Year of the Tiger

 

On 1 Jan 2022 Sakurai Reiko, NHK World Special Affairs Commentator wrote an article on what to expect in the year of the Tiger. In retrospect though he is not an astrologer he seemed to have made quite apt statements. Describing the tiger as an animal of courage and strength he remarked "policymakers and market players will be hoping it's an omen that the global economy can shake off the effects of the pandemic and roar back to life. In reality, there are other beasts to be tamed first."

Using the abbreviation of the TIGER, he listed these 'other beasts' as:

T- transition between US and China

I- Inflation

G- Global warming

E- Energy cost

R-Balancing Resilience and Recovery from the pandemic

Though he might not have correctly pin pointed the specific beasts, they certainly have turned out to be more beastly and even harder to tame.

The T that needs to be tackled between US/Europe and Russia  (which replaces China for the time being) seems to be unresolvable. Thousands have died and millions displaced.

The magnitude of the I exacerbated by the supply and price shock is felt worldwide and is especially debilitating for vulnerable countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Efforts to lift millions out of poverty over the decades is crushed.

G which he describes as global warming is as crucial as ever. Delhi recorded the hottest March in 122 years with temperature hitting 43 degree. More of the homeless are expected to die from the heat wave.

E Energy costs has spiraled out of control and a full blown energy war may be looming which will cause severe hardship round the world.

The R which he describes as a balancing act for policymakers between resilience and (economic) recovery certainly is one beast China and HK is treading dangerously. 

Through it all I am reminded of the concept of the "butterfly effect" which suggests that the flap of a butterfly's wings may cause a tornado. What more the acts of maniac rogue politicians. 

Would Sakurai's G include a global food crisis and unrest? Food insecurity has exacerbated from the Ukraine Russian war and will be a dire problem for millions of poverty stricken people in poor developing countries. It is a tragedy in the making in this truly interconnected world. 

 A small act of kindness is known to cast a huge rippling effect. Conversely, an act of aggression such as the Ukraine invasion will have a massive rippling effect affecting millions in the globe. 

As the saying goes "A wounded tiger is a dangerous beast". Perhaps this Tiger year is that of a wounded tiger, an omen of a wounded world.

Not by Bread or Breath Alone

 

I was reading a translated version of The Upanishads and came across a passage which reads:

"Man does not live by breath alone, but by him in whom is the power of breath"

I thought it sounds close to the Bible verse: "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Without research into the real meaning of each I feel both point to the need to be aware of something beyond the worldly and physical aspects of our life.

I also feel that all religions try to direct us to transcend the conventional reality of the worldly life. Each religion has its own interpretation of the ultimate truth. 

However I also think that our limited human mind will never comprehend what lies beyond. Much like an ant which does not realise there is a world beyond its own, so too humans do not have the capacity to provide answers to what is the ultimate truth. At most there are only speculations which turn to beliefs to sustain the human spirit and the need for an existential answer.

Nevertheless one should not despair not knowing the Truth. It suffices to know that there is something beyond that connects with each breath we take.

The tough job of fact finding

 

Singapore's sanction against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine has drawn some criticism among anti-West elements in the country. This is exacerbated when US claimed that Russia has turned to China for military equipment to which China declared it is "not a party" to the war. Many pro China elements naturally have anti West sentiments and view this as western propaganda. In a survey in 2021 it was found that about 64% of Singaporeans view China favourably in general. 

Many anti West people think that the US and NATO's increasing military presence in Eastern Europe and their supply of weapons to Ukraine to fight Russia are the real accomplice of the war. Though it is not verified many also believe some media news that biological weapons are being produced in labs in Ukraine with US support. Apparently the Kremlin has embarked on a misinformation campaign using Twitter to justify Russia's invasion. These find easy targets at anti West segments of society in the world.

On the other hand pro West netizens viewing Western media coverage of the horrors of Russia killing civilians and children in Ukraine; and Western countries planning to charge Russia for war crime and genocide find it hard to believe that there are fellow netizens who can approve of such a brutal 'unprovoked invasion'.

At the end of the day it boils down to where one gets information from. There is tendency for people to search or fall for information that aligns with their pre existing views. I cannot believe it when I read that many Singaporeans rely mainly on Telegram App for information.

