"Has the rich man found happiness?"
As promised, if indeed the rich man got the answer from the Master, he should give his bag of his whole fortune to him as reward. He would then lose all that he had AGAIN. Would he still be happy or not happy? The question seems to be too materialistic and any answer whatsoever may spoil the whole story. But it's a real question for the real situation in the real world. It's a question too difficult for the writer. The writer has to go and find another (cleverer) Master for an answer!
The rich man would reply, "Well. Your answer is good, but not as good as what I wanted .............. Here's $5000. Thanks very much for your time." It might be a truly happy ending for everyone!
Showing posts with label Happiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Happiness. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
The Search For Happiness
A very rich man had a lot of money. He could buy everything he wanted to have. But he was not happy at all, for which he was very annoyed.
One day, he had a strange idea. He put all his wealth including jewelry, gold and all his valuables into a bag, and carried it to start off a journey. He was trying to search for someone who could tell him how to find happiness, and in return he would give him his bag as reward. He travelled afar to lots of places, asked lots of people and spent tirelessly lots of time in order to search for an answer. Despite the effort, he was unable to find anyone who could give him a satisfactory answer.
Finally he came to a small village. A local resident told him he could try to visit a Master living there who was a very clever man and might be able to help him with an answer. So the rich man was very excited and went up to see the Master who was sitting in a small room meditating. He approached the Master and said earnestly, "Master. All the wealth in my whole life is in this bag. If you could tell me the method to find happiness, this bag will be yours." The Master didn't say a word. He stood up and suddenly grabbed the rich man's bag of fortune and ran away from the house very quickly. The rich man was shocked and didn't know how to react. He then became desperate. He tried to chase the Master but as a new comer to the place, he was not able to do so. He went back to the house, feeling he was cheated. He was very sad as he felt he lost all that he had.
Half an hour later, the Master suddenly returned. He handed back the bag to the rich man and said, "Here is your bag. All the things are still inside untouched." Seeing he got back all he had, the rich man cheered up again. The Master asked, " Do you feel happy now?" To which, the rich man nodded. The Master then continued, "Good. You have already got your answer now."
Happiness does not rest on what and how much you own. Appreciate what you are having is the key. At most times, happiness is already around us, but we just failed to realize.
One day, he had a strange idea. He put all his wealth including jewelry, gold and all his valuables into a bag, and carried it to start off a journey. He was trying to search for someone who could tell him how to find happiness, and in return he would give him his bag as reward. He travelled afar to lots of places, asked lots of people and spent tirelessly lots of time in order to search for an answer. Despite the effort, he was unable to find anyone who could give him a satisfactory answer.
Finally he came to a small village. A local resident told him he could try to visit a Master living there who was a very clever man and might be able to help him with an answer. So the rich man was very excited and went up to see the Master who was sitting in a small room meditating. He approached the Master and said earnestly, "Master. All the wealth in my whole life is in this bag. If you could tell me the method to find happiness, this bag will be yours." The Master didn't say a word. He stood up and suddenly grabbed the rich man's bag of fortune and ran away from the house very quickly. The rich man was shocked and didn't know how to react. He then became desperate. He tried to chase the Master but as a new comer to the place, he was not able to do so. He went back to the house, feeling he was cheated. He was very sad as he felt he lost all that he had.
Half an hour later, the Master suddenly returned. He handed back the bag to the rich man and said, "Here is your bag. All the things are still inside untouched." Seeing he got back all he had, the rich man cheered up again. The Master asked, " Do you feel happy now?" To which, the rich man nodded. The Master then continued, "Good. You have already got your answer now."
Happiness does not rest on what and how much you own. Appreciate what you are having is the key. At most times, happiness is already around us, but we just failed to realize.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Moving Forward to a New 2013
Sorrow looks back
Despair looks down
Despair looks down
Worry looks around
Hope looks forward
Hope looks forward
Faith looks up
Love looks everywhere
Love looks everywhere
Wish everyone a Happy, Healthy and Harmonious New Year
of
2013
May God bless you all
of
2013
May God bless you all
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Tonight We Love
Last week, I casually came across an oldie which is one of my favourites for over 50 years. This song is adapted from a very beautiful classic piece - Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1, and was sung by a very beautiful girl (in my mind) with a very beautiful name and a very beautiful voice - Caterina Valente.
(extract from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUH6PVu5kf0)
Monday, November 5, 2012
Quote of The Week
I saw this quote on the wall when I was waiting in a medical clinic last week:
You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
sing like there's nobody listening,
love like you'll never be hurt,
and live like it's heaven on earth.
Friday, June 1, 2012
How To Become Happy
In my blog 'How To Become Happier' on 26Mar10, I discussed that we can always be happier disregard we are happy or not, and went through some ways that can help us becoming happier. In this blog, I'll take one step further and discuss on how to ultimately become happy.
