Save our Earth

Do you know there are 12 things you can do to save the Earth ?
What are they ?

1. Switch off electrical appliances when you intend to be away for more than 30 minutes, eg go for lunch, meeting, etc.
2. Refrain from shopping impulsively so you do not buy redundant items.
3. When eating out, only order what you can finish to prevent wasting food.
4. When going out, bring your own water bottle.
5. Cut down on meat consumption.
6. Tune air-conditioning to 25 deg C and maintain it regularly; utilize natural ventilation more.
7. Use the stairs instead of the lift.
8. Switch off engine if car is idling; take public transport instead of driving.
9. Use energy-saving bulbs.
10. Use eco-friendly personal and household products.
11. Bring your own bag and refrain from using plastic bags.
12. Categorise household waste for recycling purposes.

About Stress

So what is stress exactly? A simple definition. Stress is a form of pain or discomfort that comes to tell you there is something you need to change. All pain, suffering and discomfort are really messengers saying there is something you need to learn. Both learning, and realising what needs to be unlearned, provides the impetus and the direction we need in order to change the thinking that is generating our stress.

For example, you are sitting on your chair and your body sends you a message that it is uncomfortable. So what do you do? You change your position in the chair. You don’t turn to the chair and start saying, "You rotten, nasty chair, it’s you that is making me uncomfortable". (although amazingly some do!). If you put your hand in the fire what do you feel? Pain, obviously. What do you learn? Never to put your hand in the fire again. And you never do. A lesson is quickly learned and behaviour is quickly changed.

You are sitting in your car on the way to an important meeting and the person in front is driving very slowly on a winding, single lane road. There is no way you can pass. You begin to feel irritated, then frustrated, then downright angry. You are in pleasure or pain? Pain, obviously. Who creates your pain? You do! What do you learn? Absolutely nothing. Why? Because you are carrying and holding on to three learned beliefs that block your learning. Belief one is that it’s OK to feel angry, its natural, it’s a normal response in such situations. Besides, mum and dad used to get upset too! Belief number two, it’s not you that’s making you angry, it’s the person in the car in front, it’s ‘them’!. Which of course is a lie. Your anger is entirely created by you. Belief three, is more like an addiction. You are addicted to the suffering of anger because it gives you a quick hit of adrenaline which makes you feel more alive for a short while. The car in front of you is a great excuse to generate some adrenaline.

So despite the messenger of your emotional suffering coming to tell you there is something you need to change, nothing changes! You ignore the messenger and the stress that you create continues. Every time you do this you become better at being stressed, it becomes just a little bit harder to de-stress and the habit of creating stress becomes deeper. Eventually you may even identify with your suffering and feel uncomfortable if you are too relaxed and not stressed! That’s when you start thinking you are happy when in fact, you are unhappy. It’s a truly a crazy life when it gets to that stage. And for many, some say most, it does become like that.

If you can be aware after the experience of any anger (irritation/frustration) has passed you may notice the emotion that always precedes anger. It may last only a few seconds, maybe a few minutes, but it’s always there. It’s called sadness. Sadness always precedes anger. Sadness always follows from a sense of loss. When you desire something you already have the object of your desire in your mind, and when it doesn’t show up in reality exactly when you expect it, it is as if we have lost it. But the sadness, like all emotion, does not last as it turns, turns, turns into anger as you look for someone or something to blame for your loss. Even the anger does not last as it will eventually turn, turn, turn into fear – the fear that such an event might happen again. Hence our most frequent habit of worry. Worry is simply fear of loss projected into the future. And if you fear something enough it will happen and you are back in sadness.

And so we create and live in a cycle of stressful emotions, an emotional rollercoaster that goes up and down and round and round. There is a way to free ourselves from each emotion but it requires certain ‘moments of realisation’. While these solutions can be articulated here in words, they won’t give you the power to change your habit of creating sadness, anger and fear until you realise the truth for yourself. The three key truths (in the form of words) are as follows.1 Sadness. You have nothing to lose because you don’t actually own or possess anything. Nothing is ‘mine’! Easy theory, but it is challenging to practice as you have been deeply conditioned to believe that you do own and possess things. And yet if you look at the evidence of your entire life so far, everything and everybody that comes, eventually goes. It has to because that’s the way life flows. Nothing stays. When you truly realise you have nothing to lose, and that nothing and no one is mine, you will never experience sadness again. 2 Anger. You cannot control or change the past or other people. Anger is always the result of trying to change the past and other people, which is to try to do the impossible. This is why whenever you get angry it means you are clinically insane. Apart from the fact that you are out of control (the emotion is controlling you) and that you are irrational, the real reason for your temporary insanity is you are attempting to do the impossible. Once you see this and stop resisting a) what has already happened and b) other people, you will never get angry again.3 Fear is created the moment you imagine future loss. It may be loss of an object, loss of health, loss of a comfort zone, loss of anything. It’s simply worry. So instead of creating images of the worst possible outcome turn your thinking, your ‘imaging’ around, and visualise the best, the positive, the anastrophe, not a catastrophe. But don’t make it a desire, don’t get attached to your positive vision. Just create it, let it go, and return to live in the present moment.

