The 'Twilight' or Dawn of Desire?

by Shen Shi'an, The Buddhist Channel, Jan 21, 2009

Singapore -- What if you have the power of great strength and speed, and are able to remain ever youthful? Sounds like invincible eternal life? Not really, as the vampires in the movie 'Twilight', like others, can die too - especially when slayed by other equally powerful vampires.

What literally sucks about being a vampire is that you need blood to survive. The film doesn't clearly depict that Edward, the teenage vampire protagonist, sees his raison d'etre to be.

Apparently, he has gone to school so many times that he made a huge 'artwork' with his numerous graduation caps in jest. Does repeated schooling make him wiser? With a wider perspective of history, shouldn't it make him much more enlightened? Looks like he missed Dharma education! The vampires in this story don't need sleep too. Imagine the amount of time on hand! Why not simply enlighten oneself and help enlighten others best one can? There's simply no nobler cause.

It is an unwritten rule for the vampires that they try to stay clear of the affairs of humans - lest their identities get disclosed. For the survival of their kind, they would even hesitate to save a human in need. Now, what is the point of living entirely for your own kind? With such great power at stake, it's no wonder that some vampires fight one another. Seems like a perpetual demonic-bestial Asura-like existence. (Asuras are demi-gods who battle among themselves and with the gods for greater power.)

However, while typical vampires relish human blood attained by murder, Edward's family is what he erroneously calls 'vegetarian' - because they only drink animal blood. Trick question - are such vampires more 'humanitarian'? Is being humane limited to humans? Or is the real test of humanitarianism how anyone relates to those weaker than themselves?

Edward's clan run into conflict with another band of vampires, who are ruthless in their killing of humans, leading to a chase where they try to run from while hunting the other. This kind of reminds me of the frequent high tension between the activist causes of pro-vegetarians and pro-meat-eaters!

The stance of the first is that meat isn't necessary for food, while the latter believes its their unquestionable birthright, that animals are meant to be food. With a strong sense of what is right and what isn't, Edward and company is forced to kill one of the wayward vampires who threaten to harm Bella (Edward's human love interest), which would bring more needless attention to the discreet vampires, harming their reputation while endangering them. This is reminiscent of the X-Men impartially subduing fellow mutants in the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants!

Edward has the power to read minds, saying that money and sex are the items on most people's minds. Look like he forgot to read his own mind deeply enough. He could not understand his attraction to Bella, how he never had much human bloodlust till he met her. Seems like a subtle imagery of the marriage of sex and violence here. However, Edward maintains his abstinence from taking her blood, while claiming he does not have the strength to stay away from her. While Edward keeps his temptations in check, Bella would rather he give in to his. This almost seems like a cheeky message on understanding the desires that drive teenage sex, while urging abstention!

Some say life has value only because there is death. Not always true - though impending death does make us treasure our lives more. Essentially, no one really dies (or is born) since there is rebirth - but life has to be lived in the here and now. Bella laments that she is 'dying already', from moment to moment, hinting of her anguish of impermanence. He replies that that's the way it's supposed to be. If so, why is he defying the universal law of impermanence?

Then again, as in the opening paragraph, vampires don't really live forever - if they are real! Bella craves eternal love and asks to be turned into a vampire by him. Edward asks, 'Is it not enough just to have a long and happy life together?' As long as unenlightened, what guarantee is there that eternal life with the beloved will result in eternal happiness?

An 'eternal' love-hate relationship might persist instead! While Edward seems able to cope with the impermanence of his lover, Bella could not cope with the transience of hers. I guess such are the makings of intriguing love stories, that draw legions of fans, with their heavily samsaric dilemmas.

Ox of Prosperity

Dong Zen Temple, Jenjarom is one of the largest Buddhist temple in the country. Every year, during Chinese New Year, the temple would be a centre of attraction due to the beautiful CNY Lantern and Flora Festiva specially prepared by Buddhist volunteers.

This year, their main attraction is "The OX of Prosperity Lantern" which is really a huge and cute Ox...

So, if you have some time in between, do drop by this place.

I was one of the many people that was lucky enough to be there when the officially launch the Ox of Prosperity...

with metta,

Bro Wei Han

Happy Chinese New Year 2009

Year of the Ox

Gong Xi Fa Chai
from kcbadyc

The Ponyo Paradox of Change & Acceptance

by Shen Shi'an, The Buddhist Channel, Jan 19, 2009

Dharma Inspired movie review: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0876563/

Singapore -- The Japanese animation feature 'Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea' is a creative 'retelling' of 'The Little Mermaid' minus the tragedy of loss. It is largely an uplifting story on the universal themes of love, sacrifice, acceptance and change.

