Compassion for All

Barack Obama and Pastor Wright

2008-03-22T23:01:00.000-07:00

I have watched clips of Pastor Wright controversial sermons, and how Barack Obama handled the issue.

I am glad to see how senator Barack Obama handled the issue. He gave a very good speech, explaining the issues. Being the offspring of a 'White' and a 'Black', he can see both sides. How he pointed out he disagrees with certain views of Pastor Wright and yet does not 'denounce and reject' the pastor, pointing out the pastor is like a family to him.

Many says that unlike a family where one cannot choose, a pastor or a church is something one can choose - to walk out. I think Obama found out about God from the pastor, just as I found out about God through going to a Catholic Church. But then, we each have to find our own God, someone that we can make direct connection w/ and not someone external to us - and I think Obama has made that connection, and once you make that connection, everyone is your family, and you shouldn't 'reject and denounce' them. It wouldn't be helpful. That's why Obama speaks often of looking out for your brothers and sisters - it's not only from the scriptures, but it's something he feels as well. If he is willing to speak to 'adversaries', this could also be the underlying reason. Obama has a big heart and he seeks to heal.

Many are afraid of his connection to Wright and how Wright's thinking affect him, but if you listen to him, do you hear any of that? No. He seeks to bring the country together. He seeks to heal. Why does he stay there? Some says it's political, but it could be that he sees the need is there, after all, when one embodies the spirit of Christ, one goes to troubled areas and serve.

By reading the blogs around the country, this is a divisive country. Freedom of speech can be a great thing, but it's unfortunate to see the freedom of speech used here to tear people down, and this is the message that Obama is trying to deliver.

Best Wishes to you, Barack Obama. Stay strong.

The Power of the Word

2008-01-06T08:40:00.000-08:00

In the New Hampshire debate, Hillary criticized Obama that Words might bring Hope, but does not translate to Reality, and that would create 'False Hope'.

Do not understimate the Power of the Word, he said. Word, coupled with Will and Determination can be very powerful. He seems to understand the Power of the Word and how to use it positively.

Words can heal people. Words can inspire people. Words, using harshly, can tear people up inside. Obama chooses to use it positively to bring people together, inspire them, and give them 'Hope'. Obama can capture the sentiments of the people and using his oratory skills to give them voice.

Congratulations, Obama & Huckabee

2008-01-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

The two candidates who has the most positive message wins in Iowa.

Obama runs on the theme of bring the country together, ending the division, has demonstrated in his victory. He was able to rally young people into the process, independents and Republicans have rally behind him as well. His crowd is the most enthusiastic.

Huckabee, who despite little money and little organization also wins in Iowa. He calls the Republican party, traditionally the party of fiscal conservative and for business, to think about the ordinary people as well who are struggling.

Good Luck Obama and Huckabee

Happy Holidays

2007-12-22T17:45:00.001-08:00

Usually I would say 'Merry Christmas and Happy New Year' and wouldn't think twice about it - but now, one has to be careful making such a statement like that. I can't believe people are getting upset over Huckabee's Christmas ad. I suppose I had a similar message last year, recounting that in Vietnam, even though we were Buddhist, we too celebrate the Birth of Christ during Christmas, for he's a bodhisattva entering this world, offering knowledge/teachings to the world. Of course, there are bodhisattva before and after him, but there's nothing wrong with celebrating the birth of a particular bodhisattva/person who makes a significant impact in your life.

I do not think Huckabee would force his faith on anyone. It would be impossible. It's a just a gentle reminder of what the 'Christmas' holiday represents.

Anyway, Happy Holidays to all.

Negotiating for Peace

2007-11-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

After the Vietnam War, I questioned whether there is something wrong with the Vietnamese people. Why are we keep fighting? Arent' we get sick and tired of this?

I was too young to save the country. It's painful to lose a country. It's painful to see the loss of lives from so many, and the pain inflicted on their families. I was curious as to why people to turn to violence and hurt their fellowman.

Many Vietnamese people was afraid when they first entered America. Many allow themselves to be mistreated without raising their voices ... because many feel this is not their land and they have no voice. They have had worse in their country. They feel they are lucky enough to be alive and this country let them live here. When I was young, I was idealistic ... and perhaps more confrontational. I often intervened. Some might view this as create troubles. But people are people, and they should be treated decently regardless of their country of origin. I told them, you are not doing this only for yourself, but for the next person they meet. They might not aware what they do offend you. Teach them to be a better person. And of course, there's the other extreme, every little undesirable things are interpreted as 'discrimination'. I was asked to intervene in those cases as well.

I told them when issues between them get to a point when they see no solutions but to kill one another, let me know, I might be able to help them find a way out. And amazingly enough, I received those calls and was able to intervene. My strategy is to see them as part of my family. I want neither of them of get hurt. Often, people have frustrations, and their frustrations are not being heard or are not getting through to the other person. When you show you care for them, often, they will drop down their weapons. The solution for them might not come right away, but they feel a little better because you care.

I must say I have retired from the world. I have the experience of being 'well known' and the associated interruptions by people with their problems, and the 'peace and tranquility' and the associated anonimity from the world - and between the two, I prefer the latter. And I would remain in my anonimity if Buddha hasn't appeared. You know you should be compassionate toward another. I don't know what more can I say to compel you to get there. If each of us do our part in being compassionate toward another, the world will get a whole lot better. I think we are moving there.

I have served the people during my peak in power, at times risking my life. I hope the people who are currently in their peak of power use this opportunity to implement strategies to serve the people better. It's not an either/or situation. You can create opportunities for those who have talents to get ahead as well as support the people who can't quite make it in their current situations. People go through their peaks and ebbs, and when they fall, at least provide a cushion so it doesn't hurt them as much when they fall.

But above all, to negotiate for peace, it starts with a caring heart ... for them. It's not about losing and not aware of the potential violence surrounding us. It's about transformation. Transform violence to peace, and that's what great leadership can do.

San Jose's EarthQuake

2007-10-31T00:34:00.000-07:00

There's a slight rumbling in Fremont where I live from San Jose Earthquake. The instant I feel the rumbling, I instantly 'smoothe the flow of energy' and it stopped. Of course, this might be just a coincidence.

When there's fire in San Diego, I too 'smoothe the flow of energy', calm the wind, bring in the rain.

Instead of feeling helpless in such a situation, imagine yourself connected to the universe and help calming it. Instead of saying it's impossible, just experiment with it.

You've seen experiments when the person's energy is connected to the universe, it is extremely difficult to lift them up. Instead of using just your energy, use the energy from beyond, which is vast.

Power is neither good or bad. It might seem 'supernatural'. One can use it for good or bad purpose. I hope you choose to use it for good purpose.

Hillary's Logic

2007-10-23T19:16:00.000-07:00

Hillary tried to correct herself by saying that her vote to label the Iranians guards as 'terrorists' as a push toward diplomacy. If this is her style of diplomacy, we are in trouble.

Please stop the labelling. It doesn't help. Nobody likes to be labeled 'terrorists'. Worse, once labeled, it provides them the excuse to become exactly what we don't want them to be.

Obama, don't give up

2007-10-15T00:22:00.000-07:00

Mr. Obama, I am glad you have decided to run. You recently just joined the senate, and it would be risky for you to run, because you know they say you have limited experience. Yet, you decided to run and expressed the thoughts/ideas that Americans need to hear.

Politics is tough. Many people may have similar ideas as yours but don't have the courage to run because once you get into the political arena, people will say mean things about you to get you out of the way. It's the nature of the game - to win.

I do hope the people will choose you to lead this country. Although you are young and black, you have showed wisdom and good judgment. If in the event the people do not choose you, I hope you continue with the movement, to bring change to this country. Don't give up just because you are not elected. You have many supporters around you.

Look at Al Gore. He has a message to bring to world. Although he didn't get the presidency, he continued on with his message, risking being ridiculed, and now the world seems to get the message. Al Gore has an important message to bring to the world, and you too have an important message to bring to the world. Don't give up.

Hillary's vote on the Iran situation shows that she has not learned the lesson, so I agree with your statement. Many people criticized you for not being there to vote. What difference would your vote make? An overwhelming number of people vote along with Hillary. But it's good that you speak out.

Congress vote on the Armenian issue is another thing. Why make an issue over this? Why antagonize living people like this? The Armenians are dead a long time ago? Would they want us to fight each other over them?

Congress has more important matters to deal with than what to label some activities that happened a long time ago and risked antagonizing another country.

Serve God out of Love

2007-10-07T11:55:00.000-07:00

I hear many people say - if there's no punishment from God, why would people be 'good'? It's because of the fear of being punished by God, that people stays 'good'. It seems we create the laws for the same purpose. Threaten people with punishment to get them to stay on the 'good' path.

Seek to serve God out of Love and not out of Fear. Decisions that are made based on Love in general yields positive results, while decisions that are made based on Fear in general yields negative results. The Bible did a good job of putting this Fear in us. It took decades for me to get it out.

My door has been knocked. I see a movement of people coming out, seeking to serve God in a positive way, bringing Love and not Terror to people's lives. I too will serve God in my own way, bringing healing to the world, with whatever power I have - because I love Him and not because I fear Him.

You are energy. The next time when you hear news of impending storm that has the capability to hurt many people, imagine yourself as a shield, protecting them from harm. As a physical entity, your body cannot move there, but other aspects of you can move ... even through 'time'.

Whether you believe in God or not is not important. Let Love for your fellow man guides your way.

Healthcare for Kids

2007-10-04T00:38:00.000-07:00

I hear the debate on healthcare for kids. George Bush is going to veto the bill. He says this is getting to be 'national health care, socialized medicine'.

I don't know why this country is so against national health care. If I have to pay, I prefer to pay to some federal program rather than to some profit oriented companies.

I hear people ask 'Why should I pay for his/her/some kids health care?' If one has to ask that, I don't really know how this country can improve. I suppose this is the side effect of a capitalist society - everybody think for themselves.

If there is to be a national health care, there has to be a changing attitude - people start caring for others and don't mind pitching in to this pool to take care of others.

Use Your Will to Help the Monks

2007-09-28T22:18:00.000-07:00

I saw the demonstration of the monks in Myanmar. I am not sure what is the issue. Perhaps it's one of the people being locked up for speaking out. I hear of similar issues in Vietnam.

The people in power view these demonstrations as a threat, and thus, they did what they did. So what can we do from a distance?

I am not someone who demonstrate. But these monks risks their lives to deliver a message, just as Christ risks his life to deliver a message.

Use your will - give a command - 'No harm shall come to them', and see what emerges. Don't be obsessed with it. Give a command then go about your business. Give a command as if you are a master, not because you are angry.

I used the same command when I saw the Christian Korean were captured by the Taliban. I am sure a lot of people prayed for them, and I simply add my energy to it.

This is a chaotic time, but it is also a time to give you the opportunity to find yourself and discover your power.

I am thinking of God speaking of advanced societies can control their weather, which we think are Mother Nature and we have no control over. Let this be the time to discover your power, bring peace, and save Mother Earth.

Nuclear Iran

2007-09-27T00:24:00.000-07:00

I listened to the Democratic debate today. The question is - should we allow Iran to go nuclear. Ahmadinejad has made the decision to go nuclear, and he considers the matter is closed to discussion (from his speech at the UN). These candidates think that with 'diplomacy', perhaps they can persuade Ahmadinejad not to go nuclear. What happens if Ahmadinejad is stubborn and continue his nuclear program? Do we start another war? Ahmadinejad insists that his nuclear program is for peaceful purpose. Do we choose not to believe Ahmadinejad and go in and his destroy his nuclear arsenals and risk escalating another war, or do we suspend our judgment, give Ahmadinejad the benefit of the doubt, while monitoring him.

The Iraq war started because we lacked patience. We believe there are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. There are inspectors at that time to go into Iraq to find these weapons, but we lost our patience, call off the inspection, and started the war.

Perhaps it's because the United States has a history of using nuclear weapons (ie. in Hiroshima and Nagasaki), that it is afraid other countries would do it too. Other countries, despite having nuclear weapons, have not used it.

Maybe we should start getting used to the idea of a nuclear Iran. Many countries have nuclear technology. Do we have a war because Iran choose to go nuclear? Is it worth it?

Ahmadinejad Speech at Columbia University

2007-09-24T23:37:00.000-07:00

It was unfortunate that the President of Columbia University condemned Ahmadinejad before he even started to speak. It should go at the end of the speech, when there is a period of questions and answers.

If Columbia University doesn't want to invite him to speak, that's fine, it's their choice, but once invited, and condemn the speaker like that, it just doesn't look good.

I admit I didn't finish listening to Ahmadinejad speech. I hear God here and there, then I start tuning out. President Bush has used extreme languange, referring to North Korea, Iraq and Iran as 'Axis of Evil'. Osama bin Laden has used extreme language, referring to nonbelievers as 'infidels'. Ahmadinejad has used extreme language, such as 'wiping Israel off the map'. When these people start utter words that increase hatred for your fellow man, distance yourself from them, don't let their hatred gets to you. Hitler comes to such power because his people agree with him, and thus giving him his power. In our case, it seems the people do not agree with Bush, but Congress is unwilling to do anything to him. Those who advocated to peace were prosecuted when they speak up ... so much for the 'freedom' of speech in this country.

It can be frustrating at times to hear people express words that destroy other people, their fellow man, because they have so much anger/hatred within them. May you center in love, unperturbed by the anger and hatred expressed around you, and radiates your love outward. Love is energy and it travels. May your love radiates outward, travel around the world, and transform the world. Believe in it ... believe that you can bring this to a reality. Know that you can bring this to a reality. This is the key behind 'miracles' ... the spirit, the mind, the heart work in unison. May you witness the power that is within you.

Peace in a Violent World

2007-09-15T13:22:00.000-07:00

Our weapons are getting more effective at killing a mass of people. The market exists to transfer this technology worldwide. We designed our weapons to obliterate 'them', now, we become the target for these weapons. Despite the horrible effects that these weapons do, mankind still cling to them, thinking that they will protect them.

Once mankind decide that these weapons do not serve them can they shed themselves of these weapons. Your intentions have an impact. Your words have an impact. Your actions have an impact. What kind of world do you want to create? If you want to create a peaceful world, then what role does weapons of mass destruction play? If you want others don't have weapons of mass destruction to target you, how do you explain the weapons of mass destruction in your arsenal. They are motivated as you are by fear to protect themselves. They are motivated as you are to have justice in a seemingly unfair world, where the balance of power and money is lopsided.

What constitute a peaceful world? How can one achieve a peaceful world? Can there be peace in imbalanced world - where money and power is lopsided? Can there be peace in the world where people have to struggle for their daily survival? Can there be peace in the world while weapons are rampant?

Peace is in the world starts with you. Can there be a war if people are unwilling to engage in activities that hurt their fellow human beings, that kill their fellow human beings? Starts with a loving heart. Seek to serve God and protect all of His creations to your best ability. It can transform your fears and hatred, and it may transforms their fears and hatred as well. You may witness the power of love and understand its power. But it is a choice. What that means is - you love people not only when they love you and say good things about you, but also when they say mean and bad things to you and mistreats you. It's through these conflicts that you grow stronger, so be thankful for it. Another aspects is you are now the master, in charge of your views, and not the victim, subject to the whims of the world.

May you find peace in a violent world, choose love in a violent world, and radiate this love outward.

Find Your Path

2007-09-02T22:56:00.000-07:00

When Buddha said 'Find Your Own Path' after he reached enlightenment, I ponder as to why he said this. Why doesn't he show us the step to get there? Increasingly, I understand this statement.

Buddha showed meditation as one of the way. That was how he got there. But not everyone who engages in the process of meditation gets there. For some, the simple instruction of clearing your mind is a difficult step because there are thoughts in their mind always.

What he can do is to express his experience, what it is like, but he doesn't explain it. He showed us the possibility to us to get there, because he got there ... just as Christ got there.

Once you are touched by 'divinity', you can either accept your experience or deny your experience. If you accept your experience as the truth, then the laws of the universe as it is understood right now is pretty useless in explaining your experience. If you accept your experience as the truth, when you start speaking, people may think you are crazy because they don't witness the experience. Or you can deny your experience, saying it's your fertile imagination or hallucination, and go back to the world where you can understand the logic of it and speak in a logical sense.

The beauty about finding your inner God is you realize your inner power. When you are sick, you choose whether you want to have this experience or not, and if not, you simply command it to leave, and it would leave, because now, you are the master. Now why would you want to experience sickness? That is the essence to coming to this world - to experience, to have a wealth of experience, and to show that no matter how bad the experience is, your spirit triumphs.

I know people are feeling insecured about their health and seeking universal health care. I hope you don't forget the power that is within you. Only when you realize your inner power can you be free, otherwise, what the outside world provides is just band-aid. I am not saying that what the outside world provide is bad. Many people with good intentions invested their energies to find treatments. I just don't want to see you grow dependent on it. May you find your path and discover your inner power and set yourself free.

God's Warriors

2007-08-25T23:56:00.000-07:00

I watched the series of God's Warriors from CNN, from the Jews, the Muslims, and the Christians. There's another side of God's Warriors that are not covered because they are relatively peaceful, they don't create noise, but they serve their God as well.

I understand the fear in the secular world regarding the religious people. It's true, once you decide to serve God, when there is a conflict between God's law and man's law, those who serve God follow God's law, and who knows what law they follow and believe. They can pick a verse in the Bible, believe in it, and make it their God's law. If it's 'An eye for an eye', then they learn to fight for justice, believing what they do is right. If it's 'Love thy Enemy', then they learn to forgive all, believing what they do is right. Both serve their God, but their nature is drastically different.

I understand the desire for religious people to spread their faith. I can read the Bible a thousand times, yet if I don't have an inner experience with God, it's pretty useless. It's that inner experience with God that gives people strength. Once people discover this source of strength, they want to share it.

I understand the frustration of secular people. Because they don't have the inner experience with God, they look at religious people as threatening, imposing their faith upon them. And worse, if they choose to follow the religious path, yet don't have an inner experience with God, they feel that they are somehow deficient, not having enough faith in God.