A. Always Be Happier
As a first step, we can always be happier as mentioned in my previous blog, and as such, I do not intend to repeat here any further.
B. Appreciate What We Have
While we should always aim for higher and better, nonetheless we should always be content of what we are having; our family, friends, what we process and our status quo. Remember, the present is always already a present. Do not be unhappy unnecessarily.
C. Seeing People Around Us Happy
We will feel happy when we are surrounded by happiness. When we are in Disneyland, we feel happy because we are surrounded by a happy environment and atmosphere, and by happy people everywhere. Likewise, when we see that our family, friends and neighbours are happy, we will be happy too.
D. Making People Around Us Happy
By making people around us happy, we can have happiness around us. As result, we'll feel happy as mentioned in C above. There are various ways we can make people around us happy. We can employ whatever means appropriate to us, e.g.:
. buying a gift for our family and friends
. sharing funny and interesting stories, and our favourable experiences with others
. helping out with people needing help
. making donations to charity
. performing voluntary work in our community
. to a larger extent, be a philanthropist and contributing back to the society (some of) what we gained from them
E. Seeing That We Can Make People Around Us Happy
When we see people around us happy as result of us making them so, we'll have a very high degree of personal satisfaction. The happiness we acquire from such at that moment is usually far beyond any words of description.
As we expereience, happiness from material gains (e.g. living in a big house, having a delicious meal or enjoying a luxurious holiday etc.) is usually superficial and short-lived. Happiness gained from sharing happiness with others are mostly much more intense and long-lasting, and surprizingly, usually comes for free!
Be happy always!
A. Always Be Happier
As a first step, we can always be happier as mentioned in my previous blog, and as such, I do not intend to repeat here any further.
B. Appreciate What We Have
While we should always aim for higher and better, nonetheless we should always be content of what we are having; our family, friends, what we process and our status quo. Remember, the present is always already a present. Do not be unhappy unnecessarily.
C. Seeing People Around Us Happy
We will feel happy when we are surrounded by happiness. When we are in Disneyland, we feel happy because we are surrounded by a happy environment and atmosphere, and by happy people everywhere. Likewise, when we see that our family, friends and neighbours are happy, we will be happy too.
D. Making People Around Us Happy
By making people around us happy, we can have happiness around us. As result, we'll feel happy as mentioned in C above. There are various ways we can make people around us happy. We can employ whatever means appropriate to us, e.g.:
. buying a gift for our family and friends
. sharing funny and interesting stories, and our favourable experiences with others
. helping out with people needing help
. making donations to charity
. performing voluntary work in our community
. to a larger extent, be a philanthropist and contributing back to the society (some of) what we gained from them
E. Seeing That We Can Make People Around Us Happy
When we see people around us happy as result of us making them so, we'll have a very high degree of personal satisfaction. The happiness we acquire from such at that moment is usually far beyond any words of description.
As we expereience, happiness from material gains (e.g. living in a big house, having a delicious meal or enjoying a luxurious holiday etc.) is usually superficial and short-lived. Happiness gained from sharing happiness with others are mostly much more intense and long-lasting, and surprizingly, usually comes for free!
Be happy always!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Happiness and Unhappiness
A woodcutter went up the hills to cut trees for his living everyday. One day, he went to the hills as usual. On his way, he saw a wounded little bird. The little bird's body was covered with glittering silver feathers. It was very beautiful. The woodcutter said, " I've never seen such a beautiful bird before." So he took the little bird home and cured its wounds. During the rehabilitation process, the little bird sang to the woodcutter sweet and beautiful songs. The woodcutter felt very very happy.
One day, the woodcutter's neighbour came to visit him and saw the silver bird. He said to the woodcutter, " I've seen a little bird with golden feathers. That gold bird was much more beautiful than your silver bird. Besides, it sang much better than yours."
The woodcutter wondered, "Is there really such a gold bird? How beautiful is this gold bird? Can it sing very beautiful songs?" From then on, the woodcutter began not to enjoy songs sang by the silver bird. Gradually, the woodcutter became more and more unhappy each day.
Now the silver bird fully recovered from its wounds. It was about time for it to fly away. Before it went, it flew to the woodcutter and sang to him for the last time. After the silver bird finished, the woodcutter sighed, "Your silver feathers are very beautiful, but I think you are not as beautiful as the gold bird. Your song is very beautiful too, but still I don't think it's as beautiful as the gold bird sings."
The silver bird then flew to the direction of the setting sun. Under the golden setting sunlight, the bird became a beautiful glittering gold bird. The woodcutter then realized that the gold bird he's been dreaming for so long was really just the one beside him all the time!
