Happy April Fool's Day!

First of APRIL - and I found this statement from the Dalai Lama especially fitting to start the month with.... in a way, for most of us - everyday is April Fool's Day...

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The Dalai Lama, when asked what surprised him most about humanity, he said: “Man, Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”
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AGREE or DISAGREE???

Serenity

"If a person's basic state of mind is serene and calm, then it is possible for this inner peace to overwhelm a painful experience. On the other hand, if someone is suffering from depression, anxiety, or any form of emotional distress, then even if he or she happens to be enjoying physical comforts, he will not really be able to experience the happiness that those could bring"-Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama's Visit

Amidst all the protests, demonstrations and especially, objection by the Chinese Government, the Dalai Lama arrived in Taiwan on the 30th of August. The Dalai Lama's visit is "purely humanitarian", as he is here to offer prayers and visit the victims of Taiwan's worst storm in 50 years.
Taiwan's opposition invited the Dalai Lama to comfort the victims of Typhoon Morakot, which hit the island in early August and left an estimated 670 dead. During his five-day visit, he is to visit a village hit hard by the storm, lead a mass prayer ritual and address the island's Buddhist followers.

The Dalai Lama, who clasped his hands and smiled as he greeted Buddhist followers and supporters at the Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei, said his visit would have no political overtone.

"I've visited different parts of the world, and I may have a political agenda there ... (but) my visit here is purely for humanitarian concerns," he said.
"There are many Buddhists there (Taiwan). So since they asked me, it is my moral responsibility, to accept, to go there."

This visit is a milestone for the people of Taiwan, one that will be remembered for years to come.

Last Words For June

Last day of June - depending on where you are it is either the beginning of Summer (Taiwan); the middle of the Summer (USA) or the end of Summer (Philippines)... No Matter where you may be, I only wish that you are all well - and all is going as smooth as they could be... and that you are finding Happiness...

On that note, I leave you a couple of quotes on LIFE & HAPPINESS... words to ponder over - words to live by...

-from the Dalai Lama:
"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions."

-and this one from my very good friend, Mary E:
"...if you're able to find some happiness for yourself and bring a little happiness to others, then you're living a good life."
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-and my very own stance on Happiness:

"Find happiness in anything and everything you do & see in life... no matter how small or simple they may be.... as sometimes, the small things in life is what gives us the biggest pleasures."

Bernardo Bertulucci's Little Buddha

Little Buddha, inspired by a TRUE STORY, is moving drama from Academy Award-winning director Bernardo Bertolucci. It tells the story of a Tibetan monk known as Lama Norbu (Ying Ruocheng), living in exile in Bhutan, and is searching for the reincarnation of his teacher, Lama Dorje. His quest takes him to Seattle, where signs indicate that a boy named Jesse may be the lama. Cultures collide when we meet the boy's American parents (Bridget Fonda and actor/singer Chris Isaak), who are understandably skeptical about Lama Norbu's excitement. Ultimately, Jesse and his father are curious enough to travel to Nepal and Bhutan (as did Bertolucci's crew), where other candidates have been identified. Throughout the film, Bertolucci cuts to episodes in the life of Siddhartha (Keanu Reeves), whose voyage of discovery 2,500 years ago led to his enlightenment as the Buddha. Bertolucci shoots Siddhartha's journey in rich reds and golds, while the scenes in Seattle--where the Americans seem morose and lost--are muted in cool blue. LITTLE BUDDHA is an intimate story in which an ancient system of belief holds its own in the modern world.

This beautifully filmed, little movie filmed mostly in Thailand, is sooooo moving - and such a cinematic experience for me especially seeing the SIDDHARTHA story line come to life in the big screen... Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse is one of my all time FAVE books...

So this movie is really a story within a story of a movie... subtlely and beautifully told -- on all counts. And as an added BONUS, Siddhartha is played by a very young Keanu Reeves.

Could He really Be???

As reported by the Associated Press: People from all over the world are flocking to Nepal to worship a teenage boy who many believe is the reincarnation of Buddha. Followers say Ram Bahadur Bamjan, 18, re-emerged from the Ratanpur jungle, about 160km south of Kathmandu, after meditating without food and water for more than three years.

It is said that he was last spotted in the jungles of southern Nepal in 2005, and is believed to have spent months without moving, sitting with his eyes closed beneath a tree For those who worship such a feat, Ram's appearance was a chance to witness the miracle in the flesh.
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So, is it something to BELIEVE IN??? I would like to, as am sure a lot of people would... I even wish I could trek to Nepal now and see him in person, myself.... It would be GREAT to personally witness him surrounded by a line of Buddhist monks, blessing followers with what the devotees call, the "divine touch", from a podium. I would even try to get blessed -- no matter what religion you follow, one should never refuse blessings.

Ram Bahadur Bamjan, has never claimed to be Buddha, he is expected to address his followers today, Nov. 18, then retreat again into the jungle for meditation.

We always have the choice.

We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us
so that we become increasingly resentful and afraid,
or we can let them soften us, and make us kinder.
We always have the choice.

-Dalai Lama

Happiness is.....

"Happiness is not something ready made.... It comes from your own actions."
-Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama


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Find ecstasy in life; the mere sense of living is joy enough.
-Emily Dickinson

Reaching Out....

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"Sometimes when we meet a stranger we can be excessively reserved and distant. This reaction is not logical. Actually, we have no good reason to fear contact with other people. We only have to realize that they are human beings like ourselves, with the same aspirations and the same needs, and it becomes easy to break the ice and communicate."

-Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

3 On Religion

"All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness ... the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives."

"Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion."

"My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness."

-Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama