Turtle

"Imagine that the whole earth was covered with water, and a man was to throw a yoke with a hole in it into the water. Blown by the wind, that yoke would drift north, south, east and west. Now, suppose that once in hundred years a blind turtle would rise to the surface. What do you think? Would that turtle put his head through the hole in the yoke as he rose to the surface once in a hundred years?"

"It is unlikely Lord."

"Well, it is just as unlikely that one will be born as a human being; it is just unlikely that a Tathagata, a Noble One, a fully enlightened Buddha should arise in the world; and it is just as unlikely that the Dhamma and discipline of the Tathagata should be taught. But now you have been born as a human being, a Tathagata has arisen and the Dhamma has been taught. Therefore, strive to realize the Four Noble Truths."

Saturday, August 25, 2007

The Lollipop Shoes

Recently I've been reading quite a lot, perhaps because I was looking for something to do and the books came to me. "The Lollipop Shoes" by Joanne Harris - is one of my birthday presents for this year's birthday.

I got lost at the first couple of chapters because I didn't realise the story is written from 3 person's perspectives. Anyway, it was fine after that. The book was a nice read, I like how Vianne Rocher finds herself again, or faces herself again and accepts who she is, at the end of the whole thing, which takes place in approximately 2 months time span. It is best for her to be herself, instead of running from who she is. The more she runs to protect herself, the more she loses what she treasures most. While one person is afraid for who she is, another is vying to be in that person's shoes.

I was wondering to myself, how many of us do not like who we are and wish we could be someone else? And how many other people are wishing they could be us? Do we overlook our own good and see only what is wrong with ourselves?

You have a gift, my mother used to say. And gifts are meant to be given away.
-Vianne Rocher in The Lollipop Shoes by Joanne Harris

Do I know what my gift is, and do I know what I can give to myself and to others? That is still an unanswered question for me, at least for at this point in time.

ttg
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)