A Day of Relaxation

This is the day
in this semester
I felt most relax at work
I only have 1 hr of teaching
and I have the rest of the time to slowly make my Powerpoint
In the way that I like!!
It has been so rush for me when the 3 senior classes are still around
when I need to teach for half a day, do some admin stuff...
then left only the precious hrs at night to prepare the Powerpoint for the next day
leaving me either 'unsatisfactory slides'
or skipping my precious sleep hours...@@

I am evolving now
from a PANDA BEAR @@
back to a polar Bear...hehe...
And lots of time to eat my breakfast every day
and gain back my long lost weight...

Not to mention the yoga and 10 min meditation in this morning is a very good start
I find myself more grounded today
my thermometer is 60-70% < sensitive ....
"Whatever I do brings me joy and aliveness!!"

Make a Choice

'Everything I do brings me aliveness and growth"
This is the affirmation that I read today.

Every one of us want to be happy,
but we have not been brought to see the the unhappiness that we habour
is all due to our own thinking pattern
usually our response have been the first two, rather than the last two:
1) Blame others
2) Blame ourselves
3) Be aware of our feelings and needs
4) Be aware of other's feelings and needs

Why?
The nature of the society has been training us to response in the first two manner
the language of the king... or the ego...I m right, you are wrong...
We are not trained to see the nature of the mind
and to see through the real cause of the unhappiness
its the trick of the mind
wearing alll sorts of mask to delude us, to ask for our attention to believe in it
it by its nature has no force, but when we give credit to it, it will expand and ...ouch engulf the whole being

So how?
Sharpen the conciousness
sit back and watch the mind...
at every moment
when we shine the light of counciousness to the mind
then we can see that behind it, its nobody
its just a stream of mind and matter
arising and passing away
due to conditioning
yet we are caughT
due to EGO...
Slap the ego...ya...SLAP IT!!
The more we can see its true nature, the more it will loose its power on us
because then we understand, what brings joy, what's not

so I choose
'Everything I do brings me aliveness and growth"
supported with daily meditation
the 'food' for the mind

Marshall Rosenberg, Ph.D.
“Which game do you want to play: Who’s Right or Let’s Make Life More Wonderful?” --

A Morning in Touch with the Being

In this very special day,
the day when Buddha attained enlightenment
I am very glad to have the chance to join this group of like-minded people
In Clove and Clive
To be in resonance with the being right here
the being that is formless
other than awareness of the arising of things
which is the nature of the existance
moment to moment
Bringing back my memory of the past meditation
a glimpse of the nature of the mind
and how by believing that is 'me' doing all this thinking, seeing, hearing, tasting and touching
which is the nature on its own
the mask of ego wanted some attention
all the time
without that just being
sitting back and observing
the mind will get caught to that being'I'
seeing the difference between the conditioning of the world
and the existence in its pure essence
so spacious, so free, so joyous, never before
this path, i want to continue to seek
to understand deeper
and to free myself from the conditioning
to attain the highest freedom
highest joy
highset peace
is the conditioning of suffering not enough yet...???

Coming to see me Dance?

Fishball told me that her whole class decided to go to Prom nite
because they wanna see me dance....LIFE...
OUCH OUCH....
and also VIDEO me.....Ooohuu
Then I have no excuse to lazy..out @@
K la...Will dance for you all
Luckily no need to wear those glittering, tiny pieces that struggles to cover ...quack quack...
:-P

