Gary Hayden, the philosophy and science writer who runs a column in ST wrote about how when absorbed in the beauty of nature we let the "whole of consciousness be filled with peaceful contemplation of the natural object.....and lose ourselves in the object completely". He was recounting about a job he held in his younger days when going to work was like hell with all the anguish and anxieties. However he often got reprieve walking through a park where the sight of buds and autumn leaves could uplift him for hours.
Now the key note here was about being so absorbed that his consciousness (of the object) was "unrelated to his will and desires". Reading that a thought came to my mind about waking up in the morning. In the split seconds of waking up before our mind recollects who and where we are, it should be a moment which is truly unadulterated by memories; a true moment of being if you will. Now I wonder how we can prolong that moment and experience it just a little bit longer, to enable a true connection with the world "unrelated" to our identity with all its accompanying recollections, thoughts and perceptions. Is it even possible given that consciousness needs memory to make any sense of things?
However it would be good to be able to wake up and postpone recalling plans for the day or things that have happened in the past or the things we should be worried about. For a minute or two just let our ears listen (like the quick steps of the cat running after the husband), our eyes watch the sunlight and the shadows, our toes feel the softness of the blanket and our body feeling rested.
Yes, let there be no desire or will, at least for a minute or two.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Monday, May 16, 2016
Compassion
This I gathered from a talk about compassion. Compassion is not the same as sympathy and empathy. Sympathy is like feeling sorry or taking pity on a person who suffers and most likely with the expression "Oh poor thing". Empathy is feeling the pain the person is experiencing, "I feel with you".
Compassion on the other hand not only shares the afflicted person's feelings but involves love and a deeper understanding of the underlying problem. Out of deep concern, compassion takes on an active desire to alleviate the suffering. It may also involve pointing out to the person the cause of his pain. It may not be a pleasant task and could very well invite not only resistance but perhaps hostility from the person who is told for example that the root of his pain may arise from his unwise behaviour or perception. Compassion is speaking the truth with love. It may create hurt before healing takes place.
I picture the archetypes of compassion, Kuan Yin, Mother Mary or Jesus looking down at people praying at their feet in despair. They understand our pain and the underlying truth. They know that through the hurt we will attain more wisdom about life and deliverance. They quietly help us to gain strength, to catch glimpses of the truth and to attain peace.
Compassion on the other hand not only shares the afflicted person's feelings but involves love and a deeper understanding of the underlying problem. Out of deep concern, compassion takes on an active desire to alleviate the suffering. It may also involve pointing out to the person the cause of his pain. It may not be a pleasant task and could very well invite not only resistance but perhaps hostility from the person who is told for example that the root of his pain may arise from his unwise behaviour or perception. Compassion is speaking the truth with love. It may create hurt before healing takes place.
I picture the archetypes of compassion, Kuan Yin, Mother Mary or Jesus looking down at people praying at their feet in despair. They understand our pain and the underlying truth. They know that through the hurt we will attain more wisdom about life and deliverance. They quietly help us to gain strength, to catch glimpses of the truth and to attain peace.
Monday, May 9, 2016
A Good Journey
When I flew to Krabi I sat at a window seat. As the plane lifted off the runway in Spore I stared at the dwindling air terminal, roads and structures. Looking at the city from above and flying off gave me a flashback. I recalled the time I flew out of New York after accompaying my daughter for her college orientation. Looking down as the city dwindled below a tinge of sadness and the thought of "I'm leaving my baby behind on her own " surged within me.
In yet another flash I imagined how my younger brother who passed away recently would have felt leaving his loved ones behind. Tears welled up my eyes.
As the plane flew over Johor I stared down at plantations and some new terrains which intrigued me. My eyes dried as I pondered over which part of Johor that could be. All of a sudden a thought came to mind that similarly my brother could be feeling just as intrigued moving into another new world. His tears too would have vanished as the new world absorbed him.
As the plane was descending into Krabi I saw a rainbow 3 times (can you beat it 3x). This was also the first time I looked down at rainbows which floated over hills and clouds. My face lightened into a broad smile.
"Surely goodness and mercy will follow him in all the days of his life"
In yet another flash I imagined how my younger brother who passed away recently would have felt leaving his loved ones behind. Tears welled up my eyes.
As the plane flew over Johor I stared down at plantations and some new terrains which intrigued me. My eyes dried as I pondered over which part of Johor that could be. All of a sudden a thought came to mind that similarly my brother could be feeling just as intrigued moving into another new world. His tears too would have vanished as the new world absorbed him.
As the plane was descending into Krabi I saw a rainbow 3 times (can you beat it 3x). This was also the first time I looked down at rainbows which floated over hills and clouds. My face lightened into a broad smile.
"Surely goodness and mercy will follow him in all the days of his life"
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