https://www.upworthy.com/sikhs-prepare-meals-for-quarantined
I lived with a Sikh family briefly many years ago. They were kind and generous, often inviting me to dinner. Most people who know Sikhs say they are gentle and upstanding without exception.
What little I know of their religion is that they study a book written by their saints and founders several hundred years ago. This holy scripture, known as the Guru Granth Sahib, is considered the authority on their religion. Sikhs do not have people they consider priests or gurus per se--all humans, Sikh or not, are considered equal and no one holds authority over another. All people reflect, or have within them, godliness, or the potential for it.
Serving others (sewa) is a central practice of their religion. Their temples regularly provide food for anybody who is hungry, Sikhi or not.
During this pandemic, it's always inspiring to hear about people doing good!
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
No Man's Land
As an Asian American living in the U.S., it's a real strange time to exist right now. And if you've been critical of both the Chinese government and Trump, it's like there is no place for you. You get accused of being unpatriotic towards the U.S. or racist against the Chinese. This is both funny and sad, and indicative that people can no longer seem to have a nuanced opinion on things because people are so hell-bent on sticking you in some sort of category, or ideological tribe. But maybe this is just online culture. I sure hope so!
In day to day life, you'll see that people are visibly afraid or wary of you. I had one cashier look like she nearly had a heart attack when I approached her line. I felt so bad I wanted to turn around and go to a different one, but not sure which cashier would have reacted differently. Should I have held up my hands and said "I come in peace...without Corona?" Which is funny because I've probably travelled less than the average American.
If you're an Asian in a place with low diversity, you'll feel a little like a pariah right now. There have been plenty of reports around the world where violence has broken out against Asians. Recently some guy stabbed an Asian-looking man and his kid, who couldn't have been more than 8 or 9, in Texas, inside of a store.
In sum, if you're Asian, you may feel more concerned with getting harassed (or attacked on public transportation) than getting the actual virus, though that's a concern too.
The irritating thing is that I (along with many other Asians) have been super critical of the Chinese government, both now and in the past. Many of their government's questionable policies have affected the rest of the world, including my own country of origin (I'm not Chinese), and of course there is the issue of the policies they inflict against their own people. So when Trump says this is a "Chinese virus", I understand because I know he's saying it in part to deflect the vile accusations going around that the virus is actually American in origin. On the other hand, when Trump says it's a "Chinese virus", I also know a bunch of dummies who think Asia is one giant country and that all Asians or Chinese all stick together (they don't) will feel justified about harassing some poor old man or girl of Asian ethnicity in public (e.g., anybody who looks like they can't fight back.)
Anyway, I am grateful for all the other Americans out there who just continue being their decent selves. There are also total strangers out there who seem like they are making an effort to be friendly to me these days, smiling and waving more than they used to, and I appreciate it.
Like everyone else, I hope this over soon. And safety for everyone at risk from the virus. I've wanted to volunteer too but not sure how people feel about someone Asian showing up to their door. Like I said, it's been strange times!
In day to day life, you'll see that people are visibly afraid or wary of you. I had one cashier look like she nearly had a heart attack when I approached her line. I felt so bad I wanted to turn around and go to a different one, but not sure which cashier would have reacted differently. Should I have held up my hands and said "I come in peace...without Corona?" Which is funny because I've probably travelled less than the average American.
If you're an Asian in a place with low diversity, you'll feel a little like a pariah right now. There have been plenty of reports around the world where violence has broken out against Asians. Recently some guy stabbed an Asian-looking man and his kid, who couldn't have been more than 8 or 9, in Texas, inside of a store.
In sum, if you're Asian, you may feel more concerned with getting harassed (or attacked on public transportation) than getting the actual virus, though that's a concern too.
The irritating thing is that I (along with many other Asians) have been super critical of the Chinese government, both now and in the past. Many of their government's questionable policies have affected the rest of the world, including my own country of origin (I'm not Chinese), and of course there is the issue of the policies they inflict against their own people. So when Trump says this is a "Chinese virus", I understand because I know he's saying it in part to deflect the vile accusations going around that the virus is actually American in origin. On the other hand, when Trump says it's a "Chinese virus", I also know a bunch of dummies who think Asia is one giant country and that all Asians or Chinese all stick together (they don't) will feel justified about harassing some poor old man or girl of Asian ethnicity in public (e.g., anybody who looks like they can't fight back.)
Anyway, I am grateful for all the other Americans out there who just continue being their decent selves. There are also total strangers out there who seem like they are making an effort to be friendly to me these days, smiling and waving more than they used to, and I appreciate it.
Like everyone else, I hope this over soon. And safety for everyone at risk from the virus. I've wanted to volunteer too but not sure how people feel about someone Asian showing up to their door. Like I said, it's been strange times!