Deep in the Center of my Being there is an Infinite Well of Love

I now allow this love to flow to the surface.
It feels my heart, my body, my mind, my conciousness, my very being, and radiates out from me in all directions and returns to me multiplied.
The more love I use and give, the more I have to give,
the supply is endless.
The use of love makes me FEEL GOOD, it is an expression of my inner joy.
I love myself therefore, I take loving care of my body.
I lovingly feed it nourishing foods and beverages,
I loveinlgy groom it and dress it,
and my body lovingly responds to me with vibrant health and energy.
I love myself therefore - I provide for myself a comfortable home,
one that fills all my needs and its a pleasure to be in.
I fill the rooms with the vibrations of love so that all who enter,
myself included, will feel this love and be nourished by it.
I love myself therefore, I work at a job that I truly enjoy,
one that uses my creative talents, and abilities, working with and for people -
that I love and that love me,
and earning a good income.
I love myself therefore, I behave and think in a loving way to all people -
for I know that that wish I give out returns to me multiplied.
I only attract loving people in my world for they are a mirror of what I am.
I love myself therefore, I forgive and totally release the past and all past experiences
and I am free.
I love myself therefore, I love totally in the now, experiencing each moment as good and knowing that my future is bright, and joyous, and secure
for I am a beloved child of the - universe and the universe - lovingly takes care of me now and forever more.
And so it is.

- Louise L. Hay in 'Heal Your Body'

Ma Daerah Turtle Sacntuary Beach Cleaning

The simple accomodation (no air cond, lots of mosquitoes & common toilet in walking distance!!)
The beautiful beach where the turtles will visit at night to lay eggs!!
This is sunrise!!
This wall at the entrance was painted by SAM students in previous year. See the Taylor's logo there. I am so proud of Taylor's!!
Thsi is the long house accomodation. Mr. Halmie, our warmest host is the handsome guy right in the centre behind.
Students at work (painting the long house)
That's me at work too!!
Taking a break after a hard work!!

This was a last minute decision. BP Acetyl Petronas, one of the company that assists the Fishery Department to maintain the turtle sanctuary extended their invitation to Taylor's Pre-U students to their company beach clean up activity.

This area is under the surveillance of the Fishery Department to ensure a undisturbed beach for the turtles to lay eggs and there is a hatchery to ensure maximum hatching and returning of the turtles into the sea.

This place is only opened to the public over the week ends from April to August and only 20 pax can go per week end!! So there we went (6 SAM students, 4 CAL students, my two good travel ‘kaki’). The van took the students and three of us in my cosy car.

Love the idea of being able to contribute to conservation!!

I m also very impressed with such 6 star hospitality by Encik Halmie, our host !!

The itenary for the normal week end camp (RM240, April - August) is as follows:

SCHEDULE
Day 1

5.00 pm - Arrival and check-in of volunteers
5.30 pm - Briefing by facilitators
6.00 pm - Settling in
7.30 pm - Dinner
8.15 pm - Briefing/Video Presentation and grouping
8.30 pm - Beach patrol 1st group
1.00 am - Beach patrol 2nd group
5.30 am - End of beach patrol

Day 2

7.30 am - Beach clean-up if necessary
8.00 am - Breakfast
9.00 am - Excavate hatched nests, analyse unhatched eggs and record data
10.00 am - Free at leisure
12.30 pm - Lunch & free at leisure
4.00 pm - Tea & free at leisure
5.30 pm - Continue nest excavation
6.30 pm - Inspection of nests for hatchling emergence at regular intervals, release of hatchlings
7.30 pm - Dinner
8.30 pm - Beach patrol 1st group
1.00 am - Beach patrol 2nd group
5.30 am - End of beach patrol

Day 3

8.30 am - Breakfast
10.00 am - Check out & good bye

If you plan to visit that place , you may contact him at halmiee.saharudin@se1.bp.com

Korea BBQ

I am very free on this Labour Day. Just want to take a day off doing nothing.
So I decided to catch up with these two lovely angels from 0601PM8.
We had a nice Korean BBQ at Han Wu Re Restaurant above Koptiam at Taipan.
We all learn about how 'thick skin' we are when I requested for 'free' plate of fried glass noodle.
Then Li Sian requested for another bowl of dessert drink for all of us
And the most surprising thing is that Gim Leng can drink so much after a meal
4 bowls of dessert drink....:-P
The BBQ pork was really juicy and tasty!!
Then we proceeded to Kopitiam downstairs to order for more
'growing kids need lots of food!!'
haha

It was an enjoyable evening. Catching up with my angels and seeing that they are well and happy is joyious indeed!!

