Baba's thought for today.
"Silence is the speech of the spiritual seeker"
No can can deny the fact that in human communication "Silence" is in fact a form of non verbal communication. By not saying anything 'speaks volumes'. This very act conveys to the other party or person strong messages, such as 'I did not hear you"; "I'm indifferent"; "I disapprove'" and the list goes on. This is the aspect of silence in interpersonal communication. So for effective communication one has to be sensitive to such situations.
But in intrapersonal communication, silence may refer to contemplating, reflecting, introspection, meditation, being deep in prayer, or just being with oneself. This process enables one to clear one's thoughts; to be in the presen and thus one is in reality practising mindfulness. This is spiritually uplifting and may be joyous or equanimous.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Bukit Merah Eco Park
Baba's thought for today.
"Let the wave of memory, the storm of desire,
the fire of emotion pass through without
affecting your equanimity."
affecting your equanimity."
Among the many attractions in the Bukit Merah Resort in Perak is the eco park. This park is well designed with visitors entering at the upper level and then proceeding downwards to the various sections. Children will certainly be delighted with the various sections which allow feeding of the animals. (The feeding package can be purchased at the ticket counter).
The design allows visitors to stroll at leisure whilst they watch the animals without feeling too humid for there is sufficient ventilation. But the most exciting experience for children is the feeding and petting of the animals.
In the pictures Lisim is lovingly fondling a hamster. In the other pictures Aidan is engrossed in feeding the little turtles, petting the bear cat, holding a rabbit and feeding an iguana. Such experiences, besides being endearing to children will give them an opportunity to appreciate nature and the animal world.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Emotional Intelligence
Baba's thought for today.
"Instead of making the senses which are at best very
poor guides and informants, his servant; man has made
them his master."
Reflections on today's quote will include some sharing on emotional intelligence.
Usually our first reaction to events that happen are influence by our emotions.
"Instead of making the senses which are at best very
poor guides and informants, his servant; man has made
them his master."
Reflections on today's quote will include some sharing on emotional intelligence.
Usually our first reaction to events that happen are influence by our emotions.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Effective classroom management
Baba's thought for today.
"The mind fixed in the awareness of the One is
like a rock, unaffected by doubt, stable, secure."
We had an exciting time over the last two days at the KTAR Training centre in Wisma MCA. This lively group of lecturers from Tar College, not only from the main campus in Setapak but also its branches in Kampar and Penang interatced with me during the workshop sessions.
We discussed many issues pertaining to effective classroom management and effective communication. On the topic of effective comunication, we emphasized the importance of listening.
During the seminar session, lead by Iris, seven ways to achieve good interpersonal communication were elaborated. These tips included appropriate body language (such as establishing eye contact, leaning towards the speaker, silent signals to show interest), not interrupting the speaker, using the speakers words to get your own point through, and asking suitable questions. The panel members shared their experiences which also included some humorous episodes which took place in the lecture halls and tutorial rooms.
In the next picture Mr Tan Ping Foo led his group in summarizing the main points on how to create active learning in the classroom. Ng Khoo Lay contributed practical ideas such as the use of appropriate teaching methods and using a variety of teaching aids and activities. Tan Gaik Yen also agreed that using cooperative learning will generate more participation from the students. The general conclusion was that instructional design should be student centred to achieve maximum learning.
In another workshop session, Prema, Christine, Hew and Jayamathy examined the issues involve in the topic of "Praise in the classroom." They emphasized the differences between praise and encouragement. Whilst praise only recognises complete, perfect product, encouragement recognises effort and improvement. Amongst the many differences, the most significant is the effect on one's self esteem. While praise makes one feel worthwhile only when others approve (external locus of control), encouragement makes one feel worthwhile without the approval of others (internal locus of control). In the long term, praise makes one dependent on others but encouragement will result in self confidence and self reliance.
Ooi Sumin, Diong Fong Wei, Yau Ming Yuan and Clifford presented some research findings on the importance of multiple intelligences in the teaching and learning process. As opposed to the traditional viewpoint of two types of intelligences of 'verbal' and 'computional', the paper describes the breakdown categories such as linguistic, logical/mathematical. social, musical, kinesthetic/bodily, personal and naturalistic. So ideally recognition of such differences will enable lecturers to plan their teaching methods and activities accordingly.
There was active participation from members of all groups and many topics were covered. I believe that the lecturers went away more informed on the principle of "withitness" when managing their classrooms; the significance of teachers' beliefs in students' achievement; and lastly through the case studies insights were gained on handling inappropriate behaviour, students' learning styles,personal problems faced by college students and also issues faced by lecturers in general.
I benefitted from the sharing and hope to get feedback from lecturers especially on the topic on 'Outcomes based learning'.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Lessons from the birds
Baba's thought for today.
"However high a bird may soar, it has
sooner or later to perch on a tree top,
to enjoy quiet."
"However high a bird may soar, it has
sooner or later to perch on a tree top,
to enjoy quiet."
