this happened just last two thursdays ago. it was almost 12 in the evening. the jeepney i was riding in pulled to a stop. two people boarded the vehicle. the first to come in was a little fellow, a boy of about 5 or 6. he was dressed in shorts and a tee shirt and he had on this baseball cap bigger than his head. his eyes were full and very alert. as soon as he was inside the jeepney, he looked at each of us other passengers, as if trying to assess whom he'd be riding with. the look in his eyes said he's convinced both of them will be in safe company.
the boy kept looking back concernedly at his companion. the young man, about 25 years old, was struggling to get aboard the vehicle.
"papa," the boy screamed as he extended his small hand towards the young man. he grasped his father's hand firmly in his and desperately pulled him up to sit beside him. when they were seated, the driver started the vehicle again. the man almost fell off the seat as the jeepney darted forward. father and son laughed loudly.
we immediately guessed why the man was having a difficult time boarding the jeepney. he was very, very drunk. he could not sit still in his seat. i really can't imagine how he had drunk so much considering that he had his son with him. i saw him groped for something inside his pocket. he held up his closed fist very near his face. when he opened it, i saw coins in his palm. he counted them.
"we're short by two pesos," he blurted to his son, "do you have any money with you?"
the boy simply nodded to his father and pointed at a small kiddie purse slung across his shoulder. he unzipped it and shoved his little hand inside. he rummaged through all the kiddie stuff he had in there. he smilingly handed two bright 1-peso coins to his father. his father planted a kiss on his cheek. "here," he said to his son, "give our fare to the driver."
"here's our fare, mr. driver," he called the driver's attention in his little man's voice. the passenger near them accepted the coins and passed it on to the driver.
pretty soon, i saw the young father sound asleep. the liquor in his body had taken control. i gazed at the boy. he was wide-eyed and in full alert. he kept looking outside as the vehicle sped past. i guessed he was trying not to miss the landmark where they were supposed to get off. i knew he knows he can't rely on his father this time. he also does not fail to look at his father's face. he has this concerned look. he knew his father's so drunk.
"STOP! STOP!" the boy shouted after some time. the driver halted the vehicle. he had recognized the place where they were to get off. he tugged frantically at his father's shirt and woke him up. the man awoke a bit startled and dazed. confusion was on his face. he peered outside the jeepney. father and son looked at each other. only their eyes communicated. the boy proceeded to get off. he waited for his father by the side of the road. the father had shaken off his confusion and got off the vehicle.
the boy grabbed his father's hand and both walked away from our parked vehicle. the driver did not start the vehicle right away. we watched them as they walked towards the street lamp that marked their street. hand in hand, father and son walked. the big man staggering, the small man straight as an arrow, looking upwards, towards his drunk father's face.
our vehicle darted forward again. we knew they'd be home safe.
Life compensates for shortcomings.
the small man had clearly demonstrated this.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
"searching for bobby fischer & good will hunting"
i was finally able to get hold of copies of these two old films, not very old, of course, but films like these, it's so hard to get copies.
i was so engrossed. these were excellent movies. well written. well acted, or should i say the actors were well chosen for their parts. i'm not a film buff, i just go by my feelings.
for me, these two films run along the same basic theme -- the struggle to find and to express one's true worth.
in "searching for bobby fischer", the lead character is a chess prodigy. he found his passion for chess upon seeing some men playing in a park. when his dad found out his gift, he decided to put him under the tutelage of a chess teacher whose rigid teaching rules somehow boxed in his free spirit for chess. he lost the passion. later, his dad realized the mistake and allowed him again to visit his friends at the park. he regained the passion and once more found his self worth and his joy of playing chess.
in "good will hunting", the young man, will, is boxed in as well, by his dark past. he had an unhappy childhood. he is also a genius like the lead in the first film above. yet, he is not expressing his true worth. it was only when he was patiently guided by his mentor, a psychiatrist, that he was able to rise above the demons of his dark past, and found his true self worth. he also found his joy.
we are at the moment like these two people. for as long as we keep on embracing the code for happiness of the sensual world, the code of happiness that is being defined for us by our body, then we will not be able to find our true self worth. and we will not find true joy and peace. for as long as we forget, or deny, that we are not bodies alone, then we will continue to be boxed in, and our inner "child prodigies" and inner "geniuses" will never be able to manifest fully and find expression.
we must remember. we must not deny. we are all divine. our true self worth is divinity. we must not confine our code of happiness to be defined by the five senses and the body. the products of the material world will bring joy and happiness but these will not be lasting.
our true worth is Divinity. we must start to think inward. towards the recognition of the true self.
our true code for lasting happiness must be defined by our true selves. our Self Divine.
sonnet to a lost child
you raised your head and looked around to see
faces different from the ones you've known
all fixedly at you staring with glee --
a stranger in their midst whose heart has flown;
different are the melodies they sing
all the more stressing you're now too far
from the Path you've promised to keep on treading
till you embrace its lone Unflick'ring Star;
now, you're won'dring how you have yourself found,
in this strange land, just fooling around
with men who keep on asking you your name
just to prolong their Name-Forgetting game.