Sunday, March 15, 2020
My brief foray into the stock market
So a few weeks ago I had a burning desire to understand the stock market, namely in the buying and selling of options. Like most people, I could sense there was going to be a huge downturn ahead due to panic over COVID. Since I know very little about puts and calls (short-term ways to bet on whether stocks would rise or fall), I tried out a simulator on Investopedia.com in order to educate myself. The Investopedia simulator follows the ACTUAL stock market, so whatever you invest with your fake dollars will reflect what you would have earned or lost in real time.
Within three days I made $20,000 off of my $3000 simulated investment. Full of bravado at this point, I debated whether I should start investing with actual dollars.
After a lot of hemming and hawing, I decided against it.
Why?
Within three days I made $20,000 off of my $3000 simulated investment. Full of bravado at this point, I debated whether I should start investing with actual dollars.
After a lot of hemming and hawing, I decided against it.
Why?
- OBSESSIVENESS. Because during those 3 intense days of day trading, I found myself checking the DOW every 5-10 minutes. I had no life outside of this. While I was working, eating, or in the bathroom I'd check the market. I'd check it after walking the dogs a mile, before I walked them back.
- EGO. I would start yelling every time my trades showed profit and scream "I'M A GENIUS!!!" at my husband in the other room. Mostly joking, but not really. I could feel my ego growing in sync with my Investopedia account. Who cares how insufferable I've become!? After all, I could be a bonafide financial guru!
- DETERIORATING RELATIONSHIPS. My husband actually banned me from discussing the stock market with him after the first day. It was all I talked about. I don't think he's fully recovered yet.
I don't even know why I got so obsessed. I'm fortunate enough not to need the money desperately right now. Any money I would have made wouldn't have really changed our lives at all, since I would have never have bet huge amounts of money in the first place. But the bigger issue is: I just can't seem to play the market without becoming, in essence, a crazy person.
Maybe one day I'll be able to play stocks with detachment. As for now, I'm watching the day-to-day volatility with interest but staying far away.
Thursday, February 27, 2020
Do You Ever Feel Like You Have Too Many Interests, and Other Ramblings
Note: this is long and rambly due to having typed this up in the middle of the night
THE DILETTANTE
Do you ever feel like you have too many interests? Right now I'm interested in:- meditation
- trying the sport of paddleball
- playing the ukulele
- learning more about the stock market
- physics
- using the digital drawing tools for my iPad
- programming in Python
I'm finding I want to do everything, learn everything, but don't seem to have the time to do it.
It's a fun problem to have, I think. In the past, there were periods when I was uninterested in anything, when I was most likely depressed.
Things are very good these days. It's not about the outside, but what's going on within. I am learning everything will change, transform, and disappear eventually. What am I saying...it's happening now, as I type this.
I know it's odd to say "I am learning" this very obvious fact of life, but I don't think it really "registered" with me in a way that was real until recently. I'm a late bloomer.
So yes, things change. May I be able to roll with the punches when they do.
***
THE TERRIBLE FORTIES
Incidentally, I'm near the age that is supposedly the UNHAPPIEST age according to some survey. What age, you ask? Forty-seven.
Of course, I don't REALLY believe 47 is the most miserable age. Well, I do and I don't. I do because this is when a lot of women can get perimenopausal/menopausal. The hormones shift and no small percentage of women report they are often feeling intensely sad, exhausted, overwhelmed, depressed, angry, paranoid, anxious, etc. "I don't remember feeling this crazy since I was a teen", is what I'll hear. This is on top of all the physical changes of wrinkling, greying, hot flashes, insomnia, bathroom issues, weight gain, etc. etc.
As for myself, I think this shift began for me 2-3 years ago (still going through it now). I credit meditation (and a patient husband) for helping me through the rollercoaster thus far. It's why I started and stuck with it to begin with. Yay for suffering? The great motivator?
So I can definitely believe that 47--around the time of "the shift", can be a very trying period (pun unintended!)
And a lot of men are unhappy around this time as well. My belief is that it might also have to do with THEIR changing hormonal levels; namely the decline in testosterone.
And usually this is all under the challenging specter of the mid-life/existential crisis. And a time when our parents begin having health issues as well. Fun stuff.
I'm not going to expect things will get necessarily get "better" after 47 though, despite what the survey says. Nobody knows what will happen. To this body. To family. To friends. To this society. To this world. The only thing I can hope for is cultivating the right attitude and state of mind to deal with whatever comes my way, good or bad. That's the most important goal I foresee...at least it seems to me...right now. Will this goal change tomorrow? In a year? I don't know.
***
ADVENTURES IN SITTING
I was trying Shikantaza meditation the other day, on my husband's recommendation. That's a type of meditation where the object is to sit. Yep, that's all there is to it. Just sitting. It's actually harder to do than it sounds.
After I sat with some difficulty for 45 minutes, I asked, "so what's the point of all this? What is this supposed to do?"
My husband replied, "To make you stop asking those kinds of questions."
