我的人生目标

身为一名成功学／软技能培训员 （life-coach），我的主要任务就是帮助学员确认并达到他们的人生目标。目标明确是成功道路上最为关键的第一步。人生目标明确的人，富有自信，生命力，自我推动力；生活过地充实而不迷茫，；碰到挫折时，他们还能借此锻炼自己，好不乐观！人生目标明确的人，自己受益，也正面地影响他周兆的人。所以，要成功，目标就得明确。（这是为什么国际讲演会早在作业三就要求演讲目标分明。）

要帮助他人，我当然得以身作则。

我的人生目标是：寻求真理并从事教育工作。

我是怎么确认这个目标呢？

我观察到我从小就常思考生活中的种种问题。我寻找答案的途径先是通过艺术（演讲，舞台剧，音乐，绘画）表达人生，后来觉得物理提供的答案更准确客观。在大学就读物理系时又碰到了佛学,　认为它与科学的发现十分符合。至今，对我而言，还是佛学最能解答生活中的问题，是最直接最有说服力最深入透彻的理论。（对许多认识佛学的人来说，真正的佛学并不是我们一般理解的宗教 - 因为它毫无麻木崇拜神灵的信念 - 而是个生活哲学，生活艺术）。

要寻求真理，只有经过分享知识与心得，理解才会更深一层， 从而也学到更多东西。这一点同时加上我比较善于正面影导他人，毕业以后我就开始对教育充满热忱。

寻求真理与教育是最佳搭档。 他们是我生命中最大的喜悦与满足感。他们是我的人生目标。

现在我给大家具体的说明我是如何实践我的人生目标。

认识了佛学以后，我学习了禅修与瑜伽。这两种利器有助于维持我的教育工作。怎么说呢？我从事教育工作已十年了。每早上讲堂前，我都会做个半小时的禅修与瑜伽，这是为了集中精神与充电，以备有足够正面的能量影导我的学员，应付一天即将面临的种种挑战。下课回家后，我又做上一小时的禅修与瑜伽，这是为了松懈身心，回顾一天所发生的事　（感恩他人对我的好，反省自己做错的事，提醒自己造福人群），更重要的是，学习放下，路才能走得更长远。

工作时间以外，除了运动，便是阅读，看纪录片，做数学题，学习语言或弹乐器。他们都有助于锻炼分析思考能力， 是寻求真理的必需。

一年当中，我还得出国两次， 每次长达一个月。主要目的是让我更贴近真理。

一次出国是背包旅游。增广见闻，体验人生的同时，有机会也会做义务的教育工作。我选择背包而不参加旅行团是因为只有这样才能真正深入民间，认识当地生活情况。我认为要尝尽生活百态， 人生观才能有所突破。

另外一次出国是到世外桃源闭关修炼。闭关修炼就是与世隔绝，静修禅定。这是一门很有效的心灵调养，修炼者的领悟能力也会有所提高。佛陀本身就是通过静修禅定达到涅磐（圆满觉悟的意思）。据我的经验，一个月的静修期最有功效。我们这个胡思乱想的脑啊，需要一段时间静下来以后才能入定（回到当下集中观想一样禅物，这就是禅定的意思）。入定又需要一段时间连续不断，修炼者才能在领悟方面有所突破。所以禅修是得持之以恒的！不过只要是认真的修炼，哪怕时间的长短，修炼者都会看到性格的良性改变，例如，脾气较温和，贪念减少等等。所以只要有心修炼，必有收获！

