Accepting failure is just as important.

There was a tennis tournament and the boy lost to another in the finals which is expected in any game. Someone has to lose in order that another can win. There can only be only one winner in the finals. However, on that day, immediately after the game, the mother of the boy who lost came running up to the referee red in the face with anger and frothing at the mouth. She demanded the referee explain how her child could have lost that crucial game. Despite the referee composure and requesting her to calm down so that they could talk sensibly, she raged and scolded with words most foul. It embarrassed everyone so to hear such words from a so-called educated woman. The referee was unable to appease her and had to walk away off the court to avoid further barrage of words.

Of course, no one took the side of the mother in her wrath as it was clear cut that the other boy was a better player that day. The poor boy who lost was the one who ought to be pitied for he could have realised that it was a fair game and was the victim of such unpleasantness. And it was certainly none of his doing but that was not all, the child knew he was to hear a lot of speeches he would want to avoid.
Should the mother have shouted and made such a scene? Should the mother have consulted with her son’s coach or other officials before lodging a complaint? What is the use of letting off steam so soon, at the time when the ego overrides reason and dignity goes down the drain.

The mother refused to allow reality to surface and in doing so could be doing more harm than good to her child. The reality is that no matter how good a person is at something, there will always be someone who can take over and prove himself or herself to be just as good. The child was the best but time changes things and soon another can take his/her place, just as the previous child had also overtaken another to be that time’s champion. However, win or lose, they know they have reached a level to be proud of. Thus, they are all winners in a certain period of their lives. No one, no matter the game, can be the winner forever. That is the position held only by God but we are all mere mortals.

And even if the prime of one’s life is not yet over, anyone can lose. It could be due to so many factors such as the weather, the mood of the day, the stress and strain of overtraining, pride and ego making one feel invincible which can never be, irritability or instability due to unforeseen circumstances and a multitude of other unknown factors. Whatever it is the loser of the day must graciously accept the fact that for that day, the other person is the better player.

Teaching a child not to accept failure when, in spite of everything else, it happens is to lead a child to sadness, frustrations and suicide. And sadness and frustration will surely accompany this child as failure is bound to happen to even the very best.

Teaching a child to accept occasional failure is necessary as it can and will happen. We must teach him/her to understand that failure is a path to learning. Some failures can be due to poor knowledge, insufficient practice, unavailability of good techniques and other possible weaknesses. So, if a person is trained to accept the defeat and search for the cause of the failure, he can see the weaknesses that his/her ego had prevented him/her from seeing. Sometimes, in failure we need a sincere friend or coach to point out the weaknesses; weaknesses which fans and supporters such as mothers and fathers cannot notice. Then, with this knowledge, the person can work to overcome the weaknesses so as to emerge a winner again.

The above is a true story with names not mentioned to avoid unnecessary embarrassment as the happening is used only to share and benefit from it. We ought to feel concerned as there have been times when the news media has informed us of suicide by people who have failed in one thing or another, unable to get up again to face life. This could be avoided if we understand that failure could be looked at in a more positive manner and that there is still life after failure. This is where knowledge from The ART of Living could be of help.

God did not send us to this world to play truant and run back to Him when the lessons in life gets too tough.

The opportunity to lead is always there.

A group photo of the 104 participants of this DSN in Sri Malaysia Hotel in Kepala Batas, Penang.


One of the groups: The wonderful people in my group with our two teachers in the background.


Here's the fantastic dance coach with the others cheering them on.

Available to us are many opportunities each and every day. It is up to use to be ready for them, to reach out and enjoy the opportunity that appears in front of us.

As such, at the Art of Living DSN Course, when given the opportunity to lead a group of wonderful people for three days, I accepted the chance with an enthusiastic ‘Yes!”. That was the opportunity which gave me three days of some of the greatest moments of my life.

The group members I had were beautiful individuals who were challenged in many ways, yet accepted and faced the challenges with gusto. One individual who stood out among the crowd was a beautiful lady named Jasmine. This lady was no less a leader than I was and it was great to have her to prompt others at times as we moved through the DSN process. She was great to have as a partner when we went to get more than ten people in a supermarket to laugh. With such a partner, I was encouraged and supported in my readiness to face whatever challenges and obstacles that might have come into our path. She was with me all the way. What a lady! Well, fantastic were the actions in the role I had to play that day as I clowned my way to elicit laughter from strangers. It was a role I enjoyed thoroughly as I allowed the youthfulness and delightful spirit of my soul to emerge and be given full reign. That day, in making others happy, we were some of the most happy people on earth.

This lady, Jasmine, was not merely great as a partner. She was ready to help and assist in many, many ways. So much like me, she was an adventurous soul with such an enormous appetite for life. She could dance well too. She helped certain participants to overcome their reluctance to perform and she taught them to dance. And so it was dance, dance and dance as others cheered them on. She showed us then the beautiful nature in her as well as her love and humanity for her fellow beings. Wow! She is one great fantastic lady. Look at the video above.

Of course, there were others who did lead but since I was not around to see their performance, I am unable to tell of their greatness and capability. Nevertheless, there are always opportunities and it is for us to be ready for them so as to be able to enjoy such opportunites as we come face to face with them.

Well, opportunities lost are not opportunities anymore. So, I believe you know what to do, which is to grab them as they come along. Life is one long adventure if we want it to be. It can also be a drag if we don’t.

It’s your choice, my friend. That's right. Your choice.

Opportunities are always available.

Yesterday, I wrote on the DSN Course which brought so much potential for changes in the participants; changes that could only improve their lives.

As the course progressed, one of the values taught was similar to what I had written earlier on in this blog.

