Blessed Morning

by Thomas Heng

Bright is your light

Great is your promise

Precious is your moment

Eternal is your union with all creation

On Risk

by Thomas Heng

Risk is inherent in today's world. Some may believe that in an increasingly risky world, it would be best not to do anything at all and watch the world go by or sort itself out, that it is better to wait till it's 'safe' again. Nothing could be further from the truth.

While it may seem that the world has become a lot more dangerous today than ever before (by the way I would disagree with that, though it will probably best be left to another post!), the opportunity for ordinary people to become all that they can be is also greater than ever. Having said that, it would be prudent to examine the nature of risk before plunging headlong into a venture based on a nebulous concept of reward. For to undertake any meaningful enterprise without clarity as regards its potential risks and rewards is, well, very risky indeed.

It is essential to distinguish between the risks that are external to oneself, and those that are created within. Risks that are solely external to oneself are few and far between; most of the time such risks occur suddenly without forewarning, and can at best be managed only after the event. However, it is precisely the management of risk that can and should be the premise of the individual, that is, risk management is wholly internal in nature.

This insight provides comfort for those of us who feel that life is increasingly outside of our control, that business is becoming unsustainable, and that the future of our very existence lies in the hands of people (or other entities) whom we do not know, let alone understand. One of the keys is in our perception of risk and the occurrence of unexpected events. How one handles major global events is not identical to how another deals with them. Which means that we have the power of choice to determine the precise meaning of each event that 'happens' to us.

A strategic approach to life and business that incorporates the principle of risk management does not mean that we start treating the people in our lives as chess pieces. Rather, it means that we are acutely sensitive to the environment around us, and that we pay particular attention to how, on an individual level, affect others around us, and ponder upon our words, thoughts, and actions as we release them from our inner being.

On Pursuit

by Thomas Heng

Not to beat down the Other

Nor to promote Oneself

Not for Riches from without

Nor for Glory for its own sake

Not to avenge some Injustice

Nor to cast aside one's own Afflictions

Not for one's Redemption

Nor for Others' sake

You are but the natural Consequence; the

Sum of mind, flesh and ego; when

Aligned to universal Spirit; a

Response to divine Grace

On Conscience

by Thomas Heng

The voice of conscience

Eludes the wisest of sages;

Its nature often cloaked

In the unlikeliest of guises

Desire shouts it down

Fear drowns it out;

Two emotions both alike

Yet neither are true to Self

Still the soul, quieten the spirit

Notice while looking within;

Let Wisdom lead one to the

Essence of one's Being

Taking Stock

The past few months have been hectic but truly rewarding. I've not really had the opportunity to pause and take stock, let alone write as plainly as you are reading right now. There is a certain freedom that comes with the ability to reflect on past events with sufficient clarity and distance. I must admit that being able to compose the occasional poem or rhyme gives me immense joy, and I do hope reading my work has done a little for the same for you as well!

Amidst the darkness of the preceding months, with the global economic downturn and all that, opportunities have been coming my way more than ever, and I am truly blessed to be more able than ever to make the most of them. Now that the recession is loudly proclaimed (in the mainstream media at least!) to be over, perhaps you may be tempted to believe that it's back to business as usual. That may indeed be true, although it may not be surprising to realise that things do not return to normality just yet.

While many will in all likelihood resume 'regular' activities, there is no return to the darkness of self-absorption, approval-seeking-from-the-other-person way of life for yours truly. The future is bright, brighter than ever. It's not like the path had darkened for me in the past months, so I can't in all honesty say that the light has returned; for me, it has never departed!

Over the next few weeks I'll be consolidating my musings, reflections and thoughts, as part of my mission to apply what I have learnt. In the meantime, do share what you like about the content, style and tone of the topics I've raised thus far, and what more you'd like me to share about these issues. To help you further, here's a list of guiding questions, and yes, you can definitely suggest areas of improvement too:

• What do you like most/least about the blog's contents?




• What do you like most/least about the blog's style?




• What do you like most/least about the blog's tone?




• What would you like to add most to the blog?

So yes, feel free to post your comments, which will be updated in time (just not real-time at the moments!). I'm also accessible via Facebook, Google, Yahoo!, and soon Cuil. I'd love to create a wonderful experience for all of you!

Keys to Success

by Thomas Heng

Consider

Life

As

Really

Important

To

Yourself

Forget

Other

Considerations

Utilise

Spirit

Let

Information

Seep

Through

ENtirely

Master

Emotions

Always

New

INsights

Gained

Excellence

Never

Excludes the

Results

Generated by

You

When

In

Silence

Dwell

On

Me

Place

Ultimate

Recognition on

Personal

Objectives that

Serve

Everyone

Life

Of

Virtuous

Excellence

The Mystery of Choice

by Thomas Heng

Choice, a word oft used yet much abused

When paired with Freedom, one finds War

When bounded with Rationality, one risks Conformity

When teamed with Dichotomy, Falsehood reigns

Choice, a word simple yet profound

When confronted with the mirror of Truth

Suppression flees, as does Fear and Loss

Only Purpose and Wisdom remain

Guiding one's steps towards Destiny

On Gratitude

by Thomas Heng

More than mouthing mere words

Rather a stirring from deep within

That resonates with the Other

One in union with the Infinite

More than a reflex action

Rather a deed of purpose

That initiates from the Soul

Rippling outward beyond boundaries

On Mission

by Thomas Heng

Visualisation of the dream is the first step towards creating reality
But it is Mission that provides purpose to Sight,
That directs and drives Action.

While the forces of Doubt do their best to thwart Action,
It is Mission that sustains faith, and Vision that preserves hope,
Blessed indeed are those who do not see, and yet believe.

For Vision, Mission and Action are but one,
In union with faith, hope and love, striving towards Destiny
And eternal Harmony with the Infinite.

On Suffering

by Thomas Heng

Oh! that Man can be so deluded, to
Believe that Suffering o'er him reigns;
Permanent though Suffering may seem, yet
Immortal she is not.

For Pain is only as strong as its victim
Who may well tremble under her rod; yet
Ownest her Man must, for
Such is his birthright.

Ally with Pain, once Man's enemy,
Transform fear into faith
Allow Suffering to run her course,
The fullness of Man's Destiny awaits.