I believe the peaceful God's Warriors will emerge. They have seen how these people who claim to be God's Warriors terrorize people, impose their views upon people. The peaceful God's Warriors understand that God gives people choice and they would never impose their views on them. The peaceful God's Warriors understand that all people are God's children, yet some have not realize it and make the connection. The peaceful God's Warriors seek to bring the beautiful aspects about God, the God to be loved, and not to be feared, gently reminding people of their inner God.

God created this world with differences so we can make a choice. It's quite a colorful world. Some people experience these differences with amazement, yet some people experience these differences with agitation. Both sees the same thing, yet they have a different inner experience. May we make a choice that brings less pain to the world, and more joy to the world.

Military Religious Freedom

2007-08-19T23:16:00.000-07:00

I watched on C-SPAN today - an author - Michael Weinstein - describing his experience with religious fascism (?) in the military. He wrote the book 'With God on our side.' He describes some of the scariest thing I have ever heard.

What he seems to say is the voluntary military is heavily dominated by religious fascists. They came to him and imposed their religions, cited by many verses in the Bible. Basically, they too want to dominate their world - impose their religion on the world. We think we support the military, but is it possible that we support a group of 'Christian' extremists unknowingly? How predominant is this group in the military?

I like people to discover the 'Christ', the 'God' within them, but I would not like for it to be imposed on them. And if there are two sides to it, I hope people choose to stay on the compassionate side primarily, and occasionally use the other side to protect themselves.

Anyway, his website is http://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org. He is asking for donations. No one should have their religion to be imposed on them. Be warned, he says once you take on this path, you might be harassed ... just as he was.

Obama speaks out against American air raids

2007-08-15T00:53:00.000-07:00

Obama received a lot of criticism today for speaking out against American air raids, which can potentially can kill many innocent lives. Many equate this to being 'anti-Americans' or 'against the troops'.

Being on the other side of this, I am glad Obama speaks out against this. I usually despise them. I don't mind a soldier look me to the eye and kills me - at least, they see me, look me in the eye, and know that they kill me. That is easy to forgive. But for those who fly in the sky, and if I happen to die from it, it would be a stupid death. They can claim innocence because they didn't see me, and it's an unfortunate collateral damage of war.

Air raids can be a good strategy for winning, but it also reveals the heartlessness of its operator (perceived from the other side), and a country that supports that strategy. For a country who wants to proclaim that we care for the world, yet we condone air raids, is it not hard to understand why people find it hard to believe what we say. They look at our actions and they are not consistent with our words.

Obama simply reminds us to be human again. Sometimes we have to fight, but if we have to fight, target the 'right' ones - that is, after we see them and confirm that we have the 'right' ones. Of course, before we get them, I hope that they are given the opportunity to speak and change their path ... the path that would not harm their fellow human beings. Give them a choice. Who knows, they might be intimidated into the position they are in. Who knows, they might see no other path ... until one is shown to them. They are human beings. They are your fellow man. They might have lost their way. 'Forgive them for they know not what they are doing'.

Offer Peace First

2007-08-05T03:46:00.000-07:00

I hope whoever will be the president will offer peace first. They might or might accept, but one should offer peace if one wants peace.

We have a lot of division in this country because we have a president who rush to war. For many who believe war is the last resort, this runs counter to their principle. If one offers peace, but the other rejects it, then it is easier to fight - at least one can rationalize it.

Yes, we see the other side make threats, but we didn't offer peace. We should induce those who contemplate suicide bombing to come forward and speak. What is on their mind? What brings them to this point? We shouldn't be judgemental. We should just seek to understand. We might avert them from actually doing it. It's when we are judgemental that they hide and we fight in the dark.

We need a leader who has credibility. Unfortunately, Bush has no credibility left for him. I feel sad for him. He might have other agendas for the country, but then 9/11 happened, and being a leader of the country, he has a responsility to protect the country. It is a heavy responsibility. He did the best that he knows how.

Obama, Show Them the Way

2007-08-01T01:47:00.000-07:00

Americans will make the decision as to who will be their next leader.

I don't know what is the strength behind Obama's conviction and fearlessness in speaking to foreign leaders and finding common grounds between them, but it feels like Obama also embody Christ's spirit within him. He seeks to heal. He seeks to give hope. He has faith in people. He sounds so familiar.

Will Americans choose the 'safe' way with someone 'experienced' or they will choose the more 'fulfilling' way but it can more be 'risky' because it's with someone more 'inexperienced'?

I hope this time, we learn how to carry that cross together.

My spiritual father

2007-08-01T00:53:00.000-07:00

Who knows, one may find hope in the midst of desperation. It all depends on how you see things. I remember during the Vietnam War, with all the bombs, the deaths, my absent father because he was always stationed somewhere fighting in the war, there was one good thing that happened to me. I asked Christ to be my father.

I came from a Buddhist family. I went to a Catholic school. I learned passages from Christ here and there, and there was one passage - 'Knock, and I shall answer'. Well, I knocked. I needed help. I needed a father. I needed guidance. And from that day, I developed a relationship with Christ ... I see him as my father, not as a God.

And with it, comes the tranquility and the fearlessness in the midst of war and the unconditional love. It felt as if his spirit entered me and I can feel it. It felt at times, that the words that I spoke are from him but delivered through me. I wish people can develop this bond with Christ/God and experience this tranquility, this love, and this fearlessness ... not to say the power.

They say - God is within you already. One can use Christ to get one there. Most people heard of Christ and know of his message. He is inviting you to knock on his door when you need help. It is easier to use him as a stepping stone. If you choose to 'adopt' him as your father, I hope you too will learn to love your fellow man unconditionally. This was his message. It comes quite naturally with him besides you. Eventually, you'll merge. No wonder why they say ... we are all One.

US Decision to sell arms to Saudi Arabia

2007-07-31T10:32:00.000-07:00

Can it get any worse? The United States just decided to sell arms to Saudi Arabia. While it would criticizes anyone who sell arms to other countries, now as a country, it decides to sell arms to other countries. It sees the faults of others, but it doesn't see its own.

I guess the United States do not know how to bring peace. The strategy that comes closest to their mind is let others arm themselves so they can protect themselves. Its founding principle - its citizens have the right to bear arms.

And when violence erupted, it complains. The weapons that they have probably come from the United States. If you want peace, you do not give arms to others. They might use it to harm others, and they might use it to harm you one day. You want to limit weapons, not spreading weapons. Haven't we see enough what damages weapons can do to people? Why are we providing weapons for them to do more damages? The rationale behind it is probably - they do damages, but they do damages to the 'other', and that's okay, we want the 'other' to be damaged. We want to be rid of the 'other'. Probably the same sentiments the 'other' have for us.

We are one family, seeing our brothers and sisters getting upset and devising ways to kill one another.

Bush the Leader

2007-07-25T01:39:00.000-07:00

Bush might not be the best leader, but he sees himself as a leader. He gives orders and he doesn't like to take orders. It is unlikely that he will change his mind. He sees things in a certain way, and he has to lead that way.

If people doesn't like the way he leads or where he is leading the country to, then this country has the mechanism to get him out - through impeachment, and there are sufficient reasons to get him out.

However, who wants to take the leadership role after Bush? At least for now, for all the failures, they can blame on Bush. Who can see clearly the way out of the Iraq dilemma ... after the mess that Bush has made? Who can see clearly how they will resolve the 'terrorist' problem? Who can see clearly how they can regain trust from the population in this country and abroad? If there is a strong leader emerges who can show a way out of this dilemma, I don't think it would take a long time for Congress to go through the impeachment process.

CNN U-Tube Democratic Debate

2007-07-24T00:28:00.000-07:00

I have observed the U-Tube Democratic Debate. It certainly is more interesting to watch than the regular Democratic Debate.

Of all the candidates, I think Barack Obama is the most inspiring. I would like to see Gore in there, but I think he's out because he doesn't have the blood for politics. Hillary may be experienced but she looks tired. If the country wants change, Barack Obama is probably the best candidate. He expressed some of the most healing rhetoric that the country needs to hear. This country needs the heal, and I think Barack Obama is the person. His rhetoric moves people. Edwards has some passion within him as well, but there's anger within him.

Obama's quick answer that he will talk to leaders of neighboring countries without preconditions versus Clinton's hesitancy to talk to other leaders because she is afraid of being used as propaganda speak volumes about the difference between them.

They are all good candidates however, offering their talents to serve the country.

I wait to see how Americans will decide.

The Military and the Pacifists

2007-07-22T09:07:00.000-07:00

It has been said that 'Al Qaeda' will fight until they dominate and subdue us and have us live under their will. That might be what they want to experience, but you can say ... not under my watch. Do we have to fight them military? For those who chose the military path, they too want to experience their power and success. So when you ask the 'troops', despite the risks, they might want this to continue, so they have the opportunity to experience the 'winning', 'success', and feel like they are 'saving' the people, country. But for those who are 'pacifists', how do they experience success? They want to see conflicts resolved peacefully, with minimal bloodshed, or at least give peace a chance, and war is a last resort.

It's difficult for 'pacifists' these days, because we have a president who chooses war, who lack the desire and doesn't see the possibility of resolving the conflicts peacefully, and worse, they experience the bloodshed for their fellow man everyday.

'Pacifists' are not necessarily spineless. They maybe the most powerful warriors, yet they see the fruitlessness of war, the pain it induces, and they want to minimize it. Standing next to them, you might not have a chance to win, yet they choose peace. They already know their power. They don't need to find it.

Live Earth Concert Show

2007-07-09T00:08:00.000-07:00

There have been many critics on the Live Earth Concert Show. Some of the critics pointed out that the show consumed energy. Some of the critics pointed out that rock star are not good models. Some of the critics pointed out that Al Gore life style consume lots of energy and he is hypocritical. Some people even said that Global Warming is the 'liberal' version of Amageddon.

Al Gore was in Congress trying to get the message out, but they fell on deaf ears. He created the movie 'the Inconvenient Truth' to get the message to the public. Now, he organized this show to get people worldwide to participate. He asked people to signup to make pledges. I myself have signed up to make my pledge. A pledge is like - I give you my word, in this case, on the Internet, to the whole wide world. Can he make a difference? I don't know. He certainly made a constructive contribution in organizing this show, bringing people together, and in making my pledge, I am making my contribution. Many people are conscious of the global warming crisis, and they are quietly making their lifestyle change to contribute to solving the problem, but solving the global warming crisis takes a worldwide effort, and Al Gore is trying to do that, and I applaud his effort.

Al Gore is often made fun of by the term 'Father of the Internet'. He might not have created the Internet, but through Congress, he pushed policies that helped make the Internet accessible to the regular public, which I think is another great thing that he did.

Is global warming real? We don't know. Weather fluctuates. But if there are risks that it may be real, then we should take preventive actions to help avert it. Who knows, this might be the opportunity for us to make a break through and learn how to control the weather. Advance societies have reached this level of mastery.

My father

2007-06-28T01:05:00.000-07:00

My father has passed away. He is a good man. He gives money to temples and churches, but rarely attends them. He believes what they do is good for society, but he simply does not have the faith. He witnessed a lot of deaths. He said those Christians, when they die, they are at peace, as if they are returning to God, and that influenced his decision to send us to a Catholic school.

My father sees people as people. Gays are people. Gangs are people. He makes friends with all of them. I asked him several times - 'Are Communists bad, is that why we are fighting them?'. My father never reply to that question. I asked him if he has ever killed anyone? He said he came close ... but he never did. They come face to face, but both of them decided to walk on without killing the other. In the craziness of war, you can see pockets of sanity here and there.

My father's decision to join the military is probably because there is money in the military. He was able to go to France and the United States for his studies. He is compassionate, and the weapons are more for display than to use.

My father is very analytical. People are drawn to him to hear his analysis. How I wish my father is alive today to see how he would analyze the Iraq situation.

Immigration

2007-06-17T10:44:00.000-07:00

I attended a Townhall meeting this weekend.

Immigration was a hot issue. There was a lady who raised the issue about the enforcement of the law - keeping illegals out. She is concerned about the cost of having these illegals, and also frustrated that when calling the company, there will be some computerized machine giving the option to speak in Spanish. It is as if the country is taking over by Mexicans. The Congressman initially joked about the idea of building the wall. He obviously think it will not prevent illegals from coming in. He joked about having company building ladders to get over these walls. But ultimately, he believes these illegals are just working, they are not doing anything wrong and shouldn't be punished. The lady was upset, feeling disparaged, and somehow feeling her right to speak up was impeded. There was another man who was upset about companies who are hiring these illegals, which he thinks is contributing to the problem.

It's funny. It seems people are afraid to be associated with the word 'amnesty', which to me is equivalent to 'forgiveness'. They remember the failure of the previous 'amnesty' policy.

I feel this is the growing pains of the 'globalized' world. People have risked their lives crossing oceans hoping to have an opportunity to have a better life. Before, they don't know that there is a better world out there. They just know their world. But now, they know the world outside of them. Mexico is just right next to the United States. So, the chance of them successfully coming across increases. Canadian is next to us, and I presume they don't migrate down here because there are good opportunities for them up there. Mexicans migrate up here probably because there are better opportunities for them up here. When Mexico have good opportunities for them down there, I presume the migration will slow down.

As far as enforcement goes - if you are making a decision between saving a life and breaking the law, or abide by the law and risk having a person's death on your conscience, what would you choose? It is in our nature to be compassionate, our instinct to save a person's life, and that's why it's hard to enforce the law, and you'll hear of churches being sanctuaries for these illegals.

Whatever policy the United States chooses, I don't think it will stop the flow, just like when there is an imbalance, energy will flows in a way to achieve a better equilibrium. It boils down to what you choose to do to them once they are here. Personally, I feel they have done nothing wrong, and shouldn't be punished. Can companies stop hiring them? They say they have needs that Americans are not willing to do and Mexicans are willing to do them, and in a way, Mexicans are solving their problems, so why punish them.

I remember the first essay that I had to write when I came to the United States is - is America a Melting Pot or a Salad Bowl? I think it's kind of both. We are transformed by the society that we live in, but we still retain the identity/culture that we grow up with. I think America is afraid of losing its identity, which is not hard to understand, given the many ethnic backgrounds that make up the American population.

Let diversity be the strength for America. I remember when I first came to the United States, I was impressed by the vast knowledge that America has. It is an open society. It is curious of other cultures. Its citizens can speak up whatever they have on their minds without fear of retribution. Although America has dark past, such as the slavery period, it has corrected itself. Look at Hillary - a woman - she is running for president, and she has a substantial following. Look at Obama - a black man - he is running for president, and he has a substantial following.

America trained their young to be 'creators' at a young age. My culture trained our young to listen to elders and study hard at a young age. I think this is the reason American has surpassed other cultures, in encouraging creativity. Because of the globalized world, other cultures are catching up however. Let the globalized world be a strength for America and not a threat to America.

Armageddon - The End of the World?

2007-05-31T02:59:00.000-07:00

There are many people who believe in Armageddon - the end of the world as prophesied in the Bible will come. Let me say this - your faith can move mountains. Many of these people have strong faith ... and unfortunately, they believe the end of the world is coming. I advise you to develop your faith as well - think of it as a muscle that need to be developed. Faith in yourself. Faith in a merciful and loving God. Ground yourself in that space. Use that faith to heal yourself and heal the world.

Maybe the Muslim think the Americans are the AntiChrist - Satan, and Americans think the Muslims are the AntiChrist - Satan. Both of them want to fulfill that prophecy and they just beating one another up, each thinking they are doing the right thing, prepares the way for Christ to come back.

It's not the historical Christ that comes back, but each of you brings the spirit of Christ back within you, through love and compassion, as you witness the suffering around you. That is how he comes back, through you. And He will heal the world, through you. So develop your faith and your inner power.

Cindy Sheehan leaves the 'anti war' movement

2007-05-29T23:47:00.000-07:00

I read the letter written by Cindy. I can understand her frustration. I read some of the posts, and indeed, people are just putting one another down with their words. I thought Bush was bad, but some of these posts are just unbelievable, with so much anger within them. It's like competition, to see who can destroy another person's ego quicker.

I too was disappointed with Congress decision to cave in to President Bush demand.

Well, Cindy, take care. Don't give up hope.

President Carter criticized Bush as the worst president

2007-05-27T20:08:00.000-07:00

Many attacked President Carter for criticizing Bush as the worst president. Worst is a relative term.

Bush has a way of angering and intimidate people with his words. He said some of the most threatening and divisive language I have ever encountered. 'Axis of Evil', 'Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists', 'If we don't fight them there, they will follow us home'. He doesn't want to participate the Kyoto treaty. He doesn't want to participate in the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. On the contrary, he wants to build a new generation of smaller nuclear bombs, and has announced that for the first time, the United States will consider as part of deterrence strategy to consider using nuclear weapons in a first strike attack against non-nuclear states. And you wonder why North Korea and Iran build nuclear weapons - they don't want to be the 'non-nuclear' states for Bush to strike, especially with his 'pre-emptive' strike policy.

Let's face it. This war is about oil. They can't tell you that. America's economy is dependent on oil. Iraq has oil. That's the ugly reality. Can America live and prosper without oil? So America should learn to develop technologies to rid itself of its dependence on oil.

And talking about 'God' telling him to do this, that just about did it for me. Please leave God out of this. Don't put words into His mouth. He created this garden to us to play in. We pick out the roles that we want to play. We are part of Him and therefore, we too are indestructible. We just changes form, and we get to choose again and again and again. It never ends. We are energy, and at this moment, we are condensed into physical matter, so we can feel and touch, and experience 'time'. This is the miracle, it happens everyday so we don't notice it, but this is a miracle. Enjoy yourself.

I would much prefer to build a world based on love rather based on fear, and I understand President Carter's frustration with Bush which prompted him to say the things he did.

Al Qaeda claims to capture US soldiers

2007-05-14T22:56:00.000-07:00

When you hear of news like this, how do you feel? Fear? Anger? Hatred? Powerlessness?

Al Qaeda said it's to get 'revenge' for the rape that US soldiers have done. Well, with hatred in their heart, they probably can come up with any number of reasons to justify their actions.

