Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Change

The first 2 days at new workplace is hard. There are so many things to learn and so many unknown. It is a dauting task. That is probably why I stayed with the old job for so many years. Getting out of comfort zone is difficult. Stressed.

The key is to focus and not rush. Have a cool head. Always try my best. Believe in myself. Treat everyone with respect. There is no turning back. Success or failure depends on many different conditions coming together. Try my best and be peace with the outcome. Things are always fine as it is at this moment. Do not struggle with the present. If things are good at the moment, great. If not, it will get better. There is nothing that I cannot handle. Use this challenge to practice patient and virtues.

Look at things from other's angle. Do not take thing personally. Who is this I? It is the ego. Do not get on the cycle of suffering.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

I am the master of my happiness

We cannot control what will happen to us and how other will behave toward us. One day, you could get warming interaction with other, another day, hostile interaction comes you way. A seemingly rude email, un-called for finger pointing or even bullying. It is easy to get upset and have our blood pressure shoot through the roof and get all tense. It may ruin our day. This is so unpleasant.

It does not need to be that way. My happiness is totally under my control as long as I can look at the things I cannot control in a different way. The rude email may have merit or may not. It is not directly at me. Who am I anyway? It is the ego at work. The person may or may not try to hurt your feeling or get back at you so they feel better. Let's them be. As Buddha said "if a person does not accept the gift, the gift belongs back to the giver". Same apply here. Don't accept it. Otherwise, it fall into that the other people wanted, to hurt your feeling or whatever way to harm you. A couple simple step when we are in these situation:

1) Recall Buddha's teaching about the "gift". Say to yourself, I don't accept it, now it belong back to the sender.
2) Feel a sense of accomplishment that you have help the other person to vent or make them feel better, at no cost to you. In fact, it provide a way for you to practice.
3) Feel compassion of the offender that the person is trapped in anger and ignorance.
4) Don't let revenge over power you. It is the worst that could happen.

That is all. I am the master of my happiness.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

We make it up! Like child's play.

At work, we are driven by mandates from the big boss. Got to get the bug count to zero by this Friday. Got to resolve all the violations and pass all the tests by this weekend. All these translate into actions and drive people's schedule, mental state, stress level and even family life. Got to work this weekend to make the deliverables. This constructs the world we live in, affect the world of people around us, we are boxed in.

It is clear this is just someone's mandate that construct the reality that we perceived. Have he in a different mode, we may not have the weekend deadline. This is all make up, for reason, of course. The point is, every other thing we know are make up like this. The upcoming holiday, we feel happy, it is make up in my mind. Why December is special? If you like, you can make July feel like Christmas. Why passing of a relative make us sad? Sure, we can be with them anymore. But do we really understanding the truth of someone passing away? Is our feeling the same conditioned one like Christmas in December?

Why should you feel mad when someone honk at you for no good reason? Why should you feel stressed with the tight deadline that need you to work weekend? It is all make up, by ourselves or others. There is no inherent truth to this. That being said, we still have to live in this worldly world and operate. How do you face such challenges? Well, as long as you understanding that as long as you have tried your best with best intention, whatever happen or come your way will be ok. Everything is just as fine as it is, even adversity comes, accept it.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Zen Presentation

Interesting book. Some good points even the book itself is not present very well. Zen, it's application to presentation. There must be more areas that Zen is applicable. Idea for writing a book? May be:)

Presentsion cannot be by ppt itself. It is a combination of ppt and the delivery by you. So, the ppt should only have enough content to attract audience's attention, not clamped with all the detail. If not, it is just the ppt is enough, we don't need you for the delivery. Memorable picture with few word is a good one. The detail comes from your delivery.

Keep it simple. No transition, no flip, no flash, just plain and simple to focus on the message without any unnecessary distraction.

It is not just the fact. Presentation conveys insights. It unleashes pattern between relationship and makes it obvious to the audiences. If you cannot explain complex topic in a simple form, you don't understand the topic well enough yet.

It is not the software. It is the content.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Think about death everyday

Steve Jobs said if you realize you are going to die, you know that there is nothing to lose. You are already naked. I agree with that. So often we care about how others will think of us. The expectation of others drive our actions. Is that really want we want to do with our lives?

