volcano on the balcony!

Decisions

Have I ever told you guys that when I was in 1st year, I didn't care about college? I just knew that I wanted to take up Literature and nothing else. 2nd year, Sir Chet convinced me to take up an engineering course. By that time, I wanted to be in UST. In 3rd year, I decided to take civil engineering - but when I realized that it had more Drafting than I could handle, I chose ECE instead. It's fit for me. I like cell phones, telecommunications, working in TV stations . . . And I was determined to go to UST. But during the summer, I attended NYSTESC for the first time in my life.

It was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my high school life, and I'm very thankful to have been chosen to participate there. Before arriving in Iloilo (where the Camp was held this year) Sir Mike told us that the facilitators are college students, and they don't get paid for being facis there, they only receive certificates, which play a part in applying for a job, he told us. Yeah. I didn't care at first, but when we got there at Iloilo, we were divided into Satrapes, and we were given one Guardian per Satrape. Mine was a Mechanical Engineering student from UP. Later that night I learned that most of them came from UP Diliman. That's where I learned that the UP Diliman students get to be facilitators during these camps.

NYSTESC was only for four days but aside from giving me new friends and experiences to treasure, it made me change the way I view science as a whole. It made me enjoy a subject that I had disliked since my childhood days. If you hadn't already gotten the gist, NYSTESC changed my life. As a matter of fact, it made me decide to want to be in UP. Even if I learned that you could be a PSYSC facilitator even if you're from other universities in Manila, I knew right then and there that I wanted to be in UP. And one day, I'll get to see my friends in my Satrape, and I would share to my own Villagers my experiences in my one and only NYSTESC and maybe, just maybe, I'd change the life of even just one person, too. ;)

Why am I writing this? Because I'm upset =))))))) I didn't get to go in the Summit! Dang! :'( But hey, NYSTESC is still more epic. :>

Labels: college, iloilo, inspiration, NYSTESC 2011, PSYSC, UP

Sunday, September 4, 2011

7:01 AM

Paulo Coelho short stories Part 2

Donkey dies of exhaustion

Nasrudin decided to go in search of some new meditation techniques. He saddled his donkey, went to India, China and Mongolia, talked to the great masters, but found nothing.

He heard tell of a wise man in Nepal: he journeyed there, but as he was climbing the mountain to meet him, his donkey died of exhaustion. Nasrudin buried him there and then, and wept sadly. Someone passed by and commented:

"You came in search of a saint, this must be his tomb and you are lamenting his death."

"No, this is the place where I buried my donkey, who died of exhaustion."

"I don't believe it," said the new arrival. "No one weeps over a dead donkey. This must be a place where miracles occur, and you want to keep them for yourself."

Although Nasrudin explained again and again, it was no use. The man went to the next village and spread the story of a great master who cured people at his tomb, and soon the pilgrims began to arrive.

Gradually, news of the discovery of the Wise Man of Silent Mourning spread throughout Nepal - and crowds rushed to the place. A wealthy man came, thought his prayers had been answered, and built an imposing monument where Nasrudin had buried his 'master.'

In view of everything, Nasrudin decided to leave things as they were. But he learned once and for all, that when someone wants to believe a lie, no one can convince them otherwise.

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Each to his own destiny

A Samurai who was known for his nobility and honesty, went to visit a Zen monk to ask advice. However, the moment he entered the temple where the master was praying, he felt inferior and concluded that, in spite of having fought for justice and peace all his life, he hadn't even come near the state of grace achieved by the man before him.

"Why do I feel so inferior?" he asked, as soon as the monk finished his prayers. "I have faced death many times, have defended those who are weak, I know I have nothing to be ashamed of. Nevertheless, upon seeing you meditating, I have felt that my life had absolutely no importance whatsoever."

"Wait. Once I have attended to all those who come to see me today, I shall answer you."

The samurai spent the whole day sitting in the temple gardens, watching the people go in and out in search of advice. He saw how the monk received them all with the same patience and the same illuminated smile on his face. But his enthusiasm soon began to wane, since he had been born to act, not to wait.

At nightfall, when everyone had gone, he demanded: "Now can you teach me?"

The master invited him and lead him to to his room. The full moon shone in the sky, and the atmosphere was one of profound tranquility.

"Do you see the moon, how beautiful it is? It will cross the entire firmament, and tomorrow the sun will shine once again. But sunlight is much brighter, and can show the details of the landscape around us: trees, mountains, clouds. I have contemplated the two for years, and have never heard the moon say: why do I not shine like the sun? Is it because I am inferior?"

"Of course not," answered the samurai. "The moon and the sun are different things, each has its own beauty. You cannot compare the two."

"So you know the answer. We are two different people, each fighting in his own way for that which he believes, and making it possible to make the world a different place; the rest are mere appearances."

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Fetch another sort of doctor

A powerful monarch called a holy father - everyone said he had healing powers - to help him with his backache.