Bin Laden vows to 'bankrupt' America, and with this continuing war, and with Bush insisting on it being a long war, and with Congress afraid to cease funding of war, Bin Laden probably will get his wishes.

Yes, it's a long struggle. There are many unhappy people out there, and some resort to destructive means to get even. If America doesn't share its wealth, it will bankrupt America.

I would suggest that instead of getting into a 'panic' mode, remain calm. I am sure the destructiveness is not just to America, but all over the world. Get cooperation with other countries. Be patient and study them. If you need to target them, be precise, and by no means have sufficient evidence to back it up. The last thing the world wants to hear is another innocent person dies.

Death is a part of life. When they die, they are liberated from this Earth and moves on. However, those who are here might experience pain because of their loss. That pain can be alleviated by letting go of the attachment. Appreciate them when they are here, but when they go, let them go.

In the mean time, focus on the positive. Spend your time helping your local community. Those who loss a loved one from Iraq suffers and they can use some help. As the business community goes global, either because of expanding markets or because of cheap labor overseas, Americans at home are at an increasing risk of losing their jobs and they can use some help. Students from overseas go to American Institutions for their education, yet schools at home are struggling to teach their kids (because of too many distractions, I think), they can use some help. Homeless people can use some help. There are so many opportunities here to make a difference in people's life, and when you make a difference in people's life, it does make you feel better and thankful for having the opportunity to make a difference in people's life.

I remember during the Vietnam War, the bombs initially scared me. I would hide. But if you live life and has to hide every day from fear, you don't have a life. You are prisoner of your fear. You eventually adapt and get rid of this fear to liberate yourself. Tough times can teach a powerful lesson. It's kind of difficult to learn that lesson when the bomb doesn't explode right next to you or the gun pointed at your head, but if you feel fear right now, learn to master that fear. You are the master. You steer the course.

War on Terror

2007-04-27T00:33:00.000-07:00

To win the war on 'terror', all you need to do is ... stop being afraid, get the 'terror' out of your life, then you 'win'. As long as you are still afraid, it wins.

I understand Americans want to 'win', that there'll be no more 'terrorists', so they don't have to live in 'fear', so they can live in 'peace'.

It's better to find 'inner peace', in that way, you are always at peace, unperturbed by the outside. The 'outer peace' is nice to have, but it is often unreliable.

Americans think 'guns' protect them. That would work if people are afraid of death. It no longer works when people stop being afraid of death, just as these suicide bombers. It is an adaptation.

If 'terrorists' use similar tactics as the Vietnamese did ... they immerse themselves in civilian group, then what? Would Americans let the terrorists get away and spare the innocent lives, or kill to get the terrorists, and say deaths of innocent lives are collateral damage of war. They retreat in American presence and come out when Americans leave, and there are not enough troops everywhere to provide security for the country. In the meantime, Americans are getting killed because they stand out like a sore thumb. If they fight back, they are perceived as 'occupiers', and if they don't fight back, they are getting killed. For those who 'befriend' with Americans, they might be perceived as 'traitors', and their lives are at risks. Yes, there is a threat, but this is not the way to fight it. It consumes money, takes lives, and creates a lot of anger and grief. They are on fire - don't add more fire to it, don't give it more power.

Stop feeding energy into the negative (ie. war and killing people), give energy into the positive (ie. ensure that people have the necessity of life ... and take care of our planet). Life on earth is the summation of our collective energies. People around you may feed their energies into the negative, but may your energy be invested in the positive and helps make this world a little better.

The Ethical Way to End the War in Iraq

2007-04-22T01:02:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to the site:

http://www.spiritualprogressives.org/staticpages/index.php?page=peacead

They are seeking signatures and donation for the ad.

Impeach Bush and Cheney

2007-04-22T00:26:00.000-07:00

Vermont state senators voted on Friday to impeach Bush and Cheney now. Now, that would be something, wouldn't it?

http://cbs2chicago.com/national/topstories_story_110100239.html

Please join me and millions of Americans on Apri 28th in standing with Vermont, whose state motto is FREEDOM AND UNITY, in calling for the impeachment of George W Bush and Dick Cheney for the following reasons:

1. Violating the United Nations Charter by launching an illegal "War of Aggression" against Iraq without cause, using fraud to sell the war to Congress and the public, misusing government funds to begin bombing without Congressional authorization, and subjecting our military personnel to unnecessary harm, debilitating injuries, and deaths.

2. Violating U.S. and international law by authorizing the torture of thousands of captives, resulting in dozens of deaths, and keeping prisoners hidden from the International Committee of the Red Cross.

3. Violating the Constitution by arbitrarily detaining Americans, legal residents, and non-Americans, without due process, without charge, and without access to counsel.

4. Violating the Geneva Conventions by targeting civilians, journalists, hospitals, and ambulances, and using illegal weapons, including white phosphorous, depleted uranium, and a new type of napalm.

5. Violating U.S. law and the Constitution through widespread wiretapping of the phone calls and emails of Americans without a warrant.

6. Violating the Constitution by using "signing statements" to defy hundreds of laws passed by Congress.

7. Violating U.S. and state law by obstructing honest elections in 2000, 2002, 2004, and 2006.

8. Violating U.S. law by using paid propaganda and disinformation, selectively and misleadingly leaking classified information, and exposing the identity of a covert CIA operative working on sensitive WMD proliferation for political retribution.

9. Subverting the Constitution and abusing Presidential power by asserting a "Unitary Executive Theory" giving unlimited powers to the President, by obstructing efforts by Congress and the Courts to review and restrict Presidential actions, and by promoting and signing legislation negating the Bill of Rights and the Writ of Habeas Corpus.

10. Gross negligence in failing to assist New Orleans residents after Hurricane Katrina, in ignoring urgent warnings of an Al Qaeda attack prior to Sept. 11, 2001, and in increasing air pollution causing global warming.

Shooting at Virginia Tech

2007-04-16T23:29:00.000-07:00

Got home today and found out there's a student going on a shooting rampage at Virginia Tech. He shot 31 people, including himself, according to the news.

We can look at this student as separate from us and say ... there's something wrong with him, just as what we usualy say to a 'terrorist'. There's something wrong with them.

Or we can look at this student as part of us, and he is simply exhibiting the symptoms of our society. What would drive a student to such a point? He is dead now and we can't find out what is going through his mind, nor can we find out what is going on through the mind of suicide bombers.

But the symptom is this. He no longer cares if he hurts other people, just as the suicide bombers. Bush seems to exhibit the same symptom, I am afraid, insisting on the deadly military way and refusing to talk to 'regimes' he doesn't like, sending young people to war for an indefinite time.

Why don't they care? Perhaps they feel the world don't care for them, so why should they care for the world. Look at the world today, and it's easy to understand how they may feel that way.

So, we have to care and listen. We might avert the 'future' shooter who feels the world doesn't care for them. We might not have the material means to care for them, but sometimes, just sit down and listen, one can do wonders.

The industrial world have kept many of us so busy that we don't have that much time for other people, unfortunately, but we should learn to make the time.

13 young people died today

2007-04-10T23:56:00.000-07:00

I looked at the news today - '13 more people died today'. I looked at their age, practically out of high school.

I know they return to God ... but it's their family that will be feeling the pain because of their loss.

President Bush says today that he will not sign a bill if he feels it ties his hand. He wants 'unlimited funding' for an 'indefinite time', with no strings and conditions attached.

Yes, let's not sign the bill. There would be no funding (for war). That would bring the troops back right now, wouldn't it?

Why doesn't God intervene?

2007-04-08T01:24:00.000-07:00

I heard on the radio today ... 'How bad does things have to be before God intervene, doesn't He care?'

God knows what He created is indestructible ... because it's a part of Him. It only changes form. He gave the power of creation to us, and He wants to see what we are capable of creating.

Remember the story of the cripple. By his faith, he walks. Of course, Christ was around, and people believed it's Christ who is doing, but Christ said - it's your faith that did it.

God is in everyone of us. So, if you feel weak like the crippled, see if you can have the strong faith like the crippled and walk. If you have cancer, see if you have strong faith and heal yourself ... and surprise your family, neighbors, and doctors, witness God's power within you, and give hope to other people ... because God's power is also within them. All this talk about the impending health crisis ... if enough people discover their own internal power, there may not be such a health crisis after all.

Let's make Him proud and creates a beautiful and loving world for Him and show our love and appreciation of Him.

What is wrong with Bush and Cheney?

2007-04-08T00:13:00.000-07:00

This time, Cheney said that Nancy Pelosi display 'bad behavior' by talking to the Syrian leader. How is that bad behavior? Because Syria is on the 'bad' list and we are not supposed to talk to? Not talking and refusing to talk to your neighbor would be 'bad behavior'.

If Bush, Cheney, and Condoleeza Rice have a hard time talking to these people because of their views, then let others who can see a way out peacefully talk. And the first place to start is to see other people as people and not as 'terrorists'.

I keep thinking this is their last term. They will soon go away. But it seems each day they are in the office, they cause damage to this country by what they say and the decisions they made. I don't know if we can afford to have them finish their term. That would be something, wouldn't it? The people boot them out of office. That would be a warning to future leaders. Just because you are elected to office doesn't mean you are 'king', it just means you have the opportunity to serve the people, and if you make poor decisions that does not serve the people, you are out. Not only that, the people should make them make public apoligies to the world for their misplaced views and dragged the world into this mess ... and then ... I want the world to forgive them. After all, they are leaders of a country who has the responsibility to protect a country, especially after 9/11, and this is the best way they see how.

Nancy Pelosi visits Syria

2007-04-04T23:32:00.000-07:00

Bush disapproves with Nancy Pelosi's visit to Syria. He believes it sends the wrong message to the 'terrorists'. Well, I am glad to see her visit Syria. Maybe we can get some headway there with some dialogue going on.

President Bush, this is a great opportunity for you to practice 'Love thy Enemies'. You'll be surprised what you learn from practicing this wise saying from Christ. You are in an important position. You can transcend war into peace and save many people lives, and it's not through the military. The question is - do you have the desire and the will to do it?

Iran President releases the British prisoners

2007-04-04T23:14:00.000-07:00

Here, we accuse Iran as one of the 'Axis of Evil', and what does it do - pardon the prisoners caught on its land. Not only that, they seem to treat the prisoners well. Not much can be said for the US, the Abu Graib situation, and the recent court decision that practically close the door for those who want to make an appeal to their capture. And these people are not even caught on our land, it's on someone else's land. The logic probably goes like this - we have the right to defend ourselves. If they seem to be a threat to us, let's capture them and hold them indefinitely so we don't have to live in fear. It's probably this fear that gets us into this Iraq war as well.

Maybe Ahmadinejad can shed some light on Bush.

Our mind influences our reality

2007-03-08T01:26:00.000-08:00

What is reality? Our reality is dictated by how we perceived the world, and that is dictated by our mind, which has nothing to do with 'reality'.

Each person's 'reality' is different because of the different ways their mind perceive reality.

To change our reality, we change how our mind perceives things.

Our mind can trap us in a world full of terror and we feel helpless about it, but it is also powerful enough to change our reality if we know how to use its power.

How we learn that matter has a dual particle and wave nature. We too are made up of matter and therefore have this dual quality. Our particle nature makes us distinct from one another, and our wave nature connects us to one another, and therefore, we affect each other, whether we realize it or not. For humans, their mind pattern and emotional pattern reflects in their wave nature. Humans however, has the capability to change its wave nature by changing their mind and emotional pattern at will.

Those who have not realize their interconnection with one another can get angry and think it doesn't harm anyone. Those who have realize their interconnection with one another pay attention to their mind, and not let negativity arises, and if it arises, they know to extinguish it before it turns to flame and get out of control. They learn to fill their heart with love and compassion and let it radiates.

This is what each of us can do in this troubled time. Let the wave of love and compassion neutralize the wave of hatred and fear and brings hope to mankind.

Iraq and Vietnam

2007-01-13T23:36:00.000-08:00

Now that America is bogged down in Iraq, the word 'Vietnam' comes up again, saying that there are parallelism between the two.

Vietnam fortunately find their way to peace after Americans left. Sure, there was chaos in Vietnam after Americans left initially. There were many misunderstandings between the two sides. There were many sufferings initially because of mistrusts and fears.

When the international community breaks Vietnam into the North and South, our family also breaks up due to the different location that we live. We have different propagandas due to the location we live. The South portrays the North as ruthless. The North portrays the South as being oppressed by the Americans and need to be liberated. Some came in from the North with a small bag of rice to give us South people, because they thought Americans oppressed us and we are starved to death down here. Obviously, they soon find out that they have been misled ... the South has plenty due to the influx of money coming from Americans. I watched the propaganda everyday, but find it hard to believe. We are the same people ... how can we be that different? Also, some of my family members are up there. When Americans left, the family is reunited. Just as our family is reunited, many other families in the country get reunited ... and the country, as a whole, comes to peace.

Many people are upset at the Iraqis for not fighting. It's their country. I have mixed feelings about it. Like Iraq, Americans come in Vietnam, declaring the other side 'Communism' is bad, and we have to fight them. What they call 'communism' is also part of our family, or at least some of our family members are with them. I wonder if it's the same with the Iraqis, just replace 'terrorism' with 'communism', that is some of the family members are part of this group, but they are also a part of their family as well.

Also, the South is heavily influenced by Buddhism, who believe in reincarnation. The plant that you are eating could be your 'uncle' reincarnated. They have issues about taking the life of ants, flies, let alone human beings.

Bottom line, it's impossible to live on this earth and not sinning, although you want to make decisions to minimize your sin as much as possible. For example, you can choose not to eat the plant, and thereby not ending its life, but then you would starve to death. What happen if you have a family to take care of, therefore, to a plant, yes, you have ended its life and have sinned against it, but then, you save your family's life.

This was the culture I was raised in. So when a North Vietnamese came in and pointed a gun to my head, asking for the whereabout of my father and his troops, I didn't say anything. I wasn't going to be one who point the way so he can find them and harm them. He then pointed the gun at another little girl's head and pressured me to say. It's strange, losing my life wasn't a big deal, but losing another's life because I choose not to say was a tough decision. In the end, I choose not to say. I've been watching these propagandas saying that North Vietnamese are ruthless - I want to witness if he is such or it is just propaganda. I want to observe what transpire through him as he pull the trigger and takes someone life, especially someone who presents no threat to him. It wasn't fear that I felt, it was more of a curiosity. If he is still a human being, he will find it hard to pull that trigger. In the end, he walked away.

Americans didn't understand the culture in Vietnam. What is the Iraqis' culture? What do they believe? How do the Shiites different from the Sunnis? Can they be differentiated on the streets? Are there something in common between them? As I understand, the Shiites are more religious, and the Sunnis are more secular. However, they have coexisted before, so why is it such a problem now?

A Surge in Troop Level

2007-01-10T23:52:00.000-08:00

President Bush has decided to increase in troop levels.
President Bush said this is a new strategy ... we'll see.

One of the criticism that the reason the US is losing is because they are using the same strategy as they did in Vietnam. They move in, clear it, move out, then the 'insurgent' move back in. Now, they say, they will stay longer, give the time for the Iraqis to 'stabilize' themselves ... for how long, who knows.

While our young men sacrifice their lives hoping to secure the peace, Bush too should learn to secure the peace by making peace with his adversaries, or at least, he should attempt to. If he can learn to make peace, he could potentially save a lot of lives, because it's his decision that put many lives at risk. And the first step is stop labeling his adversaries bad names, stop fueling their hatred.

It's true that Osama bin Laden then and Zarqawi more recently have called their people to rise up against the US. It's true that there has been many suicide bombers causing great harm when they blow themselves up. It's true that they have armed themselves, and can potentially cause great harm. We shouldn't ignore them, we should pay attention, and we should take care not to inflame them, and worsen the situation. If possible, we should listen to their cries.

The world is becoming dangerous because of these weapons. When people get angry, they'll try to communicate first, but if they feel ignored, with weapons in hand, they often use that to get their message across. The increase in violence is not just in the world over there, it's also in our cities. We need to learn to listen so they don't feel to need to turn to violence to get their message across.

And with Bush's reluctance to 'talk and listen' to the 'other' side, and makes the decision to solve things the 'military' way, our young men's lives will continue to be at risk.

I hope and pray for a good outcome in Iraq. Let us visualize a good outcome for Iraq ... that they achieve peace and stability.

Saddam Hussein Execution by Hanging

2006-12-30T11:06:00.000-08:00

I just got back from vacation, and when I turned on the TV, I found out Saddam Hussein has been executed.

I feel sad by the news, yet what is displayed on TV is many people jumping and cheering for his death, however, I believe this is just a segment of Iraqis living in America. I can't quite understanding how people can jump for joy seeing another person being executed.

If Saddam Hussein is tried for his poor treatment of his people, George Bush and Cheney should be the next ones to be put on this trial. Congress can't do it, because they too make these poor decisions. It should serve as an example and warning for future leaders who make such poor decisions and America is not exempted. They too have made decisions that resulted in so many deaths ... and continue to make them.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (2007)

2006-12-23T17:27:00.000-08:00

I remember back in Vietnam, when Christmas comes around, I walk around the different houses and see different houses display their different versions of 'Christ Born in a Manger'. Although our family is primarily Buddhist, we too have our version of 'Christ Born in a Manger'. During Christmas, we too kneel next to this 'House of Manger' waiting for the time for Christ to be born. It wasn't a time for giving gifts as it is over here (perhaps because we didn't have much to give), but it's more to remember the birth of Christ, and we too celebrate the birth of Christ. To us, Christ is a Bodhisattva. A Bodhisattva is someone who is motivated by compassion and seek enlightenment not just for himself but for everyone.

Over here, the meaning of Christmas seems to lose its original meaning. It's a time we get to have two weeks off from work, and it's a time we scramble to shop for gifts for others.

If you believe in numerology at all, 2007 can be a good year. In the first millenium, leading by the '1', we mostly think about ourselves. In the second millenium, leading by the '2', we start to think about others. Many of us notice that despite our wealth, somehow we don't feel happy. In 2006, which made of 2 and 6 and total of 8. Two yearns for partnership, and six yearns for family connection, and eight is wealth. In 2006, many people come together, seeing the global community as their family, and they have the desire to spread their wealth/resource to the global community. If one is thinking of only of oneself, then wealth wouldn't be much of an issue, but in the second millenium, we start to think about others, and with the theme of money for the year, poverty becomes the issue for the year.