Attribution theory
Baba's thought for today.
"Whatever is to our advantage will appear right to us:
We do not usually look upon a matter from the other
fellow's standpoint."
My reflections on this quote prompt me to mention the Attribution Theory which deals with the way one can attribute a certain behaviour or happening either internally or externally.
We all have a need to explain the world, both to ourselves and to other people, attributing cause to the events around us. This gives us a greater sense of control. When explaining behavior, it can affect the standing of people within a group (especially ourselves).
When another person has erred, we will often use internal attribution, saying it is due to internal personality factors. When we have erred, we will more likely use external attribution, attributing causes to situational factors rather than blaming ourselves. And vice versa. We will attribute our successes internally and the successes of our rivals to external ‘luck’.
When a football team wins, supporters say ‘we won’. But when the team loses, the supporters say ‘they lost’.Our attributions are also significantly driven by our emotional and motivational drives. Blaming other people and avoiding personal recrimination are very real self-serving attributions. We will also make attributions to defend what we perceive as attacks. We will point to injustice in an unfair world.
We will even tend to blame victims (of us and of others) for their fate as we seek to distance ourselves from thoughts of suffering the same plight. We will also tend to ascribe less variability to other people than ourselves, seeing ourselves as more multifaceted and less predictable than others. This may well because we can see more of what is inside ourselves (and spend more time doing this).
In practice, we often tend to go through a two-step process, starting with an automatic internal attribution, followed by a slower consideration of whether an external attribution is more appropriate. From a standpoint of motivation, external attribution of events or bebaviour may be more campassionate and effective, maybe??? It's similiar to saying "I give you the benefit of the doubt" (More information on this topic can be obtained in the relevant web sites from which I had referred to.)
Very often too, we do not try to understand the other person's reality but instead pass judgement based on our own perceptions. Maybe we shall attempt to be more objective.
"Whatever is to our advantage will appear right to us:
We do not usually look upon a matter from the other
fellow's standpoint."
My reflections on this quote prompt me to mention the Attribution Theory which deals with the way one can attribute a certain behaviour or happening either internally or externally.
We all have a need to explain the world, both to ourselves and to other people, attributing cause to the events around us. This gives us a greater sense of control. When explaining behavior, it can affect the standing of people within a group (especially ourselves).
When another person has erred, we will often use internal attribution, saying it is due to internal personality factors. When we have erred, we will more likely use external attribution, attributing causes to situational factors rather than blaming ourselves. And vice versa. We will attribute our successes internally and the successes of our rivals to external ‘luck’.
When a football team wins, supporters say ‘we won’. But when the team loses, the supporters say ‘they lost’.Our attributions are also significantly driven by our emotional and motivational drives. Blaming other people and avoiding personal recrimination are very real self-serving attributions. We will also make attributions to defend what we perceive as attacks. We will point to injustice in an unfair world.
We will even tend to blame victims (of us and of others) for their fate as we seek to distance ourselves from thoughts of suffering the same plight. We will also tend to ascribe less variability to other people than ourselves, seeing ourselves as more multifaceted and less predictable than others. This may well because we can see more of what is inside ourselves (and spend more time doing this).
In practice, we often tend to go through a two-step process, starting with an automatic internal attribution, followed by a slower consideration of whether an external attribution is more appropriate. From a standpoint of motivation, external attribution of events or bebaviour may be more campassionate and effective, maybe??? It's similiar to saying "I give you the benefit of the doubt" (More information on this topic can be obtained in the relevant web sites from which I had referred to.)
Very often too, we do not try to understand the other person's reality but instead pass judgement based on our own perceptions. Maybe we shall attempt to be more objective.
This picture of a lovely sunset scene was taken on Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia. The "goodness"of this picture, can be attributed the unique scenery, the expertise of the photographer or to the quality of the camera? So what is the answer? Figure this out.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Goodness of Eggs
I am sharing this interesting article which was forwarded to me.
Egg yolks are good for you
The truth about egg yolks
Many people throw away the egg yolk because they think that's where all the nasty fat and cholesterol is". This is a perfect example of how confused most people are about nutrition.
In a world full of misinformation, somehow most people now mistakenly think that the egg yolk is the worst part of the egg, when in fact, the YOLK IS THE HEALTHIEST PART OF THE EGG!
By throwing out the yolk and only eating egg whites, you're essentially throwing out the most nutrient dense, antioxidant-rich, vitamin and mineral loaded portion of the egg. The yolks contain so many B-vitamins, trace minerals, vitamin A, folate, choline, lutein, and other powerful nutrients... it's not even worth trying to list them all.
In fact, the egg whites are almost devoid of nutrition compared to the yolk. Even the protein in egg whites isn't as powerful without the yolks to balance out the amino acid profile and make the protein more bio-available. Not to even mention that the egg yolks from free range chickens are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. Yolks contain more than 90% of the calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, thiamin, B6, folate, and B12, and panthothenic acid of the egg. In addition, the yolks contain all of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K in the egg, as well as all of the essential fatty acids.