someday, you'll learn just why you've wandered far,
how bright-lit nights could hide a Blazing Star.
i was so engrossed. these were excellent movies. well written. well acted, or should i say the actors were well chosen for their parts. i'm not a film buff, i just go by my feelings.
for me, these two films run along the same basic theme -- the struggle to find and to express one's true worth.
in "searching for bobby fischer", the lead character is a chess prodigy. he found his passion for chess upon seeing some men playing in a park. when his dad found out his gift, he decided to put him under the tutelage of a chess teacher whose rigid teaching rules somehow boxed in his free spirit for chess. he lost the passion. later, his dad realized the mistake and allowed him again to visit his friends at the park. he regained the passion and once more found his self worth and his joy of playing chess.
in "good will hunting", the young man, will, is boxed in as well, by his dark past. he had an unhappy childhood. he is also a genius like the lead in the first film above. yet, he is not expressing his true worth. it was only when he was patiently guided by his mentor, a psychiatrist, that he was able to rise above the demons of his dark past, and found his true self worth. he also found his joy.
we are at the moment like these two people. for as long as we keep on embracing the code for happiness of the sensual world, the code of happiness that is being defined for us by our body, then we will not be able to find our true self worth. and we will not find true joy and peace. for as long as we forget, or deny, that we are not bodies alone, then we will continue to be boxed in, and our inner "child prodigies" and inner "geniuses" will never be able to manifest fully and find expression.
we must remember. we must not deny. we are all divine. our true self worth is divinity. we must not confine our code of happiness to be defined by the five senses and the body. the products of the material world will bring joy and happiness but these will not be lasting.
our true worth is Divinity. we must start to think inward. towards the recognition of the true self.
our true code for lasting happiness must be defined by our true selves. our Self Divine.
sonnet to a lost child
you raised your head and looked around to see
faces different from the ones you've known
all fixedly at you staring with glee --
a stranger in their midst whose heart has flown;
different are the melodies they sing
all the more stressing you're now too far
from the Path you've promised to keep on treading
till you embrace its lone Unflick'ring Star;
now, you're won'dring how you have yourself found,
in this strange land, just fooling around
with men who keep on asking you your name
just to prolong their Name-Forgetting game.
someday, you'll learn just why you've wandered far,
how bright-lit nights could hide a Blazing Star.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
they're looking at this same glorious afternoon sun ..
i went out of my office building after work. it was 1 pm. immediately as i stepped down the stairs i was greeted by the light of this glorious afternoon sun. it is cold inside the office where i am stationed and i have to wear a sweater. here, outside the building, as i removed my sweater, my whole body was caressed by the soothing, gentle heat of this wonderful, life-giving star, this glorious sun. i allowed my body to be soaked for a few minutes by her warmth. i smiled outwardly and inwardly. i looked downward as i walked towards the jeepney stop where i'd be getting my ride. a very short shadow was being cast on the ground as i took my steps. the sun's overhead. and then this sudden realization came over me --
they are looking at this same glorious sun,
but they will not be basking in her warmth, our dear brethren in japan, a lot of them will feel very cold especially inside, because of sorrow, because of the desolation, because of the devastation, they have just experienced ..
it is still ongoing, this harrowing experience, and our japanese brethren must continue to find within themselves the strength, the heroism, the fortitude, to withstand this, and to prevail.
to find within themselves, their inner, glorious sun, their inner light, so that they can withstand this test, the coldness of sorrow and desolation that has beset their land.
i stopped walking for a few minutes of silence. for a few minutes of remembrance for these dear brethren. for them i silently offered this powerful prayer by that great indian saint, Paramahansa Yogananda --
"teach us to feel
that Thou art the Power
behind all wealth
and the Value
within all things
finding Thee first
we shall find everything else in Thee!"
dear japanese brethren, we firmly believe you will find your glorious sun, your inner radiant light, in these difficult times, and you will be strengthened, and yes, you will be comforted.
they are looking at this same glorious sun,
but they will not be basking in her warmth, our dear brethren in japan, a lot of them will feel very cold especially inside, because of sorrow, because of the desolation, because of the devastation, they have just experienced ..
it is still ongoing, this harrowing experience, and our japanese brethren must continue to find within themselves the strength, the heroism, the fortitude, to withstand this, and to prevail.
to find within themselves, their inner, glorious sun, their inner light, so that they can withstand this test, the coldness of sorrow and desolation that has beset their land.
i stopped walking for a few minutes of silence. for a few minutes of remembrance for these dear brethren. for them i silently offered this powerful prayer by that great indian saint, Paramahansa Yogananda --
"teach us to feel
that Thou art the Power
behind all wealth
and the Value
within all things
finding Thee first
we shall find everything else in Thee!"
dear japanese brethren, we firmly believe you will find your glorious sun, your inner radiant light, in these difficult times, and you will be strengthened, and yes, you will be comforted.
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