Reading

The book that inspired one of the greatest movies of all time, a solid read too.

Force Does Not Work

If you like historical documentaries as much as I do, you will enjoy this one. :)

Force will never work to make a better world.

Today by the Pool

Why in the world would I go anywhere else?

Rooftop Meditation #1

Security. Everybody wants it. And it's such a source of suffering for most of us. People make terrible life decisions just to hang on to a semblance of security and end up living miserable and unfulfilling lives that they loath (working at a job that one does not like is rather common in the West).

We want security because we correctly perceive that we need it in order to be happy. We just look for it in the wrong place. Trying to find security in a world that is inherently unstable and unreliable is a recipe for a disaster. It cannot be build on such a flimsy foundation. It will always be vulnerable, unstable, and ultimately unsatisfactory (For starters, there are 3 defeaters of our security in the world: old age, sickness, and death... nevermind the day to day problems and difficulties that never stop.)

Where to look for security then?

There is only one place, and that is within. You need to find a place within yourself that is NOT unstable, changing, and a subject to disintegration. To get there, you have to dig deep. On the surface, you find only your mind, which is actually insane with its insatiability and contradictory wants. Dig deeper into your real being. Real security lies within, beyond the mind, in the depth of your being. Few find it, the place of unbroken Peace that changeth not.

My Meditation Hall

Virtually, the ONLY thing that I found I missed in Canada was the Fo Guang Shan Temple. Well, no more. :)

Our condo has an amazing Sky Lounge on the 29th floor overlooking the ocean and the city. It turned out to be a fantastic meditation place, my own meditation hall. :) I am so grateful for this. It has replaced the temple as a place for practice.

Most of the time there is nobody around. The trees, the plants, the ocean, the view... all set a suitable atmosphere. I do lot of walking meditation up here. I find it is hard to leave this place and I routinely become 'stuck' here for 2-3 hours at time.

Item #2

Married to a sweet gal. CHECK. Moved to a sweet condo. CHECK. Just signed a 6 month contract (renewable for another 6) and moved into a 2-bedroom condo in Jomtien... very nice place, clean, safe, swimming pool, gym, sauna...etc. Photos here. You cannot image what it's like to actually unpack after being 8 months on the road. A very happy occasion. Will stay here probably a year, possibly much longer. But mostly importantly, I have discovered here a good meditation area, which I needed badly... but about that in another post. :)

Married

Yup, I am a married man now. :)

Anglican Priest Goes Zen

The best documentary I have seen in a while.

Visitors

Black cat, white cat just showed up at my door. I gave them food and water. They rewarded me by making me laugh with their play. :)