And now the common objection I get all the time when I say that the yolks are the most nutritious part of the egg..."But I heard that whole eggs will skyrocket my cholesterol through the roof ." No, this is FALSE!
First of all, when you eat a food that contains a high amount of dietary cholesterol such as eggs, your body down-regulates it's internal production of cholesterol to balance things out. On the other hand, if you don't eat enough cholesterol, your body simply produces more since cholesterol has tons of important functions in the body.
And here's where it gets even more interesting...There are indications that eating whole eggs actually raises your good HDL cholesterol to a higher degree than LDL cholesterol, thereby improving your overall cholesterol ratio and blood chemistry.
And 3rd... high cholesterol is NOT a disease! Heart disease is a disease...but high cholesterol is NOT.
You can read the following article about why trying to attack cholesterol is a mistake, and what the REAL deadly risk factors actually are...
So I hope we've established that whole eggs are not some evil food that will wreck your body... instead whole eggs are FAR superior egg whi
Also, your normal supermarket eggs coming from mass factory farming just don't compare nutritionally with organic free range eggs from healthy chickens that are allowed to roam freely and eat a more natural diet.
I recently compared eggs I bought at the grocery store with a batch of eggs I got at a farm stand where the chickens were free roaming and healthy. Most people don't realize that there's a major difference because they've never bought real eggs from healthy chickens... The eggs from the grocery store had pale yellow yolks. On the other hand, the healthier free range eggs had deep orange colored yolks indicating much higher nutrition levels and carotenoids.
So next time a health or fitness professional tells you that egg whites are superior, you can quietly ignore their advice knowing that you understand the REAL deal about egg yolks.
One more thing about eggs... I read a study recently that compared groups of people that ate egg breakfasts vs groups of people that ate cereal or bagel based breakfasts. The results of the study showed that the egg eaters lost or maintained a healthier bodyweight, while the cereal/bagel eaters gained weight.
It was hypothesized that the egg eaters actually ate less calories during the remainder of the day because their appetite was more satisfied compared to the cereal/bagel eaters who would have been more prone to wild blood sugar swings and food cravings.
For more infomation go to
http://www.truthabouttabs.com/cholestrol-myths.
Egg yolks are good for you
The truth about egg yolks
Many people throw away the egg yolk because they think that's where all the nasty fat and cholesterol is". This is a perfect example of how confused most people are about nutrition.
In a world full of misinformation, somehow most people now mistakenly think that the egg yolk is the worst part of the egg, when in fact, the YOLK IS THE HEALTHIEST PART OF THE EGG!
By throwing out the yolk and only eating egg whites, you're essentially throwing out the most nutrient dense, antioxidant-rich, vitamin and mineral loaded portion of the egg. The yolks contain so many B-vitamins, trace minerals, vitamin A, folate, choline, lutein, and other powerful nutrients... it's not even worth trying to list them all.
In fact, the egg whites are almost devoid of nutrition compared to the yolk. Even the protein in egg whites isn't as powerful without the yolks to balance out the amino acid profile and make the protein more bio-available. Not to even mention that the egg yolks from free range chickens are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. Yolks contain more than 90% of the calcium, iron, phosphorus, zinc, thiamin, B6, folate, and B12, and panthothenic acid of the egg. In addition, the yolks contain all of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K in the egg, as well as all of the essential fatty acids.
And now the common objection I get all the time when I say that the yolks are the most nutritious part of the egg..."But I heard that whole eggs will skyrocket my cholesterol through the roof ." No, this is FALSE!
First of all, when you eat a food that contains a high amount of dietary cholesterol such as eggs, your body down-regulates it's internal production of cholesterol to balance things out. On the other hand, if you don't eat enough cholesterol, your body simply produces more since cholesterol has tons of important functions in the body.
And here's where it gets even more interesting...There are indications that eating whole eggs actually raises your good HDL cholesterol to a higher degree than LDL cholesterol, thereby improving your overall cholesterol ratio and blood chemistry.
And 3rd... high cholesterol is NOT a disease! Heart disease is a disease...but high cholesterol is NOT.
You can read the following article about why trying to attack cholesterol is a mistake, and what the REAL deadly risk factors actually are...
So I hope we've established that whole eggs are not some evil food that will wreck your body... instead whole eggs are FAR superior egg whi
Also, your normal supermarket eggs coming from mass factory farming just don't compare nutritionally with organic free range eggs from healthy chickens that are allowed to roam freely and eat a more natural diet.
I recently compared eggs I bought at the grocery store with a batch of eggs I got at a farm stand where the chickens were free roaming and healthy. Most people don't realize that there's a major difference because they've never bought real eggs from healthy chickens... The eggs from the grocery store had pale yellow yolks. On the other hand, the healthier free range eggs had deep orange colored yolks indicating much higher nutrition levels and carotenoids.