2007 is made of 2 and 7 and with total 9. Seven is a spiritual number, and 9 has the theme of brotherhood. According to 'God', our problem is a spiritual problem. Many of us will question the existence of 'God', why the world is like this ... and many will find their way home following their introspection, and see the world in a different light. May you find your way home, and experience the love, peace within so you can help emit that energy outside and transform the world.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

President Bush intend to increase troop level

2006-12-16T23:49:00.000-08:00

I await for President Bush as to what decision he will make.

The midterm election resulted in a change from Republican control to Democratic control.

The Iraq Report from Baker-Hamilton came out, suggested several changes regarding the Iraq situation.

President Bush is still set in his ways. I suppose if he changes his ways, it would be an equivalent of admitting he made a mistake, and that is something he will not do.

President Bush wants to send more troops in, hoping that the increase in troop levels will help the situation over there ... or will it result in more deaths?

We just have to wait for 2008 and hope for a better leader to emerge.

In the mean time, for those who understand the power of the mind and faith, use that power to envision a better world for mankind. We are energy beings, and our world is reflection of our collective energy/ideas. We are also creative beings, and each of us has a role in shaping it. Stay on the positive. Stay with love, truth, and joy and be a light for others who has trouble living in this uncertain world.

First, heal yourself ... then heal the world. The power is already within yourself, waiting to be discovered, and applied.

Glamour of Sentiment

2006-10-26T13:04:00.000-07:00

The glamour of sentiment holds the good people of the world in thrall, and in a dense fog of emotional reactions. The race has reached a point wherein the men of good intention, of some real understanding and owning a measure of freedom from the love of gold (symbolic way of speaking of glamour of materiality) are turning their desire to their duty, their responsibilities, their effects upon others, and to their sentimental understanding of love. Love, for many people, for the majority indeed, is not really love, but a mixture of desire to love, and the desire to be loved, plus a willingness to do anything to show and evoke this sentiment, and consequently to be more comfortable in one's own interior life. The selfishness of the people who are desirous of being unselfish is great. So many contributing sentiments gather around the sentiment or desire to show those amiable and pleasant characteristics which will evoke a corresponding reciprocation towards the would-be lover or server who is still completely surrounded by the glamour of sentiment.

It is this pseudo-love, based primarily on a theory of love and service, which characterises so many human relationships such as those existing, for instance, between husband and wife, parents and their children. Glamoured by their sentiment for them and knowing little of the love of the soul, which is free itself and leaves others free also, they wander in a dense fog, often dragging with them the ones they desire to serve, in order to draw forth a responsive affection. Study the word 'affection', my brother, and see its true meaning. Affection is not love. It is that desire which we express through an exertion of an astral body, and this activity affects our contacts; it is not the spontaneous desirelessness of the soul which asks nothing for the separated self. This glamour of sentiment imprisons and bewilders all the nice people in the world, imposing upon them obligations which do not exist, and producing a glamour which must eventually dissipated by the pouring in of true and selfless love.

From Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul

Impersonal Love

2006-10-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

It is not easy to love as do the Great Ones, with a pure love which requires nothing back; with an impersonal love that rejoices where there is response, but looks not for it, and loves steadily, quietly, and deeply through all apparent divergences, knowing that when each has found his own way home, he will find that home to be the place at-one-ment.

When the heart is full of love and the head is full of wisdom, nothing then is ever done that can cause distress to others in the long run. The man who is fearless, wise and loving, can do anything and the effects will be harmless and good producing.

From Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul

Divine Love

2006-10-26T12:52:00.000-07:00

Love is not making the object of love feel comfortable superficially. If I induced that reaction in you, I would not merit your confidence and trust, and in the long run, I would not thus hold your respect. Love is far-seeing wisdom which seeks to keep alive in the object of that love those sensitivities which guarantee safe progress. Love is, therefore, guarding, stimulation, and protective. But it is not a personal matter. It is a positive protection, but does not lead to a negative attitude of being cared for on the part of the one who is the recipient of the love and protection. It is the stimulating power of divine love which I seek to pour out upon you. This will lead you to protect yourself from glamour, illusion and personality reactions, also from error and prejudice in order to better serve both Humanity and the Hierarchy. Ponder on this.

From Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul

North Korea Nuclear Test

2006-10-09T23:42:00.000-07:00

By now, most of the world is aware that North Korea has tested its nuclear capability.

Because testing nuclear weapon is perceived as a threat to the world, many countries have come together to condemn North Korea and want to impose sanctions on it.

I am not condoning North Korea's action, however, I think it is unwise for the world to 'gang' up on North Korea like this. Didn't North Korea want bilateral talk with the United States before? It might be persuaded to suspend its testing if the US lift its sanction. Wasn't that what it was asking? The United States wanted to play 'hardball', refusing bilateral talk.

Of course, this is in the past. The point is there was many opportunties that arise where 'peace' could come. With Afghanistan. With Osama bin Laden. With Iran. With Iraq. With North Korea. The United States closed the door on these windows, refusing to talk to these parties, and insists on playing 'tough'.

Isn't it time for the world to heal? What would happen if we lift sanctions for North Korea? What happen if we stop isolating them and pull them into the 'world's family'? By opening the door, we can check what is going on with them and avert potential threats. By opening the door, we can help their people, which I understand, is very poor. By opening the door, we can make peace and avert the crisis at hand. By opening the door, we can demonstrate our good will.

We can do the same thing with Iran. Make peace with them. Iran is also another country that will go nuclear. We suspect that they use their technology for nuclear weapons, although they deny it. Didn't we suspect that Saddam has WMD, although he denied it, and we went to war? I hope we learned that lesson. Don't let fear and hate blind us. Didn't Iran offer to open its door for inspection?

'Soft' on Terrorism

2006-10-06T22:28:00.000-07:00

President Bush has accused the Democrats on 'soft' on terrorism. I can't speak for the Democrats. However, since I advocate Compassion for 'All' and that include 'terrorists', I thought I'll defend that position.

First, there was one - God. With one God, all was the same ... pretty boring. He then created opposites - yin yang ... more diversity, more interesting. With opposites, we can make choices. With opposites, we discover who we are.

We are living in this dichotomoty. All of us have this dichotomy within us. It was designed that way. We are different, yet we come from the same source, and therefore, we are the same.

Even the saints have this dark side within them, however, they have better mastery over it. What this also mean is the 'terrorists', the 'criminals' also have the light side within them, although, it might be hidden from them.

Being 'soft' on terrorism has an increased chance of bringing the light side out of them, while being 'hard' on terrorism has an increased chance of bringing the dark side out of them.

What has your experience been when someone is being 'hard' on you? Don't you get 'hard' back - it is an natural instinct to protect yourself. What has your experience been when someone is being 'soft' on you? Perhaps you are not as intimidated, and perhaps you develop more trust and more open, and start the healing process.

That is what we want. Bring the light out of people. We know there are two sides of them, and we strive to bring the light out of them. To do that, we have to bring the light out of us and serve as examples. It is the transformation that we are seeking, bring 'lost' souls back Home. It's not about condoning, it's about healing. We are given choices, and hopefully, we make the better choice.

Teaching the Young

2006-10-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

I hear that New Orleans is experimenting with new ways of teaching.
It doesn't care who do the teaching as long as it gets results.
I wish it the best of luck.
Coming from another country, I know the level of education is slower in America for secondary school and below, especially in mathematics, and I felt sad for the students here. However, I cannot say that from the college level and above, where a lot of foreign students come here to study.

I have the opportunity to teach Vietnamese at a Buddhist temple to a group of young kids this year. Back then, when I just came to this country, I wasn't sure if we can come back to Vietnam again. If not, what good would knowing Vietnamese be? Learning English was much more important. Yet, now, I look at an increasing number of kids wanting to learn the mother language.

One good thing about the Vietnamese culture is they teach their kids to cherish and show respect for their teachers. Education is still a very important value for them. The community makes my job a lot easier. They go to class and they sit down and learn. In teaching Vietnamese, we also teach many of our 'wise' sayings from past ancestors. So, not only do they learn about Vietnamese, they also learn about our culture and our values. Aside from this, they get teaching from the Buddhist temple on being a good person and a good leader.

With all the chaos that currently exist in this world, I look at these kids and have hope for the future. Teach our young well. They are our future.

Imposing Democracy

2006-09-30T08:05:00.000-07:00

I heard many commentators on the radio agree with George Bush, that they think Democracy is a solution for the 'terrorist' problem. They think George Bush got the problem right but he just got the strategy wrong.

I am here to challenge George Bush's ideas. Don't follow him like sheeps. Congress followed him like sheeps and we have Iraq War. Congress followed him like sheeps and we have this Military Tribunals, where it's for George Bush to determine what is torture, and detainees have no opportunity to challenge George Bush's decision.

George Bush is the president or commander-in-chief, although that can be challenged in certain circles, who are still hung up on Gore vs Bush election. In this, it just means he was given the opportunity to play that role. With a track record with George Bush's decision, which I think is poor, Congress failed to thwart his power to do damage. On the contrary, Congress is giving him more power to do damage. America may win this 'war', which I seriously doubt if it is fought in this way, but America plays 'dirty', and it will gain no respect from the world, and worse, it may make situation worse for future generations, the opposite of what George Bush intends.

Now, I don't think George Bush is a 'bad' person. I think that he truly cares and he does have a vision for a better world and he is 'fighting' to realize that world. He is raised up in America, a powerful and wealthy nation, where many of the past solutions have been solved by 'force' or by 'money', both of which America has plenty to use, to get what America wants.

Democracy may or may not be good for Iraq. It's an experiment of ideas of how to govern a country. If Iraqis internally decide it's democracy that they want to experiment with, that's fine. But America should not impose democracy on Iraqis, or to any other country. It's up to the country to decide which form of government they want to experiment with.

What America should do is remind other leaders that as leaders, they should do their best to care for the welfare of their people, after all, that is the role of leader. However, George Bush cannot say this because George Bush doesn't do a good job of fulfilling this task as a leader.

In the eyes of the world, George Bush has little credibility left. Only in the eyes of Congress does he seems to be 'credible'. The White House had demonstrated its blindness. Congress has just now demonstrated its blindness. Both of them devise a strategy to tie the hands of the Court. They want to 'win' at all costs.

If there is townhall meeting with your leaders in your community, you should attend them. You should confront your leaders with these issues, and keep an eye on them. They suppose to represent you. This is a democracy. However, democracy only works if its citizens participate in it. In fact, I am going to one, now. :)

Chavez refers to Bush as the 'Devil'

2006-09-26T22:42:00.000-07:00

Remember when Bush label three countries as the 'Axis of Evil'?

What goes around comes around.

Now Bush has the opportunity to experience what it is like to be labeled as such.

Geneva Conventions on Prisoners of War

2006-09-23T10:44:00.000-07:00

President Bush has complained that the Geneva Convention is not clear.

I checked the Geneva Conventions to see what it says. On Article 3, these are the actions that are prohibited:

1) Violence to life and person, in particular murder of all kinds, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture.

2) Taking hostages

3) Outages upon person dignity, in particular, humiliating and degrading treatment.

4) The passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous treatment pronounced by a regularly constituted force affording all the judicial guarantees which are recognized as indispensable to civilized people.

Well, from the Abu Graib situation, we already know the United States is in violation of condition 3 of Geneva Conventions. The administration try to get its way out by saying that Geneva Conventions do not apply to these people ... because they are 'terrorists' and 'stateless' and so on.

I had some hope when the three Republicans stand up to the President, but now, I have lost hope, both in the Administration and in the Congress. It's not a balance of power, but rather watch its other's back. What's worse, the detainees don't have access to the court now, the last path to redress any injustice that is faced upon them.

It's like the president is asking ... how much I can hurt them and get away with it, and now Congress is condoning this action. This is sickening.

We, as human beings, must look out for the welfare of other human beings. This president may talk about 'peace' and 'democracy', and so on, but he is not practicing it. Compare United Nation Annan's tone versus United States Bush's tone. Annan's tone is a peaceful tone, a man of peace, and he has an increased chance of bringing peace. Contrast that with Bush's tone, he incites anger, and he decreases the chance for us to come to peace.

Al Qaeda Video

2006-09-03T20:38:00.000-07:00

I personally have not observed the Al Qaeda video, but I basically get the message. Any group that imposes their will on other people is not a group that follow God's way. For God gives us the freedom to choose.

I think the message will probably anger Americans and strengthen their resolve to fight.

But let me say this ...

The spirit of Christ is in each of you
And with it is the ability to heal
Let that spirit flows out now
As you touch people, heal them
Let that spirit flows out to the universe
Heal the universe
Have faith in yourself
Love is that healing energy

You can choose to live in fear
You can choose to live in anger
Or you can choose to live with love
And heal those around you

May you choose the latter choice
And experience the power within you

For those who are on the battlefields
I feel sad that our leaders cannot find a peaceful way to get out of this
You must respond to the situations around you
Nobody can make judgment on you
May you come home in one piece
May you heal over your wartime trauma quickly

Terrorists are Communists and Fascists now?

2006-09-01T19:06:00.000-07:00

Another outburst from George Bush. When he describes about Fascism, I thought he was talking about his administration. And if his prediction is correct, this administration would not fare very well down in history ... along with 'us' Americans, feeling helpless to do anything about it.

If we don't fight 'military', does this mean cut and run? Does this mean 'appeasement'? I'd like to hear the version from the Democrats, because I don't think they are very clear about what they ought to do. Is that all this administration can come up with as problem resolution?

How about creating peace in a violent situation? It is not appeasement. It is not retreat. It requires active engagement. It requires active listening. It requires opening your heart. I remember Thich Nhat Hanh offered to speak with these groups. But are you willing to be fair and just? Are you willing to forgive? Or are you after winning all the time?

How about turning a new chapter for our kids? How about teaching our young kids to create peace in a violent situation? This is a good opportunity for this. Believe me, every one wants peace. If they fight, it's because they feel they have to fight. They have a cause to fight just as you have a cause to fight. In that, we all have something in common. Listen to them. Listen to their pain.

America should lead because America has perhaps the biggest arsenal of weapons available. America has accused others as 'axis of evil'. America feel justified in its pre-emptive war. America has invaded another country unilaterally. The Abu Graib torture of prisoners depicts us as a country with poor morality and without conscience. With George Bush lack of desire to talk to the other side, and insist on continuing the fight on other foreign soils, America is the greatest threat to the world.

But it can be different.

Society Reform

2006-08-26T23:00:00.000-07:00

Recently, I heard a discussion on poverty and welfare reform. I see that there are still many angers over this issue. This country seems to think everybody must work. Nobody can get a 'free' ride.

Now, I believe that everybody should be given an opportunity to go as high as they can. If education is so important for this country, they should be provided 'free'. With technology, it is possible. Heck, we can educate the whole world for 'free'. We should have training program to give hands on for students and partner them with the industry so they can have 'real' experience. To demonstrate competencies, we might charge a fee for the test. But education should be 'free', and they can take as along as they want to learn. With 'real' experience with a company, and passing the competency test, they have something to write on their resume, and have a better chance of getting a job. Too often, students are stuck with high cost of education, that they might or might not secure a position in their field once they graduate. But really, if you think education is important, you should provide them for free. This will gives a chance even for those in 'poverty'.

Now, on the flip side, there will be those who won't make it. It's part of nature as yin and yang. What do we do about them? Now, I believe everyone should have the basic living needs provided. If everyone have their basic needs addressed, crime would decrease, mental illness would decrease, and we have a healthier society.

Why is it that we have to work anyway? Some people work two full time jobs in this country and still having trouble paying their bills. What is wrong with this picture? People get laid off in masses when companies having trouble with the bottom line? What is wrong with this picture? Cost of housing and education skyrocketed like crazy. What is wrong with this picture?

Really, everyone should have the basic needs addressed. If they are more talented, the reward is in seeing their achievement. And we should have a better way of using human resources. Too many people are not used optimally in this country, and then at the end of their life, they feel unfulfilled.

I don't know what would it take, but I would like to know the cost for realizing this. How much would it take for our basic needs to be addressed, and by basic needs, I mean, food and shelter. Life has its ups and downs. Wouldn't you like to know that when you are down, at least, you have this basic need covered.

A compassionate society would not let its members live in fear. It takes care of its members. It would help those who has the talents to go as far as they can so they can fulfill their aspiration. A compassionate society would cooperate to achieve end goals and not competing with one another. We are marching toward the era of brotherhood, of brotherly love.

The Law of Service

2006-08-26T21:37:00.000-07:00

'The law of Service ... is the governing law of the future. In past ages, it was the service of one's own soul (with the emphasis upon one's own individual salvation) which engrossed the attention of the aspirant. Naught else was considered. Then came the period wherein the service of the Master and also one's own soul was considered of dominant interest; the Master was served and duty to Him emphasized, because thereby the salvation of the individual was aided. Now a new note is sounding forth, the note of growth through the service of the race, and through a cultivated self-forgetfulness.

You will awaken some day to the realization that the Science of Service is of greater importance than the Science of Meditation, because it is the effort and the strenuous activity of the serving disciple which evokes the soul powers, make meditation an essential requirement, and is the mode - ahead of all others - which invokes the Spiritual Triad, brings about the intensification of the spiritual life, forces the building of the antahkarana, and leads in a graded series of renunciations to the Great Renunciation, which sets the disciple free for all eternity.

The third Law of the Soul is intended to govern all soul activity. It is the Law of Service. Before we elaborate this theme, there are three things which I seek to say and which merit our careful attention:

First, is the fact that the result of all contact achieved in meditation and the measure of our success, will be determined by the ensuing service to the race. If there is right understanding, there will necessarily be right action.

The three great sciences which will come to the fore in the New Age, and which will lead humanity from the unreal to the real, and from aspiration to realization, are:
i. The science of Meditation, the coming science of the mind.
ii. The science of Antahkarana, or the science of bridging which must take place between the higher and the lower mind.
iii. The science of Service, which is a definite technique of at-one-ment.

