I want it. I need it. It’s so thin, light and it has got this new platform which makes it much better than the old iPad. Never mind that it does the same thing. And it is selling at the same price as the old one was. Never mind that the iPad1 is slashed a few hundred buck cheaper now.

I can load all my favorite photographs to show just in case someone is interested. Never mind that I am no great photographer nor do I look at my own handiwork very often, if at all. I have tons of gigs of photos and like all clutter, they remain as clutter. I can also take the trouble to scan notes and stuff like that to read at my leisure. I would be really canggih.

Now, here’s the real deal. This comes from the Dalai Lama….read on.

An Open Heart by The Dalai Lama

“…For example, when we are attracted to something, we tend to exaggerate its qualities, seeing it as 100 percent good or 100 percent desirable, and we are filled with a longing for that object or person. An exaggerated projection, for example, might lead us to feel that a newer more up-to-date computer (sic iPad2) could fulfill all our needs and solve all our problems.

Similarly, if we find something undesirable, we tend to distort its qualities in the other direction. Once we have our heart set on a new computer, the old one that has served us so well for so many years suddenly begins to take on objectionable qualities, acquiring more and more deficiencies. Our interactions with this computer become more and more tainted by these projections. Again, this is as true for people as for material possessions. A troublesome boss or difficult associate is seen as possessing a naturally flawed character. We make similar aesthetic judgments o f objects that do not meet our fancy, even if they are perfectly acceptable to others. “ An Open Heart (follow link for book… An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life)

Now, what does a simple monk know anyway? When there is they launch that nice unaffordable new car, mine REALLY does develop creaks and rattles. Ah, yes.

Like my young son said of the iPad, I want it but I don’t really need it.

Psst…the next shipment is next week.

(Click on Image above to view at Amazon.com)

Iread this in Thomas Carr’s book, “Trend Trading For a  Living”, found this quite meaningful and would like to share it here. This reminded me of the practices which I have heard (but neither learnt nor practised well), the first of which is generosity.

Generosity is the mainstay and the starting point. It is said that if we are ever to progress on the path of being something worthy, the first step is to practice generosity. I can only remember that this generosity includes a few aspects and they are the generosity of wealth and physical possessions, kindness, help and assistance, dharma or spiritual knowledge, etc.

Back to the book “Trend Trading For a Living, here is the excerpt..forgive typing errors.

“a) work for all you get b)give away the first 10 percent (c) invest the next 10 percent (d)live on the rest (e) account for every penny.

The Rockefellers believed that giving away their money was essential to their wealth. And so should you. The secret is that money multiplies fastest when it is divided. It’s all God’s money in any case. We are merely stewards of a small portion of God’s abundance. And when this portion is shared freely with those less fortunate, we prime the economic pump of the universe.

… Plant money trees where others will benefit. Ultimately the only purpose of having wealth is to help others less fortunate. Wealth shared is true wealth indeed. The way I see it, God in His grace gave  me the undeserved talent of making money bu simply sitting in front of the computer and clicking the mouse now and then. As a result of that gift, we as a family have been able to travel the world, build a large home, and enjoy the finer things in life. The least I can do is to give a healthy portion of the fruits of that gift back to God’s work in the world.”

John Davison Rockefeller (July 8, 1839 – May 23, 1937) was an American oil magnate. Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and defined the structure of modern philanthropy. In 1870, he founded the Standard Oil Company and aggressively ran it until he officially retired in 1897.^[1] Standard Oil began as an Ohio partnership formed by John D. Rockefeller, his brother William Rockefeller, Henry Flagler, Jabez Bostwick, chemist Samuel Andrews, and a silent partner, Stephen V. Harkness. As kerosene and gasoline grew in importance, Rockefeller’s wealth soared, and he became the world’s richest man and first American worth more than a billion dollars.^[2] Adjusting for inflation, he is often regarded as the richest person in history.^[3][4][5][6]

Rockefeller spent the last 40 years of his life in retirement. His fortune was mainly used to create the modern systematic approach of targeted philanthropy with foundations that had a major effect on medicine, education, and scientific research.^{[citation needed]}

His foundations pioneered the development of medical research, and were instrumental in the eradication of hookworm and yellow fever. He is also the founder of both the University of Chicago and Rockefeller University. He was a devoted Northern Baptist and supported many church-based institutions throughout his life. Rockefeller adhered to total abstinence from alcohol and tobacco throughout his life.

Every once in a while, a good book comes along.

In this case,there are actually four. I am referring to the Karma Chakme Mountain Dharma series published by KTD publications.