If we drive a new flashy car, people will envy us and we feel good. How often do this drive our buying decision? Yes, we are social animal and look for validation of others. But we are going to die anyway, will that matter? I should ask myself every time when I face a decision. Is this decision influenced by how other will perceived of me? Am I doing what I think is right?

Saturday, October 22, 2011

This Moment

It was a beautiful ride before sunset. I sat at the bench, observing the tranquil setting of the bay. Water flow slowly from the bay leading inward to a lagoon. Soft wind sway the golden grass in the wetland. A group of seagull flew by peacefully. The water is blue, the sky is clear, the wind is pleasing, the quietness is just what I would call a perfect setting for relaxation.

I am in the moment, absorbed deeply at the current moment. I felt this before. When I am really into what is happening at the moment, whether iit is about work, leisure of even chores, the feeling is hard to described but felt satisfying. Yes, cycling is one of them. Especially on a long ride. The focus on the moment, the care free setting, there is very little other thoughts or worry.

I was reflecting. This is a million dollar view. Being able to enjoy this is a privilege. Isn't this what I want went I retired and become financially secured. Probably in another 10 years. But wait, why do I have to wait. Isn't all here right before my eyes. Sure, I still have to go to work tomorrow. However, why can't I feel the satisfaction as if I am retired and financially secured right now. What is the difference? In fact, even for someone that have to worry about where their food will come today can enjoy the same satisfaction of the setting at that very moment. I realize that the difference is make up in our own mind or dilution. We are what we think, it is so true. We bring all the suffering and worry to ourselves. There is no one to blame.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Expectation of others

I was expecting so kind words after years of distinguish service. I was expecting sincere appreciation and well wishes after being a good boss and mentor of others. Some came and some didn't. I was disappointed, but not bitter.

Having expectation on others is suffering. This is like trying to control something that is out of your control. I realize that just do your part, the area within your control and let it happen. If it come, great. If it does not come, that is fine too. In this case, I would say if the appreciation does not come, I won't be upset, I need to practice being humble anyway. So, without that expectation, I won't suffer. Really, nothing really change with or without the appreciation.

In often see parent that have high expectation for their children suffer. However, this does not mean we do not help and push our children to do their best. We should. However, just do the best we can and let the result land where it may. We have done the part we have control of and let the expectation go.

Letting go

If you let go a little, you get a little peace. If you let go a lot, you get a lot of peace. If you let go completely, your struggle with this world come to an end.

I can understand this intellectually. Putting this into practice is another matter. We want financial security. We want that promotion. We want to take care of our family. We want to send our kids to ivy league college. These are all wants and how do we let go.

Every big change start with small steps. I can not let go of these big things right away. I need financial security and maintain current level of living standard. However, I can let go of other things that is easier. I can let go of anger by being mindful and jump off the wheel of suffering before it is too late. I can let go of jealousy by practicing mudita (finding joy in joy of others). I can practice equiminity and be at peace at every situation. That is a start.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

It is hard

When we are critized, we feel low. When we are praised, we feel good. That is normal. However, that cause suffering. Why would my mental state be affected by something that I cannot control? Really, nothing changed when we are critized or praised. It is our own mind that perceive the different. One minuue you are sad, another minute you are happen? Nothing change for real.

Understand this but still cannot get out of this suffering. I got praised today, I felt good about myself. I quickly realize that and told myself that there is really nothing be happy about. When condition change, it will dissolve. When there is good, there is bad. I should not be affected by how other think of me. Experience no gain nor loss. I am glad I am mindful of this.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

What is left?

When we die, where do we go? Listened to a recording of someone who is dead. That person seem to be alive from the recording. At least part of her live. Her voice, her thoughts are all there in the recording. Did she really die? Her voice is there for us to hear. Her thought is there for us to understand. Both of voice and thoughts define part of who we are. If those are still there, it mean she did not die? She lives on.

We are defined by or physical appearance, our status, our relationship with other, our job and etc. All these changes. So, really who are we? If some of that remain after we die, does that mean we live on? Tough question. But for sure, we are not who we thought we are. It is worth pondering.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Experience

Today is a bit emotional for me. I am moving on from my job from the past 6 years. I am changing what I use to do for a significant part of my life. I am leaving the team I built and so dependent on. A sense of loss.

