행운

Lucky Book Store earned its fortune by selling school textbooks to students in the neighbourhood of Joo Chiat. In its prime, there was demand from six primary schools in the vicinity to fulfil. Subsequent relocation and closure of schools sealed its fate. Today, the only reminder of its existence is a pillar, intentionally left unrestored, that has its name painted on. Even that, the wordings are slowly fading into history.

Being lucky is to be given an opportunity. It doesn't matter how long the door was open, so long as it was open, I can never say I'm unlucky. I have been presented with many opportunities in life; I may not have made the most of them but I consider myself lucky because when everything comes to an end, I still have memory.

인생을 즐겨라

천천히 인생을 즐겨라. 빨리 갈 때 당신이 놓치는 것은 경치뿐만이 아니라 당신이 어디로 가는지 왜 가는지에 대한 통찰을 잃는다.

Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why. - Eddie Cantor

Are you rushing today again? Where are you going and why? Following someone else's footsteps because of faith, trust or love may not always be desirable. There is no shortcut in life that does not come with trade-off. Ultimately, we have to find the answers in ourselves. How wonderful it would be to proclaim, "I am on my way.", after we know what we covet all along. I know I am on the right track when I quit the rat-race.

Red Dot Design Museum (Maxwell Road)

Street art by Lithuaian artist Ernest Zacharevic (Victoria Street)

Bauhinia kockiana enjoying abundant sunshine (Chinese Garden)

파랑새

We can read about all the wisdom in the world, but our lives are not long enough to understand it all. The only light we depend on is our own experience and that limits how much we can see. Unfortunately, we can't get help from others.

We must seek out happiness ourselves. That's why we have to undergo endless pains and countless disappointments before we learn to become happy. Happiness is appreciating the simple pleasures in life that are always within easy reach of our mind and heart but this truth is good for nothing unless we put it to test ourselves. 파랑새는 다른 곳이 아닌 우리 가까이에 있다.

여름에 팥빙수 최고! 한 입만 바로 행복을 느꼈다.

한국 카페 달라도 너무 달라. 무선 인터넷이랑 충전 다 할 수 있으니까.

꿈

"To realize one's destiny is a person's only real obligation . . . and, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

"Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives but none about his or her own.

Everyone, when they are young, knows what their destiny is. At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything is possible. They are not afraid to dream, and to yearn for everything they would like to see happen to them in their lives. But, as time passes, a mysterious force begins to convince them that it will be impossible for them to realize their destiny.

At certain point in our lives, we lose control of what's happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That's the world greatest lie.

There is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are, whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it's because that desire originated in the soul of the universe. It's your mission on earth.

To realize one's destiny is a person's only real obligation.

And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.

It's the possibility of having dream come true that makes life interesting."

"The Alchemist", Paulo Coelho

길

A road always leads to somewhere. The problem is you can't see it now.

지금

가장 비싼 금이 뭔지 아세요?

가장 비싼 금은 황금도 백금도 아니고 지금입니다.

[Translation]

What is the most expensive 'metal'?

It is neither gold nor platinum, it is 'present'.

As the price of gold continues to shoot through the roof and beyond the reach of many people, fret not! we are still in possession of something more worthy, more precious. What we will be or not be, our regrets, our success, the day when dream comes true, depend on our present and not past. Alas, present is a capital, though in great abundance is badly under-utilised.

Sitting and doing nothing at a quiet seaside during spring

Wasting time away in a cafe during a free afternoon

쓸쓸한 삶

“삶은 쓸쓸하다. 또는 쓸쓸하지 않다” - 《두 겹의 노래》 이문열

"Life is lonely. It's also not lonely." - "Twofold Song" by Yi Mun-yol

G.K. Chesterton defined paradox as "Truth standing on her head to get attention." Such is the power of paradox - it tells the truth and gets your attention at the same time.

Why is life lonely? Life is lonely because of alienation. Karl Marx believed that alienation is a systematic result of capitalism. Why is life then not lonely. Because it is never meant to be.


P.S. This posting is inspired by a email from a friend who has just read Yi Mun-yol's "Twofold Song". The picture of street lamp (above) was taken in Bukchon. Somehow, I felt it was 'lonely' ... or was I 'lonely' ... in a capitalist society?

단풍처럼

봄이 지나고 여름이 즉각 온다. 소년은 여름 단풍과 같다.



여름을 환송하고 가을이 제시간에 온다. 중년은 가을 단풍과 같지 않을 까?



노년은 겨울 단풍과 같네. 겨울이 작별하고 끝이 오겠지?

그리움

There are two things you won't miss. One, things which you have not seen and two, things which you have. Conversely, there are two things you will miss. One, things which you have seen and two, things which you once possessed. If you don't see me missing anything about Korea, it's because I've learnt to let go - my attachment and possession.

I've seen the sunset at Haneul Park

I've seen the blue sea at Oedo

방황

좌회전 (左回轉)

우회전 (右回轉)

Turn left or right is a simple decision when you know your destination. It will be a difficult choice if you can't see your future, if you have no dream of what you will be.

더러운 세상

Columns of Kyunghee's main admin building

Photos tend to look better than the real world. Some may think that the difference in sensation has much to do with photo editing software. However, I would like to think that photos look better because they have lesser 'noise'. The world we see has a lot of the 'noise' which makes it both 'messy' and 'dirty'. In the case of photos, 'noise' can easily be cropped away and this explains why they tend to look better than reality.

