recharging my Buddhism faith

today is both a happy and sad day for me.. morning had a little quarrel with my wife and noon attended a SOKA event. Sometimes i wondered when i will really be 'enlightened' and be able to handle all problems in life.. sometimes i feel i do sometimes not. It's a long and difficult journey to develop true wisdom and compassion for all beings. however, the journey must go on!

The SOKA event comprises some dance segment plus more importantly the testimonies of some of the members.. they shared their life stories - how they suffered and struggled thru their darkness days of their life. It recharged me upon hearing their testimonies. i feel that i could achieve more if i continue the journey under the guidance of Buddhism.

So, i shall work hard.. beginning with increase in my meditation practise. ;-)

Below, are some encouraging words from the event - in the form of a small homemade card gift..

"Life is a process of ongoing challenge. Those who lead lives of
boundless challenge realize boundless growth.
In a time of tumultuous change, what people needs most
is the vitality to challenge their circumstances
and the wisdom to open the treasure-house of knowledge
and to ceaselessly strive to create new value."

Tumultuous means conflict of emotions.

wii wii

i was never a fan of the gaming console.. like PS2, PS3, X-Box,.. clicking on the joy stick or controller seemed boring to me.. But with the new Nintendo Wii it changes my opinion about gaming console!! ;-)

Wii is really fun to play! Thanks to its motion detection tat allows me to swing, punch, throw and more.. The person who invent tat motion detection device must be honoured!!

Now,.. less talk more play!! i gonna play my Wii now!! but let me go wee wee first! ;P

are u in control?

almost a daily affair, we complaint about this, we complaint about that.. sometimes, in fact most of the time, i feel tired of complaining.. but the problems are still there.. and i feel helpless.. making me unhappy.. So, is there hope? is there a way out?

Unconsciously, i seem to have the answer. Only i need to practise what already i know..

To overcome these situations, you simply need to ask a few questions and you have answer them honestly. First, ask yourself if you have control of the situation and the outcome. If the answer is yes, then it's easy. Focus on solving the problem! But in most cases, we dont have control. That's why we are feeling so frustrated!! Next, ask yourself if u have influence over the person who has control. If yes, then do it!! Otherwise, if u totally have no control or influence, then u just have to accept whatever that comes to u - good or bad. That's life. Face it with courage! If u really hate it, move on! Change place. Change job. Change friends. Change partner. Change yourself!! Take action!

in most cases, if u take the first actions, things start to happen..

Lastly, take heart that in life most things are not within our control. That's why it's important to recognise our own limitations as well as of others.

an empty life

"An empty life is a happy life"
- Kenneth Woo

Many may not realize that an empty life
is actually a happy life.
In order to appreciate this,
one must understand what emptiness is.
Emptiness is not nothingless.
Coz nothingless means non-existent.
Emptiness is not non-existent.
Either is it totally in existent.
It is both depending very much
of your perception.
Just think of a glass half full with water.
Some see it as half full while others see a half empty glass.
And one must understand that everything u see
are dependent of other entities.
You are not one but connected to this world.
Thus, there's no real self.
Just an illusion in your mind.
Everything is a reflection of your mind.
What your mind thinks may not be real
though it seems real to you at that moment.
Furthermore, nothing is static.
Everything is in motion - changes.
Since there's no real you or a self,
and everything changes,
it is therefore, empty to begin with.
Trying to fill this emptiness only brings pain
coz emptiness as it is -
is only an universal law of nature.
Happy life only begins with this understanding.

WE LIVE IN SINGAPURA the MTV version

SEVEN BASIC HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE

HABIT	HABIT DESCRIPTION	FULL DESCRIPTION
ONE	BE PROACTIVE (Principles of Personal Vision)	* You are the programmer, not the program * You are the product of your choice and your decisions, not your conditions or conditioning * Acting based on your values rather than re-acting based on emotion or circumstances
TWO	BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND (Principles of Personal Leadership)	* You are the programmer, write the program * You are the architect of your life, draw up the blue print (your values, mission and goals) * All things are created twice --- first mentally, then physically * Avoid costly waste of time and effort on things that are not in harmony with your goals and missions in life
THREE	PUT FIRST THING FIRST (Principles of Personal Management)	* Organize and conduct your life around your mission, values and goals * Plan your time and energy to accomplish what really matters most to you * Think through each important role in your life * Select long-term and weekly goals to achieve success in each role
FOUR	THINK WIN/WIN (Principles of Interpersonal Leadership)	* When your life is centered on your personal mission and anchored to your values, your security will come within * Win/Win thinking begins with a commitment to explore all options until a mutually satisfactory solution is reached or to make no deal at all
FIVE	SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND, AND THEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD (Principles of Communication)	* The key to effective communication is to seek first to understand the other person --- to step out of your own autobiography and to deeply, authentically understand another person's frame of reference before attempt to share your own * Diagnose before you prescribe * Listen to understand rather than to reply * Find ways, based on the other person's frame of reference, to communicate your own ideas most effectively
SIX	SYNERGIZE (Principles of Creative Cooperation)	* Synergy results from valuing differences, from bringing different perspectives together in the spirit of mutual respect * People then feel free to seek the best possible alternative, often a "third alternative" that is better than either of the original proposals
SEVEN	SHARPEN THE SAW (Principles of Renewal)	* Cultivating this habit means having balanced, systematic program for self-renewal in each of the basic human dimensions --- physical, spiritual, mental and social/emotional * We are the instrument of our own performance, and failure to maintain the instrument leads to lessened effectiveness in performance in every other area of life