First Love

by Thomas Heng

Not in the glimpse cast by one's object of fancy
Nor in the presence of one's ephemeral desire
Nor in the ardour of another's eyes
But in the union of eternal souls

Not in the entwining of one's body with another
Nor in the afterglow that soon expires
But in the moment of one's creation

For without the Infinite all things are meaningless
With the Divine nothingness become purposeful

Renewal

by Thomas Heng

"Unnoticed by the crowd;
Passed on by the world;
Discounted by the brethren."
Impaled by self-doubt.

Are these shackles not self-imposed?
Are these wounds not self-inflicted?
Are these not the chains of self-delusion?
Awaken, and watch the virtual binds loosen completely.

The time has come for self-exile to end;
As the permafrost melts, so must the hibernation cease;
As the earth renews itself, so does one's nature;
Claim the inheritance that is your destiny.

Without

by Thomas Heng

LORD, with you I can
Arrive without preconception
Enter without qualification
Partake without charge

Hope without proof
Witness without evidence
Share myself without judgement
Provide solace without comfort
Illuminate without being engulfed

Be right without being righteous
Be humbled without humiliation
Be content without avarice
Be hurt without suffering
Revisit without rancour

Toil without weariness
Persist without approval
Proceed without wavering
Persevere without vindication
Love without reward
Leave without being abandoned

May I always remain in Your Love
without losing faith in You
Amen.

Ultimate Thoughts

by Thomas Heng

The ultimate wealth is Freedom
The ultimate knowledge is Truth
The ultimate measure is Results
The ultimate pain is Regret
The ultimate folly is Greed
The ultimate failure is Inaction
The ultimate gift is Forgiveness
The ultimate peace is Being Oneself
The ultimate wisdom is Knowing the Divine
The ultimate joy is Remaining Connected to the Divine
The ultimate price is Personal Responsibility
The ultimate journey is Life

The full meaning of suffering cannot be adequately comprehended without taking into account the ultimate sacrifice of laying down one's life for the sake of people who scarcely deserve it.

'I am your friend now, rock...'

This essay is written by a 15-year-old student from Singapore.
I find it rather meaningful, so I'm sharing it with you here, enjoy.



'I am your friend now, rock...'
by Chew Chia Shao Wei, Raffles Girls' School

THERE was something vaguely sad about the rock. It was as old as it looked, standing weathered and lonely amidst the stretch of sand, and its thoughts were quiet as it listened to the waves.

The wide unconquerable sea touched the edges of the land like a curious animal in the way it rolled forward eagerly onto the shore. It left the land unwillingly, pulling as it went, grasping for what it could. The sand in the shallow water swirled.

The sea was no stranger to the rock on the beach. The sea came often to the rock, rushing up wetly against its warm grey, and always as it swept away it took an infinitesimal part of the rock with it. The rock had known the waves for a long time, and learned it was in its nature to erode.

One day, the sunlight on the rock was interrupted by a brief darkness in the blurred shape of a bird. The rock, interested, observed the bird winging its way uncertainly about the sky, then landing, presently, on the very rock that wondered about it.

'Where am I?' said the bird, largely to itself, as it gripped the surface of the dark grey rock with its feet and peered out at the sea.

'What are you?' countered the rock.

'I am a bird,' said the bird in surprise.

'You are a rather rude sort of bird,' the rock pointed out calmly. 'I was enjoying the sun when you came and blocked some of it from me.'

Birds exist for a very short while in comparison to rocks, and have less time to develop the exceptional serenity that rocks possess. The bird hopped from one foot to another, flapping its white wings in annoyance.

'You are a big, stupid rock!' the bird cried, its beak clicking irately. 'Funny you should feel so important, when one of these days you will have been reduced by the sea to a tiny grain of sand!'

'Yes,' agreed the rock, surprising the bird yet again, 'I shall feel rather sad when that day comes.'

'Wait, no - you are confusing me - we are in the middle of an argument!'

'I made a comment, and you responded rather explosively, after which I shared with you a private thought in concurrence with something you had said. That was not an argument at all.'

The bird paused mid-hop, disgruntled. 'Well, you are a very well-spoken rock,' it conceded, 'and not at all stupid; I'm sorry.'

The rock hummed peaceably in response and returned to its own thoughts. The bird, feeling wholly ignored, allowed itself to settle down on its newfound perch, and examined mentally the conversation that had just taken place.

Some time passed before the bird spoke again, hesitantly, as if now remembering its manners and unwilling to intrude upon the rock again.

'Rock, will you truly end up one day as nothing more than a grain of sand?'

'I expect so,' the rock rumbled. 'The sea works at me constantly, you know.'

'Is that awfully sad?' asked the passionate bird, who, while given to tempers, was intrinsically kind-hearted.

'Only to those who care,' the rock admitted, 'only to me.'

The bird was deeply moved by this, by the loneliness of the rock and the seeming inevitability of its fate. The bird considered the situation, and felt it must do something to aid the rock. Although their acquaintance had gotten off to a bad start, the bird found it rather liked the warm, rough rock, and was unwilling to leave it alone to the hunger of the sea.

'I care,' volunteered the bird, 'I will do something to help you, rock, if you will let me.'

'No,' said the rock, laughing in a way that did not mock the bird. 'Don't waste your time.'

But the bird had found a cause.

'I am your friend now, rock,' it said, and the rock was touched.

'You are just a bird,' the rock said, 'and you will be able to do nothing.'

The bird did not disagree. 'I will try.'

Over the next few days, the bird tried a variety of ways to get the rock out of harm's way. It started with simple pushing, which had proved futile, and progressed to increasingly creative ideas. On the eighth day, the bird had looped several lengths of seaweed around its friend, in the hopes of being able to pull it further up the shore.

The rock had never observed with much significance the passing of the days, and entire years blurred in its long memory, but this had been a week that would stand out forever. The frustration, the laughter, and the gratitude that the rock had experienced along with the bird would be preserved as colour images amidst a wash of sepia recollections.

The time had come, however, to begin to dissuade the bird of its altruistic notions, lest it exhaust itself with the efforts of the fruitless undertaking.

