For our kids

A good email that I received today:


"Paul Harvey Writes:

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse.

For my grandchildren, I'd like better.

I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.

I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car. And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.

It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.

I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.

I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room, but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him. When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him/her

I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely. ! On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.

If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.

I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books. When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.

I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy\girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like. May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole. I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it.. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend. I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.

I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hanukkah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.

These things I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life.

Written with a pen. Sealed with a kiss. I'm here for you. And if I die before you do, I'll go to heaven and wait for you.

Send this to all of your friends. We secure our friends, not by accepting favors, but by doing them.”

(Aug 18, 2008)

Sense of humor

There is something in Anthony that can always make me laugh from the bottom of my heart.

The other night, while I was reading his email, I laughed so bad that my daughter from the floor below me asked me if everything was okay, as it was one o’clock in the morning.

He wrote:

"Therefore, I want to hereby declare my firm belief in human love lest someone might think I am a cold turkey.

Signed: A somewhat less unromantic guy.”

I do not know it is his sense of humor, my sensitivity or our chemistry. Whatever it is, I always had a great time at the encounter.

Has your life begun yet?

Received the following email:

"As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will.

You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken.

You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love.

So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin."

(Aug 15, 2008)

Reality

Last night, while I was showing my friends the way to the door, we met Chris in the dinning room.

He asked politely: “Mrs. T., is there anything you like me to do for you?”

“Disappear!” I answered in a very heart warming way.

My friend was shocked by my reply and looked dismay. Seeing her complexion, I explained: “I meant to perform the magic of disappearing, doing the impossible.” To me, I was joking around with Chris, and that was not even an insider joke.

Noticing that my friend has misunderstood me, I asked Chris if he knew I was joking with him. He smiled back: “Of course!”

The same words and tune spoken by the same person, different people will take it differently.

Imagine how each person perceives things with numerous viewpoints and attitudes.

What is reality then? Whose reality are we talking about? Which is the authentic one, yours or mine?

(Aug 14, 2008)

The existence of true love

This is my anniversary present from one of my benevolent friends:

“--- I feel the existence of true love...

It is touching ...you're very endearing.

I want to take back my comment that your husband spoils you. I shouldn't have made this silly comment... You both are lovely, and loving to each other. My humble apologies.

After reading your blog, I was so filled with inner energy that I didn't know what to do, but turned off the computer and sat on our patio. The sky was blue and clear, the trees were waving/dancing in the breeze/wind.

I felt I was the richest being on the planet. I was showered with valuable wholesomeness ... was this a glimpse of the authentic life?

.

Dear friend, you've brought out the goodness in life and made me a better person.

With Love,

XOXOXO "

(Aug 12, 2008)

Heartwarming

This blog was started by the heartwarming action of Mingte ShiXoing, someone I have not met in person yet, on Mother Day of this year. He gave me unconditional caring and encouragement while I was in the valley of my life. My heart was touched and warmed-up by his compassion.

When Chris read my blog, he found it very heartwarming. Sue comments that I am warmhearted and passionate. Yes, I do feel that this world is getting cooler and cooler, sometimes crueler and crueler too. I wish that human can be more thoughtful and selfless.

Let’s open up our heart and embrace one another…

Carpenter’s song:

"What the world needs now is love sweet love,

It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.

What the world needs now is love sweet love,

no not just for some but for everyone.

Lord we don’t need another mountain,

There are mountains and hillsides enough to climb,

There are oceans and rivers enough to cross

Enough to last until the end of time.

What the world needs now is love sweet love,

it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of,

what the world needs now is love sweet love,

no not just for some but for everyone.

Lord, we don’t need another meadow,

there are corn fields and wheat fields enough to grow,

there are sunbeams and moonbeams enough to shine,

oh listen Lord, if you want to know.

What the world needs now is love sweet love,

its the only thing that there’s just too little of.

What the world needs now is love sweet love,

no not just for some, oh but just for every every everyone."

(Aug 10, 2008)

A Touching Story

Just received the following email from Timmy:

“In a Californian zoo, a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs. Unfortunately, due to complications in the pregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny size, they died shortly after birth.

The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery suddenly started to decline in health, although physically she was fine. The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress to fall into a depression. The doctors decided that if the tigress could surrogate another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve.

After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news was that there where no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother. The veterinarians decided to try something that had never been tried in a zoo environment. Sometimes a mother of one species will take on the care of a different species. The only 'orphans' that could be found quickly, were a litter of weanling pigs. The zoo keepers and vets wrapped the piglets in tiger skin and placed the babies around the mother tiger.

