01/26/09

The Zen In Reality And Perception

Reality is sometimes bleak and hopeless; an unending cycle of suffering. Constantly, we question the wherefores of the cruel nature of reality. What is reality…

We experience the world through the five senses: sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. We process these five senses through a filter of our past experiences and beliefs.

This is reality. A highly subjective experience of life that is limited by our five senses and influenced by our experiences. An illusion…

Zen Garden

Just yesterday, I felt some hopelessness towards my future. Unlike my usual episodes where I spiral down into melancholy, I had a zen moment. I realised that I was looking at my future through the eyes of a person that society deems normal.

What an irony… Why should I look at my own life in the eyes of someone other than myself. Why should I, an extraordinarily eccentric person, judge myself based on other people’s sense of reality? Why should I, someone unique, strive to take the conventional path towards a predictable mundane destination?

With sheer determination and will, I will carve out a path for myself. I will look at my own life through my five senses and my beliefs; be happy in the reality I create for myself. And hopefully, during and after my journey in life, I can light the way to those who have yet to arrive.

I shall choose to be happy.

Logen L.

photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1122926

01/24/09

Battling Procrastination, Deciding and Defending My Rights

The importance of focusing my efforts on a few goals at one go becomes increasingly illuminating.  Contrary to achieving more by pushing for many goals at once, I’ve achieved little outcome.

Upon prioritising my life list, these are the goals that stand out.

  1. Don’t procrastinate
  2. Be assertive and decisive

Don’t Procrastinate

Time is of essence if one wants to achieve his wants. Therefore, as a foundation to work on my wants, I have to minimise my tendencies to procrastinate.

I began by sleeping and waking at regular hours, as this allows me to predict the amount of time I have in one day. In addition, I had slot in time to exercise thrice a week and to train for Aikido. With a rough knowledge of time, it is difficult to disillusion myself into believing that my time is infinite.

Of course, in the following weeks I would have to push myself to complete whatever is necessary (tutorials, projects, personal endeavours) within deadlines.

Be Assertive and Decisive

Despite working on this goal earlier, my efforts in being decisive and assertive have been wavering.

However, if I truly want to master time, I have to be decisive in my actions and assertive on what belongs to me. I find that these two questions aid me in being more assertive and decisive…

  • What do I want to achieve?
  • How do I know that I’ve gotten what I want?

The key to being decisive and assertive is to know what you want and how to get it. By habitually asking myself these questions, my mind would eventually subconsciously think of my objectives to stand up for and how I will defend them.

I will have to practice being decisive and assertive directly when situations arise.

Logen L.

01/15/09

Impromptu Speaking and Self Entertainment

Table Topics and Confidence

I did great for table topics! The teacher remarked that my speech clearly deserved an ‘A’.

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”.

This was my quote to talk about. I must admit I have came across this quote years ago and therefore, was slightly relaxed about talking about it.

Next week shall be the second session of table topics. And I’m determined to choose the lots of a riskier topic category. I am determined to prove to myself that I am able to talk about unfamiliar topics, with little preparation time.

In the mean time, it means practicing in front of my friends.

How to entertain yourself during lectures…

Allow me to tell you part of the story of the Hidden Village of The Dragon. Below are some illustrations drawn during my FIT (Finance of International Trade) Lecture.

Hidden Village Of The Dragon

The Hidden Village of The Dragon (aka Ryugakure) is a ninja village. I’m the third ninja protector (Sandaime Ryukage) of the village, who acts as the head of the village.

The Scene of the village

This is the scene of the village. Isn’t the sunrise amazing? On the right are three of the four legendary ninja (Yonin); Logen, Xing Dan and Hong Yi.

Logen begins with the story

Scene: Ryukage Mansion

*The Logen of present age (81) tells the story of the betrayal of ‘X’*

Logen says: 60 years ago, the ninja hidden village of the dragon was founded by 4 Legendary Ninja. These 4 ninja, were by the name of Logen, Xing Dan, Hong Yi and ‘X’.

panel3

*Xing Dan at present age (82) continues*

Xing Dan says: One day, one of the Legendary 4 betrayed the other 3. He framed one of them of commiting grievious crimes.

