Very often, people remember the stories and jokes even after the message of a speech are forgotten.

As children we learn about good values from fairy tales that remain in our minds long after we have passed childhood. Adults also learn better through stories that encapsulate the main principles and drive home the point.

This story comes from the heart of a child who willingly decided to share his experience – some are good, while  may be bitter, but are indeed “crystals” in their own rights. And yet,  could be used for reflection and inspiration for others.

So the next time something seemingly “ordinary” happens in your life, look a little deeper and closer, these pebbles may turn out to be crystals after all.

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On Life

A collection of Haikus; – ON LIFE

Contrary to popular belief, great poems can come from the most ordinary of experiences. If the poems you are about to explore are on Life, then they are also about you. Poems can really be an effective way of opening the heart door.

Our lives are vast stretches of sand, but if we look closely, we will find many crystals strewn among them. With a keen eye for observation and reflection, we can find life so interesting and meaningful. No one person can ever experience all that life has to offer. It is only through sharing – experiences, feelings, insights – that we can hope to grow beyond our own meager lifetime. As they say, learn all you can from the mistakes of others. You won’t have the time to make all yourself. So, are you ready to grow today?

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The Mysterious Staircase

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Facts: The average life span of an eagle is approximately 30 years. The eagle, like many living organisms, does not have the luxury of making the decision to extend their life cycle far beyond what is normal for its species. In captivity, an eagle may live beyond what the average life expectancy is, because it receives both regular and nutritious meals, has excess to veterinary care and can be sheltered from the harsh elements by housing provided by the facility caring for the bird. Even then, the life span is in no way extended as far as this tale is suggesting.

Although this tale is merely a myth that strays far from the reality of an eagle’s life, the moral of the tale presented on the final slide ‘Why is change needed?’ provide a vivid illustration of the philosophy, that sometimes one must shed the past in order to move forward or as often expressed, “In order to rebuild, you must first tear down.”

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Fruit is a miracle food. Fruit is saturated with vitamins, minerals and nutrients, and it comes in its very own packaging. There is a proper way to eat fruit without having to suffer from gastric repercussions like bloating or belching. And you can get your nutrients and enjoy them in comfort by eating fruit properly.

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Expo 2010 Shanghai China was held from May 1 to October 31, 2010. The event had the largest number of countries participating and was the most expensive Expo in the history of the world’s fairs. The Expo drew the participation of 250 countries and international organizations, and by the end of the event it had attracted more than 73 million visitors, a record attendance in the Expo history. The World Expo was also the largest World’s Fair site ever at 5.28 square km.

The Shanghai China Expo 2010 Closing Ceremony was spectacular, high-tech elements were incorporated to create a spectacular stage effects. Magically, the 10 heavy ancient bells floated off the ground in mid-air, 24 female musicians sitting on invisible chairs..…..

Music by Zhao Guang, Leading Dancer: Huang Doudou, Accompanied by Shanghai Song and Dance Ensemble and Shanghai Oriental City Dance Troupe.

What is Next?

Shanghai set for post-Expo phase – Shanghai Business events providers will be focusing on Shanghai in the coming months as the city begins life in its post-Shanghai Expo 2010 phase.

Patrick Chen, deputy director, International Tourism Promotion Department, Shanghai Municipal Tourism Administration, said: “The success of World Expo with 73.08 million visitors, including 4.23 million overseas visitors, showed how the city can handle such a large volume of people.”

The city has also opened the new Mercedes-Benz Arena on the old Expo site, while a huge range of new hotels have opened including Ritz-Carlton Pudong and Fairmont Peace Hotel.

The implementation of High-Speed Train Connects Shanghai and Beijing, which will shorten the trip times between the two to under five hours. Clocking in at a top speed of 500 kph during the recent trial run, the Beijing-Shanghai line is China’s longest high-speed rail line. It covers 1,464 kilometers and connects two major economic zones in the Bohai Sea Rim and the Yangtze River Delta. The Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, that will cut travel time between Beijing and Shanghai to around four hours will be put into operation by the middle of June this year, a year ahead of schedule.

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The pen with an endless supply of metal “ink”. The stainless steel pen features 6.25” long x 0.375″ diameter, a special metal alloy tip and an anodized aluminum barrel, making it just much more awesome.

