2014/05/28

靈修 之旅

靈修,原來是會上癮的。

第一次感覺到自己是大自然的一部份是甚麼時候?是在美國當夏令營導師的時候。在湖泊保護區泛舟,聆聽著遠處傳來的聲音,不知是大自然中那一種動物,然後,我和牠們一樣,在同一個湖泊喝著相同的湖水,那一刻才發覺,原來自己也是大自然界的一員,大家都是生存在同一個天空下的動物。

第二次,是在埃及黑白沙漠露營。那一幕,天為被地為蓆,遙望著漆黑的天空、閃亮的星輝,聆聽著遠處不知名動物的叫聲,感受著晚間沙漠的清涼微風,躺臥在柔軟棉棉的黃土沙漠上,那一刻才驚覺,人和自然原來可以那麼接近,人,根本就是大自然的一部份。

然後,生命開始有意無意常常走進大自然。每次來到一個有感動的地方,不其然嘗試親歷奇景,用盡所有感觀去體驗那一個當下,身體可以那樣的放鬆,意識可以那樣的享受。

外展的工作中,最喜愛的是獨處環節。每一次獨處都給自己空間時間和大自然好好共處,享受那最簡單純樸的接觸和相處。

今次的旅程,不知道甚麼時候開始只想走進無人的環境,最有感覺的地方不一定是旅遊書本所介紹的,遇到到處都是遊人的時候只想逃跑,遠離繁喧,只想一個人好好面對當下,和最美的大自然獨處。

盤膝而坐,不知甚麼時候開始變了自己最喜愛的姿勢,來到每一個有感動的地方,只想靜靜的一個人閉上眼睛打坐冥想,用視覺以外的觀感,去感覺去感受那一個當下。當身體思緒靜止下來,也許心底裏的聲音會開始湧現,然後,又會有新的覺察,新的體會,新的頓悟,一切都是那麼的自然、美好、平和、適服。

在椰林邊、在大海邊、在山林邊、在湖泊邊、在叢林邊、在寺廟裏、在臥佛旁,都變成我靈修的地方,身心靈同時放鬆、放慢、放下、放開,和當下合而為一。

流浪的意義
就是要找尋那美好的事物
創造美好的回憶
心跳觸動的感覺

每一個當下
感恩欣賞喜悅平和
踏實的感覺油然而生
找回那個熟悉親切真正的自己

世間上一切美好的東西都是免費的
靈感創作坐著發呆作畫寫生看海看天看大自然自拍自娛和自己對話
掌管自己的生命
向自己交待

自我的發現與追尋
here and now

Nilambe Meditation Centre, Sri Lanka, May 2014




2014/05/21

旅途上的友誼

在路上
很多時候都能遇到很投契的人
時常有那種相逢退晚的感覺

是因為在路上的時候
大家都很放鬆
都能把最真誠的一面顯露出來嗎

每次遇到這些很投契的人
都不想離開他們
總是很想因為他們而停留在同一個地方

然後
繼續跟他們發展友誼
繼續一起玩樂做朋友

假若離開了
友誼是很難繼續的
此終
大家都有各自的生活

同一個地方
同一個時間
能夠相遇
是可遇不可求的緣份

人生路
總是充滿著這些縱橫交錯的過客
不斷豐富著自己的知識
不斷充實著自己的經驗

然後
一個人的旅程又要繼續了

與日本女生同行 Jordan 2008



Ochivaye Dreams 0 – Dream of Happiness of a Hong Kong girl 夢想專訪0 – 香港女生的快樂夢

She, grew up in a grass-rooted family. When she was little, her parents always told her to be a good student. What about after being a good student? No one ever told her. In school she was asked to write about “My Dream”, she only knew teachers through the school so she wrote she wanted to be a teacher. She thought of being a Kindergarten Teacher when she was in Primary School, because she could play games with the kids. Then she thought she wanted to be a Primary School teacher when she went to Secondary School, because Primary School kids seemed to be more mature. She wasn’t interested in being a teacher anymore when she was in University, because she was majoring in Social Work. She thought being a Social Worker was like a paid volunteer, she could just take the service users of different age groups to do all kinds of fun things, just like having holidays all the time.

She grew up in Hong Kong, never thought of studying or living overseas. Her parents always said these were the things done by the rich people only. “We are poor” was what she got from their words. In 2007 Christmas, she received a present from the Christians on the street, it was a Youth Magazine and there was an advertisement inside,

Do you wanna live overseas? Do you wanna stay with a foreign host family, and to study in a foreign country? One year, to be a foreign exchange student, come and join us…..

After seeing the ad, she was so excited. She never heard of cultural exchange before, she couldn’t study abroad or move overseas, but she could join a cultural exchange program and be an exchange student. She took the magazine and showed the ad to her mom in excitement, however, her mom responded calmly, “Go and sign up then.” So she decided to apply, she was so excited that night she couldn’t sleep at all, it was like she had already got the offer to start her foreign exchange journey soon. 

After submission of the forms, she was invited to attend an interview, at a school located in the HK Island. She could hardly remember what the details were like, some kinds of group interview, self-introduction in English, etc. She only remembered her English sucked, she didn’t even know what she was talking about. However, she got a notice from the Agency few weeks later, and she got the offer. She told her parents the good news, and she saw her mom was kinda shocked at that moment.

