About the Nature: Two

Have you been seen the big oxen's fight? And how do the other cattle stay when the two oxen are fighting? And what the other cattle do after the fight is finished?

Our family had a farm and more than ten cattle. In summer, we had “Prun Hlwat Chin” roughly translation to English could be - “Free Time” for the cattle. We, all villagers of the region (about 5 villages) had unwritten agreement that to give free time to all cattle in a very wide pasture. The free time was about three months (mostly March, April and May).

In free time, all the cattle (hundreds) from all villages could be eating the grass, play and sleep altogether in the same large pasture, without any work, any restriction, with totally freedom. They went around. Sometimes, they fought each other. The cow owners (from every village) went the place where the cattle were and checked their cows in their convenient time variedly, once per week, once per every two weeks, once per month, etc. Some cows gave birth during that free time and the owners got new little lovely cattle. It was when I was about seven. During free time, I remarkably noticed something that all cattle grew faster, become bigger and they looked so much happier than any other time. Most cow owners even did not recognize their cows well because of cattle’s changing bodies and behaviors, naturally.

Any way, I mainly would like to share here is about ‘the fight’ of cattle in the herd. In that free time, sometimes, big oxen fought each other for any reason. When big bulls fought, it was really great time to watch. I had chances to watch those events often. My interest was not just the two big oxen who were fighters, but also on the rest cattle. It was interestingly enough that the whole rest cattle were just watching on the fight. They did nothing. Most cattle even did not eat the grass, but just watching silently with straight ears. After the fight, there were always a winner and a loser. Loser ran speedily. Winner followed speedily and gored the loser. Here is more interesting part that - what the other cattle in the herd did at that time do you know? Many of them followed and gored the loser, together with the winner. They did not have any kind of thinking and examining that if (so called) a winner fought ethically or not; if a winner was a blind-seer or not; if a winner acted unilaterally or not, and so on, and so forth. They just gored a loser together with a winner after the fight.

It was true lesson that I learned from the herd. However, they were cattle and bulls in the herd. It was one of natural habits of those animals. Any way, what do you think with some/many human beings' actions and behaviors at similar events in humanity?

P.S: I mean hereby is for any fighter, any winner, any loser and any watcher, especially when the competition is led to 'winning is the most important; do/act anything (ANYTHING) to win!' but not to lead development of both competitors! Thanks!

Learning from Nature: Leech

Today, I got a call from a friend who is currently jobless because he resigned from his first job before he actually gets the second one. Now, the second one is not sure and he becomes jobless.

While he was talking about his joblessness, I remembered about the leeches to which I watched about 30 minutes long, sometimes.

When I was young, we had a little channel in front of our yard that the water went down through in the raining season. In that water-channel, there were many leeches. I watched them sometimes very interestingly. The most interesting part what I found was when they searched the way to go in land or on a material. A leech is like a soft tube without bone, in my sense. It has one bigger hole at the back and one smaller hole in front. When a leech goes forward or moves, the smaller / front part could be searching around till it finds something to firmly step on it. Unless she finds something firmly by her front part, a leech never takes off her back part. In a very narrow matter, to find a new space to step on is difficult for a leech, but she would never take off her back part.

I told my friend that he should learn from a leech in this case that he should not resign his first job before he actually finds the second one firmly. He laughed and said that next time; he will act like a leech. Our conversation was just for fun, but it is true that there are unlimited lessons those we can learn from the nature around us.

Thanks!


Picture: http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/clipart/images/CRITTER/original/Leech.jpg

About the Nature: One

It is curriculum night. My wife and I go to our eldest son, Izana’s classroom. We meet with his teacher and talk around tips of teaching or learning program for this year; what parents can do for children and for school as well; Dos and Don’ts, and so on and so forth. After we come back home, the event makes me to remember my very own story that I wrote when I was in tenth grade.