Secondly, this Law of Service is something which may not be escaped. Evasion brings its penalties, if that evasion is consious. Ability to serve marks a definite stage of advance upon the Path, and until that stage is reached, spontaneous service, rendered in love and guided in wisdom, cannot be given. What is found up to that time is good intention, mixed with motives, and often fanaticism.

Thirdly, this Law of Service was expressed for the first time fully by the Christ, two thousand years ago. The Piscean age slowly, very slowly, prepared the way for the divine expression of service, which will be the glory of the coming centuries. Today, we have a world which is steadily coming to the realization that 'no man liveth unto himself', and that only as love, about which so much has been written and spoken, finds its outlet in service, can man begin to measure up to his innate capacity. It is not easy to serve. Man is today only beginning to learn how to serve.

Service is usually interpreted as exceedingly desirable, and it is seldom realized how very difficult service essentially is. It involves so much sacrifice of time and of interest and of one's own ideas, it requires exceedingly hard work, because it necessitates deliberate effort, conscious wisdom, and the ability to work without attachment. These qualities are not easy of attainment by the average aspirant, and yet today, the tendency to serve is an attitude which is true of a vast majority of the people in the world. Such has been the success of the evolutionary process.

Service is frequently regarded as an endeavour to bring people around to the point of view of the one who serves, because what the would-be server has found to be good and true and useful, must necessarily be good and true and useful for all. Service is viewed as something we render to the poor, the afflicted, the diseased and the unhappy, because we think we want to help them, little realizing that primarily this help is offered because we ourselves are made uncomfortable by distressing conditions, and must therefore endeavour to ameliorate those conditions in order ourselves to be comfortable again. The act of thus helping releases us from our misery, even if we fail to release or relieve the sufferers.

Service is frequently an indication of a busy and overactive temperament, or of a self-satisfied disposition, which leads its possessor to a strenuous effort to change situations, and make them what he feels they should be, thus forcing people to conform to that which the server feels should be done.

Or again, service can grow out of a fanatical desire to tread in the footstep of Christ, that great Son of God Who 'went about his good', leaving an example that we should follow in His footsteps. People, therefore, serve from a sense of obedience, and not from a spontaneous outgoing towards the needy. The essential quality of service is, therefore, lacking, and from the start they fail to do more than make certain gestures. Service can likewise be rendered from a deep seated desire for spiritual perfection. It is regarded as one of the necessary qualification for discipleship and, therefore, if one is to be a disciple, one must serve. This theory is correct, but the living substane of service is lacking. The ideal is right and true and meritorious, but the motive behind it all is entirely wrong. Service can also be rendered because it is becoming the fashion and the custom to be occupied with some form of service. The tide is on. Everybody is actively serving in welfare movements, in philantrophic endeavors, in Red Cross work, in educational uplifts, and in the task of ameliorating distressing world conditions. It is fashionable to serve in some way. Service gives a sense of power; brings one friends; service is a form of group activity, and brings far more to the server (in a worldly sense) than the served.

And yet, in spite of all this, which indicates wrong motive and false aspiration, service of a kind is constantly and readily being rendered. Humanity is on its way to a right understanding of services.

When the personal lower self is subordinated to the higher rhythms and obedient to the new Law of Service, then the life of the soul will begin to flow through man to the others, and the effect in a man's immediate family and group will be to demonstrate a real understanding and a true helpfulness. As the flow of life becomes stronger through use, the effect will spread out from the small surrounding family group to the neighborhood. A wider range of contacts become possible, until eventually the effect of the outpouring life may become nationwide and worldwide. But it will not be planned, nor will it be fought for, as an end in itself. It will be the natural expression of the soul's life, taking from and direction according to the man's ray and past life expression; it will be coloured and ordered by environmental condititions - by time, by period, by race and age. It will be a living flow, and a spontaneous giving forth, and the life, power and love demonstrated, being sent forth from the soul levels, will have a potent attractive force upon the group units with which the disciple may come in contact in the three worlds of soul expression. There are no other worlds wherein the soul may at this time express itself. Nothing can stop or arrest the potency of this life of natural, loving service, except in those cases wherein the personality gets in the way. The service, as the Teachers of the inner side of life understand it, gets distorted and altered into busy-ness. It becomes changed into ambition, into an effort to make others serve as we think service should be rendered, and into a love of power which hinders true service, instead of into love of our fellow men. There is a danger in every life when the theory of service is grasped, and the higher law is recognized, then the imitative quality of the personality, its monkey nature, and the eagerness of a high grade aspiration, can easily mistake theory for reality, and the outer gestures of a life of service for the natural, spontaneous flow of soul life through its mechanism of expression.

From Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul

George Bush still insists on endless war

2006-08-24T17:52:00.000-07:00

Probably George Bush will be remembered as the 'war' president. Can't he see that war will become a thing of the past? Hard to believe, isn't it? I think we have outgrown war. War is usually a thing that frighten us, but it no longer frighten us. And when war ceases to frighten us, it has no power over us.

Am I going too far ahead of the mass? I don't think so. I think the mass is too tired of war. I think the mass sees that war no longer provides a good solution for its problems. I think the mass yearns for a better solution. I think the mass is ready to try another way.

In the past, leaders lead, and the mass treads slowly behind. This time, the mass leads, and the leaders tread slowly behind. The mass receives its inspiration from within. The mass is ready to evolve to the next phase of evolution. To change the world, it requires the engagement of the mass.

In the era when the United Nations come together and ask for peace, the United States still insists on endless war. Perhaps that is what it was good at. It was a way for it to shine, with its military might. Perhaps because it has a lot to lose. But that era is over. The era is over not because the United States is weakened militarily, but because the human psyche has changed.

Oh, there will be conflicts, just because the differences among human beings remain. But the kind of conflicts that spread out to war and killing people on the massive level will be minimized. We are seeing the work in progress with the United Nations. They are still fragile, yes, but we see how different countries coming together to ask for a truce and work out a peaceful resolution.

Learn to live in peace with your neighbors. Learn to make peace with your neighbors. The era of brotherhood is coming. It is already felt from the inside, and wait for its manifestation on the outside. The light of love will shine outward from each of us, healing the world.

There will be a few, like George Bush, who takes a longer time to heal. But he too, shall be healed.

Israel/Lebanon/Hezbolla

2006-08-16T01:42:00.000-07:00

People often asked me what I think about the Israel/Lebanon/Hezbolla situation. I usually said my view is biased because I grew up in Vietnam and I saw the destruction caused by the bombs. Naturally, I feel very sad for the Lebanese, and I am not too crazy about the bombers. Worse, it's the United States who is delaying the peace process, buying time for Israel. Even more disturbing is I recently found out from Congress that the United States is contemplating about sending cluster bombs to Israel. Even the day the United States go along with the United Nations with the cease fire, George Bush managed to point out that the blame for all this rests on Hezbolla.

Yes, I've heard this rationale before. Yes, Hezbolla kidnapped two of Israel's soldiers. They wanted to exchange prisoners. Israel refused. They would rather fight. In fighting, they hurt many Lebanese. Then they blame it's the Hezbolla's fault.

Let's say, Tom hits you. You get upset. You hit Mary. Let's say Mary is related to Tom, so you think she has some influence over Tom. Tom gets upset because you hit Mary, so Tom hits you. You get upset, you intend to hit Tom, but your hand keep ending up on Mary's face. Her face gets red. Mary is crying. She asks why can this continue. Most of the family asks you to stop. Except Paul, he tells you to continue hitting, except try to avoid hitting Mary, except your hand keep landing on Mary. The family looks at Paul. Eventually even Paul asked you to stop. But he wants to make it clear that this is Tom's fault. Now, the family wants all the family members to heal, and it doesn't help to be pointing fingers. Well, that's the family I am conceiving of. Whether the United Nation can serve that role, I don't know, but I hope so.

God's Messengers

2006-08-14T23:32:00.000-07:00

God explains:

God has spoken to you many times in many ways over many years, but seldom as directly as this.

This time, I speak to you as You, and that has occurred on only a handful of occasions in the whole of your history.

Few humans have had the courage to hear Me in this way - as themselves. And fewer still have shared with others what they have heard. Those few who have listened, and shared, have changed the world.

Aesop, Confucius, Lao-Tzu, Buddha, Muhammad, Moses and Jesus were among them.
So, too, Chuan Tzu, Aristotle, Huang-po, Sahara, Mahavira, Krishnamurti.
Also, Paramahansa Yogananda, Ramana Maharshi, Kabir, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Thich Nhat Hanh, the Dalai Lama, Elizabeth Clinton.
As well, Sri Aurobindo, Mother Teresa, Meher Baba, Mahatma Gandhi, Kahlil Gibran, Baha Allah, Ernest Holmes, Sai Baba.
Including Joan of Arc, Francis of Assisi, Joseph Smith, and more, others not mentioned here. This list could go on. Yet, relative to the total number of humans who have inhabited your planet, the number is miniscule.

These few have been My Messengers - for all have brought forward the Truth within their hearts, as best as they understood it, as purely as they knew how. And while they have each done so through imperfect filters, they have nonetheless brought to your awareness extraordinary wisdom, from which the whole human race has benefited.

What is amazing is how similar their insights have been. Offered at vastly different times and places, separated by regions and centuries, they might just as well have been speaking all at the same time, so tiny have been the variances between them, and so huge the commonalities.

Now, it is time to expand this list to include others, living today, as My latest messengers.

We will speak as one voice. Unless we do not.
You will make that choice, even as you have always done. For in each Moment of Now have you made your decision, and announced it in action.

At the beginning, your thoughts are Mine, and Mine are yours. For at the beginning, it can be no other way. There is only one Source of That Which Is, and the one Source is That Which Is.

All things emanate from that Source, then permeate the Isness all over, and reveal themselves as Individuations of the Whole.

The individual interpretations of the one message produce the miracle of Oneness in many forms.

This Oneness in many forms is what you call Life.

Life is God, interpreted. That is, translated into many forms.

The first level of translation is from the unified nonphysical to the individuated non-physical.
The second level of translation is from the individuated non-physical to the individuated physical.
The third level of translation is from the individuated physical into the unified physical.
The fourth level of translation is from the unified physical into the unified non-physical.

Then the cycle of Life is complete.

The continuing process of the translation of God produces endless variety within God's unity. This variety of the unity is what I have called 'individuation'. It is the individual expression of that which is not separated but which can be individually expressed.

A Field of Lotus Flower

2006-08-14T04:07:00.000-07:00

In Chinese, my name means 'a field of lotus flower'
You know how they often depicted Buddha as sitting on a lotus flower
It means that He reached the stage where although He is surrounded by 'mud', He retains His beauty.
That is what I hope to create for you
Each of you will ascend, just as Buddha was
I feed you with words from God
I feed you with words from this Tibetan Master
Calling the Buddha/Christ in you to come forward
From the field of lotus flower
Comes a field of Buddha/Christ
If I can accomplish this
I would have fulfill the mission I came here to do
The world would indeed become a better place if we have a field of Buddha/Christ.

The Inertia of the Average Spiritually-Minded Man

2006-08-12T23:48:00.000-07:00

'The average spiritually-minded person, man of goodwill, or disciple, is constantly aware of the challenge of the times and the opportunity which spiritual events may offer. The desire to do good and to accomplish spiritual ends is ceaselessly gnawing away within his consciousness. No one who loves his fellowmen, who has a dream of seeing the Kingdom of God materialize on earth, or who is conscious of the awakening - slow though it may be - of the masses to the higher spiritual values, but is thoroughly dissatisfied. He realizes that what he contributed of help to these desirable objectives is little indeed. He knows that his spiritual life is a side issue; it is something which he keeps carefully to himself and which he is frequently afraid to mention to his nearest and dearest; he tries to dovetail his spiritual effors into his ordinary, outer life, struggling to find time and opportunity for it in a gentle, futile, and innocent manner. He finds himself helpless before the task of organizing and rearranging his affairs so that the spiritual way of living may dominate; he searches for alibis for himself and eventually rationalized himself so successfully, that he ends by deciding that he is doing the best he can in the given circumstances. The truth is that he is doing so little that probably one hour out of twenty four (or perhaps two) would cover the time given to the Master's work; he hides behind the alibi that his home obligations prevent his doing more, and does not realize that - given tact and loving understanding - his home environment can and must be the field in which he triumphs; he forgets that there exist no circumstances in which the spirit of man can be defeated, or in which the aspirant cannot meditate, think, talk, and prepare the way for the coming of Christ, provided he cares enough and knows the meaning of sacrifice and silence. Circumstances and environment offer no true obstacle to the spiritual life.

Perhaps he hides behind the alibi of poor health, and frequently behind that of imaginary ills. He gives so much time to the care of himself that the hours which could be given to the Master's work are directly and seriously curtailed; he is so preoccupied with feeling tired, or tending a cold, or with fancied heart difficulties, and his 'body consciousness' steadily develops until it eventually dominates his life; it is then too late to do anything. This is particularly the case with people who have reached their fiftieth year or over. It is an alibi which it is hard not to use, for many feel tired and ailing, and this, as the years go by, is apt to get worse.

The only cure for this creeping inertia, is to ignore the body and take your joy in the livingness of service. I speak here not of definite disease or of serious physical liabilities; to these right care and attention must be duly given; I speak to the thousands of ailing men and women who are preoccupied with taking care of themselves, and so waste hours of the time which could be given to the service of humanity. Those who are seeking to tread the Path of Discipleship, should release those many hours spent in needless self-care into the service of the Hierarchy.

Still another alibi, leading to inertia, is the fear people have of speaking about the things of the Kingdom of God to others; they are afraid of being rebuffed, or of being thought peculiar, or of intruding. They therefore preserve silence, lose opportunity and never discover how ready people are for the discussion of realities, for the comfort and hope which the thought of Christ's return can bring, or for the sharing of spiritual light. This is essentially a form of spiritual cowardice, but is so widespread that it is responsible for the loss of millions of hours of world service.

There are other alibis, but those above noted are the most common; the release of the majority of people from these hindering conditions would bring to the service of the Christ so many hours and so much overtime endeavour that the task of those who admit no alibis would be greatly enlightened, and the coming of Christ would be much nearer than it is today. To the rhythm of life under which the Christ and the spiritual Hierarchy operate, and which vibrates in harmony with human need and spiritual response, we are not called. We are, however, called to demonstrate the quality of spiritual activity and to refuse to hide behind alibis. It is essential that all spiritual people recognize that in the place where they now are, among the people who are their associates and with the psychological and physical equipment with which they are endowed, they can and must work. There is no possible coercion or undue pressure exerted in the service of the Hierarchy. The situation is clear the simple.

From Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul

A Call to Service (4)

2006-08-11T12:08:00.000-07:00

'One of the first lesson which those in training for initiation have to master is that difficult dual attitude, which permits right personality and activity and real interest in personality affairs, and yet at the same time permits nothing personal to interfere with the subjective spiritual life, with service and with the training given in preparation for initiation.

The service you can render is to you of more value than the service that can be rendered to you.

The world today offers opportunity to all disciples to become world disciples, close to the Master's heart, and to pass rapidly through the earlier stages of discipleship. It offers opportunity to world disciples to begin their approach to the Heart of the Hierarchy, to Christ. It is with this first possibility that you should be concerned, for - as you come closer to your group - you can begin to get that training which will develop in you world usefulness. Are the majority of you too old to achieve this? That is for you to say. The soul knows no age and can use its instrument if its makes itself into a suitable and available instrument. Are you too set and too preoccupied with yourselves to achieve the detachment needed for world service? That is for you to find out and to prove to yourselves. Are you too depressed? (which is a synonym for selfishness) and too sensitive to render service to humanity in a larger way than hitherto? That can be overcome if you care enough. Is your awareness a constant group-awareness? Or is it a constant self-awareness which comes consistently between you and your fellow men? That is for you to discover. Have you the deep humility - based on a realization of the Plan and the glory of the goal - and not a sense of self-depreciation over which you gloat and regard as an indication of spiritual humility? You need to re-interpret this theme of humility, as well as your terms, in the light of esoteric and spiritual values. Can you do this?

Upon your understanding response to the collective need will depend the rapidity with which you will be enabled to achieve the next expansion of consciousness or initiation which may be, for you as an individual, possible. You have, therefore, to consider your individual response to the demands of your own soul and your collective response to the collective need. It is the initiate in you, the Christ in you, which is now called to this collective service and the radiation today of the Christ spirit, actively present in the hearts of all disciples, is the one thing which can salvage mankind, enable humanity to move forward onto the Path of Discipleship and thus evoke that new spirit which can and will build the new world.

From Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul

A Call to Service (3)

2006-08-10T17:56:00.000-07:00

'The immediate goal must be well recognized, if lost effort is to be avoided and real progress achieved. Many well-intentioned aspirants are prone to give undue time to their registered aspirations, and to the formulation of their plans for service. The world aspiration is now so strong, and humanity is now so potently orienting itself toward the Path, that sensitive people everywhere are being swept into a vortex of spiritual desire, and ardently long of the life of liberation, of spiritual undertakings, and of recorded soul consciousness. Their recongnition of their own latent possibilities are now so strong, that they over-estimate themselves; they give much time to picturing themselves as the ideal mystic, or in deploring their lack of spiritual achievement, of their failure to achieve a sphere of service. Thus, they become lost, on the one hand in the vague and misty realms of beautiful idealism, or colourful hypotheses and of delightful theories; on the other hand, they become engulfed in a dramatization of themselves as centres of power in a field of fruitful service; they draw up, mentally, plans for world endeavor, to see themselves as the pivotal point around which that service will move; they frequently make an effort to work out these plans and produce an organization, for instance on the physical plane, which is potentially valuable but equally potentially useless, even if not dangerous. They fail to realize that the motivating impulse is primarily due to what the Hindu teachers call a 'sense of I-ness' and that their work is founded on a subjective egoism which must - and will - be eliminated before true service can be rendered.