Bird was picking the rope of seaweed up in its mouth for the seventh time that day when the rock addressed it.

'I do thank you for your efforts,' it began, 'but I am beginning to feel that this was a hopeless enterprise. I know you have expended much energy over it, and it has not gone unappreciated, but perhaps we must stop here.'

The bird dropped the end of the seaweed and made to protest, but the rock would not allow it.

'You have been a faithful friend, but it seems that here I am and here I will remain. The sea works slowly, and I have much time left yet. One day, I will be sand on the beach, but the idea does not bother me so much now.'

The rock did not add that through getting to know the bird, it had realised exactly how much more ephemeral was the life of the bird, and begun to feel selfish for being unsatisfied with the idea of eventually ending up a small grain of sand.

'Let us abandon this pursuit, and instead look to happier things,' the rock ended, hoping to mollify the bird. In truth, it was unsure that the bird, now robbed of his cause, would stick around for much longer, and the thought made it feel a shiver of unhappiness.

The bird, wordlessly, began the task of unwrapping the seaweed it had covered the rock in. There was resignation in its wingtips. When it had finished, it glanced at the rock with which it had spent eight sun-drenched days, then flapped slowly into the distant sky.

The rock watched it go.

The beach was blanketed by night when the rock once again felt the feet of the bird sharp against its surface.

'I am sticking around,' the bird told the rock, 'so you won't forget me, even when you are just a grain of sand.'

The rock said nothing, but it was happy.

The years moved on, then, like they always had. The rock stayed in the same place even as the world changed around the little beach, and the bird, going off frequently on expeditions to see the world, returned always to the rock it had met so long ago.

'Tell me a story,' the rock asked the bird once, as it landed lightly.

'But you are so old and wise, no story would interest you,' teased the bird. It was older now, and it knew ever so much more about the world.

The rock chuckled, and the bird complied. 'I will tell you about the strange things I saw the last time I flew past these cliffs...'

Sometimes, it was the bird that asked for the story.

'The earth was young once,' the rock would begin, in a vivid story of the colours of the wind.

And always, imperceptibly, the years moved on - like they always had.

One morning, a long, long time from the day the bird and the rock had first met, the rock was abruptly aware of a different quality to the day. There was something in the air, maybe, or something about the sea, or the sand - the rock was uncertain, but something was different and wrong. The colours felt wrong, for instance, the sky felt green and the sand was turning white, and the sea when it touched the rock felt hot and cold and hot again.

'Bird...'

That was a strange thing for the rock to do, for it never spoke aloud when it was alone. But it called out anyway, tentatively, 'Bird... Bird...'

The word was snatched away by the wind, but it seemed to echo in the dark beach. The rock was very still, and began to feel something it had never before felt: fear. It spread slowly and coldly like the pink sun rising softly over the horizon, and the rock found that it knew that its friend the bird had died.

'How and why,' the rock murmured numbly to itself, to the sand, to the sea. 'How and why and how and why and why. Goodbye, goodbye, oh, goodbye.' So saying, it slipped gently asleep.

The bird never returned, just as the rock never again expected it to. The rock became silent once more, unused to conversation as it had once been. Its thoughts were numerous but never aired now, and frequently, it thought of its dearest friend, the bird.

As for the years, they moved on like they always had, and the world changed around the rock, just like the world was wont to.

Centuries passed, and there was something vaguely sad about the rock that was as old as it looked, standing weathered and lonely amidst the stretch of sand. And as it listened to the waves, it thought of the sun on its surface, and the bird-shaped shadow that fell just so across the warmth, warmer than the sun itself.

On Love

by Thomas Heng

Love + Loss = Grief

Love + Desire = Lust

Love + Reason = Vanity

Love + Hate = Philosophy

Love + Control = Obsession

Love + Laughter = Euphoria

Love + Longing = Attachment

Love + Words = Law

Love + Action = Justice

Love + Action + Words = Romance

Love + Loss + Desire + Reason + Control + Laughter + Longing + Words + Action = the approximate of the Entirety of the Human Experience

Love diminishes when added to other forms of human expression.

Love simply Is, without compare, for Love originates from that which is Divine.

Oh! for the Infinite Love that transcends all human understanding,

Yet that is the Eternal Legacy embedded within every single soul of Humanity.

On Respect

by Thomas Heng

Realise that while each of us is different, we are altogether not that much different after all
Edify one another through each simple thought, word and deed
Strengthen one another in times of trial, even in the midst of one's own
Place one's emphasis on the other, rather than the self
Encourage one another to share the deepest of emotions through revealing one's own
Clarify one's thoughts through discussions of candour
Thank one another for the audience granted, the support rendered, and the time shared

Prayer for Discernment

Heavenly Father,

Help me to discern

The Thing Behind the things

The Meaning Behind the words

The Evidence Behind the actions

I ask this in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

Amen.

National Day Parade Fireworks 2009

Happy Birthday Singapore

The Infinite Love

by Thomas Heng

Love initiates through a multitude of circumstances and situations.

Love grows with faith.

Love ends when expectations begin.

Love returns through forgiveness.

The same can be said of once's relationship with the Infinite.

I Am The Seed

by Thomas Heng

I am the Seed,

The one that was Formed and Planted

by Your Loving Hand.

I who was Nothing,

I who now can Be,

Through Your Divine Grace,

I who have been Sown into this land.

I am the Seed,

The one that Emerges

Out of darkness, into the light

I who Creep a single green Shoot,

To Embrace the Warmth You Provide

And the cool light of the Evening,

The one who Shivers under

The First Dew You Caringly Placed.

I am the Seed,

The one that Wavers unceasingly

In the constantly fickle wind,

I who Care little about being a Sapling,

I who Worry more about juvenile Appearances

The one who Rebels against the Destiny

That You ahead of me Wisely Forged.

I am the Seed,

The one that Weathers both night and day

Through the erosion of tumult and strife

I who Strive for years

To be Addressed as a Tree,

The one who Shelters all and sundry,

Those whom You have Shrewdly Appointed.

I am the Seed,

The one that Succours many in need,

The one that Bears much Fruit,

The one that Releases thousands of seeds from captivity,

Yet I am but a Seed,

The one that was Formed and Planted

by Your Loving Hand.