Thanks Lord Kress for taking thie pict for us. Its lovely!!

Attracting Abundance

This is from the New York Times Best Seller book ' You Can Heal Your Life' by Louise L. Hay which I find very uplifting as self affirmation for abundance:

In the infinite of life where I am,
all is perfect, whole and complete.
I am one with the power that created me
I am totally open and receptive to the abundant flow of prosperity that the Universe offers.
All my needs and desires are met before I even ask.
I am divinely guided and protected,
and I make choices that are beneficial for me (brings aliveness & joy)
I rejoice in other's success, knowing there is plenty for us all.
I am constantly increasing my concious awareness of abundance,
and this reflects in a constantly increasing income.
My good comes from every where and every one.
All is well in my world.

WHAT TEACHERS MAKE

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?" He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?" Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...) "Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental. You want to know what I make?" (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.) ''I make kids wonder. I make them question. I make them apologize and mean it. I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions. I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything. I make them read, read, read. I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator. I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity. I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe. I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America. Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life." (Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.) "Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant... You want to know what I make? I MAKE A DIFFERENCE . What do you make Mr. CEO?" His jaw dropped, he went silent.

Ma' Daerah Turtle Sanctuary

Last minute decision...cancelled my 'wine appreciation workshop' on Sat, and accompany students for a week end beach clean up activity at Terengganu.

Never thought of driving, but after looking at the van, can only fit 10 students...so if me and Megan join in, that there goes the comfort!!

So Friday, about 4 hrs before the departure time, shoot an urgent note to Chin San that I will be driving, and she is 'invited' to join me. Luckily, she got permission from her boss/ ex boss to drive home to pack and come back just in time ...

I am lucky to have Megan as my co-driver, and Chin San to check on the road sign.
It was a smooth drive, with goody songs and fun, and the best part is...
we arrived before sun set, but my poor students in the van got lost on the way, and they arrived about one hr later...

We overshot the turning to the sanctuary as there was a construction of the road, and so the turning in junction was blocked. So there we went, coming to the Petronas and MOX plant area, which was so beautifully lit !! Called Encik Azeb twice to get the direction in.
OMG...you cannot believe it, its a road leading up a hill amidst the thick jungle,
and a turn into muddy, rocky, windy, narrow, hilly road.
Its a ride into thick jungle, with no lighting, so dark and scary....
I wonder if we were in the right place and where this road will lead us to
so following the instruction, we went...
My poor car...so sayang, have to go onto bumpy rocky rd...
Eventually we reached, and saw the mural painted by our students in previous years
ar ha....we are at the correct place.

We stayed in the long house, one room for the boys, one room for the girls, and one for the van driver. Its basic wooden house with five rooms on each side and a kitchen at the centre. there is a huge corridor outside the rooms. The toilet is about 6 meters away from the long house. The shower is ok (cold water, recycled from the sea) but some of the toilet flush is not working.

I am really impressed with the warm hospitality of Encik Halmie, our host!! He really tried his best to accomodate us, amidst his busy schedule. We were treated with seafood dinner with his 2 bosses on the first night...with sotong, tom yam, fishes, crab, vege and omellete.

The second day was the main day...the Gotong Royong / Family Day of his company, BP Petronas Acetyl. The turtle sanctuary is a conservation project of two companies (BP & BP Petronas Acetyl) with the Fishery Department of Malaysia. We are privilaged indeed as we were the only 'outsider'/ college being invited to participate in their activity, with free lodging and food provided...and the VIP treatment that we got...

So we were asigned to paint the long house....and we did...completed the outside before lunch...beyond Encik Halmie's expectation....then we went for Mc D....(the students loved the air cond and fast food..), went back again, rested and continued to paint the inner part of the building....Ms. Megan, omg.....I cannot believe my eyes...she actually climbed up the 3 meter ladder to paint the top part of the wall....@@ I also heard her hinting the students....'we are here to work, not to play...' Thanks Megan...for pushing and reminding the students when they misbehaved...

