No longer can I ask what I do
for myself; rather, I ask myself:
"What will God give to me?"
Freedom from life's woes is
sometimes as easy as coming
to believe God is everywhere.
Since God is everywhere,
what then do I have
to fear but fear itself?
By accepting God into my life,
all fear is replaced by faith
in His power to look after me.
Do I still fear? Yes, I fear
and thus respect God,
for He is truly my Master.
By placing my life in God's hands,
that respect and humility nurtures
a growing sense of fearlessness and courage.
It helps me to remember
the prayer of a sinner:
‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’
Suppose that all of Christendom
finds me to be unworthy to sup with them
in Heaven when that time comes.
Then the Absolute is my inspiration,
and no-self is the divine principle.
Still, God shall remain my Master.
For what is the Absolute but
Heaven itself? For God is absent there
as is the Buddha after death.
Let God be my Master, the Absolute
my inspiration and the Buddha,
the origin of the Golden Rule:
"Do unto others
what thou wishes
done until thineself."
Originally posted October 21, 2010 1:26 AM
Updated on December 25, 2013 at 6:54 AM
Showing posts with label respect. Show all posts
Showing posts with label respect. Show all posts
20141023
20140918
My First Technology Gig (satire)
It is amazing to see how wealthy retirees live in their big houses with two cars, two computers, a laptop, a tablet and a cheap HTC smartphone. (I won't mention the LG 230 flip phone much).
The new SUV is cool with an entertainment centre using bluetooth to hookup to the phone to play music on.
People this old will not have a clue of how to move their pictures off their phone onto their computer, and to put new pictures on their phone again. Nor will they know that they need a data USB cable to copy to and from their smartphone, or even how to get their phone to send music to their entertainment centre in the SUV.
Furthermore, they need to be reassured that knowing their computer password won't let me break into their computer on the Internet - I have to be in the den on their computer to do that. Also Facebook never automatically shares their intimate photos with the world - they have to do that themselves.
That is where I come in, to help them learn how to do it. Though, at their age, without daily practice, a week later they will have forgotten how to do it because they do not practice what I preach to them.
I think I have found my niche market for my technology skills: people over 60. Since it isn't right to charge them $80/hour, I'll take $20 a lesson, which can last from an hour to two hours.
There is no way I'd stay any longer. My reasoning is, it is impolite to stay at anyone's place for more than two hours unless they expressly have invited you for dinner too.
I sure like this new part-time job that I lucked into by helping my client Paul with his smartphone while at an LDS baptism last week.
The new SUV is cool with an entertainment centre using bluetooth to hookup to the phone to play music on.
People this old will not have a clue of how to move their pictures off their phone onto their computer, and to put new pictures on their phone again. Nor will they know that they need a data USB cable to copy to and from their smartphone, or even how to get their phone to send music to their entertainment centre in the SUV.
Furthermore, they need to be reassured that knowing their computer password won't let me break into their computer on the Internet - I have to be in the den on their computer to do that. Also Facebook never automatically shares their intimate photos with the world - they have to do that themselves.
That is where I come in, to help them learn how to do it. Though, at their age, without daily practice, a week later they will have forgotten how to do it because they do not practice what I preach to them.
I think I have found my niche market for my technology skills: people over 60. Since it isn't right to charge them $80/hour, I'll take $20 a lesson, which can last from an hour to two hours.
There is no way I'd stay any longer. My reasoning is, it is impolite to stay at anyone's place for more than two hours unless they expressly have invited you for dinner too.
I sure like this new part-time job that I lucked into by helping my client Paul with his smartphone while at an LDS baptism last week.
20140805
Everyday is Armistice (satire)
It is a big coincidence I was born on Armistice Day (Nov.11). While I'm thankful for the Allieds winning the Great War, the causes of World War 1 were imperialism, militarism and nationalism going back to the 1870s.
In the uneasy peace that followed Armistice in 1918, peace prevailed only to have militarism arise again, leading to World War 2 with Germany and later Japan entering the war.
In Japan's case, the peace-loving government was replaced through assassinations by young military officers with militarists between World War 1 and World War 2. This led to Japan's role as aggressor in Asia, which to this day is propagandized by China and South Korea, despite the fact that most Asians are peace-loving.
Today, it is unlikely there will be another world war.
While there may be minor wars such as the crises in Africa since 1947, Israel -Palestinian conflict, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Ukraine, and the like, most nations know that total war is a costly prospect.