Some people say its human nature to experience sadness, anger and fear. They say it is natural. If you can take some ‘introspective time’ and watch inwardly you will see these emotions are not just personal experiences they are personal creations. When you see that take a moment to ask your self would I choose to create suffering for myself within myself? You may realise then that they are not natural but unnatural. That just may be the beginning of the re-empowerment of your self and the first step towards healing the stress making habit.

Question: Which of the three emotions do you seem to create most? Why do you think that is?

Reflection: Emotion is the price you pay today for your attachments yesterday.

Action: During the coming week take a moment at the end of each day and note down particular moments that you created each of the above emotions.

useful links: http://www.awarenessretreats.com/ http://www.spiritualintelligenceunit.com/ http://www.relax7.com/

Health - drink warm water instead

Heart Attacks and drinking warm water....

This is a very good article. Not only about the warm water after Your meal, but about heart attacks. This makes sense.. the Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals...not cold water...maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain...
For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.
A serious note about heart attacks: You should know that not Every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be 0aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...
A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this...It could save your life!!
**Please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends You care about**

Bucky Group went to Bandar Hutan (Part 2)

Part 2

'Hutan Bandar" - 'jungle in city! We had a morning round the park. The distance is about 2 km. There is also a stretch of reflexology on a slope. Walking pass this path without shoes is not easy but it is a good experience. You can tell by the expression shown on the face whether it is easy or not. After the walk, we sat down for workshop by JH. Before that, there were a few announcements made.
1. Health Retreat at Kuantan. The place was discovered by a Taiwanese. It has the most energy or magnetic field and also called Happy Valley. If one meditate there is very powerful due to the energy there. There is also a 7 km tracking there. The one in May and Jun this are fully booked. Next one is in Jul, 20-22 or 27-29.
2. Another Bucky Workshop in Penang. This is to commemorate Bucky birthday which falls on 12 Jul. It will be held at Belleuvue Hotel. There are 3 "B"s according to Din. There other 2 "B" are Bali and Bucky of course.
3. Visit to Boon Siong's Bird Nest Farm. Boon Siong has 7 bird nest's farm in Malaysia. The best one is in Batu Pahat. Will arrange a visit to his farm to learn more about bird nest.
4. Camp in Lomode. This 7-day camping is like out Outward Bound School for 21 to 35 years old people to participate.
5. THORA. The next THORA will be held in Sep at Flamingo Hotel. JH attended the THORA in 2006.
After the annoucement, we were given 17 slips of papers. Each slip has a sentence on it. We are to arrange them in the right other and uncover the hidden message. Below is the answer :

Until one is committed

There is hesitancy, the chance to draw back

Always ineffectiveness

concerning all acts of initiative (and creation)

There is one elementary truth

The ignorance of which killls countless ideas

And splendid plans

That the moment one definately commits oneself

Then providence moves too

All sorts of things occur to help one.

That would otherwise never have occurred

A whole stream of events issues from the decisions

raising in one's favour all manner

of unforseen incident and meetings

and material assistance

which no man could have dreamt

would have come his way.

The above is by W H Murray.

JH also shared with us "Whatever you think you can do, or DREAM you can, BEGIN IT. BOLDNESS, has GENIUS, POWER, MAGIC in it." This is by Goethe.

After this, we walk to a eating place at the park.

I must say the Malay food there is so nice and cheap. Everything finishes so fast once it is on our table. After our cup of tea/coffee, we proceeded to a nearby Chinese restaurant for lunch.

See the picture of a de-bone fish we had, it is simply delicious. See the photo of Din, you will know what I meant.

Also see the photos of the 4 ladies after having the early lunch, are they satisfied with the food ?

I must thank Joo Hock for making the arrangement for this trip and conducting the workshop.

Thanks to Jessie Tay and her friends from JB for hosting us as well. Look out for more events coming up.

to know more about the Bucky Group, visit:

http://joohock.blogspot.com

Bucky Group went to Bandar Hutan (part 1)

On 6 May 07, the Bucky Group from Singapore went to Bandar Hutan to meet up with the friends from JB.

Well, how big is the group and who are they ?

There are 21 of ours altogether, namely Richard Tee, Ay Choo, Sim Ah Moi (SAM), Joanna Tee, Magdalene Liang, Dr Tan Boon Siong, Din, Doreen Tey, Carol Lim, Lin Mei Khuan, Peggy Siao, Jessie Tay, Jessie Koh, Annabella, Monica, Su (Siew Kiang), Hin Lan, Elaine Tan, Vasu, our teacher JH and me.

to know more about the Bucky Group, visit:

http://joohock.blogspot.com

Happiness

I have been searching for happiness all this while, are you ? I have not found it yet but I can say I am closer to finding it each day.

Happiness is a state of mind, conditioned but not determined by the material, but we trick ourselves into thinking otherwise.

In fact there are 2 types of happiness. Namely true happiness and worldly happiness.

