Why Im Lighting a Candle and Deeyas for Tibet

I could have researched this topic to blog about it...gotten my facts straight...but I decided instead to write from my heart, my memories and my feelings. Yep I will check out the notes on the web for spelling of places so everyone will be on the same page and perhaps the year so when I reference my memory it will have a time frame. But here's what I remember sometime when I was in high school abouts...(I've referenced the year and it is 1989 so I was about 3 years or so into high school.) Something was etched into my mind that I still do not forget...and for years have off and on recalled it and wondered why or how could we live in a world where things like that happen to others and no one else in the world says anything else. Ive reconciled with: 'People just think bout themselves and also people will do anything for money.' I mean people just 'friending' as Trinis would say with China cause it is economically sensible to do so. Plus as I became older I also cautioned myself against idealism and reminded myself and was often reminded by others to- 'Live in the real world!'. So I thought less and less about 1989 and the Tiananmen Square Massacre after all perhaps it was the world's way of sacrificing a few for the greater good. After all communist China everyone says is doing so well. And really they had to control those kids and idealists in the Square in 1989 else the world would have been even more crazy and even more ruled by one super power! So as I became older other such atrocities across the world bothered me less...be real I said...be real...also it's their battles not yours and all of that...what do you mean it's one world? And even if is one world just look around you everyone is fending for themselves even on the micro scale who cares much bout anyone else barring a few loved ones? Why you think people hoard and fight and compete- in school, on the roads, in the market and on the job...some people even compete for love...or their version of it! SO be real be real Babita be real!

But really deep down I never forgot about the Tiananmen Square thing cause some how as a youth, at the time, it touched me, what happened. It was the natural flow of things for one thing to lead to another at the time that caused the collapse of the Berlin wall (which was bound to happen sooner or later since it was a man made structure blocking people who were connected by spirit) to be followed by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Interestingly the Tiananmen Square uprising was in Apr to Jun 1989 and the collapse of the Berlin wall was later on closer to the end of that year. So really the East can't say that the West was corrupting its children with its culture of mass unruliness and rebellion or slack morals and indiscipline could they? In fact had the Tiananmen Square uprising been successful well the East would have here taken the lead...But it was not meant to be...but at least the joy of human spirit prevailed with the collapse of the Berlin wall on Novemeber 9th 1989! Oh what joy!- the freeing of human spirit for families to be free to see one another once again...Berlin for Berliners...one Germany...perhaps one day, one world...and one universe...

But what about East...as in China...well I grew older and years passed by and I more and more was reminded to live in the real world. I learned bout more and more sufferring and this and that...and I learned more about my religion given to me by my ancestors-Hinduism and I also embraced other thought out there including the teachings of the Buddha, who some Hindus like to think of as the 9th incarnation of Vishnu, pushing the still to come, Kalki avatar, spoken about in the Gita to number 10 position. I fully agreed with many others that the Buddha in his time never wanted a religion around him but more for people to learn to be more like him as in that he became enlightened so for people not to worship him but to learn from him like a guru so they too could become more enlightened but of course no man's path is another's so there was only so much he could teach. In terms of my religious journey I'm now somewhere at the stage of being a Shiv Bhakt or Shiv devotee, but in the sense of again (as with Buddha) I worship or focus and meditate on Shiv so that I can learn to become more Shiv like. I also have come upon the talks of the hip and famous swami of the 70s called OSHO and I find them to make sense. So I am currently pulled between whether becoming more Shiv like is ideal for this time...after all according to Hinduism we do live in Kal Yug-the age of darkness (as in heavy materialism less spirituality blah blah) or perhaps given the age, OSHO's claim of the ideal, which is to strive to be like Zorba the Buddha is best. OSHO believing that Zorba the Buddha is a mix between Zorba the Greek and Buddha ...a mix of materialistic pleasure balanced with ascetic's search for englightenment. I don't know but I like to think bout Shiv in meditation so I'm there...Shiv Bhakt is me these days. And Shiv for me represents so much but I'd have to write a separate blog on that!

