Be Veg. Go Green. Save the Planet.

Vegan Golden Era at Golden Gate

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 11:15:00 +0000

Morning of the third day, we wanted a walking tour of the city, so the best mode of transport happened to be right at the door step of our hotel, facing the turnaround of the cable car Powell-Mason line and directly across the street from Westfield Loving Hut. We joined the long snaking queue and chatted with an Austrian tourist on her first visit to San Francisco..

No sooner had we wondered whether we had to purchase a ticket then some kind tourists pointed out the ticket booth for us just outside our view along market and 5th. So we had to join another long and growing queue at the ticket booth together with our Austrian friend.

Finally we had our day tickets, hopped on the Powell-Mason line and two stops away at the street junction we were off the cable car, our tickets still brand new.. Along O'Farrell we had a pleasant stroll and it was little sister who first noticed the familiar old sign of the vegan Golden Era in this new Golden Age.

This is the view looking at the arguably oldest vegan restaurant West of the Bay Area from the vantage point of the table of honour, a well liked corner of the restaurant distinguished by an overhead Celestial lamp hanging from the ceiling.

We had already seen the owner outside, waiting for him to be relieved of his work to join us at the table.. Lunch was easy to order, we had the best dishes from the restaurant served at our table.

Very soon another vegan friend joined us and it was reunion time, with cups of Chinese tea being poured endlessly just like in the good old times again.

We talked of our relationship going back so many years, and we chatted on the development of Loving Hut around the Bay Area.. so much to share and so little time to do it..

We had also ordered the vegan Pad Thai, over and above the recommendations made by the owner, because we wanted to compare the taste with the Vegetarian House. Little sister remembered it was dry by the time we were served at the Vegetarian House, but here at Golden Era, the Pad Thai was a perfect vegan dish. We gave it full marks secretly... Of course, little sister's taste was pampered by the undending serving of different flavoured cakes... ask and it shall be served..

We bade the owner farewell as we travelled on the next leg of our trip, this time riding on the electric Jeep..

Westfield at San Francisco

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 05:38:00 +0000

While we were touring, we had received news of an impending video conference where Master would reveal the most auspicious locations for world leaders to shift their headquarters in order to effect permanent peace in the world. In the evening, we changed our travel plans immediately, returning the car so we can relax in the hotel for the night, and early next morning at 9am, we gathered in front of the laptop, eagerly awaiting the start of the conference.

When it ended about 2 hours later, we settled our accomodation problem and headed straight to the streets for the bank at 8th. On our way back, we were enticed by the fruit market and picked up some peaches and apples for the fruitarian social vegan brother.

Just a few blocks away, right across the street from where we were based, we visited the most convenient Loving Hut in San Francisco..

We love Westfield very much.. It is so cool !

It is big, the signs are friendly and it is located at a most auspicious place
of good luck !! Just across the street from our hotel !!

Of course the draw of the variety of cakes proved irresistible to little sister, but I rather fancy the boon huey, which is authentic !

After a satisfying meal, the fruitarian social vegan ventured off to a bus journey for a visit to Golden Gate park, near the latest loving hut location at Sunset, leaving us to our shopping at Westfield. The watches were cheap, especially the Fossil, which is selling like half price, so we picked up half a dozen or more in the mall.

Right at the entrance of the mall at street level, near to the escalator, we found a stall selling vegan bags !! Oh my God, what a pleasure to talk to the tall young black man who is also a vegan. We feel that we had to support his stall, so little sister duly forked out some money and chose a good durable vegan bag to bring home..

San Jose at night

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 06:44:00 +0000

After Stockton and we have checked into our hotel and rested, the next place we knew that we had to go is the House of the Master. The jewelry set would probably set us back by a few grands but visitng the famous house that started the first vegan movement on the west coast wouldn't hurt a bit..

This is tradition, this is it! Little sister was pretty excited as we gingerly park our car at the spacious car park besides Street 11 and head for the main entrance, a welcoming grand piano awaits us..

Looking at the menu, I had the irresistible urge to order a strange sounding concoction, root beer with vegan ice cream !! Ah... just the perfect drink !

Of course, being the savvy vegans we were, and a Loving Hut owner amongst one of us, we were not easy guests to please by all measure, there is something you just got to try when you are in San Jose, yes, the vegan tradition, the Pièce de résistance, the dish that laid the foundation stone linking two continents and two countries, the land of the plum blosssom and the land of the brave and the free !!