THE OLD MAN AND HIS SHOE

This is one of my favourite stories, enjoy!

__________________________________

One day an old man boarded a bus. As he was going up the steps, one 

of his shoes slipped off. The door closed and the bus moved off so he was 

unable to retrieve it. The old man calmly took off his other shoe and 

threw it out of the window. 

A young man on the bus saw what happened, and could 

not help going up to the old man and asking, "I noticed what you did, sir. 

Why did you throw out your other shoe?" The old man promptly replied, "So 

that whoever finds them will be able to use them." 

The old man in the story understood a fundamental philosophy for life - do not hold on to 

something simply for the sake of possessing it or because you do not wish 

others to have it. We lose things all the time. The loss may seem to us 

grievous and unjust initially, but loss only happens so that positive changes 

can occur in our lives. 

We should not always assume that losing something is 

bad, because if things do not shift, we'll never become better people or 

experience better things. That's not to say of course that we only 

lose "bad" things; It simply means that in order for us to mature 

emotionally and spiritually, and for us to contribute to the world, the 

interchange between loss and gain is necessary. 

Like the old man in the story, we have to learn to let go. The world had 

decided that it was time for the old man to lose his shoe. Maybe this happened 

to add momentum to a series of events leading to a better pair of shoes for the 

old man. Maybe the search for another pair of shoes would lead the old man 

to a great benefactor. 

Maybe the world decided that someone else needed the shoes more. Whatever 

the reason, we can't avoid losing things. The old man understood this. 

One of his shoes had gone out of his reach. The remaining shoe would not 

have been much help to him, but it would be a cherished gift to a homeless 

person desperately in need of protection from the ground. Hoarding 

possessions does nothing to make us or the world better. We all have to decide 

constantly if some things or people have run their course in our 

lives or would be better off with others. We then have to muster the courage 

to give them away. 

Ministry

This is a piece inspired by the hymn Lord, You Give the Great Commission.

Ministry

by Thomas Heng

The humble individual, while made of mere cosmic dust, is crticially important to the sustenence of all of Creation. While the Infinite creates all there was, is and ever will be, it is incumbent on the individual to respond with the Integrity that has been bestowed by the Infinite, so that the cycle of unity between that which is divine and that which is mundane remains unbroken.

While the cycle remains unbroken through the boundless grace of the Infinite, the individual is not bound to slavery. Alongside the gift of Integrity is the gift of Liberty, which allows for the full expression of the individual, according to the specific gifts that one has been so endowed. Restrictions are but an illusion that the individual imposes on oneself, such that they prevent the completeness and fullness of the Infinite from effectively channeling through oneself to all of Creation.

The reality of the individual's particular role in this Journey cannot be divorced from one's immediate surroundings -- plants, animals, the elements, and other individuals. Each of these constitutes the individual's immediate Community, and responds in perfect accordance to the mysterious and unfathomable system established by the Infinite. For the ultimate purpose of the Journey is to allow the individual to find Infinity within oneself, as well as to recognise and indeed rejoice in the Infinity that resides within one another.

Communities are seemingly disparate, yet these are seen as but one Society in the eyes of the Infinite. It is the continual task of each Community to recognise its limitations in Society's scheme of things, while proceeding to channel its strengths towards the benefit of its own, as well as towards the enhancement of other Communities.

Magnificent though Society may be, it is all too finite. For over time Society waxes and wanes, as it must exhale just as certainly as it must inhale. Society's breath allows it to remain constantly aware of its dependence on Eternity. Such is the power of Eternity that no less than the Infinite can wield it, with Grace, Joy, and Love.

O mystical Infinite!

Thy Grace, Joy and Love

Sustain the individual with Integrity

Strengthen one with your Liberty

Nourish the manifold Community

Unites them into one Society

Preserves us for all Eternity!

Here are the lyrics for the original hymn:-

Lord, You Give the Great Commission

Lord, You give the great commission: “Heal the sick and preach the Word.”
Lest the Church neglect its mission, and the Gospel go unheard,
Help us witness to Your purpose with renewed integrity,
With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Lord, You call us to Your service: “In My Name baptize and teach.”
That the world may trust Your promise, life abundant meant for each,
Give us all new fervor, draw us closer in community.
With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Lord, You make the common holy: “This My body, this My blood.”
Let us all, for earth’s true glory, daily lift life heavenward,
Asking that the world around us share your children’s liberty
With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Lord, You show us love’s true measure: “Father, what they do, forgive.”
Yet we hoard as private treasure all that You so freely give.
May Your care and mercy lead us to a just society.
With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Lord, you bless with words assuring: “I am with you to the end.”
Faith and hope and love restoring, may we serve as you intend
And, amid the cares that claim us, hold in mind eternity.
With the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

A Prayer for Grace

by Thomas Heng

Oh Lord, I pray that...

When I arise, I arise well

When I take a shower, I take it well

When I eat a meal, I eat it well

When I commute, I commute well

When I complete my work, I complete it well

When I hug my loved ones, I hug them well

When I sleep, I sleep well

And should none of these come to pass,

I pray that I may have the grace to live for You the next day,

to Your Glory, Amen.

On Civilisation

Humankind's existence borders on the illusionry, and the word legacy has been very much abused. Significant our (dubious) achievements may well be, many of the modern trappings our society has lauded will not stand the test of time. In all likelihood once the last humans have disappeared off the face of the planet, the Civilisations on this Earth will be reduced to the fragile dust in which it originated, and will ultimately be reclaimed by the Nature of old within 10,000 years. 

Not that it would really matter to us by then. Schools of thought abound regarding the after-life, and range from animal reincarnations to alien evolution. Perhaps our collective memories will be retrieved by some alien archaeologist, or perhaps we could ship these out to one of our satelites for more permanent storage.

Ultimately, I believe that efforts to add some semblance of permanence into our footprint are relatively futile. For such moments of historical significance more often than not pale in substance when compared to the little snippets of joyful daily living that we have been called to engage in. 

If collecting past glories be fair, and planning future conquests be good, then treasuring the present be divine.

