Oblivion

Thoughts after watching. Like many thought-provoking films of this genre, it works like a brain teaser. Good cinematic for such show is a plus but the idea behind the scripts is a real feast for the mind. Comparing to films like Cloud Atlas, Inception, Avatar and Matrix, it is more straight forward and easier to understand. It is more to Matrix in the sense that you have "reality" as a system to govern mankind, and some hero trying to go against this reality.

This story is about how a technician is posted to the "post-war" Earth to repair security drones, keeping the resource extractor safe. But after a few mishap in his mission as well as the recurring memory that has hunted him constantly, he decided to trust the scavengers (was instructed to him as enemy aliens) to seek the real truth. Eventually he found the fabricated truth and reason to his lost memories, turn his back against the real alien and sacrifice himself.

Something struck me yet not to my surprise was when Jack (lead) confronts the alien and the alien says that he is the creator and he is the God. In sociology, religion is called social institution or a social construct that functions to allow social interactions and harmony. We can well believe that any particular religion in its original state is pure and altruistic. But how about the one that continues that belief and propagates it.

As history repeats itself, religion are made reason to revolt and conquest. And religion are used to assimilate the conquered country, forcing out the native belief and culture. Max Weber commented in his work call , The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Captialism, adopted the idea of predestination and that God salvation is not for everyone. But for those that avoid damnation based on God's predetermination. People were anxious to know if they are chosen by God and thus work to prove they are. That motivates the development of Capitalism.

Religion as an opium for the worker. Work of Karl Marx suggested that religious idea are passed down to organize the working class, to help the worker justify their role of a worker. It soothes and dulls their senses to the pain and alienation from their task chores. It mentioned that Kingdom of God are for the less endowed with wealth and those who are richer are harder to enter the Kingdom of God. Interested may read up on Calvinism.

There are also those that after empire conquest, seeks out to erase the former religion by bombing its temples and historical size, and destroying the holy text. Some missionary assimilates the native culture through modern education. This film "Schooling the World" talks about what happens in Ladakh where schools headed by missionaries made the kids leave their family to board in school, learn English and educate them on western ideas and religion. But after graduation, a lot of these kids find it hard to go back to their native village, creating social problems. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLSIgZWNR9M They actually lost their means of survival in their community.

In the movie, the alien sort to use warnings/threats to keep these technician from certain sector of Earth, saying that they are radioactive zone. Passing it will get vaporized. The alien also used "sexuality" as a way to comfort the technician, giving them more comfort and less reason to cross their "comfort zone". The female counterpart work like a constant reminder that they should obey directives passed down to fulfill the role of an effective team. Not so much about using sexuality but we are often bind by labels of roles passed down from the social system to keep us in check. Those not willing to comply are labeled as deviants. Some "rare deviants that became successful, gets rewarded and the endowment (recognition as well) given by society again trap these deviant in his new band (hierarchical ) of labels and attachments.

Personal growth can happen even if one subscribe to what society has for them. In fact it is so much more comfortable as long as it keeps their curiosity in check. Going at odds with norms of society creates more pain and struggle but growth is much more if that individual is persistent enough to let growth happen. Yet, no matter one seeks to go along or against, growth happens only when they are mindful of their situation/ circumstances and their inner thoughts. In the movie, if the male protagonist does not seek out his "dream", life will just go by mechanically.

Maybe, hardships and knocks of life are truth reminders that we still feel pain and not some creations out to fulfill certain pre-designed plans. Questioning our belief system is a good way yet one should also questions their logical inductions made by them as they are also belief systems build on those they destroyed formerly...

I am not a atheist as being an atheist are just another belief system.

Movie: Cloud Atlas

You can find the information of the movie at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_Atlas_(film)

But nothing beats catching the movie yourself and has your brain teased.