Even though I have stated that the Islamic State should be bombed into submission, it is an impossible act of war that would offend the Arab League. Therefore I am retracting that statement because it was an off-the-cuff response based on a distaste for violent Islamist and especially Jihadist conflict, which violates the message of peace and submission in Islam.
For I believe in peace and nonviolence, and loathe Jihadi warfare because its sharia makes a mockery of Islam.
However, Islam is not the cause of 911. Rather, it was due to the inaction of supposedly great men who failed to act when they were warned. Even Afghan and Iraq conflicts happen because these same men fail to act in the name of peace and non-violence.
True, the West claims to act in the name of democracy, but when forced on a people, only anarchy will result. This is true for the Middle East, the Ukraine, Sudan, and Nigeria as it is for the West.
While I know that my love of peace and nonviolence cannot effect world peace, I know that it affects my life greatly, much more than the same old story since Armistice Day in 1918. Instead, I vow to make every day my armistice day from this day forward, while I briefly and silently mourn for lives lost in conflicts around the world...
When my birthday comes, hopefully the karma of my statement of peace and nonviolence will bear fruit.
Love, peace, respect, and solidarity to all likeminded people.
In the uneasy peace that followed Armistice in 1918, peace prevailed only to have militarism arise again, leading to World War 2 with Germany and later Japan entering the war.
In Japan's case, the peace-loving government was replaced through assassinations by young military officers with militarists between World War 1 and World War 2. This led to Japan's role as aggressor in Asia, which to this day is propagandized by China and South Korea, despite the fact that most Asians are peace-loving.
Today, it is unlikely there will be another world war.
While there may be minor wars such as the crises in Africa since 1947, Israel -Palestinian conflict, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Ukraine, and the like, most nations know that total war is a costly prospect.
Even though I have stated that the Islamic State should be bombed into submission, it is an impossible act of war that would offend the Arab League. Therefore I am retracting that statement because it was an off-the-cuff response based on a distaste for violent Islamist and especially Jihadist conflict, which violates the message of peace and submission in Islam.
For I believe in peace and nonviolence, and loathe Jihadi warfare because its sharia makes a mockery of Islam.
However, Islam is not the cause of 911. Rather, it was due to the inaction of supposedly great men who failed to act when they were warned. Even Afghan and Iraq conflicts happen because these same men fail to act in the name of peace and non-violence.
True, the West claims to act in the name of democracy, but when forced on a people, only anarchy will result. This is true for the Middle East, the Ukraine, Sudan, and Nigeria as it is for the West.
While I know that my love of peace and nonviolence cannot effect world peace, I know that it affects my life greatly, much more than the same old story since Armistice Day in 1918. Instead, I vow to make every day my armistice day from this day forward, while I briefly and silently mourn for lives lost in conflicts around the world...
When my birthday comes, hopefully the karma of my statement of peace and nonviolence will bear fruit.
Love, peace, respect, and solidarity to all likeminded people.
20140713
What Kind of Image Do You Present? (satire)
It is all about humility as the antidote to narcissistic behavior.
I would rather present the image of low self-esteem than be a narcissist who seeks revenge against his imagined enemies. What isn't an issue here is self-esteem.
All that is needed for a person is a validated self-image which endures all adversity for the sake of survival. The very fear of the bully leads children of low self-esteem to do nothing when another child is bullied, lest each of them become a target.
However, the cowardice of bullies is what prevents them from making victims of a group of people, except if they have a tinge of sociopathy.
Therefore, no one is special or unique, lest their ego become distorted. Unconditional love may be a factor in preventing narcissism, because not one person has a monopoly on it.
For all of us are blessed with love, yet few of us are to realize its use in validating one's self-image.
Even when it is self-love, the truly compassionate of us sees the joy in sharing love. For it would be impossible to have a monopoly on narcissism.
Though it would be sad if a narcissist thought people loved him for being unique and special. Truth be told, we admire the narcissist out of pity, especially when he is repentant.
Personally, I would not love him because he is special but I would love the narcissist in spite of his positive and negative attributes.
Without his uniqueness, he is just as deserving of love as an ordinary person. Though it is important to respect other people's boundaries.
When their "me-ness" is almost endless, be compassionate towards the narcissists and show them respect. If they leave you at peace, then they have show you respect, too.
It is truly in how you present yourself to other people that counts, not that the whole world revolves around you alone.
This is why my self-image is based on what appears to be low self-esteem but is a compassionate and kindly image of a humbled self.
It is only through the karma of humility that the desire for attention arising from narcissism is remedied. Those people who refuse the gift of humility are like moths dancing in flight around a candle.