"God will help us," said the holy man. "But first let us understand the reason for these pains. I suggest Your majesty confesses now, for confession makes men face up to their problems, and liberates much guilt."

Annoyed at having to think about so many problems, the king said:

"I do not wish to speak of these matters; I need someone who heals without asking questions."

The priest went off and returned half an hour later with another man.

"I believe that words relieve pain, and help me to discover the right path to a cure," he said. "But you do not wish to talk, and I cannot help you. Here is the man you need:

"My friend here is a veterinarian, and does not generally speak to his patients."

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Forgiving

The abbot asked his favorite pupil how his spiritual progress was coming along. The pupil answered that he was managing to dedicate to God each and every moment of the day.

"Then all that's left now is to forgive your enemies."

The young man was shocked:

"But I'm not angry at my enemies!"

"Do you think God is angry at you?"

"Of course not!"

"And even so you ask Him to forgive you, don't you? Do the same with your enemies, even though you don't feel hatred for them. Those who practice forgiveness wash and perfume their own hearts."

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Heaven and Hell

A violent samurai who was known for picking fights for no reason at all arrived at the door of a Zen monastery and asked to speak to the master.

Without a moment's hesitation, Ryokan came out to meet him.

"They say that intelligence is more powerful than strength," said the samurai. "I wonder if you could explain to me the meaning of heaven and hell."

Ryokan remained silent.

"You see," roared the samurai, "I could explain that very easily: to show what hell is, all I need to do is beat someone up. To show what heaven is, just let a person go free after menacing him a lot."

"I don't argue with stupid people like you," said the Zen master.

This made the samurai's blood boil. His mind was filled with hatred.

"Now, that is hell," said Ryokan, smiling. "Letting yourself be angered by silly things."

The monk's courage disconcerted the warrior, and he relaxed.

"And that is heaven," added Ryokan, inviting him in. "Not reacting to silly provocations."

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It all seems so obvious

Rabbi Ben Zoma was asked:

"Who is wise?"

"He who always finds something to learn from others," said the Rabbi.

"Who is strong?"

"The man who is capable of dominating himself," responded the Rabbi.

"Who is wealthy?"

"He who knows the treasure he has: his days and hours of life, which can change everything which goes on around him."

"Who deserves respect?"

"He who respects himself and his neighbor."

"These things are all so obvious," commented one of those present. The Rabbi concluded by saying:

"That is why they are so difficult to observe."

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John and the visions of hell

"Perhaps Jesus sent some of His apostles to Hell to save souls," said John. "Even in the worst of torments, not all is lost."

The idea surprises me. We are chatting in one of the few bars in Los Angeles. John is a firefighter, and today is his day off.

"Why do you say that?" I ask.

"Because I have experienced the same torment here on earth. I enter buildings in flames, see desperate people trying to get out and have often risked my life to save them. I am just a particle in this immense universe, forced to act like a hero in the middle of fire and despair. If I, who am no one of importance, can manage to act in this way, imagine what Jesus can do! For sure, some of His apostles are infiltrated in Hell, saving souls."

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Knowing how to listen to insults

In a kingdom of Arabia lived a queen called Layla. Her wisdom illuminated the kingdom like the sun, her beauty blinded men, and her wealth was greater than any of her subjects.

One morning, her chief advisor asked to see her, and said:

"Great queen Layla! You are the wisest, most beautiful and wealthiest woman in the world. But I have heard unpleasant things; some people laugh at or complain at about your decisions. Why, in spite of all you have done for your subjects, are they still not content?"

The queen laughed and replied:

"Loyal advisor, you know how much I have done for my kingdom. Seven regions are under my control, and all of them have enjoyed peace and prosperity. In all the towns, the decisions of my court are just and inspired.

"I can do almost everything I wish. I can order the frontiers to be closed, the gates of the palace to be locked, the treasury coffers sealed indefinitely.

"But there is one thing I cannot do: make the people shut their mouths. It matters not what false things people say; the important thing is to continue to do that which I consider to be true."

Labels: inspiration

Thursday, June 30, 2011

6:24 PM

Paulo Coelho short stories Part 1

Deryk tagged me in a note on Facebook, and that note tells a story about the wrong side of the bread, a short story in one of Paulo Coelho's books. (If you don't know him, click the link for details. :P) So I searched for more of his short stories, and I found great inspiration. Here are some of my favorites . . . so far:

Trying to cheat destiny

On his way to Galicia during the religious wars that ended with the Spanish expelling the Arabs from the Iberian Peninsula, the Emperor Charlemagne's troops face a traitor. Before the battle, he prayed to Santiago, who revealed to him the names of the 140 soldiers who would die in the fight. Charlemagne left these men in the camp, and went to fight.

Later that afternoon, victorious and without a single casualty in his army, he returned to discover that the camp had been set on fire and 140 men were dead.