You don't have to know the history, you just need to know the name.. It is called the Three Cup Sauce, probably the most challenging and difficult to satisfy, this dish has transformed itself and reinvented itself as the Sun rises from the East to the West. It is the definitive Loving Hut signature dish. The many venerable traditions and tonight, tonight we got to taste the latest vegan iteration, right here on this holy place at the house of the Master !! We are indeed fortunate..

We shared another dish, the claypot tofu... again something of a little test. If it were no good, it would have been obvious for the vegan connaisseur that we were, having tasted the best of both worlds.. so of course this dish passed with flying colours.. There is flavour and cooked with the invisible "qi" of the wok !

A Visit to Stockton Loving Hut

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 09:01:00 +0000

In search of the Real Love, we arrive at Stockton Loving Hut, San Francisco at the nice afternoon of 26 Aug 2011. After figuring out the sophisticated street side coin operator for parking the car, we walked in to the welcome atmosphere of the first Loving Hut stop in our tour.

Stockton, located in Chinatown, one of the largest on the West Coast of USA, is where we find ourselves, and of course the friendly staff there whom we know quite well.

We tried the pot-sticker, and various other dishes, which of course is unverally loved by the Chinese people every where..

And dessert ? Surely, that will change any woman's hearts, the vegan cake !! Must try...

The tiramisu is phenomenal... Well it just might change a woman's heart, who knows !

Of course, we had to try the fabulous and ubiquitous boon huey..

Here at the far end of Chinatown, you can still see traditional Chinese herbal shops around, and warm comfortable feeling leaving us satisfied for the enjoyable afternoon there.

World Wide Meditation

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 16:59:00 +0000

Please watch this video..
World Vegan Meditation

Fried Vegan Oyster Mushroom at Loving Hut BMC

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 04:56:00 +0000

One of our all-time vegan favourites, must-try dish.. The fried oyster mushroom.. Already blogged about the Simei Metta School sweet-and-sour variety, this Loving Hut preparation is different; it is spice filled and full of crunchy, healthy goodness.

Since vegan foods are cholestrol free, we can afford to eat fried food without guilt !! It is tasty and yummy.

At Loving Hut BMC, you can order this as a side dish, or together with a brown rice set. Food made with love, and respect for the animals !! For your own health, the future of our planet, and to live a disease-free and disaster-free life, you owe it to our next generation... Be Veg !! Join us to save the planet.

Yummy Loving Hut brown rice with vegetable and soup of the day. Delicious. Every meal you order is an endorsement for health, an endorsement for nobility, an endorsement for vitality.

Please save our environment by choosing a vegan meal always !!

And yes, the bus ad is still running, so yes, you still can catch the SOS bus no. 131 from Kim Keat, Balestier Road, Thomson, Bukit Timah, all the way to Loving Hut waiting for you just a stone's throw from the Bukit Merah Bus interchange

Pongol Chilli Cha Cha

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:59:00 +0000

One day at Bukit Merah Central Loving Hut, the chef was kind enough to let me sample a new dish they had.. and it is called : Pongol Chilli Cha Cha

Ummm... Yum Yum... Don't you just love the texture !! Look at that !! Yummy delicious vegan seafood fare !! without killing a single animal !! Tasty and syrupy gravy with sweet pineapple chilli sauce, not so spicy that even kids will love it..

Why do people have to kill crab to extract the meat ?? It's cruel.. Every time we passed through a stall with crabs tied up in strings, that is cruelty.. we walked away as fast as we can.. how can anyone tie up a defenceless, sea creature and proceed to overpower it with strings, so it cannot defend for its own life, and then chop it down with a chopper ??

How have humans degraded themselves to such a state, so that they can derive just mere seconds of enjoyment in their mouth ?? Would you kill a young child ? Would you tie him up and chop him ?? Stop it... Stop the cruelty..

We have an alternative.. We have the vegan live style. And it is the God's will that we live without harming another being.. Please.. go vegan !

I
The latest outlet at BMC, Loving Hut is spacious and with a relaxing atmosphere. If the sun is not too hot, you enjoy the alfresco dining or lunch with protective aluminium awnings for shade. Inside you have the cool air con comfort, and free water self-service if you are not ordering drinks.