It brought back memories of my beautiful wife, of her beautiful ways and how i could have missed such a wonderful person had I then closed the door to such a possibility.

How is that so, you may wonder. Well, before my wife appeared on the scene, I was in love with a girl. She was another lovely woman. Her beautiful nature attracted me to her and I found her company most delightful. Unfortunately, it was a one-way track and she merely liked me very much.

Dissapointed, I was at the time. However, my then great teachers, Dale Carnegie, Napolean hill and Norman Vincent Peale had already taught me that when one door closes, another opens. And that has always been found to be true. The only thing is that even when faced with another door, we see not the opening that it presents. We are often blinded by what had happened earlier.

To overcome any tragic happening in our lives, we ought to understand what has gone can never return. We should only linger a very short while if we need to. We could help ourselves by drying our tears, look forward towards whatever could be in store for us and live the life we still have.

Similarly, even as I treasured the memories, I realised God must still have something for me and it did come in the appearance of my wife in my life.

We, my wife and I, had thirty wonderful years together and she was still holding my hand the night before she passed away in Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. We still had love and comfort during her seven month sickness as we went from the Sungai Petani hospital to Nam Wah Ee Hopital in Penang before flying to the University Kebangsaan Hospital in Cheras, Selangor. I had taken leave from work to be with her during those months.

The point is, I would not have had known her if I had closed my heart for her love to enter. From the very beginning she had cared for me in such a memorable way and that could not have been my joy and pleasure had I not lived according to the teachings of those three great teachers.

My experience at the Art of Living's DSN Course.

The Art of Living’s DSN Course in Hotel Sri Malaysia in Kepala Batas, Penang has just ended at about six o’clock in the evening on the 6th of December 2009.

I was one of the lucky participants of that course and I must say that it aroused such great happiness in me that I just hoped that it could go on and on.
Oh, yes! You may be wondering what the DSN is. DSN stands for Divya Samaj ka Nirmaan which means Creating a Divine Society. It is a course which last for three too short days in which certain activities are used to bring forth awareness and depth of oneself.

When great awareness has been aroused with certain activities and knowledge and you can go deep within yourself through meditation; happiness, enlightenment, the removal of boundaries, gratitude and love will blossom and grow. As a result, smiles and laughter as happiness permeates the person through assisting and serving others. The heart glows with gratitude and love which is natural when everyone is helping each other grow and develop by overcoming inhibitions and obstacles in the mind. Awareness of the enemy within each of us is heightened with knowledge and understanding as we experienced the truth of the matter and overcome whatever fears we may have.

It was some of the best three days of my life as each activity brings more knowledge and understanding, greater awareness, gratitude and love to my AOL teachers and the fellow participants as we help each other overcome barriers, reach out to assist each other and create a better understanding of ourselves and others. The joy that comes through living the present moment as we reach out to people such as the old folks to give them a memorable time.

However, DSN which is Creating a Divine Society can only start the day after the course ends as we turn our minds and hearts outwards towards the people in society to get the knowledge, the techniques and the experiences to our fellow brothers and sisters in our society, in our world.

So, it is with this in mind that each participant of that DSN course moves out, reach out to as many individuals as he/she can. How successful we can create a divine society depends upon all of us.

Decisions, confidence and life.

When someone tells you to jump across a wide drain, do you do it? At a metal barrier which is about four feet high, do you vault over it, knowing that you had done it ten years ago?

Well, I would do it for those are two things I did recently. Since my teenage days, after I have taken up body-building and found that I was just as strong as any other if not more so, I have done all those so called dangerous things. Oherwise, I would not have taken up gymnastics which can bring one's self-esteem down easily. Perhaps, it was my ego. Well, through the years, my ego has mellowed a little through knowledge and understanding from experience and places such as The Art of Living Centre.

When my wife was around she would often caution me. Still I went ahead and did some of the things which she would consider too adventurous and dangerous. It was my ego, fo course. To be the hero has always been strong in me somehow. There are times I succeeded and that brought that wonderful top of the world feeling I have always desired. Of course, there were times when I had to smile sheepishly as I drag myself out of the undignified situations I put myself into. I had been fortunate to have escaped any permanent injury in the spins and spills I endured. Thank God for that.

So, I was really sorry to read in Yahoo!. News today that a young man of twenty-six from Salt Lake City died after he was stuck upside down in an L-shaped underground cave for twenty-eight hours. He could not be saved despite recuers' attempts to get him out with drilling equipment, rope and a pulley system.

This young man was an experienced caver who had even led groups of cavers into other more dangerous caves. Certainly, he must have known the dangers involved. He must have been very confident of his ability to explore such a cave. Perhaps, it was this overconfidence which was his undoing. Having been able to get out of dangerous situations easily can give one the confidence to tackle other dangerous situations without putting much thought into it. I have known this kind of feeling as I have had such kind of confidence with my gymnastic ability and my motorcycle control.

However, upon reading this story of this caver, I think we should not throw caution to the wind unless a situation deems it necessary. We should think of possible consequences when the situation presented us is not a life or death issue. Yes, it is great to be be a 'hero' but is it worth it?

Then again, what would life be like if it is boringly safe and uneventful? Well, we will just have to balance between the two. Judgement is important here. Take risks but if the percentage is too high, so high that we cannot stand a chance of winning, then, if we can, just walk away from it.

I suppose this is something that every individual has a responsible for: his own life. Nobody can do it for us. Judge the situation and decide for yourself what to do. Is not that life? We go through life making choices.

Incapacitating fear.

