Welcome to Beth’s new yoga story series!
Lately, I was searching for different story materials for my yoga kids so that I can make the kids’ yoga class more fun and exciting, at the same time, inspirational and uplifting for their tender hearts and spirits. Well, then, it dawned on me that, why don’t I share the stories with my grown-up yoga students as well??? Hey, they need fun, excitement also, as well as heart- warming stories for their tired and exhausted souls…!
Yes, in fact, we adults might need much stronger doses of soul food than children. While the young kids’ are easy to laugh and be joyous in spontaneity, many grown-ups lost the ability to feel passionate with life or be enthusiastic in anything at all. Instead they are easy to frown and complain, while so quick to rise to anger and frustrations, even with little, little irritations. Life has become too solemn and serious business for many of us as though the whole world is going to collapse if we don’t keep up with the Jones.
Life needs not be struggle if we know how to put it down in the Now like kids. Everybody adores babies and loves to play with children. Why? Because, they are fully present in the moment, in the Now. Their innocent minds are yet to know what is past or future. Their hearts are pure and free from any worries or fear. Thus they are naturally the masters of Yoga, the science of body, mind and spirit, but, not we, adults. We hold way too much tension in our body and noises in the mind for our innate spirit gets the chance to shine forward. If we can only allow our spirit to reveal its brilliance in natural fashion, then, our life will become so much more vibrant and authentic. We could reclaim our birthright for unconditional happiness and bliss.
In the upcoming Yoga story series, that which I will weave from various sources of tales, teachings, myths as well as my own personal experiences, my sole aim is, to help you ignite the sparks in your hearts, so that, you may rediscover your lost passion and motivations for life, to strive for greater happiness, perfect health and soulful success in whatever you do, wherever you are.
Yoga is from ancient India originated thousands years ago since their Vedic culture. The asana and pranayam practices, as largely known to be synonymous with Yoga, is, Hatha Yoga, one of the most potent forms of practicing yoga in balancing and harmonizing our energy, so that it becomes fit to attain enlightenment.
However, it is just one tiny aspects of yoga in the vastitude of Vedic literatures.
Less well known but not any less important aspects of yoga is, Upanishad and Puranas, that are the collections of inspiring stories and teachings of devas (gods), saints and gurus, told in timeless language in the backdrops of ancient India. In those stories, various encounters, deeds and adventures of gods and goddess are told to improve the quality of our lives and also to help our human souls’ emancipation. They stretch our imagination and ordinary comprehension beyond measure by defying any limitations about time, space, sequence and logics. Their points of tell-tales are not to make sense, but, to remind us time and again, the divine nature we are endowed with, but forgotten along the way of samsara (the endless wheels of births and deaths).
In this fast moving technological and material society we are in, there are less and less chances for actual human contacts in our daily lives. Everything can be done mechanically, automatically, through computer, through internet, through mobiles with just one click on the finger tips. When we hear the ancient stories of Upainishad or Purana, we might have to scratch our head in trying to make sense out of them. But, when, gods were looking down on us, with what we are doing in facebooks, YouTubes, mobiles…they will shake their heads and have really no idea what the he** we all are up to. It is us that who are not making sense, not they.
When I see our kids or people, anywhere, everywhere, sitting, standing, or walking…constantly hooked up with those wires or busy with fingers and eyes and ears… I get worry. Because, the more and more, I see distance and disconnection among us with what is more important in life. With our busy modern life, many people are becoming more like a dead-man-walking. They are well alive, but not breathing nor aware of with what is going on around them. Many are so caught up in their mind, in their virtual world, that, each are like an island unto themselves, isolated and disconnected, with the rest of world, even with close family members who are under the same roof. It seems, the busier we get, the lonelier our lives become. Nothing really matters as much like happy and contented smiles in our heart, because, that is what we are going to take with us when we leave this life.
Do you have a song in your heart? What will make your heart sing? Goodness, virtue, humility, sincerity, selfless devotion…those timeless qualities of divinity make my heart to skip its beat when I hear of them. My heart leaps into joy and ecstasy whenever I see the same divine sparks from ordinary to extra ordinary stories of people who dedicated their life, time, efforts in commitment to the love song in their hearts to give it to life, thus making it larger than life. We are no different than other animals in its physiological and safety needs, except the natural inclination towards the noblest, purest and highest, once our basic needs are met. When we dedicate our life to the calls for divinity, then, we can rise above what holds us back, to the timeless beauty and transcendental mythic land, to sing and dance, and rejoicing together with gods and goddesses.