So back to China...I rarely watch TV or read the newspapers but sometime in spring 2008 I happen to be flipping channels and I cant believe my eyes....monks?!...Buddhist monks?!...bleeding and being beaten?! I couldn't bare to watch...time passed...and I no longer follow sports much either or their events...but realised wait the Olympics is on! And what in China!? How can the Olympics be in China?! I wondered how come none of my friends or colleagues were the least bothered. I even put up my status on Facebook to read about how appauled I was...then I realised when I got into the news again that OK people did bother too just like me...and there was support all over. But then I said was I worrying meaninglessly about something not too important? Is it true what others were saying that we were all a bunch ah hippies who didnt know what we were talking about?! But then I rememebered bout Tibet... the monks and freedom and what the Olympic spirit is...But Im not against the Chinese? Or people of Chinese origin?! I'm not jealous that China is doing well financially or industrially or whatever although it doesn't augur well for the environment that the developing world plans to become just like the so called developed! And for sure the whole world is to be blamed for that scenario not just the developing world in which I live. But again another blog! But yea I find China is cool in terms of many things but why do they feel this need to control and what do they have with Tibet?! So forward to June 2008 and I meet a man at a technology workshop who is from China originally but lives in the UK and I ask him how he feels bout this whole protest on China for the Olympics...and like most Chinamen you ask he is on about how Tibet was really China's and well you had to have control in T Square cause if they didn't everything would have gone out of control and China is large and a lot of poverty so you need controls and how we just get the western point of view and things are getting so much better in China and on and on. Well thing is I agreed I can only have the western media view and so I was happy to talk to him. But then he lives in the UK and why? I give him that too it is about his person...I mean again he is looking out for himself and family...escaping poverty and all and good for him! But really I don't know who owned Tibet(and does anyone own anywhere?) first but if the people want to be able to pray a certain way, live a certain way ...why won't the Chinese let them!? Isn't that common sense! I'm sorry I don't understand China and it doesn't mean I'm antiChinese people or antiChina otherwise. I love lots of things about Chinese culture...their food, clothes, their work ethic (which helps to produce many things most of us own) and yes their discipline. And I can even tell you I was born in the Chinese year of the Tiger! But well don't the Tibetan people deserve their freedom and rights too?! Oh come on now China?! Plus my understanding is the Dalai Lama is not even asking for independence just freedom of expression for their way or life, religion, culture etc.

So on Thus 7 Aug 2008 I will be lighting candles and deeyas for Tibet (and I'm thankful to David Califa and candle4tibet for coming up with this lovely idea)...for freedom...freedom from a mindset...and I will remember my local crises too and ask the people on my island to reflect on the situation we have here with crime because you can't be truly free in a nation where you are afraid to be kidnapped, murdered or for that matter killed on the roadways. So as Trinis we need to free our minds and reflect within as to why we have to act in such a manner to one another in such a small island when we have so much physical freedom unlike the people in Tibet. And one of the ways to do this is to show empathy for the people in Tibet that are not as physically free or allowed to express themselves. Maybe as we show empathy and compassion for them in their cause it might bring about the change in us that is needed to heal our own land. But lands aside it is one earth...one world and really we should all be free!

And on this day, July 27th which marks the 18th anniversary of a freakish (as very abnormal for this island nation) and thankfully unsuccessful coup d'etat by the Imam (who imagine himself runs free!) we Trinis should be thankful for our freedom and use it wisely and hope it remains this way forever.

May God Bless Us All!

Candle4Tibet public lighting in Trinidad is being organised by www.meadysmusings.com and is to be held at the field in front of Couva South MP Office (Opp the Couva Medical Facility) Main Rd, Couva.

Do You Believe In Reincarnation?

Ok so reincarnation is basically found in all eastern philosophies or religions and for sure it is one of the central concepts around which Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism revolves around. Interestingly though I find many people although they are Hindu for instance and so would very likely have grown up around talk of the belief and stories involving reincarnation really arent that into it or give it much thought. Odd when you'd think it would be at the core of their belief?