She started her 1 year journey to the US in Aug 1998. She remembered the HKCEE results were only out a few days before she left. All classmates were concerned about their grades, but not her, she already had a plan for her following year. She scored 12 in her HKCEE.

Aged 16, she went overseas by herself for the very first time in her life, and for one whole year. However, it changed her life, ever. She used to be a very quiet person, her English was bad, living overseas opened her horizons totally. How free it was to study overseas, photography and choir were formal classes, teachers allowed classmates to lie on the floor to read in the free time, there was an ECA called cheerleading when girls wore mini-skirts and danced and did pyramids.   

After one year, she became an extrovert totally. She realized she couldn’t speak properly in the US cos of her poor English. In HK, she could speak fluently in Chinese so she should speak up more often. She also repeated F.5 in her old school, and retake HKCEE. Her English result jumped 2 grades, while her Chinese result jumped 3 grades. She continued her schooling in the same school afterwards. She kept on signing up different ECAs, volunteerings, exchange tours, meeting new friends. Although her HKAL results weren’t good, she managed to get into Social Work in University through recommendation of her Secondary School principal. 

In the 3 years of her Uni. life, playing was always on higher priority than studying. She always went overseas in her long or short term-breaks, doing internships, volunteering, going for exchange tours. She met her Uni. career counselor in one occasion. He asked all classmates what their dreams and goals and plans were in the next 5 to 10 years, others answered earning certain amounts of money, getting to certain grades, working in certain big companies, etc. She, however, was not interested in any of those digits, she told the counselor she only wanted to be happy. She, however, was kinda hesitating in her heart if she was being too naïve to voice out that answer.  

Last semester of her Uni. life, she had the chance to go to National University of Singapore to be a foreign exchange student. She found out there was a Scuba Diving club, she then went to get her scuba diving license. She found out there was a Cheerleading ECA, she joined to be a member.

Finally it was time to graduate, she started to feel lost in her future. One day she had a crazy thought, she could find a job in Singapore in order to continue joining the Cheerleading ECA. So she started job-hunting in Singapore, and she got an offer, as a social worker. However, the post required her to work on Wednesday night, and did shift on alternate Saturdays, which clashed totally with the time of cheerleading practices. Her cheerleading dream fell apart. One day, she saw an ad. on the newspaper of Middle Eastern Bellydancing, how beautiful it would be to dance in those colorful and gorgeous costumes, she found her new hobby.   

After working as a Social Worker in Singapore for 2 years, she realized it wasn’t for her to have a stable social worker life. She found out the Airlines from the Middle East were doing recruitments in Singapore, she was attracted by their beautiful uniforms with shawls hanging down from the hats, and thought how nice it would be to work in the Middle East where she could learn the real Middle Eastern Bellydance. She started to attend all the walk-ins of different airlines, and finally got into Gulf Air, based in Bahrain.

After moving to Bahrain, she then realized Bellydancing was considered a sexy dance than an artform in the Middle East. It was only performed in Cruises or Night Clubs. She couldn’t find any group classes either, only 1-1 class. Her Bellydancing dream was broken again. On the other hand, during the cabin crew training she realized it was a very boring job to be a cabin crew. Just repeating all the checks, boardings, distributing meals, her brain was useless and would rust very soon. Moreover, life in Bahrain was boring, all the rich people did in their lives were shopping in the malls, having high tea in hotels, sunbathing and swimming in resorts, she could never live a life that way. She found a new hobby instead, kept on traveling overseas with her discounted flight tickets.     

After working in the airline for 2 years, she had a new thought again, she wanted to tour around the world. She realized in her short travels all the other backpackers had no job commitments. They could travel for months, and followed their hearts when visiting places, rather than covering all the sightseeings in a limited time. She also realized some life skills were a must to learn, like driving a car, her life was terrible without a car in Bahrain. She made up her mind to go back to HK to learn driving, and to spend a year to travel afterwards.

However, she found out getting a driving license was a very complicated matter in HK, lots of time spent on written exam, practicing driving, and taking the road exam. So she thought why not trying job hunting in HK, and see how the Social Welfare Industry was like at that time. She could also practice her interview skills. However, she got quite a few offers as a result.

She never heard of Outward Bound in her life, she thought there were only youth hostels in HK. First time seeing the OB website, she thought it was a job tailormade for her, as it combined both Social Work and Outdoor Trainings, it was her dream job. So she worked as an OB Instructor for 4 years, how fulfilling those days were.

Time flew in 4 years, as more than half of the time was spent with the participants. However, she helped the participants to discover their potentials, she stopped growing on her own. She knew it was time for her to continue her own journey. During those 4 years, she never went backpacking on her own, she knew she only wanted to start a journey with no commitments and no time limit.

On the Valentines’ Day of 2014, she started her journey. “If not now, when?!” She knew deep in her heart, she must finished her goal before her next goal will appear.

To look back her life experiences with the learning model in Outward Bound, all she wanted in her life was to live happily. Enjoy every single day, appreciate every single matter happened, and person encountered. And, to live out her life morals, let it be, be happy, here and now, regretless life.

She never forgot her trainings in Social Work, to her it is a lifestyle to help people to help themselves, she is just doing it in a different way.

