Haze - June 2013

The haze in Kota Kinabalu this morning (9.43am). No Mt Kinabalu.

The haze in Tongod (middle of Sabah) yesterday ...

... the sun at 8.35am.

 

But work still went on. Palms growing, mucuna (low creeper cover crop to suppress weeds) growing, AA mulch (plastic sheet covering the palm circle to prevent weeds, conserve some moisture and also fertiliser applied) fixed.

The Land Rover Defender 110 (current price said to be RM270K!). Comfy and good for the estate roads, but weird things still there (to those used to all the "modern" gadgets and stuff on their cars); like the tiny windscreen wipers, the non-electric door mirrors, non-electric windows, fuel cap still outside locked, rear door also outside locked, and water still get in when crossing slightly high rivers.

 The felled logs have rotted giving a chance for very colourful fungi.

In the mid-distance, a waterfall ...

... looked like a multi-staged one (photo at maximum zoom is not the best due to the haze) . The estate staff told me they did managed to make it through the jungle to the foot of the waterfall. I hope this area will not be disturbed.

THAT SLOGAN! - on a taxi in Kota Kinabalu

Going down-town to the book fair, I found myself behind this taxi and ...

... it had THAT SLOGAN!

Wesak Day - Part 02 - What Buddhism Should Be, But Has Become

The Noble Eightfold Path is:

1. The Wisdom To Have The Right View.
2. The Wisdom To Have The Right Intention.
3. The Ethical Conduct of Right Speech.
4. The Ethical Conduct of Right Action.
5. The Ethical Conduct of Right Livelihood.
6. The Mental Development To Have The Right Effort.
7. The Mental Development To Have The Right Mindfulness.
8. The Mental Development To Have The Right Concentration.
   

(Click on the link above to learn more about The Noble Eightfold Path).

The only conclusion is that True Buddhism is VERY HARD TO PRACTICE. It involves totally changing your way of life and sacrificing everything. The monks in those isolated monasteries are the only ones closest to practicing Buddhism.


What Buddhism has become is a set of Rites and Rituals, which are "followed" instead of doing those very difficult steps to self-enlightenment. Let me be the first one to say that I cannot practice this in my daily life. At least I can understand the cost I am paying for following this "modern" life.


The sets of rituals and the temples (those places to practice the rituals) are what makes it seem that Buddhism is a Religion. The "practitioners" have replaced the hard work, mental effort, and sacrifices with symbolic gestures of burning joss-sticks and prayers. Another example is where the "Buddhist" goes vegetarian on the 1st Day and the 15th Day of the Lunar Month. In addition, various deities seemed to have been added on.


All this is only my opinion, I am just saying that there seem to be a vast difference between what Buddha taught and what people practice today.

A Temple (Puh Toh Tze) I visited this morning.

Another one I visited this morning.

Giant Joss-sticks.

A White Elephant.

A White Lion.

The Peak Nam Tong Temple with its pagoda. There are other pagodas in Kota Kinabalu and Tuaran, for those interested.



About Buddhism

The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the world's ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not be concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.

Atisha (11th century Tibetan Buddhist master)

PIKOM 2008!?!?

If you had ever wondered what happens to the banner after the event is over?

I was walking pass the kitchen of this coffee-shop and found the answer. It made me laugh as the PIKOM Fair 2010 is actually on this weekend (May 7 to May 9). Anyway, I guess re-cycling is a good thing.

The PIKOM Fair is a computer and IT Fair held annually in the major cities and large towns in Malaysia. You get a very good range of IT related products (mostly hardware).

Its being held at the Lower Basement Car Park at 1Borneo. I didn't go this year as I didn't really have anything to purchase and I rather go to The Heritage Village at The Sabah Musuem.