Learning to detach

The previous post reminded me of a book I read a few years ago. Tuesdays with Morrie, a very interesting and meaningful book.

I remembered it mentioned something from the Buddhist philosophy that one should not cling to things, as everything that exists is impermanent. Thus, one should learn to detach. And lately, I have been able to associate this to quite a lot of occasions.

To take life for an example from the previous post. Sometimes, detaching yourself from life lets you break away from the routine and breathe and take a better look at life. And on the other angle of life, or death, being able to detach from life and remember that life is impermanent, one shall always appreciate life and prevent dying upset. Quoting from the book itself, 'When you learn how to die, you learn how to live.'

And to take relationships for an example. being able to detach from one another, brings less jealousy and more respect, resulting in a more healthy relationship. And in matters of money or possessions or physical comforts, being able to detach results in less greed and more love in the society.

The conclusion?

I just suddenly understood the Buddhist philosophy where everything that exists is impermanent. And that, when you are able to detach yourself from things in life, you have also successfully detached yourself from all the negative values in life.

Feeling life

Dying of fun.

That was my personal message of the day on my msn nick. Had it put on last night (or should I say this morning) when I came back from another session of free-time-karaoke.

My finals for the semester ended last Friday bringing along a series of long awaited plans. It had been outings and outings day after day and night after night. That's why I finally pronounced myself 'Dying of fun' last night and decided that today shall be a day of rest and relax.

Ah. How nice it is to be at home sometimes. Turning on your favourite music. Lying around doing nothing. Leaving behind everything.

And, feeling life.

The Controversial Shrine

Finally went to 靖国神社, yasukuni jinja last month.

It was a so-called study trip after the National Foreign Students' Network's Meeting in Tokyo. So, of course I went! I have been seeing it on TV ever since the anti-japan demonstrations in China and who would give up the chance to go see the real thing?

So those are the few pictures I took while I was there. Too bad I wasn't allowed to take pictures in the 遊就館、yushukan - War Memorial Museum. My mum would have been very much interested with the photos of it.

Anyway, I wouldn't say much about it since it's such a controversial topic. But one suggestion though. No matter whether you are against it or supporting it, by all means, visit it at least once before you make your stand. Afterall, you can't trust the media all the time. :)