I guess it's cause most of the Hindus I know would have grown up in a what I like to call a Christianised kinda Hindu environment you know the kind where they say they are having prayers instead of pooja and refer to the pundit officially as Hindu priest as it reads on my birth certificate for the profession of my father. I guess that's what colonization by the Brits did to Hinduism. But this is not a blog about colonization or bout religion exactly so enough of that and back to the point of reincarnation. I say not exactly because of course reincarnation first came into the global consciousness through religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. However it has gone on to take the shape of a life form on its own hasnt it?

Reincarnation has gone on to become the central focus of New Age philosophies, psychotherapy and hypnosis that uses past life regression to heal people. Long before this incarnation though it had its first emergence on the Christian front when Edgar Cayce was said to believe in reincarnation yet maintained staunch belief in Jesus Christ and the religion founded around him. There continues to be speculation that reincarnation was even part of the original Bible but removed by suppressive priests of the Catholic church. But this blog is not about that either.

What I really want to know is barring whatever faith you grew up on or subscribe to or join in communion with others weekly to give praise to...Do you believe in reincarnation? I mean if you left your past faith or faiths behind and looked at it scientifically and then emotionally from the left brain to the right and then with that third eye of intuition in the middle of both sides of your brain. What you would decide? Would you believe? Well I believe...and I believe on four levels in my case because I start off with a faith that subscribes to it and then when I look left and look right and then straight in the middle I see...

Of course this is just what I see and doesnt mean it is correct or that you see the same as me. But I find it such an interesting area for all of us to explore which is why tonight I sit and write and ask of all who read this to look at with insight. Do you believe? I feel that the universe or the Masters out there have chosen Dr. Brian Weiss for instance to spread the message in recent times because he comes form the West. He is from the white world that is still the current super power and to top it off the white dominated super power land of the United States. And in that super power land he comes form their elite universities and institutions- Yale and Columbia Universities and held in regard by his peers in the American Medical Association. So if we were going to listen to anyone in this world it might be him? Also by picking Dr. Weiss to spread the message they were choosing an original non-believer, one whose first faith into which he was born- Christianity did not preach reincarnation so he started on the other side and crossed the fence. So even more reason to believe him when he says he believes in reincarnation.

This blog is not a blatant plug for Dr. Brian Weiss or any religion faith or philosophy but just was what was on my mind of lately and was wondering what others might thing of it all...I mean Dr. Weiss doesn't need my help certainly I mean he has published many well read books and been on Oprah so doesn't need the help of an unknown blogger anyways. However if anyone reads this and feels to share let me know if to the concept of reincarnation you adhere? Just click yes or no in my little poll to let me know.

Good wishes to all and to all a Good Night!

The Best Coffee in the World!

"What do you think is the best coffee in the whole wide world?"

Well for me the Best Coffee in the World is:

Its of course based on my experiences and the coffee Ive drank so far. Also based on what I appreciate in a coffee. I prefer my coffee to be strong and robust yet not bitter, tasty yet not too complex in flavour but above all I appreciate it having a sweet after taste as oppose to a bitter one yet not compromising on the strong coffee flavour.

And the winner is...



So Starbucks is most known and drank perhaps in the US although not considered gourmet and seems the Canadians have Tim Hortons...you always hear bout Columbian beans and Jamaican Blue Mountain. Ive never had the opportunity to sample Blue Mountain so cant honestly compare Hong Wing to that...but have had a face off with a Venezuelan on coffee and have so sampled bout three brands of his country's brew. However to me Hong Wing is still the best. Hong Wing is just such a sweet, mild, tasty yet strong brew. That's for me how about you?


You can check out Hong Wing's official site here http://www.hongwingcoffee.com/ and get some at their store to let me know what you think about its taste. I like them even better now when see the wildlife conservation work they are involved in as well! Only in Trini perhaps a coffee company started up by people of Chinese ancestry:) Happy brewing!