A stroll in the beach at the evening was really nice. I enjoyed the massage of my feet by the sand, i love seeing the mangrove trees...., the blue sea, the cool sea water...while my two friends were busy picking shells...I prefered rocks, so I picked some rocks, one of which is a white heart shaped rock!!

All in all, this trip is beneficial in a few ways:
1) I have put what i heard into practice : " human heart is more important than a thing" - I allowed my car to serve my purpose , than to protect it from wear and tear
2) I have learnt the importance of putting human first than anything else, like what Encik Halmie has done!! The effort, the sincerity in going all the way out to ensure our comfort during our stay...makes me reflect on how I can improve to treat the others....so a teacher indeed he is...
3) I can see how smart my student is....
4) I can see how sociable my students are
5) I can see how a team works better than by oneself
6) Trust the universe that it will show us the best way and receive it with open arm....

Finally, I wish that I have a chance to bring my students to more outing, which can enhance their growth, contribute to the society, and instill an understanding of the importance of conservation in them.

Mamee Bear Strikes Back 1

Wow, I have not blogged for a long time!
So much time spent on work, especially the beginning of this year
on the first day of the semester, when Mr A announced:
"All the OHPs in the classroom of CAL have been removed to 'make space' for more tables & chairs for the students!!" What a joke, Hahaha...
I could feel a sudden surge of heat up my body till the neck & then the head
and the whole body became stiff...
there was turmoil in the mind....bo liao....ka lau pun bo liao la.... (there goes my transparencies)
there goes my free time...

So from then onwards, i have been busy preparing Powerpoint slides every day
for the lecture the next day.
Was REALLY REALLY ANGRY... for not giving us early notice...at least we can get our team to share the slides
Now every one has to 'do their own business'

harlo...sharing is caring,
6 mth's notice will enable 8 of us ok, to each prepare a chapter, then get 8 chapters done
Then want us to take up this project, that project, supervise competition la...
(Set trial paper, vet trial paper, do exam workshops, do student portfolio workshop, countless 'marketing' work....free of charge!!' )
then must make time for us to do those extracurricular 'marketing' stuff la
Don;t forget, teaching come first... SIGH.... some more cannot make use of the team that we have...the largest A level team in Msia ok....CIAK SAI...

One thing i observe is a lot of lecturers, especially those very committed in their teachings one
(but not those types that go to the bosses to 'dance' around them)
have signed a "free slimming contract for life" with the company
guaranteed if not money back!!

Furios as I did the project durig the CNY break
until I burnt my immune system away...
what kind of life is this?

I was adding water in state of rocks into my life
(for those who know this story)
Enough is enough !!

A challenge is an opportunity
to reflect on life ...what is it that i want
and to learn to focus on the 'rocks', not the sand or water...

my 10 thousands, my 1 million cash, my darling, my superb health, my buddies, my guest-filled house...
Yahoo!!

Assessment for Learning

This was the main theme for the Cambridge Internationl Examination Teachers' Conference last week. We were exposed to mainly:
1) The 4 key tools of AFL
2) The effectiveness of AFL in several case studies
3) i-Net

I'm putting this down in the way/pattern/vocabulary that I have understood and learnt from the conference so that it can be shared with others who are interested.

When a student learn, there are three phases that he/she will go through:
1. Engagement (What do we know already? What do we want and need to find out?)
2. Exploration and transformation(How will we go about finding out?)
3. Presentation and reflection (How will we know, and show, that we've found out when we've finished? Where next?)
Therefore, when we plan a lesson, we plan it such that they will go through these three phases. A lesson plan should have three ingredients: objectives, learning activities and assessment.

Assessment is not new to us (lecturers). The article in http://www.edsnet.na/Resources/TBCM/TBCM4/page1.htm gives a very simple yet clear description about what is continuous assessment, which includes (1) observation, (2) informal continuous assessment, (3) formal continuous assesment and (4) formal assessment.

