Self-control

Post 63 Be the master of your heart

The Chinese character for ‘anger’ is written as 怒. It is composed of 奴 which means ‘slave’ and 心 meaning ‘heart’. When one gets angry, one becomes the slave of one’s heart. Self-control is needed for the anger in one’s heart to be subdued.

When one has love, one does not get angry. The traditional Chinese character for love is written as 愛. There is a heart (心) in the centre; above the heart are family members under the same roof; and below it friends (友). One loves them with one’s heart.

However, the traditional version of love (愛) has now been simplified to be written as 爱, with the heart (心）missing. There have now been calls by Chinese scholars to appeal to the Chinese government for the traditional version to be used again. They say, “How can one love without the heart?”

The word heart (心) is in the two Chinese characters: anger (怒) and love (愛). The former brings enmity while the latter, friendship.

28 September 2010

Go travelling

Post 62 Widen your horizon through travelling

When one has financial freedom, one can do many things. One can travel from place to place enjoying the beauties of nature; admiring different scenic spots; and widen one’s horizon. One needs to unwind oneself and be away from the pressure of work whenever there is an opportunity to do so. “It is better to see once than hear a hundred times”, so goes the Chinese saying.

The tour to Turkey was a lesson on history of religion and tolerance well learnt for me. It was also a journey which would impress tourists on what make a great statesman: patriotism, foresight and sagacity, courage, wisdom, and compassion. While politicians are plentiful, statesmen are few and far apart in the world.

John F. Kennedy speaking in Washington D.C., November 10, 1963 on the 25th commemoration of Mustafa Kemel Ataturk, the founder of Modern Turkey as: “The name of Ataturk brings to mind the historic accomplishments of one of the great men of this century, his inspired leadership of the Turkish People, his perceptive understanding of the modern world and his boldness as a military leader.”

Ataturk’s high expectation of educators are reflected in his following quotes:
“Teachers are the one and only people who save nations.”;
“Teachers: the new generation will be your devotion.”

21 September 2010

(Writer was away on vacation for two weeks)