Blessed - 33IDC 2010

This post will mark the start of a new series of posts, talking about the various blessings we have in life (notable, about my life). Watch out for new posts!

It has been almost 1 year since I wrote the post Melancholia (April 2010). That time, it was almost the time for me to come back to Malaysia, having finished my final thesis, and waiting for my results. At that time, the final visit to UK (and meeting Yizhen for the first time) has made a realise the importance of having great friends around me.

Over the 4 years when I was in Germany, I didn’t take the chance to make more friends, locking myself up in the room most of the time. I took my time to play lots of games online, notably the World of Warcraft. Over there I has made myself a great and supportive group of friends, a friendship that lasts even until today. In any case, the years I had been through in German wasn’t exactly rosy memory for me, because of the lack of opportunities to actually go outside and do something meaningful for myself and the society (also because I didn’t exactly go out and look for it).

I packed up my bags and finally came back to Malaysia for good in June 2010.

A New Beginning
After I am back in my homeland, where the people and things that matters to me in the heart are, I vowed to not be the same me over the 4 years I was in Germany. I vowed to take up all kinds of opportunities I am going to have, and to constantly improve myself in order to reach new height, and to achieve my life goal: Making this world a better place to live in, one step at a time.

So, I got myself involved in lots of meaningful activities over the past few months.

INCOVAR Dhamma Camp
Firstly it was the 33rd INCOVAR Dhamma Camp as part of the publicity team. I may be new in the team, but the team members (Xiao Thoong, Catherina Chan, Jacyln, and Yee Kuan) were very very supportive of each other, making the job much more bearable despite us having to rush to lots of universities and colleges go do out promotion. Despite not hitting the KPI of 60 members, we felt satisfied with our results (45 people). I would say that it’s a blessing in disguise, because that was just about the right balance between enough people to make noise, and getting each participant to know everyone else in the camp.

Then there was the counseling course, which started in the end of September, and will last till the second week of May. I have learned a lot about helping out others in need through the course. Through the course, I have learned more about my natural inclination in doing things. It also enabled me to ponder more about the direction I am to bring and steer my life to later in my life. (Those of you who are closer to me would have hints about that already)

In any case, it was as much a learning journey as for the participants. There is much satisfaction to be gained from seeing the participants’ faces going from moody to bright and sunny in the fours days of the camp. Also, the bond amongst the participants and between the committees and them that have formed throughout the camp really touched my heart. Who would have known that we can be this close during the camp, and the bond persists even after the camp.

The main highlight of the camp is, of course, the visit to the Rumah Sinar Harapan in Kuala Kubu Bharu. Seeing the patients there for the first time arouses feelings of sympathy, initially. The state and conditions they are in was by no means. However, it is their plight and physical deformities that has caused me to reflect more on life. Having thought of it over and over again, I believe sympathy is the last thing we should feel of them. They are there, oblivious to the outside world, living in their own world... contented. It is they who taught me about the value of being contented with what we have, and to be happy with our lives, no matter how hard it is...

I have also gotten to know many more circles of friends who are supportive of each as Kalyana Mitras. Also, it is through the camp that I have gotten myself active in Twitter and using it as a motivational tool. Who would have throughout that having people wishing each other Good morning with motivational phases each morning would be such an inspiration to go through each day with a great and positive outlook?

In any case, I believe that I have made the right decision to come back to Malaysia. As I have said earlier, it is the people who mattered to me who have brought back the colours and happiness into my life. For this, I am deeply grateful!

I’ll talk about my counseling course in the next post, which will be post… when I have the mood to actually write again…

In any case, I wish all of you well and happy always. Do well in life, and always remember that there is a silver lining to each dark cloud out there!

See Hua

Settling Back Into The Moment : Steps

When i was in India, I lived on the second floor of an ashram.

I used to go up and sown the steps many times a day. each time exploring the mechanism of climbing a step. how the knee had to work, how the weight shifts.

It's an interesting process.

In all of the activities, there should be that kind of interest.

Seeing, exploring how things are happening.

~Joseph Goldotein~

Taken from the book 'Settling Back into the Moment : A meditator's inspirational guide.'

Setting Back into the Moment : Self Illusion

No man, though he sees others dying around him, believes he himself will die.

~Bhagavad-Gita~

Taken from the book 'Settling Back into the Moment : A meditator's inspitational guide'

Settling Back Into The Moment : Living as if today is the last day of our lives

If we take death as our advisor
we live each moment with the
power and fullness
we should give to our last endeavour
on earth.

taken from the book "Settling Back into the Moment : A Meditator's Inspirational Guide"

Settling Back Into The Moment : Insight

Insight comes from the realization that
observation
is going on
without
an observer,
witnessing
wihout
a witness.

Settling Back Into The Moment : No-Thing

Through the practise
of mindfulness
of not clinging,
not condemning,
not identifying,
the mind
becomes
lighter and freer.

taken from the book "Settling Back Into The Moment : A meditator's inspirational guide"

Settling Back Into The Moment : Resolution

Even if you find your mind getting restless
or reactive
or tense
or filled with aversion
towards pain,
there is a value in making
the resolution and fulfilling it.

taken from the book "Settling Back Into The Moment : A meditator's inspirational guide"

Settling Back Into The Moment : Patience

Do not be driven to actions by our desires.

If we don't have the ability to be patient,
every desire which comes into our minds
compels us to action
and we stay bound
to the wheel of craving.

Taken from the book "Settling Back into the Moment : An meditator's inspirational guide"

Settling Back Into The Moment : Silence

Keeping silence and slowing down helps not only ourselves but everyone around us...

Taken from the book "Settling Back Into The Moment : A meditator's inspirational guide"

Settling Back into the Moment : Effort without Tension

There should be the greatest effort possible without causing tension

Taken from the book "Settling Back into the Moment : A Meditator's Inspirational Guide"

Settling Back into the Moment : Mindfulness

It's beautiful and peaceful
to stay in peace
of silence of mind
But that takes a lot of mindfulness
because we are conditioned
to a lot of talk

Taken from the book "Settling back into the Moment : A Meditator's Inspirationsl Guide"

Settling Back into the Moment : Being Here and Now

Every moment should be lived completely and wholeheartedly

taken from "Settling Back Into The Moment : A meditator's inspirational guide"

Settling Back into the Moment : Death Awareness

The awareness of death provides the space of clarity in which we can understand the process who it is that we are, and who it is that dies.

taken from "Settling Back Into The Moment : A meditator's inspirational guide"

Settling Back into the Moment : Ripening Fruits

Like fruit ripening on a tree.

As the sun shines on it,
although from day to the next,
the process may be imperceptible.

In the same way,
the changes and ripening in our mind are also going on...

taken from "Settling Back Into The Moment : A meditator's inspirational guide"

Settling Back into the Moment : Eating Mindfully

Usually we eat very unmindfully.
Taste comes and goes very quickly.
While the food is in the mouth,
because of desire and greed for continuing taste sensations,
the arm reaches for more and generally we are unaware of the whole process involved.

Finish each mouthful before reaching for another.
In this way we become sensitive to our bodies and how much food we need.
It's very hard to overeat when you eat mindfully

taken from "Settling Back Into The Moment : A meditator's inspirational guide"