We could have done better

I am in a funny melancholic and reflective mood today… in a good way. After the ride this morning, I went for a friend’s father’s wake. All throughout the time there, I couldn’t help but think of my own parents and how I should do more for them. Then I read in the news papers about Dying well which brought me to Shin Na’s blog. Jen and I had watched a documentary about her life called “In the face of death” and teared along with the family.

Then I read the post by Deadpoet’s Cave “Goodbye Angsana ” and felt this sense that we could do better. Better for our family, creatures that are alive and well now. Jen pointed out to me this article in Shape July 08, pg 38, “The simpler life” A city clicker finds contentment where she’d least expected”. There’s a quote there ” Because whether we’re being counted successful or mediocre, we’re all headed six-feet under and I think I’d rather have a smile like Khushi’s as I make the journey there.” Khushi is the kid who was rescued by nuns, left for dead by the roadside.

So, I reflect on the moment I saw the squirrel, it was a mere 2 seconds that I had glanced at it and the image is fresh in my head still, the tail twitching and the paws to its mouth. That’s life, we need to be in the moment and appreciate this existence; its much shorter than the eternity we are going to.

The Bhagavad Gita according to Gandhi

I finished this book about a week ago. One of the nicest literature written by the great Bapu. I guess its because his life revolved around it or should I say the teachings of the Gita revolved around his life. I have read lots of things written by him and true to his writing style, you almost feel that he is talking directly to you and that you are sitting there somewhere in his Ashram as he weaves his homespun, the whirring of the spinning wheel the paper onto which his voice is woven.

The following words by the Great Soul in the last few pages sums up part of the important teachings of the Gita.

“The central teaching of the Gita is detachment – abandonment of the fruit of action. And there would be no room for this abandonment if one were to prefer another’s duty to one’s own. Therefore one’s own duty is said to be better than another’s. It is the spirit in which duty is done that matters, and its unattached performance is its own reward.”

An uplifting song

I used to have a Praise and Worship band and we played together for about 2-3 years together. It was very much a part of Jen and my life as youth. Those were very exciting and engaging times with the youth groups in the church and we’d be called to play gigs for quite a few events. This video captures the feel of those P&W sessions really nicely.

Praise and Worship

From time to time, my sister needs a guitar player to play in church so she calls me… Usually she has to let me listen to the song by passing me CDs or tries to sing it to me over the phone (doesn’t really work). Most of the songs are new and I really lost touch with those. Will be helping her to play this Sunday for some youths.. Luckily for us, got youtube and I found all the songs she wanted me to play.

Also, del.icio.us tags were super useful when I saved those links and shared them with her. Okay now to practice…

Death of many chickens

The Dalai Lama, exiled in the Indian hill town of Dharamsala since 1959, said that introduction of “industrial food practices” into Tibet would perpetuate animal suffering.

He said in the letter: “I have been particularly concerned with the sufferings of chickens for many years.

“It was the death of a chicken that finally strengthened my resolve to become vegetarian.

“These days, when I see a row of plucked chickens hanging in a meat shop, it hurts.

click on image to read beyond excerpt

Death of a chicken

Guess who said this.

“It was the death of a chicken that finally strengthened my resolve to become vegetarian.

“These days, when I see a row of plucked chickens hanging in a meat shop, it hurts.”

Watch out for part II for the answer.

Going vegetarian? Some easy steps

No 1. Watch this video

No.2 Read these by Gandhi. Going vegetarian for the sake of health may not work in the long term. It should have a moral basis to last…

+ Gandhi’s “Moral Basis for Vegetarianism“

+ Speech delivered by Gandhi at a Social Meeting organised by the London Vegetarian Society, 20 November 1931

No. 3. If you are Singaporean, this “Lifewise” article by Emilyn Tan (pdf file) might give a better context.

An Ode to Whales

There is something fascinating about whales and dolphins. I remember giving a lecture in school on Lipids (an ‘A’ level biology subtopic) and as a digression, I told the class a story about Whaling in Nantucket in the 18th century. Its somewhat related to lipids as the whaling industry was mainly based on the lipid found in the spermaceti of the sperm whale. A large whale could provide up to 3 tons of that valuable wax which was odorless and non-oily to the touch.

Anyway, I played some sound clips of whales singing (yes, they do sing and in different dialects too, depending on which pod they belong to) and after that auditory experience, the students (about 300) clapped and cheered. There must be something mesmerizing about whales in our human psyche. I was glad to know that most students displayed a sense of biophilia, sensu E.O. Wilson.

Scientifically, Cetaceans are animals belonging to the Order Cetacea, which, include whales, dolphins and porpoises.

Actually the reason why I am posting here is because I came across this article about whaling in Japan and its just inexplicable that whaling still occurs. Hey, I understand if the Iñupiat Eskimos do it to survive (see my post on a book I read about Eskimo whaling) but to state scientific reasons for whaling is entirely beyond reasonable acceptance. Its like killing cats randomly and saying we need data.

Note this statement – “Over a six-month period, it will kill 1,000 whales as part of what it says is a scientific research programme.”

I am no whale fanatic but they are just lovely creatures. I have had nice dreams about dolphins and whales too and those were deep and meaningful ones for me. They at least represent the wonders that nature has produced. And at most, are inspiring to many people. Scientifically, the are really peculiar and interesting ends of the evolutionary tree. See link below about the recent fossil discovery that shed new light on the evolutionary research to trace which extinct land-dwelling mammals were the probable ancestors of Cetaceans

Ivan’s Dolphins Galaxia and Into the Deep feature some whale and dolphin sounds. They are so enchanting and give a sensitive dimension to the music.

My point is “Stop Whaling!”

Free song to download from Queen

I love songs when they are free. But I also think we need to buy them… or else how the musicians survive.. then again, some of them survive too well.

Here’s a free song from Queen entitled, “Say its not true”. Its really a heartfelt song about raising Aids awareness dedicating it to Mandela’s work.

Here’s a quote from the website –

“Taylor wrote the song as a gift to Mandela and performed it live for him for the first time with Brian May and Dave Stewart at the inaugural 46664 concert in Cape Town that month. The song carries the message that HIV AIDS is something that can affect any one of us no matter our sexual or racial status.”

Go download it. Click on the picture below to go to the website.

Improve your vocab and feed the hungry at the same time!

Was listening to an interview on the BBC about how this guy developed this website to feed the hungry and teach his son some vocabulary. The rice goes to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). Just makes me wonder about the food we waste each day…

Here’s a snapshot of the website. Click on image to go there.