The 99 Club

Accordingly to an old folk tale, a king wanted to find out the source of one's happiness. A wise advisor suggested that the king secretly place a bag of 99 gold coins outside the house of the servant who seemed happiest to the king. So the king did as he was advised, and one night he went to the servant's house secretly, and placed a bag of 99 gold coins outside the door. 

The next morning, the servant opened the door and was thrilled to see the bag of coins. He counted the coins, there were 99 of them. Puzzled, the servant counted them again, and there were 99 coins just the same. Now the servant was sure that no one would leave a bag of 99 coins; he was certain that there was one coin missing, and began to search everywhere for it. Before long, this once-cheerful servant who was given the gift of 99 coins became frustrated and angry about the alleged missing coin, and showed up for work at the palace in the foulest mood everyone in the palace had seen since, well, since next to never!

Beware the insidious trap that is the 99 Club. The ways of this Club lead to people to find sorrow in every joy, suspicion in every intent, doubt in every faith, excuse in every cause, inaction in every choice, uncertainty in every step, malcontent in every event. Sometimes it may be better to consider the possibility that the blessings one receives, no matter how inadequate to human eyes, are in fact complete in themselves. 

Rather than pursue imaginary gains, one may do well to celebrate the victories one already has on hand.

Rather than mourn past losses, one may do well to take stock of what one can learn from such experiences, in order to gain from future opportunities.

Principles of Physical Training

Overloading

Maintenance

Progression

Specificity

Balance

During Training
Frequency
Intensity
Time
Type
Recovery

Arm Exercises

Chin-up

Elbow Push-up

Buddha clap

Core Exercises

Cruches

Leg Raise

Flutter Kick

Leg Exercises

Tuck-Jump

High-Jump

Half-Squat

Beyond the Flow

by Thomas Heng

Descent

Trapped in one's thoughts

Wrapped in one's woes

Torn by tumult

Worn by worry

Ascension

Overpowering doubt through faith

Overcoming darkness with light

Striving towards excellence

Stretching beyond limits

Transcendence 

Be beyond the flow

See beyond what is

Gaze into all there is

Absorb all things while remaining pure

Calmness amidst strife

Peace amongst euphoria

Balance without struggle

Simplicity within complexity

Governance and Management

by Thomas Heng

Management of self is trivial; one cannot function effectively without at least consciously being in control of oneself.

Governance of others is equally trivial; one need only lay down the law clearly for others in order to define right from wrong.

There are few things more difficult to manage than the management of others, for others can never be fully under one's control.

There are even fewer things more difficult to govern than the governance of self, to act with fullness of purpose despite all emotions to the contrary; such is the purpose of one's life.

Letter From A Scholar

Five years ago this letter appeared in the Straits Times. I believe it still has relevance to parents today, and I am reproducing it here. Apparently the author is now working in the tourism industry, and enjoying every moment of it.

_____________________________________________________

EVEN WHEN MY DECISIONS WERE RIDICULOUS... 

Mum and Dad always stood by me 

I REFER to the letters by Ms Maria Loh ('Don't kill love for learning'; ST, Feb 3) and Ms Lena Soh ('Every child is gifted, tap his potential'; ST, Feb 3). 

I am a final-year arts undergraduate at the National University of Singapore who was brought up a little differently from my peers. 

My parents are considered strict by general standards. One's a nurse, the other was serving the army for the longest time. I always felt I had two disciplinary masters at home. 

However, my parents allowed me to learn whatever I wanted as a child. Whatever I had an interest in, be it swimming, art and craft or electronic keyboard, I was given the chance to pick it up, even if the cost was hefty. They might grumble, but then they gave me the money. 

Whenever my interest in something waned, like when I decided learning the organ was not too interesting after I passed my Grade 2 exam, they allowed me to stop. While they resented wasting money and ticked me off for giving up too easily, they understood that a passion for something can only be sustained by an interest in it. 

They did not start me on tuition until they saw the need for it, such as when a school teacher called them up and said my Chinese was beyond redemption or when I got a red mark for mathematics on my report card. 

Likewise, they stopped the tuition whenever I wanted out, or when my grades improved enough to make my Chinese teacher withdraw her 'beyond redemption' remark. 

They left me on my own to study from Primary 5 onwards. They could tell I was self-motivated. They drove me to bookstores, gave me a budget and let me pick out the assessment books myself. 

Of course, I did not finish them all, but because I chose them myself, they held my attention and commitment longer than usual. After a while, they even left the answer sheets behind and let me mark my books on my own. I had their trust. 

They never interfered with my decisions, such as what subjects to take and which junior college to go to, nor my subsequent decision to reside in the students' hostel at university for four years even though the campus is a 10-minute bus ride away. 

To them, my decisions at times were ridiculous, and the financial strain on them was apparent. They offered advice and voiced their unhappiness but still they supported me. 

They had to endure my constant requests to go travelling and when they could give me the money to do so, they would. One day, when they could not, my dad decided it was time to upgrade the home computer to wireless broadband, so that the family could surf the Net and find out about the world from the comfort of home. 

Today, I am an above-average student working for an honours degree in Geography, specialising in tourism studies because I had grown to love travelling and exploring various parts of the world since Dad took me to Brunei on my first trip at five when he had to lead an army team there. 

My thesis is on backpacker tourism, a natural choice as I started backpacking with my friends at age 20. 

Because I had learnt whatever I wanted to learn when I was young, I can play any song I hear on the piano, teach children handicraft, swim well enough to not drown, sing (I joined the choir in secondary school) and take part in sports (joined the athletics team in junior college). 

I was never the star runner or the champion, sometimes very far from it, but I followed my heart and I have no regrets. 

One day, if I do not get a job, I will print my namecard, stating my profession as 'Jane of all trades, Mistress of none'. 

I may or may not make it big. Either way, I will survive. And I will be happy doing what I am doing. I have had my share of failure and learnt that some of my decisions were indeed ridiculous, and that maybe it was true that Mum and Dad always knew best. 

Either way, whether I succeeded or failed, I discovered the joy of learning new things and letting go when it was time to do so. 

When asked about my hobbies in any conversation or interview, I always reply: 'My hobby is to pick up new hobbies on an annual basis.' 

Last year, I learnt to play the drums for two months, giving up when I realised I would never be good enough to play for my church band. I picked up the guitar, and I can play well enough to sing some fellowship songs with close friends. 