Take the SOS bus no 131 from Raffles Quay or Keppel Road. It brings you down to Bukit Merah where you can look out for Loving Hut at block 161.

Latest Loving Hut opens at International Plaza

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 03:18:00 +0000

Great News for office workers in CBD. The latest Loving Hut is now open at International Plaza just outside of Tanjong Pagar MRT for the convenience of white collar workers in Singapore !!

Lunch at Loving Hut today !! Help support a world cause...Eat vegan to save our world.

Be VEG. Go Green. Save our planet.

Vegan Ice Cream !!

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 07:16:00 +0000

Are you screaming for vegan ice cream ??

Loving Hut heard you... And now in your friendly neighbourhood at BMC, Loving Hut offers two flavours of ice cream..

Yummy Yummy.. If you don't have enough of it, you can order the bigger tub versions, which cost about $12. For a light dessert after meals, these were just the right size for us..

For main meal, we have vegan fried rice. It's simple to cook fried rice at home, but the rice needs to be Q to be crunchy, and these at Loving Hut are just right to the taste..

Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri makes the call to go vegan completely or at least reduce your meat intake. This is the fastest and best way an individual can contribute to the solution for climate change. Why wait for scientists to come with a solution, which takes a long time? and far too slow... same with the beauracracy of governmental machinery. Take matters into your own hands.. You are the owner of your own destiny.

Be Veg. do Good. Save the planet.

Asparagus with sauteed mushroom - simple living

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:11:00 +0000

When we are not scouring the globe for new Loving Hut openings or new vegetarian eateries that are sprouting out all over the world like mushrooms, well, we cook simple vegan home meals.

This is one of our favourite dishes. It is sauteed mushrooms with asparagus.

Simple nuitritious home meal, with a special feeling of love.

There is no need to KILL for food. What age are we now in ? The golden age of enlightenment ! We are not barbaric people any more.. We don't need the taste of blood to stir the stomach.. We don't want sins of death in our hands.

We don't want swine flu. Give us the Earth that we knew, the kind, loving and forgiving Earth... Start by being kind to others, people and animal alike.

Don't rock the Planet !! 6 billion people, only One Planet, and One Chance to save it.. It starts from our dining table !

Follow Us on Twitter .. "We need 100% Vegetarians"

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:45:00 +0000

We are twittering at Twitter/AmVeganNGreen

You will be able to catch headline announcements, news from Supreme Master Television and one liner blogs etc.

so be sure to tweet with us and keep adding RSS watch to the twitter account.

The first tweet is in answer to the question "How many vegetarians are needed to save the world ?"

Supreme Master Ching Hai announced on Aug 15 and Aug 29, 2009 via Supreme Master Television "We need 100% vegetarians now" including vegans, waterians, solarians, breatharians and all non-meat eaters to save the world.

Check out or download SupremeMasterTV NWN if you missed it.

Lord Stern: Give up Meat to Save the Planet !!

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:56:00 +0000

Lord Stern says: Give up meat to save the planet

Lord Stern, a famous climate change expert and author of the "The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change" has spoken up on the need to give up meat for the sake of the planet.

We welcome and applaud his leadership on ths issue and urge everyone to follow his wise advice... We got to be vegetarians by 2012 to avert the impending disaster that is fast encroaching on Earth from all sids, and all corners, economy, job loss, deadly and incurable meat-linked diseases such as Ebola virus, MRSA, pandemics like swine fu, global warming, animal extinction, species extinction, deadly weather patterns, and the penultimate ice cap melting etc. etc..

There is only one solution to all the mayhem... We have to be vegetarians now to reverse the trend.. please it is so simple and heroic to do it..

You need to save the Earth, for the sake of yourself, your family, your loved ones !!

Changing to
vegetarian lifestyle is easy !! Just do it !!

L.O.V.E. Climate change Conference at Formosa

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:44:00 +0000

Due to the urgency of our planetary situation, there are more SOS Climate Change conferences ... this is one of the latest to broadcast live at Supreme Master Television
tomorrow, Sunday Oct 11.. Don't miss this urgent event..

Take Action. Watch the Conference... Be Veg. Save our planet..

We have only ONE chance to save our beautiful blue planet..

Swine Flu found in live pigs imported into Singapore.. DO NOT EAT MEAT !!

