For the past couple of weeks, it has been raining constantly in the place I live in. However, the weather after the rain is really good as the place will be less humid and the skies are blue as ever. This year I noticed some changes in the pattern of the clouds. Usually, I would stare at the sky during my free time and admire the clouds and the environment. I realized many people tend to overlook the simple little things happening around them because they are too busy with their own things to do.
Our mother nature is the best gift God can give to us, other than life. Take a break from what you are doing and look around you. What do you see?
I'm in my room staring at at a bright white computer screen. But when I close my eyes, all I see is greenery, the sound of birds singing, the peacefulness and calmness that I pictured in my mind so clearly. Why can I picture it? Because that is what I've seen before in my life, unconsciously. However, the world that I see now is changing drastically. The greenery of the trees and the multi-coloured flowers are all starting to dissapear. The cows and goats that I used to see munching off grass every time I pass my school to go home, were all gone. Instead, all I see now are tall skyscrapers, bare fields which turned into construction sites, roads filled with cars, the sound of impatient drivers honking their cars like there's no tomorrow. What has become of our earth?
This is not a place I would want to live in. I rather live in a place with the sound of children's laughter, the feeling of warmth of family and neighbours and animals roaming freely on the big green land. I do not like what had happened to our earth, our SOCIETY. Do you?
I would want to shout out to all developers and politicians to STOP DESTROYING OUR EARTH. Building more residential areas, open-burning, cutting down all our forests and digging for petroleum - these are a few examples that will affect the human kind in a long term. It may not happen now. But someday, it will. The generations after us will have to suffer for all our terrible deeds. So what WE can do now, is not just practice the 3R's - recycle, reuse and reduce. But also to avoid at all cost. For example, do not turn on the air-conditioner if you don't need it. You will not die of humidity, just turn on the fan.
As a youth, I want to live my life to the fullest I can. If the world is about to end ( according to the Mayan Calendar), how am I going to do that? I cannot change the world, but I can start by changing myself. According to the Buddhist teachings, we must understand and learn the 5 precepts. We shall not kill, harm ourselves or anyone for that matter, lie, cheat, steal, take in intoxicants or have any sexual misconducts. For my personal experience, I have done wrong at least 2 rules of the 5 precepts. But there is no way I can undo the past or set the future. All I can do is to live in the present and to be MINDFUL of everything that I do so that I would not harm anyone.
At times, I say things that hurts people's feelings. It took me a while to realize that what I've said was incorrect or insensitive. But how do I undo what I said. I can press the "backspace" or "delete" button on the keyboard, but when you put it into words, you can't just delete it. As for myself, I do not like to hear harsh things from people because I am sensitive too, what goes around comes around. It will take a lot of practice for me to be mindful whenever I start to talk.Somethings are better left to be unsaid.
On another matter, I have been on cloud nine since my magazine cover came out. For the past few weeks, I've been scrutinizing every single inch of the magazine till I can picture it in my head already. It has been a very fun experience for me as I get to go for a photo shoot for the first time. Never in my mind I thought I would be in for a cover of a magazine ( because I am definitely not a model material). But it was one of the prizes for winning the competition I joined last year. There have been lots of perks for winning the competition. No doubt. However, I do not really like what has to come with it - fame. Some people are willing to give up anything to become famous popstars. But I don't. I love it when people recognize me for my work,my attitude and my achievements. But I do not like it when people start staring at me like I am an alien or something or talking behind my back. It really annoys me. But I'll have to deal with it because it is a part of life, and life is suffering.
Instead, I try to look at the beauty of life. How I would find happiness with bonding with my family and friends, not to exclude my pets. Life is a joyous thing too. To see the beauty of the world with our eyes, the magnificent skies around us and the love seen around parents and children, husband and wifes & animal-lovers with their pets. Its wonderful living in this world.
Recently, my house dog, Brownie, got sick and he looked like he was about to die. At age 5, he was still a young puppy then. He is a mixed "police dog" breed and "paria". ( Haha) He has been an active dog who loves to "speak' to us, and yes, he can speak in a way. But now, he is all skin and bones & barely even stand on his own four feet. I remember feeling so emotional during the morning before going to school. He was practically one of my family members, other then Crystal, my pet dog. I remember nearly bursting into tears when I started mentioning him to my friends in school. They were really supportive and encouraging. I will not mention names but they have been a good support to me emotionally and mentally. I am happy to find my kayana mitras. But I believe there are more kalyana mitras out there that I haven't met or never really gotten to know. Kalyana mitras means true friends btw.
It has been a blessing for me to be born in a loving family. I hope that there will be more peace and happiness in the world so that they will understand the true meaning of life. I would also like a favour from everyone reading this blog, my dear cousin brother who is 8-years-old, has been in the ICU for the past couple of months. He is currently in a coma and does not seem to make any progress. I hope that I can somehow, find a person, who is able to give me advise on what to do, and why he is in such a state, mostly importantly, how to release him from suffering. Everyone in my family has been affected emotionally because of his condition. Even my mother has sleepless nights thinking about him. But my uncle on my mom's side has been playing the Buddhist tapes and praying for him for a speedy recovery. So sadhu (x3) to him! Hopefully he will suffer less and live a life with no suffering.
May he be well and healthy.
May my whole family be well and healthy.
May all my friends be well and healthy.
And may all sentient beings be free from sufferings.
Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu!