However with so much fake news and misinformation campaign proliferating, how does one navigate. Does one have to fact check everything one reads? For example many fact checking sites on the Ukraine crisis have sprung up recently. 

Though I am not pro West I do rely a lot on Western and local media for news in general. However having read some justification of the Russian invasion from quite prominent people, I began to wonder whether Western media can be really trusted to present an objective view.

Gosh so much effort is needed just to get a right perspective into anything. I think of 50 years ago when I was in secondary school. To do research on any serious subject I had to go to the National Library Reference section for books and journals/newspapers which could only be read on location. 

The sheer joy of a day's findings and an ice kachang as a reward thereafter. Today if I am serious about finding some true facts about anything, I have to put in a lot more effort navigating through various media, links and websites and then decipher what is fact and what is misinformation. On top of that I have to be aware of my own personal bias. Often I walk away more confused than ever thereby reinforcing my feeling that the World is becoming more and more confusing to me.

Is this an age thing?  Hmmm....I don't know

Conversation with Myself

 

Of late I notice I am becoming a tat too grumpy and grouchy. I seem easily discontented and find easy targets at my husband's 'eccentricities' which have been normal for him anyway. So now I find I have lower thresholds for tolerating his hoarding habits, his frugal ways and his over chattiness. On self reflection I think I am the one who has changed. Am I growing into a grumpy old woman?

Applying mindfulness to my inner feelings, I detect a hidden sense of sadness or maybe anger or something though I can't think of any obvious reasons to feel this way. I think about the commonly perceived image of seniors being grouchy and picky. I have a feeling deep down they too may have some inner angst. Of course chronic illnesses/ pain and loneliness contribute to unhappiness but there may be something deeper and less recognisable.

I think it could arise from the frustration of not fully understanding our human life. 

Researching into this I find a possible explanation from an article "Existential Questions of the Elderly-Alfried Längle and Christian Probst" :

"... if it (life) is seen as something pragmatical - functional, then it slowly loses its last value in old age, it becomes senseless and finally turns into an absurd torture. But this extreme situation can also open man's mind to discover a deeper layer. In old age, man might discover bit by bit that the search for one's own personal attitude to life and the reaching of a comprehensive understanding of human life which includes coming to terms with religion could be the ultimate meaning of life"

"It is all about the question one might never have found the time to ask oneself: "How well can I be with myself? Can I maintain a good conversation with myself?" 

The above offer good leads into further self introspection.

Useful reading! 

https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.541.5555&rep=rep1&type=pdf#:~:text=You%20can%20ask%20yourself%3A%20%22How,existential%20meaning%20of%20advancing%20age.

Reflection on "Unorthodox"

 

Just finished watching a Netflix mini series "Unorthodox". I discovered quite a few things after doing a bit more research. The story takes place in the Hasidic Community (an ultra orthodox Jewish community) in Williamsburg New York. The story centres around a young lady, Esty, who breaks away from the rigid traditions and restrictive roles imposed by her community and moves to Berlin.

Initially, after the first episode I had the wrong impression that this community was representative of the way most Jews live. Only upon reading up further and after more research did I understand that this community is really quite a unique closed up Jewish orthodox community of its own. I should have known because when studying in NY my daughter had Jewish classmates who certainly didn't live in the same manner as that portrayed in the show.

The show skillfully sheds some insight on the perceptions and beliefs that shape the behaviour of the community.  For example the reason behind the focus on woman's procreation role is a remark made that six million Jew were killed in the holocaust and every new born baby is precious to fill the loss. 

In a scene in Berlin when Esty witnesses what may look like promiscuity where couples of all orientations engage in a trance like dance to heavy music and flickering disco lights, an audience may momentarily wonder whether the so called "oppressive" traditions of the Hasidic community is in fact not a better alternative to the debauchery ways in many other societies.

I think the ending is appropriate. In the hope of winning her back Esty's Jewish husband cut off his 2 front curly fringes as a mark of defiance to the community rules. Esty tries to stop him but at the same time is moved. However she still decides to break away and stays on in Berlin.  

