What is True Happiness?

At times we need to ardently indulge in stillness and silence.  That is the only time we can hear what our inner voice is telling us.
 
I posted this article before in another blog.  It is so profound that I am posting it again here.  It is sourced from the Metta Lodge Johor Bahru facebook page.  It was a talk given by Bro Punna.

In our culture it is easy to confuse pleasure with happiness.

Pleasure is derived from things like a fine meal, sex, live theatre, a vacation, or a new car. The advertising industry, in fact our entire economy, is devoted to stoking our desire for new pleasures. While these things are enjoyable, and should be enjoyed, they are not the same as happiness. If we are not truly happy and we look to sensual pleasures for fulfillment, we will never find that spiritual completeness for which every human naturally longs. The desire for physical objects or external experiences will never be extinguished. When we finally acquire something we have been striving for, we will experience a temporary satisfaction, but we will soon want something more. Even when we get what we want, there is always the fear of losing what we have.

We love praise, success, pleasure and fame and hate their opposites. But when we are holding onto a stick there is always a danger of grasping the wrong end. As they say, the main cause of divorce is marriage. Think of all the dualities: health-sickness, life-death, young-old, rich-poor etc.

True happiness is uncaused and is not dependent on external objects or experiences.

You are happy for no reason at all. Happiness is our natural state. Only our attachments and burdens draw us away from our most natural state of being.

To acquire happiness you don't have to do anything, because happiness cannot be acquired. Does anybody know why? Because we have it already. How can you acquire what you already have? Then why don't you experience it? Because you've got to drop something. You've got to drop illusions. You don't have to add anything in order to be happy; you've got to drop something. Life is easy, life is delightful. It's only hard on your illusions, your ambitions, your greed, your cravings.

- Bro Punna -

Happy Bee

I love this song.  It's so soothing and calming.  The voice, the lyrics, the melody... I'm deeply captivated by it.

The Chocolate Factory

Today I got to indulge in chocolates of various shapes and flavours.

It is said that eating a chocolate heightens desires, enhances moods and makes one calmer. Coupled by the fact that it was raining today,  it couldn't have been a more perfect day.  I love the rain, especially when I am indoors.

I can imagine Willy Wonka walking around the new Ringgit Malaysia 55 million industrial chocolate facility of  Guan Chong Berhad (GCB) located at PLOT D32, Jalan DPB/b, Port of Tanjung Pelepas in Gelang Patah,

The new facility with state-of-art machinery from Switzerland and Germany can churn out 10,000 metric tones in its first phase, but will eventually produce 50,000 metric tonnes in the future. GCB, established in 1990, is currently the 4th largest cocoa processors in the world, with total annual grinding capacity of 200,000 tonnes per year.

According to the Malaysian Cocoa Board, Malaysia has a cocoa grinding capacity of 300,000 tonnes annually.  Of this, about 85 per cent of the grinding capacity is based in Johor. 

Johor is expected to produce 360,000 tonnes of industrial chocolates annually by the year 2020 to generate RM4 billion in revenue for Malaysia.

Daily Calm

Back to the office after being away for six days.  Yes, I feel a bit calmer.  Bought these two books Daily Calm and Discover Meditation & Mindfulness.

Daily Calm is filled with wisdom quotes and stunning shots.  I am going to put it on my bedside table. At Malaysian Ringgit 69.90, it is a good buy.

Discover Meditation & Mindfulness (priced RM38.90) is also filled with inspiring images.  Can't really read the printed words though.  Need to look for a magnifying glass.  Haha!

Oh, how do I feel after going through the 3-day-2-night Art of Joyfulness workshop which was recently held in Kedah?  Honestly,  I think I sailed through the day without feeling much stress.

Have I gained enlightenment?  Still far from it.  Like my friend said,  I know a lot of wisdom quotes.  But once something unpleasant shows up, all of Buddha's words will go flying out the window.

Have to go now ... to chant, meditate, reflect and thank the universe for this charming day.

Good night.

Being Mindful

Sarjit Singh greeting the dawn

this is a continuation of my post Nothing Is To Be Clung To

This is one of the chalets at the Regency Jerai Hill Resort.  The resort has four types of rooms --- superior, deluxe, premiere and executive.

Our bus left the Larkin bus terminal in Johor Baru at 10.02pm.  The ticket costs RM75 each.  We reached the Gurun R&R in Kedah at 7.30am.  We had breakfast and then called a cab (RM20 per cab).  The ride was 15 minutes to the foothills of Gunung Jerai.

From there, we hopped onto a van which took us on a winding path to the resort.   We had lunch at the Puncak Kedah Restaurant, where I enjoyed a virgin pina colada mocktail.

virgin pina colada mocktail

DAY ONE:with Jean, Sarjit, Bachan and MK

DAY THREE: Group Photo courtesy of Sarjit Singh

As for the return trip, we got a lift from a fellow participant, William Chan, who was heading to Butterworth.  We managed to get seats in the SuperNice coach.  The journey turned out to be more than 12 hours.  (3.30pm to 4am).

There are too many people to thank here.  To Fung Lee Jean for the invite.  To Bachan Singh for giving me a lift home when we reached Larkin and to Sarjit Singh for his generous sharing of all that he has learnt about mindfulness-based stress reduction and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy.

In the year 2020, the World Health Organisation estimates suicide to be the No. 1 killer with  about 1.53 million people taking their own lives based on current trends. Please don't get stressed up.


I would like to leave you all with you all with this video where Thich Naht Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen monk shows us the 10 mindful movements. I hope to incorporate these mindful moves into my daily schedule.

Nothing Is To Be Clung To

In the old days, the 1,217-metre high Gunung Jerai in Kedah was a landmark for sailors and traders from distant lands who used it as a beacon.  On day three into 2014, 56 people gathered at the sacred peak that sits in solitude close to the shore, to cultivate the art of joyfulness and to find the light that is in the core of all of us.

Life's journey is never a straight path.  There will be obstacles.  The three-day-two-night workshop held at the  The Regency Jerai Hill Resort, organised by the  Oracle Advanced Toastmasters Club District 51, Malaysia, was an enriching experience for all the participants. I don't think anyone will disagree with me on this.

Standing majestically 986 metres above sea level, the resort provides a breathtaking view of the paddy fields.  The resort is also adorned with beautiful flowering shrubs, regal trees and the soothing sounds of the forest.

We did not come here to search for answers.  The answer is already within us.  We just need to learn the methods from the trainer Dr Sarjit Singh that were tailored to bring us to the core of our being.

We get caught up in the hustle and bustle of living in the concrete jungle, hardly having any time to get intimate with ourselves.  Everyone needs some alone time.  A time to slow down, and find the moments that define a great day.  

It's not hard at all, if we become more aware of the

the lovely hydrangeas that call out to us as we pass by

the clouds that hover over us

the zappy rabbit that grazes freely, minding its own business

And when the going gets too tough, just go blow some soap bubbles and let the wind take away your troubles.  Everything that happens to us --- the good and the bad --- does not last.  So, don't cling to it.

MK Ong

My roommate and photographer who took most of my pictures throughout the retreat.  Thank you MK, not only for being such great company but for being an inspiration to me and to many others.

When your inner world changes, your outer world also changes.

(to be continued)