So next time a health or fitness professional tells you that egg whites are superior, you can quietly ignore their advice knowing that you understand the REAL deal about egg yolks.
One more thing about eggs... I read a study recently that compared groups of people that ate egg breakfasts vs groups of people that ate cereal or bagel based breakfasts. The results of the study showed that the egg eaters lost or maintained a healthier bodyweight, while the cereal/bagel eaters gained weight.
It was hypothesized that the egg eaters actually ate less calories during the remainder of the day because their appetite was more satisfied compared to the cereal/bagel eaters who would have been more prone to wild blood sugar swings and food cravings.
For more infomation go to
http://www.truthabouttabs.com/cholestrol-myths.
We are what we eat?
Baba's thought for today.
"The food that one eats has to be pure,
free from the subtle evils radiated by the
persons who collect the materials, who cook
the dishes and who serve them."
There is a great deal of discussion on organic food, GM food, processed food and the list goes on. We are faced with so much literature on the pros and cons of the various types, that there is confusion as to what constitutes a wholesome diet.
What we eat is a matter of personal choice, preference, taboos and one's health condition. There is no such thing as a proven formula that will guarantee one's good health. But at a spiritual level, the topic of food has also been hotly debated. Some people are sceptical about the food offerings made during observance of festivals and some prayer rituals. Following today's quote, I believe that all foods are wholesome if they are served with a loving and sincere heart and the person who consumes it likewise must be grateful for the food.
The popular saying of 'you are what you eat' can be interpreted at different levels so one has the choice to eat whatever he or she pleases. It's all in the mind.
"The food that one eats has to be pure,
free from the subtle evils radiated by the
persons who collect the materials, who cook
the dishes and who serve them."
There is a great deal of discussion on organic food, GM food, processed food and the list goes on. We are faced with so much literature on the pros and cons of the various types, that there is confusion as to what constitutes a wholesome diet.
What we eat is a matter of personal choice, preference, taboos and one's health condition. There is no such thing as a proven formula that will guarantee one's good health. But at a spiritual level, the topic of food has also been hotly debated. Some people are sceptical about the food offerings made during observance of festivals and some prayer rituals. Following today's quote, I believe that all foods are wholesome if they are served with a loving and sincere heart and the person who consumes it likewise must be grateful for the food.
The popular saying of 'you are what you eat' can be interpreted at different levels so one has the choice to eat whatever he or she pleases. It's all in the mind.
Monday, September 21, 2009
One world, One dream
Baba's thought for today.
"There should not be any trace of dislike
or distrust on the score of nationality,
language, caste, economic status, scholarship,
age or sex."
"There should not be any trace of dislike
or distrust on the score of nationality,
language, caste, economic status, scholarship,
age or sex."
I am reminded of my days in University of Malaya 40 years ago when we interacted as one "race". There was no racial tension. Words such as polarisation did not exist in our vocabulary then.
MU, the only university in Malaysia at that time, must be lauded for the measures that were implemented then. In the halls of residence, first year students had to stay for one semester in dormitaries shared by six girls of different races. This was a good experience for us, for by living togather we had the chance to learn about each others' culture, food and sensitivities. Both Muslims and non muslim food were served in the dining room and all students collected their respective food preferences from the counters and we then sat and ate together, both muslims and non muslims and thus we could interact as well as know about the various dishes. This was indeed very effective at bringing the integrating the races.
I also remember a frightful experience when I had a Malay girl as my room mate. One evening, on entering the room around 'magrib' time, I had a shock of my life when I saw a white figure behind the door. Naturally,in the dim light of dusk, I thought I had seen a ghost!! This is just one of the instances of learning through experiences and it is through such examples that we as Malaysian can live as One Nation.
Internationally, events are held periodically to bring countries togather. Sports events, leadership events, community service conferences etc are good occassions for people of all races to meet so as to foster understanding and respect for people of all races, creed and culture. But individuals must also play thier role in their personal capacity towards fostering goodwill. The picture show the crowd of different nationalities cheering during the paralympics football match in Beijing 2008.
The paralympics held in Beijing in 2008 opened my eyes to the recognition of all races as equal human beings irrespective of their colour, creed and physical conditions. The motto of One World , One Dream (Pictures taken in Tiananmen Square last year) should be the guideline of how we should live our lives and treat all with compassion.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
New member
Baba's thought for today.
"The lights have to be switched on in the heart
of man, rather than in the house where the
image of the Lord is installed and worshipped"
Reflecting on this thought, I am reminded to pay more attention on cultivating postive moral values; to be kind in our thoughts ,words and actions; and to have some daily quite time spent in meditation and introspection. Hopefully with this the internal lights will shine regardless of outward form.
We have once again been blessed with another grandson, born on the auspiciuos day of 190909 in New Jersey, USA. Mother and son are doing fine and we share this joy with Jin and family and wish them all the best. WhyeLi is proudly showing off his new brother WhyeJing.
