiveness. All of us are vulnerable to faults, foibles and failures.

A man should never be ashamed to own up that he has been in the wrong,

which is saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.

 

 

 

I thank you:

Gratitude is an exquisite form of courtesy.

People who enjoy the companionship of good,

close friends are those who dont take daily courtesies for granted.

They are quick to thank their friends for their many expressions of kindness.

On the other hand, people whose circle of friends is severely constricted often

do not have the attitude of gratitude.

Count on me:

A friend is one who walks in when others walk out.

Loyalty is an essential ingredient for true friendship.

It is the emotional glue that bonds people.

Those that are rich in their relationships tend to be steady

and true friends.

When troubles come, a good friend is there indicating

you can count on me.

I'll be there:

If you have ever had to call a friend in the middle of the night,

to take a sick child to hospital, or when your car has broken down

some miles from home, you will know how good it feels to hear the phrase

I'll be there.

Being there for another person is the greatest gift we can give.

When we are truly present for other people, important things

happen to them and us.

We are renewed in love and friendship.

We are restored emotionally and spiritually.

Being there is at the very core of civility.

 

 

Go for it:

We are all unique individuals.

Dont try to get your friends to conform to your ideals.

Support them in pursuing their interests, no matter how far out they seem to you.

God has given everyone dreams, dreams that are unique to that person only.

Support and encourage your friends to follow their dreams.

Tell them to go for it.

I love you:

Perhaps the most important three words that you can say.

Telling someone that you truly love them satisfies a person

deepest emotional needs.

The need to belong, to feel appreciated and to be wanted.

Your spouse, your children, your friends and you, all need to hear

those three little words: I love you.

Love is a choice. You can love even when the feeling is gone.

 

 

 

Feng Fei Fei : Another Mandarin Pop Icon Died

Feng Fei Fei, another Mandarin pop icon died.  Many youngsters may not know her too well.  Incidentally, my number one pop icon, Teresa Teng was of the same age.  Both are now gone; very sad.

I don't speak Mandarin or write Chinese, but I am always a fan of Chinese songs.  I don't fully understand the lyrics, but I still enjoy listening to all of them.  My male pop idol is Fei Yi Ching. (Incidentally, the man sitting next to Fei Fei in the 3rd video below is Fei Yi Ching) 

Theresa Teng and Feng Fei Fei had very special vocal resonance.  I think there is no appropriate word to describe their special vocal excellence.  For Theresa Teng I would say she had a sweet and beautiful voice. As for Feng Fei Fei, haunting and sexy. 

The best way to "describe" is just to listen and enjoy their sweet renditions.  Below, I have chosen five special songs by Fei Fei which are my favourites.  For Theresa's please clik here:

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Ma Ying-jeou joins in mourning for Feng Fei Fei

The China Post/ANN
Tuesday, Feb 14, 2012 President Ma Ying-jeou joined large swathes of Taiwan in mourning yesterday after the news that singer Feng Fei Fei had died.
Feng Fei Fei, literally meaning flying phoenix, died of lung cancer in Hong Kong on Jan 3 at age 59. She is survived by her only son.

Chiu Wan Kee, her husband and also a victim of lung cancer, died before her on June 16, 2009. She was cremated in Hong Kong and her remains were interned in Daxi, Taoyuan County, her hometown, earlier this month.
Ever considerate, Feng was adamant shortly before her passing that her attorney did not break the news of her death to the nation until the Chinese New Year holiday was long past. "Breaking such news during the New Year holidays will bring bad luck to others," she was quoted as saying.
President Ma said he was saddened by the death of the singer, whose performance of two songs wrapped up the 2008 Presidential Inauguration ceremonies, when he was sworn in for his first term, a presidential spokesman said.
The president called her son to offer his condolences immediately after learning of Feng Fei Fei's death, Fang-Chiang Tai-chi told reporters, adding "he sorely misses her."
Born Lin Chiu-luan to a family of modest means in Daxi on Aug 20, 1953, Feng Fei Fei began her singing career in 1968, when she won the championship in a television singing contest at the tender age of 15.
What followed was not a meteoric rise to stardom, but a life of privation for three long years, during which she tried to make every penny count and counted every penny of her income as an itinerant singer who sang at wedding and festival banquets.
"Sometimes, I had to switch buses several times before I reached the place, which was quite often in remote rural areas. And after the guests were gone, we were treated to a hastily reheated mixture of leftovers that we found so tasty," Feng Fei Fei told an interviewer.
Her first break came in 1971, when one of her songs was included on a compilation album. She joined a label and released her first album "Wishing You Well" the next year.