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
The Holy Man and the Waterfall
Recently I've felt this tremendous pressure between my eyes while meditating. Apparently it's a common issue but the advice on alleviating it ranges from "learn to accept it and continue your practice" to "stop immediately and do something else." Ah, the endless and contradictory wisdom of the internet.
So I've taken a break, just to be safe. My sis said that area between the eyes is a "chakra point." I asked her what that meant and what I can do about it, and she said she has no idea. Haha, oh well!
In any case, until I find a teacher who knows what's up, I'm continuing to read through my Ram Dass book and explore other types of meditation practices.
Dass's book "Journey of Awakening", which provides instructions on many different styles of meditation, is also peppered with stories and bits of wisdom from sources ranging far and wide, including the Christian, Hindu, Taoist, Sufi, Buddhist.
I particularly loved this excerpt, a passage from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. It shows, among other things, that meditation doesn't have to be limited to the act of sitting down and focusing on your breath: (parentheses added for clarity)
How simple. Some would call the above a silly and wasted day, but I can't imagine a day more beautiful or lovely.
So I've taken a break, just to be safe. My sis said that area between the eyes is a "chakra point." I asked her what that meant and what I can do about it, and she said she has no idea. Haha, oh well!
In any case, until I find a teacher who knows what's up, I'm continuing to read through my Ram Dass book and explore other types of meditation practices.
Dass's book "Journey of Awakening", which provides instructions on many different styles of meditation, is also peppered with stories and bits of wisdom from sources ranging far and wide, including the Christian, Hindu, Taoist, Sufi, Buddhist.
I particularly loved this excerpt, a passage from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. It shows, among other things, that meditation doesn't have to be limited to the act of sitting down and focusing on your breath: (parentheses added for clarity)
There is a sadhu (holy man) in Hrishikesh who gets up early in the morning and stands near a great waterfall. He looks at it the whole day and says to God: "Ah, You have done well! Well done! How amazing!" He doesn't practice any other form of japa (mantra) or austerity. At night he returns to his hut.
How simple. Some would call the above a silly and wasted day, but I can't imagine a day more beautiful or lovely.
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Ranting about Alcohol
One of my goals this year is to be more accepting of people. As if on cue, within a few weeks I realized pretty quickly where I draw a hard line...
I can't stand drunks.
The only way I can tolerate drunkenness is if I get drunk myself. And I've acquired a distaste for alcohol so that's not gonna happen any time soon.
I think about somebody like Christ, looking out at all his followers. Loving the prostitutes and lepers and outcasts of society. For some reason this seems significantly easier to me than accepting and loving drunks. Maybe Jesus loved them, but from afar. Like arm's length.
By "drunks", I don't necessarily mean alcoholics. Alcoholics are people who are struggling with a difficult issue.
I mean people, alcoholic or not, who are actually drunk in the moment. In a way, I feel like "they" (the drunk person) doesn't even exist, and I'm wasting time interacting with them. Because I'm actually interacting with a bottle of vodka, not an actual person.
I've worked in the hospitality industry and have had to deal with a lot of drunkenness. This is partly where my bias comes from. I've also dealt with a lot of people who were high from weed.
I tell ya, I LOVED people who were high. At least they didn't start fights, usually tipped well and weren't aggressive. They were also respectful. In contrast, I really, REALLY did not like serving people who were wasted.
I can't stand drunks.
The only way I can tolerate drunkenness is if I get drunk myself. And I've acquired a distaste for alcohol so that's not gonna happen any time soon.
I think about somebody like Christ, looking out at all his followers. Loving the prostitutes and lepers and outcasts of society. For some reason this seems significantly easier to me than accepting and loving drunks. Maybe Jesus loved them, but from afar. Like arm's length.
By "drunks", I don't necessarily mean alcoholics. Alcoholics are people who are struggling with a difficult issue.
I mean people, alcoholic or not, who are actually drunk in the moment. In a way, I feel like "they" (the drunk person) doesn't even exist, and I'm wasting time interacting with them. Because I'm actually interacting with a bottle of vodka, not an actual person.
I've worked in the hospitality industry and have had to deal with a lot of drunkenness. This is partly where my bias comes from. I've also dealt with a lot of people who were high from weed.
I tell ya, I LOVED people who were high. At least they didn't start fights, usually tipped well and weren't aggressive. They were also respectful. In contrast, I really, REALLY did not like serving people who were wasted.
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Documentary: Quark Science
It really highlights how our universe is such a gargantuan, strange, bewildering, and often times surreal place, on the level of a Dali painting. And how intensely clever and diligent the scientists were who discovered the knowledge we have today. And I don't know what's more fascinating--the actual discoveries or how the discoveries were made.
I learned so much from this episode, and am looking forward to watching the rest.
Some of it's available on youtube. The entire series is available through Amazon Prime.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CTFML98
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