happiness is about...

"happines is about constantly finding or creating little happy events in life...you no need to win lottery or strike toto to be happy..."

-quote by Venus Lee

The Old Beggar

An old beggar was cold, hungry and dying soon...
as he lies on the pathway...snowflakes falling onto his face...he made a wish...

"If I were rich, I would spend my money wisely, I would never be stingy and will be contented with whatever I have..."

He then closed his eyes and was prepared to exhale his last breathe...

Suddenly, there was a bright light! A mystical being appeared before him and said,

"You committed grave sins in your past lives and that is why in this life your fate is as such...however...in your final moments, your sincerity when making that wish was felt by me...thus, I have decided to grant you health and a magic bag. There will always be a gold coin in this bag...you can take whatever you want from this bag...BUT you must burn this bag before you can use the money withdrawn from the bag. Remember my words and Good Luck!"

The beggar open his eyes and he felt healthy and strong again. There was indeed a bag in his hand. He reached in with his left hand and took out a gold coin. He was elated! Refusing to believe his left hand, he put in his right hand this time. Just as what the mystical being had said...the bag was indeed magical.

Not long after, the beggar felt hungry again...with the heaps of coins in front of him, he could easily afford a banquet. However, he felt that he could endure the hunger and continue to "earn" somemore gold coins from the magic bag...

A long time passed, now the beggar is feeling hungry, cold and tired...the mountains of coins around him now could have satisfy his every desire and still last him for generations...yet...the beggar felt that he should continue taking coins out. It was a rare magical bag after all...

Soon...the beggar cannot take it anymore...he became sick and collapse on the very same spot where he made his wish last time...not long after...the beggar passed away with all the gold coins around him and the magical bag still clutched tighly in his hand.

A gust of wind came blowing and the coins together with the bag turn into dust and was blown away...what was left was just a corpse of the old begggar...

There is no other way out

Do what you like...

or

Like what you do...

There is no other way out

know all things to be like this...

Know all things to be like this:
A mirage, a cloud castle,
A dream, an apparition,
Without essence, but with qualities that can be seen.

Know all things to be like this:
As the moon in a bright sky
In some clear lake reflected,
Though to that lake the moon has never moved.

Know all things to be like this:
As an echo that derives
From music, sounds, and weeping,
Yet in that echo is no melody.

Know all things to be like this:
As a magician makes illusions
Of horses, oxen, carts and other things,
Nothing is as it appears.

- quoted from an ancient sage

so fragile...

once again i see the fragility of life...deepest condolescence to a friend who lost someone who gave him life, knowlegde and guidance today...

we often take things for granted...knowing that we are not immortal...yet always assuming that we will still be here tomorrow...

treasure every moment for it may be our last...live such that we can leave without regrets anytime...anywhere...

Treasure Everyday

"This day is a special day, it is yours.
Yesterday slipped away, it cannot be filled anymore with meaning.
About tomorrow nothing is known.
But this day, today, is yours, make use of it.
Today you can make someone happy.
Today you can help another.
This day is a special day, it is yours."

- Indian Poem

Lehman Magicians

- contributed by MS