When I was in high school, I met a man who was very respectful. He was the first person who graduated from college in their village. He had four children and all his children were educated persons and in the middle-class list of the society. In my sense, he was also very honest and well-speaker. Whenever I saw him, if he did not working something, he could be reading or listening to the radio very interestingly and he could share with us (students) very often about his knowledge that he got from reading and listening to.

Any way, when I was about seven, there were three tall coconut trees in the backyard of our house. (Our house had such a big yard.) Every year, a couple of mynas made a nest. They could lay four eggs and four little mynas could be given birth. I was looking at the mynas’ family every day and sometimes, hours as I was interested in. I really learned how they made their nest; where did they get those materials for nest; how they lay eggs; how little birds came out from eggs. How they grow their children, etc, etc.

After I finished my final exam of 10th grade, the two stories (a respectful, educated man and the mynas) came into my mind heavily and I typed what I thought. It became about seventy pages long story. My story was that I wrote almost exactly my respectful person’s family in different scenes. At the same time, I also wrote identical scenes of growing mynas’ family. And theme of the story was – after that myna father and the human father died, what was difference between the two in the true meaning of life-pattern?

In both stories, both fathers were very dutiful. As a human being, the man gave great heritage to his all children to become educated persons; how to live in life as humans; how to work; make money; how to manage the family; what are values in life (this could be difference from each other of human beings) and so on. As a bird father, he also taught his children how to fly; how to find food; how to life under the storm; how to defense enemies; how to live in winter, summer and in the rain, etc. Every single thing that a bird should / must know how to survive in life, he taught to his children till those little birds were able to make their own nest. Both fathers were absolutely respectful and dutiful.

Because of a human being, the man was living in a house. Because of a myna, the bird was living in a nest. Because of a human being, the man ate rice and bread (mainly). Because of a myna, the bird ate grains and other little ones, such as insets. Each of them had four children. All children (four humans and four birds) were educated (in terms of life-patterns). Because of human beings, those children learn the surviving ways in life at school, university, etc. Because of birds, those mynas learn surviving methods from their parent-birds. Because of human being’s life-span, those guys could live 70/80 to 100 years. Because of mynas, those birds could live less than ten years or something like that. However, if that man was living in life just for himself, his family; eat, sleep and make love, what was meaningful difference between the two lives of that person and that myna? It was theme of my story. (I lost that little book somewhere when I run or moved around.)

The story was about part of nature between a human being and a bird. If I have time, I will write that story in English as much as I remember.

Thank you and to answer theme question of my novel, I will tell you that – Please Be Dutiful!


(P.S: And yet, there are many human beings who are not dutiful at all, or less than a myna. How I will be able to raise my kids, I do not know yet. Our eldest son is now just in first grade. I hope at least that I will be in the same level of a myna father.)



Picture: http://www.logosoftwear.com/embroideryclipart/School.ABC%20School%20Slate.(SC1000).(1.66x2.17)6109.jpg
http://fennerschool-associated.anu.edu.au/myna/problem_files/myna-chicks_large.jpg

Nouns those describe about me: Nature

I love Nature. We all are part/s of our Mother Nature. Before I discuss about how I regard nature; how I love nature; what I learn from nature, let me share some pictures of nature that I have been taking. (I still have many other pictures of nature and I will share with you later.)

Thanks and enjoy with the pictures of Nature!

Nouns those describe about me: Discipline

I have a habit that I set up things by myself ‘to do’ or ‘not to do’ in certain amount of period. It is kind of new year resolution. For example, when I was a teacher, before the beginning of school, I decided that to not to smoke till the end of school year. And I really did not smoke for the whole year because I did not want to be yelling to my students that smoking it no good, do not smoke, bla..bla, while I was fondly smoking all the time. As a teacher, I was a kind of Law Maker at my classroom and I should NOT be a Law Breaker by myself in my classroom.

