2015 Christmas Wishlist

It's October and I have yet to clear my backlogs. Anyhow, at this very moment I am taking a break from playing cheesy Air Supply songs on violin and thinking about how much I would want a new violin, I decided to blog a bit.

None in my wishlist has been realized so far except for the art materials which I wanted a few years ago and which I also put in my wishlist in the office secret Santa gift-giving activity. As if people would go to great lengths to get what I really want. Thinking about what to want for Christmas is very hard for me.

Since lately I have been more focused on music, I would very much want to have music-related stuffs for Christmas. Those and going to theaters, museums, and maybe a long travel to think things through before the year ends.

1. Tickets to concerts and musicals

 Next year, Les Misérables will be staged here in Manila. I'm saving up for that but it would be really reaaly cool to have my ticket for free.

2. Movie dates

  While I am the type who prefers to go solo when watching movies, it would be nice to have someone to watch Le Petit Prince with. It just so happens that it will be in theaters within my birthday week this year. 

3. Food trips

  My sisters and close friends know fully well how much I love food and how adventurous I am when it comes to food. Going on an all expense paid good trip is an excellent way to make a girl happy. Whoever said that diamonds are a girl's best friend is a liar. The best way to a girl's heart is through the stomach. Always.

4. Long walks

  It's a real pity we do not have that many parks here so this poor hyperactive girl finds it hard to release extra energy. While I do walk on roads, I couldn't enjoy as much because of the pollution. Ugh!

And no, walking in malls is not my cup of tea. I easily get bored seeing all the merchandise on sale which we humans really do not have a need for anyay. [*curses consumerism]

5. The Mind Museum

I've been wanting to go. I did get to visit one time in August but only at the lobby to attend a talk on the origins of the universe. However, I can't seem to afford the ticket.

6. CDs

  Of musical giants. For the longest time I have been listening to sax, mostly by Kenny G. It's hard to find violin music so I might as well put that on my list.

7. Musical instruments

  I'd like something to add to my winds collection. Probably a harmonica or a clarinet. Or maybe a sax? But saxophones are way too expensive. Sigh!

8. Travels

  This girl is itching to travel but is on hiatus for now. I'm saving up for sometjing important so I'm holding my money tight. So it would be lovely to get a free trip again before the year ends. Wanna go to the beach to contemplate about life, love, loss, death, and redemption. Or about the origins of the universe. Or how we can achieve world peace...

9. Books

  Ah this girl's best friend. I'd like some intelligent books on history. I like books focused on lesser known heroes and/or intellectuals. Or books on music. Or perhaps books on crazy ideas. Would appreciate books on dating, too. I am seeing the wisdom in a friend's suggestion to read up on dating only now... because that's where I fare poorly.

10. The wisdom to guide me every step of the way, the courage to enable me to do the things I should do, and the strength to carry on doing what I need to do.

Last but not the least, a chance to throw it all to the winds again--- my dreams, my frustrations, my sorrows, my joys. I want to empty myself and start anew.

白蛇傳說之法海 (2011)

白蛇傳說之法海 (The Sorcerer and the White Snake) is a 2011 action fantasy film based on the legend of the white snake popular in Chinese mythology. The film stars Jet Li as the abbot Fahai who journeys around to vanquish demons together with his disciple-turned-monster Nengren. At the onset, it seemed like a film about Buddhism and the fight versus good and evil, though there is romance involved as the film also explores the love affair between a mortal and a snake demon in the persons of Xuxian and Susu respectively.

Susu the snake demon falls in love with the physician Xuxian and the two marry each other without Xuxian knowing about his wife's true nature. Susu, though a snake demon, has a good heart and helps her husband create medicine where she breathes magic into. When Fahai detected demon magic in the medicine, he gave Xuxian a spirit blade meant to protect him. When Susu took on her snake form and couldn't revert to human form, she was stabbed by Xuxian who was unaware that the snake and his wife are one. When Xuxian learned the truth, was advised to get a special root to help Susu recover and he did though when the root was taken, other captured demons were freed which possessed Xuxian.


Then the more important fight scenes begin as Susu and her sister Qingqing fight Fahai to "save" Xuxian who was under the care of the monks in the process of banishing the demons. Fahai fights the two sisters to prevent any interference but the snakes were successful in destroying the temple.


It is in this scene where we see the dedication of the praying monks as they remain indifferent to what is happening around them even to the point when they were already submerged in the water. This is a  beautiful metaphor for the Buddhist message not to worry about the tribulations in life and still strive to do what is right or what is expected of a person.


It is also in this scene where Fahai is seen contemplating about his actions and questioning if he is doing the right thing. As a monk, it is his duty to capture demons and have them meditate to attain enlightenment. At this point though, seeing the love between Susu and Xuxian, he begins to entertain doubts but nevertheless achieves enlightenment.


He then was able to trap Susu but also granted her final wish to see Xuxian one last time. The ending of the two lovers' romance was tragic as Susu was sucked to the temple to spend her days on meditation.