Her next major award came in 1974, when she went on a concert trip to Singapore, where she was crowned one of the "top ten Southeast Asian Singers."
Better known on stage as the hat-wearing diva who never completely revealed her coiffured locks, Feng Fei Fei was known for her huge collection of headwear as well as her unflagging support for causes the nation held dear.
A frequent performer at National Day celebrations and beneficiaries after her first trip to Kinmen in 1978, when she entertained troops stationed on the island, she donated both her time and money generously to charities. Baseball fans still recall the time when she put on the hat of a cheerleader and went to the United States to root for the junior national baseball team playing there. She was named a "patriotic entertainer" in 1981.
She married in 1980 and her singing career continued until 2011, when she had to cancel a pre-scheduled concert because of the damage done to her vocal cords by cancerous cells.
Fans rushed to CD stores today and bought up all stocks of her album in less than 12 hours.

Click on thumbnail to view (Photos: Hype Records, Internet, Wanbao)

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Mandarin pop legend Fong Fei-fei died Jan. 3 in Hong Kong aged 58 2012/02/13 21:21:50

Taipei, Feb. 14 (CNA) Fong Fei-fei, one of Taiwan's most prominent pop divas in the 1970s and 1980s who enjoyed an enduring following in much of Asia, died from lung cancer Jan. 3 in Hong Kong at the age of 58, her family and lawyer announced at a news conference Monday. The belated announcement came a day after the pop queen's ashes were placed in a Buddhist temple in her hometown of Dasi in Taoyuan County in northern Taiwan. "We did not break news of her death earlier in line with her will," her attorney Chiang Yen-wei said. Noting that Fong Fei-fei, the stage name of Lin Chiu-luan, was a fairly modest and low-profile person, Chiang said the singer demanded that information of her death be withheld until after her funeral was completed. "Fong Fei-fei also asked me to convey her heartfelt thanks for all the support her working partners and faithful fans had offered her throughout her career and life," Chiang said. Fong Fei-fei, who started her legendary career by winning the first prize of a radio singing contest in 1968 when she was still a junior high school student, was originally scheduled to hold a concert at Taipei Arena last June. While rehearsing for that concert in May, she noticed abnormalties in her vocal cords, Chiang said. Medical examinations confirmed that the problems with her vocal cords were caused by lung cancer, forcing her to decide to cancel her scheduled concert, according to Chiang. He further said Fong Fei-fei's health condition deteriorated abruptly Jan. 1 and she died at a Hong Kong hospital two days later. A posting on the late singer's official website said Monday that Fong Fei-fei had willed that her death be announced after the Lantern Festival, which fell on Feb. 6 this year. The posting also quoted Fong Fei-fei, who attained a goddess-like status among her fans with her charming voice and amiable manner, as saying that she had lived a happy and wonderful life and would like to sing for her fans again in her next life. "She still personally wrote birthday cards and 2012 New Year cards for her friends and loyal fans in the last month of her life," the posting said. Fong Fei-fei married a Hong Kong travel industry tycoon in 1980 at the age of 27. Her husband died from lung adenocarcinoma in 2009. She is survived by a 23-year-old son. In her prime, Fong Fei-fei recorded songs for soundtracks of romantic films adapted from novels of noted writer Chiung Yao. The popularity of those films also helped take her career to new heights. Music and film critics said Fong Fei-fei's geniality and the plain lyrics and simple melodies of those songs, which were easy to sing along with but whose vocal intensity was difficult to copy, produced a unique mix of legendary virtuosity and approachable reality. Wen Tien-hsiang, a film critic, said Fong Fei-fei's charm was not just for young female audiences but also male listeners. According to him, some of the Chiung Yao film songs, sung in Fong Fei-fei's somewhat masculine voice, actually portray the male protagonists' feelings, so male listeners found great empathy in them. Throughout her decades-long career, Fong Fei-fei produced more than 80 albums and held numerous sold-out concerts at home and abroad, particularly in countries with a large Chinese-speaking population. In addition to Mandarin songs, she also sang many old Taiwanese songs and engaged in reviving the Taiwanese ballad tradition. In 1992, she released her 78th album, "Wishing to Play the Same Tune." Most of the songs on the album had long been forgotten until its release. A versatile signer, Fong Fei-fei also sang new Taiwanese songs that broke free from the typically slow and sad style of traditional Taiwanese ballads. She once said "embracing the past is good, but embracing the present is wonderful." (By Sabine Cheng and Sofia Wu) enditem/npw ***********************************************************