The mobilization of every disciple is demanded at this time. This mobilization involves the focusing of the disciple's energies, his time and his resources on behalf of humanity; it requires a new dedication to service, a consecration of the though-life and a forgetfullness of self, which would rule out all moods and feelings, all personality desires, resentment, grievances, and all pettiness in your relations with your fellow men. On the physical plane, it would mean the conditioning of all active, outer living so that the whole of life becomes one focused, active service. I would ask you to study the above phrasing, using it as a light of revelation so that you may know wherein you are lacking, and what you have to do.

Today, make a new beginning, not for your own sake, but for the helping of a needy world. Forget yourself.

From Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul

A Call to Service (2)

2006-08-04T18:22:00.000-07:00

'Everytime there is a tendency toward synthesis and understanding in the world, every time the lesser is merged in the greater and the unit is blended in the whold, every time great and universal concepts make their impact upon the minds of the masses, there is a subsequent disaster and cataclysm and breaking down of the form aspect, and of that which might allow those concepts become physical plane facts. This is therefore the problem with hierarchical workers: how to avert the dreaded suffering and carry man along, while the tidal wave of the spiritual realization sweeps over the world and does its needed work. Hence the present call to service which is sounding like a trumpet in the ear of all attentive disciples.

This call to service usually meets with a response, but that response is coloured by the personality of the aspirant and tinctured with his pride and his ambition. Need is truly realized. The desire to meet the need is genuine and sincere; the longing to serve and lift is real. Steps are taken which are intended by the aspirant to enable him to fit in the Plan. But the trouble with which we on the inner side have perforce to deal is that, though there is no question as to the willingness and desire to serve, the characters and temperaments are such that well nigh insuperable difficulties are presented. Through these aspirants we have to work, and the material they present gives us much trouble frequently.

These latent characteristics often do not make their appearance until after the service has been undertaken. That they are there, the watching guides may suspect, but even they have not the right to withhold opportunity. When there is this delayed appearance, the tragedy is that many others suffer besides the aspirant concerned. As the human fabric makes itself felt, and stands out of the mist of idealism, of lovely plans and much talk and arranging, many are in the meantime attracted by synchronous idealism, and gather around the server. When the hidden weakness appear, they suffer as well as he. The method of the Great Ones, which is to seek out those who have trained themselves somewhat in sensitive response, and to work through them, carries with them certain dangers. The ordinary well-meaning aspirant is not in such danger as the more advanced and active disciple. He is in danger of three directions, and can be swept off his feet in three ways:

1. His whole nature is under undue stimulation on account of his inner contacts, and the spiritual forces with which he is in touch, and this carries with it real danger, for he hardly knows as yet how to handle himself, and is scarcely aware of the risk entailed.

2. The people to whom he is working, in their turn, make his problem. Their greed, their adulation and praise, and their criticism, tend to becloud his way. Because he is not sufficiently detached and spiritually advanced, he walks bemused in a cloud of thought-forms, and knows it not. Thus he loses his way and wanders from his original intent, and again he knows it not.

3. His latent weaknesses must emerge under the pressure of work, and inevitable he will show signs of cracking at times, if I may use such a word. The personality faults become strengthened as he seeks to carry his particular form of service to the world. I refer to that service which is self-sought, and formulated on a background of personal ambition and love of power, even if only partially recognized or not recognized at all. He is under strain naturally, and like a man carrying a heavy load up a steep hill - he discovers point of strain, and evinces a tendency to break down physically, or to lower his ideal so as to conform to weakness.

To all this must be added the strain of the period itself, and the general condition of unhappy humanity. This subconsciously has its effect on all disciples, and upon all who are now working in the world. Some are showing signs of physical pressure, though the inner life remains poised and normal, sane and rightly oriented. Others are breaking up emotionally and this produces two effects according to the point of development of the aspirant to service. He is either, through the strain, learning detachment, and this curiously enough is what might be called the 'defense mechanism' of the soul in this present period of unfoldment, or he is becoming increasing nervous, and is on the way of becoming a neurotic. Others again are feeling the pressure on the mental body. They become bewildered in some cases, and no clear truth appears. They then work without inspiration, and because they know it to be right, and they also have the rhythm of work. Others are grasping opportunity as they see it, to do so, fall back on innate self-assertion (which is the outstanding fault of the mental types) and built up a structure around their service and construct a form which in reality embodies what they desire, what they think is right, but which is separative and the child of their minds and not the child of their souls. Some, in their turn, more potent and more coordinated, feel the pressure of the entire personality; the versatile psychic nature responds both to need and to the theory of the plan; they realize their truly valuable assets, and know they have somewhat to contribute. They are still, however, so full of what is called personality, and that their servce is gradually and steadily stepped down to the level of that personality, and is consequently coloured by their personality reactions, their likes and dislikes, and their individual life tendencies and habits. These eventually assert themselves, doing good work, but spoiling it all by his unrealized separateness and individual methods. This means that such a worker gathers to himself only those whom he can subordinate and govern. His group is not coloured by the impulses of the New Age, but by the separative instincts of the worker at the center. The danger here is so subtle that much care must be taken by the disciple in self-analysis. It is so easy to be glamoured by the beauty of one's own ideals and vision, and by the supposed rectitude of one's own position, and yet all the time to be influenced subjectively by personal power, individual ambition, jealously of other workers, and the many traps which catch the feet of the unwary disciple.

But if true impersonality is cultivated, if the power to stand steady is developed, if every situation is handled in the spirit of love, and if there is a refusal to take hasty action and to permit separation to creep in, then there will be the growth of a group of true servers, and the gathering out of those who can materialize the Plan, and bring to birth the New Age and its attendant wonders.

From Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul

A Call to Service (1)

2006-08-02T00:19:00.000-07:00

'World Unity, brotherhood in its true sense, the growth of telepathic interplay, the elimination of the non-essentials which serve to separate the thoughts of men and bring about separateness on the physical plane, and the laying of a true emphasis upon the fundamentals of the Ageless Wisdom, the manifestation of a true understanding, the bringing about of at-one-ment with the soul, the recognition of those who belong to the group of world Saviors - this is the immediate work to be done, and this must engross your attention.

This, and this alone, warrants the expenditure of all that any of you have to give - love and life, time and money.

This, and this alone, justifies your existence and calls forth from all of you who respond to the vision, that utter self-sacrifice which is so rare and so far-reaching in its effect. The casting of all that one has at the feet of the Lord of Life, in order that the work of world salvage may go forward, the elimination out of one's life of all that can possibly hinder, the giving of all that one has until it hurts to give, the ruling of one's life on the basis of surrender, asking oneself all the time: What can I relinquish in order that I may help more adequately? ... that and more than that lies ahead of all of you who hear the call and respond to the need and opportunity.'

From Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul

On Good and Evil

2006-08-01T23:59:00.000-07:00

In times when we start calling people 'terrorists' and condemn them, I bring this poem from Kahlil Gibran ...as a reminder. Nobody is evil. We are all children of God.

'Of the good in you I can speak, but not of the evil.
For what is evil but good tortured by its own hunger and thirst?
Verily when good is hungry it seeks food even in dark caves, and when it thirsts it drinks even of dead waters.

You are good when you are one with yourself.
Yet when you are not one with yourself, you are not evil.
For a divided house is not a den of thieves; it is only a divided house.
And a ship without rudder may wander aimlessly among perilous isles yet sink not to the bottom.

You are good when you strive to give of yourself.
Yet you are not evil when you seek gain for for yourself.
For when you strive to gain you are but a root that clings to the earth and sucks at her breast.
Surely the fruit cannot say to the root, 'Be like me, ripe and full and ever giving of your abundance.'
For to the fruit, giving is a need, as receiving is a need to the root.

You are good when you are fully awake in your speech,
Yet you are not evil when you sleep while your tongue staggers without purpose.
And even stumbling speech may strengthen a weak tongue.

You are good when you walk to your goal firmly and with bold steps.
Yet you are not evil when you go thither limping.
Even those who limp go not backward.
But you who are strong and swift, see that you do not limp before the lame, deeming it kindness.

You are good in countless ways, and you are not evil when you are not good.
You are only loitering and sluggard.
Pity that the stags cannot teach swiftness to the turtles.

In your longing for your giant self lies your goodness: and that longing is in all of you.
But in some of you, that longing is a torrent rushing with might to the sea, carrying the secrets to the hillsides and the songs to of the forest.
And in others it is a flat stream that loses itself in angles and bends and lingers before it reaches the shore.
But let not him who longs much say to him who longs little, 'Wherefore are you slow and halting?'
For the truly good ask not the naked, 'Where are your garment?' nor the houseless 'What has befallen your house?'

Our Power Forced Matrix

2006-07-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

I want to introduce you to a team - Our Power Forced Matrix. You will see a link on a side for this.

I like the concept of this group. We work together as a team, building a bigger team, helping all members in the team reaching wealth.

I even pay for your membership. Once you are in the team, I know you are on the pathway toward wealth. You'll see how with this concept, even if you have nothing to contribute, you can get there. It's a sense of 'Brotherhood'. We all help one another getting there. Join me.

Work Ethics Training

2006-07-29T10:04:00.000-07:00

Recently, I sat in a 'training' on work ethics at my company.

Before, when I go to training, there is a packet of information for each of us to read and bring home. These days, there are no longer these packets. I presume they just cost money, create more waste, because chances are these packets will end up in the trash.

These days, we just go in, sit down and listen. They then have a quiz on it. If you pass, you don't have to sit through the training again. If you don't pass, you have to retake the training at another time and retake the quiz. That is what they say. But then, to give another class takes time and personnel, so eventually, answers are practically given.

This particularly company has full time employees, part time employes, hourly employees, and temps. Both full time and part time have benefits, but the hourly employees don't. Before, hourly employees have tuition benefits, now they don't. One of thing they ask during the training is ... as employees, we cannot have a business outside, and if we look for a second job, we need to ask permission from them before accepting the other job. We cannot engage in outside activities to make money for ourselves. The reason behind it is conflicts of interest.

I told them ... this sounds so unfair, especially for the hourly employees. I said, if the company can't support them, at least give them the opportunity to look for other means of support. The speaker nodded. She too was able to do those things before, but now, she is not allowed. She just gives the presentation.

When it is time to sign the paper that we have attended the training. I put down the date without signing my name. She asked why I don't sign it. I said I don't sign it because I don't agree with it, but I dated it to say that I was present at the training.

This too is a form of oppression although you don't see signs of violence. It's making people weak and it's keeping them weak. These people live from check to check with no insurance. They work just as hard as others. Somehow, despite working with the company for years, they don't get promoted to part time, with some sort of safety net.

While we are on this topic, there will be a vote on minimum wage coming up. Actually, I would prefer a living wage. Call your Congress to support this.

Challenge (4)

2006-07-29T09:37:00.000-07:00

'I ask you also to sever your connection with all groups which are seeking to destroy and attack, no matter how sincere their motive. Range yourself on the side of the workers for constructive ends, who are fighting no other groups or organizations, and who have eliminated the word 'anti' out of their vocabulary. Stand on the side of those who are silently and steadily building for the new order - an order which is founded on love, which builds under the impulse of brotherhood, and which possesses a realization of a brotherhood which is based on the knowledge that we are each and all, no matter what our race, the children of the One Father, and who have come to the realization that the old ways of working must go, and the newer methods must be given a chance.

If you cannot yourself teach or preach or write, give of your thought and of your money so that others can. Give of your hours and minutes of leisure so as to set others free to serve the Plan; give of your money so that the work of those associated with the New Group of World Servers may go forward with rapidity. Much time you waste on non-essentials. Many of you give little or nothing of time. The same is the cases with money. Give as never before, and so make the physical aspects of the work possible. Some give of their very need, and the power they thereby release is great. Those on the inner side is grateful for the giving by those who can give only at a great personal cost. Others give of what they can spare and only when it needs no sacrifice to give. Let that condition also end, and give to the limit, with justice and understanding, so that the age of love and light may be more rapidly ushered in. I care not where or to whom you give, only that you give - little if you have but little of time or money, much if you have much. Work and give, love and think, and aid those groups who are building and not destroying, loving and not attacking, lifting and not tearing down. Be not taken in by the specious argument that destruction is needed. It has been needed, no doubts; but the cycle of destruction is practically over, could you but realize it, and the builders must now get busy.

I challenge you above all to a deeper life, and I implore you for the sake of your fellow men to strengthen your contact with your own soul, so that you will have done your share in making revelation possible; so that you will have served your part in bringing in the light, and will therefore be in a position to take advantage of that new light and new information, and so be better able to point the way and clear the path for the bewildered seeker at that time. Those who are not ready for the coming events will be blinded by the emerging light, and bewildered by the revealing wonder; they will be swept by the living breath of God, and it is to you that we look to fit them for the event.'

From Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul

Talk to the 'Terrorists'

2006-07-26T11:41:00.000-07:00

It seems that our country's policy is we don't talk to the 'terrorists'.

How unfortunate.
We prefer destroying them rather than talking to them.
Is this the lesson we want to teach to our children?
Use violence instead of talking for problem resolution?

Talking to them doesn't mean we are agreeing with them.
Talking to them allows us to understand the issues better.
Understand the issues better help us to resolve the problem better.

The Hezbollas and the Hamas are human beings too.
They too have a heart within them.
They too are capable of love.
They have military operations but they also have humanitarian operations.
A humanitarian operation to help people, a military operation to defend themselves.
Not much different from us, except it's a smaller group.

This is the opportunity for us to use peaceful means to resolve our problems.
This is the opportunity for us to teach our children that there is a peaceful way to resolve conflicts.
We cannot fight our way to peace.
Peace is the only way.

Write to Your Leaders

2006-07-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

I just write another letter to our leaders, regarding the issue of the Israel-Lebanon conflict. I ask for a cease fire among other things.

I encourage to write to your leaders. Make your voice heard. I include a link to that site on this blog.

Challenge (3)

2006-07-26T11:28:00.000-07:00

'I challenge you also to make sacrfices; to give yourself and your time and your money and your interest, to carry these ideas to those around you in your own environment and to the group in which you find yourself, thus awakening your associates. I call you to a united effort to inculcate anew the ideas of brotherhood and of unity. I ask you to recognize your fellow workers in all groups and to strengthen their hands. I ask you to seal your leaps to words of hatred and of criticism, and to talk in terms of brotherhood and of group relationships. I beg of you to see to it that every day is for you a new day, in which you face new opportunity. Lose sight of your own affairs, your pretty sorrows, worries and suspicions, in the urgency to the task to be done, and spread the cult of unity, or love, and of harmlessness.'

From Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

2006-07-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

I personally had some experience with embryonic stem cell research, however, when I did it, it was with mouse, pig, sheep, and cow.

I remember I had a high school student. He had an internship at the university that summer. His project involves studying sperms. To him, sperms have life in it, and he refused to do experiments with them. We respect his decision.

I myself, had no problem studying sperms. However, with embryos, the animals have to breeded to get them pregnant, then we sacrificed the animals to get their ovaries. The meat from the pig, sheep, and cow can go on to the meat market.

With pig, sheep, and cow, I can go and pick up from the slaughter house. I saw how the animals were electrocuted, and bleeded. It was not a pleasant sight. However, I rationalize that at least, their meat can go to the meat market.

With mouse, however, I had to sacrifice the mouse myself. It was hard at first, but after I know the techniques, it wasn't as hard. After we remove the parts we needed, the dead mouse is discarded.

The potential is very alluring.

Here we have a set of cells, called embryonic stem cells or pluripotential cells, with the potential to differentiate to all types of cells. It has the potential to help with the problem with shortage of organs in organ transplantation.

It also has the potential to transfer gene. Let's say that our cells are deficient in making certain enzymes, we can inject cells that have the capability to make this enzyme.

The challenge, however, is also great.

Embryonic stem cells have an internal program to differentiate, that is how they get from an embryo to a fetus.

One challenge is to halt this program, and keep it in the pluripotential state. My experience with this is there is very low ratio of success, but it was 10 years ago. Somehow, for mice, it was not as hard to keep these cells in a pluritotential state, but for other species, it was not as easy. For embryos that spontaneously differentiate in a tissue culture plate, I can see different types of structures arise. For example, I can see they try to grow three dimensionally into a heart-like structure, beating like a heart.

Another challenge is to understand the biology enough so that we can control what type of cells it differentiate to if we have this pluripotential cells.

Another challenge is to safely incorporate these cells into the body without rejection.

From a scientific point of view, this is perhaps the most exciting project I have ever taken. However, from a moral point of view, I see a potential life in this embryo. I knew that down the line, what I would be looking at in the tissue culture plate is not a mice embryo, a pig embryo, a sheep embryo, a cow embryo, but a human embryo, and that is the line I don't want to cross.

But I am just speaking for myself. If I take a life, I have to live with it with my conscience. God knows how many animals' life I have taken in the name of progress for science. Like that high school student, even though I know that once these embryos are out (from fertility clinics), if they are not used, they end up being in a trash. There is something about experimenting on another potential human life that just irk me.

On the other hand, if that potential human life knows that it will be discarded, it might want to be of some use to society, ie. to know what life is in a tissue culture plate, to know what life is in a liquid nitrogen tank, and with progress in science, it might someday be used to save another human's life.

A Challenge (2)

2006-07-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

A Challenge from Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul

'I challenge you to drop your antagonism and your antipathies, your hatreds and your racial differences, and attempt to think in terms of the one family, the one life, and the one humanity. I ask for no sentimental or devotional response to this challenge. I would remind you that hatred and separateness have brought humanity to the present sad condition. I would add to that reminder, however, the fact that there is in the world today a large enough number of liberated men to produce a change in the attitudes of mankind and public opinion, if they measure up by an act of the will to what they know and believe.'

A Challenge (1)

2006-07-22T15:05:00.000-07:00

This is the challenge from Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul: Part 1

'I challenge the thinkers of the world to drop their sectarianism, their nationalism, and their partisanships, and in the spirit of brotherhood to work in their particular nation, regarding it as an integral part of a great federation of nations - a federation that now exists on the innerside, but waits for the activity of world thinkers to bring it to materialization on the outer side. I charge them to work in the cause of religion and in the field of that particular religion in which they, by an accident of birth or by choice, are interested, regarding each religion as part of the great world religion. They must look upon the activities of their group, society or organization as demanding their help, just in so far, and only so far, as the principles upon which they are founded, and the techniques which they employ, serve the general good and develop the realization of Brotherhood.'