背包与闭关以后，我又将满满的体验及感触与学生们分享。就这样，既受又施，既分享也学习，寻求真理的道路是多么的充实，快乐。

朋友们，您是不是也想往您的人生多姿多彩，富有满足感呢？今天就确认您的人生目标吧！成功的道路就由此开始。

让我协助您实现您的梦想！

童年 - My Childhood

童年

您的童年对您有多重要？

对忙碌的都市人来说，童年只不过是个遥远的记忆。

但有些人的童年则造就了他的一生。

麦克杰旬通过 “童年 ”这首歌，倾诉了他所渴望的童年，也让我门知道了他成年的目标就是为了弥补他所谓“ 失去的童年”。

俄国作家高尔基的著作“童年 ”揭露了俄国沙皇时期的黑暗。高尔基的童年虽残酷，却没有使他懦弱，反而把他锻炼得更坚强。

其实一个人的童年美丽也好，残酷也好， 都是我们无法遗忘的过去。

心理学家也证实了，童年在一个人成长过程中扮演着举足 轻重的角色。

以下我愿与大家分享我的童年，以示证明：


我最难忘的儿童故事是 “卖火柴的小 孩”。小时候，每听一次故事，我都哭一次。它让我十分感动。故事是告诉我们世界上有许多不幸的儿童需要我们的爱与关怀。这故事所带来的感动成为了我要帮助世界不幸儿童的人生目标。我志愿成为教师，也是为了要帮助及提拔年轻的一代。


小时候，我很爱阅读，更爱讲故事。当我讲起故事来，我可以滔滔不绝。我认为这样很好娱乐自己也娱乐朋友。记得小学一年级的时候，每当下课的前十分钟，我都会自告奋勇，要求老师让我给同学们讲故事。至今，我小学同学都还记得我所讲的故事呢！

妈妈看我这样爱讲故事，就让我参加联络所主办的儿童华语讲故事比赛（那时正兴起讲华语运动）。我可高兴呢！也没让父母失望，都会捧个奖杯回家。学校老师也看到我对讲故事的热忱，都费尽心思栽培我。每当下课或休息时，同学们都去玩儿了，唯独我在学校的一个角落背故事，练故事。同学们看我这样苦练，都认为我“没有童年”，可我却一点儿都不觉得苦，反而觉得自己的童年很独特，很充实。

老师与同学们看我这样能通过讲故事来分享知识与快乐，都看好我长大成为个教师。事实证明了他们一点儿也没错！


我另一个童年的喜好是音乐。至今，我最爱的儿歌还是“小熊请客” – “欢迎你，欢迎你，老朋友我们欢迎你，看到你来真高兴，小熊，这一包点心送给你。。。”

“小熊请客” 我每天一遍又一遍地重播。我喜爱音乐的程度，说服我父母让我学钢琴。音乐，特别是钢琴，成为了我抒发情绪的管道。从小，钢琴就是我知心好友。只要有不愉快的事儿，向它倾诉以后，心情就会好了起来。我从来不会因情绪影响而用语言伤害他人，都是因为有钢琴这个良伴。我的性格交温和就和我喜爱音乐有关。


一个人的童年在他的生命中很重要。我很感谢父母给我足够的发挥空间，让我的童年多姿多彩，使我对人生充满了信心。比起卖火柴的小 孩，我的童年是天堂。同样一颗无辜幼小的心灵，就因为出生在世界不同的角落，命运就这样截然不同。在享受幸福的同时，我永远也不会忘记这个事实。

珍惜我们的童年，常在生命中保留一分童真， 也不忘了 在世界黑暗的角落里，成千上万的儿童 等待着您 散发爱 与希望的 光芒！


您可在此下摘录音

The Silent Scream

There is a silent scream

Listen with your heart (the base of consciousness)

And you shall hear

There is a silent scream

Why is it here
So fast so furious?

Today we are confronted by the gravest challenge that humanity has ever faced - the ecological consequences of our own collective kamma.

Many scientists have now concluded that anthropogenic global warming is a fact and that the survival of the entire ecology and human civilization is at stake.

Runaway global warming is not merely a problem that can be solved by a simple technological fix, but is at its base a deeply moral and even philosophical problem that challenges our ethical integrity, entrenched beliefs and habits.

There has never been a more important time in history to bring the teachings of Buddhism to bear on behalf of all living beings.

It is my belief that to fully address a problem, we have to snip it at its bud. This essay will both identify the fundamental cause of anthropogenic global warming and advocate the Buddhist attitude and lifestyle as a solution to it.

Although the ecological crisis is a problem unknown of in Buddha’s time, various accounts in the Pali Canon serve to instruct of an ideal man-environment relation:

• no spitting, throwing in water and on land (Bhikkhuni Patimokkha)
• respect and appreciate natural environment (poetry of nature in Theragatha; Buddha himself gazed gratefully at the Bodhi tree during the 2nd wk of his enlightenment)
• planting of gardens (aramaropa) and forests (vanaropa) is a meritorious act (Vanaropa sutta, SN)
• no setting fire to forests (Khuddaka Vatthukkhandhaka of Cullavagga pali, King Asoka’s royal decree in RE 5)

It is interesting to note that the Dhamma upholds environmentalism even before the word is invented!