Happiness does not rest on how much one possesses, but on how less one bothers. Sometimes we don't appreciate what we are having is already a fortune. We just realize (and regret to realize) only when we lose it. So appreciate what we have and don't make unnecessary comparisons.
One day, the woodcutter's neighbour came to visit him and saw the silver bird. He said to the woodcutter, " I've seen a little bird with golden feathers. That gold bird was much more beautiful than your silver bird. Besides, it sang much better than yours."
The woodcutter wondered, "Is there really such a gold bird? How beautiful is this gold bird? Can it sing very beautiful songs?" From then on, the woodcutter began not to enjoy songs sang by the silver bird. Gradually, the woodcutter became more and more unhappy each day.
Now the silver bird fully recovered from its wounds. It was about time for it to fly away. Before it went, it flew to the woodcutter and sang to him for the last time. After the silver bird finished, the woodcutter sighed, "Your silver feathers are very beautiful, but I think you are not as beautiful as the gold bird. Your song is very beautiful too, but still I don't think it's as beautiful as the gold bird sings."
The silver bird then flew to the direction of the setting sun. Under the golden setting sunlight, the bird became a beautiful glittering gold bird. The woodcutter then realized that the gold bird he's been dreaming for so long was really just the one beside him all the time!
Happiness does not rest on how much one possesses, but on how less one bothers. Sometimes we don't appreciate what we are having is already a fortune. We just realize (and regret to realize) only when we lose it. So appreciate what we have and don't make unnecessary comparisons.
Friday, March 9, 2012
When A (Grand) Child Is Born
This song is dedicated to little Christian, my first grandson.
Christian was born in the morning of 9th March, 2012. With his arrival, everyone in the family has unknowingly progressed to a new stage of our lives; nonetheless I became a grandpa!
We are so much excited. I just can't wait to see Christian in Hong Kong!
(Extract from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R47B9LWjVrg&feature=related)
Christian was born in the morning of 9th March, 2012. With his arrival, everyone in the family has unknowingly progressed to a new stage of our lives; nonetheless I became a grandpa!
We are so much excited. I just can't wait to see Christian in Hong Kong!
(Extract from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R47B9LWjVrg&feature=related)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Family Re-union - Fiji
Last month, my first daughter, Vickie, came from Hong Kong to Sydney to visit us and for her admission as an Australian lawyer. My second daughter, Veronica, also came back from Canberra on holidays. We took the opportunity to go for a vacation in Fiji together. The weather there was beautiful. We enjoyed the fresh air, sunshine, beaches, food and cocktails. We relaxed and did nothing. We had lots of family chats. We all had a wonderful good time during the period.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Happy Birthday
Happy birthdays in this month, Vickie and Veronica.
Those were happy memories in the not-too-distant past. To mum and dad, things always seem like yesterday. Here, we'd like to share the following song with you for these special occasions, and with everyone too in this festive season of X'mas!
A ray of hope flickers in the sky.
A tiny star lights up way up high.
All across the land dawns a brand new morn.
This comes to pass when a child is born.
It must come true sometime soon somehow.
All across the land dawns a brand new morn.
This comes to pass when a child is born.
(extract from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R47B9LWjVrg&feature=related)
Those were happy memories in the not-too-distant past. To mum and dad, things always seem like yesterday. Here, we'd like to share the following song with you for these special occasions, and with everyone too in this festive season of X'mas!
When A Child Is Born
A ray of hope flickers in the sky.
A tiny star lights up way up high.
All across the land dawns a brand new morn.
This comes to pass when a child is born.
A silent wish sails the seven seas.
The winds of change whisper in the trees.
And the walls of doubt crumble tossed and torn.
This comes to pass, when a child is born.
A rosy hue settles all around.
You got the feel, you're on solid ground.
For a spell or two no one seems forlorn.
This comes to pass, when a child is born.
And all of this happens, because the world is waiting.
Waiting for one child; Black-white-yellow, no one knows...
but a child that will grow up and turn tears to laughter,
hate to love, war to peace and everyone to everyone's neighbor,
and misery and suffering will be words to be forgotten forever.
It must come true sometime soon somehow.
All across the land dawns a brand new morn.
This comes to pass when a child is born.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Why I Blog
People asked me why I wrote these blogs.
Firstly, as mentioned in my first blog (My New Blog on 10/10/09), I was trying to learn to use the contemporary internet tools like Facebook, Blogging etc with my son in order to catch up with the latest technology, despite I was once a 36-year IT professional. As time went along, I just got into the practice of writing, and came to enjoy writing in its own right.
Secondly, as people knows me, I'm a man of few words. I don't like to talk much as I'm not good in talking. I have difficulty communicating with machines (witness my blog - Voice Recognition System on 11/10/09) as well as communicating with humans (witness my blog - Different Wave-lengths on 2/12/09). But I can do much better in writing than in talking (witness all my blogs!). Given in my retirement now, I believe I could have the time to communicate more with everyone, and communicate more effectively using these spaces.
