What is happiness

Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory. - Albert Schweitzer

Far too many people these days think that happiness and success is wealth. And then far too many people will realize the truth many years later, and usually after they fell ill, broken relationships and/or gone broke due to business failure or bad investment choice. By then, it may be too late for some.

To be clinical, there are different types of happiness. Absolute or relative happiness. Relative happiness is short-term, like buying your long-waited latest model of iphone. This gives you an instant gratification that perhaps you didn't experience for quite a while.

Why people don't understand me?

People often ask why others don't understand them. But a wise man would always ask back if you have tried to understand others.

I think this is a good way to remind oneself on understanding life.

 

Posted with Blogsy

In winning argument give the loser a ladder

In most cases you would have 'killed' your enemy when you win e.g. court case, quarrel, etc...

Well, you will think that one should never let an enemy any chance of getting back at you in the future. And that's true. But there are plenty of situation why you wouldn't want to destroy him or her either.

So how do you win gracefully?

One way is to give or lend them a "ladder" to climb down. In other words, provide a means for him or her to back down, out or off without them feeling threatened or too embarrassed. If they know they have lost, they will appreciate your kind gesture.

To help explain, let me share a story about a friend who was threatened with a lawsuit that accused her of infringing a reputed businessman copyright. After one look at the so-called threatening email i told her that the businessman has no case - there's no infringement to speak of. So together we drafted a reply email clarifying why we believe we didn't do anything wrong and proceed to praise his contributions to the industry and even said we admired his products - while we speak the truth, we also had to lower my ego & pride. Most importantly, we ended the reply saying that it probably is a misunderstanding. Within a day of our respond, he replied that it was indeed a misunderstanding and promptly closed the case. Now, did you see the invisible ladder we gave him? Well, if you didn't, 'misunderstanding' is the ladder.

Like any wise men, it's better to have one less enemy than to add one more!

 

Words of Wisdom

Spending too little is an expensive business. - shared by a photographer.

If only you understand..

With Buddha, 

all things are empty, 

only if you understand..

The Only Regrettable Thing - wisdom sharing

Some have few regrets.
Because they have not reflected enough, which is regrettable.

Some have few regrets.
Because they are resolved as they arise, such that nothing regrettable persists.

Some have few regrets.
Because they do nothing to resolve them, while they grow in more regrettable ways.

Why regret if you do something about it? Why regret if you cannot do anything about it?
The only thing truly regrettable is not realizing this.

.. If that is inappropriate, dissolve them still - because that would be only appropriate thing left to do. - Stonepeace

Simplicity is no simple thing

Simplicity is complexity resolved.

- someone from Apple said that before

Tough People

Tough times never last
but tough people do.
- Zig Ziglar

This too shall pass

Once a King called upon all of his wise men and asked them,
"Is there a mantra or suggestion which works in every situation, in every
circumstance, in every place and in every time. Something which can help me
when none of you is available to advise me. Tell me is there any mantra?"
All wise men got puzzled by King's question. One answer for all questions?
Something that works everywhere, in every situation? In every joy, every
sorrow, every defeat and every victory? They thought and thought.

After a lengthy discussion, an old man suggested something which appealed
to all of them. They went to the king and gave him something written on
paper. But the condition was that king was not to see it out of curiosity.
Only in extreme danger, when the King finds himself alone and there seems
to be no way, only then he'll have to see it. The King put the papers under
his Diamond ring.

After a few days, the neighbours attacked the Kingdom. It was a collective
surprise attack of the King's enemies. King and his army fought bravely but
lost the battle. King had to fled on his horse. The enemies were following
him. His horse took him far away in the Jungle. He could hear many troops
of horses following him and the noise was coming closer and closer.
Suddenly the King found himself standing at the end of the road - that road
was not going anywhere. Underneath there was a rocky valley thousand feet
deep. If he jumped into it, he would be finished.and he could not return
because it was a small road. The sound of enemy's horses was approaching
fast. King became restless. There seemed to be no way.

Then suddenly he saw the Diamond in his ring shining in the sun, and he
remembered the message hidden in the ring. He opened the diamond and read
the message. The message was very small but very great. The message was – "
This too will pass."

The King read it. Again read it. Suddenly something struck him- Yes! It too
will pass. Only a few days ago, I was enjoying my kingdom. I was the
mightiest of all the Kings. Yet today, the Kingdom and all his pleasure
have gone. I am here trying to escape from enemies. However when those days
of luxuries have gone, this day of danger too will pass. Calm come on his
face.
He kept standing there. The place where he was standing was full of natural
beauty. He had never known that such a beautiful place was also a part of
his Kingdom. The revelation of the message had a great effect on him. He
relaxed and forgot about those following him.

After a few minutes he realized that the noise of the horses and the enemy
coming was receding. They moved into some other part of the mountains and
were not on that path. The King was very brave. He reorganized his army and
fought again. He defeated the enemy and regained his lost empire. When he
returned to his empire after victory, he was received with much fan fare at
the door. The whole capital was rejoicing in the victory. Everyone was in a
festive mood. Flowers were being thrown on the King from every house, from
every corner.
People were dancing and singing. For a moment King said to himself," I am
one of the bravest and greatest King. It is not easy to defeat me.:

With all the reception and celebration he saw an ego emerging in him.
Suddenly the Diamond of his ring flashed in the sunlight and reminded him
of the message. He opened it and read it again: "This too will pass" He
became silent. His face went through a total change -from the egoist he
moved to a state of utter humbleness.

If this too is going to pass, it is not yours.
The defeat was not yours, the victory is not yours.
You are just a watcher. Everything passes by
We are witness of all this. We are the perceiver. Life comes and goes.
Happiness comes and goes. Sorrow comes and goes.

Now as you have read this story, just sit silently and evaluate your own
life.. Think of the moments of joy and victory in your life. Think of the
moment of Sorrow and defeat. Are they permanent? They all come and pass
away. Life just passes away. There were friends in the past. They have
gone. There are friends today. They too will go. There will be new friends
tomorrow. They too will go. There were enemies in the past. They have gone.
There may be enemies in the present. They too will go. There will be new
enemies tomorrow and..they too will go.

There is nothing permanent in this world. Every thing changes except the
law of change. Think over it from your own perspective. You have seen all
the changes. You have survived all setbacks, all defeats and all sorrows.
All have passed away. If there are problems in the present, they too will
pass away. Because nothing remains forever. Joy and sorrow are the two
faces of the same coin. They both will pass away.

Who are you in reality? Know your real face. Your face is not your true
face. It will change with the time. However, there is something in you,
which will not change. It will remain unchanged. What is that unchangeable?
It is nothing but your true self. You are just a witness of change.

Experience it, Understand the spiritual dimension behind this

Focus, Passion & Wisdom

For over 15 years, i've two key guiding principles for progressing in life. Today, after much consideration, i've decided to add another key principle. It's Wisdom.

So, now i've three principles of life - Focus, Passion & Wisdom.

ps. will share more in the future..