Traveling, is my dream
This time
No more job commitment
The real Gap Year

One year
Going to different places
Meeting all kinds of people

And
Write down their life stories
Share with the whole world

This
is the dream I wanna achieve this year

Ochivaye Dreams

She found a little Chinese gift at home, she wanted to bring it with her in her journey, and used it to start exchanging gifts with the other dreams pursuers. So she could receive a lot of gifts, at the same time, giving out a lot of gifts.

夢想專訪0 – 香港女生的快樂夢

用外展的學習模式去回顧自己的經歷,女生的人生意義就是要活得快樂。好好過好每一天,感恩生活所發生的每一件事、在路上遇到的每一個人。然後,好好活出自己的座佑銘。


小時候的志願
她,生長在一個很基層的家庭。爸爸媽媽從小的教導就是要讀好書,她也不知道讀好書然後要幹甚麼。小時候作文「我的志願」,只認識老師這種職業,那就寫當老師吧。小學的時候女生想教幼稚園,因為可以一起玩遊戲;中學的時候想教小學,因為小學生好像比較會思考;大學的時候不想當老師了,因為女生跑去了唸社工,以為當社工是受薪的義工,還可以帶著小朋友青少年老人家一家大細去吃喝玩樂去參觀可樂廠動植物公園麥理浩夫人度假村,好不快樂的工作。

天使的禮物
在香港土生土長,女生從來都沒想過要到外國讀書或移民,因為爸爸媽媽說那是有錢人才會做的事,「我們家沒有錢」是女生了解那些說話背後的意思。1997年的聖誕節,在街上看聖誕燈飾卻收到了基督徒派發的聖誕禮物,裏面有一本「突破少年」,然後看到了裏面一則廣告:

你想到外國居住嗎?你想入住外國的寄宿家庭,在外地的學校讀書嗎?一年的時間,到外國文化交流和體驗生活,快來報名參加…….

看了這則廣告,女生心中突然莫名的興奮起來,從來都沒有聽過文化交流啊,不是去外國升學,也不是去移民,但可以去文化交流體驗外國生活啊!然後女生興奮地拿著雜誌跟媽媽說,媽媽卻淡淡然的回答:「那你去報名吧。」於是,女生決定要報名參加,那個晚上輾轉反側睡不著覺,心裏超級激動,就像已經申請成功一樣,為即將出發而興奮一樣。

交了報名表,被邀請出席面試,那是一間位於港島區的中學,面試過程已經不記得了,好像是小組圍圈面試,用英文自我介紹之類。總之,那時候女生的英文爛到不得了,都不知道自己說了些甚麼。想不到,幾星期後卻收到了通知,女生入選了。立即跟爸爸媽媽報告了喜訊,那時候,媽媽的表情好像有點驚訝。

影響一生的經歷
就這樣,女生在1998年八月初啟程到美國作一年文化交流生,還記得出發前數天會考才放榜,同學對自己的分數和前景都十分徬徨,女生卻沒有所謂了,因為已為自己的來年作出了安排。那一年,女生的會考12分。

就這樣,十六歲的女生第一次一個人出國,還要離開一個年頭那麼久。那一年,卻從此改變了她的一生。女生是一個超級內向的人,平時都不多言,英語又不靈光,在外國生活卻打開了眼界。原來外國讀書是那麼的自由,攝影課和合唱團都可以是正規課堂;當老師說自修時間同學可以伏在課室地上看書;還有,課外活動原來有啦啦隊這種玩意,穿著短裙仔跳舞叠羅漢。

脫胎換骨的女生
一年後回到香港,女生變得外向了,因為女生發覺,在美國的時候英語不好才不能跟同學溝通,在香港講中文應該多主動跟人交流溝通啊。然後,女生回到舊校重讀中五,第二次考會考,英文跳了兩級,中文卻跳了三級,成玏在原校升讀預科。回港後的女生,課餘時候不斷參加課外活動,不斷做義工,不斷參加交流團,不斷認識新朋友。最後高考成績不太理想,卻因為多元化的課外活動而成功得到中學校長的推薦入讀大學社工系。

在大學的三年時間,女生仍然是玩樂為主,讀書為次,每年的長假期短假期都不斷往外跑,到外地實習,到外地做義工,到外地參加交流團。在一次的實習當中,女生遇到了大學一位很資深的Career Counselor,他問大家五年內十年內有甚麼理想目標計劃,同學說要賺多少錢、升到甚麼級別、轉幾間公司,女生卻對這些數字完全不感興趣。女生跟Counselor說,她只想活得快樂。那時候女生心中還懷疑自己是不是有問題,為甚麼會那麼沒有大志。

大學畢業前的最後一個學期,女生有幸到新加坡國立大學當交換生。發覺人家大學有潛水學會,立即報名去考潛水牌;發覺課外活動有啦啦隊,又跑去一起穿短裙仔跳舞叠羅漢。

工作 是為了成就興趣
女生要大學畢業了,但是對自己的前路卻有點茫然。不知那裏來的念頭,原來自己真的很喜歡啦啦隊啊,為了能夠繼續參加啦啦隊,在新加坡做工也不錯啊。就這樣,女生開始在新加坡找工作,最後真的找到了一份社工職位。可是,工作卻要求女生星期三晚上返夜班,和隔週星期六全天當值,跟啦啦隊練習時間一模一樣,女生的啦啦隊夢就這樣破碎了。然後,女生看到報章介紹中東肚皮舞,色彩繽紛金碧輝煌的舞衣很美啊,於是,女生又找到了新的餘暇活動。