About the source of Mountain Dharma

There are in fact a few versions of mountain dharma and the teachings in these four books come from the Mahasiddha Karma Chakme. Karma Chakme was born in 1613. He spent a big part of his life in retreat accomplishing his practice, the last one lasting 13 years.

A little about the books

These books are a complete text for those who wish to practice Tibetan Buddhism. It is also for those who wish to know more about the meaning of life. And death.

Thanks to Kong Keen Yung who introduced me to these series of books while we were in ‘retreat’ in India. Incidentally, the 4th volume was just out this year.

The local bookstores may carry them or you could try Amazon. Hover over the picture of the books or click the link to get to the respective web pages.

Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 3

Volume 4 (sorry no pictures but it looks the same)

Karma Chakme’s Mountain Dharma As Taught by Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, Volume Four

Throughout history, in every era and time, great people are recognized by the mark they leave on the pages and course of history.

The one known as Chetsang Rinpoche, the throne holder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism is one such individual. Read the book ‘From the Heart of Tibet’ and you will know what I mean. (It sells for US14.93 at Amazon – click the picture of the book or the link  in green below to get there).
From the Heart of Tibet: The Biography of Drikung Chetsang Rinpoche, the Holder of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage

Through the pages of this biography, the story and life of Chetsang Holiness comes to life. Before I read this book, Chetsang Holiness was, in my mind, an ordinary monk who had been chosen to lead the lineage. He was born into it, sort of. Just like the lucky ones born with a silver spoon. Reading that book changed all that.

It was apt that I read the book while in Songtsen Library, just next to his residence, a few weeks ago. The book had just came in and was not even catalogued when I spied it on the librarian’s table. The librarian was a friend who kindly allowed me to read it – I was not allowed to take it out of the premises. In the warm winter sunshine along with a lovely hot thermos of Nescafe, I devoured the book. The words left me misty eyed many a time as I discovered so many things about this man leaving me wondering about many things. Things like circumstances, invisible protectors, fate. Even the possibility of things having a different meaning popped in my cynical mind.

To know more, you have to read this book. It details his childhood, his adventures (were there any misadventures?), his growing years during the dark and tumultuous years of the cultural revolution under communist china and Mao Tse Tung, his escape and his revival of the Drikung Kagyu Buddhist tradition.

I enjoyed most the middle part of the book which tells of his trials under the communists. Many inspirations I found and this part was read with great amazement, wonder and awe. Great individuals are rare. One may not have the qualities to be great but one can count oneself as fortunate if one have had the honour of meeting one.

A truly recommended read.  And thankful for the present.

The Devil - Freedom of Choice

I read this off a book and can’t resist but share it.

Masochistic but must go look for this book, written by Joe Dominguez who retired at 31 with enough money to spend the rest of his life enjoying himself doing volunteer work. The title of the book is ‘Your Money or Your Life’. But for now, sadism for you.

We aren’t making a living, we are making a dying. Consider the average American worker. The alarm rings at 6:45 and our working man or woman is up and running. Shower. Dress in the professional uniform-suits or dresses for some, overalls for others, white for the medical professional, jeans and flannel shorts for construction workers. Breakfast, if there is time. Grab commuter mug and briefcase (or lunch box) and hop in the car for the daily punishment called rush hour. On the job from nine to five. Deal with the boss. Deal with the coworker sent by the devil to rub you the wrong way. Deal with suppliers. Deal with clients/customers/patients. Act busy. Hide mistakes. Smile when handed impossible deadlines. Give a sigh of relief when the ax known as ‘restructuring’ or ‘downsizing’- or just plain getting laid off – falls on other heads. Shoulder the added workload. Watch the clock. Argue with your conscience but agree with the boss. Smile again. Five o’clock. Back in the car and onto the freeway for the evening commute. Home. Act human with mates, kids or roommates. Eat. Watch TV. Bed. Eight hours of blessed oblivion.

And they call this making a living? Think about it. How many people have you seen who are more alive at the end of the workday than they were at the beginning?…Aren’t we killing ourselves-our health, our relationships, our sense of joy and wonder-for our jobs? We are sacrificing our lives for money-but it’s happening so slowly that we barely notice.

Paths of Glory (Click here to own a copy)

It was such that I was unable to revisit Tibet this summer. Where I had planned to go, it is biting cold, harsh and pristine. Set at the top of the world, this grassland sits with the Himalayas since time immemorial. However I found some consolation in finding some time to read Jeffrey Archer’s “Paths of Glory”.

And it was some consolation. Archer, again, in his distinct style (and imagination) weaves another probable tale about the conquest of Chomolungma.