Thus, I would like to invite you to the Yoga mythic journey to meet the heroes and heroines of whom we could aspire, emulate to become better of ourselves and lives…
Monday, March 7, 2011
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Announcement:
Beth’s Yoga: the Healing Sounds Meditation Course
Free Introduction: 5-6pm, 16th October, 2010
Dear Friends,
Greetings to you and your loved ones! Another year end is fast approaching in couple of months. I hope you have enjoyed much happiness, good health, peace of mind and harmonious living to look forward yet another very fulfilling year. If not, maybe, you might consider doing something very different, so that you could greet New Year with fresh resolution, enthusiasm and passion.
Learn How to Meditate in wherever you are, whatever you are doing it—seating, lying down, walking, or even driving!
Despite what impression, misunderstandings, trial experiences you might have had in the past, actually, Meditation is as easy and natural as eating, sleeping or brushing teeth but the effects and benefits are beyond what this short mail can describe. That is, if you know it how to do in the right way.
It is our inborn birthrights to be happy and enjoy maximum physical/mental health, while firmly rooted in our spiritual identity at the same time. According to the modern science and time-tested testimonials by countless self-actualized souls, regular Meditation delivers the following benefits and effects: 1) Calm the mind, release stress and learn to relax. 2) Improve health and increase longevity. 3) Increase clarity of mind, focus and improve creativity. 4) Refine characters for excellence and facilitate self-actualization. 5) Enhance spiritual progress regardless of one’s belief system.
Last month, I have read a very touching interview with Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of Singapore. Contrast to his usual iron willed image, the 87-year Senior Minister was reflecting very candidly about his life in not-so-much as a highly revered and successful politician, but as a humble human being in his twilight years. He seemed deeply threaten by “what awaits” each night no matter how busy days were, especially with his bed-ridden-dear wife’s impeding death including his own limited time in life. (She passed away last week, after one month he gave the interview.)
What touched me, though, was his statement that he envied of people with faith who find strength and solace from it. Thus, he learned meditation lately and calms himself with 20 minutes of meditation at night, which helps him to soothe and certain tranquility settles over him. “The day’s pressures and worries are pushed out. Then there’s less problem sleeping” he said.
Please come to the Free Introduction on the Effects and Benefits of Meditation in 16th October 2010, Saturday, 5-6pm in Beth’s Yoga to learn more about it. Beth will share her lifelong passion of Meditation in the simplest, non-denominational term through this 45 minute Power Point presentation.
So, see you all there!
Beth Lim
Free Introduction: 5-6pm, 16th October, 2010
Dear Friends,
Greetings to you and your loved ones! Another year end is fast approaching in couple of months. I hope you have enjoyed much happiness, good health, peace of mind and harmonious living to look forward yet another very fulfilling year. If not, maybe, you might consider doing something very different, so that you could greet New Year with fresh resolution, enthusiasm and passion.
Learn How to Meditate in wherever you are, whatever you are doing it—seating, lying down, walking, or even driving!
Despite what impression, misunderstandings, trial experiences you might have had in the past, actually, Meditation is as easy and natural as eating, sleeping or brushing teeth but the effects and benefits are beyond what this short mail can describe. That is, if you know it how to do in the right way.
It is our inborn birthrights to be happy and enjoy maximum physical/mental health, while firmly rooted in our spiritual identity at the same time. According to the modern science and time-tested testimonials by countless self-actualized souls, regular Meditation delivers the following benefits and effects: 1) Calm the mind, release stress and learn to relax. 2) Improve health and increase longevity. 3) Increase clarity of mind, focus and improve creativity. 4) Refine characters for excellence and facilitate self-actualization. 5) Enhance spiritual progress regardless of one’s belief system.
Last month, I have read a very touching interview with Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father of Singapore. Contrast to his usual iron willed image, the 87-year Senior Minister was reflecting very candidly about his life in not-so-much as a highly revered and successful politician, but as a humble human being in his twilight years. He seemed deeply threaten by “what awaits” each night no matter how busy days were, especially with his bed-ridden-dear wife’s impeding death including his own limited time in life. (She passed away last week, after one month he gave the interview.)
What touched me, though, was his statement that he envied of people with faith who find strength and solace from it. Thus, he learned meditation lately and calms himself with 20 minutes of meditation at night, which helps him to soothe and certain tranquility settles over him. “The day’s pressures and worries are pushed out. Then there’s less problem sleeping” he said.
