Apprehending the meaning beyond the surface.

The way is not in the finger, but the direction where the finger is pointing.

I was just reading up some comments on a buddhist wedding song sung by two dear friends. I thought it was very beautiful. I especially valued how they sung "we shall always be the best of pal in harmony."

Brushing all kinship biasness aside, I was appalled by the debates - in the comments section - sparked by the simple fact that they were facing the buddha with their backs. How minuscule?

A person who adheres rules and customs in religious books without questioning and understanding the meaning behind these rules is akin to a cow that must be constantly pulled and herded; the cow, without its string, is a lost cow.

Lets see beyond established rules to apprehend the meaning already, shall we?

And I bet few could understand this.

[Disclaimer: These are all typed out in one go, right after I watched the video, to capture my own train of thoughts; rather, they are trains of thoughts. They are intended to be original, and unedited. I have not reread it after typing it out. If grammar, instead of apprehension of the main ideas, is your cup of tea, I highly do not recommend you reading this or trying to make sense out of it. (Similar disclaimer applies for highly linear thinker)]
Now, that I've warned you, here goes.

I just had a thought.

I think few people in the world are capable of understanding me.
You see, I'm one who would have the following train of thoughts while watching a youtube video like this..



*1st layer of thought* I would think of the archetypes behind MTVs in west - think Sexyback, this, and everything else (promoting a chase of endless lust and passions and all things glittery and glamorous [*2nd layer of thoughts* linking the behaviors of some American youths (drinking to get drunk, hooking ups, gossiping, partying, making ups) with the influence of these music videos.. teaching us the model of cool and 'trend'y behaviours... so we can adjust our behavior to it according... like how girls model the beautiful standards they have to reach everyday from the models in the magazines...)

comparing it to the Asians archetype (a girl or guy who keeps crying 10 years after their breakups, never letting go of their loved ones - even if death do them apart - think 'Tong Hua';

alternatively acting cute and innocent in Taiwanese Music Videos; I grew up with 10,000 videos like these [*3rd layer of thoughts* which can be explained using the Asian's staying loyal *4th layer: thinking of my Ancestral worship practices* and chastity culture] ). For example,
which meant something like..

Own it Once More

I miss the winter from last year

At that snowy night

Your gentle, tightly held hands

Has warmed me throughout winter

I lost the things I once owned

After you left

You took my laughter and left behind loneliness

I have forgotten what happiness is

The nights without you are especially dark

I can only close my eyes to feel

Those nights without me, who is without you

And replaced our past

Can I hear you say “love me” once more?

And return to the time I was still in your arms?

Can I own this one more time,

This gentleness that once belonged to me

comparing it to the Islamic Nasheed music video I saw like Raihan while I was in Malaysia (which is all about modesty and minimalistic - using only duff (a small drum) and their voices unlike all the fancy props MTVs have) to the values that their youths model against (I'm speaking of some of the true pious, gentle Islamic youths that I've encountered) which explains the modesty of covering up wearing Hijab/tudung....



*back to 2nd layer of thought on American youths getting drunk, hooking up, partying* I would also think of why and what's the purpose of constructing all these fake realities....
Britney Spears is really not Britney Spears - definitely not the one we see or know. The Britney Spears we see is a face that was drawn out through at least 3 layers of makeups... 20 types of products all over the eyes and face to body shimmers... A real woman don't look like that. (We don't have drunken, lustful eyes, opened mouth moving in slow mooootion looking for constant sex)
*3rd layer of thoughts* why these lies, surreality, and constructed reality?
maybe it is driven by a desire to break free from reality... to escape from reality...
maybe, actually, people are not happy?
*4th layer of thoughts* but why are we trying to escape from reality? why aren't people happy?
maybe the Industrial Revolution [*5th layer of thoughts* which makes the advertisements necessary to sell off all the excess products, in turn, makes ourselves labor more to buy more things we don't need, to support the gigantic structure they call Economy] is all quite a lie that we're improving; instead of suffering. we're sold that we're happy if we have this and that.

and to be happy we have to first do things that we're not happy doing (work to earn money), what logic?

we were lied to with a constitutions that states that we're guaranteed peace, and freedom as an individual.
but peace comes through a mutual threats or fear of the armory, tanks, nuclear weapons that we have.
we have freedom? yes *sarcasm* when we can barely choose how to not dread college and work (for happiness *which is a lie* because happiness comes only with contentment, not material. you'll not be happy if you work more, for a flat today, townhouse next year, bungalow or a BMW upgrade or more expensive make ups and skincare to attract love)
really, are we free?

we were trapped in our own little constructed reality and economy
while on the other end of the world... people are suffering from civil wars fighting for access to diamonds * think Blood Diamond * or rare earth metals like Neodymium in yours and my cell phones and computers and tvs [*6th layer of thoughts* again used to lie to us that we need more neodymium] millions are dying through these civil wars.....or suffering to labor for 0.5 cents a day pay to plant coffees, that will be jack up 2000% its price when it arrives at our supermarket. then we also have to labor 9 to 5. 9 hours a day. 1 hour of to and from work. 8 hours of sleep, 3 hours to travel & eat our meals, an hour to bath, WE'RE LEFT WITH 2 HOURS for ourselves (that's what we have for our FREEDOM *7th layer of thoughts* great way to control people to not be able to realize certain truth, kept in our own little constructed ignorance existence and keep going back to their 9 to 5) to buy that 2000% priced coffee to make ourselves happy, cause we were told by our tvs that we need them since young (we probably wouldn't know of the existence of coffee, without it. So it goes back to supporting our whole structure of Economy to buy ourselves happiness)
http://pcworld.co.nz/pcworld/pcw.nsf/news/common-gadgets-may-be-affected-by-shortage-of-rare-earths

we were told that we are happy, and we're free...
but in the end we have 2 hours a day to do what we want, we are unhappy, they, on the other end of the world, are unhappy or dying... and we all want to break free...



so these are my train of thoughts from just watching one video.