We are making progress. We have the United Nations. It is they who are asking for a cease fire in Lebanon. The United States, on the other hand, is making an excuse for Israel.
We have interfaith organizations. People of different faiths are coming together and work together to improve the lives for many people.
Still, there is so much work to be done.

The True Server

2006-07-21T16:47:00.000-07:00

I am going to begin a series of articles from Tibetan Master Djwhal Khul in his treatise 'Serving Humanity'. As I said, I am not that religious, but if I can prepare the way for Christ to come back, that would be good for mankind. This Master shows the way. Whether we can do it is up to us.

1. The True Server

The Master looks not at a worker's worldly force or status, not at the numbers of people who are gathered around his personality, but at the motives which prompt his activity and at the effect of his influence upon his fellow men. True service is the outflow of a loving heart and an intelligent mind; it is the result of being in the right place and staying there; it is produced by the inevitable inflow of spiritual force and not by strenuous physical plane activity; it is the effect of a man's being what he truly is, a divine son of God, and not by the studied effect of his words and deeds. A true server gathers around him those whom it is his duty to serve and aid by the force of his life and his spiritualized personality, and not by his claims or loud speaking. In self-forgetfulness he serves; in self-abnegation he walks the earth, and he gives no thought to the magnitude or the reverse of his accomplishment, and has no preconceived ideas as to the his own value of usefulness. He lives, serves, works and influences, asking nothing for the separated self.

Root Cause

2006-07-21T14:44:00.000-07:00

Dr Rice says that cease of fire doesn't work because it is temporary.
She wants to address the root cause of the problem.
She thinks the root cause is because they don't have a strong military to handle the 'terrorists/militants'.
I want her to go deeper than that.
Why do these people turn to violence?
If these people don't turn to violence, a strong military wouldn't be that important, is it?

I hear there was an anti-war demonstration here during the Vietnam War.
Yet, that war lasted for years. I can only imagine what those people feel.
Here, another war is upon us. We have a group marching for peace.
Yet, we have an administration that doesn't want to listen.

People turn to violence when they have a 'pain' in their heart, and they don't know how to handle it. It is a cry for help. Yet, by their actions, we label them bad, and we punish them, and further hurting them.

The way to address violence is to talk to them, to understand their pain, and find ways to help them.

Trang's Gifts Store

2006-07-20T22:14:00.000-07:00

I want to make an announcement: I have a virtual store now. You can see the link on the side.

I would appreciate it if you visit this site when you are shopping for gifts. It has all kinds of gifts. You should check it out.

If you enjoy reading these passages that I am writing, you can help me by shopping at the store.

Prisoner Exchange

2006-07-20T21:18:00.000-07:00

As I observe how the United States respond to the Israel/Lebanon conflict, I realize we haven't learned ... at least, this administration hasn't.

It seems the world has asked for a cease fire, but the United States hasn't. With the firepower of the United States, what has it accomplished? On the contrary, the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan is getting worse.

The United States started out pretty gung ho, just as Israel is going gung ho right now. Look where it is now. I listened to the Israel ambassador to the UN on CNN. He thinks the world is with Israel. He thinks this is World War 3. He thinks the world has failed, and it is up to Israel to save the world. I hope that he doesn't drag us into World War 3. Maybe this is what the administration wants. Is that why they are reluctant to call for a cease fire?

I say ... let's exchange the prisoners. After all, isn't that why they attacked Israel in the first place? They have a cause to fight.

All violence results from a 'pain' in the heart, and the feeling of powerlessness to do anything about it except to turn to violence. For the Lebanese, their people are captured by Israelis and they want them back. For the Israelis, their soldier is kidnapped.

I want to hear about the prisoners. Why are the Israelis keeping them? Are they keeping them like the United States? Because they are potential danger but with no actual proof? Why the Israelis dismiss the question?

On Love

2006-07-20T02:15:00.000-07:00

Kahlil Gibran is one of my favorite poet.
His writing is so beautiful.
His advice is timeless and remain a light for us.

The following is Kahlil Gibran's poem on Love:

'When love beckons to you, follow him,
Though his ways are hard and steep.
And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
And when he speaks to you believe in him,
Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

For even as love crowns you shall he crucify you.
Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant.
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.
All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life's heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and love's pleasure,
Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass on love's threshing floor,
Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
Love possess not nor would it be possessed;
For love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, 'God is in my heart', but rather, 'I am in the heart of God'
And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself.
But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To know the pain of too much tenderness.
To be wounded by your own understanding of love.
And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.
To rest at the noon hour and meditate love's ecstasy.
To return home at eventide with gratitude.
And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.'

Potential Killer

2006-07-19T17:31:00.000-07:00

I hear George Bush doesn't want to get the prisoners because he is afraid they might be potential killers.

Because the weapons these days are so lethal, can we afford to wait for it to happen before we can have the evidence to capture and indict them? If we decide to wait for them to act, then we can suffer massive losses, but when we capture them, at least we have a reason to justify our actions, but at the same time, the administration will be criticized heavily for not being able to protect us.

If the administration's role is to protect us, a suspicion of potential killers might feel like sufficient warrant to capture them. They haven't commit the act, yet they have potential to act. When the administration go after these people, they are criticized as well.

Is there such thing as a safe world or a safe person that we don't have to worry about?

First, there is Void, which has the potential. Then there is One. With One, we can't experience ourselves. There is nothing to compare ourselves to. We created Two - Yin and Yang, with differences. These forces are within each of us, so is the Void and the One.

So, there is a 'potential' killer in each of us. We each feel these forces within us. Our emotion are all over, from fear, anger, to love. For some of us, we recognize that our consciousness has an impact on the world, the moment we detect fear, anger in our consciousness, we transform it so that words of anger and fear do not get out and stir the world. On the contrary, we try to get out the words of love to stir it in the positive direction. But it is an act of daily monitoring.

What about the women and children?

2006-07-19T02:20:00.000-07:00

As I heard about the conflict between Israel and Lebanon, the Hezbollah group actually, I was thinking about the women and children that are jailed.

Hamas kidnapped some Iraelis, hoping that they can exchange for the women and children. Hezbolla kidnapped some Israelis soldiers, hoping they can exchange for the women and children.

Israel, refuse to negotiate. They decide to use force. First bombing Gaza, then now Lebanon. They want to keep on bombing until the Hezbollah disarm, it seems.

What about the women and children that are jailed? Why do the Israelis have them? Are they all suicide bombers caught red handed? I don't hear anything about them.

Reiki/Prayer for the Middle East

2006-07-15T15:57:00.000-07:00

As we know, the Middle East situation right now is very fragile. I received an e-mail from reiki.org asking us to do reiki for the middle east. They have put a World Peace Crystal Grid at the North Pole (in 1997), South Pole (in 1999), and Jerusalem (in 2004).

Their theory is the North Pole is like a Crown, the South Pole is like a Root, and if we channel energy peace energy, through the poles, through Jerusalem, then Peace Energy will be focused in Jerusalem. This is why the crystal is used. The theory is, it has the ability to concentrate, focus energy. Now, what Israel do is up to them, we have no control over that. What Lebanon and Hezbolla do is up to them, we have no control over that. What we do is influence their consciousness on the higher level. We are all connected on the higher level.

Have you ever have an inspiration of what you feel from a higher source? For some of you, you heard it, you understand it, you are grateful for it, and you change your ways and follow your higher calling. For some of you, you heard it, it sounds nice, but you don't believe it's possible, and you go back to your old ways. For some of you, you shrug it off as pure fantasy, and go back to your old ways. But for the few that heard it and understand it, we help them.

Even in a chaotic place, when we are connected to the source, we are calm. Without it, it's fear, it's insanity, it's oppression, etc. it's an emotional torment. This is what we want to influence, their inner being. That despite the external turmoil outside, that they can find calmness and peace within them. And when they act in this way, it decreases violence ... because in essence, they turn the other cheek. The only way violence can decrease is for people to turn away from violence, that they act in peace.

If you don't know Reiki, prayer works equally well. In prayer, pray from a powerful position and not from a weak position. It has more power that way. Pray from a powerful position means pray and know that it will be delivered. Pray from a weak position means pray and hope that it will be delivered.

And if you are not sure, it can't hurt to pray. On the contrary, it may help. We are engaging in an experiment that no instrument can measure. It is an experiment about the collective human spirit and what it can do if it is intent on moving things in a certain way.

Evolution of Society

2006-07-15T12:07:00.000-07:00

God has been defined in many different ways. Ultimately, how you see God is actually more a reflection of you and your level of consciousness, rather than the actual God itself.

I read a book 'Peace is the Way' by Deepak Chopra.

In there, among other things, he says God is revealed in stages.

Stage 1: Chaos, Conflict, War
In this stage, the tangled hierarchy is dominated by: fear, random events, blind reactions, fight-or-flight, enemies everywhere, oppression, depression, sinfulness.

Stage 2: Law, Order, Achievement
In this stage, the tangled hierarchy is dominated by: organization, orderliness, cooperation, laws, money, civil society, competition, free markets.

Stage 3: Harmony, Nurturing, Inwardness
In this stage, the tangled hierarchy is dominated by: looking inward, stability, peace, appreciation, leniency, openness, self-acceptance, non-judgment, nurturing.

Stage 4: Insight, Conscious Growth, Witnessing
In this stage, the tangled hierarchy is dominated by: intuition, mystery, inner truth, witnessing, detachment, increased acceptance, self-absorption.

Stage 5: Creativity, Discovery, Innovation
In this stage, the tangled hierarchy is dominated by: creativity, science, exploration, rebelliousness, insistence on freedom, focus, bursts of inspiration, unbounded energy, intolerance for limits, anti-authority.

Stage 6: Vision, Compassion, Love
In this stage, the tangled hierarchy is dominated by: vision, compassion, miracles, complete transformation, end of personality, future-oriented, ego death, surrender.

Stage 7: Unity, Being, Eternity
In this stage, the tangled hierarchy is dominated by: uncreated, undying, boundless, timeless, beyond opposites, beyond thought, inconceivable.

While individually, we may be from different stages, but in observing our American society, we are predominantly at Stage 2 - dominated by Law, Order, and Achievement.
Following 9/11, it throws us back into Stage 1 - dominated by Chaos, Conflict, War. I am glad to see the Court and the Congress guide the Administration back into Stage 2. This would not have happened with the people themselves show complacency. Unlike other authoritarian countries, when the people of this country take action, it can change the course where the country is heading.

The world however is largely still in Stage 1 - dominated by Chaos, Conflict, War. We must remain the light for them, and help them get to Stage 2 - dominated by Law, Order, and Achievement. We lost our footing for a while there, but I think we are back on our two feet. It is not easy for us. Our society wants to evolve to Stage 3 - dominated by Harmony, Nurturing, and Inwardness, and yet the world we live in wants to throw us back into Stage 1.

The other thing that I observed is technologically, we have progressed far. Many people in our country and the world are in Stage 5, with burst of creativity. These groups like their freedom, have intolerance for limits, and anti-authoritarian. Stage 2 governmental style can cramp up their style and limit their creativity.

For these people, I hope they evolve to stage 6, channel their creativity to constructive things, guided by the spirit of compassion. When they channel their energy in this way, we will begin to understand more about 'miracles' and see them more often. The wisdom has already been there. Before, it looks impossible because our consciousness has not evolved to the point where we can understand. But we are evolving. We are at the point where we are beginning to understand.

But knowledge is one thing. Experience is another. We are in the physical world to experience. And nobody can take you there but you yourself.

Each of us progress at a different rate. With that in mind, we should inspire our children to achieve as far as they can, yet at the same thing, we should not punish them for progressing at their own rate.

Same thing with the world. We should inspire nations to achieve as far as they can, yet at the same time, we should not punish them for progressing at their own rate.

Draft Gore

2006-07-12T23:48:00.000-07:00

Well, today I received an e-mail - to draft Gore.
Yes, I signed the petition.
The website is www.draftgore.com in case you are interested.

I am still hungry for a good presidential candidate I can support
Who knows, with enough public support, he might reconsider running

One of the things that I heard often is ...
Candidates, when they are running, they say many wonderful things
But when it comes time to deliver, they often run short
And then the public lose trusts on them
Then they stop caring
They don't think things will change

Yes, if we allow ourselves to be driven by the outside, then it does affect us
But, if we are driven by the compassion within, then we continue to care, and we affect the environment around us.

As far as things won't change ...
I tell you, everything changes. Change is a constant, haven't you heard that? It's up to us to decide which way it will change to. You can change unconsciously or you can change consciously, but change is inevitable.

Free Market

2006-07-08T18:14:00.000-07:00

God explains ...

In the United States, the top one and a half percent hold more wealth than the botton 90 percent. The net worth of the richest 834,000 people is nearly a trillion dollars greater than the poorest 84 trillion people combined.

You Americans tend to see class status as a function of individual effort. Some have 'made good,' so you assume that anybody can. That view is simplistic and naive. It assumes that everyone has equal opportunity, when in fact, in America just as in Mexico, the rich and powerful strive and connive to hold on to their money and their power and to increase it.

They do so by systematically eliminating competition, by institutionally minimizing true opportunity, and by collectively controlling the flow and the growth of weath.

This they accomplish through all manner of devices, from unfair labor practices which exploit the masses of the world's poor to good-old-boy network competitive practices which minimize (and all but destroy) a newcomer's chances of entering the Inner Circle of the successful.

They then seek to control public policy and governmental programs around the world to further ensure that the masses of people remain regulated, controlled, and subservient.

In most cases, it isn't rich individuals who do it; it's the social systems and institutions they represent. Those systems and institutions were created by the rich and powerful - and it is the rich and powerful who continue to support them.

By standing behind such social systems and institutions, individuals can wash their hands of any personal responsibility for the conditions which oppress the masses while favoring the rich and the powerful.

For example, let's go back to health care in America. Millions of America's poor have no access to preventive medical care. One cannot point to any individual doctor and say 'this is your doing, it is your fault' that, in the richest nation on earth, millions cannot get in to see a doctor unless they're in dire straits in an emergency room.

No individual doctor is to blame for that, yet all doctors benefit. The entire medical profession - and every allied industry - enjoys unprecedented profits from a delivery system which has institutionalized discrimination against the working poor and the unemployed.

And that's just one example of how the 'system' keeps the rich rich and the poor poor.

The point is that it is the rich and powerful who support such social structures and staunchly resist any real effort to change them. They stand against any political or economic approach which seeks to provide true opportunity and genuine dignity for all people.

Most of the rich and powerful, taken individually, are certainly nice enough people, with as much compassion and sympathy as anyone. But mention a concept as threatening to them as yearly income limits (even ridiculously high limits, such as $25 million annually), and they start whining about usurpation of individual rights, erosion of the 'American Way', and 'lost incentives'.

Yet what about the right of all people to live in minimally decent surroundings, with enough food to keep from starving, enough clothing to stay warm? What about the right of people everywhere to have adequate health care - the right not to have to suffer or die from relatively minor medical complications, which those with money overcome with the snap of a finger?

The resources of your planet - including the fruits and labors of the masses of the indescribably poor who are continually and systematically exploited - belong to all the world's people, not just those who are rich and powerful enough to do the exploiting.

And here is how the exploitation works: Your rich industrialists go into a country or an area where there is no work at all, where the people are destitute, where there is abject poverty. The rich set up factory there, offering those poor people jobs - sometimes 10-, 12-, and 14-hour a day jobs - at substandard, if not to say subhuman, wages. Not enough, mind you, to allow those workers to escape their rat-infested villages, but just enough to let them live that way, as opposed to having no food or shelter at all.

And when they are called on it, these capitalists say, 'Hey, they've got it better than before, don't they? We've improved their lot! The people are taking the jobs, aren't they? Why, we've brought them opportunity! And we're taking all the risks!"

Yet how much risk is there is paying people 75 cents an hour to manufacture sneakers which are going to sell for $125 a pair?

Is this risk-taking or exploitation, pure and simple?

Such a system of rank obscenity could exist only in a world motivated by greed, where profit margin, not human dignity, is the first consideration.

Those who say that 'relative to the standards of their society, those peasants are doing wonderfully!' are hypocrites of the first order. They would throw a drowning man a rope, but refuse to pull him to shore. Then they would brag that a rope is better than a rock.

Rather than raising the people to true dignity, these 'haves' give the world's 'have-nots' just enough to make them dependent - but not enough to ever make them truly powerful. For people of true economic power have the ability to then impact, and not merely be subject to the 'system.'. And that's the last thing the creators of the system want!

So the conspiracy continues. And for most of the rich and powerful, it is not a conspiracy of action, but a conspiracy of silence.

So go now - go your way - and by all means say nothing about the obscenity of a socioeconomic system which rewards a corporate executive with a 70-million-dollar bonus for increasing sales of a soft drink, while 70 million people can't afford the luxury of drinking the stuff - much less eating enough to stay healthy.

Don't see the obscenity of it. Call this the world's Free Market Economy, and tell everyone you are proud of it.

Yet it is written:
If thou wilt be perfect,
go and sell what thou hast, and give to the poor,
and thou shalt have treasure in heaven.
But when the young man heard this, he went away,
sorrowful, for he has great possessions.

The Left Hand of God

2006-07-06T15:42:00.000-07:00

Michael Lerner has written a book 'The Left Hand of God' to counter the Religious Right.

I have heard a lot about the Religious Right, and thought they are quite militant, but here is a paragraph in Michael Lerner's book which may explain why.

In George Grant's book 'The Changing of Guard: Biblical Principles for Political Action', it says ...

'Christians have an objective, a commission, a holy responsibility to reclaim the land for Jesus Christ - to have dominion in civil structures, just as in every other aspect of life and godliness. But it is dominion we are after. Not just a voice. It is dominion we are after. Not just influence. It is dominion we are after. Not just equal time. It is dominion we are after. World conquest. That's what Christ has commissioned us to accomplish. We must win the world with the power of the Gospel. And we must never settle for anything less ... Thus, Christian politics has as its primary intent the conquest of the land - of men, families, institutions, bureaucracies, courts and governments for the Kingdom of Christ.'

