Sunday 24 January 2016

Being Vegetarian

So today is the 15th of the last lunar month of the lunar year! Can you believe it. Time surely flies. And we're now 7 days away to the last day of January. It's terrifying at times, but well that's how the way life goes I guess. Always moving, always going forward. And in the blink of an eye, we've grown up.

Anyway since today is the 15th of the lunar month, I guess it's a good time to share you my thoughts and experience of being a vegetarian so far this year! Actually I feel bad, cause last year I always go vegetarian on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month. And I always keep track of these two dates. But ever since I become a vegetarian, I didn't take notice of these dates (oops). I've decided to mark them on my calendar so that I can go to the temple for prayers too!

Right moving on....

A lot of people were surprised when I told them that I've decided to become a vegetarian. I'm not surprised because I was once a foodie. I really really love food. I enjoyed a good steak. I love ramen and char siew and a good roasted chicken. But my view regarding eating meat changed a few years ago when I watched a video from PETA. It was about chicken farming and how cows are slaughtered for meat. I was pretty shocked, and the video opened my eyes and my heart to be honest.

But I wasn't ready to commit to become a full-time vegetarian. So I decided to go vegetarian twice a month during the first and 15th of the lunar month. I remember in 2012 Vithya and I made meatless Thursdays haha. I didn't continue the tradition after I returned home. But I continue my twice-a-month vegetarian routine. I continued doing this till last year in August-ish when I watched a video by Dr Greger, which I got a reference from theneedledrop (thanks Anthony!) and it opened my eyes more!

So the video is basically talking how there's a strong relation with meat and common cardiovascular diseases and also intestinal cancer! Well I've always known that too much meat is bad for you but I didn't know that meat itself is the problem. This is the turning point for me when I decided to go meatless once a week. First it was meatless Mondays but I changed it to Saturdays haha. Cause it's more convenient.

And then Vithya asked me to watch Cowspiracy. It is a very thought-provoking documentary about the meat industry and I recommend you to watch it! I was reading the comment section and I saw people commenting like "If this doesn't make you turn into a vegetarian, I recommend you to watch Earthlings. But watch at your own risk". And a lot of people were giving that warning hah. I didn't know what they're talking about. But Vithya asked me if I want to watch it, cause she has the link for the movie.

I told her that I don't dare to watch it (cause I have a bad feeling about what's gonna be shown in the documentary) but I asked her to send me anyway. I watched the documentary, and couldn't even survive half of the documentary! I skipped most of the part, because it's too cruel seriously. Now, I don't even look at meat the same way anymore as I did last time. Seriously, go watch Earthlings.

To be honest I was going back and forth about becoming a vegetarian this year but Earthlings just stabbed me in my heart and I just went fuck it, I'm going vegetarian now haha. Okay my ultimate goal in life is to become a vegan. But I want to take vegetarianism as a step first, before I jump straight. I know some people are saying that vegetarian is still not cruelty-free. Cause we're still "supporting" the egg and dairy industry which is equally bad. I am aware of that, and I try to avoid eggs and dairy.

So when people ask me why I go vegetarian, my answer will be 80% ethical reasons, 10% religious and 10% spiritual. Ethical because I don't like the idea that animals have to die just to satisfy our meat cravings. Religious because as a Buddhist I believe in compassion, although being a vegetarian is not a must in Buddhism. Spiritual because I feel there are too much suffering in this world. And I want to alleviate them. To the best of my ability, to all sentient beings on earth.

And from these reasons, I'll get some benefits like health benefits! So far I've been enjoying my time in the toilet when I egest my undigested food. In the first two weeks of going meatless I was pooping a lot. Like I can poop three times a day. But now I'm back to my normal pooping routine haha.

I don't want to force my belief in other people. Just like them, I was a meat eater once, and I know how difficult it is to make the change. But well I would suggest for you to maybe reduce the amount of meat you eat? Go meatless once a week like me! You'll feel some difference. Of course, the world will be a better place if we don't have to kill animals for their meat, and they don't have to suffer to get their products. A world where cows graze on grasslands with freedom. It will be so lovely!

Alright I might do another post regarding becoming a vegetarian. I will talk to you soon! Have a great week ahead everyone. Love each other and be nice to one another! :)

Thursday 21 January 2016

Absolute vs Relative

I love Mingyur Rinpoche's videos! They're fun and easy to understand :)

I was watching Mingyur Rinpoche's new video last night about the second thought (of the four thoughts) on YouTube. He mentioned about the absolute and relative reality again, and well this is something that I have been intriguing about. Cause I couldn't really grasp the understanding about the fact that absolute reality is impermanent, and that relative reality is permanent. But today, I understood.

