Food appreciation

Some times when our favorite food or dessert is served in front of us, we get over excited and start eating it as fast as we can in a big mouthful. Within 5 minutes, we most likely finish the dish with great satisfaction. We are contended for a while and the happiness vanishes. Think carefully how much time it takes for a chef to prepare the dish. Probably more than 30 minutes to an hour. I have sometimes wondered does this sound right. At least we pay little respect to eat the food with appreciation and taste the food slowly. When we slow down in biting and chewing the food, wonderful flavor would emerge from your taste bud. You can differentiate the freshness of the ingredient, the flavor of the spices, and the taste of the sauces better. This could enrich your dining experience with better expectation each time. Pay attention to the food you choose and eat. You body would tell you wonderful feedback and you would enjoy the food better. You would soon find out whether you are over-eating, make wiser choice of ordering and not to waste any food.  

Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra 摩訶般若波羅蜜多經

I have a chance to listen to the heart sutra song (sung by ChYi and Faye) in the evening time. While reading the sutra which is drawn in comics, i also cross referenced between chinese and english translation of this sutra. The meaning of the words are amplified and becomes easier to understand than in the past. One cannot understand the meaning in a day. It takes days/years of practice and awareness to deepen the roots of the words and apply on the daily life. It is not an escape but a way to learn how to live your life beuatifully.

觀自在菩薩。行深般若波羅蜜多時。照見五蘊皆空。度一切苦厄。舍利子，色不異空。空不­異色。色即是空。空即是色。受、想、行、識，亦復如是。舍利子，是諸法空相。不生，不­滅。不垢，不淨，不增，不減。是故空中。無色。無受、想、行、識。無眼、耳、鼻、舌、­身、意。無色、聲、香、味、觸、法。無眼界。乃至無意識界。無無明。亦無無明盡。乃至­無老死。亦無老死盡。無苦、集、滅、道。無智，亦無得。以無所得故。菩提薩埵。依般若­波羅蜜多故。心無罣礙。無罣礙故。無有恐怖。遠離顛倒夢想。究竟涅槃。三世諸佛。依般­若波羅蜜多故。得阿耨多羅三藐三菩提。故知般若波羅蜜多。是大神咒。是大明咒是無上咒­。是無等等咒。能除一切苦。真實不虛故。說般若波羅蜜多咒即說咒曰：揭帝，揭帝，般羅­揭帝，般羅僧揭帝，菩提僧莎訶。

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Utm24S2SbqI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLt__PSM8SA

When Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara was practicing the profound Perfection of the Wisdom (prajna paramita), he illuminated the Five Appearances (skandha) and saw that they are all empty (shunya), and he crossed beyond all suffering and difficulty.
Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness; emptiness does not differ from form. Form itself is emptiness; emptiness itself is form. So too are feeling, cognition, formation, and consciousness.
Shariputra, all teachings (dharma) are empty of characteristics. They are not produced, not destroyed, not defiled, not pure; and they neither increase nor diminish. Therefore, in emptiness there is no form, feeling, cognition, formation, or consciousness; no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no sights, sounds, smells, tastes, objects of touch, or dharmas; no field of the eyes up to and including no field of mind consciousness; and no ignorance or ending of ignorance, up to and including no old age and death or ending of old age and death. There is no suffering, no accumulating, no extinction, and no Way, and no understanding and no attaining.
Because nothing is attained, the Bodhisattva through reliance on prajna paramita is unimpeded in his mind. Because there is no impediment, he is not afraid, and he leaves distorted dream-thinking far behind. Ultimately Nirvana! All Buddhas of the three periods of time attain anuttara-samyak-sambodhi through reliance on prajna paramita. Therefore know that prajna paramita is a Great Spiritual Mantra, a Great Bright Mantra, a Supreme Mantra, an Unequalled Mantra. It can remove all suffering; it is genuine and not false. That is why the Mantra of Prajna Paramita was spoken. Recite it like this: Gaté Gaté Paragaté Parasamgaté. Bodhi Svaha! 
The Heart of the Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom

"When the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara."[ Commentary on above text ]

"Was Coursing in the Deep Prajna Paramita."[ Commentary on above text ]

"He Perceived That All Five Skandhas Are Empty."[ Commentary on above text ]

"Thus He Overcame All Ills and Suffering."[ Commentary on above text ]

"Oh, Sariputra, Form Does not Differ From the Void,
And the Void Does Not Differ From Form.
Form is Void and Void is Form;
The Same is True For Feelings,
Perceptions, Volitions and Consciousness."[ Commentary on above text ]

"Sariputra, the Characteristics of the
Voidness of All Dharmas
Are Non-Arising, Non-Ceasing, Non-Defiled,
Non-Pure, Non-Increasing, Non-Decreasing."[ Commentary on above text ]