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:11:00 +0000

On Sept 5, Singapore Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) discovered swine flu in live pigs imported into Singapore from Indonesia's Pulau Bulan. Note that the official news media report did not say the live pigs will be killed, which leaves the reader to imagine that these pigs will be allowed into Singapore, on the condition of they being isolated ? Is it the plan to keep infected pigs isolated, wait for the pig fever to subside, then assume all is well, and proceed to slaughter for sale ?

We have no idea what is the handling procedure, but this much is certain.. The desire to eat meat is the cause of the world's problem right now, food shortage, water shortage, deforestation to clear land for livestock grazing, and incurable, novel diseases such as swine flu, bird flu, CJD, MRSA, salmonella, pig's disease PMWS etc etc.

The bottom line is clear. Stay away from MEAT. MEAT is POISON. Do not consume MEAT. Do not support the industry that is creating world-wide pandemic and chaos. STOP buying MEAT. Stop EATING MEAT. MEAT is killing our children, killing our planet, killing our lives.

Sunday Special at Loving Hut BMC

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:19:00 +0000

It's cool !! The Sunday vegan special dish at Loving Hut BMC is none other than Singaporean's all time favourite food - vegan fried kway teow.

You've got to come to Bukit Merah Central Block 161 to see and taste this delicious dish. The vegan egg is incredible !! Oh, just look at that !! Look at the scrambled vegan egg !! Don't ask how it's done.. Just eat it and enjoy !!

A cool plum juice to go with the vegan fried kway teow !! Cooling in the hot climate.
This is the drink which came from the fruit that is said to quench the thirst of soldiers merely by mentioning the name of plum !! Can you imagine how thirst quenching it is ??

Take the SOS bus no. 131 from St. Michaels to Bukit Merah Central, it stops at Shenton Way just opposite DBS Building, so the office lunch crowd can head straight to Loving Hut !!

孔子之仁、义、礼、智、信与观音法门的五戒

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:55:00 +0000

有两千年文化历史的儒家鼻祖孔子到底是不是一位修行人? 这是一个有趣的问题。很多人用世俗的眼光来理解圣人的等级，就会说孔子对＂道＂一窍不通，说什么孔子的学说是入世之道等等。根据清海无上师的开示，孔子与老子都是观音法门的修行人.

如果孔子，老子都是修行人，那么我们能否在孔子的哲学概念里面看到观音法门的＂五戒＂踪影吗？答案自有分晓。

观音法门的＂五戒＂又是什么呢? 那就是不杀生、不偷盗、不妄语、不邪淫、不喝酒（包括不用毒品）.这五戒可以简称为 "杀、盗、淫、酒、妄" .

先看孔子的＂仁＂讲的是什么。仁者：仁爱，仁慈，仁义之师之仁。这个＂仁＂衍含着天下为公、大道无私的精神. 天下为大同,把天下的有情众生视为自己的亲身骨肉班地仁慈相待，那么古代的圣贤又怎么可能吃众生的肉，喝众生的血呢？这个包含慈悲，博爱的＂仁＂自然而然自然而然的就跟观音法门的第一戒＂戒杀＂不谋而合了。

孔子的＂义＂又是什么呢？义：义务，大义，义举之义。有义气的人，不会做出无耻的钩当。不是自己的东西不可以占为己有，这个＂义＂当然包含了＂路不拾遗＂的美德，这样正是附和观音法门的＂戒盗＂。盗窃的行为将为有义之士共耻。

＂礼＂是什么呢？礼者：礼貌，礼让，礼义之邦之礼。非礼勿视，非礼勿为，有礼的人是不会轻易犯了观音法门的＂戒淫＂,因为那是无礼的行为，不是光明正大的君子行为。

孔子的＂智＂是什么呢？智者：智慧，智力，睿智之智。有智慧的人不是迷迷糊糊的过日子，所以有智慧的人不会是＂瘾君子＂，更不可能染上对身心有害的恶习。不喝酒，不抽烟，不赌博。远离一切无明的、败坏身心的行为，才是头脑清醒的智者!这也是观音法门的＂戒酒＂用意.