在新加坡當了兩年社工,生活太有規律了,女生發覺當社工都是不適合自己。看到中東的航空公司在新加坡招募空姐,在中東當空姐也不錯啊,制服還戴帽子圍絲巾很美啊,還有,到中東工作不是可以學真正的中東肚皮舞了。就這樣,女生很努力去參加不同的中東航空公司面試,最後成功考到了位於巴林的海灣航空。

到中東生活後才發覺,原來在中東肚皮舞是艷舞,只在遊輪或夜總會才有表演,根本沒有公開的純藝術的表演場合。女生也找不到肚皮舞的小組課程,只有上門的一對一授課,於是女生的肚皮舞夢又破碎了。另外,女生上空姐訓練班的時候就發覺,當空姐其實是很沉悶的工作,不斷重複又重複那些檢查、接待乘客、派餐,整個腦袋都不用思考運作的,這樣子下去的話腦袋很快會生锈的。還有,巴林是一個超級無聊的國家,到處都是有錢人,他們的生活就是逛商場、到酒店High Tea、到Resort游水晒太陽,無聊到極點。於是,女生找到了新的興趣,不斷買廉價機票去外地旅行。

當了兩年空姐後,女生又有了新的想法,她要去環遊世界。因為在那些短途旅行中,女生發覺其他背包客都沒有工作包袱的,他們的旅程是以月份來計算的,這,才是真真正正的旅行啊,隨著自己的心意而走動,不是按著景點時間來移動。另外,女生還發覺,有些全球性的技能還是必須學會的,像駕駛這回事,在巴林沒有私家車只能坐黃牛的士,生活超級不方便。於是,女生決定回香港考車牌,然後用一年時間環遊世界。
                         
回到香港才發覺,原來在香港考車是一件很煩複的事。考筆試一個時間,學車一個時間,考路試一個時間。既然如此,不如試一試在香港找工作,看看現在社福界的情況也好啊,還可練習一下自己的面試技巧。卻萬萬想不到,就這樣子找到了很多offers

女生從來沒有聽過Outward Bound這間機構,還以為香港只有烏溪沙麥理浩夫人度假村之類的宿營地方。第一次看到OB的網址,就覺得這是一份為自己度身訂造的工作,把戶外訓練和社會工作合併,不就是女生夢寐以求的工作嗎。就這樣子,女生當了四年外展教練,生活好不快樂。

四年時間過得很快,因為有超過一半的時間都在戶外和學生一起度過的。可是,雖然那是一份超讚的工作,幫助學生去發掘潛能,但當全部私人時間都給予學生,自己卻停滯不前時,女生知道是時候離職去繼續實踐自己的夢想了。那四年時間,女生沒有試過一個人背包旅行,因為她知道,自己需要的是一個沒有工作包袱沒有限期的長途旅程。

流浪 因夢想而啟航
2014年的情人節,女生終於啟程了。「有些事現在不做,就一輩子都不會做了」。女生知道,訂下了的目標,一天不實現,下一個目標同樣也不會出現。

用外展的學習模式去回顧自己的經歷,女生的人生意義就是要活得快樂。好好過好每一天,感恩生活所發生的每一件事、在路上遇到的每一個人。然後,好好活出自己的座佑銘:

順其自然
知足常樂
活在當下
今生無悔

女生沒有忘記社工的教導,因為助人自助是一種生活態度,只是換了另一種方式罷了。

流浪 是我的夢想
今次
不再有工作的包袱
真正的gap year

一年時間
到不同的地方
與不同的人相遇 相知 相交

然後
把他們的夢想寫下來
和全世界分享

這就是我
今年要成就的夢想

Ochivaye Dreams
夢想 成就

女生在家中找到了一個中式小掛飾,希望把它帶在旅途上,然後用它開始跟夢想專訪的追夢者交換禮物。最後,女生就可以收到好多好多份禮物,也可以送出好多好多份禮物。


17/05/2014
寫於斯里蘭卡HaputaleKandy的火車旅途上


 


         

2014/05/16

Ochivaye Dreams 6 – Dream of Self-Realization of a Canadian 夢想專訪6 – 加拿大男生的自我實現夢

During my 2 weeks volunteering stay at Sadhana Forest, Auroville. I gotta know Jonathan, a young guy from Canada. Jonathan always talked with a gentle smile, and had very sincere eye contact. When I first met him, I thought he was around 25, as he was very mature and had his own standpoints and thoughts. However, when I found out he was only 21, I knew he must have a very special life story.

Jonathan shared with me a few paths in his life which made him who he is now.

Jonathan has been a Vegan since 11 years old. He felt like killing an animal is equal to killing a human being. His dad was always a Vegan too, although his mom was a meat eater. However, he believed it is a matter of choice, it was easy for him to have that change cos he always wanted to be one. In his school days, he was being told by his peers he could not be a Vegan forever. They found him weird cos they never heard of the term Vegan before. Jonathan felt pressured eating food which were non vegan. However, he would always say no, he believed in telling why he didn’t eat meat. He found there were blessings with him, as he could stand for himself and stuck to his belief, no matters what was told. He was happy cos he was no longer participating in hunting any animals. Moreover, he saw qualities and blessings he got from being a Vegan, especially perseverance. It paved his path a lot, especially in situations when his friends got into drugs, but not him.