Its a great movie in story line, concepts it deliver, make-up and the cinematic were great. The director is very ambitious in how he manages to merge 6 stories into one and yet repeatedly sending across some very disturbing meanings or logic that "governs" our so call norms of how things function in our society despite different time happening in different people. Its not for people that has to keep feeling the adrenaline rush or romance although you would see fighting and romance scenes as well. Its quite long and the frequent alternating of the different stories can be quite disturbing as well. I would say Matrix and Inception is a good warm up for this movie :) But the concepts it deliver is less sci-fi and more true to what really happen actually in the world.

First concept the movie tries to deliver is on "The weak becomes meat, the strong do eat." Most of its stories are on slavery. A young American lawyer witnessing the whipping done on a Moriori slave and the explanation by the Reverend is that this tribe of people has accepted their fate to be slaves and gotten used to their predicament. Another part on how renowned master composer actually threaten his disciples to ruin his reputation if his desires are not fulfilled. A fabricants (genetically-engineered) server in a dining cafe was conditioned to believe their world to be only in the cafe and after gaining 12 marks on their neck, they will be freed to some paradise. Yet, the truth is they will be recycled as a food source. The last story on how a tribe was trap into some traditions and old belief that they are hunted by this belief when they choose to explore out of their village.

The idea is very provocative actually. Many times we see people struggling to power in hope to gain the power to control the weaker others. There is always this perception that to survive is to fight. And the desire for power and control comes fabricated (or not) beliefs and traditions to confine our behaviour to socially accepted norms. The winner continues to rule over the weak until one day the weak determines to fight back. Beliefs based on fear (of punishments) bring about the fight to prove self-worthiness and such beliefs give justification to their acts of cruelty and inequality. How on earth can mankind thrive harmoniously if one group of people feels that they are more "divinely privilege" than others? War still exists because these group of people fight to prove their "divine superiority".

Another concept is on the idea of salvation. There is a line that says not to expect someone up there to help. And the other person (supposing more technologically advance race) hope there is someone up there that helps. The idea of salvation derives from hope. It has nothing to do with superstition. You can call the idea of salvation as hope to be delivered from suffering. Quoting from ideas of Buddhism, all sentient beings desires to live and fear death. And with that note, all people believe in the idea of salvation no matter what form or entity it may be. In the story, the tribe worship Goddess Sonmi for peace and guidance when Goddess Sonmi is actually explained to be a human character that inspires people with her words on freedom.

Most of the stories end well with people end up trusting each other, conquering the challenges together. Only when humanity band with each other can they grow up stronger against calamity.

It is a movie about freedom and breaking away of bondage by beliefs that the one in power paints to trap the weak. Try not to see the movie as some kind of anti-religion ideas but see its argument as a possibility to break away some of our belief system that harms others and do us no good as well.

What I seek

The religion I seek

Does not condemn anyone for not believing, but encourage intellectual exploration.
Does not say about eternal hell or heaven, but hell and heaven too does not stay.
Does not promise salvation through praises, but promise salvation through perfecting the deeds.
Does not cleanse all your wrongs, but encourage you to better yourself.
Does not ask you to believe, but you believe only when it works for you.
Does not bless followers with riches, but bless followers that practice earnestly.
Does not protect only its follower but embraces even the animals.
Does not talk about love and punishes those that is against its ideology, but talk about love that is beyond humanity.
Does not believe in destiny, but preach that we are the master of our life.

Buddhism, it is.

Ajahn Brahm: The Happiness Journey

While rushing over to attend Ajahn's talk, my reservist camp mate asked me. Why do I need to attend talks on happiness? Am I unhappy? My reply to him was, life has been good for me now and thus I have the best condition to train to be happy :)

As usual, wherever Ajahn held his talk, his loyal audiences follow him and flood the premises. Right up to the font gate of Kong Meng Shan Monastery, crowds gathered and cars queuing up, making their way into the temple. And Ajahn is as ever sitting there on the stage greeting the audiences minutes earlier than the start of his talk.