"The lights have to be switched on in the heart
of man, rather than in the house where the
image of the Lord is installed and worshipped"
Reflecting on this thought, I am reminded to pay more attention on cultivating postive moral values; to be kind in our thoughts ,words and actions; and to have some daily quite time spent in meditation and introspection. Hopefully with this the internal lights will shine regardless of outward form.
We have once again been blessed with another grandson, born on the auspiciuos day of 190909 in New Jersey, USA. Mother and son are doing fine and we share this joy with Jin and family and wish them all the best. WhyeLi is proudly showing off his new brother WhyeJing.
Today is Hari Raya Aidil Fitri and everyone is in a celebration mood visiting our Muslims friends in the Malaysian spirit of 'open house'. This practice is unique in Malaysia. During major festivals, people of all races, creed and culture take the opportunity visit eaxch other in order to share in the social interaction, further understand each others' culture, strength fellowship ties and promote racial harmony.
We are indeed fortunate to live in such a nation but we should also play our part to maintain this 'one Malaysia' concept.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Shopping Mall decorations and mooncakes
Baba's thought for today.
"The purpose of living is
to achieve the 'living in God'."
Today is the eve of Hari Raya Aidil Fitri which also corresponds to the first day of the eighth Chinese lunar month. In Malaysia the celebration of the festivals of the different races forms a unique aspect of our culture. With such a varied ethnic mix, we are 'celebrating' one thing or another all year round! How interesting.
The shopping malls take great pains to reflect the mood of such festivals in their decoration. Very soon the Hari Raya (essentially green)decorations will be replaced with the bright red and colourful decorations of lanterns and moon cakes for the mooncake festival which will be observed in fifteen days time.
As the observance of these festivals reflect the 'muhibah' spirit of 'One Malaysia" we should be always mindful of the values that we hold. Having a simple, clean and moral lifestyle; caring for family and friends; and conserving the environment are some of the ways to achieve 'living in God'.
"The purpose of living is
to achieve the 'living in God'."
Today is the eve of Hari Raya Aidil Fitri which also corresponds to the first day of the eighth Chinese lunar month. In Malaysia the celebration of the festivals of the different races forms a unique aspect of our culture. With such a varied ethnic mix, we are 'celebrating' one thing or another all year round! How interesting.
The shopping malls take great pains to reflect the mood of such festivals in their decoration. Very soon the Hari Raya (essentially green)decorations will be replaced with the bright red and colourful decorations of lanterns and moon cakes for the mooncake festival which will be observed in fifteen days time.
As the observance of these festivals reflect the 'muhibah' spirit of 'One Malaysia" we should be always mindful of the values that we hold. Having a simple, clean and moral lifestyle; caring for family and friends; and conserving the environment are some of the ways to achieve 'living in God'.
Posted are pictures of some mooncakes bought in Vietnam. The making of mooncakes is now a competitive business and craetivity is called for in order to capture the market. Notice the unique presentation and theme of the sow with her brood of piglets.
In the other picture, the filling of mooncakes is not the conventional filling of lotus bean, red bean or mixed nuts filling. They have now stretch their imagination and new flavours have included green tea, chocolate, and even ice cream. But these flavours from Vietnam 'takes the cake'...fillings such as shark's fins, oyster, abalone and other exotic items. Just imagine!!! To top it of all these are presented in very attractive boxes and labelling!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Neighbours
Baba's thought for today.
"Man is now able to soar
into outer space and reach
to the moon:
but he is not moral enough
to live at peace with his neighbour."
This quote brings to mind the current 'strain' Malaysia and Indonesia are experiencing. Apparently the misreporting by Discovery Channel regarding the origin of the Balinese dance called "Tarian Pendet" started a furore regarding infringement into one's cultural heritage.
Debates by claimants of the 'copyright" of 'Batik', 'satay' and 'ayam percik' just to name a few may have led to temperatures reaching boiling point, even resulting in some unfortunate incidents faced by some Malaysians in a neighbouring country.
The real reason for this situation is only a point of conjecture but it is definitely something beyond 'batik' and 'satay'. But it is heartening to note that the leaders are working on ironing out the differences.
At our personal level, it calls for understanding, patience, tolerance and compassion to live peacefully with our neighbours. We should regard and treat our neighbours as our best friends for in a crisis, especially if it occurs in the dead of night, it will be our neighbours who will be the first people at our doorstep.
I am reminded of the common saying "Love thy neighbour as you love yourself" but it means more than just passing a plate of cookies across the fence!!
"Man is now able to soar
into outer space and reach
to the moon:
but he is not moral enough
to live at peace with his neighbour."
This quote brings to mind the current 'strain' Malaysia and Indonesia are experiencing. Apparently the misreporting by Discovery Channel regarding the origin of the Balinese dance called "Tarian Pendet" started a furore regarding infringement into one's cultural heritage.
Debates by claimants of the 'copyright" of 'Batik', 'satay' and 'ayam percik' just to name a few may have led to temperatures reaching boiling point, even resulting in some unfortunate incidents faced by some Malaysians in a neighbouring country.
