Sydney Welcomes The Year 2009

More than a million people crammed the Sydney Harbour foreshores to welcome 2009. They were there to see the spectacular fireworks displays launched from the Harbour Bridge, the barges across the Harbour and from the top of several Sydney skyscrapers.

Merry Christmas

Some of the Christmas decoration around our suburb.

It is all lights up.


And raindeer gazing at the front lawn.

The snowmen look happy amist the summer heat.

And Santa has just arrived.

The Olympic Torch Relay

The constant protest and demonstrations against the Olympic Torch Relay and the Olympic is of concern to everyone. There are a few theories and possible reasons behind all these fiascos.

1. Jealousy and Hatred: The demonstrators have been all brain washed by corrupt western ideas. They are just against China for the sake of just opposing China. China is a success story. From suffering poverty and hunger to exporting of food and technology, from hand building of The Great Wall to launching of rockets into space, from riding bicycle to driving motorcars, whatever you can think of, it is impossible to call it a success. The West is jealous of China’s success. They want to discredit China. The Tibetan issue comes handy as an excuse to be used worldwide. They say that Tibetans are a different people, have different language and with different culture. Hence they must be independent from China. If this argument is valid, why not free Hawaii, or Alaska, or Acheh or Jaffna or Kurdish? They are different peoples with different cultures too. Instead of using their hands, their legs and their mouths to protest, perhaps they should use their heads to think whether their actions justify their cause.

2. Ignorance: China and Tibet has long historical tie. In the 7th century, the Tibetans were all nomadic people living in the wild, at most at tents without religion. The Chinese Princess Wencheng married the Tibetans King Songtson Gambo in the year 634 and introduced agriculture, poultry farming, printing and other technologies to Tibet. Above all, Buddhism was introduced and practiced until now. The famous tourist attractions, the Jhongkang Temple and the Potala Palace were build by the Chinese engineers and trades person during the 7th centuries. Tibetans has gained a lot in terms of knowledge and technology due to the influence of China. (See http://www.wku.edu/~yuanh/China/tales/princesswencheng_b.htm ).

Tibet has 2.7 millions people. Whether they are well treated depends on one’s individual knowledge of China and Tibet and their current affairs and current state of development. The majority of China 1.3 billion is still poor and suffering. The Olympic is an opportunity for the Chinese people to get together to improve their contacts with the rest of the world and to improve their livelihood. We should not suppress the wishes of 1.3 billion people to join the world through the Olympic to improve themself.

In welcoming the Olympic, 200 millions Chinese are learning English. More westerners will visit China and influence Chinese people and its Government as well on some good western way of life and the western democratic ideas. China is progressively opening up. The Beijing Olympic is a golden opportunity to further open up China. The demonstrators are ignorant thinking that they can just tell China what to do but they are not aware that by doing so they are helping to kill this opportunity. Moreover, they are also interfering in the internal affair of a sovereign country.

3. Greed: The demonstrators have ample opportunities to protest against their own governments. They can fight for free education, free medicine, equal opportunity and better social support. They can fight to prevent the rich from getting richer, and fight for the poor from getting poorer. There are so many issues that they cannot fight or they have no resources to fight. Instead, these issues are not enough to occupy them; they are greedy for more issues. So they demonstrate against the Olympic Torch Relay and against the Olympic.

Whether one agrees to the above depends on an individual. There may also be other theories beyond me. Whatever we do, I believe it is counter productive to boycott the Olympic or to injure the spirit of the Olympic Game. We should look into ourself and think we can help to make China or our country or any other country more progressive.

It is basically wrong to take the moral high ground and condemn others for what we do not like or for what we do not know fully.

Chinese New Year Dragon Boat Race

Dragon boat races to celebrate the Year of the Rat at Sydney Darling Harbour.

Chinese New Year Parade In Sydney

Celebrating Year of The Rat. Gong Xi Fa Cai

My Tip For The Christmas Break

With Christmas just around the corner, I can feel that the festive mood has intensified with each day passing. Around homes and offices, people are busy putting up the Christmas decorations. The car parks in and around department stores are getting more packed with the Christmas shopping frenzy unleased. Apart from being an important event in the Christianity community, the festive mood transcends races and religions. Everybody joins in the celebration. In shopping centres, children of all cultures queue up to have photos taken with Santa.

Different people will spent their Christmas break in different ways. Some may choose to go away for a holiday to have a break from the routine. Some may visit amusement parks, watch movies in cinemas or dinning out. Many may also take this as an opportunity to have extended time at the pubs.

To most people, the yearly Christmas break presents a great opportunity for family members and friends to get together. This is the time where most offices and factories are closed (apart from essential services) and majority of the population are off work.

My tip for the Christmas break is that one should spend the time as one planned or desired and comfortable. Above all, I would encourage friends and family members to spend at least one day together for a BBQ, a dinner or a drink at home. I would encourage each one to bring along a photo album of their memorable events during the year, such as weddings, birthdays, graduations, holidays, etc. to share around and discuss those beautiful moments with friends and family members. On this, photos on CD would be a big plus to play on a big plasma TV. Apart from trying to solve all the problems in the world after a backyard BBQ, I believe that the sharing of your important and memorable moments in life with your family members and friends would enhance your existing relationship.