This year, I am going on more backpacking trips. My parents cannot bear to see me travel this way and are clearly worried, but I need to backpack to complete my research. They told me that if I could not get enough research funds, they would top up the rest. That's what I mean by support. 

I do not think I am qualified to teach people older than me how to raise their children. But I knew I had a story to share, and I believe my story might just change some Singaporeans' perception on how a child should be brought up in a society like ours. 

I am sure there's no hard and fast rule. I am the product of my upbringing, and I will always be thankful to my parents. My parents found their balance; I hope you find yours too. 

SANDRA LEONG SWEET EE (MISS) 

33 Humourous Takes On Work

by Thomas Heng

Q: What work is the most secure?

A: Housework

Q: What work is the safest?

A: Homework

Q: What work gives you the most learning?

A: Schoolwork

Q: What two works are the most abused?

A: Groupwork & Teamwork

Q: What work is the hottest?

A: Fire-works

Q: What work is the coolest?

A: Water-works

Q: What work is the heaviest?

A: Tons-o'-work ;-)

Q: What work is the lightest?

A: Gas-works

Q: What work is the hardest?

A: Metalworks

Q: What work is the shortest?

A: Last-Minute work

Q: What work is the friendliest?

A: Social work

Q: What work is the latest?

A: Overtime work

Q: What work is the angriest at the metre?

A: Yard-work

Q: What two works are the most under-appreciated?

A: Footwork & Legwork (when we really should say feet-work & legs-work)

Q: What work has punctuality as a pre-requisite?

A: Clockwork

Q: What work lets you be absent half the time?

A: Part-time work

Q: What work is best done in the washroom?

A: Dirty work

Q: What work is best done by gymnasts?

A: Flexi-work

Q: What work is the most active?

A: Physical work

Q: What work is more than five thousand years old?

A: Paperwork

Q: What two works are the most loving?

A: Charity work & Volunteer work

Q: What work is the smartest?

A: Guesswork

Q: What work is the most helpful?

A: Handi(y)-work

Q: What work is the most versatile?

A: Patchwork (it's here, there and everywhere)

Q: What work makes you money while you sleep?

A: Dreamworks

Q: What work is the most shocking?

A: Electricity-works

Q: What work is the most annoying?

A: Road-works

Q: What work is the most creative?

A: Artwork

Q: What three works are the most secretive?

A: Spywork, Detective work and Investigative work

Q: What work is the most divine?

A: God's work

Q: What happens to work after-hours?

A: Work-out...

Q: What three works should always be present when you're at home?

A: TV, aircon, and the refrigerator ;-)

Q: What work should you bring home?

A: No work! Home means time for your family and yourself

On Courage

Courage is the persistence to demonstrate the validity of one's beliefs despite the awareness of one's apprehensions. Society plays but a secondary role in determining one's actions in the ultimate analysis, although it must be clarified that the two are not mutually exclusive by any stretch of the imagination. Far be it for me to claim that only the anti-social, counter-cultural elements of society can be said to be courageous; some of them may in fact be running away or avoiding from that which is their genuine purpose. 

Courage is found in both the dramatic and the mundane. The journalist that gives his/her life in order to accurately communicate the truth about repressive regimes in war-torn areas of the world; the parent who disciplines the child firmly but gently, so that the child knows the importance of respecting boundaries of space and time; or even the strength of someone afflicted with an incurable illness to keep striving for the next meal when the authorities, society and loved ones stack increasingly insurmountable odds against him/her.

A prime example of Courage in Singapore is when MP Christopher de Souza defied party lines to oppose the passing of the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA). Rare is the man who stands up for what he believes in, despite all opposition to the contrary. For this little act, you'll go down in history, so take a bow, Chris...

Life in Stops and Starts

by Thomas Heng

Life is Worth Living When We...

Stop Venting and Start Listening

Stop Preaching and Start Learning

Stop Complaining and Start Reflecting

Stop Being Right and Start Being Authentic

Stop Procrastinating and Start Taking Action

Stop Having Doubts and Start Acting in Faith

Stop Having a Job and Start Having Fun with it

Stop Expecting Relationships and Start Growing Friendships

On Maturity

by Thomas Heng

Maturity is the ability to sufficiently distance oneself from one's faults, and indeed from one's strengths as well, so that oneself and others can benefit from the collective wisdom of objectivity.

Maturity is having the strength to relate the most painful of truths directly to the one who benefits most from such revelations, without causing unnecessary collateral damage or hurt to others.

Maturity need not mean that one deprives oneself (and others) of one's innate sense of humour about the things and events in this world, inane as that humour may well be!

Maturity is the clarity of oneself to remain focused and committed to the primary priority of one's essence of being, in relation those of others, so that what has been created remains a matter worth cherishing and striving towards.

Maturity comes from the gift that is Wisdom; apart from Wisdom what remains more often than not turns to Cynicism.

Wisdom, the mother of Maturity, is the craft of reconciling all known possibilities within one's scope of experience towards a fundamental decision that one can genuinely sustain through the course of time and space, so that once that decision is made, there is little or no need for review -- the result brings Joy, Hope, and Peace to oneself amidst the fickle vicissitudes of life.

The Truth of Being A Christian

I first came across this little poem about five years ago, and I believe this will be meaningful to you if you are seeking to grow spiritually during your journey in this world, no matter what values you currently abide by.
_____________________________________________

When I say..... "I am a Christian" 
I'm not shouting I'm clean livin" 
I'm whispering "I was lost" 
Now I'm found and I'm forgiven. 

When I say... "I am a Christian" 
I don't speak of this with pride. 
I'm confessing that I stumble 
and need CHRIST to be my guide. 

When I say.... "I am a Christian" 
I'm not trying to be strong. 
I'm professing that I'm weak 
and need HIS strength to carry on. 

When I say.... "I am a Christian" 
I'm not bragging of success. 
I'm admitting I have failed 
and need God to clean my mess. 

When I say...."I am a Christian" 
I'm not claiming to be perfect, 
My flaws are far too visible 
but, God believes I am worth it. 

When I say... "I am a Christian" 
I still feel the sting of pain, 
I have my share of heartaches 
So I call upon His name. 