Yet, the human’s role in today’s ecological problem is 2 fold:
• pollution
• depletion of non-renewable resources

In my view, both are manifestations of the 2nd noble truth expounded by the Buddha.


Dukkha-samudaya-ariya-sacca

Buddha expounded in Dhammacakka-pavattana sutta that Dukkha, the unsatisfactory nature of existence, stems from cravings which are further analysed as cravings, hatred and delusion (lobha, dosa, moha). Our ecological emergency is exactly a larger version of this perennial human predicament.

Because of sensual cravings, material desires, attachment to speed and convenience;
because of repulsion to consumer options and lifestyle of the opposite nature;
because of ignorance giving rise to a false sense of self, permanence and luxury, compounded by the negativities of advertising,
we create and consume things of fleeting superficial gratification values but with lasting and irreversible ecological damage.

The best example is the unchecked and excessive burning of non-renewable fossil fuels. Despite being highly inefficient, releasing more heat and pollutant gases than useful energy, humans are still addicted to oil simply because it is readily available, easy to use and to some nations, a highly valued commodity.

To put a halt to this ecological predicament, we need to start by recognizing that we have been slaves to lobha, dosa, moha. We have to make an effort, to the extent of inconveniencing ourselves, to eradicate them. The easiest way is to consciously cultivate their direct opposites: contentment, loving-kindness (metta) and wisdom. I will suggest how to do it.


Panati-pata veramani sikkha padam samadiyami - I undertake the training precept to refrain from taking a life that breathes
Adinna-dana veramani sikkha padam samadiyami - I undertake the training precept to refrain from taking what is not given

The 1st 2 Buddhists precepts serve as good guideline for our ethical integrity towards the environment. In my opinion, they are also the direct anecdotes to dosa (refrain from killing, getting rid of things not to our liking etc) and lobha (refrain from taking things we are not entitled to, taking by force, taking more than necessary etc).

In other words: the 1st 2 Buddhists precepts advise us to live and let live; co-exist in harmony; use in moderation; replenish before depletion.

In the Aganna sutta, it is recorded that greed and over-exploitation led to the depletion of resources. And yet we did not learn from history and still continue doing so. The ways earth’s resources have been exploited (deforestation, unethical rearing and slaughter of animals, depletion of natural fuels, unethical disposure of toxic wastes etc) are already violation of these 2 precepts on the largest possible scale.

The animation of Earth as Gaia, by environmentalist James Lovelock, is precisely to promote this awareness.

Eminent biologists and U.N. reports concur that if humans continue “business-as-usual”, half of all species on Earth will come to extinction within this century. The eco-system being so intricately connected, inevitably, human’s heyday will be neigh too.


Selfishness vs Anatta

When we uphold our ethical integrity well enough, we will start to gain more wisdom. We will realize anatta, non-self, and awaken from the illusion of separateness that motivates us to act against the ecology (and ultimately ourselves).

All things are interconnected and conditioned. As mentioned in the Aganna sutta, the environment changes accordingly when men rely on it for survival. In turn, when the environment becomes sick due to our selfish exploitation of it, we become sick too, because we are part of her.


“He who is skilled in doing good and who wishes to attain that state of calm should act thus… contented, easily supportable, with few burden, simple in livelihood…”- Karaniya-Metta sutta

Ultimately, contentment and simplicity is the highest bliss.

The argument that our economy needs high levels of consumption for growth is unfounded. The current climate condition provides sufficient evidence against it.

From a Buddhist perspective, a sane and sustainable economy would be governed by the principle of sufficiency rather than an ever-increasing abundance of goods that put such a hefty price on our environment. A sustainable economy is one that is in harmony with the biosphere.

As the slogan goes “Reduce, reuse, recycle” and I will add one more to it - RENEW (use renewable energy and material alternatives)!


Conclusion

I will conclude with an example of the extremely low-maintenance lifestyle of monks: turning old robes into mattress into rugs into duster and finally into fillers of wall gaps. Reducing and reusing vinaya style!

A waste is a waste not because it no longer has any use but because its potential uses are wasted!

There is a silent scream

Wise up, act now

The emergency is real!