For humility will quench the fires of desire that in which narcissism burns for attention in today's world.
20140108
Seclusion: Overcoming Social Isolation (satire)
Since social isolation causes psychological pain, another question must be addressed: "Why do seemingly normal people isolate themselves from society?"
Back on October 10, 2003 at 2:55 AM I wrote:
Seclusion is necessary, for 25% of our lives - since each of us do need time alone to reflect on their lives. To be in the presence of others for extended periods of time, one would have to give up a lot of privacy. As well, a highly socialized person would feel comfortable in the presence of other people.
However, a person who spends more than 50% of his time alone values his privacy. Of course, he is never alone totally since he will have to interact with merchants, his landlord, and even his own family.
Most likely, he may suffer from being alone, socially isolated from other people.
Overall, I wish to spend more time with people I have grown to love, and to learn to respect those of them who have caused me the most pain, since usually they turn out to be the most beloved of all the people to whom I have bonded.
Update: January 8, 2014 at 2006H
Few people can readily adapt to social isolation without suffering depression. I learned that knowing people care actually helped me recover.
Over the past decade, I have learned to respect my family.
It turns out that most the pain I attributed to my family was self-inflicted, being regret at not being able to live up to unrealistic expectations that arose in response to not being told what those expectations are.
Today, I have chosen one realistic expectation of myself, which is keep my expectations low enough to meet the demand of the day.
While most of my time is still spent alone, it is well spent outside the confines of my own home.
As a result, I feel that seclusion is time well spent being alone to reflect on my life. It also has become easier to spend the other 75% of my time in the presence of other people.
Even so, I only a little privacy over the past decade.
Of course, the lowest part of my life was circa 2010-2011. However, I have recovered from the worst of social isolation, which may have resulted in depression and much psychic pain, pain that affected my psyche to the point of procrastination and questioning my very existence.
After a year of therapy, the most important inspiration came from my psychotherapist when he told me, "You would never go to the Emergency Ward suffering from a complete mental breakdown." I interpret this to mean that I would take care of myself to prevent depression from taking over my life completely.
Indeed, once free from therapy, my life has been improving slowly but surely. Today, I know how to cope with sitting in my room by spending my time online, writing a blog, making music, and reading.
As well, I meditate from time to time, according to my time schedule, especially when spending time online. Every ninety minutes or so, I either meditate, have a snack, or read a book.
At the moment, I am in recovery from depression. This means I have developed the skills needed to cope with life, along with proper sleep hygiene (in bed no later than 2 AM), regular exercise, and meditation.
Today, it's not 2010 anymore. It's 2014, and the year has only begun.
And I am thankful to all the friends I made along the way.
Back on October 10, 2003 at 2:55 AM I wrote:
Seclusion is necessary, for 25% of our lives - since each of us do need time alone to reflect on their lives. To be in the presence of others for extended periods of time, one would have to give up a lot of privacy. As well, a highly socialized person would feel comfortable in the presence of other people.
However, a person who spends more than 50% of his time alone values his privacy. Of course, he is never alone totally since he will have to interact with merchants, his landlord, and even his own family.
Most likely, he may suffer from being alone, socially isolated from other people.
Overall, I wish to spend more time with people I have grown to love, and to learn to respect those of them who have caused me the most pain, since usually they turn out to be the most beloved of all the people to whom I have bonded.
Update: January 8, 2014 at 2006H
Few people can readily adapt to social isolation without suffering depression. I learned that knowing people care actually helped me recover.
Over the past decade, I have learned to respect my family.
It turns out that most the pain I attributed to my family was self-inflicted, being regret at not being able to live up to unrealistic expectations that arose in response to not being told what those expectations are.
Today, I have chosen one realistic expectation of myself, which is keep my expectations low enough to meet the demand of the day.
While most of my time is still spent alone, it is well spent outside the confines of my own home.
As a result, I feel that seclusion is time well spent being alone to reflect on my life. It also has become easier to spend the other 75% of my time in the presence of other people.
Even so, I only a little privacy over the past decade.
Of course, the lowest part of my life was circa 2010-2011. However, I have recovered from the worst of social isolation, which may have resulted in depression and much psychic pain, pain that affected my psyche to the point of procrastination and questioning my very existence.
After a year of therapy, the most important inspiration came from my psychotherapist when he told me, "You would never go to the Emergency Ward suffering from a complete mental breakdown." I interpret this to mean that I would take care of myself to prevent depression from taking over my life completely.