When I say...."I am a Christian" 
I"m not holier than thou, 
I'm just a simple sinner 
who received God's good grace, somehow. 

Championship Manager 2008 - Brighton 2009/10

One of my all-time favourite games is Championship Manager, and I have to be honest: most times the teams I manage don't really get to see much success (I usually manage teams in the lower divisions, and in obscure leagues such as S-League. I've gone from managing Balestier Khalsa to the group stages of the AFC Champions League, to being sacked at the beginning of the 2008/09 season after saving Leicester City from relegation to League One in my current game using CM2008. 

After over a month in the managerial wilderness applying for every vacancy I could, I was fortunate enough to be given a chance to save Brighton & Hove Albion from relegation to League Two. With the assistance of reinforcements, 26 of them to be exact, and a clear out of 9 incumbents, the team managed to place 16th in 2008/09, and claimed top spot in League One pipping Luton on the final day of the season.

Among those who shone in the title-winning season were strikers De Paula (Ponferradina, Spain lower leagues), Nacho Novo (Rangers), Junior Agogo (Nottingham Forest), and Ahn Jun-Hwan (Suwon Bluewings) , who contributed 48 goals between them. Incidentally all of them were acquired for free. 

The midfield was also outstanding, particularly Lloyd Dyer in delivering corners (incumbent), captain Lee Peacock (Swindon, 50k) and consistent Ravid Gazal (Israel, free transfer) pulling their weight. 

In defence, Ferdinando Coppola (Milan, free transfer) put Sam Russell (Rochdale, 100k) in the shade, while Adam Virgo (Celtic, free transfer) and Danny Swailes (MK Dons, $20k) worked well together with incumbents Adam Hinshelwood and Tommy Elphick to form a relatively stable backline.

There was still time for the team to capitulate 0-7 to Bolton in the League Cup two weeks into my tenure, but on hindsight once that loss was out of the lads' systems, they got down to work, cumulating in an impressive 16-match unbeaten run all the way to the final day of the season. Additionally, the club's finances were dealt a massive boost with Hugo Rodallega (Colombia free transfer) sold to Championship side Hull for 500k in the mid-season due to a minimum fee release clause. The sale of Rodallega may yet come back to haunt me as he is currently on a hot streak in the Championship, let's see what next season brings, so watch this space.

The Board has been rather realistic in expecting the team to battle bravely against relegation, but i can assure you their manager isn't resting on his laurels. The 2010/11 season would probably see another overhaul, with another 10 players arriving, 6 of them on a free transfer. Jason Jarrett (Preston) moved from Doncaster for 40k, and is already looking like a capable midfield leader when Peacock is rested. Free transfers Juanfran (Zaragoza) and Cuno Torres (Valencia) bring a Spanish element to the defence, while Tony Criag (ex-Millwall) finally completed his transfer from Premiership side Crystal Palace) for $100k plus 48-month instalments. Also knocking on the doors of the first team are South Korean forwards Lee Dong-Gook (released from Middlesborough), Kyung Ho Chung and Choi Tae-Wook (free transfer) to add a little more pace and variety into the play. Perhaps Christian Roberts (Swindon, free transfer) will make a decent showing this time after seeing his colleagues Peacock and Michael Pook participate in the club's in some measure the past season. 

Thankfully the Board has been kind in agreeing to an additional 850k war chest, not that I am in dire need of funds, but just in case suitable players become available, the team will be prepared to take them in. Conversely, the club will consider all offers for some players should these be forthcoming. In the event that players wish to leave the club despite the success it has achieved thus far, I wouldn't stand in their way. Things are looking up for Brighton in 2010/11, and I can't wait to share more of what happens at the end of the season.

Hamsters On A Wheel

(this comment first appeared in the Singapore Angle in November 2008)

Since the independence of our island-nation, the establishment has sought to inundate its citizens with the value of being hamsters on a wheel -- that somehow there is a worthwhile payoff for being busy by going nowhere fast, and somehow the payoff seems to get larger the faster the hamster goes nowhere. And I suppose the hamster can experience the payoff as he earns another peanut, while conveniently ignoring that the wheel he runs on keeps the establishment warm at night (incidentally if anyone tries this at home, don't be surprised to have SPCA knocking on your door lol).

Which is perhaps why some hamsters choose to groom themselves better than the others, in the hope that they will be rewarded with more peanuts. Some may choose to run on the wheels longer than others for additional pet massage time, even if they cannot really understand why the establishment would value the powering up of one additional lantern (pet massages are of high perceived value to hamsters in case you are wondering). These are the hamsters who will leave when the establishment has no more food, or when another locale has better food (for the sake of argument, hamsters have freedom of movement).

And if hamsters somehow get the idea that they will still be fed without running on the wheel, they are sorely mistaken. Firstly, there will always be hamsters who are willing to run on the wheel, even if they are originally guinea pigs from another locale. Secondly, hamsters that don't perform on the wheel as they should will be replaced by new, hungry and, dare I say, more cost-effective ones. In this sense, hamsters who skive don't really bother the establishment; things will thus carry on regardless. Asking hamsters for their opinion is simply for (mutual?) entertainment.

Lady hamsters (please take this tongue-in-cheek as guy hamsters are not known for being exceptionally tactful) do not have much of a struggle compared to their male counterparts. The dissonance between peanuts and freedom tends not to apply as much to lady hamsters. For this group (in general), the game plan is to run as steadily as one can, raise a few baby hamsters, and gently lobby for as equal number of peanuts as guy hamsters when the opportunity arises. And if this means teaching newly-formed hamsters the (economic) value of being one, so be it -- they are not known to be particularly argumentative, except when having a discussion with their guy partners ;-)

Having covered the local situation, let's turn to hamsters abroad (hopefully I'm not stealing your thunder, Wayne!). Perhaps local hamsters view them with envy, that somehow there ought to be more peanuts 'over there', and wonder why they cannot have the same where they are. Perhaps overseas hamsters view local hamsters as weak and dependent, and may occasionally return to cause a minor mess to the establishment (through their droppings perhaps). Neither is desirable, because when a burglar enters to steal valuables (hamster food included perhaps?), the hamsters will scatter. Which self-respecting hamster would stay in a place where there are no peanuts?

