Moonpointer : Zeph's Journal

Wi: Anyone wants this packet of milk? I don't drink milk. Who drinks milk?
Zeph: Cows.

“There's no reason to drink cow's milk at any time in your life.
It was designed for calves, not humans, and we should all stop drinking it today.”

– Dr. Frank A. Oski (Former Director of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University)

What's wrong with dairy (for humans & calves) ? : http://milksucks.com/dairyleaflet.pdf

Zeph: Looks like it's going to rain...
Zlyrica: Maybe it's just a passing cloud.
Zeph: Clouds are always just passing by.
Zlyrica: So do non-cloudy days pass by too.

Speak the unpleasant truth, by all means –
but do it kindly, and make sure it is helpful.
If not, remain silent.

That's my personal summary of the Abhaya Sutta:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/majjhima/mn058.html

I owe everything to everything and everyone.
We owe everything to everything and everyone.
Everything and everyone is interdependent on everything and everyone.

I read an article in the papers about a bookworm who stacked so many books in his apartment that when they toppled, he was covered up to the neck with them. It was a case of almost drowning in books, as he was trapped for two days, shouting for help. Scary though somewhat amusing. A classic story of drowning in the sea of knowledge, lacking wisdom. Another concrete example that knowledge and wisdom are different things. He obviously know a lot (have knowledge), but is not very wise (have wisdom).

George: Below is a section of dialogue from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night between a Clown who is very good at playing with words and a nobleman, the Duke of Orsino.

Duke: I know thee well: how dost thou, my good fellow?
Clown: Truly, sir, the better for my foes and the worse for my friends.
Duke: Just the contrary; the better for thy friends.
Clown: No, sir, the worse.
Duke: How can that be?
Clown: Marry, sir, they praise me and make an ass of me; now my foes tell me plainly I am an ass; so that by my foes, sir, I profit in the knowledge of myself; and by my friends I am abused: ... (Act V, Scene 1)

Thanks, Zeph, for proving Shakespeare wrong.

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R: But I am really really very very tired and sick of life. I understand why peole have the courage to end their lives – cos they are so sick.
Z: Please forget that idea entirely. Suicide means dying in fear and hate. The Buddha tells us the destination will be hell, which is a world which corresponds to the mindstate of fear and hate. When we overcome problems, we can only become stronger. If not, we remain weak.

Don't jump from the frying pan into the fire. If you think this is hell, killing yourself will only land you in REAL HELL.

People who end their lives LACK courage to face problems. Death will NOT end the problems. There will be rebirth and as long as lessons are not learnt, we face them again and again. What's worse is that when you build up the habit of running away, you might contemplate...
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The cleaner who swept my office left on the floor some strands of what-you-call-it from his broom. It didn't make me mad – it made me reflect about whether I leave trails of destruction when I meant to be constructive, whether I sometimes do more harm than good despite good intentions. Let us sweep clean mindfully and leave only trails of purity.

Love can be everlasting only when accompanied by wisdom.
– Dharma Master Cheng Yen

Love of the Buddhas is everlasting!
Let us learn to love all beings like the Buddhas.

When someone does you a big favour, don't pay it back... pay it forward. (“Pay It Foward” movie tagline)

Someone once wrote a poem about the positive chain reaction that a simple smile started... A truly selfless and compassionate deed, no matter how small, has a way of growing in intensity and blazing through the world in various forms, even if we don't get to know about it... Never believe that a kind deed vanishes into the ether the moment after it is performed. You may not see it, or even know about it yourself, but you have no idea how you inspired the recipient of your kindness to be a better person or pass on that compassion to others.
– Eugene Loh

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