When Jonathan was 18, he thought of going to business and being an entrepreneur. He started a Segway Touring business with his friends. He was really into it. The business went so well and he could really save up money. However, there were some bureaucracy appeared caused by other rich guys from the nearby tour companies, he learnt that it wasn’t the path he wanted anymore. The rich people wanted so much in their lives, houses, properties, helicopters, it was a never ending game. At the end these people weren’t happy. Since then his belief started to change.

Jonathan was not a religious person before. One day he met a Shaman and slowly learned about God. Under supervision from the Shaman, he also took Salvia, a psychedelic medicine made from natural plant, and was invented by the native Canadian people thousands of years ago. They use the medicine as a means to help people and made them realizing things. Salvia is very popular in the West but some people use it for fun. However, after Jonathan took the medicine, he discovered himself and started to see things differently. The effect lasted only 5 minutes but it changed his life. He has become more grateful to what was happening in his life, how pure and beautiful it is to be good to people and do good things to the world. He realized he is a lot more than what he thought he was. Everything in the world is beautiful and amazing. He could learn from everyone and everything, even animals, trees, and rocks. They are all parts of lives. It was really an amazing influence.

Less than 1 year ago, Jonathan broke up with his girlfriend, even though they were together for 5 years. His greed and pride inside were developing, and he didn’t know what was happening. The broke up made him realized so much and he was finally waken up. He felt the broke up was beautiful and he was grateful it happened. If not, he would never be where he is now. It humbled him, and he learnt to be more open-minded and honest with himself, and be more willing to learn and grow.

Jonathan also took part in Vipassana Meditation. It was such an amazing experience to him. Until now, he follows the advised practice from the course, to practice Vipassana Meditation every morning and night. It makes his days more productive, his mind more in peace. He feels so much better, as it heals his body and mind. There was a huge change of belief in his life after he attended the course. Life was always amazing but he just didn’t realize where he was before, now he could realize all of them.          

Jonathan’s dream is to be humble and grateful, never stop learning and growing, and to become a better person. Everyday is an amazing day. Everything around him is given to him as a gift. He feels really happy he is living, his future is still unfolding. Every second to him is a new opportunity. He could learn, grow and improve forever, which make him feel so good inside of him. Life is infinite, open his heart, and be honest with himself, because everything around can be gone the next day.

Sometimes Jonathan got bad feelings or felt stressed too, he learnt to just see and realize, not to react with anger or impatience. Just like what Vipassana taught, everything is impermanent. Even though sometimes there may be darkness, it will become bright again. There isn’t anything but present. One can only be in the present. It doesn’t mean one doesn’t think of the past or future. Instead, there is really no need to worry about the future.

Jonathan is really interested in meeting a Guru. He has been researching and found one in Nepal. He likes him a lot and would like to meet him there. However, if it happens it happens. To him, anything can be a Guru, mountain or human, all are parts of nature. Most importantly, it comes from within. There are lessons everywhere, people would keep on having sufferings till they learnt the lessons. He dreamt someday he could reach self-realization, realize who he is, not in words, but to see his oneness, see from ego, and be harmony with the true self.

Jonathan was in charge of the gardening section during his volunteering stay in Sadhana Forest. He shared with me why he likes gardening so much. Take a seed and plant it you will get fruit. You take care of a plant, a plant will care for you too. Nurture and love are in return. Gardening develops one’s patience, compassion, love, kindness, empathy, and generousity. These are all the qualities that make people rich inside.

Jonathan gave me a book in exchange, “The Art of Living – Vipassana Meditation”. He wrote some words to the next person receiving this book:

To whomever may hold this book,

May your life be flourished with real peace, real love and real harmony. May this book help in your own realization and grow your spirit through humbleness. May God bless you.

Also if interested, you might like the teachings of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi.

Jonathan from Kelowna, Canada


15 May 2014

written in Haputale, Sri Lanka

夢想專訪6 – 加拿大素食者的自我實現夢

學做一個謙遜和感恩的人,永遠不停止學習和成長,做一個越來越好的人。每一天都是美好的,身邊所有東西都是禮物


在曙光村環保森林(Sadhana Forest, Auroville)做義工的期間,我認識了來自加拿大的男生Jonathan。每次跟他聊天,他的臉上總掛著温柔的笑容和真摰的眼神。第一次跟他接觸,覺得他為人成熟,有主見有立場,我猜他應該有25歲。後來,卻發現原來他只有21歲。於是,我更加有興趣採訪這個男生,了解他的故事。

Jonathan跟我分享了他生命中幾件影響他最深遠的事情,成就了現在的這個他。

自小的素食者
十一歲的時候, Jonathan已成為一位維根(Vegan)素食者,他一直覺得殺害動物跟殺害人類沒有分別,他爸爸也是一名維根素食者,媽媽則吃肉食。不過,他相信這是一個選擇的問題,對他來說,改吃素食完全沒有難度,因為他一直都想茹素。在學校的時候,他的同學奚落他,覺得他是怪人,說他不可能一生不吃肉食的。對於被迫吃肉食,他覺得很難受,不過,他寧願跟同學解釋自己不吃肉食的原因也不會妥協,能夠堅持自己的信念和立場,他覺得是一種福氣,也為自己從此不再參與任何殺生活動而高興。成為一位素食者之後,他覺得自己最大的得著是學會了堅持,成長期間的同輩都有濫藥的壞習慣,但因為他有自己的堅持,因此沒有受到朋輩的不良影響。