In this conference, we focused on how to use 'summative' assessment not as an end to student's performance, but as a 'tool' to help the students to improve, by showing them three things:
a) where they are now
b) how they can improve
c) where they need to go/ success criteria

They believe that increasing the assessment quality will increase the standard of learning.

1) The 4 key tools in AFL:
i) Sharing learning intention & success criteria
- since the way of learning is by constructing knowledge from the existing knowledge, its good for the students (& lecturers) to know:
a) what I already know
b) what I want to know
c) what I need to know (the learning outcome/ syllabus)
d) why I need to know
The possible goal orientations are:
- exam performance
- mastery of skills
- learning - of attitudes, disposition, skills of learning how to learn

ii) classroom talk/ discussion/ questioning technique
Two things:
a) Lecturers' questioning technique - ask more open ended questions to provide opportunity for the students to think, which is a higher order learning/thinking in Bloom's taxonomy (www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/bloom.html
www.teachers.ash.org.au/researchskills/dalton.htm)
A good approach that promotes learning is when the challenge is high and the skills of the student is high too.
-Some ideas for questioning:
- key word games
- 'hot seat' questioning
- ' no hands up'
- increase wait time (at least 3 seconds)
- concept mapping
- 'post-it note' game
(I have still to work out what some of these are!!)
b) Class activity of talking/ discussion in pairs, in four or in a group - has been shown by numerous researches that it can help students to learn better. (I will add in the quantitative findings here when i have time)

iii) Feedback - contructive feedback either written or orally
The quality of the feedback is important to determine whether it is helpful or demotivating. There are two main things a feedback can refer to:
a) effort
b) achievement
Some quality of a good feedback:
- explicit reference to criteria/goal
- comment-only marking (no grade given as it demotivates weaker students and doesn't show where and how they can improve)
- focused marking (???)
- suggesions on how to improve
-re-timing assessment - give it at an early stage and continuously so as to intervene and give time for improvement to be made by the student.

iv) Peer & self-assessment (for students)
This can help students to find out three things that I have mentioned earlier:
1) What they already know?
2) What they need to know/ what standard of quality is required?
3) How they can get there?

Four practical strategies suggested in the conference are:
1) students' self/ peer assessment:
a) using mark scheme
b) using criteria (e.g. an outline of the 'look for' when the examinar marks an assignment')
c) using examplars (e.g. 'A' vs 'B' vs 'C' grade answer/ drawings)
2) identify group weakness
3) self assessment of confidence level regarding a topic using:
a) traffic lights card
b) smiley face card
c) 'post it' notes
4) End of lesson students' review

In short, assessment is part of our lesson plan. We can use it to help the students to learn and to improve. So we should do a continuous assessment, either daily, weekly or every two to three weeks, and start it off early for intervention. The methods we can use include (1) sharing intention and success criteria, (2) classroom talk/ discussion & questioning, (3) Constructive feedback, (4) peer & self-assessment.

Graduation Ceremony in Perth

This is my uni. logo
My classmates at the main campus
Omg, this is my uni? Very classical architecture. So beautiful !!
This is our most respectable Prof.'s/ supervisor's room!! (But he was not in)
Tickets to the ceremony
These are my classmates - Subra, Winnie, Poh Chin, Prema, Sow
Fong, Chin Poh Choo (and the last guy did the course full time in the main campus)
You must be wondering where am I...arha, I didn't go. Look whose in red...our most respectable Dr. Elaine Chapman and Prof. Tom 'O' Donoghue
Hmm...now I know, my Graduate School of Education looks like this.
The other two lecturers...who (L centre) and Prof Marnie (R centre)
A toss for completing the 2 years of hard work on assignments and night classes...

OO...seeing these pictures, I am envy...but so lazy to go all the way there just to collect the scroll, after all , I have been to Perth and have also graduated in Master before.
Hurray!! More envy...@@ Nvm, save $$ to go to NZ!!
Aren't they cute?