So in Buddhism, there are two different "realities". The first is absolute reality. You can say that it is what things are. Secondly it's relative reality, which is something that we perceive. Absolute reality is impermanent, always changing, and constantly in change due to causes and conditions. Relative reality is permanent, long-lasting and stable. Not because that's their nature, but because our mind is so fixated to believe whatever we perceive to be true. When they may necessarily not.

To give an example, this is my take on the two realities. A very common example.

Say you called someone on your phone for a few times and they didn't pick it up. And then you start thinking why won't this person pick up your call? You start to imagine things like they don't want to pick it up, they are doing something else and so on and forth. Then they called you and apologised, saying that they didn't pick it up cause they were in the toilet. Err yes. So the absolute reality is that this someone didn't pick up their phone because they're in the toilet, while relative reality is that they're is avoiding you. See the difference? And see the danger if we constantly cling onto them!

For me, I've seen that everything in life is impermanent. We are in a constant change, and every moment is different from the next. Every scenario, everything that happened is in a constant change from one state to another. And this change is caused by different things in life. I like to distract myself by thinking the good "changes" and not trap myself in lots of negativity.

It is difficult, but it can be done.

I'm someone who loves to overthink. I think a lot of unnecessary thoughts that I shouldn't even think of. Meditation helps a lot, because it helps me to realise the nature of our mind and the nature of everything in life. Chanting helps a lot too, because they remind myself that everything in life is empty of nature. Constantly changing, but not necessarily defiled, purified, added or subtracted (Heart Sutra).

I think one of the hardest thing to do in Buddhism (or in life) is to practice what we preach. I mean I've been reciting sutras for almost a year, everyday, and at times I find it difficult to practice what the sutra said to me. Yes, slowly but surely, I want to follow the footsteps of Boddhisatvas and the Buddha himself and I hope to help others who are suffering. Although sometimes I'm lost of what to do.

Today has been another emotionally draining day. I'm feeling kind of lost. Not knowing what to do or what to feel. Not knowing where to go next and where to stay. Perhaps I've been living in my relative reality for too long. And maybe it's time for me to go back to my absolute reality. 

Saturday 16 January 2016

Figure Stuff Out

I'm still trying to find ways where I can blog here more often and well I have probably found a way! So like at the beginning of the year I was searching for blogging inspiration that can keep me going throughout the year. I I discovered this website, which is ironically a Wordpress site HAHAHA. I discovered lots of blogging prompts and they even have a 365 one for you to download on a PDF file.

Although the prompts were written for 2013, I can still use it!

The site also has blogging prompt of the day where you can refresh to try another.

So yep I was thinking of using this as a guide for my blogging habit! I always enjoy writing. And I miss writing stories like I used to back in secondary school. Although well I've been writing lots of random thoughts and stories in this blog myself. There's something therapeutic and wonderful about letting your thoughts flow through like a river, on a blog or a book. It's something unexplainable.

Talking about books, I've been writing on my book quite often as well, and have decided to write on Wednesdays, cause I wanna make it a "writing Wednesday". But I try to write twice a week, cause I wanna fill the book by the end of the year. Kinda failed to realise on the 3rd day of the year that the book only has 70 pieces of paper, which means 140 pages to write. That's not even half of the year!

And thus I've decided to write at least once a week. Or perhaps more. But well it's only the 3rd week of the year and I have only written like 5 entries. So... Yes. It's okay, we'll go along as the year goes by. I don't want to "force" myself to write either, but I'll write once a week for sure! :)

Alright perhaps I should try the blog prompt for this day?

January 16 - Toot your horn // Most of us are excellent at being self-deprecating, and are not so good at the opposite. Tell us your favorite thing about yourself.

I've always believed that one of the hardest questions someone can ask me is "Tell me more about yourself". Now it's made worst by asking me "Tell me what you love about yourself". Oh dear. 

One of my favourite things about myself is the fact that I treasure experiences a lot I guess? I really want to experience things. I want to document these experiences. And this is why I enjoy traveling a lot. The most important aspect of traveling for me is really the experience

I'm pretty sure you've heard of the saying that we should spend our money on experiences and not "things". And well I truly agree with that. Say you give me $100. Some people may spend it on clothes/fashion accessories etc. But I would either spend it for a nice meal in a restaurant, buy CDs, vinyls, get a book or something. My idea is that if you spend your money on clothes, these clothes will only last you say maybe a few months? A year? But if you spend it on food, you get to enjoy the experience and may even come back to have it again haha. Or tell it to your friends as well.

And for CDs and music, well I'm pretty sure you can listen to CDs till the day you die. You can't fit (nicely) into the clothes you buy now, 20 years later right? Hahaha. Do you know that I am currently wearing a shirt that I bought in Sweden 7 years ago? Yup still wearing them. Still comfy!

