Looking at the Past, Present and Future.
'I looked at the past and shed a tear
I looked at the future and I felt fear.
Looking at the present, I see hope
For rectifying the past and saving my future own.'
Simple Bear 19.07.2011.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Sense, Think and Smile
Sense, Think and Smile
Be mindful of your own senses, but do not express the discriminations arising.
Be introspective, but do not express your thoughts unnecessarily.
Smile, because you understand.
Simple Bear 19.07.2011.
Be mindful of your own senses, but do not express the discriminations arising.
Be introspective, but do not express your thoughts unnecessarily.
Smile, because you understand.
Simple Bear 19.07.2011.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Seeing Love
'Seeing the mountain as mountain, seeing the water as water
Seeing the mountain not as mountain, seeing the water not as water
Seeing the mountain as mountain, seeing the water as water.'
A literal translation of a Buddhist saying.
A Buddhist monk when asked to comment on his enlightenment, uttered this saying which reflected the differences in his mentality, before enlightenment, during his practice and after enlightenment.
I came across this saying a few years ago and had struggled at that point of time to understand this saying. I can't proclaim now that I can fully comprehend the saying by the Venerable but I had a glimpse of understanding when I applied this saying to my experience and relationships.
This saying represents the understanding of the various conditions in this world and of course, includes love. Understanding the world as it is, understanding ourselves and others, understanding change.
People had tried to explain love for the longest time ever and it can't be explained in a few words. The love that I mentioned in this blog entry is the normative love that we find in our lives and I will leave it to every individual to interpret it as they have experienced it.
First Stage: Love is Blind
'Seeing mountain as mountain, seeing water as water.'
When we fall in love, we all have the tendency to accept our partners as they are, without trying to change them. We are oblivious to the seemingly 'negative' attributes of our partners and some of us may find them adorable to the extent that people around may find it irrational.
Romance and passion is at its height and that clouded our perceived rationality. Despite being 'blind', most of us enjoyed being at this stage, the honeymoon stage. We accepted them as they are.
Second Stage: Love is Change
'Seeing mountain not as mountain, seeing water not as water.'
Love is like a painted wall. As time goes by, the paint starts to peel off the wall. Honeymoon period is over and we slowly regained our sight of perceived rationality. We start to notice the 'negative' attributes of our partners and desire to change them. We start to have expectations, unrealistic expectations of how our partners should react to us. We start wanting to change them, mould them to suit our expected model.
We start to think and blame them for changing but we failed to comprehend that change is the only constant in our lives. We see changes in them not only because they change, we change. Our perceptions change, our expectations of them change, our love change.
We find it harder to accept them as they are. This is perhaps, the most difficult part of love, the cross junction in a relationship.
Third Stage: Love is Love
'Seeing mountain as mountain, seeing water as water.'
Love, in my humble opinion is an one-sided affair. The issue with our perceived notion of love is that we tend to perceive it as a bilateral commitment, with expectations expected to be met. Once it is perceived to be bilateral, expectations arises, disappointments occurs and love disappear.
Love is just simply accepting and giving. I am not trying to put across the notion that we should all accept our partners 'bad' habits as it is and give-in, resigned to our 'fate' together. What I am trying to emphasize is that we should all accept them as they are, understand them, acknowledge the presence of their 'bad' habits and encourage them to change their 'bad' habits for their own benefit. The intention or motivation behind the want for change should be for themselves, not because we want to, need to, for our own vanity sake. Communication is especially important at this stage.
Expectations, we can't avoid but we should always try to moderate our expectations. Again, I am not trying to encourage a apathetic attitude towards our partners but walking the Middle Path in our love, without inclining to extremities. It is a skill to be mastered and together with mindfulness, compassion and loving - kindness, love is a wonderful thing that can change the world for the better.
Love is one-sided but a relationship is bilateral. That is why 'love' is so complicated. Well it is a topic for another time if inspirations arrives.
Seeing the mountain not as mountain, seeing the water not as water
Seeing the mountain as mountain, seeing the water as water.'
A literal translation of a Buddhist saying.
A Buddhist monk when asked to comment on his enlightenment, uttered this saying which reflected the differences in his mentality, before enlightenment, during his practice and after enlightenment.
