certainly an unforgettable one.

1st time daughter host a b. day party at “her home”.

very simple pizza and b.day cake but mom was as joyful as a little kid enjoying all b. day display, popper, special candle, singing of b. .day songs, cake cutting, and of course, lots of photo taking.

it was a long way from their home and everyone actually quite tired. luckily went well.

we were even greeted by the stunning beauty of the rising super moon before we left home.

then, after sending them to bus terminus, we walked unexpectedly through the nearby park, all the way guided by the bright moon . enjoying some tranquility not available daytime.

i guess mom is very typical of the earlier generations, in which social norms define success as accumulation of wealth (car, house, $…), jobs u / yr children hold, how many people send u flowers / gifts / greetings on b.day / festivals…

few of them conscious enough to create happiness for themselves, or have the ability to enjoy aloneness, relying instead action / words from other. which in fact is the source of unhappiness.

recent decades, we were lucky enough to have more awakened people who r willing and brave enough to share their experience / knowledge to set us free from others / even all external circumstances, if we r conscious enough.

it’s both a training and a journey for all of us. to accept / transform all “negative experience” so that we become wiser, stronger, more awakened beings.

the most joyful people probably r those who r able to enjoy all worldly pleasure / goodies, while realizing that they r really not necessary.

the “joy of being” as Eckart put it.

may we all be able to taste this nectar. knowing that being happy / joyful is an ability, and largely does not depend on external.

then everyday will be b. day, and we celebrate for the “trivial” we enjoy everyday, which mostly r free : sunlight, excellent weather, fresh air, good health, waves, birds, trees,.. a sincere exchange of smile to strangers….

Blessings be to all

Sat Nam Deep I

Namaskar

a special day to remember.

my ex-colleague almost 20 yrs ago would have turned 58 today if she has not left her physical body a few yrs earlier.

323 also the make of our 1st new car which have accompanied us for 14 yrs, witnessed the grow of our daughter

yesterday, i truly turned 53 , after the lunar b. day.

a very challenging yet transformational period to remember lately. as we tried hard to search for a good home still b c. of the noise upstairs (for almost 5 yrs) and in vain. price really too crazy..

it has gone up so fast in just 5 / 6 yrs that we could not afford to buy a proper home again, even a small one.

last night, as if by some divine blessings, some very inspiring videos popped up, all about the “backward principle” / surrendering / have less is more…. in fact the concept of minimalism has surfaced quite sometime ago, just a lot more convincing / imminent lately

kind of like a sudden blow, or someone who is forced to give up after trying so hard so long, i feel a sense of lightness though the external has not changed at all, simply my conscious choice to let go : all wanting, the best, how others should behave, the need to do good, be good, have more…keeping more…

some very inspiring msg from mid night : that when our lives seem falling apart, and we cannot see the way out, actually our lives might be falling into places

again, we might be dragged /pulled/ pushed to paradise without knowing, thinking we r heading toward hell, thus crying / yelling all the way!

we joked earlier amongst ourselves that it probably is a blessing instead of a failure not being able to buy a flat. now, it seems that it is quite real. given many things that r happening lately :the hostile US / PRC talk, eruption of volcano at iceland that has been dormant for about a century, frequent earthquakes nearby…more deaths after vaccination…and of course, the continual regression of freedom we once lavishly enjoyed

as an experiment / challenge , i am determined to try out the minimalist lifestyle . focusing only the essentials and what truly makes me happy :

yoga / air surf by the sea, hiking, paying attention to nature, appreciate the beauty / presence of flowers, birds, butterflies, sunset, moonrise, high tides, low tides…

as such, i shall spend less time writing , and more time being, experiencing, connecting…

some wonderful moments to remember lately before this probably the last / last few blogs :

an unplanned late p.m. hike to a nearby trail with daughter and husband.

started very grumpy with a lot to vent

yet turned out a very blessed 1.5 hr walk exploring new routes, meeting people twice uphill and down hill, seeing many pets enjoying the walk, and be blessed by the setting sun right between 2 bldgs before we get down to street level

then, a serene night at the park table and bench, enjoying veggie rice burger take away right under the half moon.

a garbage man stayed close for a long time. friendly. polite. very receptive and thankful to the healing / balancing stickers we gave him.

and, a few truly blessed short period of low tide time by the very raw seashore so i can enjoy some take away lunch after much morning exercise. quiet. only sound of waves, occasional visit of pet / children of nearby residents. no rain, nor strong wind…

reminds me again that contentment can be “easy”. yet priceless.

