Insight # 87

When the intention (mind) and willingness (heart) are pure there can be unlimited merits to gain in both the acts of giving and receiving. In giving we gain and in receiving we allow others the opportunity to gain (by giving), thus creating the flow of goodness which in fact is an act of sharing. All the religions teach us this but somehow, it is thwarted by the greed factor in our human nature …

Insight # 86

Each time I come across someone making elaborate and expensive offerings, to beg and pray for financial and material help especially during the Chinese New Year season, I can't help but feel amused. The saying, "God helps those who help themselves" comes to mind and with the right objective, understanding and some wisdom one can get more tangible results and some savings too ...

Insight # 85

Occasionally, in the making of important decisions, there are 4 “persons” in us involved. One will say “yes”, one will say “no” and one will say neither “yes” nor “no”. You, the 4th person will then have to decide which to choose or go for a compromise. But, if you decide to let go, then it is only one – you. Since we usually can't or won't, we have developed complex exercises such as; contemplation, meditation, praying for, thinking about, mulling or sleeping over it and last but not least, “wait and see” and if nothing happens after a while, changes to “might as well forget it!” which we could have easily done earlier by simply letting go ...

Insight # 84

It is important that we close all our encounters or relationships, whether brief or extended on a positive note. They give the last images of us before the next contact. If they are positive, people will remember us for the good times spent, be more forgiving for our wrongs and look forward to be with us again. But, if they are negative, people tend to remember us more for our wrongs than rights and are less forgiving. They may even tell others what sort of a person we are. That's why some people have fewer or no friends …

Insight # 83

Once upon a time there was a person who lived in a sickly village where everybody spits as a way of life. One day he moved to a city and learnt that spitting is hazardous and can cause suffering. Not only did he stopped spitting, he returned to the village to share his knowledge. This simple story is but an illustration of an awakening to help others. In life, we have many of such expediences but may not the will to positively do anything about them ...

Insight # 82

Strictly, there should be no such thing as "To each its own". It is because of this, that we have so much conflict in the world today. Only a few can accept and practice universal love at a level that will benefit others ...

Insight # 81

Being insightful can sometimes be complex and baffling. The moment you think you know everything, you may decide to stop learning but the moment you think you don't, is realizing how dumb you have been ...

Insight # 80

On new year greetings - first, convince yourself that the coming year will be a good if not better year. Then, try to convince everyone you know or meet that it will be so and not to unduly worry about the challenges ahead. For one thing, if everyone around you maintains a positive attitude, the environment stays positive and less stressful. Logic? Simple, in reality together we make up the environment ...

Insight # 79

When one is alive everything matters - wealth, reputation, position, etc, and when one dies nothing matters, not even whether one is buried standing to save space. So, what's the big deal? Unless one believes in after-life or karma ... if one does, what's the reason to believe in these? To have a better next life where the cycle starts again? To go to heaven and live a happy ever after life? Think again, but don't waste time opening a can of worms and join the never ending debate that has been raging since the beginning of mankind ...