I came across this saying a few years ago and had struggled at that point of time to understand this saying. I can't proclaim now that I can fully comprehend the saying by the Venerable but I had a glimpse of understanding when I applied this saying to my experience and relationships.
This saying represents the understanding of the various conditions in this world and of course, includes love. Understanding the world as it is, understanding ourselves and others, understanding change.
People had tried to explain love for the longest time ever and it can't be explained in a few words. The love that I mentioned in this blog entry is the normative love that we find in our lives and I will leave it to every individual to interpret it as they have experienced it.
First Stage: Love is Blind
'Seeing mountain as mountain, seeing water as water.'
When we fall in love, we all have the tendency to accept our partners as they are, without trying to change them. We are oblivious to the seemingly 'negative' attributes of our partners and some of us may find them adorable to the extent that people around may find it irrational.
Romance and passion is at its height and that clouded our perceived rationality. Despite being 'blind', most of us enjoyed being at this stage, the honeymoon stage. We accepted them as they are.
Second Stage: Love is Change
'Seeing mountain not as mountain, seeing water not as water.'
Love is like a painted wall. As time goes by, the paint starts to peel off the wall. Honeymoon period is over and we slowly regained our sight of perceived rationality. We start to notice the 'negative' attributes of our partners and desire to change them. We start to have expectations, unrealistic expectations of how our partners should react to us. We start wanting to change them, mould them to suit our expected model.
We start to think and blame them for changing but we failed to comprehend that change is the only constant in our lives. We see changes in them not only because they change, we change. Our perceptions change, our expectations of them change, our love change.
We find it harder to accept them as they are. This is perhaps, the most difficult part of love, the cross junction in a relationship.
Third Stage: Love is Love
'Seeing mountain as mountain, seeing water as water.'
Love, in my humble opinion is an one-sided affair. The issue with our perceived notion of love is that we tend to perceive it as a bilateral commitment, with expectations expected to be met. Once it is perceived to be bilateral, expectations arises, disappointments occurs and love disappear.
Love is just simply accepting and giving. I am not trying to put across the notion that we should all accept our partners 'bad' habits as it is and give-in, resigned to our 'fate' together. What I am trying to emphasize is that we should all accept them as they are, understand them, acknowledge the presence of their 'bad' habits and encourage them to change their 'bad' habits for their own benefit. The intention or motivation behind the want for change should be for themselves, not because we want to, need to, for our own vanity sake. Communication is especially important at this stage.
Expectations, we can't avoid but we should always try to moderate our expectations. Again, I am not trying to encourage a apathetic attitude towards our partners but walking the Middle Path in our love, without inclining to extremities. It is a skill to be mastered and together with mindfulness, compassion and loving - kindness, love is a wonderful thing that can change the world for the better.
Love is one-sided but a relationship is bilateral. That is why 'love' is so complicated. Well it is a topic for another time if inspirations arrives.
Friday, July 8, 2011
情
情
找回感性的自我, 眼里看见的却是世间的无情
有情却遇不到相悦的另一份情
无情却按捺不住心中的一份情
深情路走到尽头看见的是绝情
绝情路走到尽头看见的是真情
真情的期盼像似深夜里的流星
一闪而过留下的是深夜里的黑
对期盼的失落化成流星的回忆
对黑夜的恐惧化成绝情的原因
期盼黎明的曙光换真情的感观
回忆不再是刹那间的美丽, 而是真情永恒的证据
简单熊 08.07.2011.
找回感性的自我, 眼里看见的却是世间的无情
有情却遇不到相悦的另一份情
无情却按捺不住心中的一份情
深情路走到尽头看见的是绝情
绝情路走到尽头看见的是真情
真情的期盼像似深夜里的流星
一闪而过留下的是深夜里的黑
对期盼的失落化成流星的回忆
对黑夜的恐惧化成绝情的原因
期盼黎明的曙光换真情的感观
回忆不再是刹那间的美丽, 而是真情永恒的证据
简单熊 08.07.2011.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
A Good Life
A Good Life
Dear friends,
When I am gone, don’t be sad. Be Happy for me.
If your memories of me bring a smile on your face, then I had led a good life.
If my life story inspires you to continue to improve your life and others, then I had led a good life.
If my words inspire you to cultivate compassion and loving-kindness to yourself and others, then
I had led a good life.