The real reason for this situation is only a point of conjecture but it is definitely something beyond 'batik' and 'satay'. But it is heartening to note that the leaders are working on ironing out the differences.
At our personal level, it calls for understanding, patience, tolerance and compassion to live peacefully with our neighbours. We should regard and treat our neighbours as our best friends for in a crisis, especially if it occurs in the dead of night, it will be our neighbours who will be the first people at our doorstep.
I am reminded of the common saying "Love thy neighbour as you love yourself" but it means more than just passing a plate of cookies across the fence!!
Residential communities do organise events to promote fellowship as seen in the picture of a racing event for children in Parkside Drive, Peoria USA or social events to celebrate Halloween as seen in the second picture. All these do promote good neighbourliness but the bottom line is that we have to 'walk the talk".
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Score 'A' Programme
Baba's thought for today."Awake, Arise and
Stop not till the goal is reached."
This qoute is motivating especially for students as I share some information on a strategy that can help students reach their full potential.
I am referring to an interesting portal which offers home tuition and coaching to school children from Standard one right up to Form Five based on the Malaysian school syllabus.This portal is endorsed by the Ministry of Education and has been tested in eight-nine schools in the country and the results have been very encouraging.
This portal was made available to the public in 1997 and testimonials from students of various learning levels who have succeeded in scoring several 'A's and many even straight 'A's in the public examinations speak well of this portal. This interesting mode in home tuition has many practical advantages both for students as well as parents.
Firstly, through e-learning, students are able to work at their own pace, identify their weaknesses and receive immediate feedback on their performance. The many interactive features of this portal also includes Examination Hall experience; endless practice sessions with the hugh question bank; e-notes and dictionary. With these unique features students can be fully engaged in active independent learning. Furthermore, parents can also receive immediate feedback of their child's work through the SMS service.
I am impressed with this portal and I feel that if this is used more widely, more students will definitley be 'A' students. Congratulations to the team who designed this portal thus adding an extra option for tuition towards the goal of higher academic achievement.
This portal was made available to the public in 1997 and testimonials from students of various learning levels who have succeeded in scoring several 'A's and many even straight 'A's in the public examinations speak well of this portal. This interesting mode in home tuition has many practical advantages both for students as well as parents.
Firstly, through e-learning, students are able to work at their own pace, identify their weaknesses and receive immediate feedback on their performance. The many interactive features of this portal also includes Examination Hall experience; endless practice sessions with the hugh question bank; e-notes and dictionary. With these unique features students can be fully engaged in active independent learning. Furthermore, parents can also receive immediate feedback of their child's work through the SMS service.
I am impressed with this portal and I feel that if this is used more widely, more students will definitley be 'A' students. Congratulations to the team who designed this portal thus adding an extra option for tuition towards the goal of higher academic achievement.
The picture shows a group of like minded people sharing their experiences on this virtual learning mode.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Thunderbolt in Taiping area.
Baba's thought for today.
"Condemn the wrong and extol
the right as soon as you notice either
in your children; that will settle them
in the straight path."
A very important parenting skill is being able to recognise and accept the faults and weaknesses of our children. Parents must try to be objective in the way they discipline children. It's not easy to stay detached for one's judgement may be clouded by one's over consuming love for them. Any misbehaviour
should be duly handled appropriately
In the same way, any achievement, sincere effort or good behaviour should receive praise, encouragement , rewards and reinforcement in order to
motivate the child to cultivate positive values, to continue to achieve and to bahaviour appropriately
I was unable to post pictures since the dial-up connection is not efficient to support the upload of the pictures. With so many modems down, TM Net is finding it difficult to cope with the complaints. I sincerely hope that my Streamyx connection will be back to normal soon.
"Condemn the wrong and extol
the right as soon as you notice either
in your children; that will settle them
in the straight path."
A very important parenting skill is being able to recognise and accept the faults and weaknesses of our children. Parents must try to be objective in the way they discipline children. It's not easy to stay detached for one's judgement may be clouded by one's over consuming love for them. Any misbehaviour
should be duly handled appropriately
In the same way, any achievement, sincere effort or good behaviour should receive praise, encouragement , rewards and reinforcement in order to
motivate the child to cultivate positive values, to continue to achieve and to bahaviour appropriately
I was unable to post pictures since the dial-up connection is not efficient to support the upload of the pictures. With so many modems down, TM Net is finding it difficult to cope with the complaints. I sincerely hope that my Streamyx connection will be back to normal soon.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Ramadan Bazaar
Baba's thought for today.
"When you feel that you cannot do good,
at least desist from doing evil"
We should all be accountable for our own decisions and actions. Following the quote for today, let us lead a simple, considerate lifestyle and let all our actions be guided by the values that we hold.
Walking through the Ramadan bazaar which was set up for this sole purpose, I feel thankful that Malaysians are able to enjoy the festivals practised by the different races. The whole place was a hive of activity but of particular interest to me was the food section.