Please come to the Free Introduction on the Effects and Benefits of Meditation in 16th October 2010, Saturday, 5-6pm in Beth’s Yoga to learn more about it. Beth will share her lifelong passion of Meditation in the simplest, non-denominational term through this 45 minute Power Point presentation.
So, see you all there!
Beth Lim
Friday, October 1, 2010
The Now—the Pause between Breaths
I have long refused to read the famous best seller “the Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle until March this year. The main reason was from my aversion toward any “hoo-hoo-ha-ha” of public hype as I am naturally cautious for anything if they are too noisy. He was featured big few times by Oprah Winfrey. She is a big fan of his and the once-anonymous-man owes huge debt to her for his now-world-famous celebrity status. Thus, I have been flipping his books in the bookstores every now and then, but, was never really inclined to read through it. Then, Bhante Kovida is one of his avid fans and strongly recommended me to read it. Okay…
It didn’t take me long to finish reading once I sat with it. Yes, very far out book, definitely…but I am not yet so convinced by it. Not because I couldn’t grasp or understand what he is talking about, but because of the levels of abstraction in his language for the description of the “Now.” Because, the Now is so easy to grasp it as soon as you can turn back to your breathing—breathing in, breathing, and pause. The Now is simply in the pause. The more spacious and steady the pauses become, the Now is just right there for you to start living it. It’s extremely sweet, loving and full, just like Indian mangos. If you tasted local mangos only, and think you know the taste of good Indian mangos, then, you are very wrong. So is the taste of the true Now, that lies in between our breaths. Breath by breath, they are so honest and direct path to our freedom and well-being in all levels of our being, the body, mind and spirit.
But, he and his questioners go round and round, as though chasing after its own tails, to understand the “Now.” Very much like the J. Krishnamurti. The legendary theosophy philosopher spent his entire life to explain about meditative states instead of teaching meditation until he died of 90 plus years of age. He talked forever about how beautiful is the silence of mind in reflecting nature and life, but he could never convey his exalted experiences to his world-wide followers. Because people were asking the same type of questions again and again decades after decades instead of they themselves meditate to grasp those experiences. I was told that he died as a very disappointed man… It seems to me that Mr. Tolle is also taking Mr. Krishnamurti’s footsteps…
It is just amazing to realize how much people love to talk about love rather than being lovers. Same goes with mindfulness, goodness and wisdom. Rather than living mindful, good and wise, they analyze about mindfulness, goodness and wisdom. Embracing the Power of Now? Rather than living Now, they talk about how to live Now while constantly moving back and forward to the past and future. It is truly absurd and frustrating to repeat the same talk about certain issues again and again, while it all falls onto deaf ears because not many are truly listening. As much as we are paranoid about talking than listening that can only happen in Now, we are forever going to miss the trains to our destinations.
Truth, happiness, peace and harmony…they elude us like mirage. Our inborn nature, the longing for highest truth in us, always look up for something loftier than mundane. That is why there are so many quacks that use the name of religion and spirituality to cheat and abuse people. The naives are those ignorants who believe others’ talks in the face value. We just have to know how to distinguish the truths for our own good if we were not to get dragged around by the nose in the market place of spirituality.
Whatever I have seen some-twenty years ago in my US days, now, coming to the shore of Malaysia… Lately a lot of spiritual products in the New Age era are rushing over here. Outdated over there, arriving here now, each claiming to offer salvation, love, bliss and spiritual freedom to our famished material souls. I am not saying they are wrong. It is just that I am reminding you to take all of that with a pinch of salts. Too sweet consumption, you might get diabetes. It is all matter of balancing the trinity in us—body, mind and spirit. Don’t swing to one side only. Come back to the other side as well as the pause in between. Don’t get into too much mood making. Don’t do too much thinking and talking and planning for the future. Learn to rest in Now.
The Now is the Pause in between, in our breaths. When you can live more of your breathing awareness, then, you can also understand what Mr. Tolle is talking about, what Mr. Krishnamurti is talking about. Mindfulness meditation, Loving-Kindness meditation…they all have roots in the Breaths. You can truly experience and actually live all those wonderful things they talk about when you can discover the pause in between the breaths. Until then, what sounds sweet to ears will remain just one step out of your reach. They can’t be yours.
Your life is depended on your breaths. So is the Now, so is your health, happiness, love and material/spiritual emancipations. The Now is in the Pause in between our breaths, so easy to forget, but so easy to get in touch, as soon as you can remember.
