Category: Ramblings

My Wish For the World Is … …

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A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away … …

ok, maybe not so far away, but back when I was a lay person, I remember watching one of those Miss Universe pageant on the television.  I always thought it was super cliche when during the question section, the contestant would declare their wish for world peace.

Increasingly, I start to appreciate what peace, world peace is, when I see all the chaos happening in the world.

Did you know that there is a battle going on in Syria?

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/05/14938142-nearly-200-killed-in-syria-battles-over-the-weekend-rights-group-says?chromedomain=usnews

And Hurricane Sandy?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/hurricane-sandy-causes-evacuations-closings-throughout-east-coast/2012/10/29/8eac52ba-2162-11e2-8448-81b1ce7d6978_story.html

While here in Singapore, we experience the monsoons, our hearts go out to those who are made homeless and lost their love ones.

Let’s help them in whatever ways we can.

And in whatever beliefs you have, cultivate love.  Cultivate Love for all.  ~ Metta Sutta [1]

Reference

[1] – Metta

Attack by Vandals Destroys Nearly 30 Buddhist Statues in a Maldives National Museum

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Once again, vandals are at work.  This time, the target was 30 Buddhist statues in a Maldives National Museum.

 

“The whole pre-Islamic history is gone.” said Mr. Waheed, the director of the National Museum.

It is not gone.  The statues are gone.  But one cannot change or remove history simply by destroying the statues.  Instead, they have written history, of how in modern day Maldive, inspite of the destruction, Buddhists do not return blow for blow, hatred for hatred.  They have helped affirm the Buddhist teaching on loving kindness, compassion and true inner peace and calm.

Fellow friends, keep in mind.  The expression of the Buddha's and Bodhisattva's qualities and teachings in the statues can be destroyed, and has been harmed and destroyed numerous times.  Dharma books can be burnt, and has been burnt numerous times.  Teachings memorised in our heart can be lost if we die or are killed, and has happened before.  

But the Truth pointed by the teachings, the learning and application of the teachings, the fruit of inner peace and calm, and the unshakable cessation of suffering, Nirvana … that cannot be harmed by words and blows nor destroyed by guns and bombs.

 

 

MALE, Maldives — The broken glass from an attack by vandals on the National Museum here has been swept away, and the remnants of the Buddhist statues they destroyed — nearly 30 of them, some dating to the sixth century — have been locked away. But officials say the loss to this island nation’s archaeological legacy can never be recouped. [1]

 

References

[ 1 ]  The New York Times

The Two Abilities We All Have, and a Third We Can Have.

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All human beings, young or old, man or woman, regardless of race, language or religion, nationality or beliefs have two abilities.

When faced with agreeable, pleasant people, situations or things, we can get happy, joyful, at ease, calm and do nice stuffs, say nice words.  That’s easy.  We all can do that.

When faced with disagreeable, unpleasant people, situations or things, we can get unhappy, sad, frustrated, angry, and may do crazy stuffs, say angry words.  That’s also easy.  We all can do that too.

These are the two abilities that all unenlightened beings have.  Conversely, it is true as well.  If you can only react in this two ways, then you are probably unenlightened.  But don’t fret about it, ‘cos you are like the rest of us 99.9999999999999999999999% sentient beings.

But wait.  There is a third ability we can have.

When faced with the agreeable … or disagreeable … we can still have inner peace and happiness. &
This inner peace and happiness is somewhat different from the happiness above.  The happiness above is based on getting what we want.  This is worldly happiness.  Losing what we want brings unhappiness.  This is worldly suffering.  Both are intertwined, like two sides of a coin, not quite the same, not quite apart.

Inner peace and happiness is quite different.  It is not gained from getting what we want, and not taken away when we lose what we want.  It is the inner contentment when craving and desire ceases.  When we see the true quality of worldly happiness, desire and craving for it diminishes and goes away.  We don’t have to force it away.  It just do not arise anymore.  Attachment loosens itself and fades away.  Again, not forcibly taken out, but it has nowhere to attach itself to.

This is the inner peace and happiness that we all can have.

The path to it has been shown to all.

A very special person rediscovered this 2600 years ago.  A person who reached the ultimate of human potential.  He surpassed all Gods and human beings.  He surpassed all realms of existences.  He surpassed all defilements and limitations.  He is known as the Buddha, the Awakened One.  The Teacher of Gods and Man.[1]

 

We already have the first two abilities, and we’ve honed them to mastery level.  About time we develop the third ability?

References

[ 1 ]  Majjhima Nikaya 12 – Maha-sihanada Sutta: The Great Discourse on the Lion’s Roar

CONFIRMED: There Is Life in Outer Space!

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The Milky Way 360° panorama at Death Valley

It is confirmed!  There is life in outer space.  In the far reaches of the Milky Way Galaxy, there lies approximately 200 billion to 400 billion stars.  This is considered a fraction compared to our own Andromeda Galaxy, which houses more than one trillion stars.

 

Amongst this 200~400 billion of stars in the Milky Way Galaxy, there lies a solar system emitting regular pulsating radio waves.  Our probes have identified some of the stronger pulses due to radioactive emission from nuclear detonation that occurred in the past.

 

While contact with the lifeforms found in this solar system is still not established, one particular planet orbiting this system appear to be inhabited by numerous species of intelligent and semi-developed life-forms.  This third planet, currently named by its GUID (Galaxy Unique Identifier) MWG.Sol.3, formed approximately 4.54 billion years ago in the current cycle of the galaxy.  Lifeforms first appeared within a billion years of its formation and is expected to continue for another 5 billion years or so, before its eventual destruction due to the growth of its sun into a red giant.  When the sun runs out of hydrogen, it would turn onto helium to fuel its fussion furnace, swelling up many hundred times, engulfing most of the inner planets, including MWG.Sol.3 in its path.

 

The Confederation of Solar Systems are convening a summit to decide whether to establish First-Contact in accordance to Interstella-Contact ACT Protcol 2554.  The consideration would include whether such contact would bring about mutual benefit and whether there is anything worthwhile to learn from these Sentient beings from the Milky Way Galaxy.  A possible outcome is a short feasibility study of the native lifeforms for 400 centuries to determine suitability.  Thereafter, the findings may assist in arriving at a suitable recommendation on First-Contact.

 

Meanwhile, according to the latest report from the summit … …

 

The above is a possible report from some sentient lifeforms in a neighbouring (2.5 million light-years away!) galaxy about our galaxy, the Milky Waay.  While we search for lifeforms in outer space, it may be worthwhile to consider that we are in outer space, orbiting the sun at 29.78 km/s with an incidental speed of 552 km/s due to the relative speed of the Milky Way as a whole.  That being the case, if we find “ourselves”, what can we learn from ourselves?  What wisdom can we glean from this alien species on MWG.Sol.3, or Earth, the third planet of the solar system in the Milky Way Galaxy?

If we are the alien species that others find, what wisdom do we want to be known for?  For that matter, do we really have to go searching for some lifeforms out there, when we are also an “alien lifeforms” hurling through space, waiting to be discovered.  While we’ve spent trillions trying to conquer space and perhaps find lifeforms in outer space, have we conquered our inner space, our minds so that we are worthy alien lifeforms for others to find, to contact and to learn from?

So, dear alien reader, what wisdom do you have to share?

 

References:

Hint: Satire