A letter that was not sent, but should have...


My dear young friend,

It was really good to see you Friday night. Hope the food was worth the long
drive.

I'm really sorry to hear what happened to S. It really took me by surprise;
seems not so long ago you were both so little and carefree, yet in reality you
guys are all grown up now. Last night I wanted so much to hug you, but was
afraid it may embarrass you if you are in the awkward 'disliking public
affection (especially by old auntie)' phase. The last thing I want is to make
you feel uncomfortable. I must say I'm still a bit shaken, as you are like a
part of my extended family, and she's one of your best friends that I've also
known for so long.

You are really something though. I'm so proud of you for helping a friend in
need, and be able to stay strong for her and for yourself. Hopefully she's also
learned to be stronger for herself, and for those who care about her or need
her. When I was around your age, I worried about a lot of things. Sometimes the
negative thoughts got so strong that I just wanted everything to go away.
However, I'd always think back to the worst thing that had ever happened to me
before, and how those 'my world is about to end worries' became not so seriously
important, only days/months/years later. That's how I know that no matter how
bad I think it is at this moment, it will not be as bad as I think
days/months/years from now. Also I was fortunate enough to be involved in many
volunteering projects that not only gave me something to concentrate on besides
myself, but also a chance to be and to help those that are less fortunate.

Of course, everyone is different, but no one has to fight or face life alone.
Help is always available, and it is ok to ask for help.

When you talk to S again, please send along my love (silently is fine too),
and make sure she knows that she's very important to those that need her help
and those that care about her, no matter what or if anyone else says otherwise.
You've probably seen it many times, but here are some video of Nick Vujicic,
not sure if it'd help, but always good to put things into perspective.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGZYT50Bow4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW579icDRSA

Maybe you'd think it's weird that I'd worry about you and S, or that I'd
care. I can't explain it, but I'm sure you will understand someday. As always,
please feel free to call me if you ever need anything. As you get older, I
probably won't be able to solve your problems as easily as when you were
younger, but I shall do my best to work things through with you. Just remember
that we've all had to live through the years you are at now to get to where we
are today, so don't be surprised if we know a thing or two (though I'm sure many
of us would rather forget it all).

Wishing you the best always, love,

什麼是團團轉？

轉載：

繩未斷！團團轉！

一個後生從家裡到一座禪院去，在路上他看到了一件有趣的事，他想以此去考考禪院裡的老禪師。來到禪院，他與禪師一邊品茗，一邊閒扯，冷不防他問了一句:「什麼是團團轉？」「皆因繩未斷。」

老禪師隨口答道。

後生聽到禪師這樣回答，頓時目瞪口呆。

禪師見狀，問道：「什麼使你如此驚訝？」

「老師父，我驚訝的是，您怎麼知道？」

後生接著說：「今天在來的路上，看到一頭牛被繩子穿了鼻子，拴在樹子，這頭牛想離開這棵樹，到草地上去吃草，誰知牠轉來轉去都不得脫身。我以為師父您既沒看到，肯定答不出來，哪知師父隨口便答對了。」

老禪師微笑著說：「你問的是事，我答的是理，你問的是牛被繩縛而不得解脫，我答的是心被俗務糾纏而不得超脫，一理通百事啊！」

後生大悟！一只風箏，再怎麼飛，也飛不上萬里高空，是因為被繩牽住；一匹壯碩的馬，再怎麼頑烈，只要被馬鞍套上，就任由鞭抽，也因為被繩牽住。

那麼，我們的人生，又常常被什麼牽住了呢？

一塊圖章，常常讓我們坐想行思；
一個職稱，常常讓我們輾轉反側；
一回輸贏，常常讓我們殫精竭慮；

一次得失，常常讓我們痛心疾首；
一段情緣，常常讓我們愁腸百結；
一份殘缺，常常讓我們蹙眉千度。

為了錢，我們東西南北團團轉；
為了權，我們上下左右團團轉；
為了慾，我們百轉千迴奔竄；
為了名，我們日日夜夜竄奔。
快樂哪去了？幸福哪去了？

因為一根繩子，風箏失去了天空；
因為一根繩子，水牛失去了草原；
因為一根繩子，駿馬失去了馳騁。

塵世的誘惑或牽掛都是繩。
人生三千煩惱絲，你斬斷了多少？

禪師說：「眾生就像那頭被繩束縛的牛，被許多煩惱與慾念纏縛著，生生死死不得解脫。」一切行無常， 生者必有死，不生必不死，此滅最為樂!