Beggar and the Guru

A baker wanted to get to know a great guru in his town a little better, so he invited him to dinner. The day before, the guru went to the bakery disguised as a beggar, picked a bread roll off the display and began to eat it. The baker saw this and tossed him out onto the street.

The following day, the guru and a disciple went to the baker's house and were treated to a splendid banquet.

In the middle of the meal, the disciple asked, "How does one tell a good man from a bad man?"

"Just look at this baker. He is capable of spending ten gold pieces on a banquet because I am famous, but is incapable of giving a piece of bread to feed a hungry beggar."

Beggar and the Monk

A monk was meditating in the desert when a beggar came up to him and said:

"I need to eat."

The monk, who was almost reaching the point of perfect harmony with the spiritual world, did not answer.

"I need to eat, insisted the beggar."

"Go to the town and ask someone else. Can't you see that you are bothering me? I am trying to communicate with the angels."

"God placed himself lower than men, washed their feet, gave His life, and no one recognized Him," the beggar replied. "He who says he loves God, who does not see and forgets his brother - who does, is lying."

And the beggar turned into an angel.

"What a pity, you almost made it," he remarked before leaving.

Children and Prayers

A Protestant priest, having started a family, no longer had any peace for his prayers. One night, when he knelt down, he was disturbed by the children in the living room.

"Have the children keep quiet!" he shouted.

His startled wife obeyed. Thereafter, whenever the priest came home, they all maintained silence during prayers. But he realized that God was no longer listening.

One night, during his prayers, he asked the Lord: "What is going on? I have the necessary peace, and I cannot pray!"

An angel replied: "He hears words, but no longer hears the laughter. He notices the devotion, but can no longer see the joy."

The priest stood and shouted once again to his wife: "Have the children play! They are part of prayer!"

And his words were heard by God once again.

Choosing One's Destiny

"I am willing to give up everything," said the prince to the master. "Please accept me as your disciple."

"How does a man choose his path?" asked the master.

"Through sacrifice," answered the prince. "A path which demands sacrifice, is a true path."

The master bumped into some shelves. A precious vase fell, and the prince threw himself down in order to grab hold of it. He fell badly and broke his arm, but managed to save the vase.

"What is the greater sacrifice: to watch the vase smash, or break one's arm in order to save it?" asked the master.

"I do not know," said the prince.

"Then how can you guide your choice for sacrifice? The true path is chosen by our ability to love it, not to suffer for it."

Condemning One's Brother

Abbot Isaac of Thebes was in the patio of the monastery praying when he saw one of the monks commit a sin. Furious, he interrupted his prayers and condemned the sinner.

That night he was prevented from returning to his cell by an angel who said to him: "You condemned your brother, but you did not say what punishment we should inflict: the pains of hell? Some terrible disease in this life? Some torment in his family?"

Isaac knelt down and asked for pardon: "I tossed the words in the air, and an angel heard them. I sinned by being irresponsible for what I said. Forget my ire, Lord, and make me take greater care in judging my neighbor."

Covering the sun with one's hand

A disciple went to Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav:

"I shall not continue with my studies of sacred texts," he said. "I live in a small house with my brothers and parents, and never have the ideal conditions for concentrating on that which is important."

Nachman pointed to the sun and asked his disciple to place his hand over his face, in order to hide it. The disciple obeyed.

"Your hand is small, yet it can completely cover the power, light and majesty of the great sun. In the same way, the small problems manage to give you the excuse you need in order to hinder your progress along your spiritual journey."

Just as your hand has the power to hide the sun, mediocrity has the power to hide your inner light. Do not blame others for your own incompetence.

Crowns on the Torah

When Moses ascended to Heaven to write a certain part of the Bible, the Almighty asked him to place small crowns on some letters of the Torah. Moses said: "Master of the Universe, why draw these crowns?" God answered: "Because one hundred generations from now a man named Akiva will interpret them."

"Show me this man's interpretation," asked Moses.

The Lord took him to the future and put him in one of Rabbi Akiva's classes. One pupil asked: "Rabbi, why are these crowns drawn on top of some letters?"

"I don't know," replied Akiva. "And I am sure that not even Moses knew. He only did this to teach us that even without understanding everything the Lord does, we can trust in his wisdom."

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Yes Lord, I trust in your wisdom :) One year ago, I did not see myself as who I am today, but still, I thank you. I trust that now is just not my time.

Labels: inspiration

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

4:07 AM

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This picture isn't mine. Credits to the owner :) I like it so I'm keeping it. HAHA.

My name is Denise Soriano. IV-Chofu, ESC Committee Head on Discipline, Managing Editor (Administrative) of Echoes, YES member and PSYSC affiliate. Weeeee!

You alone should define who you are. Don't let anyone tell you who you should be or what you should do when you what's best for you.

That's about it, I guess. for now. :)

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Where to find me. :)

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I know, I know, I am a socio-freak. :))

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AWESOMENESS in the HOUSE!

Decisions

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Paulo Coelho short stories Part 2

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Paulo Coelho short stories Part 1

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

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