I’m waiting for this book...

Ramesh Menon’s Shiva Purana Retold. I’ve always wanted to read Shiva Purana, but I can’t bear the thickness of the book. Not to mention it must be expensive and laced with difficult prose. What’s the use of purchasing an expensive book without understanding its meaning? So when I found that Amazon UK offered this book for a significantly cheaper price than Amazon US, I bought it instantly from the UK site. But since the book won’t arrive until late this week (if I’m lucky), I often clicked around the ‘Look Inside’ to read the ‘Surprise Me!’ link. I found this beautiful passage that I cannot but share with you:

More reasons to love ‘Immortals of Meluha’

‘There is no “your god” or “my god”. All godliness comes from the same source. It’s just the manifestations that are different.’ ~ the Pandit of the Brahma temple.

Shiva stared at [Sati] like a parched piece of earth mesmerised by a passing rain cloud.

Sati      : Thank you for your help, foreigner. I owe you my life and you will not find me ungrateful. If you ever need my help, do call on me.

Shiva   : Can I call on you even if I don’t need your help?

(Sati: !!!

me: Laugh out loud!!!)

The Immortals of Meluha: totally recommended!

For quite some time now, I been searching for and collecting books on Shiva. I have Kramsrisch's 'The Presence of Shiva', Suzanne Fisher Staples' 'Shiva's Fire', Mohapatra's 'The Book of Shiva'... I like those books, tho Mohapatra's depiction of Shiva was the closest one to my liking. But something was lacking in that book of Shiva in the comic format. Shiva wasn't really smiling. Too serious. He was romantic alright, just the way I pictured Him to be. But he wasn't so cheerful. At least, please give him a bit smile. Shiva isn't Krishna, but at least some smiles would not hurt.

The Immortals of Meluha, the first book of The Shiva Trilogy by Amish Tripathi, gave me the Shiva I identified with the most. He did swear too much to my taste (tho I don't mind a bit of swearing, I think it’s natural for a tribal chief), but since the premise was human-turned-to-god anyway, it's not a big deal for me. Other than the swearing, I really like this Shiva. He was so humane and approachable. He made mistakes and learned from them. He became humble because of them, and rose above them. He seriously defended humanity, but he still enjoyed life and made jokes around as well, while he could. He had his demons in the past... and I hope he eventually made peace with them.

The Shiva Trilogy: Immortals of Meluha

I browsed YouTube last Saturday and found this beautiful trailer of a novel about Lord Shiva.



The book is titled The Immortals of Meluha by Amish Tripathi and was a big hit in India last year. I have ordered it yesterday, pronto, and the book is being shipped to me now. Yay! I have pre-ordered thesecond book (The Secret of the Nagas), but it won't be shipped until early August! Bummer, grumble, brumble... Oh well, at least I will receive the first book soon enough. Will make a post about it when I have finished reading it.

By the way, The Immortals of Meluha will be made into a movie, I guess this year (?) by Director Karan Johar. Lord Shiva will be played by Hritik Roshan, and Lady Sati by Vidya Balan. I am excited! See the trailers above (which is for the book, actually, not the movie) and decide for yourself!

Ame ni mo Makezu (Strong in the rain)

For the people in Japan, Japanese and non Japanese alike, we all love and pray for you...

Ame ni mo Makezu (Strong in the Rain), original poem by Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933), recited by actor Ken Watanabe a year ago:



Ame ni mo Makezu (Strong in the Rain) sang by Asian artists (including Andy Lau and Jackie Chan) a year ago:



Original poem by Kenji Miyazawa:

Strong in the rain
Strong in the wind
Strong against the summer heat and snow
He is healthy and robust
Free from all desire
He never loses his generous spirit
Nor the quiet smile on his lips

He eats four “go” of unpolished rice
Miso and a few vegetables a day
He does not consider himself
In whatever occurs … his understanding
Comes from observation and experience
And he never loses sight of things

