Partnerships

Saying of a Zen (Ch'an) Master on Inter-relationship

You are me, and I am you.
Isn't it obvious that we "inter-are"?
You cultivate the flower in yourself,
so that I will be beautiful.
I transform the garbage in myself,
so that you will not have to suffer.

I support you;
you support me.
I am in this world to offer you peace;
you are in this world to being (bring) me joy.

- Thich Nhat Hanh, Inter-relationship 

Out of Touch

This is my heart.

“You may not be her first, her last, or her only. She loved before she may love again. But if she loves you now, what else matters? She's not perfect - you aren't either, and the two of you may never be perfect together but if she can make you laugh, cause you to think twice, and admit to being human and making mistakes, hold onto her and give her the most you can. She may not be thinking about you every second of the day, but she will give you a part of her that she knows you can break - her heart. So don't hurt her, don't change her, don't analyze and don't expect more than she can give. Smile when she makes you happy, let her know when she makes you mad, and miss her when she's not there.” 
― Bob Marley

Mama and I went downtown

Oh yeah, 24/h! Sleep over anyone?

Friday evening, the chilling cold reminds me that Christmas is just around the corner, I stayed warm inside my cozy room, but mom likes to have some pizza outside. Since I am mostly tambay in our house right now, she urged me to leave my room to breathe some fresh air. Knowing that this moment is really once every blue moon (me not busy, mom wants to go out in an evening, Christmas is just two sleeps away) I gave in. I left the comfort of my room to have pizza and coffee downtown. What I did not know is that I am in for some treat. I was inspired by my mom's stories about how to handle relationships, how to raise a family and how to live effectively. It's the ultimate mother-daughter bonding. I am grateful I pulled myself out of my rabbit hole.

OK mom, pose for me. Great!! That's it <3

Just the way I'm supposed to be

Gravity / Sarah Bareilles


Something always brings me back to you. 
It never takes too long. 
No matter what I say or do, I still feel you here 'till the moment I'm gone. 


You hold me without touch. 
You keep me without chains. 
I never wanted anything so much than to drown in your love and not feel your reign. 

Set me free, leave me be. I don't want to fall another moment into your gravity. 
Here I am and I stand so tall, just the way I'm supposed to be. 
But you're on to me and all over me. 
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/s/sara_bareilles/gravity.html ]
You loved me 'cause I'm fragile. 
When I thought that I was strong. 
But you touch me for a little while and all my fragile strength is gone.

I live here on my knees as I 
Try to make you see that you're 
Everything I think I need here on the ground. 
But you're neither friend nor foe though I 
Can't seem to let you go. 
The one thing that I still know is that you're keeping me down
You're keeping me down, yeah, yeah, yeah
You're onto me, onto me and all over


Something always brings me back to you
It never takes too long

Christmas is in the air

Taal volcano and the lake.

Sunday afternoon, right after arriving at Dasma, my two cool friends took me away from home to have some burritos, burgers and iced tea to this promise land called Tagaytay. Oh, is it Christmas yet?! It sure feels like it. 

It was a visual treat. Fog was so low that you can touch it and yes, it was soooo cold. Good thing Ronald warned me to bring sweater. So here it is my good friends, a glimpse to my very special Sunday. (Warm hugs to Ronald for providing the pictures used in this blog entry.)

Ronald and Febbie posing while waiting for traffic to move.

Tagaytay has been my escape from the grueling life in the Metro, along with this two high school friends who never tire to pull me out from my rabbit hole. It had been a very tiring week, full of sleep overs, tears, heartaches, confusion and yes, new found freedom and ehem, new intimate connection. With a heavy heart, I bid farewell to the old world, to the past, though it was the solidest reality that I had ever had, I know that it is not going to last that long. And with joyous spirit, I welcome the future. As I was told last night by Masa: Welcome to the new world!!!

Author and Ronald.

Author and Febbie.

Ronald and Febbie.

Author and Ronald.

Author and Febbie.

Home

Today I am staying home. I need time and space to love myself. Friends keep asking where I am, I keep telling them, in a place where I should be. Where I long to be for a long while now. I never knew I missed it that much.
Before, I used to think home is just a space where I live or where my stuff are or where I sleep, but as I grow up, it has become more meaningful. Home is not just the physical space, home is where warmth reside, home is where I tucked my childhood secrets safe, home is where the laughter of friends can be heard because I confessed something silly, home is where I can heal my soul with stories of my past and dreams of the future, home is where my failures are etched in every wall with my signature proudly shining on it, home is the safe haven for my carefully fought and won battles, home is the laboratory for my ambitious and detailed plans that I dare not share with anybody but my shadow, home is my faithful witness to all my tears, home is the gentle receptacle to all my wailing and frustrations and fears, home is where my heart can be so vulnerable that it may stop beating anytime, home is where my heartaches can freely roam and haunt my sleep, home is the repository of all my greatest weaknesses and all my perennial strengths, home is where I can be intimate with my lover however big the distance between us, home is where I can be me and not be afraid of anybody's rejection, home is where I sing my loneliness and helplessness, home is where I love myself more than I fear myself, home is where I hopefully and mindfully resuscitate my true identity . . .  home is where I embrace being human.

Wise quotes

Here are very wise advise from wise sages.


“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”
― Thomas A. Edison

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” 
― Albert Einstein

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” 
― Albert Einstein

“I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” 
― Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul


“There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate.”
― Charles Dickens

When life becomes unbearable we must stop and pray sincerely

Prayer / taken from Master Cheng Yen’s discourse 
In my heart, I feel deep gratefulness 
All my heart is filled with sincere prayer 
From all corners of the world 
Let us join our hearts and pray 
For a world of harmony and peace

In my heart, I feel deep gratefulness 
May all the Buddhas hear my prayer 
All united with one heart
Let us end our hate with love
May there be no suffering year after year

From my heart, I pray
May we join our hands, our hearts as one 
Spread the seeds of Great Love 
Nurture wisdom evermore
Let us fill the world with hope

A week's worth of prayer (repeat every morning for one week)

We need to overcome difficulties, not be overcome by them.

-Master Cheng Yen
http://www.daai.tv/2011web/main/