The boy Sosuke rescues Ponyo, a small mermaid of sorts, though he doesn't release her back into the sea immediately, which hints of childish infatuation with a new-found pet. Questions of whether domestication is the saving or trapping of animals comes to mind. Is domestication the path of natural or forced evolution? Does the security of a 'prison' protect or harm? Does love necessarily set the beloved free?

The issue of pollution runs as a background theme in the film. Ponyo was first trapped when she got stuck in a jar, while a ship was dredging the seabed for heaps of rubbish. Her father comments that humans' very breath is poison, that they have robbed the sea of life, that interaction with humans taints their genes. While he represents the strict conservative parent, he is also an ocean conservationist, who warns against the ills of humans. However, the line he drew between ocean and human life is one that is too long and broad. His wife, a sea goddess, is the more liberal and understanding one, who mediates to reconcile conflict instead.

A supposedly superstitious old lady expresses shock when she sees the human-faced Ponyo in a pail, exclaiming that the 'fish' is a harbinger of bad luck, a probable omen of an oncoming tsunami. An interesting thought came to mind - what if all ocean lifeforms have human faces? Would Japanese, whom in general love seafood so much hesitate to eat them? Would there be more 'positive' fear of enraging the forces of nature? Incidentally, all the major fishing seas in the world are already over-fished, on the verge of, if not already, in environmental collapse. (Later, Ponyo's second departure from the sea does cause a near-tsunami of sorts.)

Ponyo has a number of positive traits. She can heal, though she does it only once, and upsize stuff. Being the titular character, she's 'designed' to be cutesy, cheery, generous and innocent. Then again, it's hard to qualify innocence as a definite positive trait; it's more of a neutral one, as she literally caused a dangerous storm due to her reckless attachment to Sosuke. Ponyo has a number of negative traits too. She is fussy over food, throws tantrums, hyperactive and causes needless worry for her parents. Sosoke on the other hand, seems more lovable, though Ponyo easily steals the show with her antics. Sosuke is sensible, responsible, protective and conciliatory between his parents. In this sense, he is Ponyo's opposite. Hmmm… If we love someone for seemingly complementary qualities missing in ourselves, do we really love more of ourselves or the other?

It's easy to see why Ponyo loves Sosuke - for his selfless compassion, for being her 'personal Bodhisattva' (though true Bodhisattvas have universal compassion), even if in a kiddy way, while it is more of a mystery why Sosuke loves Ponyo. It is portrayed such that he doesn't seem totally sure either. Does Sosuke love Ponyo as a pet or a person? Or both, or as one who can transform to-and-fro from one to the other? Or does he love the changes themselves? What kind of love is his? Is it protective brotherly love for a little sister? Is it the love of friendship? Is it romantic love? (But aren't they too young to be lovers?) Is it purely altruistic spiritual love? Or perhaps it's purposely portrayed as a jumbled and open-ended mix of all the above - as in the case of the kind of shapeshifting love we have at times?

The ultimatum that Sosuke and Ponyo faced was that if Sosuke accepts her as she is out of True Love, she would transform into a human girl forever, while losing her powers. It's a test of the ability to sacrifice out of love too. If Sosuke's love wasn't true, she would turn to foam. (Of course, in real life, it isn't so straightforward or risky to prove love!) If Ponyo was a Bodhisattva with True Love for all, would she relinquish her healing power just to be with one person? Would it not be 'selfish'? Then again, she has no obligations to sacrifice for all if she isn't ready, while her willingness to risk love for Sosuke might be part of her path towards cultivating Bodhisattva love.

There's an intriguing paradox here… Sosuke was challenged to accept Ponyo as she is - a mermaid. However, if he did, she would become a non-mermaid (a human)! How then, is he supposed to accept her as a mermaid, without accepting her as a non-mermaid too? And don't all people (other than the fully enlightened) constantly change? If so, how can we really accept 'one' unchanging person for all time?

The truth is, the test of True Love is in the ability to accept not just the beloved as they are in the moment, but who they might change to be in time to come - for better or worse. If we are able to love despite changes in the beloved, would that not make us more likely to unconditionally love every being, since everyone changes as well? This is probably how our limited love can evolve to be the immeasurable love (loving-kindness, compassion, rejoice and equanimity) that Bodhisattvas have for all!

The Unseen 'Ip Man' Behind Bruce Lee?

by Shen Shi'an, The Buddhist Channel, Jan 19, 2009

Dharma Inspired movie review: http://www.ipman-movie.com

Singapore -- The mild-mannered 'Ip Man' (pronounced 'eep-mun': Bruce Lee's martial arts master) is a refreshing break from the typical genre of screen Kung Fu heroes. Come to think of it, Ip Man is in many ways the direct opposite of Bruce Lee's famous brash screen personas.