Lastly, but not the least, I think life is beautiful (if we look at the bright side). There are always interesting and funny stories either we heard or read, or we came across in our everyday lives. We'd feel happier ourselves by sharing these happiness with people around us. If we take time to look more closely, we may even be able to pick up some good advices or lessons useful for everyone. I call these my StoryBlogs. I hope they would provide opportunities for having some fun, and occasionally (hopefully) some good advices to my readers.
Happy blogging!
Firstly, as mentioned in my first blog (My New Blog on 10/10/09), I was trying to learn to use the contemporary internet tools like Facebook, Blogging etc with my son in order to catch up with the latest technology, despite I was once a 36-year IT professional. As time went along, I just got into the practice of writing, and came to enjoy writing in its own right.
Secondly, as people knows me, I'm a man of few words. I don't like to talk much as I'm not good in talking. I have difficulty communicating with machines (witness my blog - Voice Recognition System on 11/10/09) as well as communicating with humans (witness my blog - Different Wave-lengths on 2/12/09). But I can do much better in writing than in talking (witness all my blogs!). Given in my retirement now, I believe I could have the time to communicate more with everyone, and communicate more effectively using these spaces.
Lastly, but not the least, I think life is beautiful (if we look at the bright side). There are always interesting and funny stories either we heard or read, or we came across in our everyday lives. We'd feel happier ourselves by sharing these happiness with people around us. If we take time to look more closely, we may even be able to pick up some good advices or lessons useful for everyone. I call these my StoryBlogs. I hope they would provide opportunities for having some fun, and occasionally (hopefully) some good advices to my readers.
Happy blogging!
Friday, March 26, 2010
How to Become Happier
We cannot always be happy,
but
we can always be happier.
Like sunshine and rain, it is natural that we have ups and downs in our lives. We all have happy and unhappy moments. While we cannot always be happy, we can always work to make ourselves becoming happier.
Here are some ways to help doing so:
1. Keep healthy. Happiness starts with good health.
2. Care and love the people around you, and make them happy.
3. Greet with a smile from the bottom of your heart. You will receive the same in return.
4. Look for interesting and funny stories, and share with everyone.
5. Pursue a couple of new interests, but don't force into becoming new routines.
6. Remember there is always a bright side of everything.
7. Forget the unhappy experiences. Forgive those who made you unhappy.
8. Devote to the work you love, but don't become a slave of it.
9. Don't be overcritical in life. Appreciate the good fortune when in good fortune.
10. Accept occasional bad encounters. Release unhappy feelings with peaceful means.
11. Don't compare, don't bother.
12. Enjoy life, and don't waste time on unnecessary worries.
13. Make wishes which are easy to come true.
14. Recall your favorite things.
15. Grasp instantaneous inspirations. Make good use of them and don't let go easily.
16. Have a cup of tea with a few good friends. Chat freely with whatever comes to mind.
17. Take a vacation with people who can make you happy.
18. Watch a comedy and have a big laugh.
19. Give yourself a present.
20. Give your beloved one a surprise.
Wish you happier!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Bright Side of Financial Crisis
People are usually distressed by negative news of financial crisis. But there is always a bright side of everything. Looking back at the financial tsunami two years ago:
. Countries were more united than ever; working in collaboration in combating world-wide recessions.
. Most Governments gave out financial stimulus packages such as cash bonus, subsidies etc; you had extra cash to spend at your own will.
. Housing became much more affordable to the general public, for residence and for investment.
. Financial products (e.g. stock, commodity etc) were inexpensive everywhere; you could easily pick a few and make a fortune as time went along.
. International oil prices declined as economy weakened, but it was good for your pump as local fuel prices fell accordingly.
. Aussie $ fell to historical low; it provided a good opportunity for holidaying down under.
There are always bright spots among dark clouds. Given time, patience and prudence, you can always get through the gloomy storms. You can even be better off in a financial crisis, if you have the money (still)!
. Countries were more united than ever; working in collaboration in combating world-wide recessions.
. Most Governments gave out financial stimulus packages such as cash bonus, subsidies etc; you had extra cash to spend at your own will.
. Housing became much more affordable to the general public, for residence and for investment.
. Financial products (e.g. stock, commodity etc) were inexpensive everywhere; you could easily pick a few and make a fortune as time went along.
. International oil prices declined as economy weakened, but it was good for your pump as local fuel prices fell accordingly.
. Aussie $ fell to historical low; it provided a good opportunity for holidaying down under.
There are always bright spots among dark clouds. Given time, patience and prudence, you can always get through the gloomy storms. You can even be better off in a financial crisis, if you have the money (still)!
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