Friday, July 23, 2010

My new buddy, Mini Cooper


I dreamed about having mini for a long time. At least few years. I didn't quite make the decision mainly because I had my own car (White Honda Civic LX which accompanied me for last five years) and I didn't know where I will move to in the near future. I visited dealer shop in Sacramento and did test drive. I remember the first feeling. It was not as fantastic as I used to imagine because it's been a while since I drove manual car and also the fore window was very very small. However, I still loved that car and wished that I could own this car in the future before I get too old.

When it is decided that I would move to Maryland. Everything gets cleared. I will not bring my old car and I may stay there (now here) for a while. It may sounds not right to have two cars even though we are working at the same institute. However, one who have lived in the States may understand that. You cannot go anywhere without a car - except few big cities with public transportation.

So, I have very good excuses, but still spending that much money on a car... was not easy decision. Especially after reading 'Musoyu (Non-posession)' and other books of the late monk Bubjeong, still I have concerns on buying expensive car. However, I thought that I might regret if I don't buy Mini now and keep thinking about it. So, finally I made my mind and we bought this car.

How do I feel now? I am very happy whenever I see and drive my Mini. It is a really good feeling that you own/achieve something that you've been dreamed about... It is not as thrilling as you expected usually, but still it is worthy.

It's been almost three months since I moved here, and almost two months since I started working, and more than 1.5 months since I bought Mini. Time goes like this... So, Grab your day and Enjoy your day! Carpe Diem! :)

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Zhuangzi - The butterfly dream

昔者莊周夢為蝴蝶,栩栩然蝴蝶也,自喻適志與,不知周也。俄然覺,則蘧蘧然周也。不知周之夢為蝴蝶與,蝴蝶之夢為周與?周與蝴蝶則必有分矣。此之謂物化。

Once Zhuangzi dreamt he was a butterfly, a butterfly flitting and fluttering around, happy with himself and doing as he pleased. He didn't know he was Zhuangzi. Suddenly he woke up and there he was, solid and unmistakable Zhuangzi. But he didn't know if he was Zhuangzi who had dreamt he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuangzi. Between Zhuangzi and a butterfly there must be some distinction! This is called the Transformation of Things.

-- copied from Wikipedia.

I recently read a book about 'Eastern Philosophy'. This book was published by a publisher where my uncle is working for (also CEO is my mom's cousin). It was pretty popular introductory book about eastern philosophy. I should have read this book long long time ago, but hardly remember the contents.

I enjoyed reading this book and also revisiting easter philosophy. I realized that my way of thinking is truly influenced by those philosophies. Somehow... the story of butterfly dream from Zhuangzi touched me. What is a life and what we pursue in life...