A gymnast's worst enemy is fear. No gymnast can perform well when there is fear in his heart. The fear can come as a result of loss of confidence. The doubt of being able to perform starts in the mind. Once doubt anchors itself in the mind, the gymnast is lost. No longer can he perform well.

In all things, the mind plays a very important role. Success or failure depends on the confidence which has its root in the mind. Convince the mind that success can be achieved and everything else fall into place. Confidence drives out fear. Without fear, everything is possible.

I remember very well my first Red Cross flag-day at the Penang Youth Centre more than forty years ago. I partnered with an Indian friend. From the moment I recieved the donation tin and the flags, I told my friend we were going to collect the most donation for the day. I told him it would be easy if we can cover the greatest distance and approached the most number of people. He agreed with me and promise to support every move to request for donation from every stranger we met that day.

As strong teenagers, we set off immediately and started right after exiting from the gate of the Penang Youth Centre. Initially, there was this little awkwardness in approaching strangers for donation but as donation after donation came in, the feeling subsided and the nerve to approach just anyone strengthened. Of course, a few refusals we did get but as we strove on, I noticed that whenever I approached strangers with a ready smile and explained or requested for donation in a friendly yet purposeful voice, the response was good. With that positive attitude, I reached out to all the shops and expensive places to discover that there were many willing to donate when approached correctly. After merely an hour of collecting, there was such great confidence that the rest of the day was easy going.

As we went along, I did notice that some flag-day volunteers were not bold enough to reach out to everyone they saw. For example, they moved aside for some well-dressed people moving purposefully past them instead of standing firm in their path and asking for donation. Many did not go into shops to approach proprietors whom I found to be the best to approach. It must have been fear, doubt, insecurity or a lack of commitment to perform the task well. So, some people who could have donated were lost to the cause.

Of course, we did end that day with the most donation collected and was pleasantly surprised with being presented a radio.

Even if my partner and I had not been given a radio each, it was one of the most beneficial experiences of my life. Through that experience, I no longer had any qualms in approaching any stranger. I understood people better; that people respect confident people and are more willing to comply with any reasonable request. I also learned that no matter how better dressed another person may be, he is no different from the flesh, blodd and heart of any other. It is courage, confidence and the ability to perform that makes people different. See. How much benefit a child can get from being a volunteer for a donation drive. Today, I am no different. I still approach strangers, this time to tell them of the Art of Living Foundation and the benefits of its breathing courses.

Of course, I am not saying that it is easy to get rid of some fears. Some fears exist because we know our limits. This is where we have to face reality. For example, from childhood experience, I know I cannot sing like Elvis or Cliff Richard. Those are singers during my time. Having faced reality, I now sing only in my bathroom or when no one is near enough to hear my out of tune, beautiful voice. So, I would never go on stage to sing. Never! Yes, it is a fear. But it is healthy fear. I know I am good at many things but there are a few things I would allow others to excel in. Give others a chance. See, this is where i am very generous.

You know, when I visited India a year ago I discovered that I could still vault over a four-feet high metal barricade at the airport in Chennai. Before then, I thought I could no longer do it. There was this fear of falling should my legs not clear the hurdle. Age can bring on such fears. Since then, I had regained the confidence and have been doing it each time opportunity presents itself. So, most fears can be overcome.

The importance of being open-minded.

"It is healthier if we eat most of our food raw," I told this guy one day.
"Raw? Do you know the number of pathogens in our environment? How can it be healthier to eat our food raw?" he demanded, annoyed that I could suggest such a method of consuming our food.
"Of course, when it comes to meat and animal products, we need to cook them but there is still so much food we can eat raw. Vegetables, for example, can....."
"No! No! No! We are not animals. Only animals eat food raw. And they do it because they cannot cook it. But humans.... what a preposterous idea!" He was frothing at the mouth and disgusted with the idea of eating like the animals.

I had to back off. I wanted no quarrel with him over an idea which could only bring good to him. If he does not like it; well, I am certainly not going to force it on him. Looks like he has a closed mind, not willing to listen and accept new ideas even though they have been tested and found to be good.

If he had shown surprise at the idea and requested for explanations, I would have done so. If my explanations were not based on facts and truth, then it was still not too late to reject it. Unfortunately, his mind was closed to new ideas and was not willing to listen before pushing such ideas away. Both of us were losers then. I lost the opportunity to help someone overcome his health problem and that someone lost the opportunity to acquire a healthier way of eating. That is the problem of being not open-minded. There just isn't any receptivity.

Unless we and our children are receptive to new technology and new knowledge, there will be an obstacle to improvement in our lives.

Once upon a time, cancer patients depend on just sugery, chemotherapy and radiation, the three methods of cancer treatment that weakens us and our immune system as it removes or kills most of the cancer cells. Today, we have cancer researchers from China, America and other parts of the world who found immunotherapy, gene therapy and herbs which improve the chances of survivor for cancer patients when used together with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. Each year, advances in medical science is made. Unless we are enlightened to these advances, we cannot make intelligent choices when the need arises.

Open-mindedness is not only beneficial to health. As society changes, and ccommunities open its borders people from all over the world, its members must become more liberal to other races, differing beliefs, religions and cultures which may be totally alien to their own. They must respect and allow beliefs and ideas which contradict with their own in order to exist harmoniously on this earth. Yes, people have to be open-minded enough to be tolerant of everything that is different from theirs.

As we can see, our open-mindedness is the way forward to a progressive society where all mankind can live in peace and harmony; with the understanding that every human is an individual, the world a heterogenous confederation of so many tribes, communities, states and countries; all dissimilar in their practises, yet so homogeneous in their human behaviour.

