A simple philosophy

John Chapman's philosophy of life came from the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg. Swedenborg taught people:

Do good without looking for anything in return. Study nature and love nature.

True to his philosophy, John Chapman lived in harmony with nature.

John Chapman died at the age of 70 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1845. By that time, apple orchards from his seeds covered a hundred thousand square miles.

His legend grew after his death. People told all sorts of stories about his courage and his adventures.

Today there are many monuments to Johnny Appleseed in the Midwest.

《最好的時光》 (Movie, 2005)

侯孝賢 (HOU Hsiao-Hsien) 二○○五年的《最好的時光》(Three Times) 在二○○五年的金馬獎頗有斬獲，其中包含年度最佳台灣電影獎以及最佳女主角獎舒淇。

它是同一組演員詮釋三段不同的愛情故事。理論上應該要三位不同的導演處理三段不同時代的同一個愛情故事。不過只剩下侯孝賢留下來，優先處理他年輕時代的記憶。其實也不應該根據三個不同的時代──一九六六年、一九一一年、二○○五年──限制住時間的概念。

角色們不敢說出來的話已藉由攝影機的書寫強迫他們用寫的來表達感情，因此這段一九六六年的〈戀愛夢〉根據兩種節奏前進：一是在撞球間內部，另一是室外的交通。侯孝賢以一九六六年為首，一九六六年的「戀愛夢」正是侯孝賢的青春期。

第二段換至一九一一年「自由夢」，位在大稻埕。關於台灣起意反抗日本殖民統治。這也是為什麼要用默片的形式來呈現這時代，它講出禁忌的力量，以致必須要用書寫的方式來更好呈現「禁忌壓制話語」這氣氛。

二○○五年將主題反過來，自然讓人期待二○○五年「青春夢」是在報館工作的先生和藝旦之間有進一步的階段。我們看到道德觀的解放自由。速度帶來的快感、光線霓光燈化、身體被化約成靜態的攝影照片、電子音樂，再加上疾病，以疾病處理這個段落，也意味疾病正打擊我們這個時代。震的女朋友選擇離去，靖的女朋友選擇自殺。陰陰的灰藍色色調不僅是攝影的醜陋，也代表這一段故事死氣沉沉。靖被設計成右眼漸盲以及患有癲癇症的角色，意義在哪兒，不知。靖，不客氣地說，根本就是一副「死樣子」，前兩段舒淇散發出來的榮光一掃而空，觀眾為什麼要同情沒有生氣的靖？所謂的「青春夢」到底在夢想什麼？

In Memoriam Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche (1952-2014)

Published on Jun 16, 2014

Mipham Chokyi Lodro (27 October 1952 - 11 June 2014), also known as Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche -Holder of the Red Crown -, was the 14th Shamarpa of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. The Shamarpa is the second most important teacher of the Karma Kagyu school after the Karmapa. The Karmapas are sometimes referred to as the Black Hat Lamas, referring to their Black Crown.

The second Karmapa, Karma Pakshi, prophesied that 'future Karmapas shall manifest in two Nirmanakaya forms'. Later the third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje presented his principal student, Khedrup Drakpa Senge, a ruby-red crown which was an exact replica of his own Black Crown. The Karmapa explained that it symbolised their identical nature and so the lineage of the Shamarpas started.

The 14th Shamarpa was recognised by the 16th Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje. During his lifetime, the Shamarpa was a central figure in the current controversy within the Karma Kagyu lineage. He recognised Trinley Thaye Dorje as the current (17th) Karmapa

On June 11, 2014 the 14th Kunzig Shamar Rinpoche pass away suddenly in Germany at the age of 62. He had just completed several days of teachings at his main European seat in Renchen-Ulm, Germany.

At approximately 7:30 am (Central European Time), he experienced a heart attack. Emergency medical services were immediately summoned but nothing could be done. Rinpoche is now in the meditative Thugdam state.