Then again, what we witness in the film 'Ip Man' is just another screen persona played by an actor too? Instead of being hot-headed or fantastically fancy in pugilistic moves, Ip Man is disarmingly humble. He is so unassuming during most of the featured fights that he almost takes the fight out of fighting.

Yet, he who wins with minimal or even no violence is a true victor indeed. Unlike the norm of the day, when arrogant pugilists challenge one another to prove themselves, Ip Man even hesitates to take up challenges deemed unnecessary, often politely turning them down.

Ip Man earns much respect by giving respect - even to those who lose in sparring matches with him, who were not really respectful enough of him in the first place. He neither gloats about winning or condemns the losers. Because the losers realise that he had graciously and unconditionally given them much leeway and face, they are greatly humbled by his magnanimity.

Buddhists would see Ip Man to be masterful with the practice of maintaining an 'ordinary mind' - the attitude that does not make a big deal out of the shifty worldly winds - whether they blow his way or others. These winds are after all but winds of change, of alternating praise and blame, gain and loss, fame and shame, pain and pleasure. A true hero must not just be a physical one - he must be a spiritual victor too. Even a gracious loser ultimately 'defeats' an arrogant 'winner'!

The arrogant is always haughty too soon - though there is never really a good time to be haughty. The winner of a prize is not always the winner of peace! Arrogance is a defilement that invites enemies who might be haughtier than oneself! It also humiliates the losers, readily transforming them into potential enemies. Such is the trouble with being obsessed with dualistic victory and defeat - on both sides.

The Buddha couldn't have put it any better when he warned thus in the Dhammapada - 'Victory begets enmity. The defeated dwell in pain. Happily the peaceful live, discarding both victory and defeat.' Even if it is not possible to totally discard all forms of victory and defeat in this competitive world, one should train to be able to win while winning any cockiness in oneself, to lose without losing confidence in oneself. Even if the world competes with you, one need not compete with it. Any gains or losses are just impermanent and unsubstantial by-products.

Facing guns held by an oppressive regime, what good can a martial artist do with his skills? How can he fight for justice? By not doing it alone if he can help it - but by inspiring the masses to stand up together. The odds will always be against the lone hero - but real heroes are the ones able to urge more to be heroic. In his war-torn homeland, Ip Man trains the ones he could to at least be able to defend themselves. How obsolete, one might think, martial arts are, in the face of guns. Then again, doesn't it offer the most fundamental physical defense? How can this skill ever be outdated? The enemies are not always armed too, while a good martial artist can disarm the armed! Anyway, martial arts are commonly practised as a form of discipline, exercise and art. When taught with honourable ethics, they can be a skilful means of imparting spirituality too. Just think Buddhism-inspired Shaolin Kung Fu.

The movie however, does show a scene where Ip Man becomes wrathful during sparring sessions with soldiers of the enemy - when he realised how his fellow countrymen were unjustly sacrificed. Nationalistic pride can be dangerous - both for the antagonists and the antagonised. One has to be mindful not to let personal pride well up collectively with others' to become explosive nationalistic pride. Ironically, while countries can go to war due to such pride, wars can also be ceased by them - though at a price. Is it alright to be wrathful when we encounter great injustice, when much is at stake? It is - only when it is a skilful manifestation of wrath without genuine rage. With real anger, one would be the first engulfed by its fire. Provoked by the heat of the moment, what we do in such rashness is unlikely to be wise or beneficial. In a showdown duel with the main enemy, Ip Man pulls back his possibly fatal coup de grace when he realises this. Not becoming ruthless like the enemy, he remains the hero. As taught by the Buddha, also in the Dhammapada, 'Greater than one who wins a hundred battles, is one who conquers oneself.'

Skytrex Adventures

Announcement: This is the 100th post of the blog... Yippie!

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UPDATES: Skytrex Adventure (www.skytrex-adventure.com), where you can challenge yourself to a series of obstacles, suspended at about 3 to 17 meters above the ground. Lots of fun, lots of sweat.

Date: 31th January 2009
Time: 2.00 pm - 4.00 pm
Venue: Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam, Shah Alam
Fee: RM35 per pax (including entree fee to the park, training and renting of gears)
10% discount if more than 10 pax

What to wear: usual outdoors clothing (T-shirt and such) and sport shoe (very important). Gloves (also available for rent)...

Duration about 1 1/2 to 2 hours...

Interested? Please contact Bro. Wei Han (Mobile: 016 - 363 1254) to confirm your participation as advance booking is needed. (Just sms your name and be there on time....)

By the way, we should be going for Chinese New Year House Hopping in Subang Jaya in the morning of the same day...

UPDATES: Those who confirmed: Wei Han, Niro, Justin, Shin Dhee, Shin Ling, Mandy, Rachel, Quah Wei Jia, Jason, Su Ching, Leonie (with 2 friends)