When everyone achieves such open-mindedness, there can be no conflict, no terrorism and no war. After all such miserable happenings occur because there are those who refuse to be liberal, tolerant, receptive or be enlightened. Open-mindedness is indeed difficult to ahcieve.

However, we ought to teach our children to be open-minded so as to bring greater understanding and love to all mankind. When that happens, The Art of Living's goal of a 'One World Family' become a reality.

Law Chu Hian- On positive attitudes acquired from cancer.

The writer with Law Chu Hian on the right

Below is Law Chu Hian in action.



At the Art of Living Centre in Sungai Petani, about two hundred and fifty people came to listen to a man who was full of humour and positive vibes. With his wit, he entertained the audience for an hour, possibly one and a half, with his talk of positive attitudes acquired through getting cancer.

The man was none other than the retired well-known popular TV7 Mandarin news reader, Law Chu Hian, aged 45 who found himself a cancer patient five years ago. Since his recovery, he had lived his life to the full. According to him, should he die after having utilised his time to the full, he will have no regrets.

One of the things he said was about making sure that the body can be helped to stay healthy by not getting angry. Anger only hurts the one who is angry. When you are angry, toxins will be sent forth from your own body.

One of his ways to be positive and happy was similar to the teaching of the Art of Living: Live for the present moment. Enjoy and be happy with whatever the present moment presents. "The present moment is a present for you," he said. And that carries a lot of truth. Be grateful that you are alive and able to enjoy the present moment. That is a lot to be thankful for. Many people live in the past, constanting bringing back unnecessary pain and unhappiness experienced; while some lived for the future, dreaming of what is yet to come, nothing possibly concrete; when everyone should be living in the present, doing the things to be done now, planning what is feasible.

He also joked and talked of gratitude. He told us that we should be grateful for all the things we have. Be grateful for whatever we have. Do not envy people who have big cars. If you have an old car, be grateful that it could take you wherever you want to go. If you have a motorcycle, be grateful that you do not have to walk to your destination. If you have no vehicle, be grateful that you have legs that can take you around, and perhaps be grateful to take a ride in a bus with a driver to take you some place.

When a person had cancer and recovers, he knows that he has been given a second chance in life. Everything is so very precious. Be grateful to the people closest to you, your wife or husband, your children and your relatives. Communicate with them. Do not say you do not have the time to sit down and communicate with them.

Another point he made was, 'Accept situations as they are. For some people, have wife/husband, also bad. No wife/husband, also bad.' It ought to be 'Have wife/husband, that's good. No wife/husband, that's also good. Be happy with whatever you have.

He also talked on stress. He joked about a chap in a queeue at the post office who was so stressed while waiting for his turn. He told us about the complains of a wife made at a Valentine's dinner which he attended although he is a bachelor. He told us that the next year found the man at the valentine dinner with another girl. So, do not complain. Appreciate the fact that someone loves you and is romantic enough to take you to the dinner.

And at home, appreciate whatever is done, for someone had put in time and effort to make your house a home.

(Blogger's note: Mr. Law Chu Hian spoke in Mandarin, a language this blogger did not learn in school. My Mandarin Language proficiency is only 1.8 out of a hundred. Thus, it is shamefully low. Through the help of an interpreter friend at the talk and my low language proficiency, the above is what I gathered from the talk. Any mistake in the material is due to my weakness. A thousand apologies to all of you.)

Beware of hyperventillation.

There have been cases of people attending breathing courses in which they found themselves hyperventilating.

Since hyperventillation can cause numbness, light-headedness, headache, chest pains as well as other undesirable symptoms due to the increased concentration of oxygen and the resulting reduction of carbon dioxide in the blood to below its normal level, it cannot be good for us because this would cause the blood to be more alkaline, a change in its ph, and this results in the constriction of blood vessels to the brain. The transport of essential electrolytes to the muscles and the nerves there will be reduced, thus affecting their performance.

To prevent hyperventillation, we ought to find out what is wrong with our actions. Are we breathing too fast or too deeply although we have not done a hundred metre dash in which too much oxygen has been expended and there is an urgent need to replenish it.

I noticed that certain participants of breathing courses do breathe too fast and too deeply. In fact, we can hear the breathe being expelled and inhaled too vigorously. such participants can reach the stage where they are hyperventillating.

In telling you about the right way to breathe, it is not merely stomach breathing but also slow gentle inhaling and exhaling. Do not take a train journeys and 'choo-choo' along at speed. It ought to be so gentle that others can hardly hear your breathe unless they pay particular attention to it.

At this point, I remember being in India in August last year where some of the Malaysian Art of Living members were doing the Kriya (a method of breathing) and our Guruji, Sri Sri Ravi Shanker, told some of us that we were breathing too hard. In fact, very often, we are told to stick to the number of times we breathe for each cycle in the home kriya. I believe that if we exceed the times for each cycle, then we get into the danger of hyperventillating.

In any art or practice, the right method to do it is of utmost importance. All of us can and do make mistakes in learning. That is part of life; making mistakes, understanding where it is wrong and correcting it. however, once we realise our mistakes, it is never too late to correct them. That is progress; and to improve, we have to progress.

What a wonderful couple!

it was a beautiful morning for a walk in the botanical gardens in Penang. With my track suit and my camera, I was ready for whatever it took to make it a really good start to a new day. I strolled along the quiet, calming path beside a fairly, fast flowing river into the gardens.

Upon entering the botanical gardens, in an open space, I heard music coming from a disc player. A look towards that direction brought a smile to my lips and joy to my heart.