孔子的＂信＂又是什么呢？信者：诚信，信誉，公信之信也。有信的人岂能言而无信？君子一言既出，四马难追！出尔反尔，绝非君子所为。观音法门的＂戒妄＂正是讲信义的人必须遵守的规则。

讲到这里我们已经发现，孔子的“五常”仁、义、礼、智、信其实已经体现在观音法门的"杀、盗、淫、酒、妄"。五戒的内衍和精神和孔子的＂仁、义、礼、智、信＂是相埔相成的。说孔子是观音法门的修人是有根据的，可以成立的卓见！

孔子对＂仁＂特别的重视，仁在＂仁、义、礼、智、信＂里占有首席的地位，没有仁，其他的理念就不用谈了。可见孔子对慈悲的理念非常注重!

恰好根据清海无上师的开示，"戒杀"为＂五戒＂之首。"戒杀"的要求，不止不可以杀人，就连动物也要发慈悲心，吃全素，不吃众生肉。在目前地球面临危机的当下，更显得十分迫切!

清海无上师的开示说如果第一戒＂戒杀＂破了，一吃荤食，其他的四戒也会被破掉的。原因很简单，人一开始吃肉，就会学西方的饮食习惯，什么肉配什么酒等等。这样一来，＂戒酒＂就会在不知不觉中破了。酒喝多了就会酒后闹事，在不经意的情况下又轻易地犯了盗戒或淫戒。等清醒的时候，又要找借口掩饰自己的行为。说了第一次谎话，就什么戒也要破掉。因为有了第一个谎话，就必须有第二个谎话来圆第一个谎话的场。同样理由，有了第二个谎话就必须创造第三个谎话来掩饰。这样下去，什么戒都不用守了。

由此可见，明师是多么注重＂戒杀＂。吃素是非常重要的，无论在个人修行或拯救地球，吃素都是最关键的首要目标。

Singapore SOS Global Warming Bus Schedule

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:32:00 +0000

In case you are missing the Singapore SOS Bbus and want to catch it, here is the bus departure time schedules for 55 and 58.

Bus 143 and 131.

143 is the double decker bus and 131 will bring you directly to Loving Hut @ Bukit Merah Central, block 161.

Directions to Loving Hut @ Bukit Merah Central

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:21:00 +0000

Here's a simple direction to the latest Loving Hut outlet at Bukit Merah Central.

Take bus no. 132 outside Redhill MRT to the bus interchange. It is a 5 minutes ride

Alternatively at Tiong Bahru MRT, you can take bus no. 5 or 851. Other buses that go to the bukit merah bus interchange can be found here.

If you are taking bus no. 131 from Shenton Way or CBD area, look out for the SOS Global warming buses !

Once the bus stop at bukit merah bus terminal, take the pedestrian overhead bridge to cross the road, and turn left to walk towards Block 161.

Loving Hut is located just besides the POSB, and in front of Bukit Merah community library.

Every day at Loving Hut BMC, there are specialty dishes. On Saturdays the house special is Teochew porridge, eat-as-much-as-you-can buffet at $4.80 whole day.

On Mondays they close early to rest at 3.00 p.m. otherwise you can hang out till the evenings up to 9.30 p.m.

The address ?

Loving Hut
Bukit Merah Central
Blk 161 #01-3725
Singapore 150161

Here you can see us sampling the vegan mee siam, a popular local Malay dish, yummy yum... look out for more food blogs to come.. from Loving Hut @ BMC !!

First Singapore SOS Bus 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 07:57:00 +0000

Maybe you are not sure.. it looks like a bird ?? It's a bus..

Is that the SOS bus on Singapore roads ?

Great News for all those who are sick and tired of living in the shadows of the deadly swine flu. Great News for all who cared about the environment and the plight of our Earth now, the global warming SOS bus is running in Singapore !!

Catch bus no. 143, 141, 55 and 58...

Busk in heaven's glory and delight !!

Be reminded to do your part to save the world !!

It's so easy !! Just be vegan ^~^

Chinese Kungfu and Spirituality

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 05:02:00 +0000

It is a bit strange to talk about chinese kung fu and spirituality as these are two quite opposite topics. One is rooted in violence and the other is based on compassion and love. However in this blog, we shall attempt to find some common ground for these two disjoint human endeavours.

As we scan the vast and colorful landscape of Chinese kung fu, we wonder where shall we start, for the field is wide and the art is limitless. There is for instance, the very famous Shaolin martial arts which has the reputation of being the forefounder of every major martial art system in the world. Shaolin is the iconic representative of the external school of kung fu, whereas the leader of the internal school is none other than Tai Chi.