maybe we really don’t need too much. if fact the ability to let go might really be the way to happiness

how not to feel inadequate, lack , not beautiful / good / smart / fashionable enough… in general, inferior, regardless of ourselves / our “social status” which is often defined by what we wear, own , our car, house, …might be the real training.

it requires a very strong and conscious mind to deny what the world is telling u / trying to make u feel

may we all have greater power, wisdom and consciousness to see through the conditioning.

so as to co create a more healthy, balanced, joyful, loving new world

Sat Nam Deep I

Namaskar

certainly a very special one. with covid, and all unbelievable changes ongoing in hk

first time after many yrs that both daughter and husband in hk

a few wonderful moments to remember :

the night before, very late in the evening on a sunday, daughter and husband made hike to a nearby mountain trail, very luckily got down safely at a not so far mall, just to get some tulips and lily for me. very impressed

on the day, blessed with no rain time at beach to roll , move… seeing some friends..

what’s quite surprising is how the p.m. is spent much time with long time old friends, 25 yrs ex-colleagues, with whom i have not been reconnected this deeply for quite a while. though always at heart. very glad to know all is well.

then an agent cold call. another surprise, after we sold our previous flat for yrs! still have to see if she is the lucky channel that connects us to our divine accommodation. one that i can really rest at least at night, and some peaceful time during the day.

night is very special : party at wai por jia! ahahahahaha

a great meal cooked by daughter first time! risotto with pumpkin, asparagus, tomatoes, onion… big pot more than enough for 3 of us! yummy yummy 🙂

husband managed to return early around 815, joined dinner before 9 p.m. home meeting. ..

very creative, lovely happy card from daughter as always. she simply got this talent to put together something (sometimes even materials considered “useless”) to create something wonderful!

and 5 pencils of the characters i like a lot….

big gift from husband…

and of course thank to the quiet new place where a joyful night is possible

we remember our yellow butterfly friend who visited a few days ago, flying into the flat from the balcony, staying at the dining table . then disappeared for a few days. and found ascended near sink. body still very pretty

today, finally some sunlight after a few rainy / cloudy days, i was so blessed with quiet, mild wind, sunny period for about 20- 30 mins. at the sea, right before high tide, where a few birds lunch with me.

a rare combination of egrets, black heron, big magpie, and those very small birds that run very fast. eagle also visited.

such an amazing experience when they leisurely fish at the “sky mirror”. or walk / jump around at the lawn

i feel like a bird feeding with them, too, when they trusted me so much as to stay so close for a long time.

i guess what it takes to make one feel joyful / grateful / abundant / blessed… sometimes is “very simple”, yet also priceless. money can’t buy. freely available to all those who is silent, peaceful enough to enjoy.

amid all challenges / chaos / uncertainties / unknown… it is probably this attitude / ability that we all need to cultivate.

the more we overcome, persevere, be creative, flexible, positive , observant, grounded, conscious.. the stronger we become. and that opens us up to further more blessings.

may we all strengthen our ability to be joyful, grateful, faithful.. regardless.

then we shall see light at the end of the tunnel very soon.

Sat Nam Deep I

Blessings be to all

Namaskar

another milestone in hk history. unprecedented massive political persecution of those involved in preliminary election

probably all hkers can feel the pressure and the injustice. the “lucky few” who can still be released on bail, all too emotional to speak. tears in many.

yet it is exactly under this big challenge that strength, faith, love, unity… is revealed.

my salutation to those who still bravely appeared outside court this morning to show support who were arrested, and others who hold banners, speak out, and chant slogans, simply for basic freedom of speech, gathering… that should be enjoyed by all, universally.

there r also people who, in a more low profile way, persistently and courageously report / speak the truth, even though being suppressed financially / under personal threat.

and the silent, conscious few of the general public, who simply vote with their feet and determined not to dine in even though there were many seats.

since the new requirement imposed more than 1 week ago, quite many naive / brave chose to sit in either by leaving (incomplete / false?) personal info., or scan code that enables tracking and thus mandatory testing anytime.

meanwhile, gov’t officials being criticized for not doing well enough to “crack down rioters” last year or simply the mask they wear (which was mistakenly considered supporting the movement)..

it’s a test for everyone. how much and what we r willing to sacrifice / give up to stay safe/ free. in a way, it forces us to see / know ourselves better. what we really treasure / what really r important to us

it is a process of letting go of the illusion / irrelevant / unnecessary, lifting the veil, and focus/ downsize to the core values

through the challenges, we become more determined, clear, strong, … of our purpose, strength, faith…

may we all rise above tribulations, to create and welcome a new earth that we all deserve

Blessings be to all

Sat Nam Deep I

Namaskar