Ajahn start off by sharing his story of the chicken farmers and poo. Every morning, chicken farmer A will go into the pen and collect chicken poo and brings it home, leaving the eggs behind and house stinking by the gathered poo. He is a stupid chicken farmer. Chicken farmer B would go into the pen and collects the egg, leaving the poo in the pen to rot and becomes useful fertilizer, and he gets to use the egg to make delicious omelette for his family. He is the smart chicken farmer.

Meaning of the chicken farmer story is to remind us that we should remember and cherish good memories to motivate us forward. The chicken eggs are in this case our good memories. Don't blame ourselves for our mistakes and beat ourselves down. Yet, it is as unhealthy to just suppress and forget the past pain and mistakes we went through. The feeling of not accepting the past, of not feeling whole can be very troubling. Only by opening our heart to ourselves can we start growing.

That also applies to families. Remember the happy moments and what works to make an event/outing or any gathering successful and develop the next event from there. There is higher chance of getting happiness.

Ajahn mentioned that people nowadays has so much resources,buying big houses, enjoying riches and yet unhappy. Happiness can never be achieved through striving for a bigger house but a bigger heart. He recommended a way to meditate by imagining circles surrounding him. Those in the circles nearer to him are those he loves and care. And those that he hate and dislike will be at the circle furthest away from him. Then, we can start expanding this circle to reach the outermost ring. It is not about housing more people into the inner circles but how to allow the circles to enlarge.

On questions on how not to lie when hitting sales targets and inadvertently having to lie. Buddhist work to achieve a win-win situation. But being genuine with our claims, selling only things that benefits, thus better the reputation and foster a better clientele base. 

For parents and spouse, we should always have an amnesty to forgive people that is willing to own up their mistakes. Partners lie to each other, kids lie to their parents and people in the society lies to each other because they are afraid of the punishments and anger on them when they are truthful. If we could promise others that we will accept what they did wrong without punishment, then trust and forthrightness can be established. Punishment only leads to more lies. Caging our kids to prevent them from making mistakes would only cause them to become rebellious. And on grieving over parents who have passed on, Ajahn mentioned about not reproaching ourselves for the mistakes we had made as being our parents, they would have readily forgiven us as well.

In career, Ajahn mentioned about striving with the best effort in the current task or role we in. When we are working, we should focus task by task and not multi-tasking. At times with family, no work and focus should only be with the family.

Ajahn shared about a case where a drug offender turned over a new leaf and went around doing talks to share his own bad past, encouraging and show people how they could change for a better. His contribution is enormous and has helped many people and youths. Yet, despite his deeds and potential ability to help more people, he was on death sentence. This shows a very wrong judicial system that focus on punishment than rehabilitation. There are also an instance where an aged jail warden contacted Ajahn, urging him to go back to his prison to continue his prison service. He mentioned that Ajahn has been the only counselor in his career having prisoners whom attended his service, never went back to their crimes.

In patient care, research has shown that patient recover faster through care than medical intervention. Role of a doctor and nurse should focus on care rather than solely medical assistance.

Ajahn end the talk by sharing a famous exercise to be done everyday to lift up the spirit. It is to do 20 counts of push-ups on the side of the lips and looking at the mirror :) Although initially one may have to fake the smile but it is much better than looking sad. And once the fake motion becomes a habit, the smile will come naturally.

Fellow audiences do feel welcomed to add on the list of points by commenting, allowing more people to grow happy.

12th 100 Million Mani Recitation Retreat

http://maniretreat.sg/

Attended this retreat all the way through XMAS! And I love doing it. This annual chanting retreat was organised by Drikung Kagyu, initiated by the Late His Eminence Drubwang Rinpoche, and continued by His Eminence Thritsab Rinpoche.

Basically what the participants does in the retreat is to sit and continuously chant OM MANI PADME HUNG to reach a collective count of 100 Million. And this year we achieved the goal. This feat is only possible by having the lamas leading us as well as the volunteers taking care of our needs.