Indeed, once free from therapy, my life has been improving slowly but surely. Today, I know how to cope with sitting in my room by spending my time online, writing a blog, making music, and reading.
As well, I meditate from time to time, according to my time schedule, especially when spending time online. Every ninety minutes or so, I either meditate, have a snack, or read a book.
At the moment, I am in recovery from depression. This means I have developed the skills needed to cope with life, along with proper sleep hygiene (in bed no later than 2 AM), regular exercise, and meditation.
Today, it's not 2010 anymore. It's 2014, and the year has only begun.
And I am thankful to all the friends I made along the way.
20130411
Ten Deeds of Merit
All sentient beings are potential Buddhas; all they are required to do is to realize Buddhahood is to cross over to the Middle Way, by abandoning their worldliness and following the Ten Virtues.
While this seems like a simple thing, few sentient beings are able accomplish it due to attachment to one or all of the Ten Evil Acts. In order to practice the Ten Virtues, the practitioner is encouraged to practice the Ten Deeds of Merit:
Reference:
Ten Evil Acts: http://www.budsas.org/ebud/whatbudbeliev/156.htm
Ten Virtues: to not practice the Ten Evil Acts
While this seems like a simple thing, few sentient beings are able accomplish it due to attachment to one or all of the Ten Evil Acts. In order to practice the Ten Virtues, the practitioner is encouraged to practice the Ten Deeds of Merit:
- Charity (giving without expectation of reward)
- Morality (
- Mental culture (meditation and reading the sutras)
- Reverence or respect
- Service in helping others
- Sharing merits with others
- Rejoicing in the merits of others
- Preaching and teaching the Dhamma
- Listening to the Dhamma
- Straightening one's views
Reference:
Ten Evil Acts: http://www.budsas.org/ebud/whatbudbeliev/156.htm
Ten Virtues: to not practice the Ten Evil Acts
20130116
Religious Peers Disrespect Their Sexually Active Peers
"The students’ religious beliefs were also a part of the study, with researchers saying that people without religious beliefs or those of religions like #Buddhism seemed less likely to express an attitude of disrespect toward people who were involved in casual sex than people of the Catholic faith, for example."
Proof that Buddhists are more respectful of people who have casual sex, than say, those catholics.
It is this disrespect from Christian peers which causes casual sex, since shunning leads to social isolation. Ergo shunning by religious peers is the root cause of casual sex.
Yes, I said it: monogamous religious people and virgins who shun their peers who have casual sex are the cause of them deciding to fuck everyone on sight.
This, like mental illness, is stigmatized by sexually immature religious people.
Disrespected by their peers, the sexually active women are called names and suffer shunning. Such behavior by their peers are a causal influence on their self esteem, and in rare cases, like Amanda Todd are known to commit suicide.
Thus, high school students need to look at their behavior to choose to be supportive of sexually active students, even if it means being bullied and shunned.
For by doing so, you are exercising the non-judgmental mentality which will help you survive school.
In some cases, being called a slut for being chaste and willing to defend your sexually active sisters is proof that you are non-judgmental and morally superior to your religious peers.
Proof that Buddhists are more respectful of people who have casual sex, than say, those catholics.
It is this disrespect from Christian peers which causes casual sex, since shunning leads to social isolation. Ergo shunning by religious peers is the root cause of casual sex.
Yes, I said it: monogamous religious people and virgins who shun their peers who have casual sex are the cause of them deciding to fuck everyone on sight.
This, like mental illness, is stigmatized by sexually immature religious people.
Disrespected by their peers, the sexually active women are called names and suffer shunning. Such behavior by their peers are a causal influence on their self esteem, and in rare cases, like Amanda Todd are known to commit suicide.
Thus, high school students need to look at their behavior to choose to be supportive of sexually active students, even if it means being bullied and shunned.
For by doing so, you are exercising the non-judgmental mentality which will help you survive school.
In some cases, being called a slut for being chaste and willing to defend your sexually active sisters is proof that you are non-judgmental and morally superior to your religious peers.
20110811
Mental Health begins by looking at mental illness in a new light
It starts with My Mental Health, which helps one see clearly the folly of not closely examining misconceptions about mental illness.
Forget the movies: they're not accurate in depicting anything but sometimes overdramatize mental illness without stopping to breathe life into a person who suffers.
Though there are films in recent times which depict people suffering from such illnesses, they don't usually deal with reality honestly.
Though Wikipedia provides a list of movies with a psychiatric illness as a theme, it would take much time to view these movies objectively and develop a respect for people suffering a mental illness.
