Death as release from suffering,
as being for the better,
is not always true.

Death as entry into hell,
as being for the worse,
is not always true.

Death is change,
and what it will be for you
depends on how you live too.

(Moonpointer folks will be away in India
learning from HHDL from tonight to 12/9)

It amazes me somewhat every time, that it’s possible to temporarily put work and stuff aside, to tie up loose ends, so as to travel. Will I have the good fortune to be able to do this when actually dying? I hope so. Even if not, I have to let go if I have to let go. It’s like a kind of death and rebirth, the end of chapter and the beginning of another.

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iPhone 4 has an antenna problem.
iPhone 5 should be improved in that aspect.
But will it have a new problem?

iPad 1 has its limitations.
iPad 2 should have less.
But what limitations will remain?

Always a beta version,
Life is likewise in beta… a work in progress…
If we can always can become better… till we become alpha, the best.

A Tit for a Tat (163)

Tit: Look! Says here – ‘This sentence is false’.
Tat: That’s meaningless!
Tit: Why?
Tat: If it’s false, it’s true; if it’s true, it’s false!
Tit: True… I mean false…
Tat: Whatever!

Next aT4aT: http://moonpointer.com/new/2010/09/pink-elephant-now
Previous aT4aT: http://moonpointer.com/new/2010/09/harder-to-forget
About aT4aT: http://moonpointer.com/new/2010/02/logo-for-a-tit-for-a-tat-series

Q: Abortion is against the First Precept of not killing. But due to great advance in medical science, doctors are now able to tell whether a child will be born physically or mentally disabled.  In such cases, is it better to abort the child, as bringing the child into this world will not only make him/her suffer, but will also bring suffering to the parents. What is the Buddhist view on this?

A: Even if a child is born deformed or disabled in some way, s/he should be given born to and to be loved – because the human rebirth is relatively very difficult to come by, as a golden opportunity to learn and practise the Dharma. The child should be exposed to the Dharma with as much compassion as possible; not  disposed of. It is a mistake to assume we can definitely end the misery of the child (and parents) by abortion, because the child might still be handicapped in the next life if the unexhausted negative karma continues – which is much more likely than not.

There was a discussion with friends from Vegetarian Society over coverage of boycotting shark-fin soup for wedding dinners in the news… about whether it involves etiquette in rejecting invitations that include the dish and speaking against the dish during such dinners. Here is my reply:

It’s all very simple, methinks… We just need to sincerely look in the eyes of the shark-fin orderers and eaters, and in the most heartfelt but gentle manner, describe the suffering the sharks go through, as it is, and let them decide if shark-fin is still palatable. Nothing to worry about etiquette  :-] If we express our empathy for the sharks sincerely, it’s more moving and transformational than anything else… other than personal witness of the suffering. Perhaps the couple can even give say a few words on this during the wedding. Best effects if the cam zooms in on them slightly teary-eyed!

Related Article:
Celebrate with Kindness
http://moonpointer.com/new/2010/03/celebrate-with-kindness

A Tit for a Tat (162)

Tit: He just told me to remind him to do that. But it’s forgetful him telling forgetful me to remind him! Can I ask you to remind us?
Tat: Oh sure… if you remind me to remind you! Just kidding. Now that three of us know, it’ll be harder for us to forget!
Tit: Yes, good. If all of us forget, it’ll be something so amazing that we probably won’t forget it!

Next aT4aT: http://moonpointer.com/new/2010/09/liars-paradox
Previous aT4aT: http://moonpointer.com/new/2010/08/an-estranged-dream
About aT4aT: http://moonpointer.com/new/2010/02/logo-for-a-tit-for-a-tat-series