Shamar Rinpoche's unexpected death leaves thousands of his disciples in Asia and the Western world greatly saddened and in a profound state of shock. He touched the lives of countless numbers of people. His accomplishments as a spiritual leader will benefit sentient beings for years to come.

Salted Plums (鹽漬梅)

After two weeks being marinated, they are still half-way done. Those salted plums will be sun-dried for another week before becoming pickled plums (酸梅). Be patient!

This is the final product after half a month drying under the sun. The true salted plums!

Interstellar (2014, Movie)

The film simply does go on too long and is over the top at times. The first two acts of INTERSTELLAR are clear: Man is trying to find a new planet to transform & colonize because Earth is dying. So a group of astronauts travel via wormhole to another galaxy to scout habitable worlds. This is mainly a story about human connection across time & space, but unfortunately the conclusion to this premise is simply too arbitrary & baffling to appreciate or to interpret and it can only leave you confused, and bewildered.

Volunteers Luncheon at Arcadia Public Library

Being a volunteer for "English Conversation Class', I was invited to attend a luncheon honoring library volunteers by "The Friends of the Arcadia Public Library". Not only a soft-taco catering booth was set up for just us, a live musical entertainment by singer Ms. Gerri Iris Bryant was also an awesome surprise.

Thanks to both Jim and Amy Macklin for setting up this memorable event. I even won a door prize of Panda Inn $40 gift certificate. Hurray!

My first floral arrangemet

After the first meet at the Ikenobo Ikebana class, this is what my work turned out. Thanks to teacher Ms. Julie Chen's (陳嶺瑞) help, it did bring out the form and spirit of the beautiful flowers in those twin vases. Such style is called Free Style.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014, Movie)

The Hobbit book was first & foremost meant to be a kids fairy tale. It wasn't meant to have the level of darkness & urgency that Tolkien later gave Lord of The Ring. The Hobbit is basically a story about a treasure hunt NOT about the fate of the world.  In this closing chapter, no one should be surprised that bulk of this movie is the actual battle itself. We get the clashing armies, sword duels, chases, & Middle Earth fantasy extravaganza we've come to expect from Jackson. 

In order to pad things out to stretch one slender book into three overlong films, a lot of extraneous material and repetitious running and fighting has been added to no purpose plot wise. The climactic showdown between an orc and a dwarf is dragged out as well.

The Grandmaster 《一代宗師》 (2013, Movie)

電影在打鬥中開始，葉問（梁朝偉飾）以寡擊眾，打敗了挑釁的眾人，可是後面的故事沒有提到這場打鬥因何而起，跟其他部分有甚麼關聯，唯一知道的就是葉問武功高強。《一代宗師》這部電影就是由李小龍的故事啟發出來的。

很多場境並不連接，很多對白與場境都只是用剪接手法補上，有時候男女主角甚至可能並沒有同時出現在同一場境。所以你會覺得很多地方很牽強。至於拍攝手法，真的是美得沒朋友，血在水中反彈，強烈的顏色對比，對光影的運用發揮得淋漓盡致。宮二、馬山在火車疾駛的鐵道旁激戰的那一幕，驚心動魄中不失美感，每個畫面都是經典。

這部電影最弱的地方可能是支線太多，情節交代不清楚，但是導演要表現各門派的動作和藝術，就把敘事的部份濃縮了。片子拍得很講究，據說從構思到拍攝成功花了十三年。王家衛導演遍訪各地武學大師，做足了功課。三位主要演員各自拜師學藝，學了詠春拳(梁朝偉)、八卦掌(章子怡)，和八極拳(張震)。

章子怡演 的宮若梅。她的表情不多，在第50屆金馬獎中得獎。除了章子怡，這部戲獲得金馬獎的還有最佳攝影 Philippe Le Sourd，最佳視覺效果Pierre Buffin，最佳美術設計張叔平、邱偉明，和最佳造型設計張叔平。

