India and Buddhism

Writing this blog in Ajit Bhawan Palace Resort at Jodhpul, India
I can never forget my first Indian trip to Mumbai few years ago. JC and I were both not very impressed with India.
However, this CNY break I took another trip here with KE. This time I travel to the Delhi, Agra and the Rajasthan, the land of the Maharajas. It gave me a total different impression of this land and its people again. I see India as one of the most colorful country i have visited so far. The richness of its history, culture and traditions, not mentioning its breath of religious mythologies and deities, has already captivated my photography interest by far. Their temples are decorated and celebrated highly by the people. The people flock to places of worship in thousands to make their offerings daily. These scenes quenches my photography's thirst but deep down in me, I think otherwise...
One really disheartening fact is the trace of Buddhism, one of the most profound philosophy in the world today, has lost its influence in the lives of the people at its birth place, India, today. A philosophy that liberates people from the shackles of spiritual and religious dependency has lost its appeals here. When will people start to realize the whole idea of human existence is to impart and create values into this world? We are not born to serve a religion or a deity or something. A true religion should be there to empower human spirit, a spirit for us to live a life that shines through others' lives and society. Buddhism teaches us exactly that, a philosophy that guides us to lead a value creating life. I must do more shakubuku, an act to make people realize the purpose of their life. In other words, an act to guide people to fulfill their mission in life.

Avatar

Just to share with you something about this Avatar film we shared with KF the other day.

PL & I went to encourage him the other day, and we brought him out for a cup of tea and so happen the restaurant was showing Avatar on their "big" screen. He said he has watched it and he likes the movie. He likes the main actor, just like him (on wheel chair).

Yea, we shared the significance of the director has chosen a crippled to act as the main role in Avatar is probably because he wants to tell us, no matter what happened to us, even we are physically disabled, we are still able to dream. In Avatar's 'dream', Jake is able to do wonders in his 'dream' world, and eventually he saved the world of Pandora.

We agreed we are able to do wonders too if we live true to our dreams, no matter what circumstances we are in. For KF, he knows he needs to find his dream and live true to it...

The tea session lasted for more than 1 hour. And we each went home filled very differently about this film and our dreams...

James Cameron has not only brought Avatar to a new height in the movie industry, he has also make us 'dream' that night.