I think that the type of Buddhism adhered to by Fahai is one that believes even demons have the capacity to attain enlightenment through constant meditation. As such, Nirvana is not limited to the religious but extends to all beings as a manifestation of mercy from the Heavens. One important Buddhist precept is the nature of a thing regardless of physical manifestation, as embodied by the young monk Nengren who, despite having been transformed into demon form after being bitten by a bat demon, retains his humane characteristics as he helped fish other monks from the waters and deliver them to safety.

Excerpts from “The Essential Kabbalah: the Heart of Jewish Mysticism” by Daniel C. Matt

Ever since my childhood days, I have always been interested with mysticism and spirituality. I was around 6 or 7 when I started to read the Bible, focusing mostly on the book of Genesis, which for me was a compilation of short stories with moral teachings. As child who studied in a private Catholic school where attendance to Sunday School was compulsory, I found it hard to reconcile my own understanding of what I read and what they teach us. Of course leafing through the Bible exposed me to its contents without its adaptation for children. For instance, I was bothered by stories of women making love with their father-in-law. I found it shocking to have read that a father is willing to let his daughters be “known” by the townspeople who demanded the angel in disguise.

Aside from the Book of Genesis, I loved The Book of Revelations, too. Yes, it almost scared the wits out of me reading about beasts and scary apocalyptic prophecies. As I grow older, I found the Book of Ecclesiastes more and more appealing. At 15, it officially became my favorite book ever mainly because of the wonderful poetry and its main thesis that “everything is grasping for the wind”, something I have been contemplating for a very very long time now.

With my interest in the Bible, I came to know about Judaism as well as the Kabbalah. It was in college when I was first exposed to these two and I have been pursuing them on and off for some time now. 

While browsing the shelves at the library one time for new books to borrow home in time for the Christmas vacation, I chanced upon Daniel Matt’s “The Essential Kabbalah”. The comprehensive book is perfect for a returning informal student like me. While reading it, I can’t help but be reminded of Taoism. Ein sof, that which permeates everything, is very similar to the concept of Tao. This book also enlightened me on the Sefirots. I once read about them in other books but either those were for advanced scholars or I was dumb then, I wasn’t able to understand anything.

Anyway, here are some of my favorite passages in “The Essentual Kabbalah”:

One pillar extends from earth to heaven. Its name is Righteous One, named for the righteous. If there are righteous people in the world, the pillar is strengthened; if not, it is weakened. It upholds the entire world, as it is written: “The righteous one is the foundation of the world.” If it weakens, the world cannot endure. So if the world contains just one righteous person, that person sustains the world.

(p.78)

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When a glassblower wants to produce glassware, he takes an iron blowpipe, hollow as a reed from one end to the other, and dips it into molten glass in a crucible. Then he places the tip of the pipe in his mouth and blows, and the breath passes through the pipe to the molten glass attached to the other end. From the power of his blowing, the glass expands and turns into a vessel—large or small, long or wide, spherical or rectangular, whatever the artisan desires.

So God, great, mighty, awesome, powerfully breathed out a breath, and cosmic space expanded to the boundary determined by divine wisdom, until God said, “Enough!”

(p.92)

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There was a man whom lived in the mountains. He knew nothing about those who lived in the city. He sowed wheat and ate the kernels raw.

One day he entered the city. They brought him good bread. He said, “What is this for?” They said, “Bread, to eat!” He ate, and it tasted very good. He said, “What is it made of?” they said, “Wheat.”

Later they brought him cakes kneaded in oil. He tasted them and said, “What are these made of?” They said, “Wheat.”

Finally they brought him royal pastry made with honey and oil. He said, “What are these made of?” They said, “Wheat.” He said, “I am the master of all of these, for I eat the essence of all of these: wheat!”

Because of that view, he knew nothing of the delights of the world; they were lost to him. So it is with one who grasps the principle and does not know all those delectable delights deriving, diverging, from that principle.

(p. 134)

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There is one who sings the song of his soul, discovering in his soul everything—utter spiritual fulfillment.

There is one who sings the song of his people. Emerging from the private circle of his soul—not expansive enough, not yet tranquil—he strives for fierce heights, clinging to the entire community of Israel in tender love. Together with her, he sings her song, feels her anguish, delights in her hopes. He conceives profound insights into her past and her future, deftly probing the inwardness of her spirit with the wisdom of love.

Then there is one whose soul expands until it extends beyond the border of Israel, singing the song of humanity. In the glory of the entire human race, in the glory of the human form, his spirit spreads, aspiring to the goal of humankind, envisioning its consummation. From this spring of life, he draws all his deepest reflections, his searching, striving, and vision.

Then there is one who expands even further until he unites with all of existence, with all creatures, with all worlds, singing a song with them all.

There is one who ascends with all these songs in unison—the song of the soul, the song of the nation, the song of humanity, the song of the cosmos—resounding together, blending in harmony, circulating the sap of life, the sound of holy joy.

(p.154)

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Whoever delves into mysticism cannot help but stumble, as it is written: “This stumbling block is in your hand.” You cannot grasp these things unless you stumble over them.

(p.163)