“Ten Ways to Be Kind to Our Neighbors’” Author Unknown

We found this posting on the Net. I thought it would be a good idea we spread this gospel further. Matter of fact, sharing good news is the tenth suggestion on this to-do list.

While we do not know who posted this item, based on its straightforward content, I speculate possibly it is originated from either Buddhism or Taoism’s altruistic philosophy. My English translation from its Chinese text may lose some of its insight in the process. But definitely it is a worthwhile task that I am happy to undertake. Here they are:

1. When street peddlers begging for spare changes, we offer them foods. When asking for food, give them money.
2. On the bus, give up our seat to the disabled, the elderly or mother-to-be without a big fuss.
3. When the weather is not agreeable, we make extra effort to buy something from the street vendors. So they can all get out of the cold and soaky night and go home sooner.
4. When seeing lost kids or disoriented seniors, we escort them home. If it is not possible, put them on the right bus or accompany them to the police station. Help them make a phone call home will also get them home sooner.
5. When hearing someone asking for direction, do not be bashful if we know the place. Offer what we know voluntarily.
6. When found a purse with cash, if we are in a dire strait, we return it without the money to its rightful owner. However, we must remember who this money belongs to. When we are back on our feet, we return the temporarily borrowed money to its owner with an apology.
7. If we can, help out and encourage the young students who must work to support themselves or their families.
8. When shopping at the night markets, we buy more if you can without haggling. So the poor vendors can sell out their goods sooner in a cold night.
9. If we are financially well off, do not transgress to having a concubine. Helping a few poor students anonymously will make us happier.
10. If we find these ideas make good sense to us, do share this to-do list with others.

Now, let’s be kind to each others. - Ayee

Fins and Paws

It appears day by day animals have become more and more of an integral part of our society. Now encounters between men and beasts are very frequent. This explains why mesmerizing animal stories become staples of our daily news. The other day my newspaper reported two such tales on the same page.

One is about the death of an experienced 40-year-old trainer, Dawn Brancheau, in SeaWorld, Orlando, Florida. She died while performing with "Tilikum," a 30-year-old killer whale. Mind you, this is not a win-and-lose game. This tragedy does not end here. Now this playful orca’s fate is at stake. Because this is not the first time the star attraction at SeaWorld is infamously linked to the loss of a human life, SeaWorld may have to put Tilikum out to the great yonder if it is found to be the culprit of this deadly incident.

Then the other story is about a bomb-sniffing black Labrador named Treo. It was in London receiving a bravery medal for preventing NATO soldiers as well as innocent Afghans from being blown up by roadside bombs. Certainly it is wonderful to see this smart pooch receives its well-deserved award live and well in "person."

After reading these two stories, I am glad at least one of them had a happy ending. - Ayee

Look Befroe Your Cross

The other morning while I was waiting for my bus at an intersection, I noticed on a kiddy corner to me there was a grey squirrel on the curb. It was prepared to cross a busy east/west thoroughfare in the morning rush hour. The bus was late so I got to watch a small fur-clad rodent crossing a busy street unscathed.

From where I was I saw this little four-legged being braved itself down to the payment from the curb and was set to go. Before it descended to the asphalt, not unlike the flashing amber lights at some intersections, this hairy creature waved its bushy tail up and down to alert the oncoming traffic to stop. But none of the speeding east bound cars noticed this tiny bundle’s friendly signal. For a few times, it nearly got zapped by the fast-moving vehicles zooming by it

Because many daring attempts bore no fruits, to skirt the dangerous traffic, it decided to change its path. Instead of running against the traffic, it went with the flow.

Resulting from this change of direction, it quickly crossed a north/south feeder road of the same intersection without any fanfares. Now it was on the sidewalk at the east/north corner of the same intersection. It still faced the risky task that would get it over to the south side of these crossroads. Not like a few of its peers whom I saw sometimes crossing busy streets by the overhead electrical wires, this little one took advantage of the many bare cherry trees there. It jumped onto the dry branches of the trees from one to another. Continuously it traveled in the air until it reached the midway of this short block. From there it came down to the concrete sidewalk. Finally, it was in a spot that was in a safe distance from the busy intersection and got itself crossed over to the south side of the busy streets safely. - Ayee

"A modest life, a giving nature"*

This week’s Giving Back section of The Globe and Mail featured an Alberta philanthropist Frank Flaman.