So yes this is probably one thing that I like about myself. I hope I have explained enough :P

Thursday 14 January 2016

Have Faith

Today my homeland's capital was rocked with a bomb attack. I can never understand why all of these people are doing it. Is there anything you get from killing people and causing harm to others? Don't you have any idea how the family of the victims are feeling? Not only the victims, but people around the vicinity? How worried they are? Why do people kill people? I will never get it.

It is days like today that make us seem to lose faith in humanity. But no, we shouldn't. When we lose faith in humanity, it is when we admit defeat to these heartless people who believe so. They are really trying to break us apart. And no, we cannot let them do that. We need to stand together and tell them firmly that humanity is still here, it's still around. We need to convince them that their tactics are not working. Because I always believe that love always wins in the end.

It always hurts me whenever I hear such news. Everyday, somewhere around the world, people are suffering because of mindless and heartless acts of other people who believe they should be God. No one has the right to take anyone's life except for the one above. No human has the right to. So why do you have to do this? I don't fucking get it really. Why do we need to hurt one another!?

But I'm proud of the people of my country. I've seen Go-Jeks (A motorcycle "taxi" company) giving free rides, I've seen people notifying each other that they are alright. I don't see people pointing one another, I just see people condemning such acts. And most importantly, people are telling these heartless people.

#kamitidaktakut

We are not afraid

Condolences to all the victims who died in today's tragedy, may their family and peers be given strength. And may the injured gain a speedy recovery. Take care everyone.

Tuesday 12 January 2016

Secret Trip

What a great way to start my blogging habit by not blogging for the past 10 days! Well sorry for not doing so cause I actually just got back from Singapore last Saturday! Yup I went back to Singapore for a short trip on Thursday till Saturday. Just a short casual trip to meet up with my friends again, and catch up with them. Only this time round, I made it a ninja trip. I didn't tell anyone else, and neither did I post anything about it on my social media. Until last night when I already returned here.

So anyway I flew to Singapore on Thursday afternoon. Checked into my hotel and I met up with Vithya first to grab a late lunch! We're interested to try this vegan restaurant in Central and it is so good. It's great to see her again! Caught up a little bit before we made our way to Holland V to meet Kai and Candy for dinner and drinks. It feels good to be reunited with them again, reminiscing over memories and... Talking about the future. Sometimes it just feels weird to realise that we're all grown ups now.

 Always a good time with them! <3

Dinner was followed by a super impromptu K-session at Cineleisure where we sang our heart out haha. It was Kai's idea but hey it's a great idea actually. I've never K-ed since umm... 2012? :P Nevertheless thank you ladies for the wonderful night! It's great to see all of you and I'll see you around soon!

Met Vithya the next day again for lunch as I was telling her that I need to stock up on my Indian food ingredients. Like lentils, curry powder and spices mwahaha. So we met at Little India to shop at the usual shop her mum gets the ingredients from. We also went to try an Indian vegan/vegetarian restaurant called Gokul and it is so so good! I've been craving for Indian food for months and yup it's a pretty satisfying lunch. I had a biryani and "mutton" mysore, together with my favourite Palak Paneer. Vithya has Mee Rebus and Char Kway Teow. YES. VEGAN ONE! They taste so so good!

 Thanks for the day! :D

After shopping we went to Plaza Sing first to get cake for Vithya's uncle who's having his birthday, and we parted ways at Queenstown as I was meeting up with Jes and Adeline in Clementi! Good to see them again cause we haven't met in like 1 year plus. We waited for Meng Fung at this new juice stall in 321 Clementi. Before having dinner at Saizeriya. Clementi changed a whole lot. So much things have changed after not going there for like a year plus. Singapore is ever changing!

 Here's to 10 years of friendship <3

We decided to have Bingsu (my first one!) for dessert at JEM (or is it West Gate?) and they are so good too! It was such a pleasant evening talking and catching up with them. This year marked the 10th year that we know each other. Back when we were still in sec one, in checkered shirt and short grey pants. And to see where we are now, and how far we've come, man, I'm proud of all of us :')

 Thanks for the great night ladies!

Jes and I were supposed to meet Brenda for a drink in Holland V but we're such spontaneous people that we decided to go to Zouk instead HAHAHA. Oh gosh the last time I went to Zouk was in 2011. And the last time I clubbed was in 2012. It was a pretty interesting and exciting night indeed! We were joined by one of Jes' friend, Sherlene. Drank like 50 sour plum shots (shared by 4) and danced the night away. I'm not a clubbing kind of guy, but I always enjoy dancing the night away haha. Thank you ladies for the exciting night! I love how spontaneous we can get heh.

