Teach others by examples

One should not teach others by force, but by demonstration of their own action.

Handling a complicated confused life

In times when a lot of things are happening in life and making us confused, remember you can always:
1) Simplify your life
2) Focus on what is important first

More thinking, more problems

Something's dwelling on thoughts makes the problem worst. Don't think too much and only think if you have to solve a problem.

More thinking, more problems

Something's dwelling on thoughts makes the problem worst. Don't think too much and only think if you have to solve a problem.

The decision becomes better with a clearer mind

The decision becomes better when the mind is more clearer.

When the mind is clear, still and settled, judgement improves.

Compassion, caring and kindness exist without selfishness

I have discovered how difficult it is to be compassion if the self or selfishness ia not removing, when the comparing and competing (ego) is not removed. Why? Because the self is blocking us from connecting to others. With self becomes jealous, pride, self centre and lack of understanding towards others. Therefore, self or selfishness is an obstruction for compassion and kindness

Be myself, not find myself

There is no need to find myself, just be my self.

The Jam Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee:

Slightly edited but I received this pleasant story from a friend in December 2005 which I would like to share with you guys:

"This made me smile...

The Jam Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee:
When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the Jam jar and the 2 cups of coffee.


A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty jam jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else---the small stuff. 

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."


One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."


Please share this with someone you care about"

Confidence helps brings out the

And I think, inner strength got a lot to do with curing scattered confuse mind. Because if you have trust and confidence, you don't worry about and don't have think and over analyse. You use your heart and instinct more. And decision make sense. You know what you like and want better.

I'm not sure but it is easier to trust your instinct if you have more faith in yourself. There is less indecisiveness and less battle within.

One of the problem of being a philosopher, is that they can't trust their own judgement since they are always standing on neutral zone without making irrational decision. As a results, they are unsure, uncertain and indecisive in personality

Live now, be content now.

No point of thinking. worrying & stressing about other things (things that can't be changed, the future or past). Be content, be happy, live for today, the present moment as the moment and time we have is a blessing. No point of worrying about the future but enjoy now at this moment.

Sharing wisdom in a "digestible" way

Over the years, I have learn wisdom tools to help me get through some of my difficulties but I have not really put into thought of being in the other end sharing wisdom. I am not qualified to lecture on how to be wiser, but I just want to say that I am aware their is a skilful means in effectively sharing wisdom so that it can be digested or taken in more effectively.

What I can think of, is that wise teacher knows when to say it, how to say it and what to say at the right time, place and mood. There is probably more method in which is used up these are what I can think of.

Live for now (not in the past or present) and things will work out

The other day, I had written about how the mind trap in thoughts whether troubled by the past, worried about the future or confused about decision, would be problematic in the long term and how we should live for today and be mindful of our positive prayer, things will work out, will at least our mind state will workout well. It is funny how when I was younger I never knew the importance of this wisdom and now this wisdom tool or way of thinking would cease a lot of affliction and bring inner peace and spiritual progress in a direct, practical and personal way.

Anyways, a good quote which projected the same meaning I got from the producer and singer of the Buddhist music Imee Ooi.

“I’m a person who don’t plan ahead. It is very much like Buddhist teaching — live for now, don’t let the future tie you down, don’t let the past trouble you and things will turn out well,” ~ Ooi.

Heart wants to rest but mind wants to be restless

Sometimes when I listen to my heart, my heart wants to rest but thoughts in my mind tries to project thoughts in my mind to provoke and stir my heart from resting in peace. I suppose it is ok to speak from our Inner peaceful heart and not always from the mind that never stops thinking an make us restless. Of course, our mind is needed to some degree to get us through the day and to avoid troubles, so use it too when needed.

Afflicted emotion is not our true self but a passing cloud & wind

Many people fall into a trap of believing they are what their emotion is when that is not true. Just like how people label themselves as angry people in nature when it is not truly them but have been disturbed in the past and lost their natural harmony inside.


A thing to be aware of in false thoughts in which many people fall victim to, is the fact that the person become or think they are that false thoughts. In truth, the innate nature is pure, calm and tranquil and enlightened. So there are people who either confuse their true identity with superficial body or material goods, or more deceptively, their temporary non true self emotion which arises from afflictions and disturbance.