The word kung-fu is made popular in the English vocab by one expert proponent by the name of Bruce Lee. Bruce Lee's basic training is in the southern China style of fist fighting known as Wing chun, which originates from Hokkien province.

Wing Chun is a very curious name for a kung fu that is rooted in violence. In Chinese, it means "ode to spring", but of course as a kung fu system its purpose is to maime, cripple or disable the opponent, and there is nothing, on the surface of it, that is compassionate or life promoting as spring.

As an art form, Wing Chun is very effective, and is particularly suited for street fighting as it is a close range kung fu, and it's power is physically explosive.

It is an art form, and it's entire philosophy and practice is very, very scientific and logical, having evolved from the wisdom of its founders. The story goes that the system was taught by a nun to a lady who used it to ward off an unwanted courter.

Wing Chun's basic tenet is direct and effective. The shortest distance between
two points is a straight line, if you want to hit some one, move on to it, don't wave your arms wildly in the air in one big circle only to land your fist in front of you. The simplicity and directness of the system is perfectly demonstrated by Bruce Lee who used it to beat other martial arts proponents from famous systems such as Taekwando and Karate. There are no fanciful patterns that you have to work through which does not have any direct application in a street fight, and you do not progress from white color belt to black belt by passing an exam of memorized pattern.

Wing Chun is serious business. You want to create injury on another, then this is it.
If you want discipline and pompous show, then the patterns based martial arts may be more suitable for you. This is precisely one of the main reasons why kung fu is held in high regards by the Chinese for centuries and it is not easily transmitted from master to disciple, until the twentieth century when Bruce Lee popularise it and spread it amongst millions of martial arts fan.

The reason for secrecy is because systems such as Wing Chun is too powerful. It can cause so much physical damage to the body, if not death, to the opponent if it's application is not controlled. Therefore the character of the disciple is an important criteria to consider when a master decides to impart his skill.

So in this regard, the master sifu of Wing Chun system or other lethal forms of kung fu develops his compassion and restraint. In this way, the master approaches the same goal as spiritual cultivation. The master never strikes unless his own life is in danger, because he knows the system is too powerful, therefore he exercises utmost restraint.

When you do the sticky hand exercises of Wing Chun or other kung fu systems with a master, you will immediatedly sense the power and skill of the master. There is a Chinese saying that when an expert lays out his hand, only then you will know his level. Action speaks louder than words !!

In the graphic sticky hands demonstration you see the master repeatedly touch the head of the opponent gently, as he breaks through the arms lock and counter block prelude. Sometimes the master stroke the head gently, and sometimes it is a light knife hand chop to the neck or a restraint feast to the chest.

Each of these gentle and controlled touches is a hit. It would have earn points in a system like Judo. In actual fighting of course, these gentle strokes will be replaced by powerful, physically damaging blows.

So the master of Wing Chun demonstrates his prowess by laying out his hands.

In a similar manner, you will meet a spiritual master, and if the master is fully enlightened, you will obtain immediate "proof" when you are in the physical presence of the Master.

Wing Chun does not have patterns, but it has forms. There are five forms, and the most basic and well known form is called "Little Idea". The forms are standard physical routines to be practised over and over again until it becomes second nature to the martial artist.

The novice disciple will be forgiven to think that the forms is meant to be applied to street fighting. It is not !! For there is nothing logical in street fighting !! Violence by definition, is the absence of logic. The idea for the "Little Idea" is to practise the forms to perfection only to forget about it !!

In the words of Bruce Lee, the artist must become like water, which is formless.

This philosophy of the highest kung fu masters is not easy for the layman to understand, but it makes perfect sense to the spiritual practitioner. The spiritual practitioner approaches formlessness from form through deep mediation in ahimsa, whereas of course in kung fu, every thing is rooted in violence.

One of the major quest of top kung fu masters is the hunger for power.
As a close range fighting sytem like Wing Chun the quest for power is not coming from
the torgue of the twisting fist, which came from the waist in systems like Taekwando and Karate, neither is the source of power coming from the torgue of the whole body which is used in systems like the Palm of eight trigrams, Judo etc.

The source of power in Wing Chun is from the whole body. The convincing demonstration
of this power is in the famous half inch punch or three inch punch which delivers breaking
power at close quarters.