My job has come to define a good part of who am I. Director of software development, manage a sizable development team. Smart, capable, experienced, top performer are the attributes that come to mind. Of course the other most important part that define me is my family. A devoted husband, father of two wonderful boys that I love dearly. A good son, a helpful brother, a respectful uncle. That is me.

So, with me moving to a different job, am I a different person? Am I not Victor Tse anymore?

I have a small awakening through this experience. I am not I or other thought I am. Victor Tse is just a label that define the superficial side of me. It is impermanent. There is nothing solid to it. It change from moment to moment. What does this really mean?

Well, since it is just a label, not really a real part of me, there is really no gain or loss with the change. Things are just as it is. Can I bring that title to my grave? Can I bring that to next life? Seeing that, it is a lot easier to accepting changes, especially those that are perceived as negative.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Regress

Things we achieve or obtain is not permanent and subject to regression. There are people work hard their whole life, achieved success, and at old age fall back to where they begin. People own a lot of wealth and fall back to square one when condition changes. All material things, fame, wealth, relationships are impermanent and will regress. When condition come, it is together. When condition dissolve, it goes away.

So, one may ask, what is the point of working so hard if at the end it will not last?

I have been thinking about this for a long time. First, it is not the end that we treasure, it is the journey. Sure, our love ones will part us eventually, it is the journey that we care about. Second, things are impermanent. That is a fact. Accept it. Mastering our true mind transcend impermanence. It is our mind and it is there forever. Invest in the right thing.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Equanimity helps again

I was expecting for some kind words today after serving for many years. That is what I will do for others. It didn't come. It would have been satisfying if that happen. It is fine too if it does not. I want to practice controlling my ego anyway. It is fine just it is.

You see, having expectations for other is another form of desire. It leads to suffering. The core of equanimity is accepting things as they are, without blaming anything or anyone. That is so powerful. I find such freedom in this practice that otherwise would have turned me into a miserable person.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Being Mindful

Heard about this all the time but do not truly understanding it's meaning before. We all know desire is bad. However, we desire for things all the time. A few million dollars will change the way I live my life. That is desire that leads to unnecessary suffering. The key of being mindful is to be aware of the arising of such desire. Only if you are aware then you can counter it. Be mindful, be aware, notice what is happen moment to moment, that is the key. Aware that I am about to enter the wheel of suffering and get it off before it is too late.

The practice of equanimity continue to help me a great deal to get pass the transition phase of my career.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Anxiety

Anxiety about changes and want things to turn out the way I wanted. The desire for certainty. This is suffering. As simple as the certainty that the sun will rise tomorrow is not a sure thing. The recent earthquake in Japan is just a reminder of the impermanence of things. To desire for certainty is to suffer. Seeing that entice me to loose the desire a little bit. I get a little peace. A peace of mind to deal with changes without the anxiety. Things are fine as it is. Do my parts and let things happen. Not blaming anything or anyone, including myself. Yes, the last part is very important.

I am sure the ability to deal with small changes like this will help me to deal with bigger changes in life later. I learn to seize the moment and live at the present, without worrying what may comes that is not under my control, or blame anyone, including myself for what happen or not happen in the past.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Mudita - Turning Dirt into Gold

Mudita means sympathetic joy, finding joy in joy of others. In plain words, finding happiness in the happiness of others. For example, we cannot go to see the ball game because we have to work on Saturday. However, your co-work is going because he does not have work. Turning that envy into joy is what Mudita is all about. You are happy that your co-worker can go and you find happiness it in. It seems counter intuitive. But it is a great tool to counter envy and jealousy. Jealousy is like poison, it can consume us like a wild fire. It is yet another conditioning respond that we need to confront.

A past colleague is doing very well in his career. He was behind me and now is way ahead. No doubt, I envy him and jealous as well. Why it wasn't be? Don't I deserve it? Why the right condition didn't happen to me? I also started to blame myself for this and that I didn't do or should have done. This can pretty quick turn into bitterness, self destruction, depression which all lead to poor decision makings. These are all not necessary and counter productive. The colleague must have done something right that all the condition come together for him to reach his new high in career. Mudita. I should feel happy for him that finally his efforts get notice and he is able to reach the high point of his career. I am glad his is doing well. It is not a zero sum game. His gain is not my loss. I truly find happiness in the happiness of his success.