And so it happened that I had this opportunity to enjoy the wondrous sight of a truly delightful pair of free-spirits. It was a sight to behold and i thanked my lucky stars I had my camera ready to capture the unforgettable, perhaps never again encountered happening of a lifetime.

It lifted my own spirit just to witness it and I knew I just had to share this with my friends. There was this joy and loveliness on their faces that attracted me most. They danced to their hearts' delight regardless of the people in the surrounding, including this man recording the unforgetable moment of their lives. I believe they would readily share their happiness with everyone. What an admirable, beautiful couple!

Theirs is the way this writer would like to live life, to enjoy life to its fullest as long as we hurt no one. It's an art of living! After all, in everything we do, be it earning a living, building a home, love and marriage, having children; our goal is nothing more than happiness, without which all of them are tedious and not worth the doing.

So, for today, let us watch this wonderful couple's joy and, in so doing, absorb some of their joy.

No Healthy Earth, No Healthy Us!

Perhaps, nobody has ever shown you something as mundane as the water from a waterfall and the river below it. Let's watch it. Think of the soothing sound of cascading water as it rushes down onto the rocks below. Look at the calming patterns of the flowing water as it moves down the stream. Watch the water go around rounds easily and gradually slows its pace and carries on unhurriedly towards its destiny, singing softly as it goes along in tune with nature. And I know it, you must have wondered how I could call that a river. I know. I know. In actual fact, it was a river until human beings had the temerity to renovate it into a big, rocky drain. Well, that the trouble with humans. They think they can do a better job than nature. As a result, we have cut down too many trees, remove too many hills, drove a lot of animals out of their homes and destroyed so much natural beauty besides endangering so many animal lives. And nature, pushed against the wall is already fighting back with melting snow, threatening to raise the level of the water on land and in so doing, lessen the amount of land around the coast. Actually, I was being dramatic. Nature did not fight. There is no need to. When the earth can no longer sustain life, we are the ones to die. The earth remains to lick the wound we had inflicted and without us around to cause further damage, the earth will heal itself. Trees will grow, oxygen will be plentiful, carbon will decrease, the ozone layer will thicken and its holes will be patched up again, no more green house gases, temperature will be normal again and the ice-bergs at the poles will stop melting. It was our own foul deeds that caused the green-house gasses which over-warmth the earth causing the melting of ice in the poles. With more water surface, there is increased evaporation and the return of the evaporated liquid as rain, causing flood in various parts of the world. On the other hand, with less shade as a result of deforestation, there is greater heat burning up the earth. So, despite the amount of rainfall, the world gets hotter and hotter. This is aggravated by the destruction of the ozone layer reulting in holes in the ozone layer. These holes allow more skin-harming, cancer-causing ultra violet rays to penetrate to the earth surface. Indiscrimate burning of rubbish and forest, burning of petrol and use of air-conditioners have cause an increase in carbon in the atmosphere and this has created the release of green house gasses. Thus, there is an increasing amount of carbon dioxide and lesser oxygen due to our destruction of nature's oxygen producing factories, the trees. Fortunately for our world, there are some who are aware of the harmful effects of our actions. The United Nations with 189 country heads firmly committed to work together to build a safer, more prosperous and equitable world for all by 2015, it started its Millennium Campaign with the Millenium Development Goals initiated at its September 2000 Millenium Simmit. One of the goals was 'Ensure Environmental Sustainability'. The Art of Living Foundation together with the United Nations' Environment Programme, World Alliance for Youth Empowerment and Sri Sri Agricultural Institute for Science & Technology came forward in support of the United Nations Millenium Campaign. Through 'Mission Green Earth, Stand Up Take Action' The Art of Living, in 2008, began to call for people's support for the planting of trees and reporting on their growth. So, don't neglect our earth. This earth needs us just as we need this earth. No healthy earth, no healthy us! That is the simple truth we are faced with. So, it's up to everyone of us to help the earth heal itself.

Search and you will find life so wonderful.

One day I met a retired teacher at a bank. We sat down to talk about days gone past. They were happy memories.

Then this retired teacher bemoaned the present retirement time; how slow time crawled by. He watched television in the morning, then read the newspapers from front to back, top to bottom before returning to his television again. Time was too long. He just did not know how to fill it.

I asked him about his hobbies. Well, now is the best time to continue with his hobbies, with the things he was interested in but could not find the time to indulge in them previously. I told him about my fish, my edible leaves and plants, my tortoises, my birds, my reading, my qi kung, my meditation, yoga and my daily trek up a hill. Those are the things I love to do. In fact, there are still a few interests which I still could not find time for.

It looked like he had no such interests. What a poor fellow he was!

Then I told him he could do volunteer work. There are so many Non-Government Organisations which need our help. Be a volunteer and discover the pleasure of being able to assist others. And such work does not cost you a cent. There is Tzu Chi and other organisations known world-wide. There are old folks' homes and orphanages. I told him about The Art of Living which is sending its trained teachers to schools to help teachers and students overcome tension, to prisons to help prisoners realise and be aware of their mistakes, to love themselves as well as others, to find the divine spirit in themselves. I told him about the charity work done by The Art of Living. And to know more about this organisation, I directed him to http://www.artofliving.org for further information.

He was not interested. I finally discovered that he was still thinking of material gains; he was thinking of money. He could not imagine himself doing work for the benefit of others.

If his pension was a small miserable sum which could not be sufficient to support him through his days, then he was right to think of work and more money. However, I am talking about a guy whose pension was more than most people's salary. See? He was so well-do-to, yet he was so bored with life because he was stingy with his time. And time became a burden, each day bringing more boredom.