Breathe in, breathe out, and pause; breathe in, breathe out, and pause…there lies the eternal humdrum of our godly nature. One step forward, breathe in, one step forward breathe out, one step forward, pause your breath…we walk side by side with our Holy Spirit or Buddha nature. How can you be not mindful, loving, kind or blissful when you become just That. Don’t waste time and energy talking about, thinking about, discussing over it. Don’t fret over it for ages trying. Just do. Just breathe in, out and pause but, you have to put your whole awareness to it instead of running on auto-pilot mode. It is much easier than you think. Even your toddlers can do. Why not you? Now, let's do breathing together. Breathing in, breathing out and pause…search for where the breathing is happening? Tummy, chest? It doesn’t really matter as long as you continue be mindful of your breaths; your body will know what to do, your mind will calm down in no time, and your spirit will shine forward brightly… Trust me.
It didn’t take me long to finish reading once I sat with it. Yes, very far out book, definitely…but I am not yet so convinced by it. Not because I couldn’t grasp or understand what he is talking about, but because of the levels of abstraction in his language for the description of the “Now.” Because, the Now is so easy to grasp it as soon as you can turn back to your breathing—breathing in, breathing, and pause. The Now is simply in the pause. The more spacious and steady the pauses become, the Now is just right there for you to start living it. It’s extremely sweet, loving and full, just like Indian mangos. If you tasted local mangos only, and think you know the taste of good Indian mangos, then, you are very wrong. So is the taste of the true Now, that lies in between our breaths. Breath by breath, they are so honest and direct path to our freedom and well-being in all levels of our being, the body, mind and spirit.
But, he and his questioners go round and round, as though chasing after its own tails, to understand the “Now.” Very much like the J. Krishnamurti. The legendary theosophy philosopher spent his entire life to explain about meditative states instead of teaching meditation until he died of 90 plus years of age. He talked forever about how beautiful is the silence of mind in reflecting nature and life, but he could never convey his exalted experiences to his world-wide followers. Because people were asking the same type of questions again and again decades after decades instead of they themselves meditate to grasp those experiences. I was told that he died as a very disappointed man… It seems to me that Mr. Tolle is also taking Mr. Krishnamurti’s footsteps…
It is just amazing to realize how much people love to talk about love rather than being lovers. Same goes with mindfulness, goodness and wisdom. Rather than living mindful, good and wise, they analyze about mindfulness, goodness and wisdom. Embracing the Power of Now? Rather than living Now, they talk about how to live Now while constantly moving back and forward to the past and future. It is truly absurd and frustrating to repeat the same talk about certain issues again and again, while it all falls onto deaf ears because not many are truly listening. As much as we are paranoid about talking than listening that can only happen in Now, we are forever going to miss the trains to our destinations.
Truth, happiness, peace and harmony…they elude us like mirage. Our inborn nature, the longing for highest truth in us, always look up for something loftier than mundane. That is why there are so many quacks that use the name of religion and spirituality to cheat and abuse people. The naives are those ignorants who believe others’ talks in the face value. We just have to know how to distinguish the truths for our own good if we were not to get dragged around by the nose in the market place of spirituality.
Whatever I have seen some-twenty years ago in my US days, now, coming to the shore of Malaysia… Lately a lot of spiritual products in the New Age era are rushing over here. Outdated over there, arriving here now, each claiming to offer salvation, love, bliss and spiritual freedom to our famished material souls. I am not saying they are wrong. It is just that I am reminding you to take all of that with a pinch of salts. Too sweet consumption, you might get diabetes. It is all matter of balancing the trinity in us—body, mind and spirit. Don’t swing to one side only. Come back to the other side as well as the pause in between. Don’t get into too much mood making. Don’t do too much thinking and talking and planning for the future. Learn to rest in Now.
The Now is the Pause in between, in our breaths. When you can live more of your breathing awareness, then, you can also understand what Mr. Tolle is talking about, what Mr. Krishnamurti is talking about. Mindfulness meditation, Loving-Kindness meditation…they all have roots in the Breaths. You can truly experience and actually live all those wonderful things they talk about when you can discover the pause in between the breaths. Until then, what sounds sweet to ears will remain just one step out of your reach. They can’t be yours.
Your life is depended on your breaths. So is the Now, so is your health, happiness, love and material/spiritual emancipations. The Now is in the Pause in between our breaths, so easy to forget, but so easy to get in touch, as soon as you can remember.