Any way, I will call the action as my own discipline. If you agree with me to call that kind of activity as ‘discipline,’ one of nouns very concern with me is ‘discipline.’

I have tons of experience about this kind of discipline since I have had it very often; yearly, monthly, weekly, and even sometimes daily. Yet, you believe it or not, during the period of decision, there were / are many challenges coming in very often. For example, during the period of discipline of ‘no drinking,’ I often get expensive and rare drinks from many of my friends and relatives as present. During the period of ‘no eating meat,’ there are many invitations for dinner and always with such excellent meat and seafood that is my favorite.

I would like to share here with you one of my experience with discipline.
Once, I disciplined that to not to have intimacy for nine days. What happened do you know? On the fifth day of the period, I met a very beautiful girl in a restaurant. She was about 21 and just graduated from university at that time. She lived in a big house together with her friend girls. At the time when I met her, the other friends were on vacation and she lived alone in that big house. We drank beer and had good food. We had such fun and very nice conversation. After we finished our dinner, it was late and there was no bus and even rare to find a taxi. I had a motorbike at that time and I offered to ride her home. She was OK with it. Briefly, I slept in the same bed with her the whole night, as well as the other four nights without any kind of intimacy, till my decision period has finished. We made love for the first time after 12:00 PM of my 9th night of discipline. She totally astonished with my strong decision and discipline, while I felt like I was standing on the top of Mount Everest after I passed five nights through out my strong faith with such a young, beautiful girl in the same bed. It was really very difficult to control but I made it. I won the battle.

I have had many of those kinds of experiences with my discipline. I will tell you in December what kind of discipline that I have for this year and how did I passed it.

Any way, one of nouns those describe about me is ‘discipline.’

Nouns those describe about me: Freedom

Once, I worked and lived with my friends at an office in Thailand. There were little mats in the bedrooms of the building. Each person could use a mat to sleep or to sleep without mat in bigger space. I chose to sleep on the floor without mat. What one of my friends said do you know? He said that – “You really love freedom, my friend.” He realized that I did not / do not want to sleep or stay within tight boundaries, unnecessarily.

One of nouns, which describe about me is, FREEDOM.

After you read the first paragraph, because of misinterpretation or misunderstanding, some of you may think that I do not want to live with discipline. I do like to live with discipline. The Buddha said that one of the essential needs to live in great and meaningful life was, “well-train and discipline,” which was ‘Vinayawsa Susikhitaw’ in Pali language. Actually, the word ‘discipline’ or ‘self-discipline’ is deeply included in the word, ‘freedom.’ Unless you have ‘discipline,’ you cannot have ‘true freedom.’ In other words, without ‘self-discipline, which is based upon moral values,’ we cannot have ‘true or appropriate freedom.’

Let me give you an example here. I smoke. I like smoking though I know this is a bad habit and how it does harm my health. And yet, it is part of my right or my freedom. I can smoke if I want to. I must have that right and freedom. However, I go to a park where many children are happily and innocently playing around. There is no prohibited law about smoking at a public park. So, if I want to, I can smoke there. It is my right, either. But should I? In this case, in my opinion, we do not need legal law here. We, human beings of 21st century with good mind and good heart, automatically or naturally must understand that we should not smoke in a park where many children are innocently playing around. I mean I have my own discipline in this case that I must not smoke in that kind of place whether it is legal or illegal. Because of it is my right and freedom, if I smoke, that kind of my freedom is NOT True Freedom. It is kind of ignoring on freedom or violation on freedom.

Sometimes, I feel that some people are systematically destroying the meaningful greatness of true freedom of human being, with ignorance. In order to give misinformation, those guys try to mix up between ‘freedom’ and ‘running around with nicked body in public.’ They try to mix between ‘equal right’ and ‘smoking at the park.’ And there are many similar efforts of those kinds around the world, probably, especially in the United States. We suppose to be watching out those kinds of systematical movements carefully, patiently, but wisely, with a firm belief that finally, the truth (on humanity) must be conqueror!