Annual Dinner Dance Competition 2008

The full video can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-wksu3wvlE

The Rise of the Fabulous 8

The three sisters
My previous dance partner, Mr. Gobi
Me & Yan Yan
Mr. Thong, our ICT programmer & me, and the little teddy bear that we won!!!
Me, Mrs. Mary Ng (my boss & ex-teacher) & Amarjeet

(Video can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v7eF9yLK6w)


This is the dancing team from TUCMC
that performed dancing last friday
during the annual company dinner at Sunway Convention Centre

It was a team organised for the dance competition
I have no intention to join as I would like to spend my time on other things
than practising dancing
and performing in front of my bosses...wahaha
but...4 more weeks to go, I was asked by Mr. Leong
to be the reserve as one of their team member might drop out
real enough, when I promised, she dropped out
so there it went
most of my afternoons
since Hari Raya
for the past 3 weeks
were all dance practices
(mind you, the team members were very hardworking
so I could not be lazy either...they will check on me too...SCARY...)
I have gone to Subang Parade 3 times in a week to shop just for the shoes, ear rings , etc.
And went all the way to Damansara Perdana to rent our costume
In short, a lot of hard work, practice and time spent
(mamami ah, I want to read more about making $$$)

Eventually, the night has come
We could not wait to go up the stage to perform
to enjoy the dance
We turned out well
We all enjoyed ourselves
As much as our audience did
Their claps, shout and whistle
Brighten up the dance

Now that the dance is over
we have fostered closer friendship
I have learnt and discovered a lot from them
Mr. Leong - age does not matter, full commitment, persistence and belief matters (btw, he is 60++!!)
Mr. Subra RS - he can dance man!! He is also very creative...our choreographer and team leader
Mr. Chan - omg, my dance partner...he can twist his body very well, nice posture, and SEXY too
Ms. Thian Loke Boon - very strong leadership, time keeper, good dancer!!
Dr. Linda - she can shake very well ...with her traditional Spanish dance foundation from Philipine, and coming for dance practise amidst fetching her daughter to and fro
Ms. Grace - She shared with me a lot about her thoughts, her family, and we shopped together the most in Subang Parade !!

This is really a fabulous team...
A sweet memory in the heart forever...

Towards Absolute Financial Freedom

Fail to plan is planning to fail
A clear goal will at least bring me to somewhere, rather than no where
so I that I will not regret for what I have done in my life
As I have tried my best

There are 7 areas of my life that I have set a goal for
Health, family, career/ business, financial, intellectual/ education, spiritual and social

I am only going mention about the financial goal, as I am very excited about it.

Short term goal (within 90 days):
1) to generate a minimum income of RM10K per mth

Medium term goal (within 1-3 yrs):
1) one property investment generating min RM1,000 per mth
2) Investment in other instruments (e.g. share) that generate a return of min15% per yr
3) Diversification of portfolio (this, I would have to read more and learn more)

Master goal
1) to achieve total financial freedom (ie. to do whatever I want, when, as much as I want, with the ppl that I like at any time)
2) Generate an income that is more than I can ever spend for my basic neccessity
3) to be able to share this abundance to as many ppl as possible, as much as I want, any time, any where.

It is interesting to see an example of the amt that is needed to achieve the following purposes:
1. Financial protection: RM18,600 for six mths
2. Financial Security: RM37,200 per year from investment
3. Financial Independence: RM39,600 per year from investment
4. Financial Freedom:RM36,050 per mth
5. Absolue Financial Freedom: RM42,000 per mth.

And I love sharing the importance of having the attitude & strategies to attract abundance in all my students
so that they can start young, and retire early to enjoy life as much as they want too!!