The Endless Ink Pen is a hybrid of pens and pencils. Its special metal alloy tip means that this pen has an endless supply of “ink”, never dry up, cannot smudge or leak, never needs to be sharpened and does not need a cap. However, if you wish for a finer point or if the point becomes slightly blunt, you can ’sharpen’ it again using sandpaper.

If you use the sort of paper typically used in printers and photocopiers, the pen leaves a mark that looks as if it was made by a pencil. In fact, the Endless Ink Pen works flawless on nearly any normal writing surface, glossy papers and even wet conditions. It can also write upside down. However, the only surfaces that has shown issues are on newsprint and cardboard. It is advisable not to drop the pen onto a hard surface, otherwise you may snap the nib off.

Perhaps, the only drawback would be that if you make a mistake, you would not be able to erase it. If you are planning to write the definitive 21st century novel, I would recommend a regular pen. However, fostering innovation and as a scientific curiosity, I like the Inkless Metal Pen. The awesome pen could be your “Companion for Life”

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Sky burial or ritual dissection was once a common funerary practice in Tibet wherein a human corpse is cut in specific locations and placed on a mountaintop, exposing it especially to birds of prey.

In Tibet, the practice is known as jhator, which literally means, “giving alms to the birds.” Jhator is considered an act of generosity on the part of the deceased, since the deceased and his or her surviving relatives are providing food to sustain living beings. Generosity and compassion for all beings are important virtues in Buddhism.

The majority of Tibetans adhere to Buddhism, which teaches rebirth. There is no need to preserve the body, as it is now an empty vessel. Birds may eat it, or nature may let it decompose. So the function of the sky burial is simply the disposal of the remains. In much of Tibet,  the ground is too hard and rocky to dig a grave, and with fuel and timber scarce, a sky burial is often more practical than cremation.

“Sky burial and open cremation may initially appear grotesque for Westerners, especially if they have not reflected on their own burial practice of embalming . For Tibetan Buddhists, sky burial and cremation are templates of instructional teaching on the impermanence of life.”

The full jhator procedure – as shown in the slides is elaborate and expensive. Those who cannot afford it simply place their deceased on a high rock where the body decomposes or is eaten by birds and animals.

Normally, after the death of a Tibetan, the deceased will be cleaned, wrapped in white cloth and left untouched for three or five days. During these several days monks will chant around the corpse. Family members stop other activities in order to create a peaceful environment to allow convenient passage for ascension of souls into heaven.

Before dawn on the sky burial day, the corpse is sent to the burial site among mountains which is always far from the residential area. Lamas lead a ritual procession to the charnel ground, chanting to guide the soul. There are few charnel grounds in Tibet. They are usually located near monasteries.

After the chanting, the body breakers prepare the body for consumption by the vultures.  The jhator usually takes place at dawn. The body is unwrapped and the first cut is made on the back. Hatchets and cleavers are used to quickly cut the body up, in a definite and precise way. Flesh is cut into chunks of meat.

As the body breakers begin, juniper incense is burned to summon the vultures for their tasks, to eat breakfast and to be Dakinis. After the body has been totally separated, the birds land and hop about, grabbing for food. Relatives may remain nearby during the jhator, possibly in a place where they cannot see it directly.

In most accounts, vultures are given the whole body. It is considered a bad omen if the vultures will not eat, or if even a small portion of the body is left after the birds fly away.  Alternatively, when only the bones remained, they are broken up with mallets, ground with tsampa – barley flour with tea and yak butter or milk, and given to crows and hawks that have waited until the vultures had departed. This is to ensure the entire body of the deceased eaten and to assure ascent of the soul.

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Normally, a headstone tells cemetery visitors the basics about the deceased person: their name, date of birth, date they died, who they are survived by and who they are buried with. And on some of the older headstones the epitaphs try to describe the deceased person using verses and poems. Nevertheless, there are also some creative and interesting headstones, witty epitaphs, lighthearted artwork, scary sculptures, sad memorials and even some headstones which are mind-boggling. Trying to imagine the story behind each is intriguing. But, I am doubtful that our final resting place is a hole in the ground at a plot in a cemetery.

Perhaps, there is a lesson in headstone compliments: That they should be shared with the person while they are still alive. It is indeed sad  for those who never find the right opportunity to do so while the person is still alive.

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