Many people from around the world would like to come to the United States. Why? They want to be here because of the U.S. is a rich country; not because of the U.S. has atomic weapon. It is obvious and let me say again that because America gives equal opportunity, equal rights, and equal freedom those are the highest values in humanity, to every single person.

I will discuss in broader view of freedom through out my experiences.

Any way, I like freedom. I love freedom. I treasure freedom. One of the nouns those describe about me is Freedom!

Nouns those describe about me: Time

(After day ends, there will be night, and after night ends, there will be day!)

The thing, which we all unanimously and equally own, but very differently use by each of us, is Time. If you ask me ‘how old am I?’ means that how much time I spent already. In other words, Time is Life.

One of the nouns, which concern with me, is TIME.

Some say that time is money. I agree with it for some points, but not for many points because there are many differences between the two. For example, we may be rich or poor in possession of money as each of us has different life pattern, idea, strength, skill, experience and so on and so forth. However, whether we are rich or poor, educated or not, fat or thin, tall or short, wherever, whatever, we all equally own time. The key difference is the way we regard of time; the way we use of time and the way we manage of time. Another example will be we all can find money in our own ways. Time comes to us itself, without we find. We can save money. We cannot save money. If we lose money, we can get it back, but we can never get time back after we passed it.

Personally, since I was young, I have been finding the way how to use my time by the most effective and productive way. I will say that till today, I do not know about it exactly yet.

My time means my life. One of the nouns, which describe me is, Time.

Nouns those describe about me: Books

I read books. I really like books. I absolutely believe in that because of books, our world has been developing from ice age to computer/Internet age of today.

One of the nouns, which concerns with me is BOOKS.

Books are always good friends. For me, for some reason, I just want to live in a place where is surrounding with books. Sometimes, it is not just for reading; I just enjoy with books. Probably, I was a librarian in one of my past lives or a worm or a bug who lived in books. I often get a little problem with my wife because my bringing books to home.

Any way, today, I watch a documentary/biography TV show at channel 11 about the Warner Brothers who are top movie makers in the world. Title of the show is “American Masters.” I love the title – “American Masters!” It is true. This title makes me to remember a book. Last year, I read a book, which was written about key inventions in 20th century. There were absolutely great inventions in twentieth century those create such better world that we are living today. Among all of those significant innovations of 20th century, American inventors’ contributed about 25 percent of all inventions. Americans invented from Aero Plane to Air Conditioning; from Electronic Washing Machine to the Self-service Super Market; from Power Steering to Traffic Light; from Nylon to Photocopier; from Barcode to Computer; from Microwave Oven to Transistor; from Solar Energy to Video Games, and so on. Great Contributions of Americans in Humanity!!! (I will write another specific article about those inventions sooner or later.)

My point here by is that– why Americans can make that huge amount of inventions? In my opinion, because of its freedom; free society of America! Americans can think, speak, read, write and create with freedom. That’s why Americans have been inventing such key innovations and generously contributing in Humanity! Because of those contributions, our world is moving forward speedily, smoothly and more conveniently for all of us. Special thanks to those Masters!

Any way, I read, like and love books. Books are always my best friends. One of the nouns that describe is Books!


Picture: http://www.nbend.k12.or.us/staff/mschulze/books.jpg

Nouns those describe about me: School

In a Longman dictionary of American English, the meanings of ‘school’ are – ‘a place where children are taught,’ ‘to train or teach someone,’ and ‘schooling means ‘education at school.’ Basically, we learn something at ‘School.'

Since then, a noun, which is very concern with me, is ‘SCHOOL.’

I was/am a student. I was a teacher who taught ‘math’ ‘English’ and ‘History’ to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders at a State Middle School in Burma. My children are studying at school and it is just beginning. They all will be learning for long time at school/s.