But here is another version of how Christ can come back. From Alice Bailey 'Serving Humanity', Christ comes back when sufficient number of people have learned to share. This knowledge came from the Tibetans, ironically, and it is then, we understand how Occidental Buddhism is connected to Christianity. Now in my meditation, it was the symbols of the Tara that were given to me. And Taras are Buddha of Compassion according to the Tibetans. So, you can see why I try to inspire the spirit of compassion within mankind. If I get sufficient number, Christ may return.

I am not that religious. But for those who want Christ to return, the latter way would be a better way, wouldn't you say?

Micheal Lerner is forming such an organization - The Left Hand of God, which advocate the compassionate side of God.

Free Speech

2006-07-06T14:40:00.000-07:00

'Free speech' is a good concept. It allows people to speak out without fear.

For example, with all the things that I have said about this administration, I could have been thrown in jail if I am in Vietnam, a 'communist' country.

I believe the intention of free speech is to allow you to express disagreements without fear. However, when people use language to abuse other people, put down other people, I think that is free speech abused.

For example, the President declared that 'North Korea, Iran and Iraq as the axis of evil.' Americans like soundbites, but that is a very destructive thing to say.

Subsequently, we see Iran expressed its desire to continue with its nuclear program.

Now, we are seeing North Korea testing its nuclear capabilities.

To hear the president say he doesn't understand why North Korea does what it is doing is amazing. If he is sincere about his caring for the North Koreans, he should apologize for his use of words.

Every political season, I observe politicians just destroy one another up with their use of words. I guess it's the test to see who is more 'callous', because sensitive people probably would not survive this onslaught.

Even with 'free speech', we should pay attention to what we say to others.

Health

2006-07-04T11:38:00.000-07:00

God explains ...

Now let's understand what you probably already know: all illness is self-created. Even conventional medical doctors are now seeing how people make themselves sick.

Most people do so quite unconsciously..

So when they get sick, they don't know what hit them. It feels as though something has befallen them, rather than that they did something to themselves. This occurs because most people move through life unconsciously.

People smoke and wonder why they get cancer.

People ingest animals and fat and wonder why they get blocked arteries.

People stay angry all their lives and wonder why they get heart attacks.

People compete with other people - mercilessly and under incredible stress - and wonder why they have strokes.

The not-so-obvious truth is that most people worry themselves to death.

Worry is just about the worst form of mental activity there is - next to hate, which is deeply self-destructive. Worry is pointless. It is wasted mental energy. It also creates bio-chemical reactions which harm the body, producing everything from indigestion to coronary arrest, and a multitude of things in between.

Health will improve almost at once when worrying ends.

Worry is the activity of a mind which does not understand its connection with Me.

Hatred is the most severely damaging mental condition. It poisons the body, and its effects are virtually irreversible.

Fear is the opposite of everything you are, and so has an effect of opposite to your mental and physical health. Fear is worry magnified.

Worry, hate, fear - together with their offshoots: anxiety, bitterness, impatience, avarice, unkindness, judgmentalness, and condemnation - all attack the body at the cellular level. It is impossible to have a healthy body under these conditions.

Similarly - although to a lesser degree - conceit, self-indulgence, and greed lead to physical illness, or lack of well-being.

All illness is created first in the mind.

Nothing occurs in your life - nothing - which is not first a thought. Thoughts are like magnets, drawing effects to you. The thought may not always be obvious, and thus clearly causative, as in "I'm going to contract a terrible disease." The thought may be (and usually is) far more subtle than that. ("I am not worthy to live.") ("My life is always a mess.") ("I am a loser.") ("God is going to punish me.") ("I'm sick and tired of my life!")

Thoughts are very subtle, yet extremely powerful form of energy. Words are less subtle, more dense. Actions are the most dense of all. Action is energy in heavy physical form, in heavy physical motion. When you think, say, and act out negative concept such as 'I am a loser,' you place tremendous creative energy into motion. Small wonder you come down with a cold. That would be the least of it.

It is very difficult to reverse the effects of negative thinking once they have taken physical form. Not impossible - but very difficult. It takes an act of extreme faith. It requires an extraordinary belief in the positive force of the universe - whether you call it God, Goddess, the Unmoved Mover, Prime Force, First Cause, or whatever.

Healers have just such faith. It is a faith that crosses into the Absolute Knowing. They know that you are meant to be whole, complete, and perfect in this moment now. This knowingness is also a thought - a very powerful one. It is the power to move mountains - to say nothing of molecules in your body. That is why healers can heal, often even at a distance.

Thoughts know no distance. Thought travels around the world and traverses the universe faster than you can say the word.

"Say but the word and my servant shall be healed." And it was so, in that selfsame hour, even before his sentence was finished. Such was the faith of the centurion.

Yet you are mental lepers. Your mind is eaten away with negative thoughts. Some of these are thrust upon you. Many of these you actually make up - conjure up - yourselves, and then harbor and entertain for hours, days, weeks, months - even years.

... and you wonder why you are sick.

You can 'solve some of your health problems,' as you put it, by solving the problems in your thinking. Yes, you can heal some of the conditions you have already acquired (given yourself), as well as prevent major new problems from developing. And you can do this all by changing your thinking.

Also - and I hate to suggest this because it sounds so mundane coming, as it were, from God, but - for God's sake, take better care of yourself.

You take rotten care of your body, paying little attention at all until you suspect something's going wrong with it. You do virtually nothing in the way of preventive maintenance. You take better care of your car than you do of your body - and that's not saying much.

Not only do you fail to prevent breakdowns with regular checkups, once-a-year physicals, and use of therapies and medicines you've been given (why do you to the doctor, get her help, then not use the remedies she suggests? Can you answer Me that one?)- you also mistreat your body terrible between these visits about which you do nothing!

You do not exercise it, so it grows flabby, and worse yet, weak from non-use.

You do not nourish it properly, thereby weakening it further.

Then you fill it with toxins and poisons and the most absurb substances posing as food. And it still runs for you, this marverlous engine; still it chugs along, bravely pushing on in the face of this onslaught.

It's horrible. The conditions under which you ask your body to survive are horrible. But you will do little or nothing about them. You will read this, nod your head in regretful agreement, and go right back to the mistreatment. And do you know why?

Because you have no will to live.

It's not meant to be harsh, nor is it meant as an indictment. 'Harsh' is a relative term; a judgment you have laid on the words. 'Indictment' connotes guilt, and 'guilt' connotes wrongdoing. There is no wrongdoing involved her, hence no guilt and no indictment.

I have made a statement of truth. Like all statement of truth, it has the quality of waking you up. Some people don't like to be awakened. Most do not. Most would rather sleep.

The world is in the condition that it's in because the world is full of sleepwalkers.

I designed your magnificent body to last forever! And the earliest of you did live in the body virtually pain-free, and without fear of what you now call death.

The Inner Smile

2006-07-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

Before you love others, you have to love yourself first. You have to know how to generate it within yourself so you can radiate it outward.

You can transform hate, which is stored in your heart, into love. You can transform anger, which is stored in the liver, into kindness. You can transform sadness, which is stored in your lungs, into courage. You can transform worry, which is stored in your stomach, into openness. You can transform fear, which is stored in your kidneys, into gentleness. Compassion is the combined energy from these virtues.

Your emotions affect your health and your health affects your emotions. Spend time each morning to meditate. Consult basic anatomy to learn where these organs are located. These meditations help heal your body, strengthen your compassion energy, and move you into your High Self quicker.

Close your eyes. Smile into your thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, and heart, and feel love and happiness arise. Smile into your lungs and feel courage arise. Smile into your stomach, spleen and pancreas, and feel openness and fairness arise. Smile into your liver and gallbladder and feel kindness arise. Smile into your kidneys and bladder and feel gentleness arise. Detoxify your body each morning with this exercise, and bring the spirit of compassion into the workplace.

Osama bin Laden Message

2006-07-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

How does Osama bin Laden message affects you? Did it frighten you? Did it get you angry? He is bent on destruction, isn't he?

Violence is upon us. The media spread this message around the world and it affects us all. And if you are a person who reject violence, what do you do when you are confronted with violence?

This is the question I posed when I was young, living in a war-torn country, Vietnam. Sure, the short-term answer seems to be to arm yourself and fight back, but then, the cycle of violence would continue. And if you reject violence, and do not want to arm yourself, what do you do?

Does the advice 'Turn the other cheek, Love Thy Enemy' really work? That was the strategy I chose because I did not want to turn to violence. The fact that I am still alive demonstrates that this strategy can work, but to do this, you really have to open your heart and love your enemy. Beneath the violence that he displays, there is a pain within his heart. It is risky, but then, everything in life is risky. You simply make a decision that reflects you more and not let the environment affects you. And if your energy is strong, it might affects him, and opens his heart as well.

I was captured and a gun was pointed at me for information. I didn't say anything. He could have killed me, but something seems to stop him. He then turns his gun on another. Again, I didn't say anything. And again, something seems to stop him, and he just move on. If he had killed me, I would have forgiven him for he knows not what he is doing. I was faced with other conflicts as well, and at times, I had to fight. But then, it seems someone took over and was doing the fighting for me, and in the end, I was unharmed, but neither was the other. And at that point, I learned how compassionate people fight. And above all, there was calmness within me and not fear as I had expected.

This is a dangerous time. A person can be armed, but the weapon is getting increasingly dangerous. It can kill many people in an instant.

You can turn to violence and arm yourself, or you can train yourself in compassion and radiate it outward and affects the environment around you, and possibly bring peace to the world.

Osama bin Laden message is a message that can make your stomach churning, but then this is a wonderful time to practice your spirit of compassion. He provides you the opportunity to train yourself, and get your compassion energy stronger.

Israelis and Palestinians

2006-06-30T18:28:00.000-07:00

It is unfortunate that Israelis and Palestinians can't find their way to peace.

Both Israelis and Palestinians have the same ancestry - Abraham, and yet now, they are fighting and killing each other. They forgot that they were once brothers.

I pray that they find peace between them. I pray that the United States stand on a more neutral side helping both Israelis and Palestinians to find their peace. I believe that the 'terrorists' problem arise in part because of the mistreatment of the Palestinians by the Israelis, and the United States often stand by Israelis.

The Israelis have a long history of oppression, and perhaps, that is why the United States stand by them, feeling sorry for them because of the Holocaust situation.

But the United States should step back and play neutral. It may stem the tide of the 'terrorists' attacks. Not because we are afraid, but because it is a better choice, just like a father doesn't take sides when his children are fighting. He helps them find peace.

Manifest Your Spirituality in the Physical World

2006-06-28T09:33:00.000-07:00

This blog site is developing behavioral problems. Even after several times entering correct User ID and password, it still doesn't let me in. So, let me get my main message across to you, in case, I can't get back in.

Many people ridicule George Bush ... he uses a lot of reference to God. I don't know how George Bush receives his message from God, but it takes a lot of courage to reveal this to the public. I will share with you some of my experience. In fact, I was hoping this site will be a site where we can share experience such as this. Each of us is like a sensor, able to sense certain things, but unable to sense other things, and if we combine our senses, we can see a bigger picture of what we are seeing. Instead of arguing who is right and who is wrong, we just combine our effort, and each of us gain from each other's experience. Internet technology gives us this potential.

Some of you have not experienced God personally. Some of you have been taught to worship God. Now, I ask you to be 'Christ/God - like' in your way. That is a big jump, I admit. But this is the message I have come to tell you. This is the time. You hear the urging from God Himself in these passages.

And what is 'Christ/God - like'? It's unconditional love. From that base, you make your decision. Although the world seems to be in chaos, I do see signs of it emerging.

I use the Taras as examples. Taras are Buddha of Compassion, expression their compassion in different ways.

You can be like White Taras, taking good care of yourself and sharing your wealth with others.

You can be like Green Taras, putting the needs of others before you, serving society.

You can be like Avalokiteshvara, teaching and reminding people to be compassionate toward one another.

There are many ways to express yourself.

But above all, envision the Highest Version of Who You Are and express it.

Warren Buffet donates to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

2006-06-27T19:50:00.000-07:00

Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, has announced that he will be investing full time to his Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations that address health, education, and poverty issues.

And now, Warren Buffet, the second richest man in the world, has pledged to donate 80% of his asset to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

These people know how to make money. They are secured. They are giving back to society. Wow, doesn't news like that inspire you? I hope Warren Buffet provide the example for other people to follow.

Communism and Religion

2006-06-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

I have always thought that communism springs from Karl Marx theory, an economic theory, which advocates for resource sharing, as opposed to the capitalistic theory, which advocates for market forces deciding.

The implementation of communism requires big government. Big government is not necessarily bad. Big government that choose to serve people, work in partnership with business can be a good thing. It's the corruption in government that brings about trouble. But that corruption can exists in communist society as well as capitalistic society, or even a monotheistic society.

When a person sits on top of that big chunk of money - ie. from tax collections, it is very tempting to dip his/her hand into it, hoping nobody will notice that it is missing. It happens in governments, it happens is businesses, it happens when you find money on the street that doesn't belong to you.

Now why did the United States fight Communism? Is it because it is against Communism in principle? or in its implementation, those countries who choose to practice Communism are generally anti-religion. According to a recent analysis that I heard from NPR, it is for the latter reason. Are there any country that are religious and practice communism as well, I wonder? Are religion and communism mutually exclusive? It doesn't seem to be. In fact, it can be very compatible. But again, ideals sounds good, but it is in the implementation that we hit a snag.

We've seen the collapse of communism in Russia. Are we on solid ground in our capitalistic model? I would say that this capitalistic model has created such an imbalance, a large gap between rich and poor, that it too, is at risk of collapsing. It creates a lot of unhappy people, and some of these unhappy people can choose violence to get their message across.

We have to get creative and create a better model.

Incentive

2006-06-24T10:21:00.000-07:00

God explains ...

The incentive to succeed, to make the most of one's life, should not be economic or materialistic reward. It is misplaced there. This misplaced priority is what has created all of the problems we have discussed here.

When the incentive for greatness is not economic - when economic security and basic materialistic needs are guaranteed to all - then incentive will not disappear, but be of a different sort, increasing in strength and determination, producing true greatness, not the kind of transparent, transient 'greatness' which present incentives produce.

'Living a better life' is a proper incentive. Create a 'better life' for your children is a good incentive. But the question is, what makes a 'better life'?

How do you define 'better'? How do you define 'life'?

If you define 'better' as bigger, better, more money, power, sex, and stuff (houses, cars, clothes, CD collections - whatever) ... and if you define 'life' as the period elapsing between birth and death in your present existence, then you're doing nothing to get out of the trap that has created your planet's predicament.

Yet if you define 'better' as a larger experience and a greater expression of your grandest State of Being, and 'life' as an eternal, ongoing, never-ending process of Being, you may yet find your way.

A 'better life' is not created by the accumulation of things. Most of you know this, all of you say you understand it, yet your lives - and the decisions you make which drive your lives - have as much to do with 'things' as anything else, and usually more.

You strive for things, you work for things, and when you get some of the things you want, you never let them go.

The incentive of most of humankind is to achieve, acquire, obtain things. Those who do not care about things let them go easily.

Because your present incentive for greatness has to do with accumulation of all the world has to offer, all of the world is in various stages of struggle. Enormous portions of the population are still struggling for simple physical survival. Each day is filled with anxious moments, desperate measures. The mind is concerned with basic, vital questions. Will there be enough food? Is shelter available? Will we be warm? Enormous numbers of people are still concerned with these matters daily. Thousands die each month for the lack of food alone.

Smaller numbers of people are able to reasonably rely on the basic survival appearing in their lives, but struggle to provide something more - a modicum of security, a modest but decent home, a better tomorrow. They work hard, they fret about how and whether they'll ever 'get ahead'. The mind is concerned with urgent, worrisome questions.

By far the smallest number of people have all they could ever ask for - indeed, everything the other two groups are asking for - but, interestingly, many in this last group are still asking for more.

Their minds are concerned with holding on to all that they have acquired and increasing their holdings.

Now, in addition to these three groups, there is the fourth. It is the smallest group of all. In fact, it is tiny.

This group has detached itself for the need for material things. It is concerned with spiritual truth, spiritual reality, and spiritual experience.

The people in this group see life as a spiritual encounter - a journey of the soul. They respond to all human events within that context. They hold all human experience within that paradigm. Their struggle has to do with the search for God, the fulfillment of the Self, the expression of truth.

As they evolve, this struggle becomes not a struggle at all, but a process. It is a process of Self-definition (not self-discovery), of Growth (not learning), of Being (not doing).

The reason for seeking, striving, searching, stretching, and succeeding becomes completely different. The reason for doing anything is changed, and with it, the doer is likewise changed. The reason becomes the process, and the doer becomes the be-er.

Whereas, before, the reason for reaching, for striving, for working hard all of one's life was to provide worldly things, now the reason is to experience heavenly things.

Whereas, before, the concerns were largely the concerns of the body, now the concerns are largely the concerns of the soul.

Everything has moved, everything has shifted. The purpose of life has changed, and so has life itself.

The 'incentive for greatness' has shifted, and with it the need for coveting, acquiring, protecting, and increasing worldly possessions has disappeared.

Greatness will no longer be measured by how much one has accumulated. The world's resources will rightly be seen as belonging to all the world's people. In a world blessed with sufficient abundance to meet the basic needs of all, the basic needs of all will be met.

Everyone will want it that way. There will no longer be a need to subject anyone to an involuntary tax. You will all volunteer to send 10% of your harvest and your abundance to programs supporting those whose harvest is less. It will no longer be possible for thousands to stand by watching thousands of others starve - not for lack of food, but for lack of sufficient human will to create a simple political mechanism by which people can get the food.

Such moral obscenities - now commonplace among your primitive society - will be erased forever the day you change your incentive for greatness and your definition of it.

Your new incentive: to become what I created you to be - the physical out-picturing of Deity itself.

When you choose to be Who You Really Are - God made manifest - you will never again act in an ungodly manner.