Finally, I asked him whether he had ever heard of the saying: GIVE IN ORDER THAT YOU MAY RECEIVE. I told him of the happiness I got from helping and doing such volunteer work, the type of happiness which money can never buy.

I could do nothing else but hope that he could find the right path to the same joy and happiness I derived from my type of work. His path might be different but if he could achieve it, that is all anyone can wish for.

Life is what we make of it. Just do it and everything will be fine.

Stop that anger!

Yesterday, I received a tragic story that i hope all of us can learn from.

One day, a man looked at his brand new car with pride. He had bought a very beautiful powerful car and its gleaming surface won his admiration. He had just put on a new well-made number plate. With a screw-driver in one hand and a wrench in another, he stood up to see how such a plate would enhance the appearance of his car.

Just then, his five year old son ran towards the car, took up a stone and scratched the side of his car.

On seeing that, the man became very angry, ran to the child, caught his hand and hit it many, many times in uncontrollable rage, not realising that he was hitting his own child with a wrench.

At the hospital, the child lost his five fingers, the bones of the five fingers fractured and broken beyond repair. Doctors could not do anything but amputate the five fingers of the child.

When the child saw his father after the amputation, painfully, with tears in his eyes, he asked his father,"Dad, when will my fingers grow back?"

The shocked man was so sad and so mad at himself that he speechlessly went away to his car. In his frustration, devastated by his thoughtless action, he kicked the car a good number of times. Exhausted and with no reprieve from his agony, he sat down beside his car and cried.

As he cried he looked at the scratches his son had made, the son who had just learned how to write merely a few months ago. The words scratched on the car stared out at him. It read: Love you dad.

Truth dawned on him. He had thrown his anger with such vehemence on one who loves him so much.

The poor man could not forgive himself. He committed suicide.

And it was all because of anger. Anger blinded that man to the great love of his
son.

Can you see how damaging, how destructive anger can be? For that man, it hurt his loving son, it lowered his self-respect, it destroyed his life. Was the car important enough to save his life? Can any expensive car be as worthy as our loving child and his love? Can any car be worthy of anyone's life? Never! No, for it was merely an expensive object. It can never ever replace love. Can Should we allow anger to ruin our lives?

So, those who still could not control their anger must learn to do so. as long as anger is allowed to control us and our actions, tragedy can happen and none of us can be safe. Let us master our anger.

And if anyone were to say that he/she does not know how, learn to do so with the help of knowledge and the power of the breath through The Art of Living. There is a centre near you as The Art of Living has reached more than one hundred and forty countries throughout the world.

As we can see, love and anger has no limits. Anger destroy lives and love beautifies them.

The Power of ONE

Here comes the early arrivals.


Food and drinks are prepared for those who come from afar.


The Sungai Petani volunteers have put up a screen to show Sri Sri Ravi Shanker, his vision and his work.


Waiting to start the long Kriya.


However, people keep pouring in and the numbers exceeded one thousand.


The more than a thousand people entering the hall.
The more than a thousand people focused their attention on the AOL teachers just before the 'Full Moon Meditation' The hall was packed with minds of one goal, meditate for peace in our world. After the meditation, AOL members renew their friendship before departing.
And it was time to call it a night.


The day was Thursday, the 6th of August 2009. Volunteers gathered early to make it to the Municipal Hall of Butterworth so as to ensure the hall was ready, food for those who were hungry after having to travel long distances to reach the place, a screen and a speaker system for disseminating information on the Art of Living were ready for the evening’s ‘A Thousand People To Meditate For Peace’.

Before that evening, there had been intermittent rain for the last seventy-two hours. It was a clear evening, with the moon appearing as the evening wore on.. Obviously, God is with us in our endeavour.

When everything was ready, at a little past seven, AOL members and their friends came, welcome by the enthusiastic, smiling, clapping volunteers who had gathered at the entrance.
Members of AOL went for their long Kriya while the non-members were entertained by the Sungai Petani people to dances and songs as well as information about our founder, Sri Sri Ravi Shanker and The Art of Living Foundation.

Then, at nine o’clock, everyone gathered in the hall to do a breathing exercise and the ‘Moon Meditation’.

The gathering was a great success. People from Kangar,Alor Star, Sungai Petani, Baling, Penang Island, of course Butterworth, Bukit Mertajam, Taiping, Teluk Anson, and even as far as Kula Trengganu came for the gathering for peace.

Success, in fact, is inevitable when it is done with a noble cause. It was a gathering for peace, a factor so desirable in the preservation of orderliness and calm, without which there can only be chaos in the lives of all. Without peace, there can only be uncertainty, restlessness and confusion. There will be suffering, pain and death, not just for ourselves but also for the very people we know and love.

With a worthwhile universally desirable goal in mind, it is easy to get like-minded people to be committed to the purpose. With the single purpose in mind, such committed people can even be selfless in consistently performing whatever tasks are necessary to achieve success. Every person in the group or organization would certainly give of their best to reach this goal.

In this kind of group, we see the power of unity in achieving an aim. When the goal is big enough, worthwhile enough, each member of the group or organization will strive to give of his/her best. The built up energy or force would gather momentum, gathering positive action, enthusiasm and a strong desire to work towards the particular goal.

It’s one of the greatest, most wonderful experience. to be engulfed in the positive attitude, the enthusiasm and the happiness of achievement. You have to be in it to understand and appreciate the force of many united as ONE.

The spread of AOL to Baling: The spread of knowledge and the breath.

Mrs Wong and Teacher Tan Hwa Seng are the masters-of-ceremony.


The enthusiasm of the members is obvious.


Members enjoy themselves, dancing away.