夏蟲不可以語冰，因為它們永遠沒有機會知道這個世界上還有「冬季」的存在！

朝生暮死的蜉蝣，出生的目的就是為了找尋伴侶，完成傳宗接代的任務而死亡！

欠與還、失與得之間，我們究竟是贏家還是輸家？

在因果世界的人生生命裡，我們不惜一切代價所要找尋的結果，

真是我們希望的嗎？

─摘自靝圖小說系列之《失魂落魄》

Song from May Day

Everyday　活在瘋狂世界　活在美好的明天
重重考驗　來到今天　
不知不覺改變　遠離每個昨天
那些笑和眼淚　沒有時間說再見
喜怒哀樂　苦辣酸甜
終於了解　這就是生活的滋味
珍惜的浪費時間　換來了的生命的缺　

Everyday, living in a crazy world, living in the wonderful tomorrow
Trial after trial, reaching today
Those laughter and tears, no time to say good-bye
Joy, anger, sorrow, happiness; bitter, sweet, sour, spicy
Finally realized, this is the taste of living
Cherish the time wasted, in exchange for the void in life

太陽依然燦爛　地球繼續轉 有我的陪伴
你再也不孤單(有我的陪伴　一起終結孤單)
衛冕者接受挑戰　難免也會失敗
人生像一場比賽　你要保持樂觀
請你把頭抬起來　讓我把勇氣裝滿

The sun still shines, Earth continues to turn, accompanied by me
You are no longer alone (accompanied by me, together we end loneliness)
A champion takes on challenges, inevitably may also fail
Life is like a game, you have to be optimistic
Please lift up your head, let me fill it with courage

我不懂　人世間的那些愁
他為什麼要纏著我　
到底這會是誰的錯　還是我不放手
喔　人世間的那些愁　
這世界給我的幽默　
這是不是要告訴我　潮起終究潮落　

I don't understand, the sorrows in the human world
Why is he haunting me
Who’s fault is it anyway, Or that I won’t let go
Oh, the sorrows in the human world
This world sends me the humor
Is it to tell me, the tides rise shall also fall

我想到　遙遠遙遠的以後
會不會有人知道我　
在這個寂寞的星球　曾這樣的活過
喔　遙遠遙遠的以後　
天長和地久的盡頭　
應該沒有人能搶走　我永遠的感動　

I thought about, far away in the future
Will someone know me
In this lonesome planet, lived such a life
Oh, far away in the future
The end of long living heaven and earth
No one could take away, my forever emotion

就算真的整個世界　把我拋棄　
而至少快樂傷心我自己決定　
所以我說　就讓他去　
我知道潮落之後一定有潮起

Even if the whole world , really abandons me
But at least I decide myself, happy or sad
And so I say, let ‘em go
I know after the tides fall, surely the tides will rise

輕輕閉上眼睛 此刻我覺得清醒
已經不需要 一些挽留字句
嘿 我要走了 昨天的對白 已不在重要
我已見過最美的一幕 只是在此刻 都要結束

Gently close my eyes, I feel awake at the moment
No longer needing, those words of holding back
Hey, I’m leaving, yesterday’s dialog, is no longer important
I’ve seen the most beautiful scene, but at this moment all will end

那時間忘記挽留　
最美時候　不經意匆匆的放過
曾經想擁抱的彩虹　
盛開的花朵　和那純真的笑容
突然有風吹過　那一轉眼　只剩我

The time forgets to hold back
The most beautiful moment, carelessly and quickly passed by
The rainbow I’ve hoped to embrace
Flowers in full bloom, and that innocent smile
Suddenly the wind blows, in a blink of the eyes, I’m the only one left

飛過那片　茫茫人海　
下個路口直走或轉彎　
長大太慢　老得太快　
等得太久結果太難猜
我的故事　被風吹散　
我的明天我從不期待　
所以現在　我只想要　
尋找一絲　最後的溫暖

Fly across that, waves of people
Next crossroad to go straight or to turn
Growing up is too slow, getting old is too fast
Waiting too long, too hard to guess the end
My story, scattered by the wind
My tomorrow, I never wait for
And so for now, I only want
To find a trace, that final warmth

Jumpulse

We had the pleasure of meeting Hugh Ching last night and learned a bit about the new post-science study of "Jumpulse". This term was coined by the famous Dr. Da-you Wu to explain the phenomenon of "touch". www.jumpulse.com

Even though all of us can "touch", we really don't think about the physics behind it. Now with the advancement of robots and AI, it is clear that this jumpulse is a revolutionary concept that could help answer many issues in the operation of AI/robots we see today. However, according to Dr. Ching, this concept has been avoided by physicist and scientist that he has contacted. There is a fine line between "them" and "us" in the acceptance of this theory.