"Therefore, in the Void There Are No Forms,
No Feelings, Perceptions, Volitions or Consciousness."[ Commentary on above text ]

"No Eye, Ear, Nose, Tongue, Body or Mind;
No Form, Sound, Smell, Taste, Touch or Mind Object;
No Realm of the Eye,
Until We Come to No realm of Consciousness."[ Commentary on above text ]

"No ignorance and Also No Ending of Ignorance,
Until We Come to No Old Age and Death and
No Ending of Old Age and Death."[ Commentary on above text ]

"Also, There is No Truth of Suffering,
Of the Cause of Suffering,
Of the Cessation of Suffering, Nor of the Path."[ Commentary on above text ]

"There is No Wisdom, and There is No Attainment Whatsoever."[ Commentary on above text ]

"Because There is Nothing to Be Attained,
The Bodhisattva Relying On Prajna Paramita Has
No Obstruction in His Mind."[Commentary on above text]

"Because There is No Obstruction, He Has no Fear,"[ Commentary on above text ]

"And He passes Far Beyond Confused Imagination."[ Commentary on above text ]

"And Reaches Ultimate Nirvana."[ Commentary on above text ]

"The Buddhas of the Past, Present and Future,
By Relying on Prajna Paramita
Have Attained Supreme Enlightenment."[ Commentary on above text ]

"Therefore, the Prajna Paramita is the Great Magic Spell,
The Spell of Illumination, the Supreme Spell,
Which Can Truly Protect One From All Suffering Without Fail."[ Commentary on above text ]

"Therefore He Uttered the Spell of Prajnaparmita,
Saying Gate, Gate, Paragate, Parasamgate, Bodhi Svaha."[ Commentary on above text ]

Horses groom

Jupiter Road  4/17/2013

It is a breezy morning. On my way to work today, I saw two horses are helping each other to groom. It is charming picturesque! This happens in a small horse farm in a crowded neighborhood on Jupiter Road. I drive by this farm everyday on my way to work. Each time I have different perspective when I see the horses. They all are busy with eating, resting, running around or on-training. One time, I have stared at the white horse and wonder how handsome it looks. When it only allows to run within the small field, I sympathize for their natural ability to run for miles each day. I wonder sometimes why somebody would keep a horse farm in this neighborhood!

Today, it is an utterly surprise. A white horse and a black horse are standing very close to each other. The white one is licking the hair on the neck of the black horse. They both show strong affection during the grooming. The black horse is wagging its tail while receiving the care of its buddy. The scenery shows the love of the animals. It's a joyful moment. It reminds me of the total opposite reflection of the bombing event in Boston happened on April 15. How crucial human being can harm and kill each other ? Is it because everybody has different believe and ego to think what they did is right ? Why hatred is so much imprinted on human mind ?

I have a cat at home who likes to groom himself frequently. He can groom for hours sometimes which I think is quite too much. I felt bad to see him doing it just by himself after witnessing what I see this morning. It'd be perfect to have two cats at home so that they can groom each other. I learn from reading an article that cat likes to groom each other in particular to the area one cannot reach like the head and ears. Feline makes sure they look good with free of dust throughout the body. If I ever have a chance again, I will adopt two kittens from the very beginning. For now, what I can do is periodically brush his head, ears and body. He really gets excited and purring whenever he gets patted and brushed.

Trip to NYC

Jan 20, 2013 NYC

It was a short trip to NYC to renew our passports. We missed our flight on the 16th and the next flight was booked in the next morning. The reason is we did not have boarding pass printed out earlier and the system cannot check us in. I was pretty angry when talking to the airline personnel.

"It's still 50min away before the flight took off". She can't do anything as the computer system is setup that way. This is the payoff when I booked with this budget airline.

I was mad that I have wasted my tickets to the opera show, the phantom of the opera, a show that I am eager to watch. My head was rushed with river of blood with edging to explosion. I watched the sensation closely. i tried my best not to react to it. couple hours have passed before I can start to enjoy my day off. Frankly I can't do anything at that point and have to accept it. I actually felt good about how I handled it. Sze is cool and she went to bed right after we got back to our house. If I was with my mom and family, they would raise the voice and kept on reacting to such a situation. I was brought up in that type of environment. To go against the flow is like swimming upstream. It takes effort to not think of it. I will need many practices to get good at handling this situation.

On Friday afternoon we took a train to visit Sze's guqing teacher house in Rahway New Jersey. I am always excited to meet a teacher. Someone who i think he/she is good and I long for to learn something from. I got to know that she and her husband were in fashion design business and quitted the business. Hearing the difficulties of surviving and maintaining the gourment business and the stress to compete with others. Through listening to other stories, I get to understand how fortunate I am until now. My currents job is good. We were exchanging ideas on meditation. She has recently experiencing some meditation in her community. Then she met us and we talked about vipassana meditation. It all happens with the law of attraction. She plays little viola and she combines it with guqin in her music. It is an inspiring trip. i want to keep spending time to write my journal, do my yoga, read good books, get good at trading, experience life and being responsible.