If our friendship had led you through the darkest days of your life, then I had led a good life.
If my death inspires you to contemplate the impermanence of life, then I had led a good life.
Treasure every moment and live well, because my friend, being part of your happiness is the greatest tribute that you can give to me as a friend.
When my time is up in this lifetime, be happy for me because I am a lifetime nearer to enlightenment.
*Inspired from a momentary realization of death
Dear friends,
When I am gone, don’t be sad. Be Happy for me.
If your memories of me bring a smile on your face, then I had led a good life.
If my life story inspires you to continue to improve your life and others, then I had led a good life.
If my words inspire you to cultivate compassion and loving-kindness to yourself and others, then
I had led a good life.
If our friendship had led you through the darkest days of your life, then I had led a good life.
If my death inspires you to contemplate the impermanence of life, then I had led a good life.
Treasure every moment and live well, because my friend, being part of your happiness is the greatest tribute that you can give to me as a friend.
When my time is up in this lifetime, be happy for me because I am a lifetime nearer to enlightenment.
*Inspired from a momentary realization of death
Inspire and Be Inspired
Inspire and Be Inspired
‘One cannot be inspired by another if he/she doesn’t allow him/herself to be inspired.’
Simple Bear 06.04.2011
When we credit people for inspiring us in life, we should at the same time, credit ourselves for allowing ourselves to be inspired by them. When we look around the world around us, we see suffering and at the same time, inspirations. Our level of mindfulness explains the differences between being aware of the sufferings, allowing ourselves to be inspired and being oblivious.
Inspiration, to me is divided into a few stages.
First stage – Be Inspired.
When I see someone who is physically or intellectually challenged on the street, I felt inspired. I am inspired by their strength to continue their life of existence and constantly trying their best to live. Would I be able to be as strong as them if I am in their position? This thought constantly came to my mind.
The initial inspiration, characterized by a sudden mental and emotional positivity, is usually followed by a sense of gratitude.
Second Stage – Be Grateful
I am grateful to them for being them for showing me their strength in living their lives and constantly fighting against the physical, intellectual limitations. I am grateful to myself, for my past and present cultivation, to allow me to have the chance, optimal conditions to be inspired.
Reflection is usually necessary after initial inspiration and gratitude to develop the positivity from states of mental and emotional sensations to positive change, a call for action.
Third Stage – Introspection
Adopting an introspective attitude towards the experiencing of inspiration, we began to be aware of our current positions in our lives and how best to go about the betterment of ours and others lives.
We began to be aware and mindful of our current state of mind, and the utilization of the inspirations and emotions of gratitude as motivation for changes. Changes to break bad habits, cultivate good habits, improve our mental concentration and mindfulness to allow us to be a better person from the next second onwards in our lives.
Beyond initial motivation, we need to put our positive thoughts into actual action for changes.
Fourth Stage – Change
‘For every second we still have in our lives, is an opportunity for positive change.’
Simple Bear 06.07.2011
Sometimes, in implementation of our personal development plans, we must meet with obstacles and may lose the motivation to continue on our journey. Personally, I think we should constantly prepare ourselves to be inspired by others. Once we are mindful, mentally prepared to be inspired, we will have an almost endless supply of motivation from everyone, everything around us.
Inspirations will bring us beyond our limitations.
Inspire and be inspired!
‘One cannot be inspired by another if he/she doesn’t allow him/herself to be inspired.’
Simple Bear 06.04.2011
When we credit people for inspiring us in life, we should at the same time, credit ourselves for allowing ourselves to be inspired by them. When we look around the world around us, we see suffering and at the same time, inspirations. Our level of mindfulness explains the differences between being aware of the sufferings, allowing ourselves to be inspired and being oblivious.
Inspiration, to me is divided into a few stages.
First stage – Be Inspired.
When I see someone who is physically or intellectually challenged on the street, I felt inspired. I am inspired by their strength to continue their life of existence and constantly trying their best to live. Would I be able to be as strong as them if I am in their position? This thought constantly came to my mind.
The initial inspiration, characterized by a sudden mental and emotional positivity, is usually followed by a sense of gratitude.