People describe emotion as a cloud which comes and goes, it is not true nor fixed. Another good analogy is that of a wind blowing the leaves of the tree. The leaf moves and the tree mistaken itself that it moved, but in actuality the wind is moving the leaf and not the tree moving the leaf. In the same way, we should be aware that these afflicted thoughts arises from delusion are not from the true self but a passing wind.

Cut false thought as it arises

There are times when I discovered I am behaving inappropriately which goes against what I think is right or normal. I suppose these behaviour have been evolved from bad habits of action initiated by thoughts. Over time it is very difficult to to break and it deceptively feels a part of me which the habit have been built over time.

Anyways, for those who are walking a certain disciplined path, such a spiritual path, habit starts from the mid. So whenever false thoughts arises, it is important to be mindful and aware of it and immediately let it go (let it passes you like clouds instead of suppressing and being in denial).

So it is useful to cut false j
Thoughts immediately as it arises to save thoughts from turning into habits, personality and character.

Another thing to be aware of in false thoughts in which many people fall victim to, is the fact that the person become or think they are that false thoughts. In truth, the innate nature is pure, calm and tranquil and enlightened. So there are people who either confuse their true identity with superficial body or material goods, or more deceptively, their temporary non true self emotion which arises from afflictions and disturbance.

Need clear fresh mind set to solve problems

I have discovered a better approach to solving problem. There at time that we are so desperate and determine in solving a problem, that we won't rest or be at peace if we don't solve the problem, which in turn will make it more difficult to solve the problem as we become more stressed, scattered and confuse. It is sort of be like a loop hole effect or a positive feed back mechanism. But how I see it now is that sometimes to solve a problem, we need to first clear our mind, and come back fresher with healthier mind set. So at times, a fresh and learn mind iset is the best approach in solving problems.

Setting a good base is foundation

Firstly, it is important to establish a stable good environment or base in which we can develop and maintain stable and healthy mind set.

What is normal?

I had always thought it was natural to know who is normal and who is not normal in terms of personality. I was questioned by a few, who is normal and who is not? Is what is normal decided by what is the most common? Is there no such thing as a normal person?

Well, to reply to this question, in terms of personality, I think a normal person have a degree of emotional control (or at least the intention of controlling emotion) and is rational. If a person don't have that mentality, but on the other hand have no intention of controlling ones emotion in a healthy manner and is a very irrational person, then I regard them as not normal and unable to interact with others appropriately.

Strong jellow

Can I be weak and yet fearless?
Can I be gentle and confident?
Can I be a jellow with indestructible property?

The future is bright

I know there is a big opportunity for me
I feel that my future is large
with boundless opportunity
I sense there will be something great
Or at least I believe
If I want something, I will go and get it
I want to do something big
but I just need to know what it is
most people around me are closed minded
they don't know that the opportunity is boundless
it's what the mind makes out with it
it's the passion that drives it
it's the inspiration that fuel it.

No thinking

Thinking too much is a headache,
so I prefer not thinking.

Thoughts will leads to more thoughts,
until it leads to thousands and millions of thoughts,
before long your brain gets all clogged up and confused.

I wouldn't say instinct much but if I feel like it I do it
as long as it doesn't break precepts.

Trying to emptying your mind
is not really emptying the mind,
As emptying the mind is not thinking
and if you are not thinking, how
could you think of emptying the mind?

Virtue helps our relationship with others

virtue is "forgiveness", "patience", "loving-kindness", "respect",

if we make mistakes, we get angry at each other, but if we have patience, we can over come it and then we can forgive. Once we can forgive, we can love again

so it's down to the individual and their virtue. if i don't respect u, then it's hard to love u. normally that's because women are too fashionable and appear as sexual object or have bad history, men find it difficult to respect and that breaks relationship down... So virtue is the foundation of a healthy relationship

Discipline brings peace

The most important thing is a calm, peaceful and settled mind. This can only come when we are in control and discipline

The mind that seeks can never rest

The mind that seeks can never rest and find true peace

True, false or in suspend?

There are times when we hear things that we do not know.

Sometime the option is not only true or false and right or wrong.
Sometimes we can not conclude and suspend it for now.
Suspend the decision, examine it in the future and come back to it later.
The advantage is that it will let us expand our understanding and keep us humble.

