13/4/05

Went according to schedule. One more day and I'll complete another module. Then left the last one, and the most difficult one. Terrible accounting Standards. Darn. I awaits the day when the papers starts. I'll leave all to fate after I've done all my work. Although I believe in fate, I would still want to do all preperation work. Then I would feel better even if i didn't do well in the end.

Singapore building casino hmm. So many social concerns. If want me to say.... you build or no build also make no difference. Those who will die under gambling, will still die under gambling. You don't let them gamble in singapore, they'll just go elsewhere to gamble. So how? They'll patronise our dear neighbour's playground. So... you want them to keep money in singapore, or give money to our dear neighbour? I guess they would build it in the end. Thats my guess. I don't represent any government, so haha its only MY thinking. Tourism would improve, hopefully tax would drop since government would have high collection from casino.

As I'm typing this, I just saw on tv, some women, spending 12k on a handbag, and 600 bucks on a pair of shoes. And they say " OH We WORTH it, We work very hard for our money. We WOrth Every cent." The host of that show asked her did she try 50 bucks shoes? She said," OH Noooooo. When It comes to quality.... theres no compromise." Then her sister, sitting beside her continued," I'm more adventurous, and I've bought 6-9 pairs of shoes at 100 odd each.... and I rarely wear more than once..... (why? host asked) Because they are unbearable."

Beep Beep, reality check. Disgust. Period. TOTALLY DISGUSTED, not about the subject matter. Its the way she said it.

Slice of Life

Perfect Imperfection

Sometimes, developing spiritually and learning more about ourselves and the world requires that we first "un-learn" some lessons of the past. We often get taught very powerful yet incorrect lessons as we go through life.

Most parents would never hurt their kids but they often inadvertently do, by implanting debilitating messages - that who we are, what we do isn't good enough, that imperfection is not acceptable, that to be praised, to be loved, to be rewarded, we must be smart, good looking, rich, popular and respected. How many times have you seen a parent screaming to a child that he's careless, lazy, selfish or stupid? Will the child grow up to a self-affirming adult? Or will his sense of self-worth be affected?

Throughout our lives, we've been taught the value of pursuing perfection. That has led us to believe intrinsically that imperfection is wrong, that it's incomplete, it's broken, it's bad. That we, and everything else, always needs fixing.

A Sanskrit mantra roughly translates into: This is perfect. That is perfect. From the perfect, comes the perfect. If from the perfect the perfect is taken away, only the perfect remains.

Peace of mind comes from the realization that we're all perfect, that everything is perfect. Such is the sense of perfection we get when holding a baby, when making our partners laugh, when slaking our thirst with cool water, when looking at trees, when swaying to music, when inhaling the salty breath of the sea. The miracle of Life, the beauty of Nature, the promise of renewal.

This sense of perfection is our greatest blessing. It's present at all times and doesn't require any healing or change to take place. You only have to open your eyes and notice what is, rather than trying to correct what you believe is wrong.

In Japanese flower arranging it is common that one of the branches in the arrangement is bent or broken, to signify that the arranger has attempted to present the flowers in a "natural" state. It is the "imperfection" of the broken branch that makes it "perfect", or closer to what naturally is.

Each one of us, no matter how evolved we might believe ourselves to be, has imperfections and personal ego attachments. These imperfections and attachments are not something to be overcome or transcended, but rather something to be understood, appreciated, and accepted. Embrace who you are wholeheartedly.