經一事 長一智
十八歲的時候,Jonathan打算從商當企業家,更和朋友一起開始了一門「賽格威」(Segway)電動代步車生意。他把全副心機放在生意上,生意做得很好也能賺錢。可是好景不常,鄰近較富裕的旅行社官商勾結,給他們添麻煩,令他的生意最終不能繼續。但這件事情,卻令他發覺從商其實也不是自己想走的路,有錢人想要的東西太多了,住大屋、賺大錢、買直升機,永遠沒有停止的渴求,最終這些人卻還是不快樂,自此之後,自己的信念也產生了改變。

迷幻裏的自我成長
從前Jonathan並不是一個宗教虔誠的人,有一天,他遇到了一位薩滿巫醫(Shaman),慢慢開始認識上帝。透過這位巫醫,他更吃了一種名為Salvia的迷幻藥,那是一種由植物提煉的藥物,幾千年前由加拿大的部落土著研製的,他們用這種藥物幫助人們去認清事情。在西方國家,這種藥物很流行,當然,也有些人用它來作社交娛樂之用。那一次,Jonathan吃了這種藥物,對生命卻因此有了全新的體會,五分鐘的藥物影響,卻改變了他的一生,對於生命中的東西他更加感恩知足,也發覺自己其實充滿能力的。他更加相信助人為快樂之本,世間上的東西都是很美好和了不起的,他可以從任何人和任何東西身上學習,動物、樹木,甚至石頭也可以,因為全部東西都是生命的一部份。那次經驗,對他來說真的是一次很了不起的影響。

分手快樂
一年前Jonathan跟一起五個年頭的女朋友分手了。現在回想起來,他發覺自己的貪婪和傲慢越來越重,那時候的他已經不知道自己到底發生甚麼事。分手令他覺悟了很多,完完全全地清醒了,那次分手很美麗,他很感恩它的發生,否則,他永遠都不會成長,他學會了謙遜和虛心,要對自己誠實,要願意學習和成長。

內在的心靈修行
Jonathan也參與過內觀課程,那是一次很了不起的經驗。直至現時為止,他一直跟從課程的教誨,每天早上和傍晚花時間打坐靜修。他覺得自己的日子更加有果效,心境更平靜,他感覺很好,因為真的能夠治療他的身心靈。上了內觀課程之後,他的信念亦有了很大的轉變,生命其實一直都很美好,只是自己沒有發覺而已,現在的他通通都能夠意識到了。

現在他的夢想是要學做一個謙遜和感恩的人,永遠不停止學習和成長,做一個越來越好的人。每一天都是美好的,身邊所有東西都是給他的禮物,他很高興自己活在世上,自己的將來逐漸呈現,每一分每一秒都是嶄新的機會。可以永遠學習、成長、改善,他內心感覺很良好。生命是無限的,打開心窗,對自己誠實,因為,身邊每一樣東西都有可能一瞬即逝。

當自己有時候有負面情緒和壓力,他會嘗試只作觀察,不作憤怒或不耐煩的回應,就像內觀課程所教導,所有東西都是暫時性的,就算天有不測之風雲,陽光始終會再次到來的。人們只能活在當下,但那不代表人們不用思考過去和未來,相反,[HYL1] 過於擔憂反而無補於事。

他真的很希望能夠遇見一位精神領袖,他一直在找資料,找到了一位居住在尼泊爾的領袖,他很希望能夠拜會他,不過,會發生的事始終會發生,他亦不會刻意強求。對他來說,任何東西都可以是精神領袖,群山還是人類,都是大自然的東西,最重要的,是發自內心,到處都有學習的機會。人們的苦難會重複出現,直至他們學會當中的教訓為止,他希望有一天自己也能夠達到自我實現的境界,找到自己的身份,不是用言語去表達,而是從自我中找到那份統一完整,達致內心和睦。

散播愛心的種子
在環保森林做義工期間,Jonathan是負責圓藝部的,他跟我分享了他喜歡園藝的原因。散播種子、用心耕種有一天會得到果實,當你照顧一棵植物,植物也會照顧你,孕育和愛護是相輔相成的。一分耕耘,一分收穫,園藝發展人們的耐性、愛心、仁慈、同理心、大方慷慨,這些都是豐富人們內在修為的素質。

最後Jonathan送給我一本名叫「生活的藝術 - 內觀靜修」(The Art of Living – Vipassana Meditation)的書本作交換禮物,他在書中還寫了以下的文字:

給手持這本書的你:

希望你的生命充滿真正的平安、仁愛與和睦,希望這本書能夠幫助你自我實現,透過謙遜達致靈性的成長,願主祝福你。

還有,若果你感興趣的話,也可參考「拉瑪那.馬哈(Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi)的教導。

來自加拿大基隆Jonathan


15/05/2014
寫於斯里蘭卡哈普特莱山城


2014/05/14

流浪了兩個半月 我花了不到四千元

從來沒有長途旅行的經驗,第一次出發流浪,我選擇了印度,簽證是三個月,但時間是簽發日期開始計算,不是入境日期開始計算,最終,其實只能在印度逗留兩個半月的時間。

聽從朋友的意見,用港幣在重慶大厦直接兌換印度盧比最化算,可是,我完全沒有預算旅程要花費多少錢,也沒有概念每天消費的上限,只知道印度的物質很平宜。以往背包旅行都是挑選最平宜的消費,住宿多人間,吃喝當地人的街邊小店,用以前在大陸的消費經驗,是否多人間只需要十元二十元呢?掃街是否只需要幾塊錢便能吃得飽飽呢?不過,我還是決定保障一些,有時候也要對自己好一些吧,那就平均每天消費五十港元吧!我打算在印度逗留七十天,於是,我在櫃員機提取了四千元港幣,在重慶大厦把它們通通對兌成盧比。

我懷著「每天可以花費港幣57元」的想法,正式開展我的旅程,當然,我是有後著的,我有數百美元和銀行提款卡傍身,若果真的不夠用還是有辦法的!