[*unknown layer of thoughts* at this point, i lost track of how many thoughts I had along the way of watching a 3:56 minute of video. I think our mind are magnificent and too fast to be caught on by words. This is what i thought of in 3:56 minute. sometimes i wish i could document more of my thoughts. but the way my thoughts go, is like this unbounded spider web, i can probably go on thinking forever. answering all my own whys.]

Really, Can anyone follow me?

hmmmmmnn.




i can only wish.

Documentaries I deem worth watching.

I forgo tv since a really long time ago.
But here are some documentaries I've watched which will provide some insights to my current view of the world - a world of advertisements, consumerism, development (on a side of the world), and poverty (on the other side).
These can be life changing documentaries. (It will at least make you think of certain issues in a different way) Ready for a challenge? haha :P
(Actually, I just want you to watch it! hahaha. yes, I've succeeded in being silly again. Actually, I'm just trying to be funny, please laugh! )

Metta - Loving Kindness

Do if you wish as I do - just take 10 minutes off from running your daily chores or to another meeting - close your eyes and contemplate upon the words below while appreciating the music.

This is. Always a reminder. To me.

Metta Sutta

This is what should be done

By one who is skilled in goodness,

And who knows the path of peace:

Let them be able and upright,

Straightforward and gentle in speech.

Humble and not conceited,

Contented and easily satisfied.

Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.

Peaceful and calm, and wise and skillful,

Not proud and demanding in nature.

Let them not do the slightest thing

That the wise would later reprove.

Wishing: In gladness and in saftey,

May all beings be at ease.

Whatever living beings there may be;

Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,

The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,

The seen and the unseen,

Those living near and far away,

Those born and to-be-born,

May all beings be at ease!

Let none deceive another,

Or despise any being in any state.

Let none through anger or ill-will

Wish harm upon another.

Even as a mother protects with her life

Her child, her only child,

So with a boundless heart

Should one cherish all living beings:

Radiating kindness over the entire world

Spreading upwards to the skies,

And downwards to the depths;

Outwards and unbounded,

Freed from hatred and ill-will.

Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down

Free from drowsiness,

One should sustain this recollection.

This is said to be the sublime abiding.

By not holding to fixed views,

The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,

Being freed from all sense desires,

Is not born again into this world.

I wish that, you - my friend, my teacher, my parents, my siblings, my acquaintance, or just anyone that I don't know of yet - to be well, and to be happy.
:)

Old self, new self, no self?

Reading up my old blog cheered me up :)

(I blame my brother for bringing this up, but I thank him for reminding me of this old side of me.)

Haha. I used to....

While studying Physics, memorize all the Newtonian laws construct a whole bunch of my own laws.. like:

Hypothesis: The more you study, the less life you get.

Methods of Proving:

1) Hold a mirror

2) Look at yourself and convince yourself that those things on your table makes you happy sulk

Conclusion: The more you study, the less life you get.

(I think I still dislike forced learning education just as much even though my siblings deeply believe that I'm a nerd and a bookworm.)

Do funky posts like a step-by-step manual on:

*HOW TO TURN YOUR KIDS INTO FOOTBALL JUNKIES IN THE FUTURE*

Receive & collect testimonials such as these:

when there's Vienna around.. who needs a Tv?
- PeiLi -

see u keep eating only... and u have Mr Bean's personality in you. hahahaha funny!
- Janice -




vienna friggin eats alot! and i mean ALOT! took 3 full plates of lok lok and nasi lemak. o.o kim tot she couldn't finish them all and bet with her 10bucks for that. in the end she ran away w/o paying vienna. xD
- Junjie -

I'll miss laughing at u! I mean it in a really good way =)
I mean.. Vienna.. u can never find anyone like you..
Thank god! And Im really happy to have friends like you..


Vienna
- Happy-go-lucky
- Never-gets-upset
-2-weeks-before-exam-last-minute-study-and-still-can-score [Vienna, *hint hint*- study!!]
- Cheerful, bubbly, loud, whacky person
- Also the 'tai ka jie' in the family

And Vienna has managed to make me laugh again (come on, this Vitagen girl always makes me laugh...)
- Yi wen -


Ur really funny! (Laughs) U should like have ur own talk show! (thinks..) The Vienna Show!
I will be your first-ever Manager!
- Alexis -

Pei Li & Camen amazingly wants to be my manager too (on three separate occasions; they must be testifying for something!)

Better start beaming light to the show! Bet u'll earn a lot! - Katy -

hahaha I haven't met anyone,anything like you.. eccentric yet funny.

- Ruff -

Loud laugher xD
- camen -

Hmm, gosh I missed my 'even if the sky falls down on me, I can hold it up with my little finger' attitude. Wait, I think I still am - in a more subtle way. For better or worse?

Oh, whacky, bubbly, funny, and stupid Vienna. :D

How times have changed?

Mozart - Sonata KV 448 for 2 Pianos & Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major

Brings back those fond memories, feelings, and thoughts I used to have while wondering around piano competitions and concerts.

A thought just came across my mind while I was reading;
Mommy, you're the most selfless person I knew.

Service, devotion, and sacrifice.
What an inner real gem. Yet, the most beautiful things are often the most easily dismissed.