Breathe in, breathe out, and pause; breathe in, breathe out, and pause…there lies the eternal humdrum of our godly nature. One step forward, breathe in, one step forward breathe out, one step forward, pause your breath…we walk side by side with our Holy Spirit or Buddha nature. How can you be not mindful, loving, kind or blissful when you become just That. Don’t waste time and energy talking about, thinking about, discussing over it. Don’t fret over it for ages trying. Just do. Just breathe in, out and pause but, you have to put your whole awareness to it instead of running on auto-pilot mode. It is much easier than you think. Even your toddlers can do. Why not you? Now, let's do breathing together. Breathing in, breathing out and pause…search for where the breathing is happening? Tummy, chest? It doesn’t really matter as long as you continue be mindful of your breaths; your body will know what to do, your mind will calm down in no time, and your spirit will shine forward brightly… Trust me.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Do You See Rabbits in the Moon?
It is Autumn Full Moon Day today. In my back home, the day is celebrated with much grandeur; two days are official national holidays but most private sectors are off almost for a week. It is the second biggest national celebration next to Chinese New Year. Living away from my own culture while immersed in different one for many years, I don’t have much a sense of belonging in either. Thus I have lost in touch with any celebrative mood makeup regarding various seasonal markings in the calendar. However, I generally have a special fondness towards Moon that, Autumn Full Moon Day is one of those days I make sure to pause and look up the night sky.
No, I am not looking for Rabbits in the Moon but, somehow, the Moon almost always brings up certain kinds of sentimentality in my heart since small.
Astrologically, Moon is related with feelings, emotions, intuitions, perceptions, etc. Depending on the size of Moon in person’s birth charts and the conditions of waxing or waning among others, the strengths and stability of his/her EQ (emotional quotient) can easily be accessed. Thus in India, the land of soothsayers, well-conditioned moon is a must for a girl and top consideration in match making. I was told by my teacher that, the birth charts of Kamala Nehru who is the wife of Jawalal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of Independent India, and the mother of all mighty Indira Gandhi, was secretly consulted by Nehru’s father to astrologers prior their arranged marriage. Her moon promised a good progeny. That was how, the uneducated girl from a poor family was chosen to be the wife of a British educated powerful lawyer and distinguished disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. Kamala herself suffered ill health and died early, but, it seems the prediction holds it to be true after all. Three Prime Ministers are down the lineage. Her grand-daughter-in-law Sonia Gandhi is currently the most powerful political leader in India with her son Raul Gandhi is in the making of a future Prime Minister.
No, I am not interested in politics at all. It is just a story I heard from my teacher that shows the significance of the moon in life. That is why I am recalling the story to you as well. Not only in choosing our life partner, but also in accessing the people whom we associate with, it helps tremendously if you understand the conditions of their moon beside your own. Understanding the moon in more objective lights, can bring up much love, compassion and genuine humanity as well, thus much legal fees can also be saved in divorce courts.
I used to be rather a difficult person to interact because of the peculiar coldness I emit. That is because, I have a very hyper sensitive moon in my birth chart. I easily get affected by unwholesome outside influences even now. So with some coldness and distance, I was protecting myself from getting hurt. On the other hand, the difficult moon gives me the ability to slip into others’ shoes easily, to understand their certain emotional reactions from their point of views like their own. Thus, I used to suffer this pain in my emotional heart frequently because I hastily take up others’ pain into mine.
Doing more of Hatha Yoga was the saving grace. When the body was weak and not taken care of properly, the emotion also ran havoc easily. It was very difficult to live with its constant insanity. When the body became stronger and more balanced, the mind and emotion also could maintain its composure with more ease. Inborn hyper sensitivity could transmute into high perception to intuitively know right and wrong, proper and improper, too much and too little; thus rendering the ability of natural balance to pause in between. So I continue do Yoga everyday and the Sun and Moon Salutation yoga exercise series continue to be one of my favorite routines. Join me if you are not sure what to do, how to feel, can’t decide…etc. Your head and heart will become much clearer after sweating and limber body.
Happy Full Moon Day to you all! In our folks tale, the secret wishes made in the day, comes true. So don’t forget to look up to the sky and make your wishes!
No, I am not looking for Rabbits in the Moon but, somehow, the Moon almost always brings up certain kinds of sentimentality in my heart since small.