Take a look...

Now, please tell me one more time .........?

Why can't the rest of the world get along??"


(Aug 9, 2008)

From Russia with Love

Received the following email from Stephen:

“Dear Folks,

It goes almost unnoticed that the dissident Soviet writer, Nobel laureate Alexander Solzhenitsyn, died last Sunday of heart failure in Moscow. The obituary, apparently was overwhelmed by the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games, didn't even catch the headlines of most Chinese media.

But it has everything to do with Russia's twin-brother - Communist PRC.

The dissident criticized the Soviet Union as cruel and suffocating "under the malevolent and unyielding nature of communism." He even went further to attack the revered 'god' of USSR, Lenin (while his counterpart Mao's portrait is still overlooking the Tinanmen Square with a wicked smile as of today).Neither did he show any sympathy towards the country which offered him the new citizenship, the US, during his 20-year exile. He viewed the West & US in general as morally weak, limp & flaccid, materialistic and suffering from "the spiritual impotence that comes from living a life of ease."

A friend once puzzled, why I as a Chinese (by race), sometimes criticize the PRC Government "almost like CNN" (in his own words)? This posts a very critical question: should race be more important than social justice?Solzhenitsyn once wrote of his life: "It is history's sorrow, the grief of our era, that I carry about me like an anathema."

Perhaps all Chinese, when they celebrate the first Olympic Games held in their ancient forbidden city, should ask this question:

Why there is no Chinese Solzhenitsyn?
Why no Chinese Gorbachev?
Or is it a "history's sorrow, the grief of our era?"
Can anyone volunteer an explanation?

Your pal,
Stephen”

(Aug 8 , 2008)

Mahjong Club

My sister used to host a bridge club where she and her friends met once a week to play bridge. As some of the players moved out of town, now she has a Mahjong club instead.

They do not play for money. Whoever loses the game chips the money into a jackpot. When there is enough money in the jackpot, they go out for dinner.

The aim is for the social gathering of good friends meeting together on a regular basis. When they play, they talk, they laugh, they air their frustration in life or they share their happiness. It is a very constructive way to balance the stress in life.

I have a similar gathering every week, we do tantric practice. For over ten years, we have a good time every week…

(Aug 7, 2008)

Being Together

I just received an email from Sue informing us that the daughter of Eva and Harton, Joyce, is getting married on August 8 of this year.

Very happy for Joyce, Eva and Harton.

The togetherness of two or more persons is a very amazing and wonderful sensation! This togetherness is not limited to being together physically. The companion of minds, spirits or hearts is even more magnificent.

When we are enlightened, our mind is altogether with that of all Buddhas of Ten Directions.

Can you visualize that?

(Aug 6, 2008)

Can you find the Ten of Us?

Can you find the Ten of Us in this photo?

Hint: Olivia, Nancy, Keith, Chris, Cal, Max, Ching, Adri, Ruby and Toni.

Photo taken in the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, July 2008.

Answer: Click on the comment button to find out.

(Aug 05, 2008)

Loving Danny...

I love Danny, I love his compassionate nature and genuine character. He wrote in his blog:

“Danny J. Floh Back has travelled the world in pursuit of physically and spiritually moving moments. Using a basic digital camera, his motivational photos have won photo contests, and appeared on magazine covers.

"My photos and stories are meant to inspire and challenge others to explore the unknown in pursuit of happiness," says Danny Floh Back.”

I have known Danny since he was two; he is the son of a long-time friend of mine. He has a great talent for photography and I love his photos. He is not a Buddhist but his compassion and positive attitude towards life is very Buddhist –like.

I admire his creativity, vitality and whole-heartedness.

(Photo "Sundown on the water" by Danny Floh Back. (http://www.flohback.com/) )

(Aug 4, 2008)

What if …

Recently my second daughter is looking for a place to stay while attending college.

I went with her for room searching. The second house that we saw, I advised her to rent it as it was not possible to find anything as good. Yet, she wanted to see more places. After two more weeks and many appointments, she decided to lease the place that I told her was good.

She is afraid that once she has committed to the lease, and if anything better becomes available in the market, she will not be able to switch. I told her, my dear, that is life.

We are making choices every instant. Even if you stop thinking, you choose not to think. There is no “What if…” Just make the best out of what you have at the moment and try to elevate or improve the situation if there is a chance. Do not waste time in linger on to the past or delude by the future!

(Aug 3, 2008)