Besides the Muslim shoppers, the non muslims also took the opportunity to purchase the different delicacies, cooked dishes and cookies.
The variety displayed for sale was so wide that the shoppers were spolit for choice. Whilst the roaring business was good for the traders.I could not resist the variety of curries for sale. The curry 'merah 'ayam, the 'kerabu' bean sprout, and the 'sambal' fish, (all pictured) were my first choice for dinner tonight. Then I bought some cakes for desserts. My favourites were the tapioca pudding, and the 'batik' cake.
The Holy month of Ramadan is indeed a joyful and meaningful month for the Muslims, through their observance of their religious obligations are able to develop strong will power, strength their faith and preserve their culture. "Selamat hari Raya Aidil Fitri"
"When you feel that you cannot do good,
at least desist from doing evil"
We should all be accountable for our own decisions and actions. Following the quote for today, let us lead a simple, considerate lifestyle and let all our actions be guided by the values that we hold.
Walking through the Ramadan bazaar which was set up for this sole purpose, I feel thankful that Malaysians are able to enjoy the festivals practised by the different races. The whole place was a hive of activity but of particular interest to me was the food section.
Besides the Muslim shoppers, the non muslims also took the opportunity to purchase the different delicacies, cooked dishes and cookies.
The variety displayed for sale was so wide that the shoppers were spolit for choice. Whilst the roaring business was good for the traders.I could not resist the variety of curries for sale. The curry 'merah 'ayam, the 'kerabu' bean sprout, and the 'sambal' fish, (all pictured) were my first choice for dinner tonight. Then I bought some cakes for desserts. My favourites were the tapioca pudding, and the 'batik' cake.
The Holy month of Ramadan is indeed a joyful and meaningful month for the Muslims, through their observance of their religious obligations are able to develop strong will power, strength their faith and preserve their culture. "Selamat hari Raya Aidil Fitri"
Monday, September 14, 2009
Ceragem Centre
Thanks for comments. I post some more pictures of the machines.
The first picture is the 'Amber Chia' machine. There are three computerized programmes which will vibrate in different speed and variations. Each programme lasts ten minutes. Do you see Amber in the poster?
The second is called the Human Medextec. It is also a vibrataing machine. The intensity can be selected and the user is advised to follow the recommended postures when standing on the machine.
Ms Chen Phui Phui will readily answer all your queries and attend to your needs when you are there.
Hope you will have the chance to try out these machines.
'Phor Thor' -Festival of the Hungry Ghosts
Baba's thought for today.
"The same current activates all"
All man are born equal. I think this what the quote means.
The 'Phor Thor' ceremony during the seventh lunar month is observed by many people who believe that by making bountiful offerings for the 'wandering souls', they will be richly rewarded.
I've been told that the main diety is the 'God of Hades' who acts as the patron and there is always an effigy of a horse which is to transport these offerings to the other world. Picture one shows, besides other prayer items a pair of pyramid shaped clusters of buns called'moh hor'.
Picture two shows the full view of the altar and the paper horse is clearly visible beside the altar.
Picture three is very interesting for these are the food offerings, consisting of roast pig, dried noodles, many types of fruits, sweets and cakes. But the most important part of the ceremony is the burning of joss paper,'money' and other things made of paper which will appease the wandering spirits.
I think the observance of such rituals and festivals among the Chinese are significant for the believers and they are to be respected as such. Besides such activities are good for fostering community spirit among the different clans, trades groups and companies. It's like a 'muhibbah' thing!!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Sunset at Kuala Sepetang Seafood Restaurant
Baba's thought for today."Man is a spark of the Divine"
If I am not mistaken, somewhere in the Bible it is stated that God made man in his own image.
Man was created 'good'. We are in control of our behaviour, we decide what values we want to hold, and we have the freedom to treat people and the environment in the way you deem appropriate.
There is a spark of the Divine in us, we have to change accordingly.
Port Weld, or the current name Kuala Sepetang is a historic town. The first railway line was constructed from Taiping to Port Weld by the British to transport the tin from the rich tin mines in the Larut District. Today this town is still popular for, amongst other things, a seafood restaurant.
The 'Tepi Sungei' restaurant is located on the upper level of a jetty where fishing boats come in to unload the catch of fish, prawns and shellfish. Mr Ong, who operates this restaurant is always there to recommend the house favourites.
The dishes are all seafood prepared in different ways. The popular dishes are the assam curry fish, butter prawns, deep fried shrimps, steam fish and boiled small squids.
Besides the delicious food, the view of the setting sun at the river mouth, accompanied by the fresh breeze whets one's appetite for the feast ahead.
The pictures, taken when we were with our Pakistani friends show the beautiful sunset, the fishing boats and Tariq with Quassim.