Life is indeed a celebration for all of them.


Look at them go!


Look at the joyous celebration!


The videos and pictures above shows the celebration of AOL members at our new AOL Baling centre.

It took place at 7.30pm. on Saturday, the 18th of July, 2009. Mr. and Mrs. Wong helped the members in Baling to set up the centre.

With the spreading of energy to Baling, The Art of Living can reach farther to assist more individuals to develop the full potential of their lives. The Baling centre will enable the residents of Baling and its outskirts to avail themselves of the ancient wisdom and knowledge as well as the healing power of the breath.

While many call it the ancient wisdom and knowledge of The Art of Living, it would actually be more accurate to name it the evergreen, ageless wisdom of The Art of Living.

'Quality and success in life are determined by the state of mind. Under stress, the mind vacillates between regretting the past and worrying about the future. This results in lack of concentration, decreased efficiency and interpersonal conflicts.'The ageless wisdom and knowledge of The Art of Living enlightens us, and thus assist us to overcome such unnecessary, undesirable effects of stress so that we function more fully in the present moment.

Through the use of breathing practices and techniques, the body can be infused with energy. The natural rhythms of the body, mind and emotions are harmonised. The special breathing technique of the Art of Living, the Sudarshan Kriya, uses 'specific rhythms of the breath to re-establish balance in life as it simultaneously floods the cells of the body with oxygen and energy.' That is the power of your breath! Do it correctly and mind, body and emotions are constantly in excellent balance.

So as to reach the fullest of your potential, discover for yourself the power of the breath, wisdom and knowledge from the Art of Living. For those in Baling, the Art of Living is in town. How lucky they are!

Of course,how much benefit the people can derived from the AOL centre depends upon themselves, for God can only help those who help themselves.

Have fun with with your children.

The Art of Living (SP) Centre at No. 12, 3rd Floor (The nearest building in the picture, above Coway.) Jalan Pahlawan, Taman Lagenda Indah, 08000 Sungai Petani, Kedah, where the following events took place.


Food was not all that important although there was plenty of tasty food for all.


The company of all these people is important. The people is everything.


Just by being there was part of the fun. After all happiness and laughter are so infectious! Just watch and see.


When the games began, children were the first to venture across even those big dangerous bamboos.


Don't worry! There's always daddy's to lend a helping hand.


Careful now. That's the thrill! "Worried, yet, I want to have the fun. Let's do it!"


That was my first dance. And who was there to waltz me to paradise? My daddy with me and your mom with you, of course!


No more young ones as partners. Never mind. Let's just join in the fun.


So much happiness dancing the night away.


"Hey! Where has my partner gone to? Oh! There you're. Come on! I know you cannot dance, mom but the fun's in the action."


Wow! The young ones got a ride.


"Come on, daddy! Come on, mummy! Let's do it!"


Little children watching from the side were also caught up in the joy of the evening.


Even this little baby got a dose of the happiness.


"Oh! mommy. That's one moment I'll never forget my whole life through."


"Why do they have to stop, daddy?" "Well, girl, life's like this. Never mind,girl. Happiness is always there in our hearts. Everyday can be a celebration if we want it to be so. Together; mommy, daddy, your brothers, your sisters and you; we'll make it happen."

Yoga as taught by a hundred year old man.

“Like a flower bud, human life has the potential to blossom fully. Blossoming of human potential to fullness is yoga….” are the wise words of Sri Sri Ravi Shanker, the founder of The Art of Living Foundation.

Yoga is not merely a form of exercise for the body but a path towards total harmony of body, mind and spirit. It is ancient wisdom for a healthier, happier and more peaceful way of living that ultimately leads to self-realisation.

On Saturday, the 13th of June 2009, from half past seven in the evening to ten o’clock at night, AOL members and the public learned Sukshma Vyayama from Lai Mee, an Art of Living teacher.

All the exercises came from a ninety-nine year old man sent by Sri Sri Ravi Shanker to share the knowledge of these exercises with the world. That man taught this yoga exercises at Butterworth in 2008. It was a number of simple exercises that had taken this man into such excellent health for so many years. The exercises were done from the head to the toes. It started with a head massage and a breathing exercise to help strengthen the memory. Then there were exercises for good eyesight. The ninety-nine year old young man did not need spectacles. His hearing was also good and there were exercises for that too. So that he could still share his secret of youth to people throughout the world, that young old man had tongue, teeth and jaw exercises to keep his mouth in good shape. After that, there were neck, shoulders, hands fingers and feet exercises. There were some exercises that could overcome constipation, improves digestion and prevent arthritis.

At the end of the programme, the participants took part in three different laughter and a smile.

What are the benefits of yoga? It helps one to relax; thus releasing tensions and negative emotions. With the movements in various directions, joint flexibility is improved. What is even more amazing is that joint stiffness and pain could go away. No more pain getting up from the morning squat at the toilet bowl. Isn’t that great? Of course, with every joint and muscles in the body attended to, posture is better and the greater muscle balance is achieved, alignment of body is guaranteed. Just like the tyres on one side of your car having to be worn out faster due to poor alignment, the discs at the joints get worn out too when there is muscular misalignment. With the circulatory system in excellent condition and every part of the body fine tuned with proper exercises, the internal organs, the digestive system, the endocrine system and every other system have to be in tip-top condition. When such perfect condition is in force, we can expect nothing less than increased energy levels, clarity of mind, a sharpened intellect, better focus and concentration resulting in better memory.

That, my dear friends, is a lot to be gained from just some simple exercises, almost every Tom, Dick and Harry can do.