Astrologically, Moon is related with feelings, emotions, intuitions, perceptions, etc. Depending on the size of Moon in person’s birth charts and the conditions of waxing or waning among others, the strengths and stability of his/her EQ (emotional quotient) can easily be accessed. Thus in India, the land of soothsayers, well-conditioned moon is a must for a girl and top consideration in match making. I was told by my teacher that, the birth charts of Kamala Nehru who is the wife of Jawalal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of Independent India, and the mother of all mighty Indira Gandhi, was secretly consulted by Nehru’s father to astrologers prior their arranged marriage. Her moon promised a good progeny. That was how, the uneducated girl from a poor family was chosen to be the wife of a British educated powerful lawyer and distinguished disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. Kamala herself suffered ill health and died early, but, it seems the prediction holds it to be true after all. Three Prime Ministers are down the lineage. Her grand-daughter-in-law Sonia Gandhi is currently the most powerful political leader in India with her son Raul Gandhi is in the making of a future Prime Minister.
No, I am not interested in politics at all. It is just a story I heard from my teacher that shows the significance of the moon in life. That is why I am recalling the story to you as well. Not only in choosing our life partner, but also in accessing the people whom we associate with, it helps tremendously if you understand the conditions of their moon beside your own. Understanding the moon in more objective lights, can bring up much love, compassion and genuine humanity as well, thus much legal fees can also be saved in divorce courts.
I used to be rather a difficult person to interact because of the peculiar coldness I emit. That is because, I have a very hyper sensitive moon in my birth chart. I easily get affected by unwholesome outside influences even now. So with some coldness and distance, I was protecting myself from getting hurt. On the other hand, the difficult moon gives me the ability to slip into others’ shoes easily, to understand their certain emotional reactions from their point of views like their own. Thus, I used to suffer this pain in my emotional heart frequently because I hastily take up others’ pain into mine.
Doing more of Hatha Yoga was the saving grace. When the body was weak and not taken care of properly, the emotion also ran havoc easily. It was very difficult to live with its constant insanity. When the body became stronger and more balanced, the mind and emotion also could maintain its composure with more ease. Inborn hyper sensitivity could transmute into high perception to intuitively know right and wrong, proper and improper, too much and too little; thus rendering the ability of natural balance to pause in between. So I continue do Yoga everyday and the Sun and Moon Salutation yoga exercise series continue to be one of my favorite routines. Join me if you are not sure what to do, how to feel, can’t decide…etc. Your head and heart will become much clearer after sweating and limber body.
Happy Full Moon Day to you all! In our folks tale, the secret wishes made in the day, comes true. So don’t forget to look up to the sky and make your wishes!
Friday, September 3, 2010
A dog story
The other night coming back home from an outing, we saw our front neighbor elderly couple taking a walk with their dog and cat. Obviously the dog was happy sniffing around in a leash held by the lady master. But the cat wasn’t. He was tied in a long chain leash held by the master and sat at the grass refusing to move. “Ayoh…!!! Dog goes for a walk with masters but cat does their own…!” Edwin, the animal lover, exclaimed from the rear seat. Of course, they couldn’t hear it. The poor cat, looking gauntly, gave an indifferent look towards us as our car passed by them. It seems they didn’t want to lose their recently picked-up stray cat. So they keep him tied down at the corner of their gate. He doesn’t look pleased, though, to get tied, especially when he sees our dog Jang-Gun, the Doberman, left freely roaming inside our compound directly opposite to their house.
“Mommy, do you know what Winston Churchill said about the difference between cats and dog?" "No, I don't know." He said, “Dogs look Up on you, cats look Down, and…pigs look Equal with you!!”
I laughed. I thought that was brilliant. I am not so much an animal person, but, he is. One time, when he was about two to three years old, he got fascinated with hamsters after seeing it a neighbor girl playing with it. He immediately fell in love with the little creatures, begging me to buy him one. Of course, cannot…!!! I dare not to touch anything crawly, geli, or creepy. All my body hair would stand up and also I can’t stand the smell. On the other hand, he somehow just loves anything that are living things, large and small, except cockroaches. The little Edwin begged me to keep hamster, and later, rabbit, and then, later dog… I would say no, each time, with the excuses that we are not supposed to keep any animal in the house, because we were living in apartments then. But I promised him to keep a guarding dog when we move into a landed house later, with the condition that he would know how to take care and clean after the dog. I kept my promise and he kept his. That is how we have our dog, Jang-Gun. So far, Edwin is doing a good job taking care of him, feeding, washing and playing.