Not only that, life is a school itself. I feel or I believe in that I learn something everyday whether from past or from present. I learn how to live in a meaningful life or what are true values of our lives from the Buddha. When I was young, I learned how to pay respect to the elders from my ancestors’ culture. When I was in high school and university, I learned how to more fear than respect to the authorities. In Thailand, I learned the meanings of ‘legal’ and ‘illegal.’

In the United States, I learn the meaning of ‘leadership’ from George Washington. I learn the harmonious form between ‘faith’ and ‘hope’ from Lincoln. I learn how to change ‘useless’ to ‘useful’ from Eisenhower. I learn how to overcome barriers from FDR. I learn the meaning of ‘free society’ from JFK. I learn ‘human rights’ from Eleanor Roosevelt. I learn the meaning of ‘discrimination’ from Dr. King. I learn what does ‘democracy’ and ‘freedom’ mean from Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. I learn slight difference between ‘offense’ and ‘defense’ from the Bushes. I learn the difficulties and how to deal with them between ‘before’ and ‘after’ from Obama.

In daily life, I am also learning many things even from my kids, such as how to be tolerant, patient and approach to teach. Life is full with learning processes itself from physically to spiritually. Life is school.

Hence, ‘SCHOOL’ is one of the nouns, which describe about me!


Picture: http://www.cubitttownjuniorschool.co.uk/images2/after_school_care.jpg

Nouns those describe about me: Love

In this fall, one of the classes, which I am going to take, has an interesting assignment. According to that assignment, I have to write nouns those describe about me. Here are the noun series those are / will be telling about me.

The first noun, which concerns with me, is LOVE.

There are several kinds of love. My first kind of love is for everybody. I love everybody; all human beings; all animals; all seen or unseen; all short or tall; all fat or thin; all near or far; and so on. This love is formed in compassion. Even to those who make trouble matters for me, I always try to forgive and make a wish to be in good mood and clear mind in that person soon, but not for his or her trouble. I just wish them to make sense by themselves and to me as well, with mutual respect, recognition, and clear sense. I also regard all animals just like we are, in terms of biological lives, not in terms of intelligence or wisdom or creations or ethic etc.

My second kind of love is for my family and friends. It is simply and just like everybody does, I love my family, friends, coworkers, and so on.

Third kind of love is for my country, my people, the world and all people in the world. I love my native land, Arakan. I love Arakanese people since all my ancestors were Arakanese. I love America where my truly free life was born, my wife and all my children were born and the place that gives every single human being equal opportunity and equal freedom. In my belief and opinion, America gives the highest values of human being to every single person. (I am ready to talk or discuss with any body about my belief.) I also love Burma. I also love our world. In my opinion, the world is formed perfect itself. We have all kinds of natures, nurtures, nations and nationalities, and animals with all colors in different biological terms. It is just lovely and perfects itself, unless we, human beings take it/them into our own beliefs, perceptions and feelings. I really wish that all human beings in the world to have at least a college degree, than it will lead to be better world with less criminal actions.

My fourth kind of love is for my lovers, like my wife. Before I got marriage with my wife, I had at least twelve lovers through out my single life at many places and in many conditions. I was a student, a teacher, a small and private bookshop owner, a merchant, a soldier, a bookkeeper, an illegal worker, a politician, an editor, etc. Since then, I had many girlfriends. Some of them fall in love with me just by phone, writing letters, chats and kind of kisses, while some of them reached for the stage of intimacy. But I do have faith with my wife and my marriage. I might look intently at beautiful girls and women but it does not mean I will approach them to make love or to become lovers. They are beautiful and lovely, so I look at them, I see them. I feel nothing is wrong with it as an ordinary human being. If I am a monk or a somewhat person alike, my control with my ten sensitive windows (two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, mouth, butt, penis and my speedily running around mind itself) will be different.

Any way, LOVE is one of my very concern nouns those describe about me!


Picture: http://infinityiitd.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/love.jpg