Mother Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.

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The Bamboo Tree

Created by a guy named Eric Aronson.

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In the Far East, there is a tree called the Chinese bamboo tree. This remarkable tree is different from most trees in that it doesn't grow in the usual fashion. While most trees grow steadily over a period of years, the Chinese bamboo tree doesn't break through the ground for the first four years. Then, in the fifth year, an amazing thing happens - the tree begins to grow at an astonishing rate. In fact, in a period of just five weeks, a Chinese bamboo tree can grow to a height of 90 feet. It's almost as if you can actually see the tree growing before your very eyes.

Well, I'm convinced that life often works in a similar way. You can work for weeks, months and even years on your dream with no visible signs of progress and then, all of the sudden, things take off. Your business becomes profitable beyond your wildest dreams. Your marriage becomes more vibrant and passionate than you ever thought it could be. Your contribution to your church, social organization and community becomes more significant than you have ever imagined.

Yet, all of this requires one thing - faith. The growers of the Chinese bamboo tree have faith that if they keep watering and fertilizing the ground, the tree will break through. Well, you must have the same kind of faith in your bamboo tree, whether it is to run a successful business, win a Pulitzer Prize, raise well-adjusted children, or what have you. You must have faith that if you keep making the calls, honing your craft, reading to your children, reaching out to your spouse or asking for donations, that you too will see rapid growth in the future.

This is the hard part for most of us. We get so excited about the idea that's been planted inside of us that we simply can't wait for it to blossom. Therefore, within days or weeks of the initial planting, we become discouraged and begin to second guess ourselves.

Sometimes, in our doubt, we dig up our seed and plant it elsewhere, in hopes that it will quickly rise in more fertile ground. We see this very often in people who change jobs every year or so. We also see it in people who change churches, organizations and even spouses in the pursuit of greener pastures. More often than not, these people are greatly disappointed when their tree doesn't grow any faster in the new location.

Other times, people will water the ground for a time but then, quickly become discouraged. They start to wonder if it's worth all of the effort. This is particularly true when they see their neighbors having success with other trees. They start to think, "What am I doing trying to grow a bamboo tree? If I had planted a lemon tree, I'd have a few lemons by now." These are the people who return to their old jobs and their old ways. They walk away from their dream in exchange for a "sure thing."

Sadly, what they fail to realize is that pursuing your dream is a sure thing if you just don't give up. So long as you keep watering and fertilizing your dream, it will come to fruition. It may take weeks. It may take months. It may even take years, but eventually, the roots will take hold and your tree will grow. And when it does, it will grow in remarkable ways.

We've seen this happen so many times. Henry Ford had to water his bamboo tree through five business failures before he finally succeeded with the Ford Motor Company. Richard Hooker had to water his bamboo tree for seven years and through 21 rejections by publishers until his humorous war novel, M*A*S*H became a runaway bestseller, spawning a movie and one of the longest-running television series of all-time. Another great bamboo grower was the legendary jockey Eddie Arcaro. Arcaro lost his first 250 races as a jockey before going on to win 17 Triple Crown races and 554 stakes races for total purse earnings of more than $30 million.

Well, you have a bamboo tree inside of you just waiting to break through. So keep watering and believing and you too will be flying high before you know it.

A Mind-Centered, Buddhist Approach to Education

Check out this link! :) There are two schools in Thailand that teach according to Buddhist principals. Not only do they develop a child academically, but also spiritually. To them, it is important for children to learn about the external world, as well as the internal. :)

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=52,7117,0,0,1,0

"The Children of Huang Shi"

This movie is absolutely inspiring and touching. It is beautiful how heoric and compassionate individuals such as George Hogg are now portrayed in films to show others that beautiful and great acts of love and kindness are ever happening all around us, in the past, present and into the future. I am so thankful to have had the chance to come to know about a man who performed a profound act of faith, love and courage for 60 orphan boys. There are people like him all over the world today. People like him are our inspiration and keep us hopeful for a better world with more genuinely loving, giving and compassionate people. 

Enjoy the trailer at: http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/thechildrenofhuangshi/

The following description of the film is taken from the following website:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/thechildrenofhuangshi/

Nanjing, China, 1937; A journalist looking for lives worth defending; 60 orphaned boys and an unknown journey ahead. War made them orphans, Love made them legends in The Children of Huang Shi.

From April 3, this heartwarming film set in 1930's war-torn China will be available for the Chinese audience.

The 40 million US dollar project was a joint production by studios in China, Australia and Germany. Helmed by Roger Spottiswoode, director of 007 series, Tomorrow Never Dies, this film took more than two years to complete.

"It was a great experience for somebody who is English to come here 70 years after George Hogg and to make a journey into China and try to make a film that we hope will reflect a little bit about your past and of somebody who came from my country."

Based on true events, The Children of Huang Shi tells how a young English journalist, George Hogg, led 60 orphaned boys on an extraordinary journey across almost 1,000 miles of mountains and deserts to safety on the Silk Road. In the process, he came to understand the true meaning of courage, love and responsibility. 

As with other anti-Japanese war movies, the director hopes to help the audience realize the historical truth about the Japanese invasion of China.

"We are historically accurate. Terrible things happened. We try to look honestly at history and I hope more people look at this piece of history. Perhaps Japanese will find themselves coming to terms with their past. Once they do, they will find it easier to move on."

The film also stars top international actors, such as Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Myers, taking the role of George Hogg; Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-Fat, as a Chinese guerilla fighter; Malaysian- Chinese actress Michelle Yeoh as a survivor from the upper class and Australian actress Radha Mitchell as a brave Australian nurse who gives medical help to China's wounded.

The director said one of the major difficulties he confronted when shooting in China was finding child actors. But once he did, he was deeply impressed by the children's performances.

"To find 25 young actors between 5 and 15 who have never done it, and have them be good not as a crowd, but as individuals and real actors, was enormous challenge. We had no idea we would get such wonderful kids. They have no other experience; they are just gifted. Many of them are from poor families, underprivileged. But we found them. They are remarkable. They were with us every day for five months across the country. That was the challenge and reward."

Most of the children upon whom the story is based are still alive today. They are the eye witness of people's suffering during the war. Spottiswoode said with this film he also wants to help the western audience understand the period of history that is long ignored.

"At the moment, this is a piece of history that is hidden from the west, not by anyone in particular, but because it's so far away. And it will be better for everyone when they are more informed."

Unlike many other recent movies featuring the subject of Japanese holocaust in Nanjing, The Children of Huang Shi takes on a different perspective. Instead of demonstrating the cruel and dark side of the war, it casts its shot to the individuals behind the battlefield. And thus it becomes a monument for humanity and internationalism.