But, it is not always true that photos look better than the real world. The real world is definitely more beautiful than photos if only we can see it without its noise. I know I would rather see fireworks with my own eyes than through photos. Because at that moment when the night sky burst into colourful flames, all the 'noises' of this world 'vanish', leaving behind only the brillant sparks in the sky.

먹고 살아야겠다

During a dinner, a person asked a businessman if he is the CEO of a chain of supermarkets. The businessman replied rather humbly, "Tan jiat, tan jiat."

'Tan jiat' in Hokkien dialect literally means 'earn to eat' and it can be taken as 'earning a living'. It is definitely more than just 'earning a living' when you are talking about a business involving a chain of supermarkets.

Anyway, I was not interested in how much he earns or how I can tap into his network, I was drawn by what he said. Work is 'tan jiat' and I saw wisdom in the word. We work because we want to earn enough to eat so that we can live. Isn't that the whole thing about working? But, why do so many people want to earn more than they ever need to eat and live?

Happiness is not directly proportional to wealth so I just wanna 'tan jiat, tan jiat' and leave time to live a life. I don't mean enjoying or living to its max, just living it will be great.

A happy girl, she must be

Happy ducks, they must be

연꽃

연꽃은 더러운 못에서 꽃이 핀다

It is not your background but who you are that matters. You just have to see the lotus and the dirty pond which it grows up from to understand.

비가 온 후

Ever wonder what effect does rain has on land? Or, what effect do tears have on heart? If you ask a peasant, you may get the right answers.

The land becomes more harden after rain (비가 온 후 땅이 더 굳는다 - a Korean proverb). Similarly, tears steel a heart. Every upset in life makes a person stronger and more resilient than before.

But there is a problem. When soil becomes compacted, no crops can grow well. Likewise, a heart that is steeled will not allow love to blossom. Too much knock from harsh reality can make a person callous, apathetic and insensitive.

A peasant know how to plow and aerate the land on a yearly basis before the planting season starts. On the other hand, how many of us actually 'plow' our heart? When was the last time we 'plow' and soften it? Perhaps, we may not even be aware our heart has hardened since the relationship between tears and heart is not so straightforward.

Have I lost touch with nature? Then why I didn't know the effect of rain on land until I came across the Korean proverb.

Planting season is starting soon. Time to plow the hardened land. [ Farmland in Ganghwa Island, early spring 2009 ]

자신의 가치

To the world you may be just one person but to one person you may be the world

감각

We know a day has passed from sunrise and sunset. We also know that a year has elapsed from four seasons. However, we won't know how a decade has gone by, especially when each year repeats itself. There is no natural sign and indicator to remind us about the passage of time beyond a year. So, I need to remind myself to make each year different.

Sun setting behind 63 building

겸손

Nature may not be alive but it contains all lives. It is 'heartless' but yet, it can evoke so much emotions in us. It doesn't ask for help but the world is coming together to save it. I have a lot to learn about humility from nature.

A brewing storm

Walking on thin ice

비교와 대조

I was taught to compare and contrast in school. In fact, I became so good at it that I continued to compare and contrast everything that came before me even after I left school. I probably could not live a day without engaging in some form of comparison.

Initially, I thought I was doing it because it made me felt like I was leading an educated and knowledgeable life. But on deeper thought, it seems like a reinforced behaviour, sort of like Pavlovian conditioning. School and society give rewards if I excel in it.

However, there is a small pitfall. Comparison and contrast prevented me from appreciating things for what they were or people for who they were. I was just too distracted by my eagerness to appear intelligent. Life, by itself, is beautiful but yet, I could not see it.

The day I stop comparing, I start to appreciate life for what it is and that was when the real beauty of this world starts to reveal itself.

An ordinary sunset at the "head of two rivers" (두물머리)

Kyunghee Palace - the last of the five palaces in Seoul I visited

석방

 

The very first picture taken after touching down on Inchoen last year on the afternoon of Dec 5. The outdoor temperature was -6degC. Dec 5 turned out later to be one of the coldest days last winter.

 

 

I never thought I could leave everything behind. But when the time came, I couldn't wait to jump on the plane and let go of everything. The past was a burden which I once vowed to carry it to grave. Not anymore now. I have earned my right to take flight because I have learned to let go. 

 

I heard a story recently. It was about a boy who got one of his hands stuck inside an antique vase. His mother was worried. Not matter how hard she tried, she could not get his hand loose. In desperation, she broke the vase despite it being a priceless antique. What she found out later was, her son had all along been clenching on to a coin. There was no way a clenched fist could have slipped through the mouth of the vase. 

 

Letting go is not only about making it easy on yourself, it is also having mercy on people who are concern about you. Thank you to those people who broke the 'vase' only to show me that I should have let go in the first place.

끝과 시작

A fallen leaf on a bed of maple leaves

"Season comes season goes" is not the same as "the passing of time". But until I experience the four seasons, I used to use them as if they are interchangeable. Now that I know their subtle differences, I can better appreciate the meaning of time.

Time has no start and end but because of it, there is start and end to everything. So let's work hard for a good start, treasure every moment of the process and when it comes to the end, let go. I will let go if it is never meant to be hung on.

Magnolia has started to bud even before it sheds its leaves for winter