The quest for power for a spiritual practitioner on the other hand, is for liberation, which brings one above the Three Worlds, beyond the clutch of karma, cause and effect, and far superior to physical powers which the kung fu masters ever dream of.

Kung fu masters sought power and control. In their highest accomplishments, they attain some level of compassion. Most of them also attained healing powers due to compassion. Simple manuvers such as setting of bones is an easy medical task for them.

To control that power, there must be wisdom. But wisdom is beyond the doors of kung fu. Kung fu does not teach wisdom, or the attainment of it, or the means to the attainment.

Therefore lacking wisdom, there cannot be perfect control.

The spiritual practitioner has both. He has the highest power through Divine Love.
The softest thing in the world can actually overcome the hardest thing. And he has
developed wisdom through his meditation through which wisdom the Love flows.

Do not ask what is the Noble Quality (NQ) of famous top kung fu proponents such as
Bruce Lee, Ip Man et al. We may never know... We can only end in speculation..
Did the kung fu masters have the NQ of the normal human, or likely that of the single
digit disappointment ?

Ip Chun, son of the legendary Ip Man, master of Bruce Lee, at the ripe old age of 80 plus made a very, very interesting comment.

He commented that the days when Wing Chun is the kungfu system to beat up 9 or 10 simultaneous attackers is gone. He foresee that the age of violence as a means to settlement is long gone, and the world has progressed to a more peaceful, civilised golden era.

The only saving grace and raison d'être for Wing Chun is as a form of health and exercise.

Such wise words from a true kung fu master !!

Do not eat the flesh of animals, Please !

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:36:00 +0000

In the recently concluded live broadcast of video conference with Supreme Master Ching Hai in Bangkok, Thailand, held in conjunction with the launch of Au Lacese version of Her books "The Dogs In My Life" and "The Noble Wilds", Supreme Master made insightful remarks in the questions and answers session.

It was revealed that the Noble Quality (NQ) of dog, birds and pigs are around 30% while that of cows are 40% which is much higher than many animals.

Human beings in contrast have around 10% or 3% although there are exceptional individuals with much higher NQ.

3% Oh My God !! That is like the same "kindness" as the most vicious animals on Earth... so please .. all the kind and loving, enlightened and spiritual human beings.. please stop eating the flesh of cows, dogs, pigs or any other animals or fishes... you are just degrading yourselves !!!

Be Veg. go Green. Save the planet

Swine Flu H1N1 A (2009) The Singapore Story

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:11:00 +0000

4 decades ago the founding fathers of Singapore faced a major crisis. In the first wave of attack, Singapore became subjects of the British Empire. In the second wave of attack, Japan tramples on Singapore like an orchid. In the third wave of attack, Malaysia divorced Singapore and left Singapore an unwanted child.

Our founding fathers do not flinch when faced with a crisis. With determination, guts and passion, they went all out to claim what is their just rights.
Nobody believed Singapore can make it but we did...

Now generation X suddenly find themselves in the midst of a major crisis, a crisis that is unlike any other crisis, a crisis that threatens not just Singapore economy, but the very existence of the human species, a crisis so large that the entire planet can be destroyed, a crisis with multiple threats of not just swine flu but includes bird flu, mad cow disease, climate change, artic ice melt.

It is not just about creating an economic miracle any more, the stakes are much higher this time..

The entire human species, and the animal species is at stake. This is even more important than any economic problem. People are dying around the world, animals are dying, whales and dolphins beach themselves because the methane bubbling up from the ocean created dead zones and deprive them of oxygen. Where does all these methane came from ? Not surprisingly, they came from factory run-offs,
yes, you guessed it, the result of live stock raising.

We are now in the first wave of swine flu attack. Republic Polytechnic became the first largest school cluster, but certainly not the last. The principal became the first to be petitioned by 1,900 students.

Does RP flinch and run away or stay back and fight ?

There are two pills: Green and Red.

Take the red pill, and you go back to normal, hide your cowardly self in the midst of the matrix. Try to find safety in numbers. (how long can you hide ?) Eat meat and be "normal". Watch mainstream TV every day and be bombarded with meat-is-good propaganda every 5 minutes interval. Wash your hands, take your temperature and wear a mask. Pretend you don't know anything about the link between meat and climate change.