對於長途旅行,我其實是零經驗,要省錢的話當然應該出發前多做功課,多爬文章,了解每個地方的消費水平,最重要的是安排好借宿家庭!但是,我是去兩個半月啊,都不知道自己會向那個方向走,怎麼計劃呢?最重要的是,我是一個只喜歡作短期計劃的人,因為旅行存在太多變數,太多計劃只會限制自己的彈性和旅程的突發性。因此,我出發前只計劃好首兩星期的行程,分別找到了一個借宿家庭,然後再參與一個為期十天的內觀課程。借宿就是文化交流的一種,借宿主人提供免費住宿,我跟他們做朋友分享自己國家的文化和生活。內觀課程也是免費的,包括十天的食宿,參加者只需要在課程完結後隨緣樂助。那麼兩星期之後呢?到時候才慢慢計劃吧!

就是懷著這種隨遇而安的心態,有空才計劃一下自己隨後數天的行程,沒有特別省吃省用,我,最後竟然真的沒有使用後著,在印度兩個半月的旅程結束了,最後錢包裏還有盧比剩餘啊!把它們結算成港幣的話,就是兩百多塊,即是說,我每天可以花費57元的計劃成功了!

若果在路上的我兩個半月才花四千港元,那麼我為甚麼還要在香港生活呢?有需要的話回去兼職一星期,不就把錢通通賺回來了,然後我又可以出去流浪兩個多月了!

我發覺,整個旅程省錢最多的應該是住宿了!在印度,沒有見過旅館有多人間,因為單人房連浴室也就只是300盧比,40港幣而已,當然,我每天上限是57元,每晚住旅館的話就只有17元吃飯坐車和玩樂了!

讓我總結一下我這兩個半月的住宿安排:
l   旅館x7 (19)
l   借宿家庭x6 (15)
剩下的40晚呢?我分別在四個地方長期居留,說長期,其實每間也是不到兩星期的時間而已,分別是內觀中心,曙光村義工機構和兩間修道院。這四個地方都不主動收取住宿費用,都是隨緣樂助的。

既然住宿省了那麼多,吃喝玩樂就可以對自己好一點了~~
l   最貴的旅館 位於著名避暑山莊 (550盧比/ 70港元) – 群山環抱,呵呵~~
l   最貴的膳食 海景高級餐廳Set Lunch (300盧比/ 40港元) – 但是食物不好吃的
l   最上等交通工具 英式山區蒸汽小火車(世界文化遺產來的) - 頭等座! (85盧比/ 11港元) – 普通座卻只是11盧比/ 1.4港元而已
l   最奢華享受 印度傳統草本療法 (即是全身推油) (1200盧比/ 150港元) – 印度阿姨最後還幫我沖涼,呵呵~~
l   最貴的衣服 印度長衫 (500盧比/ 63 港元) – 後來發現度身訂造一式三件也只是350盧比/ 44港元, 豬豬了~~

以上提及的,其實都是微不足道的小消費罷了,花貴最高的,是與世界接軌的高科技產物啊!手提電腦上網的手指要1000盧比/125港元,然後每月的5GB上網計劃要700盧比/ 90港元!還有手機的上網電話卡,320盧比/40港元,1GB月費要250盧比/ 31港元………

不過,真的很感恩印度之旅順順利利、安安全全結束, 最重要的是,我花了兩個半月才只遊覽了兩個南印度省份啊!所以今個月尾我要回去啦!斯里蘭卡物質太高了,食宿全部貴印度兩三倍,嘿嘿~~

Thrissur, Kerala, India (March 2014)




2014/05/13

流浪的意義2

出發了三個月,我,找到了當初的目的沒有?

一直都想作一個長途旅行,原因很簡單,因為從來沒有體驗過。以前在外地工作,長時間居住在外國,所有週末長假期例假年假通通拿來去旅行,但問題是,全部都只限於短線遊,誰叫我有工作在身呢?在路上遇見來自世界各地的背包客,每次都只能眼紅人家,為甚麼他們可以無牽無掛無限期地在路上停留,我,卻只能不斷跑景點呢?每次去到好玩的、有感動的地方,希望多停留數天嗎?不要妄想了!就這樣,我有了我的夢想,我也要流浪,一個沒有限期的長途旅行。


以前,常常弄不清楚旅行的意義,當旅行變成生活的一部分,跑景點變成每天的必備節目,那,不是會很累嗎?當所有事情變成習慣,沉悶的感覺便會油然而生,到時候會否希望停下來,重新回到有規律的上班生活呢?以前聽見其他長途背包客分享,剛上路的時候一切都會很新奇,很希望多走多看多與人交際,但時間一久,那些短期過客會變得不太重要,每次重複又重複的自我介紹、互相認識,都只能停留在很表面的階段,因為一旦深入了,一旦有情感交流了,有一天大家都要再次走自己的路,別離的感覺真的不好受。於是有一天,他們會寧願靜靜地獨自一個人去思索、去感受,變得不再那麼雀躍熱心去認識新朋友了。這,就是我今次流浪的目的,我也很希望去體驗那個臨界點,當旅行開始變得迷失,目的地變得不再那麼重要,內心的矛盾掙扎衝突出現,然後,真正經歷那個自我的發現與追尋。那,會是一種怎樣的感覺呢?