Surprisingly though, I also started to like him and other dogs. Unlike his fierce look, Jang-Gun is a very loving and sweet. He knows whom to bark or not to. He will bark fiercely to sampah men, mailmen, or any suspicious men coming near his house, but never to our guests or friends, even if he sees them for the first time. How he knows? I have no idea. He also knows which plants to disturb and which plants absolutely shouldn’t. My hubby keeps hundreds of orchid in the front and back compounds. Jang-Gun will never, never touch them or go near them. But he will nibble those weeds growing at the different corner of the house. Oh…one more thing, he will also not make any noise if I am in the living hall doing my things or resting, because, he knows I don’t like noisy. He just knows how to behave himself differently to all of us. He is ever hyperactive and playful with Edwin; playful with or afraid of my hubby depending on hubby’s mood; and ever cautious but gently loving with me. See, how can I not like him when I see him having a so clear intelligence and discretion, even if, he is just an animal?
One thing, he doesn’t like water or getting wet. Whenever it rains, he will find the last dry corner to stand, just to avoid getting wet. He lies his body flat on his back whenever Edwin trying to bathe him. Edwin has to struggle hard to drag him to water tap. He is getting bigger, so it is getting more difficult to make him bathe. Every now and then, I watch their battles in amusement.
One day, it was raining outside and I was reading in the table. Then, I saw Jang-Gun seating outside of the porch, wet and shivering. I was wondering what this dog was up to. I went out to call him back.
“What are you doing, Jang-Gun? Why are you sitting there wet? What’s wrong?”
But he just sat there shivering and looking at me afraid. The eyes were of when he did something wrong. So I looked around to see what mischief he did. One orchid pot was fallen on the floor. Judging from the scene, I figured he was walking past the pot when it fell by the strong wind. He took it as his fault. He got scare of his master’s fury when he finds out. So he was punishing himself in the rain wet and shivering, and refused to come in when I call him. I called Edwin who was in the upstairs. As I was telling Edwin the story, Jang-Gun was even more shivering. Edwin’s heart broke to see his dire distressed look. He refused to come in under the porch, so Edwin has to drag him again and tie him in his leash to stop him from keep running out again in the rain. In a while, my hubby came back home. We related the incident to him while Jang-Gun again in his almost panic state with his ears and tail tucked in. It was only when, my hubby tapped his back and said, it’s okay, that Jang-Gun relieved his guilty punishment to himself wagging his tail happily to the master.
It was truly amazing to see how even a dog knows how to repent himself when we human are often not. There are so many people around us who refused to see or admit their own faults, even if it is so obvious. They are quick to arouse their temper in denial or self-defend, ever blaming others for anything wrong but never to themselves. It is always others that are at faults but not them. They are also quick to show their hostility or jealousy to other’s achievements or success. It is they who deserve all the best, the most comforts and success at no cost, while often ignoring or overlooking others’ sweat and toils behind what others might have spent for days and nights. They are so selfish when it comes to guarding their own interests but, seldom considerate or merciful when it is about others’.
I often wondered why, whenever I come across with such injustice or unfairness in anyone or situations. I used to chew or fret over it until I disturb my peace and sleep for days. But, now, as I am older and wiser, that I no longer wonder but understand why. They are lacking in self-love and sense of security. That is why they are behaving selfishly as the way they do. They might have grown up in the environment ever challenged with scarcity, competition for love or lack of affections. They might have grown up in over-pampered environments that, everything was revolving around themselves, never knowing how to share or be kind with others. They might have grown up in very threatening situations that, everybody else was out to get theirs or hurt them, but might never have received warm hugging and hot soup to relieve their cold stomach…
Whatever the reasons might be…this much is sure. Those who can’t love, share or repent over their own faults, they are the most unfortunate people in the world no matter how much they are rich or successful. After all, life is surprisingly simple to live and be happy when you have a roof over your head, clothes to wear, and enough food to eat. It is only when the heart is not content or in the right conditions, ah…that’s when the life starts to get complicated, with much wants or don’t-wants, hatreds or blames, regrets and worries…I suppose that is why, these days, many people are having dogs and call them they are the man’s best friends. Because their love, loyalty and dedications are totally unconditional…
“Mommy, do you know what Winston Churchill said about the difference between cats and dog?" "No, I don't know." He said, “Dogs look Up on you, cats look Down, and…pigs look Equal with you!!”
I laughed. I thought that was brilliant. I am not so much an animal person, but, he is. One time, when he was about two to three years old, he got fascinated with hamsters after seeing it a neighbor girl playing with it. He immediately fell in love with the little creatures, begging me to buy him one. Of course, cannot…!!! I dare not to touch anything crawly, geli, or creepy. All my body hair would stand up and also I can’t stand the smell. On the other hand, he somehow just loves anything that are living things, large and small, except cockroaches. The little Edwin begged me to keep hamster, and later, rabbit, and then, later dog… I would say no, each time, with the excuses that we are not supposed to keep any animal in the house, because we were living in apartments then. But I promised him to keep a guarding dog when we move into a landed house later, with the condition that he would know how to take care and clean after the dog. I kept my promise and he kept his. That is how we have our dog, Jang-Gun. So far, Edwin is doing a good job taking care of him, feeding, washing and playing.