I like to wish all of you a very Merry and Safe Christmas.

Kareoke Night At PJ

It was an enjoyable night meeting up with some classmates at a dinner in PJ Chung Ling Alumni House on 3/11/2007. After the dinner, we adjourned to the Audio Room and had a great Karoeke Night.

Floriade

Floriade is the Spring festival held yearly in Canberra. It was a sea of colours.

The Heart Sutra

Bo Re Bo Luo Mi Duo Xin Jing (The Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra)
Guan Zi Zai Pu Sa, Xing shen bo re bo re mi duo shi
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, at the time of practicing deeply the Pranja Paramita,
Zao jian wu yun jie kong, Du yi qie ku er
He illuminated and saw (perceived) that all five skandhas are empty,
He crossed beyond (overcame) all suffering and difficulties/distress.
She Li Ze, serk bu yi kong, kong bu yi serk
Shariputra, Form is no different from Emptiness, Emptiness is no different from Form;
Serk jit shi kong, kong jit shi serk
Form is exactly Emptiness, Emptiness exactly Form;
Shou xiang xing shi, yi fut ru shi
feeling/sensation, cognition/perception, formation/mental reaction, consciousness are also like this.
She Li Ze, shi zhu fa kong xiang, bu sheng bu mien,
Shariputra, all Dharma are empty of characteristics. not born, not destroyed
Bu guo bu jing, bu zeng bu jian
not stained, not pure, no increase/gain, no decrease/loss,
Shi gu kong zong, wu serk, wu shou xiang xing shi,
Therefore in Emptiness there is no Form, no feeling, perception, mental reaction, consciousness; Wu yan, er, bi, shet, shen, yi,
no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind;
Wu serk sheng xiang wei chu fa
no sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, or object of thought (Dharmas, way or method);
Wu yan jie, nai zhi wu yi shi jie
no field of the eyes, up to and including no field of mind and consciousness;
Wu wu ming, yi wu wu ming jing,
no ignorance and also no ending of ignorance,
Nai zhi wu lau shi, yi wu lao shi jing
up to and including no old age and death, and no ending of old age and death;
Wu ku jit mien dao,
no suffering, accumulating, extinction, way (no pathway to the cessation of suffering);
Wu zhi yi wu der,
no wisdom/understanding and no attainment.
Yi wu suo der gu, Pu Ti Sar Duo, yi bo re bo re mi duo
Because there is nothing to attain, the Bodhisattva, relying on the Prajna Paramita,
Gu xin wu qua ai, wu qua ai gu, wu you kong bu
Is unimpeded/unobstructed in his mind, because he is unimpeded in his mind; he is not afraid,
Yuan li dian dao mong xiang, jiu jing nien pan
leaves far behind delusive thinking and distorted dream, and ultimately Nirvana.
San shi zhu for, yi bo re bo re mi duo,
All Buddhas of past, present and future relying on (live by) Prajna Paramita,
Gu der oh nou duo luo, san miao san pu ti
therefore can attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (fully awaken mind).
Gu zhi bo re bo luo mi duo, shi dar shen zhou, shi dar ming zhou,
Therefore know that Prajna Paramita, is the great sacred mantra, is the great bright mantra,
Shi wu shang zhou, shi wu deng deng zhou
Is the supreme mantra, is the unequalled mantra,
Neng chu yi qie ku, zhen shi bu she
which can removes all suffering. It is genuine and not false.
Gu shuo bo re bo luo mi duo zhou
That is why the mantra of Prajna Paramita was spoken.
Ji shuo zhou you
Recite it like this:
“Jie Di Jie Di, Bo Luo Jie Di, Bo Luo Seng Jie Di, Pu Ti Sa Po Her”
Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha!
Meaning of the Mantra “Gone, Gone, Gone all the way to the other shore, Everyone gone all the way to the other shore. Enlightenment, Hail”

New rules for international passengers at Australian airports

澳洲機場所有離境國際航班自3月31日起開始實行手提行李新規﹐限制所有離境的國際航班旅客隨身攜帶的液體容量。

所有盛裝液體､噴霧劑和膠狀物的容器不得超過100毫升﹐並須放入一個透明的､一立升容量的塑料袋內接受檢查。

此限制適用于飲料､食品､洗發水､肥皂､香水､除臭劑､面霜､化妝水和油類制品﹐還包括牙膏､脣膏､發膠等類似物品。但旅客仍可攜帶處方藥﹐必需的非處方藥和嬰兒用品登機。詳情可訪問www.dotars.gov.au 網站。 或致電1300 791 581。

New rules for international passengers at Australian airports effective from 31 March 2007 for taking liquids, aerosols and gels on flights into and out of Australia.
Each container of liquids, aerosols or gels in your carry-on baggage must be 100 millilitres or less. All the containers must be sealed in a transparent, one-litre plastic bag. You are only allowed one plastic bag. Any transparent resealable bag of one litre capacity or less is allowed.