My Quotes

Humanity
There are 4 things one needs to know about oneself: beliefs, passions, strengths, weaknesses.

No matter how old we are, there is a child in everyone of us. Bringing out the child in us is crucial because it is a place full of love and wonder.

When we lose faith (trust, confidence) we lose everything.

This body shall die but the legacy of our work lives on.

There are 2 sides in everyone of us - the dark and the bright side; it's entirely OUR CHOICE which side we wanna bring out.

Be the master of our future, not a slave of our past.

In boiling water
The carrot will soften
The raw egg will harden
Only the coffee bean will spread its fragrance
throughout the entire water
Which one will you like to be in this maddening world?

There are only 2 reasons why computers lag: virus and junk; likewise for the degradation of humanity - Purify yourselves with ethical immunity and a simple life!

Wisdom without compassion is of no use; compassion without wisdom will be abused.

Cowardice breeds injustice.

Truth
(for more quotes, read my article "On Truth")

Truth is liberating and liberation is the highest peace and happiness.

The different disciplines are just different windows to the same truth.

Truth never lies, or beats around the bush.

Education
To inspire and be inspired.

Education is the only way to salvage humanity.

Education should be empowering and is the only way to break any vicious cycle.

We truly learn only from our own mistakes.

Schools should be the places to make mistakes.

Love is the language of Education.

Mental Discipline
The hardest problem often has the simplest solution; the simplest solution often is the hardest to practise.
If you want it bad enough, you will do it good enough.

When you start doing things with conditions and expectations is when you should stop doing them.

The wise makes the best of what they have; the fools only complain.

The mind of a wise is flexible, the mind of a fool is fixed.

Multitasking breeds scatterbrains.

Anger is the defense of weakness.

A lot of things in our lives are not necessary.

Environmentalism
When you protect Mother Earth, she will protect you too.

Ask not what you should get but what you can give.

When you wait it may be too late.

Be the source of positive energies.


My Sources of Inspirations:
My life is my message - Gandhi
Live like you were to die tomorrow; learn like you were to live forever - Gandhi
Be the change you want to see - Gandhi
Always take the middle path - Buddha
All things are impermanent, strive on diligently - Buddha
My teaching is not to come and believe but to practise – Buddha
When you do good, people will still blame you, do good anyway - Mother Theresa
Don’t do unto others what you won’t do unto yourself – Jesus
Your mind makes your reality
Live and let live
Teach by example
First thing first
One thing at a time

"When you Know the Breath" – A Personal Experience of Anapanasati(1) in a Poem

When you know2 the Breath
Either general moving in and out3
Or moving sensations about a fixed point4
When you know the Breath

When you know the Breath
Either “see” it or feel it
As long as you know it
When you know the Breath

When you know the Breath
After a period of time
Colored nimita5 will appear
Continue knowing the breath

When you know the Breath
After a longer period of time
Sparkling white nimita will come
And unite with the breath

That’s when you know
You can let go of the breath
And know the nimita
Whole-heartedly
One-pointedly6


NOTES:

1. Anapanasati: Mindfulness of the Breath. The breath is one of the 40 meditation objects prescribed by the Buddha. It is simple enough to practice for all personalities to attain Jhanas (one-pointedness concentration).
2. Know: Meditation is just being mindful. Being mindful is just being aware, just knowing.
3. Moving in and out: this refers to breath inhalation and exhalation, taking the nostrils as the reference point.
4. A fixed point: this fixed point is usually a spot on the skin between the nostrils and the upper lip.
5. Nimita: Pali word for sign (of concentration).
6. One-pointedness, also known as single-minded concentration, is one of the jhanic factors.

For further technical analysis and understanding of meditation, please refer to a reliable Samatha Meditation manual for e.g. “Jhanas” by Ven. Dr. H. Gunaratana.

Destination Clear Blue Sky

Regardless of clouds is the clear blue sky
Absence of clouds is not its condition
A clouded sky, a perspective from Earth

To experience the clear blue sky
Not by clearing clouds from Earth
But by breaking free of its gravity
To raise above the cloud level

- dedicated in memory of my late teacher Peter Della Santina in 2006

Disentanglement

Untying a knot
The effect is no knot
No knot is not a knot
There is no knot in the first place

- written in 2006