Surprisingly though, I also started to like him and other dogs. Unlike his fierce look, Jang-Gun is a very loving and sweet. He knows whom to bark or not to. He will bark fiercely to sampah men, mailmen, or any suspicious men coming near his house, but never to our guests or friends, even if he sees them for the first time. How he knows? I have no idea. He also knows which plants to disturb and which plants absolutely shouldn’t. My hubby keeps hundreds of orchid in the front and back compounds. Jang-Gun will never, never touch them or go near them. But he will nibble those weeds growing at the different corner of the house. Oh…one more thing, he will also not make any noise if I am in the living hall doing my things or resting, because, he knows I don’t like noisy. He just knows how to behave himself differently to all of us. He is ever hyperactive and playful with Edwin; playful with or afraid of my hubby depending on hubby’s mood; and ever cautious but gently loving with me. See, how can I not like him when I see him having a so clear intelligence and discretion, even if, he is just an animal?
One thing, he doesn’t like water or getting wet. Whenever it rains, he will find the last dry corner to stand, just to avoid getting wet. He lies his body flat on his back whenever Edwin trying to bathe him. Edwin has to struggle hard to drag him to water tap. He is getting bigger, so it is getting more difficult to make him bathe. Every now and then, I watch their battles in amusement.
One day, it was raining outside and I was reading in the table. Then, I saw Jang-Gun seating outside of the porch, wet and shivering. I was wondering what this dog was up to. I went out to call him back.
“What are you doing, Jang-Gun? Why are you sitting there wet? What’s wrong?”
But he just sat there shivering and looking at me afraid. The eyes were of when he did something wrong. So I looked around to see what mischief he did. One orchid pot was fallen on the floor. Judging from the scene, I figured he was walking past the pot when it fell by the strong wind. He took it as his fault. He got scare of his master’s fury when he finds out. So he was punishing himself in the rain wet and shivering, and refused to come in when I call him. I called Edwin who was in the upstairs. As I was telling Edwin the story, Jang-Gun was even more shivering. Edwin’s heart broke to see his dire distressed look. He refused to come in under the porch, so Edwin has to drag him again and tie him in his leash to stop him from keep running out again in the rain. In a while, my hubby came back home. We related the incident to him while Jang-Gun again in his almost panic state with his ears and tail tucked in. It was only when, my hubby tapped his back and said, it’s okay, that Jang-Gun relieved his guilty punishment to himself wagging his tail happily to the master.
It was truly amazing to see how even a dog knows how to repent himself when we human are often not. There are so many people around us who refused to see or admit their own faults, even if it is so obvious. They are quick to arouse their temper in denial or self-defend, ever blaming others for anything wrong but never to themselves. It is always others that are at faults but not them. They are also quick to show their hostility or jealousy to other’s achievements or success. It is they who deserve all the best, the most comforts and success at no cost, while often ignoring or overlooking others’ sweat and toils behind what others might have spent for days and nights. They are so selfish when it comes to guarding their own interests but, seldom considerate or merciful when it is about others’.
I often wondered why, whenever I come across with such injustice or unfairness in anyone or situations. I used to chew or fret over it until I disturb my peace and sleep for days. But, now, as I am older and wiser, that I no longer wonder but understand why. They are lacking in self-love and sense of security. That is why they are behaving selfishly as the way they do. They might have grown up in the environment ever challenged with scarcity, competition for love or lack of affections. They might have grown up in over-pampered environments that, everything was revolving around themselves, never knowing how to share or be kind with others. They might have grown up in very threatening situations that, everybody else was out to get theirs or hurt them, but might never have received warm hugging and hot soup to relieve their cold stomach…
Whatever the reasons might be…this much is sure. Those who can’t love, share or repent over their own faults, they are the most unfortunate people in the world no matter how much they are rich or successful. After all, life is surprisingly simple to live and be happy when you have a roof over your head, clothes to wear, and enough food to eat. It is only when the heart is not content or in the right conditions, ah…that’s when the life starts to get complicated, with much wants or don’t-wants, hatreds or blames, regrets and worries…I suppose that is why, these days, many people are having dogs and call them they are the man’s best friends. Because their love, loyalty and dedications are totally unconditional…
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