True greatness

How can a man claim to be great,
when he has not yet conquer
his own greed, anger and delusion?

Only those who can truly remove these impurities,
Can he be regarded as great!

Like a dream

"Life is a journey.
Death is a return to earth.
The universe is like an inn.
The passing years are like dust.
Regard this phantom world
As a star at dawn, a bubble in a stream,
A flash of lightning in a summer cloud,
A flickering lamp - a phantom - and a dream" ~ Buddha

A very profound path ~ the extinguish of lust & ignorance, the development of tranquillity & insight (wisdom)

"Two things partake of supreme knowledge. What two? Tranquility and insight.

If tranquility is developed , what benefit does it bring? The mind becomes developed. And what is the benefit of a developed mind? All lust is abandoned.

If insight is developed, what benefit does it bring? Wisdom becomes developed. And what is the benefit of developed wisdom? All ignorance is abandoned.

A mind defiled by lust is not freed; and wisdom defiled by ignorance cannot develop. Thus, through the fading away of lust there is liberation of mind; and through the fading away of ignorance there is liberation by wisdom." ~ Buddha

Difference between false emptiness and real emptiness

In our times, Buddhism flourish into the west, when flourish the teaching, there maybe some misunderstand due to the language barrier which could lead to confusion. One of the confusion I had experienced was the philosophical terminology for "emptiness" (sunyata - in Sanskrit language).

First the thing to consider is that with the English translation, the meaning of sunyata is essentially lost with just the translation of emptiness, as the actual meaning of sunyata has a different meaning behind it. Moreover, there is different descriptive interpretation of the meaning depending on different school of thoughts. However, in this blog, I am not dwelling into the meaning of sunyata but just the inform that it has there is a difference between the genuine understanding of emptiness and the false conceptualise understanding of emptiness.


There is difference between real emptiness and conceptual emptiness. Real emptiness is something that only high level cultivator can comprehend, it is through spiritual training. However, false emptiness or conceptualized emptiness is all conceptual thoughts created by the mind. It is false as it thinking of emptiness is not the same as experiencing the emptiness of what the Buddha was talking about. False emptiness is like imagining what emptiness is like, it's really our deluded false thoughts and not the real thing. Furthermore, if one have not empty out emotional afflictions such as desire, anger, delusion then how can one claim to understand true emptiness?

False conceptualised emptiness can lead to many implications and problems. For instance, when people see everything as fake and things don't exist, they may deny the existent of karma and justify doing bad deeds thereby transgress into the lower realms. False emptiness could lead to a sense of void, loneliness and depression as they are attached to the sense of void and no existence. With seeing things as void and fake, it could lead to a repulsive mind that reject existence and thereby leading to isolation, loneliness and agitation or other various psychological problems. The false emptiness is not true emptiness, without emptying those afflictions, how could one claim to experience this emptiness.

In Buddhism, things start from the foundation, which is Sila (moral conduct, precepts, discipline) and to create blessing and meritorious deeds. The emptiness is for the later stage once the foundation is established and spiritual cultivation ripen.

At the beginning stage, it is better to believe in forms and do good deeds, so at least it plants positive blessings and merits for the future so we won't transgress. Those who believe in false emptiness, who do bad deeds thinking karma is empty and do not exist, creates negative karma and suffer from psychological problems and transgressing in the path. Let the realisation of Sunyata be for those who are ready to comprehend the true meaning of it.

To consciousness

Our consciousness can't rest and be at peace if we keep on doing bad things, think bad things, if we let bad habits or physical body desire over dominate our spirit.

Some advice about life

- Treat others how you want to be treated.
- Be kind to others, but know when to stand firm say no and avoid corrupted people.
- Better to focus one at a time
- Don't react, but do respond
- Loving-kindness heals the heart
- Don't think too much, clear your mind and live at the present
- Avoid evil, do good, it's not too late to turn back, change for the better, forgive yourself, let go of the guilt, accept yourself and be at peace with your reformed ways.
... So much more that's what's on top of my head
- There's a time to work (or think) and there's a time to rest

What is blessing?

Blessing is when we have clarity of mind/heart that we are no longer afflicted