整部電影無法表達"一代宗師" 的偉大與貢獻, 這頂多只是一部唯美的"葉問傳"。

Karmapa on Emptiness

Interdependence is another way to introduce the idea of emptiness. When we talk about emptiness, it can draw a lot of confused and unwanted thoughts, fear, and all kinds of unnecessary conclusions. So that's why another way of interpreting it, another way of saying it, is by using the word interdependence. Because when you say 'interdependence', it naturally shows that there is no one separate entity that is autonomous or independent, yes, that each of the components must depend on another and therefore there is no singular entity. This is emptiness. Everything happens due to a cause and due to that cause there is that effect. And also between the cause and effect, there also need to be the conditions, so you see, all these chains of dependency. So that is another way of showing that everything is impermanent, everything is empty.

Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje

原始點醫學 健康快樂研習班 2015年第1期手法班 (LA HH CLASS)

第三次學習手法班, 怎麼還是錯誤百出? 如何當好志工的角色? 著實汗顏.

原來真理可以很簡單、很好懂，只是自己是否可以放空知見全心接受而已。「因、緣、果」論述言簡意賅，真理不辯自明。但這真理卻是張醫師與其夫人菩薩在十餘年間歷經磨難而得證，感恩留給世人無盡的寶藏。

繼續致力原始點的基礎及手法班學習, 以便明日成為真正的志工. 

感謝張醫師、吳醫師、以及 健康快樂 研習班所有志工師兄姐，您們正在實踐實修並實證生活醫學, 十分感佩!

靈嚴山體驗營 (原始點醫學)

我們5/3受邀至靈嚴山舉辦體驗營活動. 大約有150人參與, 志工不過15人左右.

我是在熱敷區幫忙志工. 整天下來, 累趴了! 

不過是很成功的教育活動. 吳明華醫師可樂歪啦!

Bel Canto Chamber Singers annual concert (好歌者合唱團)

Being invited by Mei-Ling Ouyang and her husband Donald, we anticipated a gala evening event . All the gorgeous costumes, music, power-point background, and of course beautiful singing, really surprised us. You can say that the music touched my heart and tickled my fancy.

It gave me the urge of learning singing soon, from my busy schedule.

尊貴的 蕯迦崔津法王2015年洛杉磯菩提之旅 His Holiness The Sakya Trizin

His Holiness the 41st Sakya Trizin is the head of the Sakya School, one of the four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism.  He is renowned throughout the world for the brilliance and clarity of his teachings and his fluency and precise command of English. H. H. Sakya Trizin is one of the most important spiritual master and leaders of Tibetan Buddhism today. His Holiness  the Sakya Trizin has made a rare teaching visit to Los Angeles at the invitation of Tsechen Chokhor Ling.

Teaching on Four Nobel Truth and Amitabha Phowa Transmission
四聖諦佛法教授與阿彌陀佛頗瓦法的口傳和引導＿

The Four Nobel Truth are regarded as the central teaching of the Buddhist tradition and provide the framework upon which all other Buddhist Philosophy and meditation are based. Our realization on the spiritual path can become more transformative and profound by repeatedly studying them.
四聖諦被視為佛陀教法的核心，更是一切佛法見解，修証體系的基礎框架.反復學習四聖諦，將會幫助修行者更迅速,更深入地實現心靈轉變.

Amitabha Phowa is transference of the consciousness to the Pure Land of Amitabha. His Holiness the Sakya Trizin kindly accepted the request to bestow the transmission and teaching on the profound Amitabha Phowa practice.
阿彌陀佛頗瓦旨在幫助修行者遷識至阿彌陀佛凈土。 尊貴的薩迦崔津法王慈悲應允弟子的請求，將針對此甚深的教法給予口傳和引導。

HH is very charismatic. Great experience. Indrajala may be happy to know that HH said the same thing that Indrajala did awhile back; happiness is merely the absence of suffering.