He lives in a little thatched-roof hut
In a field in the shadows of a pine tree grove
If there is a sick child in the east
He goes there to nurse the child

If there’s a tired mother in the west
He goes to her and carries her sheaves
If someone is near death in the south
He goes and says, “Don’t be afraid”

If there are strife and lawsuits in the north
He demands that the people put an end to their pettiness
He weeps at the time of drought
He plods about at a loss during the cold summer

Everybody calls him “Blockhead”
No one sings his praises
Or takes him to heart

That is the kind of person
I want to be


See also:

http://geepan.tumblr.com/post/6262399399/ken-watanabe-reads-one-of-japans-most-famous

One Year Ago in Japan

I don’t often post these months, but I’d like to take this opportunity to give a silent remembrance and prayer to the people of Japan who had suffered a major lost last year due to the earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011 and the nuclear power plant leakage that ensued.

It takes great strength to build back from zero (or perhaps minus, in this case), and I salute the Japanese (and people of other nationalities living there) for going hand-in-hand helping each other in the midst of the disaster.

The plight is still ongoing now. I just watched Channel News Asia who reported the difficulties of mothers trying to supply their families with uncontaminated vegetables from areas faraway from Fukushima (where the nuclear reactors melted down). Then the news also interviewed a local Fukushima farmer who suffered because no one bought his products. And the children – many of them are orphans – who cannot play outside for fear of radiation. It’s cruel, it is really cruel. I could barely look at the footages of the adults suffering because of the triple disasters, let alone the children.

But if there is something ‘good’ coming out of this disaster, it would be that the Japanese know how strong they are, and that the whole world will never let them be alone in the dark. Also good in my opinion is the anti-nuclear movement in Japan and other parts of the world. God knows we do have global climate change to think of, and hence reduced footprints to target. But even that cannot replace safety. And to me, nuclear power plants are just a big NO for safety.

The Japanese are one of the smartest people on Earth. I trust they are more than able to produce green energy, if they truly want to. It’s up to the government to support the voice of the people and provide their brilliant scientists with opportunities and funding for a greener, safer future.

Pic: Pray for Japan

PS: for those who want to donate, Red Cross (International and Japan) and ‘Save the Children’ are two good, reliable outlets for your funding.

Happy 41st bday Nicky Wu!

Well, it's been a few days, but I've been meaning to make this post since 31st October, since my favourite Taiwanese actor Nicky Wuqilong became 41 years old!

So anyway, these are two beautiful MV by Nicky's Panda fans from Vietnam. They made good videos, these girls! And don't ask me why Nicky's fans are called pandas, but perhaps because the clan leader is as cute as a panda itself!


This video used a sweet song by Hongkong-Sydney singer Susan Wong called 'Winds of Change'.

Season of Waiting

I didn't realise that I've been absent from my blog for more than half a year. Sigh... so many things happened, some bad, some good... but I've been grateful so far.

Anyway, I've been enraptured by a new Mandarin series called Bu Bu Jing Xin ('Startling by Each Step'), starring e.g., Liu Shi Shi ('Ruo Xi'), Nicky Wu Qilong ('4th Prince', later 'Emperor Yongzheng'), Kevin Cheng ('8th Prince'), Yuan Hong ('13th Prince'), Lin Gen Xin ('14th Prince') and Damian Lau ('Emperor Kangxi'). The story was based on an internet novel of the same title, written by Miss Tong Hua, which became so famous that it went into print and was adopted into a TV series. The story evolves around a 21st CE working girl that was accidentally transported to early 18th CE Qing Dynasty in China, where she encountered several gorgeous princes, most of them would hurt each other to gain the throne.

The truth about looking within

I found a very good article online on Hubpages that I just can't resist to share with myself and you!