This is profound. I turned jealousy into joy. I turn anguish into joy. I turn ignorance into wisdom. I am a happy person. I can make sound decisions which make conditions come together for my success. I turn dirt into gold!

Friday, September 2, 2011

Letting Go

If you let go a little, you gain little peace. If you let go a lots, you gain a lot of peace. If you let go completely, you are free.

It is counter intuitive from the worldly view. Why would you want to let go of the good stuff? Isn't life about holding on to the good things. Gardafi won't step down even on the brink of collapse and destruction. Many examples you can find around you.

The desire to holding onto fame, power and wealth make you suffer. The desire for predicability and certainty make you suffer. Even Bill Gate did not stay as the richest man forever. Someone else take that place. It is also about impermance. Things come together as condition arise. Things fall apart as conditions dissolve. Trying to control the uncontrollable is sure thing for suffering.

Seeing that holding on to desire cause suffering, it entice me to let go a little. I want to have power at work. Moving up the chain. Who else does not want that? I want to be VP, CEO. Yeah, that comes with power and fame. I want it badly. Seeing other achieve it make me jealous as well. This is all source of suffering. Let go a bit and I feel relieved. Some colleagues are sharing my responsibilities. Yes, it take away my power, I should be upset as I do not desire that to happen. Seeing that cause suffering, I let go a bit. I feel better. In fact, I also feel better because the heavy burden come with power is lessen.

Let go, but do not give up. Only work on the things we have controlmof. Otherwise, I will sure be disappointed and suffer. This can apply to other part of my life. Let go a little, gain a little peace. That is what it is.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Equanimity

Equanimity means accepting things as it is, without blaming anything or anyone, include ourselves. It is not indifferent which is another type of aversion.

I am going to loss the team I built and worked with for the past few years due to re-organization. My work is going to change. That is OK. It was a good run and and enjoyed it. I cannot control the pending change. I could learn new things in the new job, get better satisfaction and help the organization in different ways. That is all good just as it is. I accept the change without resentment, not blaming my boss or myself. It is all good. Perfect excuse to try something new. Yes, that is how I feel. This is equanimity. I am not indifferent, I care and accept it.

Mental Model

I have this mental model of a wheel circling around. There are fire at all the spot except there is a small gap where there is no fire and you can jump off the wheel. It is kind of like a computer game where it test your skills to avoid the obstacle. Mario comes to mind. If you miss the gap that jump off the wheel, you enter into the wheel of suffering with fire that will burn you badly.

When I am about to get into any aversion, I picture this and tell myself that the gap is right here, get off the wheel of suffering or else. Useful tool.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Hard Wired

Our response to pleasant, unpleasant and neutral experience are very much hard wired. Eating good food, pleasant. Being criticized or getting sick, unpleasant. It sounds so natural. If we feel otherwise, that must be close to insanity!

Not being appreciated for good work, I felt resentment and aversion. This made me upset and turn into a cranky person that cannot make sound judgement. The outcome is suffering, not what we want but we get ourselves into this. Before the resentment feeling set in, I have a chance to control how I feel and get out from this wheel of suffering. Recognize this is unpleasant. Leave it at that and don't own the experience. Say to myself, I am glad that I have the opportunity do the work and I am satisfy with it. Hence I avoided turning into an angry person, suffer, make poor judgement and suffer more. I control my own experience. My very awaring mind can re-do the wiring and get out of the wheel of suffering before it happen.

Extend this to larger context and by the same logic, I can get out of the wheel of samasa by not getting into desire or aversion. I think this is related to the 12 links of dependent origination. I think it is a good start of my understanding.

Being mindful means we catch these moments and do the right thing. Understanding is one thing, being mindful and do the right thing take lot and lot of practice. Now, I understand what is being mindful mean. Being aware of the moment and avoid falling into the suffering trap. Being mindful mean being aware that I am able to be reborn into a cranky and resentful person and get out of that being it grab me.