You may still carry on board prescription medicines. Baby products and non-prescription medicines that you need for the flight are also allowed. Proof of need may be required.

For more information, see www.dotars.gov.au or contact 1300 791 581

Sydney Welcomes The Year of the Pig

Sydney welcomes the Year of the Pig by parading the Pig through the busy George Street in Sydney CBD 0n 11/02/2007. The street was full of colours.

Happy New Year From Sydney

May I wish all my classmates continue to enjoy good health, happiness and prosperity in the coming Year of the Pig.

Someone passed on this one to me. I thought it makes good reading and like to share it with you.
從朋友手中傳來這則訊息。這篇文章不長，但卻雋永奧妙，希望和你一起分享。

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
要考慮到，濃情烈愛與豐功偉業都蘊含著極大的風險。
2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
即便失敗了，也別錯過其中的教訓。
3. Follow the three R’s: Respect for self, Respect for other’s and Responsibility for all your actions.
遵守三個原則：尊重㉂己；尊重他人；為個人一切行為負責。
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. 別忘了，塞翁失馬，焉知非福。
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly. 先弄懂規則，才會知道該如何㊜切地打破成規。
6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
別讓小小的爭執傷害到深厚的關係。
7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
發現㉂己犯了錯的時候，立即採取補救措施。
8. Spend some time alone every day.
每天花點時間獨處。
9. Open arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
擁抱變革，但也要堅守個人價值觀。
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer. 請牢記在心，保持緘默有㈲時候是最好的答覆。
11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.
生活誠實正直．那麼，老來回首前塵時，就可以重溫生之喜悅。
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life. 家中氣氛和諧安樂，即是您這一生的基石。
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
和親人意見相㊧時，請就事論事，別翻舊帳。
14. Share your knowledge. It’s a way to achieve immortality. 和他人分享知識。這是永垂不朽的途徑之一。
15. Be gentle with the earth.
善待地球。
16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.
每年拜訪一個您從未履足過的地方。
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
請記住，所謂的最佳關係是指，雙方對彼此的愛凌駕在雙方對彼此的需索之上。
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it. 看看您在成功之前必須放棄多少，就足可衡量成功的程 度。
19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.
愛和烹飪之道即在恣情任性而為。
20. Add this one yourself.
请你自己加上去。

Tradition dies hard?

People always say: “tradition dies hard.” From the beginning of time, traditions had been an integral part of one’s cultural heritage. In every community, people practice their traditions inherited from their ancestors. The many traditions practiced by the many communities have ensured a diversification of cultures that enriched everyone’s life. However, in today’s society, many of the younger generation had viewed some traditions as out of step with time, and these traditions are slowing dying out. Is that good or bad?

I once heard about this experiment done on monkeys. I am not sure whether it is true or not. The experiment commenced with putting five monkeys in a cage. A bunch of banana was hung from the roof of the cage and a ladder was placed just below the bananas. Soon after the monkeys were put into the cage, one of the monkeys started to approach the ladder in order to reach for the bananas. As soon as the monkey reached the ladder, the rest of the monkeys were sprayed with very cold water. This process was repeated. The monkeys quickly learned that they would suffer with the cold water spray if one on them try to climb the ladder. So if one of the monkeys tried to climb the ladder, the other monkeys in the cage would attack it and prevent it from reaching the ladder.

Now one of the monkeys in the cage is removed and replaced with a new monkey who did not know about the cold water spray. Naturally, the new monkey saw the bananas and attempted to climb the ladder to reach for the bananas. To its surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attacked it. After another attempt and attack, the new monkey knows that it is forbidden to climb the ladder.

Now, the second of the original five monkeys was replaced with another new monkey. The newcomer found itself attacked when it tried to reach for the ladder. The previous newcomer monkey also joined in the attack.

This process was repeated and the third, forth and fifth of the original monkeys was replaced. Every time the newest monkey takes to the ladder, it was attacked by the rest although most
of the monkeys that joined in the attach had no idea why they were not permitted to climb the ladder. Eventually none of the monkeys now had ever been sprayed with cold water. But as soon as any new comer approach the ladder, they would start to attack that monkey. So approaching the ladder became a forbidden act although the original reason behind it was not know to the present group of monkeys.

The above may illustrate how traditions are passed on from generations to generations. This was the way it was and it will always be the way.

In our own way of life, do we ever carry on with some traditions without knowing why? If so, is it important that we find out the origins of the traditions? Is it necessary to review those practices against current knowledge and social norm to determine whether such practices continue to serve their purposes originally intended? Are we any different from the monkeys in the experiment?

An Invitation To View My Photos

A few years ago, my wife and I went to China for a holiday. During the trip, I had taken some photos of the places we visited. I thought they were great. I thought I might as well share what I saw with those who might want to see them. So I put up those photos along with other photos snapped around Sydney. Last week, Webshots informed me that my photos have been viewed for 11,230 times and have been downloaded 1033 times, all for free.



I am happy that there are peoples out there who share my views.
You can view my photos at:

http://community.webshots.com/user/kentham

I hope to see your photos too.

Sincerely

Kenny