Confrontation scene

Scene: The Battle of The Yonin, 58 years ago

*Logen of the Dragon Clan is armed with his weapon, a giant black tessen (fighting fan), which is capable of creating torrential winds.*

*’X’ of the Shadow Clan is gathering his chakra behind him and moulding it into dark shadows.*

In his bid to gain power, ‘X’ murdered the sensei who taught the Legendary 4, Chong Sensei. He then framed Logen for this and other crimes…

battle begins

‘X’: Kage Mane No Jutsu (Shadow bind technique)… *does hand seals for another technique thereafter*

*Logen loses control of his arm and leg movements. He begins to sink into the shadows manipulated by ‘X’. The technique is apparently a sealing technique.*

Logen: *calmly speaks with deep sorrow in his voice* Ever since boyhood, we’ve been great friends. And now you’ve betrayed the village… betrayed me… I regret it… But I have to kill you!

panel6

‘X’: Haha! I’ve already caught you within my technique (Shadow Bind Seal)!

Logen: Light of the Dragon Jutsu! *white chakra light resonates from Logen’s right hand. The white chakra travels to Logen’s feet and the shadow technique is broken.* You sure about that? I’ve already broken off your sealing technique…

‘X’: What!? That can’t be. No one has ever escaped my jutsu.

(extended version)

Logen: I’m not no one. Don’t forget I’m one of the four… And as a founder of Ryugakure, I cannot allow you to harm my villagers, the people whom which we took an oath to protect… the people whom which we love as family…

‘X’: Haha. Our people are a burden… Love is a burden… I live only to accomplish my aims. They are but pawns for me to use.

Logen: …

*Xing Dan and Hong Yi enters the scene*

To Be Continued… or not.

Logen L.

01/12/09

O Level Results Released

The O’ level results were released today. And initially, I thought it had nothing to do with me.

It turns out that my cousin was in the news for being one of the top students. Congrats Jharyathri!

Logen L.

01/12/09

The Pretext of Discrimination

Through a selective reality you perceive.
The world in hues of colour,
Not shades of grey,
But you make it black and white.

Foist not your beliefs on others,
Nor dictate morality by your dictionary.
Irony, plain irony;
You contradict with your actions.

Allow the varied colours to soar,
Unrestricted by repression,
Free from shades of grey,
Live, and let live…

Logen L.

Many people are giving the pretext of religion to repress the rights of gay people. There are others fearing for their insecure manhood because of gay people.

At the same time, racial prejudices are arising also out of the pretext of religion.

One can claim that religion seeks peace. I agree. Yet the followers of certain religions rob the rights of fellow human beings in the name of god…

Logen L.

01/11/09

Impromptu Speaking Confidently

Opportunity arise out of difficult situations. And opportunity comes this Wednesday.

As part of the Business Communications module, my class will be doing table topics this coming week. I’ve been focused on my goal to be confident, and one of the criteria to gauge how close I am to being confident is the ability to speak in public.

While this has an impromptu twist to it, I’m determined to speak well. I have to prove to myself that I can face up to the pressure of speaking confidently in front of an audience.

Logen L.

01/3/09

Resolutions for My Life List in Year 2009

Why do we celebrate new years? Won’t there be newer new years the next year.

And when does a new year become old? Isn’t a new year new for 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year).

Above all, is there a purpose to create new year resolutions yearly when one does not act on them.

Nevertheless, I resolve to:

  • be more assertive
  • adopt a confident, calm and relaxed attitude
  • exercise regularly
  • maintain my appearance regularly
  • conquer my fear of cockroaches and any other creatures with more than 4 legs, bigger than a 20 cent coin and living on land
  • stop procrastinating (or finding excuses to procrastinate)

Logen L.