If you visit Perak, this restaurant is well worth a visit. Also not to be missed is the Matang mangrove swamps which is a Ramsar mangrove swamps conservation site. While strolling down the board walk one will be able to observe the different species of mangrove trees and insects as well as hear the chirping of the birds.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Month of the "Hungry Spirits"
Baba's thought for today.
"All spiritual practice must
be directed to the removal
of the husk and the revelation
of the kernel."
To me, the 'removal of the husk' refers to the form. Rituals and other practices may form part of one's practice, but what is more important is the substance. It is how we live, how we treat people, how we communicate and how we think. 'Revelation of the kernel' is how our thoughts words and actions reflect the beliefs and values which we hold dear.
The common sayings such as 'Practice what you preach ' or 'It is the substance, not the form' summarize the essence of this quote.
What is the significance of the rituals practised by the Chinese? For example during New Year the lion dance signifies the (in the second picture) welcome of the new year. Or the offering of a paper house during funerals as seen in picture one. The Chinese practise many festivals and we should keep the tradition going.
"All spiritual practice must
be directed to the removal
of the husk and the revelation
of the kernel."
To me, the 'removal of the husk' refers to the form. Rituals and other practices may form part of one's practice, but what is more important is the substance. It is how we live, how we treat people, how we communicate and how we think. 'Revelation of the kernel' is how our thoughts words and actions reflect the beliefs and values which we hold dear.
The common sayings such as 'Practice what you preach ' or 'It is the substance, not the form' summarize the essence of this quote.
What is the significance of the rituals practised by the Chinese? For example during New Year the lion dance signifies the (in the second picture) welcome of the new year. Or the offering of a paper house during funerals as seen in picture one. The Chinese practise many festivals and we should keep the tradition going.
Friday, September 11, 2009
So said...Mother Teresa, Charles Dickens, Leo Tolskoy and others.
Received an attachment in my e-mail and some of these quotes moved me.
" If you judge others ,
you have no time to love them"
Mother Teresa.
"Never break 4 things in your life
Trust, Relation, Promise, and Heart
Because when they break, they dont't make
noise but pains a lot."
Charles Dickens.
"In a day, when you don't come across
any problems, you can be sure that you are
travelling in a wrong path"
Swami Vivekananda
"Everyone thinks of changing the world
but no one thinks of changing himself"
Leo Tolskoy
" If you judge others ,
you have no time to love them"
Mother Teresa.
"Never break 4 things in your life
Trust, Relation, Promise, and Heart
Because when they break, they dont't make
noise but pains a lot."
Charles Dickens.
"In a day, when you don't come across
any problems, you can be sure that you are
travelling in a wrong path"
Swami Vivekananda
"Everyone thinks of changing the world
but no one thinks of changing himself"
Leo Tolskoy
Appreciate the icons of Singapore..The Durian
in the esplanade, and the southern sky line.
in the esplanade, and the southern sky line.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
PSMB. Ministry of Human Resource
Baba's thought for today.
"Too much food
results in dullness of mind"
What can we understand from this quote? As for me I assume that one should refrain from being greedy when consuming food. Over eating is not advisable for not only will the mind be affected, it may also have adverse consequences on one's health and wellness. Moderation is the way for us.
I take pride in posting some pictures that I took during some training sessions sometime ago. The training workshops cover topics as "Effective Communication and the Educator", "Evaluation of Teaching and Effective Teaching Practices", "Enhancing Personal Effectiveness","Effective Classroom management and Communication" and other related topics for example, interpersonal skills, motivation, and emotional intelligence.
My interaction and sharing during these workshops have been very enlightening for me. Education is life long and since teaching is a two way process everyone benefits not only in acquiring academic and technical knowledge but one is also enriched through this social interaction.
Training provides me with the opportunity to meet principals and lecturers of private colleges, executives and staff from the other organizations. Private Colleges such as Tunku Abdul Rahman College in Setapak, Universiti Tun Abdul Razak, Southern College in Johore Baru, and Swinburne University in Kuching, just to name a few have given me the privilege to share my knowledge and experiences.
Furthermore, during training workshops, the participants get the chance to network, share common workplace problems, and also enjoy each others' fellowship and maybe establish friendships.
The initiative taken by the Ministry of Human Resource, Malaysia in implementing and regulating the guidelines in training is most commendable.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Significant day -20090909. Big Bang
Big Bang to welcome this auspicious date in the year 2009.Different people attach different significance to recurring numbers.
For one, punters are not accepting any bets on numbers with three digits of 9's!! Why? No idea. Maybe gaming companies such as Magmun, Sports Toto, Big sweep can enlighten us on this.
For people who like puns, the three digits of nine sounds like three dogs.Or it may sound like enough, enough, enough!! (So much for putting a ceiling on desires!!. In Mandarin, 9 (jiu)signifies forever. This explains why so many couples chose to get married today although it is not a common practice for people to marry during the seventh lunar month. So much for the numbers game!! Can you attach your own meanings to this?
As for me, it is indeed a significant day for my son whose birthday is today and I wish him all the best and may he be happy and well.
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