Kataragama, Sri Lanka (May 2014)

2014/05/11

About Dream 有關夢想

Name of Institution
- Faculty of Traveling, Earth University of the World

Program of Study
- Master in Ochivaye Dreams

Length of Study
- Full Time (Minimum One Year)

Program Characteristic
- Experiential Learning (Plan-Do-Review)

Learning Outcomes
- Self-Awareness
- Discover potential
- Self-development
- Personal Growth
- Problem Processing

學院名稱 - 世界地球大學 流浪學院
主修科目 - 尋夢碩士
課程長度 - 全日制 (不少於一年)
課程特式 - 經驗學習法 (計劃-實踐-回饋)
課程目標 - 認識自我/ 發掘潛能/ 發展自我/ 個人成長/ 解決困難

Tissa Lake, Tissamaharama, Sri Lanka (May 2014)

2014/05/03

那 憧憬的國度


小時候,常常聽到人們說希望「世界和平」。原來,世界上真的有個地方,「世界和平」不是口號,而是真真正正把它實現出來的過程。

在印度南部Tamil Nadu邦內,有一個國際社區「光村」Auroville,居民為來自世界各國的公民。在那裏,人們不分彼此,不分種族國籍,只為共同理想而努力。大家按著自己的能力和才幹工作,那是一個以實現「人類團結」為宗旨的烏托邦。

曙光村以大黃金球Matrimandir為中心,是曙光村靈魂所在的地方。這裏不進行任何宗教儀式,只讓人們打坐冥想。曙光村創辦人Mother說過,雖然每一個宗教都導人向善,但很多時候卻會堅持自己是世上唯一的宗教,最終不同的宗教卻令人們分化和引起紛爭。

    曙光村於1968成立,來自124個國家五千名代表,把自己地區的泥土放入曙光村中心的大甕中,象徵著人類的合一。這片曾經是荒蕪之地的平原,現在已經有50多國家二千多人成為居民。

不知道會否有一天我也成為這裏的居民。

創辦人的和平願景宣言

在地球上應該有個地方,在這裡沒有任何國家可以宣稱那是屬於它的領土,在這裡所有善良的、擁有真誠渴望的人,可以像世界公民一般自由地生活著。他們遵從著唯一的權威,那就是至高無上的真理。那是個和平、一致、和諧的地方。在這裡,所有人類戰鬥的本能只用來對抗自己痛苦與悲慘的根源,用來超越自身的弱點與無知,用來成功地戰勝自我的限制與無能。在這個地方,靈魂的需求與對進展的關注,優於對慾望與熱情的滿足、對歡愉與物質享受的追尋

在這裡,孩子們可以完整的成長與發展,而不會失去和他們靈魂的連結。教育的方式,不是以是否可以通過考試、拿到證照或工作來看,而是去豐富現有的課程並且往前帶來新的。在這個地方,頭銜和職位會被服務與組織的機會所取代。每個人身體的需求都會被平等對待。在一般的組織裡,智性、道德與靈性不僅可以表達在提升生活的愉悅與力量上,而且也在義務與責任的增加上面

在這裡,各種形式的藝術之美,繪畫、雕塑、音樂、文學,每個人都可以公平地享有。欣賞藝術所帶來的喜悅的機會,只會受到個人自身的接受力,而不是受到社會或是財務地位的限制

在這個理想地,金錢不再是最高統治者。個人的價值比物質財富和社會地位還來的重要許多。在這裡,工作不再只是維生的方式而已,它是個人表現自我、發展自身能力與可能性的方式。在同時服務整個團體,因此服務除了提供每個人生計也提供工作的領域

簡短地說,人與人之間的關係,通常幾乎完全是根基於競爭與爭鬥。但這個地方,人與人之間將會以追求做得更好、互助合作的良性仿效,以及真正的四海之內皆兄弟的關係來取代






                              

2014/05/02

Super Sri Lanka

斯里蘭卡
真是一個很棒的國家
為甚麼呢
來了兩整天
每一樣東西都很棒就是了

機場有中文的「歡迎」字眼
過關有免費電話 sim card送
街道超級乾淨 (新加坡標準)
市區綠化很好 (新加坡標準)
人們衣著得體 舉止有禮
商業區大商舖並排林立

借宿主人辦公室
印度簽證地點
相機維修店
手機維修店
全部都是步行範圍以內

手機維修小店
只用了數小時
三分一價錢
就幫我修好了手機
還幫我 backup 了data
誰說一定要光顧專門店的

這裏的海灘
是我一生之中見過最美的
是因為馬爾代夫就在對岸嗎

唯一的缺點
是高昂的物價
足足是印度的兩倍
看來
我只能在這裏呆一個月了