So in essence, all pop culture does is pick a mental illness, use its worst aspects to dramatize a convincing portrayal of a mental health client, and then let the viewer figure out if they can spot a person suffering from a mental health issue.
FWIW that's a pretty shabby way to treat mental illness and people who suffer from it.
Anyway, I am going to examine My Mental Health with a calm and respectful look.
People suffer mental health issues, often with a lot of support and loving care.
Yet it is not a big deal, and shouldn't be.
Forget the movies: they're not accurate in depicting anything but sometimes overdramatize mental illness without stopping to breathe life into a person who suffers.
Though there are films in recent times which depict people suffering from such illnesses, they don't usually deal with reality honestly.
Though Wikipedia provides a list of movies with a psychiatric illness as a theme, it would take much time to view these movies objectively and develop a respect for people suffering a mental illness.
So in essence, all pop culture does is pick a mental illness, use its worst aspects to dramatize a convincing portrayal of a mental health client, and then let the viewer figure out if they can spot a person suffering from a mental health issue.
FWIW that's a pretty shabby way to treat mental illness and people who suffer from it.
Anyway, I am going to examine My Mental Health with a calm and respectful look.
People suffer mental health issues, often with a lot of support and loving care.
Yet it is not a big deal, and shouldn't be.
20070330
Masturbation as Protest Against Rejection
I was reading the sexuality issue of Visions, put out by the Canadian Mental Health Assn BC members.
(See page 22 of http://www.cmha.bc.ca/files/08.pdf)
They said a person should seek help if their means of sexual gratification leads to social isolation.
Specifically, one should seek help if one's behavior "has become a substitute for, rather than part of, a meaningful relationship with another person; that is, the solitary behaviour allows you to avoid intimacy."
Masturbation alone appears to fit this criteria since a typical chronic masturbator usually is socially isolated from potential partner of relational sex.
Consequently, the solitary behavior involved around masturbation allows one to "avoid intimacy."
So, intimacy involves a willing partner? Only in a culture where individualism honored and paraded around is this so.
Methinks Western society stil has hang-ups about masturbation.
I think the fact that it is mainly associated with gay male sexual behavior on the Internet is part of this Western cultural hang-up about masturbation.
Well, I am gonna be anal and in denial about masturbation.
I am not avoiding intimacy; I am trying to be *my type*.
To me masturbation is a protest against hundreds of women suffering "not my type" reaction to me.
(See page 22 of http://www.cmha.bc.ca/files/08.pdf)
They said a person should seek help if their means of sexual gratification leads to social isolation.
Specifically, one should seek help if one's behavior "has become a substitute for, rather than part of, a meaningful relationship with another person; that is, the solitary behaviour allows you to avoid intimacy."
Masturbation alone appears to fit this criteria since a typical chronic masturbator usually is socially isolated from potential partner of relational sex.
Consequently, the solitary behavior involved around masturbation allows one to "avoid intimacy."
So, intimacy involves a willing partner? Only in a culture where individualism honored and paraded around is this so.
Methinks Western society stil has hang-ups about masturbation.
I think the fact that it is mainly associated with gay male sexual behavior on the Internet is part of this Western cultural hang-up about masturbation.
Well, I am gonna be anal and in denial about masturbation.
I am not avoiding intimacy; I am trying to be *my type*.
To me masturbation is a protest against hundreds of women suffering "not my type" reaction to me.
20070225
War and Violence Neither Muslim nor Christian
War and violence of any kind is a great disrespect to Allah and God.
Any person who represents a religion whose members preach violence do not know of Allah and God. Any Muslim faith that uses violence to promote their religion dishonors Allah. Any Christian or Jewish faith that uses violence and condones war dishonors God.
Thus any Muslim leader who wishes violent death upon anyone offends Allah. And any Christian political leader who starts a war offends God.
Even Buddhists know better than to promote discord, and always value harmony and peace. Small wonder people are discovering Buddhism.
May all Christians, Jews and Muslims come together in peace.
Any person who represents a religion whose members preach violence do not know of Allah and God. Any Muslim faith that uses violence to promote their religion dishonors Allah. Any Christian or Jewish faith that uses violence and condones war dishonors God.
Thus any Muslim leader who wishes violent death upon anyone offends Allah. And any Christian political leader who starts a war offends God.
Even Buddhists know better than to promote discord, and always value harmony and peace. Small wonder people are discovering Buddhism.
May all Christians, Jews and Muslims come together in peace.
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