 Lovely lovely food! (I didn't try the rest tho, since I'm a veggie now :P)

As for my last day, I went to meet Jolene, Sharon, Tacy and Weilun for brunch at Paddy Hills! Such a hidden gem in a kinda-difficult-to-get-to location but the food is so superb. I had a pasta with truffled mushroom and sous-vide egg and it's definitely one of the best spaghetti dishes I ever had. We also had a ricotta-hotcake for dessert (which we use for Jolene's birthday hotcake haha) which is lovely too.

 Thanks for the brunch people

Always enjoy my time with these 4 too! Although it's been 10 years since we know each other, I somehow feel that we didn't really change much. And it's always great to see that. Some of us are working already, while Sharon and Weilun are still studying. Man, 10 years didn't feel like ten.

 Vegetarian abalone, pork and some kailan!
We forgot to take a photo together :O

Ended my trip by having a vegetarian late lunch (and snacks for me) with Saeyeoh! Oh man I haven't seen her in like 2.5 years, since August 2013. It's good to see her again! We had so much to catch-up on and it was a lovely afternoon spent with her. Thank you for the postcards :D And also thank you for accompanying me all the way to Bugis to look for the lamp for the altar haha.

Before heading to the airport, I still had a few shopping errands to make. It was such a rushy evening. I was thinking of taking the train to the airport and I'm like screw it, I took a taxi instead! Yup that was all for my trip to Singapore. Short but sweet trip. Thank you to everyone for the meet-up!

Well it's been a year since my last trip back to Singapore. So much has changed, except for the memories that I shared with my friends and this sunny island. This trip has made me realise how much we have all grown up. At the same time I am thankful for all of these friendships that we have forged. Never in my life did I imagine myself to meet people like all of you. So thank you for that!

Looking at the past ten years, I am proud to see how far we've come, happy to see where we are now, and I am so excited to see what life has in store for all of us in future days. I hope that we can maintain this friendship and meet up whenever we can. Cheers to our years of friendship people!

Yet this trip back on the sunny island, still felt different :)

Saturday 2 January 2016

Happy New Year 2016!

 First beautiful sunset of the year. Taken yesterday!

Alright I'm one day late but anyway, wishing you a happy happy 2016! Another year has left us, and it's time for us to embrace the new year with open arms, love and happiness! I had a pretty quiet and empty New Year's Eve to be honest. There were only my parents, brother, sister and brother-in-law. I kinda miss those days when all of my family would gather together on NYE but no worries!

My sister then left for Thailand with her husband for their honeymoon. So jelly! Haha. And well, I was left alone to usher in the new year. Which I did with 1/3rd bottle of Vodka hahaha. No worries I didn't have a horrible first day of the year like last year. Yes I was quite hungover but not that bad.

So, here comes another new year. Just like 2015, 2016 is another blank canvas for me. I don't have many resolutions (I have a few already) but I do have hopes and visions for this new year. 

This might come as a surprise, but... I have decided to become a vegetarian. Yes I haven't been eating meat since the year kicked off. Like I said a few times here, I've been wanting to become a vegetarian. And I want to die as a vegan. I've been going meatless once a week for the past 6 months and well around November-ish, I have decided that 2016 will be a great start for me to achieve this goal of mine.

I do have my share of doubts and fears that I might fail. But people have been telling me to give myself a few months, and you will never look back. So yes I'm excited! :D Okay I'm going to do another separate post about this decision soon. I hope you can join in my footstep of going meatless once a week to try it for yourself. Or also become a vegetarian like me heh.

So last year I blogged a total of 112 posts. It is a decrease from 2014 but at least I keep my words of blogging at least a hundred posts in the year (unlike in 2013, urgh). So this year I'm hoping to keep my blogging habit up, and hopefully blog more! I have some ideas in store.

I have also decided to go back to writing. Remember my "Draw Something Everyday" project which I was trying to achieve? Well yes I only drew/doodled on 143 pages of the book. The rest of the pages are filled with words words words. So yes, I reckon I should probably just stick to what I love doing - writing. Anyway this was just a personal interest of mine last year. But yes I came to a conclusion that I really can't draw. But hey, I am quite proud of some of my doodles! :P

Yup so far these are some of the resolutions I have for this year. I will come with more goals as the year go by. But I suppose being a vegetarian is the biggest resolution of this year (and my life). And I will make this a reality. Gosh, I shouldn't even have thoughts and fears of failing mmhmm.

Alrighty that's all for now. Once again wishing you an awesome new year ahead! Lets make 2016 the best year of our lives again. Well, it is the best year we're going to have. Only if you make it out to be! 

:)