My takeaway is how fundamentally important it is for one to know one's worldview of life. To Esty it is the freedom to live out one's inherent potential and deemed purpose. At the same time she realises her husband would not be able to live outside his community which has shaped his upbringing and to which his future depends on and in which his life best fits in. Even after achieving what her community expects of her (having discovered she is pregnant), it would just be a matter of time when Esty will finally leave Williamsburg to seek out her true self.

Just a Car

 One of the media we use to counsel kids is a pack of cards called "Car-R-Us". The pack contains pictures of cars in different conditions and expressing different feelings. So for instance there is a frightened car  hanging over a cliff, a picnic van under sunny skies and a broken down car being towed. The cards serve as conversation pieces for expressing feelings and for goal searching. Another card depicts the four wheels of a car representing the body, the mind, the feelings and the doing. We use it to help clients understand how these 4 parts of ourselves are inter related. We help the client identify their feelings and the impact on the body or vice versa. We ask them to be aware of what they are thinking and how it leads to certain actions and their consequences. We also try to coach the client take control as driver of the car. 

I have always understood the theory but as I grow older I become more aware of the relevance and insight into the allegory of this concept. I fathom the need to drive the car and not let it run wild.

We spend a whole life time to protect and keep the body 'wheel' in good condition. We consciously need to avoid bad habits and promote healthy living. That's a lot of discipline. When the body is out of whack we feel anxious and miserable. Similarly feelings like stress cause the body to tense up resulting in body pain and susceptibility to illnesses.

Feelings (in the feeling wheel) creep onto us stealthily sometimes triggered by thoughts (memories, worries, regrets for example). 

Research has also shown that behaviour or actions (in the action wheel) can create emotions. For example inactivity can cause depression. Hence we often teach children to identify what they enjoy doing and pursue such activity when they feel sad.

Finally the 'thinking wheel' in my opinion is the most challenging 'wheel' to control. Memories and conditioning of the past, thoughts of the future, fears and worries, a comparing mind, a mind full of unmet needs, a mind of  regrets when spun incessantly arouse a host of negative feelings. On the contrary training the mind to take pauses and be quiet bring our body back to equilibrium. 

Sometimes I feel like these four 'wheels' of ourselves are really quite a nuisance, having to monitor and direct at all times. This is especially so when unfavourable external circumstances arise. Like when a nasty fog descends onto the narrow roads you are driving on, you have to exercise extra care and patience. 

Perhaps the biggest insight is really to recognise that the car and its 4 'wheels' (our 4 faculties) is an external object and we are here just to drive it as carefully as we can and as best as we can manage. We need not be too attached because its just a car.

The Way It Is

 

The capacity to be at ease in any situation is one of the best skills to acquire. Aversion to unpleasant experiences drives one to seek out pleasant experiences. Obsessive craving for pleasant experiences may even lead one to reject neutral and mundane experiences, calling it boredom.

This idea which I gathered from a talk is very interesting.

Most addiction to sensual pleasure is a way to drown unpleasant experiences. This is common knowledge. However constant seeking of pleasant experiences may become an obsession such that even when the situation is normal, routine and ordinary, one finds it a boredom and often unbearable.

During this period we are inundated with bad news arising from the Covid pandemic, siege of Ukraine and consequences of climate change. It is not unusual to walk away feeling sad or anxious about the future. Our mind then seek out ways to get pleasant feelings. This may explain why people are breaching Covid restrictions to have fun and merry making. This also explains the urge to jump onto the first flight to fight boredom.

One must learn to accept all conditions happening to and around oneself. One should be aware of one's feelings; and move from personalising these feelings ie. the need to get rid of 'MY SADNESS or ANXIETY' to seeing it as part of the natural world and the conditions in the world as part of reality.

Ajahn Sumedho- "The world is this way and things happen....This is the way of life, this is human existence. So in our minds we embrace the whole of it..."

According to Buddha life is ten thousand joys and ten thousand sorrows.

Thich Nhat Hanh used the metaphor of a rose to describe life. A rose brings you joy but you have to understand the thorns so that you can pick the rose....."Don't say that because there are thorns you cannot be happy. Don't say that because there is still anger or sadness in your heart, you cannot enjoy anything at all"

Practicing this approach to adapt to all situations in life will help liberate our fears and liberate our bondage to our sense realm.