Second Stage – Be Grateful
I am grateful to them for being them for showing me their strength in living their lives and constantly fighting against the physical, intellectual limitations. I am grateful to myself, for my past and present cultivation, to allow me to have the chance, optimal conditions to be inspired.
Reflection is usually necessary after initial inspiration and gratitude to develop the positivity from states of mental and emotional sensations to positive change, a call for action.
Third Stage – Introspection
Adopting an introspective attitude towards the experiencing of inspiration, we began to be aware of our current positions in our lives and how best to go about the betterment of ours and others lives.
We began to be aware and mindful of our current state of mind, and the utilization of the inspirations and emotions of gratitude as motivation for changes. Changes to break bad habits, cultivate good habits, improve our mental concentration and mindfulness to allow us to be a better person from the next second onwards in our lives.
Beyond initial motivation, we need to put our positive thoughts into actual action for changes.
Fourth Stage – Change
‘For every second we still have in our lives, is an opportunity for positive change.’
Simple Bear 06.07.2011
Sometimes, in implementation of our personal development plans, we must meet with obstacles and may lose the motivation to continue on our journey. Personally, I think we should constantly prepare ourselves to be inspired by others. Once we are mindful, mentally prepared to be inspired, we will have an almost endless supply of motivation from everyone, everything around us.
Inspirations will bring us beyond our limitations.
Inspire and be inspired!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Dreams and Delusions
Dreams and Delusions
'Dreams are delusions waiting to be transformed to reality by fiery passion and determination.'
Simple Bear 30.06.2011
Delusions, a term used by the common Man, as indicators of the presence of psychological or psychiatric issues. The German psychiatrist, Karl Jaspers defines three criteria for defining delusions, namely 1) Certainty, the strong conviction that an individual holds with regards to the belief 2) Incorrigibility, the insistence of the individual with regards to the belief despite the presence of contrary evidence or logical reasoning 3) Impossibility, the perceived falsity of the belief which is not acknowledged by others as reality.
I see dreams (in terms of personal ambitions) as having the three characteristics. I assumed the certainty of my dream happening in the near future, despite the current perceived obstacles that runs contrary to the realization of my dreams and I know my dreams are perceived by others as unrealistic and out of the world.
The difference between dreams and delusions, in the psychological sense is the ability to make it dreams a reality through motivational action and plan. I see all of us as magicians, making the seemingly impossible possible. Of course, skeptics will tend to say what if your dreams are proved to be personal delusions after all the time and effort. I say, trying to make your dreams come true is already a miracle in the making. You change yourself for the better in the process and that new, improved self is already a miracle. And sometimes, that change was a previously held delusion.
All of us are deluded to a certain extent; we believe what we want to believe, even though sometimes, such beliefs run contrary to others’ perceived reality or their notion of normative reality. If we are already deluded in the first place, then what are dreams? Just another delusion not accepted in the realm of delusions.
'Dreams are delusions waiting to be transformed to reality by fiery passion and determination.'
Simple Bear 30.06.2011
Delusions, a term used by the common Man, as indicators of the presence of psychological or psychiatric issues. The German psychiatrist, Karl Jaspers defines three criteria for defining delusions, namely 1) Certainty, the strong conviction that an individual holds with regards to the belief 2) Incorrigibility, the insistence of the individual with regards to the belief despite the presence of contrary evidence or logical reasoning 3) Impossibility, the perceived falsity of the belief which is not acknowledged by others as reality.
I see dreams (in terms of personal ambitions) as having the three characteristics. I assumed the certainty of my dream happening in the near future, despite the current perceived obstacles that runs contrary to the realization of my dreams and I know my dreams are perceived by others as unrealistic and out of the world.
The difference between dreams and delusions, in the psychological sense is the ability to make it dreams a reality through motivational action and plan. I see all of us as magicians, making the seemingly impossible possible. Of course, skeptics will tend to say what if your dreams are proved to be personal delusions after all the time and effort. I say, trying to make your dreams come true is already a miracle in the making. You change yourself for the better in the process and that new, improved self is already a miracle. And sometimes, that change was a previously held delusion.
All of us are deluded to a certain extent; we believe what we want to believe, even though sometimes, such beliefs run contrary to others’ perceived reality or their notion of normative reality. If we are already deluded in the first place, then what are dreams? Just another delusion not accepted in the realm of delusions.
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