Based on 7th Habits of Highly Effective People book, Stephen R. Covey.

© 2001, VIRTUAL PALACE. All rights reserved. And for the latest eight habit, click here..

first thing first

Stephen Convey taught us in rule no 3 "First thing first". It is the principle of personal management.. where u organise and conduct your life with a mission, a set of values and goals. Time mgmt is especially important here. However, what brings me to this subject is the focus on what really matters most to you.

We live a life full of distraction.. constantly being influenced by what the media and others say.. without sufficient time alone to really ask ourselves what we really want. In fact, some of us are even too afraid to ask themselves this question - perhaps due to fear that we cant achieve it.. due to lack of self-confidence?

Buddha had a similar explanation to First Thing First. Extracted from the book Happiness by Matthieu Ricard.
It reminds us of the Buddha story of someone being hit by an arrow. Imagine you are being struck by an arrow! U wont be asking questions such as who hit u with an arrow, what material the arrow is made of, or if there's poison on the arrow.. U would probably be thinking how quickly and safely u can remove the arrow to save your precious little life!! rite? ;-)

So, First Thing First do have a few ways of looking at it but essentially it makes u think about all those important aspects of life.

progressive

these days i observed that i have been using the word 'Progressive' quite often.. ;-)

perhaps, that's life.. perhaps, that's how things should be.. things should improve.. there should always be enhancement, improvement, progress.. Life will be boring if everything stays the same day in day out..

perhaps, that's why we shouldnt be a perfectionist. coz things will never be perfect.. will never be able to achieve perfection the first time round.. therefore, we need continual improvement.. continuous improvement will be a stretch and almost impossible to achieve.. but continual improvement fit nicely..

in a nutshell, we should be aware of how nature works.. and works within the boundaries of nature, and naturally, progressively works towards our goal! ;-)

the concept of self

recently, i started reading the book Happiness by Matthieu Ricard.. still reading though..

But, there're a couple of para are so well written that i would love to share here..

"Buddhism therefore concludes that the self is just a name we give to a continuum, just as we name a river the Ganges or the Mississippi. Such a continuum certainly exists, but only as a convention based upon the interdependence of the consciousness, the body, and the environment. It is entirely without autonomous existence." ~ page 90.

"This is how we reify the self and the world. The self is not nonexistent- as we are constantly reminded by experience - but it exists as a concept.. in that sense that Buddhism says that self has no autonomy or permanence, that it is like a mirage. Seen from afar, the mirage of a lake seems real, but we would have a hard time wringing any water out of it. Things are neither as they appear to exist nor are they entirely nonexistent. Like an illusion, they appear without having any ultimate reality." ~ page 93.

Reify means: to regard or treat as if it had a concrete or material existence

mooncake cupcakes

This is an interesting cupcakes - coz it's inspired by the mooncake! ;-)

See the yoke? it's actually made of red beans.. From the feedback, we realised that the cake skin is a little too sweet though the red beans yoke is just nice!

good morning @Clark Quay

happen to have a meeting near Clark Quay early morning.. so took the pictures while walking towards the MacDonald nearby..

Tis is taken using my Nokia N73. Amazing rite? able to provide such quality.. ;P

Gingko Beancurd Barley dessert

this is my first attempt on a dessert.. learned this from my cooking class weeks ago..

looks good ya! ;-)
But think can be better if the beancurd more 'scattered' and a bit more sweet..

Buyer beware - Magazine subscription - case study

CASE STUDY
A consumer paid a one-year subscription for a magazine. But she didnt receive the last three copies. When she approached the vendor, she was unable to obtain any solution. Frustrated, she approached Case for help.

OUTCOME
Case approached the vendor on her behalf and received the missing copies soon after.

CONSUMER TIPS
1. Consumers advised to note the stated cancellation and refund policies before subscripting. And pay special attention to any clause on auto renewal without proper consent.

