This Thursday, November 12, 2009, the Charter for Compassion will be introduced to the world. It is the result of Karen Armstrong’s 2008 TED Prize wish. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It is an annual conference that brings together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes). The TED Prize is awarded to three individuals each year who receive $100,000 and granted "One Wish to Change the World." Take a look at TED.com when you have the time.

Karen Armstrong's wish is to come up with a Charter like the Charter of Human Rights that everybody can commit to. Everybody - atheists, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Jews, Muslims - is invited to be part of this.

The Golden Rule is found in almost all the religions in the world – there are at least 19 religions that have the equivalent of the Golden Rule in their writings or teachings.

Ancient Egyptian: Eloquent Peasant, 109 - 110
Baha'i Faith: Gleanings
Buddhism: Udana-Varga 5.1, Samyutta Nikaya v.353, Sutta Nipata 705
Christianity: Bible Matthew 7.12, Matthew 22.36-40, Leviticus 19.18
Confucianism: Analects 15.23, Mencius VII.A.4
Hinduism: Mahabharata, Anusasana Parva 113.8, Mahabharata 5:1517
Humanism: British Humanist Society
Native American Spirituality: The Great Law of Peace, Black Elk, Pima proverb
Islam: Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi 13
Jainism: Acarangasutra 5.101-2, Sutrakritanga 1.11.33
Judaism: Leviticus 19.18, Shabbat 31a
Shinto:Ko-ji-ki Hachiman Kasuga
Sikhism: Guru Granth Sahib, pg. 1299
Sufism: Javad Nurbakhsh
Taoism: T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien, 213-218
Unitarianism: Unitarian principle
Wicca: Wiccan Rede
Yoruba: Yoruba Proverb (Nigeria)
Zoroastrianism: Shayast-na-Shayast 13.29

( Read more... )

I didn't think the-week-that-doesnt-end would come to visit again, but this week, it did.

It was one of those weeks where you worked from Monday to Friday and then Saturday and then Sunday and you just realised that all 48 hours can pass by (seemingly) in a minute?!

Not to mention, the partner and I had to plug the noses with rolledup tissue while we photographed and photographed and photographed (yes, I cannot emphasize enough how much work I have).

But at the very least, I'm glad for all these because it's our first project together after so long of procrastinating for a proper name that suits the both of us. Of course, I'm gonna keep the name as a surprise for now until the site is up and we are good to expose (like on photographs?).


Meanwhile, pardon me while I go down some flu pills, watch a comedy and wish for a slack day tomorrow.

(p/s i'm not planning on running, so dear God, please rain.)

10:10 @darenkong dream for $98 is with or without plan? #

11:49 @darenkong chey, 2 year contract!! But android phone doesn't have access to 100,000 apps like iPhone! #

11:49 @jerrbone any spare google wave invites? #

14:00 @darenkong "who come in to service their iPhone"?? U work at apple store?? #

note to self: blog abt.... omg i 4got what i want 2 blog abt already! :(

done it for my dearest charlene,
happy 21st birthday in advance.

=]

 ron weasley!

ok nevermind.
anyway, recent days i've discovered that when i really really need time, i don't have it. and when i dun seem to have much to do, i simply have too much of it. very irritating. maybe i should plan out what i want to get done, that way i can fully utilise my time! but its so much harder said than done man!
so much things planned out. so messy and packed. oohh my.
sleepy yet quite awake. tired yet quite rested.
a tinker's box of contradictions. the glee and joy.

sky fell down and pull us in,
stole away our oxygen.

Somebody linked to my YunJae gif in the last post... and thusly everything in my journal looks like utter crap atm 8D Do not hotlink, you bastards.


MBLAQ: 52 icons
I am quite smitten, I must admit.




( Good love, oh yeah yeah yeah )

met quite a number of old friends today. 1st was pittropan while walking to the mosque. then at the mosque met my ex-madrasah classmate (he's still in the class, i'm the one who quit), who happens to be the older brother of this super cute junior of mine hehe. then at the mrt i met a senior. he's in NIE. n it hit me that omg i live next to a university probably batches n batches of seniors like go past my area everyday for years already! k nvm.

machiavelli's The Prince is a bore. but i still love the golden-yellow cover though. pretty, but still not worth the free 40$ or so.

yawns.. sleepy:(

12:10 Ebuddy iPhone app so much faster than IM+! IM+ so not worth the US$9.99 I paid for it!! Auto-correct also stopped working for some reason! #

21:50 @wilk3sy yes pls! Can I have a google wave invite?? #

zomg teringat zaman emo memo.

Thich Nhat Hanh's fourteen precepts

Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. All systems of thought are guiding means; they are not absolute truth.

Do not think that the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice non-attachment from views in order to be open to receive others' viewpoints. Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to learn throughout our entire life and to observe reality in yourself and in the world at all times.

Do not force others, including children, by any means whatsoever, to adopt your views, whether by authority, threat, money, propaganda, or even education. However, through compassionate dialogue, help others renounce fanaticism and narrowness.