Namaste.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Approaching the end of 2010

It is couple of days away from the beginning of 2011. I want to remember the good and bad things that occured to my life in 2010. It's nothing to be sad, proud or regret. Everything happen for a reason, we learn it, adjust it, and we move on.

March: Michael was in pain for having seizure. It lasted for couple of months after changing his diet from commercial dry food to raw meat. The condition was improved but at last he passed away with our blessing, love and pride.

April: I have changed my job within TI. This is a good chance to learn more on the technical/analysis skill and focus more on the variation of my career. I have a good manager who is leading me strategically to advance in my job and very knowledable colleagues.

May: We went to Bali with my parents. It was a mind blowing trip as we love Bali so much. We like the culture, landscape, people and lifestyle. This is another destination in to go list in the future. We brought home a Balinese CD which we listen to it all the times.

Sept: I was sent to TIM for a business trip. It enhanced my experience to explore the real working culture in M'sia. I decided not to go back for my next career. I want my lifelong growing opportunity in the states. I doubt I will have a well balanced lifestyle there.

Oct: We visited Seattle and love the place so so much. This is our dream place to stay in the future.

Nov: We went to a cat show in Mesquite and talked to a breeder of british shorthair. They are passionate and shared their opinions on this breed. It then leads us to find a kitten from Rejinald breeder in Colorado Springs. We drove there and picked up Haru as our 2nd cat. It is another life grow learning experience to train and keep an obediant, playful, friendly and healthy cat.

Dec: We decided again to eat more healthy with drinking greens,veggie and fruit during the dinnertime. I hope this will last and become our consistent diet in the future. I definitely can feel the benefit after one week of healthy diet.

Life:

- I have been playing facebook's games consistently until I am sick and tired of it. Afterthat, I have been addicted to play Plant & Zombie for 3-4 full months in the summer. It is a fun but time consuming.

- Of course, I have been following stocks and market most of the times. I have been doing option/ETF trades. Definitely, I am becoming better at it.

- I love my Sony eReader. it's definitely worth the penny.

- I have designed and set up a goal in front of my pc and will want to see it come true.

- I started the clicker training for Horu and see lots of effectiveness.

- My camera skill has improved slightly. Currently we have pretty good gadgets on lens, flashlight and body. I still need more practice for that.

- My yoga practice has been a big milestone for this year. I am now able to feel better benefits on postures and found the peace of mind. The ananda meditation class has changed my technique for better relaxation. I am now able to dive into short relaxation with great benefit.

- My tennis skill has been improved slightly after joining the league.

- last but not least, I am a happy man as Sze Min has been so good to me. She still cook delicious food, made tasty desserts, influence me to have a better diet. We still share our interests, talks and experience in our daily life. I am totally proud and happy to have her as part of my life.

listen listen listen

One of my older co-worker told me many months ago about the important of listening. It is far more difficult than talking. Listening is a skill to pay attention to the speech content from somebody, understand the speaker and feel their thought and feeling. I believe I am not a good listener yet but I always feel connection with somebody if we engage in conversation. Most of the time, I'll let them talk for minutes if something is new to me. I'd most likely remember a few important words/ideas and forget the rest of them the next day. If the speaker talks about something I've experienced, I'd interrupt them without letting them finish their sentence. Many times I notice my brain is processing things too fast, I feel I am ahead of speaker's word, knowing what they would say for the rest of the sentence, then speak out. Many times, I've got it right. But when I've got it wrong, I feel quite embarassed. I've side tracked the conversation to different level.
Today, I've listened to my co-worker before I interrupt. I felt better that I've got the whole idea before I speak. Everybody has different way to convey message. While they are talking, I listen to them, understand and analyze their expression and meaning of the words. Therefore, I truly understand them and I give them good contructional feedback. I should listen more patiently everytime. Hopefully I can apply it in my daily life.

New Start in 2009

I always wonder why people are excited about celebrating a New Year. Is that the beginning of a new resolution or dream ? Or is it time to forget things that have passed. I would certainly like to erase things that happened in 2008; but I can't. It's not a good year for me. Many remorses, unlucky incidents happened. For sure my wealth has shrunk. Let's look at something positive, I am more healthy and live happily. My work has got recognition. I've got married to a beautiful girl, whom I met for over 8 years. She is my soul mate and we stay happily with our naughty cat, Michael. We've enjoyed our first dream house on Vineyard Trail. I should not be complaining... I just hope I'd accomplish more, get to finish my goals set in Jan 2008. But it all didn't matter no more, I will remember to enjoy every second of my life and use it wisely. I've set 10 goals in year 2009. It's written down black and white...