Some opinions I posted at NZ Herald

Some opinions I posted at NZ Herald. You can view the original article here: Death (which is an impending certainty for everyone regardless of status and state, sooner or later, in varying modes and fashions) could be used as an opportunity to learn about God, life’s purpose, our immortality and place in the universe. Life is a death sentence. If we equate our existence to mere physical reality, it is destined to disintegrate sooner or later, like all things in the manifested world. Forms emanate from the formless – the void – the realm where God and spirits dwell. It is inaccessible to the senses, yet is more real than the physical realm. It is the source from which physicality derives. Sadly, our thoughts and actions are often driven by the opposite view. It is little wonder that we often unnecessarily stress ourselves and make life unduly intolerable. Dr. Wealthall shows great wisdom and strength of character with his detachment and nonchalance. His example is truly worthy of praise and emulation. ------------------------------------------------------ Most of us are afraid of death because our soul remembers our previous deaths and it knows that death does not equate to the ending of it all. Yes, I am talking about reincarnation. It has to be. To state otherwise is to deny that energy is indestructible. All things have a cause and and an effect, which in turn becomes another cause. It goes on ad infinitum. It is this memory of past experience that gives rise to fear and attachment. Without death life cannot be. Death is the prerequisite of life and its raison d’etre. The same can be said of death. This cycle of life and death goes on for all things including human beings. The purpose of all that living and dying is so that all things will prosper and elevate, or what might be called evolution. To be afraid of death shows the fundamental ignorance of the life process. It is the cause of unhappiness and stagnation. Notwithstanding our fear and resistance death will inexorably occur as a matter of fact. The more we reject it, the more painful it will become. It pays to train our mind to accept death and make it a daily occurrence. Each night when you go to sleep prepare for death. Tomorrow will be a new beginning. Tomorrow will be a new beginning.

甲午年贺岁七绝五首

甲午年贺岁七绝五首 （押先韵）： Five Classical Poems for the Year of the Horse: 1. 炮竹声声震撼天，光阴荏苒rěnrǎn 送斯年。乾坤变色潮流转，不惧将来不计前。 The sound of firecrackers rattles the sky / Time marches on, in a blink another year has passed us by / The world changes colour; the tide turns / I fear not the future nor regret what has gone by 2. 天旋地转流光逝，炮竹声中又一年。长叹韶sháo 华留不住，迎新弃旧惜当前。 Sky turns, earth rolls, time charges on / A year has gone amidst the loud firecrackers / I often sigh at how Time not slowing down her pace / To welcome the new and farewell the old, but I shall treasure the now 3. 火树银花不夜天，街头巷尾庆新年；人生长恨光阴短，何日重逢共月圆？ Fireworks light up the trees; the night is unending / In the streets and the alleyways everyone cerebrates the New Year / Time is short and fleeting, I often lament / When shall we meet again to join the full moon? 4. 马到功成送旧年，举国同庆乐连天；莫问从今何处往，只缘努力胜当前。 The galloping horse brings success and sends off the old year / All over the land everyone cerebrates; joy fills the sky / Ask me not where I will go from now / I shall trudge on to better the present time 5. 天涯海角留人处，结善交游处处缘。一年从此流光逝，只事耕耘不怨天。 At the sky's fringe and the sea's corner where I am allowed to be / I plant the seeds of goodwill by mixing well with people / A year has lapsed as time trudges on / I shall do my best and not blame Heaven Wish all my friends Happy Lunar New Year of the Horse. 恭喜发财 新年进步 心想事成！！ May the Lunar New Year bring you wealth, happiness and progress. May your dreams take flight.

词二首: 如梦令 / 采桑子

如梦令：戏作 （和李清照韵） Fun Piece (After a poem by Ms Lǐ Qīngzhào of the Song Dynasty [960 - 1279] ) 夜半星沉雨骤， Mid-night the stars had submerged amidst the sudden rain 浓睡不须红酒。 The sleep was deep despite not having red wine 轻触枕边人， I gently touched the person next to my pillow 唾沫鼻鼾依旧 。 As usual the snoring was loud accompanied by a drool 知否？ 知否？ Do you know? Do you know? 窗外雨停花瘦。 Outside the window the rain has stopped and the flowers are in tatters 李清照原韵（The Original Poem by Lǐ Qīngzhào) 昨夜雨疏风骤， Last night the rain was sparse and the wind sudden 浓睡不消残酒。 The deep sleep did not wear away the wine 试问卷帘人， I asked the person drawing the blind 却道海棠依旧。 She said the haitang flowers are still the same 知否、知否？ Do you know? Do you know? 应是绿肥红瘦。 The leaves should be greener, the flowers few 采桑子 重阳作客有感 步毛泽东原韵 (Written on Chinese Ninth Moon, after a poem by Máo Zédōng) 平生认定韶华短， I have often thought that life is fleeting 心似朝阳， My heart is like the rising sun 岁近残阳， My age resembles the setting one 欲坠黄花难溢香。 The falling chrysanthemum struggles to exude its fragrance 年年岁岁平安渡， Every year passes safely 意念春光， Thinking of springtime 留住春光， Holding on to springtime 不惧人间雪与霜。 I fear not life's blizzards and grime 毛泽东原韵： 采桑子·重阳 (Original by Mao Zedong: Chong Yang-9th of September) 人生易老天难老， Life ages fast but Heaven is timeless 岁岁重阳， Every year there is Chong Yang* 今又重阳， Now, too, it is Chong Yang 战地黄花分外香。 The chrysanthemums in the battlefield are especially fragrant 一年一度秋风劲， Once a year the Autumn wind is brisk 不似春光， It doesn't look like springtime 胜似春光， It is better than springtime 廖廓江天万里霜。 In the broad expanse frost stretches for ten thousand miles Chong Yang重陽: The Double Ninth Festival observed on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese (Lunar) calendar, is a traditional Chinese holiday, mentioned in writing since before the East Han period (before AD 25). According to the I Ching 易经, nine is a yang number; the ninth day of the ninth lunar month (or double nine) has too much yang (a traditional Chinese spiritual concept) and is thus a potentially dangerous date. Hence, the day is also called "Double Yang Festival" (重陽節). To protect against danger, it is customary to climb a high mountain, drink chrysanthemum wine, and wear the zhuyu (茱萸) plant, Cornus officinalis. (Both chrysanthemum and zhuyu are considered to have cleansing qualities and are used on other occasions to air out houses and cure illnesses.) On this holiday some Chinese also visit the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects. In Hong Kong, whole extended families head to ancestral graves to clean them and repaint inscriptions, and to lay out food offerings such as roast suckling pig and fruit, which are then eaten (after the spirits have consumed the spiritual element of the food). Chongyang Cake is also popular. Incense sticks are burned.[1] Cemeteries get crowded, and each year grass fires are inadvertently started by the burning incense sticks.[Edited from Wikipedia].