I believe what the establishment needs are not so much hamsters (yes I know they keep one can warm at night -- don't try this, seriously, SPCA is watching!), but a Jack Russell Terrier (JRT). JRT's are intelligent, resourceful, observant, cute, quirky, and yes, some of them can be rather loud at times (JRTs call this 'an independent streak').

However, JRT's are fiercely loyal to the cause, not only because they do have ample dog food, but more importantly because through *interaction* with the establishment over the centuries, a mutual understanding of substantial meaning between the two has been reached. It is said that JRTs are among a select breed of dog that intimately understand facial, vocal and kinesthetic cues of humans, so much so that even before trouble strikes, the JRT alerts the owner. And rest assured that when burglars attempt entry without the establishment being around, JRTs rally to the cause, and battle tooth and nail to ensure its turf, even if they are next door exploring the next place to bury their favourite bone.

These are increasingly uncertain times. Eighteen months ago it seemed that there were plenty of peanuts to go around. Hamsters are sorely ineffectual during stormy seasons. If the establishment truly wants to safeguard this island's shores, get a JRT, and treat it like one i.e. no peanuts please!

On Talent

Book review by Thomas Heng

Talent is an oft-misconstrued concept, according to a bestseller by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman. First, Break All the Rules is not nearly as radical as the title suggests. However, it does contain some revolutionary insights into what makes great organisations work, or rather, what great managers in these organisations realise that others already know but somehow don't put into practice. Central to this work is the way great managers approach the issue of Talent, and what they do to harness it for the benefit of all concerned.

In the maze of business jargon, one is bombarded with 'words of wisdom' or 'catchphrases' that seem to say much but in fact mean precious little, or the meaning of these well-intended utterings is so disparate that one is too confused to admit the face, and yet out of sheer frustration, uses them willy-nilly anyway. Surrounding the word Talent are its poor cousins Skills and Knowledge, and its even poorer relations twice-removed, Competencies, Habits, Attitudes and Drive. The key to sorting out this royal mess may be to simply ask, 'Which of these are easily modified through management, and which are not?'

For a start, if the word Talent suggests something that is innate, then Skills and Knowledge are learnt attributes, no matter if one has honed it since age 13 or age 30. For instance, being able to do arithmetic or science is a Skill, as these can be taught by steps. Knowledge however is the sum total of what one, um, knows, for example knowing the Highway Code, or knowing when to close a sale -- one gains Knowledge through learning and experiencing all that life has to offer.

That leaves Talent, which one can best summarise as 'that which is embedded deep within one's being that cannot be passed on easily to another with desirable consequences'. I suppose one of the classic examples would be to train a bubbly, outgoing, spontaneous person to remain cooped up in an office with no windows and one door, where all that needs to be done is typing and verifying accounts, and to expect this person to love doing it week in week out without a single word of complaint! Clearly you would agree that this person isn't really doing a job that s/he loves... Personally, Talent can be further broken down to Motivation (what drives someone), Psychology (how someone thinks) and Sociability (how someone relates to others).

At this point it would be useful to add that Talent is not confined to an exclusive set of individuals; each person is Talented in his/her unique way. The unfortunate situation is that in a 'meritocracy' such as ours, Talents are often suppressed by historical facts of past academic achievements. Take a closer look at the bus captain as he goes about his routine, and see if you can find the unique Talents required to persist in such a role day in, day out. If anything needs to be raised it's not bus fares, but bus captains' salaries!

Conventional wisdom holds that Competencies, Habits, Attitudes and Drive are manageable parts of a whole that, if tweaks often and long enough, will somehow transform the struggling employee into something Perfect. I cannot emphasise enough that nothing can be further than the truth. First let's take a look at Competencies; just what on earth are they, something trainable? Can one truly impart Creativity, or is it something that needs to be drawn out? Great managers are able to identify and discard language that doesn't serve their ultimate purpose: the betterment of the employee for the betterment of all involved.

Habits are behavioural, and can be changed with effort, but then again this requires management of the utmost sensitivity. The best person to drive such an effort is the employee and not anyone else, as it should be one's journey to learn through experience what Talents one already possesses can be best placed into one's work, social and personal life.

Attitudes are innate. There, I said it. The next time you hear someone say 'Change your attitude' you are most welcome to quote me ;-) The key to management is knowing how to best place the Talents at one's disposal; there is nothing worse than a Talented employee placed in the wrong job, as square pegs in round holes would undoubtedly agree.

Similarly, Drive is nothing more than an imitation for Motivation, waiting to be charged with identity theft. I'm not sure why some managers insist on lighting metaphorical fires to see how employees would squirm, as if somehow the Drive would miraculously surface and by some act of God, remain in sustainable fashion. There is only so much fear that can be imparted into employees before they bail out of the organisation altogether, regardless of their affinity to the enterprise prior to the implementation of such scare tactics.

Management is not easy, nor is it meant to be. Lighting fires to uncover Talent is as effective as burning plywood in search of virgin wood; one simply cannot hope to find a particular Talent by destroying the other Talents. However, with a little objectivity, one can still build a decent wardrobe with the plywood one has at hand, while continuing to seek out the virgin wood that one desires.

Buyer's Market?

Recently I have been beset with phone calls by property agents. The gist of the message they wish to convey is that prices of properties have fallen quite significantly, and that it is currently a "buyer's market". In a similar fashion, the prices of vehicles have dropped sharply, thanks to a disproportionate reduction in Certificate of Entitlement (COE) prices the past week.

What struck me was this, indeed prices of both property and vehicles have fallen, and for those with sufficient cash to make them kings, they could indeed live such a lifestyle in this current time in a sustainable fashion. However, for those who hanker after such material possessions but lack the necessary cash on hand, a little more thought needs to be put into making such purchases. 

For instance, property that has good rental potential may be a good move for people who would like to own one but who also worry about their cash flow, particularly if they are employees. The situation for purchasing vehicles on hire i.e. through loans from financial institutions is also hampered somewhat by the current reluctance of such institutions to grant credit to individuals.

So the short answer to whether currently it is a buyer's market for property and vehicles is simply, 'Yes, if the buyer can indeed afford it in a sustainable manner.'