The Truth about Looking Within

By Enigmatic Me

In response to a fellow hubber regarding tv versus personal development :

In some people's minds the realities are that we live busy lives that are demanding on so many levels. My philosophy is a little different. Growing personally takes time, effort and demands that we look inward before looking outward. By thinking of locus of control (who/what in our lives make our lives the way they are) people become scared to admit to themselves they can be better or different. The old addage of "Do onto others as we would have them do unto you" is probably one of the toughest things to do. Not because we don't all want to be treated with respect, feel heard and listened to, have a sense of belonging (beyond our families), feel worthy and have some self esteem. No, its because we feel on times (no matter who you are and what you do in life) that someone owes us. Don't tell me you never thought "I'd let that guy get into this lane had it not been for the idiot who cut me off back there". We see the world as 'dog eat dog' instead of one long continuum of events that we have total control over. We like to give 'others' (boss, wife, husband, mother, father, brother, sister, power company, tax man) power over us as a means to blame and shirk responsibility for our own actions. That way we can justify our actions to ourselves. It makes things more palatable when things go wrong... moreso not go our way than wrong in some instances.

All of this plodding and scheming leads to a life that is comfortable, where things 'just don't go my way', where 'people are to blame', and that 'can never turn around'. For if we were to take control back from 'others' then we would have no one to blame,nothing but ourselves to fall back on. We become accountable for our way of living, our way of dealing with others, and our short comings. And really, who wants all that responsibility?? I'd rather watch CSI:NY, that way I'll see others living more crappy lives than mine, getting what they deserve because they didn't take control of who they were/what they did. We choose to live blinded by guilt, shame, disappointment, envy, greed. And it is all because we are afraid of what that accountability will mean for us in the long run, but also what that accountability will mean for situations in the past.... We were at fault. we could have done differently, we could have chosen a different path, but we were too selfish to go that path. So we chose the lazy path... one that is comfortable and easy, one that we've been living for a long time. We have little motivation to consider alternatives to our thoughts, philosophies, our beliefs, because we believe no one else is doing it... why should 'I' be the one to change... 'they' should take a good look at themselves not me.

Odd thing is that if everyone were to take a moment and rectify a wrong they had committed (no matter how big or small) then people would start thinking "hey it's okay to be accountable".... "that guy is a stand up guy"... and not only would you be changing yourself, but you'd change other peoples understanding and perception of us. Sounds like a win-win to me.

And a Youtube video by Luka Bloom that covers it very well:

Don't Be Afraid of the Light that Shines Within You



Out of the cold, dark winter space
We come together, looking for Brigids grace
We dip our open hands deep into the well
Where our rivers run to, who can tell, who can tell

We warm our hearts and faces in the heat of the burning flame
Something about our spirit never stays the same

Dont be afraid of the light that shines within you
Dont be afraid of the light that shines within you
Dont be afraid of the light that shines within you
Within you

So many lives in shadows, with so much to give away
Brilliant dreams in waiting, to see the light of day
We step up to the well at the dawn of spring time
When we go our way, we let the light shine, let your light shine

Dont be afraid of the light that shines within you
Dont be afraid of the light that shines within you
Dont be afraid of the light that shines within you
Let the light protect you
Let the light direct you
Dont be afraid
Dont be afraid
The light that shines within you.

Love and peace, everyone!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!

Been a while since I posted anything. So, for this Valentine's Day I'd like to give my gratitude to the Universe for my dearest partner who may prefer to be unnamed... to his love letters this morning that made me cried like a baby in happiness, and to our beautiful home that always welcome me at the end of the day.

And here's to my friends out there, single or double or single again... I just want to say this:

**Before we love someone else, we have to be totally in love with ourselves first**

So, love yourself first and foremost, and let the soothing rays of love overflow from within you. Connect with your inner self, and be happy always.

And here's a song for us all in this Valentine's Day. I chose something that is more reflective to the need to love ourselves first, which is the main ingredient for loving someone else.

True to Your Heart
(Mulan, Disney, Stevie Wonder)