2. Find out if there're additional charges such as delivery charges. The amount should be clearly stipulated.

3. Read the terms and conditions carefully. Special offers promised should be in writing.

4. Be mindful of the terms and conditions of free copies to be send over for a period of time. Insist on consent before signing up anything.

ref: The Straits Times, 6Apr2007, page H21.

my guiding principle in work - SWATS

i've been thinking abt developing a set of principles for my new job.. coz so many things happening, it's easy to loose sight of things especially in decision making. How to make good and consistent decisions?

Well,.. finally i've developed a set of principles for my work! And i named it as S.W.A.T.S.

Do sounds like the SWAT unit in US ya?!! ;-)

My S.W.A.T.S. stand for:
1. The principle of Service. We're in the business of providing good service. Our customers may be external or internal. We must be professional in our dealings and exhibit professionalism.

2. The principle of Win-win. We always have to think win-win for our customers as well as for our external consultants, and not forgetting ourself and our HQ folks..

3. The principle of Advisory. We play advisory role in the programme. We dont give solutions coz it's not our mandate. We guide. We dont lead.

4. The principle of Transparency. Whatever we do, it must be transparent, and able to withstand scrutiny.

5. The principle of Sustainable. Whatever processes we define or adopt, it must be sustainable and maintainable for the long haul. We avoid short term gain for long term loses..

the power of principles!

In our daily lives, we wonder why at times we cant make swift and good decisions. Worst, we somehow are not consistent in the reasoning leading to the decisions.

Most of the time, we need to make quick decisions. Other times, especially big decisions, we need more time to digest the information and think thru..

We can definitely improve our decisions making.. for both big and small decisions!

The solution is quite simple - we just need a good set of principles!

Developing a set of principles takes time. To jump start, you may first adopt someone else's principles.. usually from some books of wisdom or from a wise man.. ;-)
Over time, you will develop your very own set of principles.. take your time, but dont take too long.. ;P

beginning to like presentation

i think i'm beginning to like doing presentation.. though i'm no expert at all. In fact, i think i'm not good at it at all! ;-)

My new job requires me to do much more presentation or 'selling' than my previous jobs.. so, now talk i must!

I remember what Anthony Robbins used to say "Repetition is the mother of skills!"

So, practise i must! Hopefully by the end of this year, i will be twice as good as i was..

tip on good presentation - from Larry King

i dont really know Larry King and have never watch his shows.. but definitely heard of him from news.. and read his book on How to Talk to Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere.

Here's a very good tip on good speaking/presentation:
1. Tell them what u gonna tell them - give yr presentation outline to let yr audience a good idea of yr speech & where it's heading
2. Tell them - deliver what u promised to deliver
3. Tell them what u just told them - give a summary in a nutshell focusing on the key points u wanna them to bring home

Simple enough? ;-)

IPO Investing - pts to note

extracted from The Sunday Times today..

1. Prospectus. Do checkout the sections on management experience and risks & prospects. Shld have a good grasp of the business as well as understand the valuations of the investments.

2. Financial Ratios. Numbers are important! Look out for share price to earnings ratio, share price versus net asset value per share, dividend policy, gross and net profit margins, returns on equity, and the debt to equity ratio as well as the average growth in sales and profits.

3. Usage of IPO proceeds. Aviod IPOs where large portion of the proceeds is used to clear debts! Red alert if 80% of funds raised used to repay debts.

4. Market sentiment. Business environment at the pt of listing may be contracting or expanding. And that has an impact to the IPO price. History shows that expanding economy perform better..

5. Earning track record. Be wary of firms going IPO after posting a record performance in sales and profits. Pre-IPO accounts were usually presented in best possible light to attract investors. Ask yrself if the financials sustainable in the longer term. One rule of thumb, is to average out the past three-year record to estimate the longer-term profitability.

6. Pricing. Most IPOs priced themselves 7 to 10 times their earnings per share. The lower this ratios, the better the value the share price offers in terms of profits generated. For example, if it's 16, it;s considered expensive.

7. Strategy: Buy and hold or stag? Stagging means selling on the first day of trading. U dont do tat unless u are not confident about the firm.. Meaning dont stag.. Investing really mean buying something that's worth their keeps and selling them later at a much better or expected price.

10-12-15% savings method

Getting some savings tips from Saving For Retirement by Paul Westbrook..

Age 25: Save 10% of yr salary
Age 30: Save 12% of yr salary
Age 40: Save 15% of yr salary

Assumptions:
1. retiring at 65
2. live to 90 yrs old
3. annual salary increment of 3%
4. 65% of yr last drawn salary upon retirement to maintain lifestyle