For further information, go to the nearest The Art of Living Centre. Such centres are established in more than one hundred and forty countries throughout the world. And these centres are run by volunteers, some of the best people in the world who are always willing to offer help.

(The Art of Living Centre in Sungai Petani is at number 12, 3rd Floor, Jalan Pahlawan, Taman Legenda Indah, Sungai Petani, Kedah. It’s at one of the shop houses on the road from Village Mall to Swiss Inn.)

Art Excel: There's fun in learning.

Here's another Art Excel activity in which the participants were so curious about the making of burgers. (In this video, the language used by the participants was Mandarin.)They saw how the buns were sliced, a spread of butter and then put into an oven to heat for a short while. Children are by nature so curious about the things around them.

Then, the buns are taken to the table where all the children were given the opportunity to make a burger. They waited eagerly to prepare the food. Parents can make use of this eagerness to make things to teach children about the food they eat and the things in and around the house. Why not take them even further afield and let them have a feel of boats and rowing at one of the ponds where adults are around to ensure their safety.

They were so happy with their achievement of being useful and able to be a part of life and living.

Being useful brings self-esteem to the children. And believe me, they have never tasted burgers as good as the ones they made. And that's what they did; finished all the food they made as well as some noodles made by Mei Mei, fried by one of the volunteers in our The Art of Living.

What a wonderful group of people I had for company that evening.

Art Excel: The fun way to develop.

Between the 4th and 7th of June, The Art of living Centre in Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia held the Art Excel course for children below the age of twelve. It was four wonderful days of knowledge, exercise, games and fun. The above video shows one of the activities which brought the children so much team-work, so much joy and so much happiness during a learning process.(The teachers, volunteers and children spoke in Mandarin and English.)

Knowledge is one of the greatest thing on earth. With it, the future is ever so much brighter. Ignorance is swept aside. Knowledge improves relationships between peoples, countries, religions and cultures and they fall victim less often to fears, doubts and misunderstanding which are the results of false beliefs and presentation.

In Art Excel, children are taught breathing techniques which help them to overcome stress and depression.There is so much stress in the home and schools.

In an increasingly competitive world, competition for marks and grades in examinations puts great stress on young minds, with disastrous results. Yet, they seem to have become an undesirable necessity as examination certificates ensure our young children of places for tertiary eduaction. As stress become more and more unbearable, it's only right that parents give their children a way to relieve stress.

There are many ways to remove stress and one of them is through the breathing techniques taught in The Art of Living which has centres in more than 140 countries throughout the world.

In the course they are taught, through many interesting, enjoyable situations, ways to tackle life's problems. They learn to play and work as a team. They are given the ability to express themselves as individuals as well. They are given the opportunity to discover fun in learning. They are encouraged to discover the usefulness of knowledge.

On the night before the last day, they slept away from home. It was a kind of initiation into independence. They had to cooperate with each other to clean up a place and get themselves clean and tidy for the night without a mummy or a daddy to run to for anything necessary.

Besides all that they have learned, that which is even more important is the stronger, better and happier persons they have beome in those four days.

Mastering depression.

The first time I saw depression, it was mirrored on the face of a person I knew. The face was sad, without confidence, the eyes looking away from the person who was talking to her. Most times, it was a monologue, a one way communication. Sometimes, the person distanced herself away from the people around, went around on her lonesome. Every now and then, she talked to herself, cried or laughed to herself.

Depression is brought on by the inability to handle a certain situation, finds no solution to the problem and eventually believes no one can help to solve it. Alone with the problem causes the mind to think there is no way out, the burden cannot be removed except for the mind to think of an escape, to escape into one’s own private world where one can lose the depressing problem.

When someone is unable to handle a situation; too much work or too difficult to accomplish or overcome, the person feels the weight of the work on his/her shoulders. If the work can be shared, and he/she knows there is someone else to turn to, it can never lead to depression. Tough, tired and exhausted but never depressed.

If it is a human relationship problem, the situation can be handled through understanding that it may be god’s guide to another even better relationship. Life is not just one relationship.

Getting involved in the activities of life allow the mind to move away from the problem. Sharing our painful thoughts with close friends or God can help elevate oneself from such a problem. That is one reason we have confessions in church where people can share their troubled thoughts with God.

If the situation eases after a short period, then there is relief. If the problem persists with no sight of a solution, the stress is too long and somewhere in the mind, something breaks down and hopes to find solace in depression. That is why there must be rest, a vacation, a distraction, every now and then, to move away from the pressures of life.

Sharing one’s sorrow helps to lighten the load. That is the reason we need good friends who can lend a sympathetic ear to our problems and show concern by suggesting ways to overcome the situation.

I believe it is one reason researchers discover that married people live longer and happier lives. There is always the spouse to share whatever terrible stress we have received from the office. The spouse listens and pacifies or lovingly shows there is at least one person in the world who cares.

So, through knowing that there is always someone who can help, through sharing, through taking breaks and through a lover, the darkness of the night is not so cold and a new day dawns with the warm rays reaching out towards us. These are the ways of preventing or mastering depression!

However, should depression managed to overcome anyone, there is still another solution besides the psychiatrist. I have personally helped a very young girl recover from depression by taking her to The Art Of Living. This was related in an earlier posting in which I have revealed how the Bhasrika, knowledge and the singing of the Bhajans have helped.

For adults, the Sudarshan Kriya is a wonderful breathing technique which has helped many.

Allow The Art of Living volunteers in the 146 countries in the world to reach you if you encounter or know of such cases which need help. For further assistance, email me and I will do whatever I can.

Further information on the Sudarshan Kriya can be found in
http://www.artofliving.org/