Do not avoid contact with suffering or close your eyes before suffering. Do not lose awareness of the existence of suffering in the life of the world. find ways to be with those who are suffering by all means, including personal contact and visits, images, sound. By such means, awaken yourself and others to the reality of suffering in the world.

Do not accumulate wealth while millions are hungry. Do not take as the aim of you life fame, profit, wealth, or sensual pleasure. Live simply and share time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need.

Do not maintain anger or hatred. As soon as anger and hatred arise, practice the meditation on compassion in order to deeply understand the persons who have caused anger and hatred. Learn to look at other beings with the eyes of compassion.

Do not lose yourself in dispersion and in your surroundings. Learn to practice breathing in order to regain composure of body and mind, to practice mindfulness, and to develop concentration and understanding.

Do not utter words that can create discord and cause the community to break. Make every effort to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.

Do not say untruthful things for the sake of personal interest of to impress people. Do not utter words that cause diversion and hatred. Do not spread news that you do not know to be certain. Do not criticize or condemn things you are not sure of. Always speak truthfully and constructively. Have the courage to speak out about situations of injustice, even when doing so may threaten your own safety.

Do not use the Buddhist community for personal gain or profit, or transform your community into a political party. A religious community should, however, take a clear stand against oppression and injustice, and should strive to change the situation without engaging in partisan conflicts.

Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to humans and nature. Do not invest in companies that deprive others of their chance to life. Select a vocation which helps realize your ideal compassion.

Do not kill. Do not let others kill. Find whatever means possible to protect life and to prevent war.

Possess nothing that should belong to others. Respect the property of others but prevent others from enriching themselves from human suffering or the suffering of other beings.

Do not mistreat your body. Learn to handle it with respect. Do not look on your body as only and instrument. Preserve vital energies (sexual, breath, spirit) for the realization of the Way. Sexual expression should not happen without love and commitment. In sexual relationships be aware of future suffering that may be caused. To preserve the happiness of others, respect the rights and commitments of others. Be fully aware of the responsibility of bringing new lives into the world. Meditate on the world into which you are bringing new beings.

Do not believe that I feel that I follow each and every of these precepts perfectly. I know I fail in many ways. None of us can fully fulfill any of these. However, I must work toward a goal. These are my goal. No words can replace practice, only practice can make the words.

forgive the prev entry

that was typed in the office and suddenly happened so i needed to exclaim that. lol. ok now i have nothing to blog about. HAHA. omg im such a waste of bytes.

It feels nice to be a know all, but it sucks when people know ure a know all.


EH RHAMYA DONT PRESS MY CHEST LATER MILKSHAKE COME OUT!!

Been downing so much coffee each night that im begining to develop an adverse effect towards that vile brown liquid (well, unless it's starbucks). Throat's all scratchy and dry, woke up feeling all parched and wasted! It's like a post-caffeine hangover!

On a side note, festive flavors are back on the Starbucks counters providing us coffee addicts with the ultimate haven in their toffee nut latte! Yes it is that good!

Ok back to 207; despite the lousy feeling i'm getting in my throat and all i actually feel like eating a slice of Sarpino's pizza now. damn random i know. Ok more layout (pages this time!) tonight and hopefully i will be 2/3 done with media in america...

One month... i can do this!!

08:38 dreamt that i was served a SAF 100 to assassinate a transvestite named Noordin in Pasir Ris, while my English teacher tried to counsel me. #

20:04 @robusteque ganbatte!!! #

20:05 @lennel ya... I'm seeing a psycho-therapist on Friday. Will let u know what she thinks!! :) #

21:57 @lennel maybe u should make an appointment and see her too! What would u want her to sign off on? #

21:59 @robusteque yes it is!! It means go for it!! #

 Is there a continuity of time in our minds?
Do they exist as psychical landscapes unceasingly folding in upon themselves?
Perhaps these landscapes that hauntingly resemble that which exists without our minds; recreated paradigms of simulcrams that tremble and mould even as the mind's eye slowly assimilates the world around us.
If that is what happens, surely we would ask, "how do the two landscapes; that which is within and that which is without our mind relate, to each other?"
Or perhaps the question we might ask is, "which of these landscapes are we actually seeing right now?"
"Can we even see the other?"

:D

I think i'm a closet workaholic. Nah forget closet. More like a display-cupboard workaholic. Ok no that would make it sound like I like to wayang. which i don't. Or at least i don't think so. & i seriously hope people don't think that way. But it really feels nice to know that people know you're putting in the effort and gives u due appreciation. Note, appreciation, not recognition.

Anyway's work's been piling up a bit. But it's the kind of work that I like. Something i can derive satisfaction from. woots. Or maybe it's not the type of work, but just my mood. Either way I hope i can keep this up :D :D :D

And tomorrow, i'm voluntarily coming to work early in the hopes of redeeming a Macs breakfast from QM lol. Hope the bus from bukit panjang decides to break down for a while. hahaha.