Some people believed that this theory overthrows Newton's law of physics. But after hearing Dr. Ching's explanation, even a person with little physics knowledge would know that this is a further investigation (more complex) of the original theories. Besides, all these theories/concepts are all but our attempt to explain a natural event/phenomenon. So why are people, especially scientist who are supposedly more open minded to "new" ideas, refuse to accept this?

Jumpulse is everywhere in our lives; as we ourselves "touch" something every second, every minute and every day!

Yesterday we practiced jumpulse on ping pong balls, and it was amazing. These are games we have been playing for ages, yet no one really go beyond the "technique" to try and understand the theory behind it. Quite fascinating.

This same concept applied to tennis can quickly turn someone into a good tennis player. Likewise ping pong or other games that needing the ball control.

Of course, it's much more complicated than I can take in one night. We've also talked about early brain development, and how that affects a person in the future.

I really wish more people would look into this and start "thinking" again. There are so many wonderful mysteries in this world that are slowly being revealed. But we have to open our mind and heart to see the revelation.

所謂做與不做之間的選擇

我們往往看到的都只是一個層面中的很小一部份，因果世界中是註定了人生種種，所謂做與不做之間的選擇或許是改變註定的一個機會，但這個選擇的結果往往是註定的因為我們用自己的想法來做選擇。問題是，很多時候這個「想法」是透過外在影響，加上內在因果，所以結果改動不了。可是，當我們很認真的要以第三者來做選擇時(當然這個本身也不是容易做到)，就有機會來改。可惜我們不一定看得到結果到底是什麼。修，在於open自己到更大更多的層面中，知道因與果之間的關係，有神通或許是接觸到更大的層面。可是最基本的是要自己能很清楚所有的決定從那裡來？就算是聽別人的，也要清楚為什麼要聽，或許有機會能找出「因」，然後從結果來看到底這個「果」是否是改變了？如果能從這裡開始，那麼不管做什麼決定，不論是註定或改變，都是在往前走，看了結果也可從中學習，而不是怨天尤人。如果太過於依賴別人的想法，那麼也是自己的選擇，可是最終做出來的，還是跳脫不了一個註定的束縛。

New addition to the family

We received a fish tank from a friend for Christmas. It also comes with the maintenance package as we have no idea how to keep a tropical fish tank.

It's been 3 weeks since we put in the first batch of fish. During this time, we've lost quite a lot of lives, and added 3 more batches. Experienced friend continues her warning for us not to get any more fish until the tank is stabilized. Of course, one doesn't heed warnings and must learn the hard way.

So much has happened, and everyday there's something going on with the tank. It's almost like watching a soap opera on TV... so we adopted the FISH TV name for our fish watching hobby. I'm also starting a blog to document these dramatic episodes, yes, it's called: Fish TV. Words cannot do justice to the fun and excitement of fish watching. You'll just have to get one yourself.

Of course, there was a bit of sorrow as we watch these little lives lost. Yet, I find myself comparing this with human lives. It can be a little frightful to realize the similarities, and rather interesting to discover how life goes on regardless of what had happened.

What is it that makes us different from the fishes? We also live in a huge tank, swimming in our own waste. People are added to population, and they die. Everyday, it's swim around, eat, swim around more, play, eat, swim around. Life goes on. Once in a while a big hand comes down and change the decorations around, disturb the tank a little. Sometimes just a little scare, and sometimes result in casualties. And from time to time, chemicals are added to the tank to help calm the stress; sometimes salts are added to balance the water environment in an attempt to keep the fishes alive. They are not very vocal, yet, you can somehow sense they are in distress. We are more vocal, but our caretakers (politicians) sometimes choose to ignore us.

We are small in terms of lives in a Cosmo. Just as we watch feeder fish cramped in a tank, not knowing how small they are and soon to be someone's dinner. Then on the larger scale, bigger fish, cows, pigs, chickens, and many others, are also part of that. What about us? Are we part of that? No, we don't see us being eaten up in most cases. But with the cloning technology, already there are movies about people being raised so they can be killed for their organs. So what's keeping them from selling off the flesh as dinner meat?

Ok, now I'm feeling a little uneasy. There must be some meaning to being alive. Who am I? What am I? Where am I? Perhaps one day I shall find the answers, and find my true self. In the mean time, I shall enjoy watching the fishes and living my life.