Mr. Yang was suspending at the edge of a cliff holding on a vine that was tied to the root of a gigantic tree on the cliff. One tiger was waiting on the top of cliff for his 'fine dinner' should Mr. Yang climbed up the cliff. Another tiger was also waiting for his dinner should Mr. Yang fall to the bottom of the canyon. Meanwhile a chipmunk was busy chewing away the vine that Mr. Yang was holding to.
Then Mr. Yang spotted a strawberry bush that he could reach. Each time the vine swing by the bush, he picked a juicy strawberry and enjoyed the taste of the strawberry.
Suddenly, all his fear of being eaten by tigers was gone. He threw one juicy strawberry to the cliff, the chipmunk ran after the strawberry then the tiger ran after the chipmunk. Mr. Yang was able to recover himself and climb up the cliff and walked away the danger.
Living at present, enjoy the strawberries even there are dangers lurking in our life.
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Sunday, July 26, 2015
In God we trust
Ann was busy giving away pennies to those friends who visited her at the hospice, forgetting about the fact that she was dying from terminal cancer. Just about 2 weeks ago, she asked her doctors to stop all her treatments, including chemo, radiation, or surgery. Instead, she turned spiritual and giving away pennies. Why pennies ? Because, at each penny, there was an ingraved letters, "In God we trust".
Each religion can have different interpretation of God. However, the essence of God remains the same irrespective of religion. God is the Universal Divine Intelligence. It is this Intelligence that direct an embryo to grow into a man or a woman, flowers will blossom in spring and leaves will fall in autum. The Divine Intelligence also directs us wake and sleep cycle each day, alive or dead for each individual.
If we trust God, we will not be afraid of being dead. Each night when we sleep, our souls detach from our body. The souls return to our bodies when we are awake. When we are dead, our souls also detach from our body but they do not return to our body. In Christine religion, this soul either goes to hell or to heaven. In Buddihist religion, this soul will attach to a different living being, a butter fly, or a worm, or a human body, 'reincarnate' to start a new life.
In God we trust, because this Divine Intelligence knows what to do with our souls once they detach our bodies. Just like falling asleep, the best medicine to overcome insomnia is to completely 'let go' or surrender. Similarly, when the time comes that our souls will detach our bodies forever is to completely 'let go' and 'surrender' to the Intellengence greater than what we can imagine or attempt to control.
Each religion can have different interpretation of God. However, the essence of God remains the same irrespective of religion. God is the Universal Divine Intelligence. It is this Intelligence that direct an embryo to grow into a man or a woman, flowers will blossom in spring and leaves will fall in autum. The Divine Intelligence also directs us wake and sleep cycle each day, alive or dead for each individual.
If we trust God, we will not be afraid of being dead. Each night when we sleep, our souls detach from our body. The souls return to our bodies when we are awake. When we are dead, our souls also detach from our body but they do not return to our body. In Christine religion, this soul either goes to hell or to heaven. In Buddihist religion, this soul will attach to a different living being, a butter fly, or a worm, or a human body, 'reincarnate' to start a new life.
In God we trust, because this Divine Intelligence knows what to do with our souls once they detach our bodies. Just like falling asleep, the best medicine to overcome insomnia is to completely 'let go' or surrender. Similarly, when the time comes that our souls will detach our bodies forever is to completely 'let go' and 'surrender' to the Intellengence greater than what we can imagine or attempt to control.
Friday, July 10, 2015
About Balkan
I have participated in Door County Folk Dance Festival (DCFF) in the last 4 years. This year, DCFF introduced something new and unique--The Culture Session, specifically with a presenter Marti Koenig from NY.
Marti used to be a history instructor at New York City. Due to his interest in Balkan culture, he became a Balkan dance and culture instructor at a college in New York City. He secured a Smithsonian grant to visit Balkan countries several times in the past 15 years. He produced books, CD and DVD through his culture research at Balkan countries.
He presented his research in consecutive 3 days: Day 1, general description; Day 2, photo and audio clips. Day 3, video clips and films.
What makes Balkan unique? What makes Balkan dances interesting?
Balkan countries includes Macedonia,Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Bosnia. The people there are Europeans. However, these countries have been occupied by Turks as part of Ottoman Empire. Thus, there is a culture cross fertilization between Western and Eastern cultures making their music unique flavor. Additionally, this is the region where three major faiths, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim intersects. Culture interactions or cross-firing is inevitable. They reflect in their music and dance as well.
Balkan dances are earthy, i.e. there is a strong identification between the people and the land. The dance is for farmers, peasants and for common ordinary dance unlike court dances which are for royal or for noble people.
All those reasons making Balkan dances the most popular dance in DCFF.
Marti used to be a history instructor at New York City. Due to his interest in Balkan culture, he became a Balkan dance and culture instructor at a college in New York City. He secured a Smithsonian grant to visit Balkan countries several times in the past 15 years. He produced books, CD and DVD through his culture research at Balkan countries.
He presented his research in consecutive 3 days: Day 1, general description; Day 2, photo and audio clips. Day 3, video clips and films.
What makes Balkan unique? What makes Balkan dances interesting?
Balkan countries includes Macedonia,Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Bosnia. The people there are Europeans. However, these countries have been occupied by Turks as part of Ottoman Empire. Thus, there is a culture cross fertilization between Western and Eastern cultures making their music unique flavor. Additionally, this is the region where three major faiths, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim intersects. Culture interactions or cross-firing is inevitable. They reflect in their music and dance as well.
Balkan dances are earthy, i.e. there is a strong identification between the people and the land. The dance is for farmers, peasants and for common ordinary dance unlike court dances which are for royal or for noble people.
All those reasons making Balkan dances the most popular dance in DCFF.
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