At present, Mr. Flaman owns nine stores in two Western provinces in Canada that sell exercise and farm equipment. This 76-year old multi-millionaire lives modestly in a two-bedroom condo. Instead of a new Rolls Royce which he said he did not need, he drives an energy efficient smart car. But each year he gives generously in the tune of $1 mm to different charities. Last week, Mr. Flaman donated $500,000 to the Salvation Army and Oxfam for their relief works in Haiti.

The facts attract me to Mr. Flaman’s story are not only he is an ultra caring and generous giver but also the reason why he sells stationary bikes in a farm supplies store.

Twenty years ago after a bout with depression, Mr. Flaman learned the benefits of exercise. With this new discovery in mind, he "threw the Prozac away," and started the fitness equipment business. - Ayee

*Report on Business, The Globe and Mail, January 23, 2010

My New Year's Resolution

Some of us think watching too much television is not the best pastime. Yes, I agree that being a full time couch-potato leads me to nowhere. But sometimes, lucky star does shine upon me, a remote control snatcher with an over size thumb. Once for a while, I do get to learn a thing or two from this passive activity.

And this is one of these shinning moments for me.

A few weeks ago, unknowingly I got to revisit an ancient Chinese philosophy on a British detective show I watched. The popular television program "Heartbeat" is based on the books of a retired Yorkshire bobby, Nicholas Rhea. Mr. Rhea told stories of the simple but hearty people of a remote farming village well. But I would say his patch over the heather-covered moors be the last place one expects to hear teachings of Laozi, founder of Taoism beliefs in 600 B.C.

In that night’s episode, "Ups and Downs," its clever producers wrote in a busload of Laozi’s devotees in the script. On their way to deliver a gold-gilded Buddha statue, their double-decked bus conveniently stalled at the village square. Among other stories in the plot, the precious statue got stolen but recovered. Upon departure, the spokesperson of this pious group shared the tenets of their religion with the hospitable locals. He told them they believed in:

- Kindness,
- Simplicity,
- Modesty.

As usual, "Heartbeat" is always an entertaining and enjoyable show to me. But this episode left me with something extra to wonder about: the perceptiveness of an old Chinese religion.

Their beliefs seem to be straight forward and simple. But the relevancy of these principles is timeless. And they were embraced by a humble Chinese philosopher some 2,600 years ago. He taught his followers to be kind to other beings(including Mother Nature), to live a simple life, and to be modest. If the people in Laozi's generation had practised what they learned from this insightful master, none of us will be living in the midst of the disastrous consequences of wars, climate change and financial meltdowns today.

I do not know if I am able to live a life according to Laozi. But I do know that I have to look no further for my New Year’s resolution. - Ayee

Tales of Two Stores

Recently, I needed a new television. So I visited a couple of stores in the neighborhood. One is a well-established department store where I did most of the shopping in the past. The other is a new kid on the block that had just opened at its present location for a short time. It is a big box specialty retailer that sells both brand name and generic electronic equipment.

Like it was in the past, I started my search for what I wanted at the department store whom I know well first. The afternoon of a chilly day was also a perfect time to shop in a warm and invitingly decorated store. I walked around the store’s displays of many television sets, big and small. While the selections there were somewhat limited, I did find one I liked. But to my utmost surprise, there was no salesperson in the department to help me and a few others buy what we wanted. Like the other five or six would-be customers I walked away from my favorite store’s electronics department empty handed.

At the specialty store across the street, I got a very cheerful welcome at the entrance. I also found a similar-made television set there quickly with the help of its knowledgeable staff.

Now I know which store to go when I need a few electronic gadgets. - Ayee

Good News

This morning for a change I woke up hearing the news that I was happy to hear.

It is not about the overdue world peace that has just arrived in time for Christmas. It is about the suspension of a local veterinarian’s license to practice. And this is not the first time this particular vet was headlined in the news either. I remember a few years ago, it was shown on the television a crowd of angry placard-yielding pet owners demonstrating outside his 24/7 so-called low-cost animal hospital.

About eleven years ago, I used this vet once at the recommendation of an animal rescue group. Unwittingly, I did find the vet had treated my dear Purdy badly. I heard my cat’s wretched cry when the vet was drawing a pee sample from her in a back room. When the vet returned Purdy to me, she became a larger cat than her usual petite self. All her fur hairs were sticking out from her body like she was wearing a space suit. Cats do not puff up their coats for no-good reasons.

Apparently my cat was not his only victim. This vet and his staff had also caused excruciating pain and unnecessary suffering to many other beloved family pets. Sadly to know that informal demonstration did not result in any legal or professional sanction against this vet sooner. So he got to operate his inhumane animal hospital until yesterday when his license to practice was finally suspended. - Ayee