Chomolungma? Mount Everest, my friend. Goddess of the Earth, that’s how the Natives, the Tibetans address her before English changed her name.

Edmund Hilary & Sherpa Tenzing Norgay

Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay are recorded as having reached the peak of Mt Everest on 29^th May 1953 but this Archer tale tells us that a certain George Mallory succeeded long before Hilary. Of course, this is not what we care about when we read an Archer novel. It is the submission to his writing and his imagination that captivates us time and again, luring us into spending hours and hours lost in his world.

Within the cosy comforts of home, I could feel the piercing unforgiving cold as the story unfolds. I could empathize with the climbers as they struggled to acclimatize to the altitude. Every step of their breathless struggle reminded me of my own breathlessness before. And I was only at 12000 feet. Chomolungma is 29,028 feet. (Archer says 29,002 feet probably Everest has sunk since my schooldays.)

George Mallory

Each chapter is distinct and follows a straight chronological style. For aged readers like me, this makes it easier to put down. You know what I mean. When one is young, a novel is read non-stop. The story is feasted on the couch, on the floor, the meal table, on the bed never letting go until every morsel is devoured, eyes never leaving the pages. It makes one think that evolution has made man to have arms and hands strategically constructed to enable food to reach the mouth without need of eyes or brain.

Ruth Young (Mrs Mallory)

The novel has its juicy moments of romance which serves only as a byline. But come to think of it, the story would be only half as long without it. A simple tale which can, no doubt, be recounted in less than five minutes. But then, most novels are such. Novels are meant to enthrall us and unknowingly move on, eager to know the ending. On this, Archer has done exceedingly well here.

“Because it’s there” this is the famous retort, supposedly by Mallory when asked “Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?”

The Dalai Lama Path to Bliss

He carries many epithets. To most Tibetans, he is the Lord of Compassion. Also known as Kundun, the omniscient one. He is Buddha. I first caught sight of him in person in 2003, in India. He was within touching distance. Escorting him then under parasols were The Sakya Holiness and The Drikung Chetsang Holiness. It may have been my imagination but sweet bouquet wafted as I sat yards away from him – deities offering flowers perhaps! ( Friends and i also had the good fortune of bumping into and chatting with the Sakya Holiness in a sweets shop in Dehra Dun last year).

Here is a quote from THE Dalai Lama,

“By emulating the examples of great personalities of the past, by pondering upon scriptural quotations and anecdotes taught by teachers, by employing all sorts of means, you should be able to develop a deep conviction that this present human body has great potential and that you shall never waste even a single minute of its use. On the other hand, not taking any essence of this precious human existence, but just wasting it, is almost like taking poison while being fully aware of the consequences of doing so.

It is very wrong for people to feel deeply sad when they lose some money, while when they waste the precious moments of their lives they do not have the slightest feeling of regret. Such an indifference comes as a result of not realizing the value and rarity of the precious human existence. Therefore, you should determine that on the basis of this precious human existence you have the capability and capacity to undertake the practice of dharma.”

–from The Path to Bliss by H.H. the Dalai Lama, translated by Geshe Thupten Jinpa

Ajahn Brahm told the story of “two bad bricks”.

As a DIY bricklayer for the fledgling monastery, he could only see two bad bricks which he had laid. To him it was a mistake and it was there for all and sundry to see. Never mind that the other bricks were perfect.

The moral of this story is that we often only see the bad features of others. In a relationship this is the road to failure. He says that if we choose to see the other perfect bricks, things can only be better. Also the bad bricks are what make us unique.

Life in general is often fraught with imperfections. Well, we just have to take the long with the short.

Ajahn Brahm

In the book “Who Ordered this Truckload of Dung” Ajahn Brahm gave many insightful and inspiring stories but I liked the ancient Chinese proverb quoted at the opening page. It rightly deserves it place in the beginning of his book. It goes…

Grant yourself a moment of peace,

and you will understand

how foolishly you have scurried about.

Learn to be silent,

and you will notice that

you have talked too much

Be kind,

and you will realize that

Your judgement of others was too severe.

One of my most treasured books is ‘a Meditator’s Handbook’ by Ajahn Brahm. As the title implies, it serves as the best guide I have read so far. Sadly, action is another matter. J

Another book which I recommend is “Who Ordered This Truck Load of Dung”. It is really a book of anecdotes but more importantly those stories reveals many personal insights as well as life as a monk. Ajahn Brahm’s writings and talks are delightful to read and hear. Behind that wit, I am quite certain lies an enlightened mind.

You may be able to find them at the local stores but if Amazon’s the thing, here’s the link:
Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung?: Inspiring Stories for Welcoming Life’s Difficulties