Take the green pill, pull yourself out of the matrix. Start to live and let live. Become a vegan. Do not let animals suffer for your meals. Live like a true gentleman/gentlewoman and be a hero. Shut down the pig farms, save the world.

It takes a lot of courage to pick up the green pill and swallow it.

Against all odds, they say it cannot be done.. it is impossible for Singapore to do it ...

Hero or zero ?? RP, we are looking up to you...

Can you do it ?? Yes, YOU !!! You are The One ..

Believe in yourself, Neo, take the green pill !!!

Veganism is the only solution to save the world.

Paris Arc de Triomphe

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:53:00 +0000

Arc de Triomphe surprisingly is much bigger and taller than is shown in the picture. From the Effiel Tower it looks like a structure built for the giants. Overlooking the charming and beautiful Avenue des Champs-Élysées it is more than 10 storey high with an elevator going to the top for a panoramic view of Paris. It sits on a circle where roads from the twelve directions merge, a popular design which influenced most of the American cities during the age of the industrial revolution.

Parisians, if you love your beautiful city, please go vegan to save the world..

Nectar River 西湖的甘露河 1

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:54:00 +0000

为了庆祝西湖二十周年纪念和【天艺】新书的出版，我们将在这一系列的贴子，为您详细介绍西湖绚丽的景观。

今天我们来到了西湖的甘露河。如果您去西湖道场游览而没有走到甘露河，就好象入宝山却空手而归的感觉一样、或者说您去了北京而没有游览长城一样的遗憾！

甘露河可以说是整个西湖道场的精华之处，它是由西湖道场的创办人－清海无上师亲自率领一百多名长住，只花了三天的时间就建成的美丽景点。

甘露河依山而建，河水从最高处的源头冒出，沿着山丘的形势，款款而流。河床是由大大小小、不同形状的美丽鹅卵石建成，时而曲折婉转，时而款款长流，真好象人生经历的缩版一样，奇趣无比，发人深思。

“路漫漫其修远兮,吾将上下而求索”。甘露河历经几许波折，从高处的梯田，一直到下游的平地，流到了最后栖息的喷水泉，又奇迹般地从龙头高处破框而出，延绵不断，生生不息！！这样精采的结局，又是出自开悟大师一招精心设计的典范。

河水流到之处，两旁树林丛立，是人们吊床舔息，冥心静坐的好地方。一片小小竹板桥，让人们随意穿梭河的两岸，也点缀了甘露河无比的魅力，真是巧夺天工，神来之笔！

我们看到美丽无比的甘露河，就会想到为什么一群没有受过任何园艺学专业训练的人们，怎么可能只用三天的时光就开创如此美妙、幽静的景观呢？

参观了西湖甘露河，我们体验到大师深不可测的开悟力量，也感受了大师满满的爱力。回家的时候，可别忘了带一瓶甘露水，享受一下上帝的恩宠。。。

Camera Talk RAW vs JPEG processing 2

noreply@blogger.com (Lasm) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:17:00 +0000

Previously we talked about the advantages of shooting in RAW, and how the RAW format is actually similar to buying insurance. For those times when something goes terribly wrong, and you can never shoot the same scene again, then shooting in RAW provides you the insurance, a second chance to get things right.

We have also seen that certain camera settings can only be changed in the RAW format, after the fact. Such settings as exposure control, highlights and shadows (Nikon called it D-lighting) and White Balance can only be changed if you have a RAW file, not a JPEG file.

There are times when selecting a correct White Balance can make or break a photo, and also in certain situations a color cast can be very difficult or nearly impossible to remove in JPEG format. For these occassions, a RAW file is invaluable.

If you shoot in RAW, then the problem of White Balance becomes less critical. For example, you don't need to use White Balance Bracketing at all. White Balance Bracketing is for those who shoot in JPEG. Although it is a very fast in-camera process which captures three photos in rapid succession with different White Balance tunings without requiring you to change the drive mode away from single shot, it is absolutely redundant if you shoot in RAW. This is because you can produce as many White Balance variations as you wish when you process the RAW file.

So in short, the advantages of shooting in RAW format are:
1) Correct exposure up to 2 stops withoug impacting image quality.
3) Change White Balance settings after shooting, including fine tuning of white balance.
4) Change picture style choices, after the fact.
5) Lens specific corrections such as CA (Chromatic Abberation) and distortion correction.