Awakening by Thich Nhat Hanh's wisdom

He said,
Always make a mental choice
to be peaceful and happy
for each step that we make
Try to plan our daily activities
so that we can do the things
with peace and happiness
(rather than rushing)

YES!! THATS IT!
I am grateful for this reminder
That I have a choice here
regardless of what happens within
and externally
My choice
is to allow my heart
to be filled with peace and joy
with every moment of conciousness

"Drowning" in the samsara (more like working life)
was the word I described to my friend
Dealing with the defilements internally and externally
The -ve energy that pulls every one down
I have forgotten that I have a choice
searching every where for happiness
which is right here, in here, in this very moment
in every breath

and mother earth has its own healing power too
just trust it and go back to mother nature
beach, sea, mountain, all these....for example

A few question that can be asked to remind myself:
How will I conduct myself today?
Can I be a centre of peace now?
Can I live in harmony with my own being right now?
Can I put my intelligence to work for me, in my inner life and in the outer world?

Loving Kindness

I found this piece of poem
written by Bhante Sujivo
which I treasure quite a lot
when I was clearing my old stuff

Hope this poem will remain here
for future reference:

A heart feels
Oh! so much
so very deeply.

When you hold
a heart
in your hand
please be very gentle
O be very gentle!
Say not a hurting workd.
Look not a spiteful look.
Draw it close to your breast.
Feel its warmth and tenderness
its feats and hopes.
Hug it, love it.
Treasure it, but o please
Don't every hurt it!

A heart is very soft,
tender and fragile
easily broken.

When you hold
a heart
in your hand
Hold it with utmost care!
Love it with truest love!
Lest it tembles
& breaks!

Can't wait for my long awaited Meditation Retreat

2006 was indeed an energy draining year for me
(Why? Who cares, its over!!)
But looking at it positively now,
I do appreciate the hardship that I have gone through
Its only during hardship that ppl start to think and reflect
It makes me think of what I really want
How I really want to live or to live in a better lifestyle

That made me participated in two meaningful workshops at the beginning of the year
It's worth the investment
as it can make a life time's transformation (that's for my friends who find it $$)
And I did, in the mind

Now, reflecting back on the hardship
and the transforming energy from the workshop
as well as the book call "What I Didn't Learn at School but Wish I had"
and the abundance which starts to flow into my life again
I learn to gain my power to control my life, my destiny
I will not give in nor be affected by the conditioning of those -ve minded ppl in my daily life
As I know the way
As I am fully in charge of my life
my happiness

And I want more than this
I want to have abundance that I can share with ppl indefinitely
I want to do what I like to do,
with the positive, uplifting, wise and sincere ppl around me;
when and where
I want more ppl to be vibrating with positive E
to share the abundance that the universe offers
and not to be trapped in the rat race... least, not that much

So this year end holiday is what I have been waiting for 7 yrs
a long meditation retreat
where i can go deep into my existance
to be in touch with the deepest most of my heart
to resonate with it
back to my 'home'
back to my teacher
back to my 'family'
Which allows the natare to unfold,
the wisdom to grow,
to sharpen & purify mind
to gain power and clarity
to do my life's work more effectively
and reach its goal rapidly and even further

Purity, serenity, clarity, light, freedom, love...

Heart-Touching Movie

I have recently watched two heart-touching movie
1) Ratatouille
2) 400 Pounds

Ratatouille is a motivating movie
teaching every one about the attitude of
dare to dream (Think Big)
believing in your dream
and take action

About friendship
about ethics of not stealing
About believing in intuition

I love it very much
for it in bringing out the beaty of the heart
and hope!!

Well done!!

As for "400 Pounds",
It shows how, when a person chases after a dream
and uses the method to achieve the dream
which may not be accepted by majority
and tries to cover up/ deny his/her origin
He/she lost touch with the orginal heart
That is innocent, so bright, so beautiful, and filled with love and richness

But, at the critical moment,
she is courages enough to reveal the truth
and that was a great shock to all
but, due to her sincerity
she gain even more respect from ppl
As the beauty lies within a heart
that holds on the the ethics well

Sweet and touching!!