True Happiness

True happiness is truely lasting. Mountains of wealth cannot buy True Happiness. Fantastic sex is just a brief high. Fame is always at the mercy of blame. Sumptous meals can only be taken so much. True Happiness is unconditioned, it requires nothing in particular to sustain it - though we need to cultivate our spirituality by perfecting our compassion and wisdom to attain it once and for all.

Worldly Happiness

Worldly happiness is fleeting. When we pursue worldly happiness, they will at best come ... only to pass in due time. Worldly happiness is conditioned, it fades away when its conditions fall away.

I read a book by Dr Thynn Thynn called Living Meditation, Living Insight. There is something I find interesting that I like to share. In a chapter called Happiness, the author wrote :

One day a friend found me reading Buddhism and asked, "Are you trying to find happiness?"
TT: Yes.
R: Have you found it ?
TT: Yes, I have.
R: How ?
TT: By realizing that I cannot find it.
R: But how can that be ?
TT: ......
You have to read it then you will understand.

All the suffering in the world arises out of wanting happiness for self.
All happiness in the world arises out of wanting happiness for others.

Happiness is not just a goal; it should be part of the process too.

Happiness is an attitude of mind, born of the simple determination to be happy under all outward circumstances - J. Donald Wlters

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My friend Chin Sin sent me this :

Realisation: A Reason Why We Are Unhappy

All the suffering in the world arises out of wanting happiness for self.
All happiness in the world arises out of wanting happiness for others.
- Shantideva

A reason why we are unhappy is that we are not true to ourselves. Paradoxically, we are also untrue to ourselves when we are untrue to others, as true sincerity to yourself naturally overflows to those around you. How (un)happily we relate to others is related to our happiness, since much of our lives involves relating to others. When we speak of being true to ourselves, it is usually mistaken that we should simply do whatever we fancy for ourselves. Obviously, this doesn't really bring happiness. If it does, we would be perfectly happy already. This means we are doing the wrong things to be happy. Being true means being aligned with the truth, qualities of which include the realisation of generosity, loving-kindness and wisdom. Often, happiness is seeked through their opposites - attachment (to personal happiness), aversion (to those who "threaten" our happiness) and delusion (about what is happiness). Attachment and aversion arise from this delusion, which keeps True Happiness out of reach.

A common symptom of unhappiness is the complaint that we want happiness, but others make us unhappy. The truth is, no one other than ourselves can make us unhappy. We are unhappy about others only when we choose to relate to them in an unhappy manner. Flip this around and it is equally true - those who "make" you unhappy should realise that the cause of unhappiness is not you, but in how they choose to relate to you. If our happiness is always determined by how others treat us, how can we be truly happy? What if someone deluded thinks that making you unhappy brings happiness for oneself? Be generous, loving and wise to that person. Respond with sincerity. Seek to understand and bring happiness to that person. Focus on dissolving the person's unhappiness instead of being unhappy with how that person is affecting you. This also dissolves your unhappiness about that person. It's a win-win situation. Retaliating with aversion would only perpetuate unhappiness on both sides.

What if those unhappy with us do not appreciate our sincerity? This is still no cause for you to be unhappy. True sincerity expects no reciprocation. It simply does what is right - that aligned to happiness. There is happiness in knowing we are blameless, when we do our best to bring others happiness. The only ones who hold our happiness ransom is us. For instance, if someone is unhappy with me for saying the Earth is round, why should I be unhappy about that? The truth is that the Earth is not flat. Others' unhappiness with the truth has no power to make us unhappy if we are at peace with the truth. Likewise, others' unhappiness with the trueness of our sincerity has no power to make us unhappy. The options are obvious - If we do not choose to relate to those unhappy with us happily, we choose choose to relate to them unhappily. Our happiness first comes from how kindly and wisely we relate to the universe; not how it treats us. Yet the kinder and wiser we are, the kinder and wiser the universe is to us - for we are our most immediate "parts" of the universe!
- Shen Shi'an

To be unhappy, have expectations that others make you happy.
To be happy, make others happy without expectations.
- Stonepeace
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During my first trip to India in Feb 07, we stayed at Rain Tree Hotel. Every room in this hotel has 2 books; one is the Teaching of Buddha and the other is Bhagavad-Gita As It Is.

I already have the first book and bought the second book from the hotel at 225 rupees. This book also got talks about happiness. I find this paragraph interesting and worth to share :

"It is not possible to be happy independently, just as no one part of the body can be happy without cooperating with the stomach."

In my own words, what I gather is that for a person to be happy, every parts of his body has to be happy. For example, if he is hungry, can he be happy ? Or he has a headache, can he be happy ? It is quite difficult. Not just every parts of his body must be happy, the people he lives with also must be happy. If one of the family member is not happy, can he be happy ? Not easy. If all his family members are happy but his neighbour is not happy, can this family be happy ? It goes on and on until this earth that we are living, if one part of the earth got people who are not happy, can we all be happy. So it seems that by realizing that one cannot find happiness, then we found happiness.
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Happiness does not come from having much but from being attached to little.