Its a real test of faith,endurance and fitness. Just half way through the first day, by whole body aches. Very clear indication of my aging body haha. Out of 5 days, I missed 2 days. 1 due to sickness and 1 due to other appointments.

A nice way to wrap up the year actually. Sad to say, this few days are the most hardworking days I work on my spiritual practice in the whole of 2012. The year is filled up with volunteering, and busying over studies and work. In this retreat I tried my best to observe noble silence and because of that, I manage to achieve a more settled mind and moments just being with myself.

The continuous chanting does have some meditative effect and the moving of the lips allow myself to stay more awake than doing a sitting meditation for long. But still doze off at some short moments. I also tried to do some visualization of Chenrezig (Guan Yin) by chanting through the stanzas in the chanting booklet. But I could not really hold the visualization for long. The Tibetan style of doing dedication of merit is also very elaborated and detailed. I also like how the lamas chant using the throat voice.

I am not considered a Tibetan Buddhism practitioner yet I do like how they do their puja, scholastic approach to the Sutra as well as how they arrest their action by their intention.

This event also affirm my belief that actual practicing of the Dharma should still fall back to activities that are more solitude, quiet and personal. Only by having time with ourselves, can we really explore what goes on in our head as well as the myriad of phenomena of the external world.

Coffee or tea

After coming back from my books, days have been largely coffee. Yearning for tea now.

Coffee is colorful, rich, full of aroma and character. Gives me the kick even though I have never wants it. Attracts so much lovers that pins the tea down. So much so that it takes courage to put down that cuppa and hold up the tea to see that you are still mindful why I pick up the coffee at the most initial intentions.

Tea is light, bitter, calming and savored usually in solitude. No excitement, no expectation, but the settling of the mind. The mind that jumps around like monkey, ever so hard to tame even in the quietest moment of meditation. Yet, it dangers by dragging you out of the crowd, out of what is considered mainstream.

Both are good, packed with anti-oxidants, ready to detox all the defilement accumulated since ages and lives. The choice really depends on what calms my mind than what works for others, even if others are the majority.

Stress stress stress

Some pointers dig out online about stress. Would be a good checklist to see if you are under some form of chronic stress.

http://tinybuddha.com/blog/are-you-too-busy-5-signs-of-chronic-stress/

1. I was always looking for something.
2. I'd get inappropriate infuriated by the smallest things.
3. I work up every single day feeling tired.
4. I frequently experienced headaches.
5. I constantly felt a vague feeling of unhappiness.

Personal take:

There is no such things in Buddhist text on any form of 'wholesome stress'. Although I do agree that taking on challenges expand ones ability, especially important in carrying out dharma service.

When the mind is in the state of stress, it shuts down the brain's function on logic and reasoning, and ready the body for fight and flight response. Naturally and surely, the mind starts to react to situations instead of mindfully understanding the situation it is in. Retrospection almost never happens. Although one may argues that retrospection can be done after the stressful issue has been settled, but the body might gets too tired and simply forget doing it.

Sense of satisfaction may hinder practice also. How? When one gets too much pleasures from settling episodes of challenging events, the mind grows in expectations and craving. Good desires in altruistic work benefits others yet without mindfulness, the ego takes over and intentions get skewed from 'trying to help' into 'sense of conquest'.

Extract from the Metta Sutta:

This is to be done by one skilled in aims who wants to break through to the state of peace: Be capable, upright, & straightforward, easy to instruct, gentle, & not conceited, content & easy to support, with few duties, living lightly, with peaceful faculties, masterful, modest, & no greed for supporters. - Buddha

There is wisdom to that.

Another point to add that chronic stress leads to habitual anger. Without one's knowing, the mind and the face gets tense up and you might just scare any people of goodwill away :)

May all with good intentions, 'ought' to be, well and happy always.