Harmony of home and nature

Harmony of home and nature

家住夕陽江上邨，一彎流水遶柴门。
種来松樹高於屋，借与春禽養子孫。

Home at evening sun river up village,
one curvy flowing water coils wooden door.
Plant comes pine trees taller than house,
lend with spring animals raise children grandchildren.

jia zhu xi yang jiang shang cun,
yi wan liu shui rao chai men.
zhong lai song shu gao yu wu,
jie yu chun qin yang zi sun.

* * * * *

My dream home is the one located at the upper part of river in the village. Preferably with beautiful sunset view too.


The river flows just nearby and it's convenient to get the fresh river water through the wooden door of the house.

Next, there are a few pine trees taller than the house; providing good foods for animals in the spring to raise and nourish their next generations. What a dream home this is!

(Click on the picture for detail viewing)

* * * * *

PS:

+) Comic: Comic drawn and poem written by the late Mr. 丰子恺 / 豐子愷 (FENG Zi Kai / FENG Zikai).
+) Mr. Feng's comics are simple and neat, not so much color tones yet the concepts are well represented. I hope those who like his comics will also read more of his writings; quite many are sympathetic and caring about the world and beings. People like him, who settles for nothingness and simple life, are scarse these days.
+) Translation: John Lew.

Survival of Life: Einstein and Hawking

Survival of Life: Einstein and Hawking

My family and I were at a vegetarian restaurant a month ago and I came across a quote that got my attention very much. It was actually printed on the restaurant menu, most likely to convince people to try out vegetarinism. Is it powerful and convincing enough? And how it got my attention that much? Simply because it's quoted from Albert Einsterin and it goes:

"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." - Albert Einstein

And I went online to check if it's truly from Albert Einstein and, it seems it is; Many websites acknowledge that but none so far gives the detail source of the quote. A few more checkings show that many websites and organisations have used the quote for encouraging vegetarian diet or simply kept it as their quote database. I was thinking how I could make the quote more marketable and meaningful.

So I decided to highlight the two aspects in the quote:

1. Human health: Basically the statement means if we take vegetarian diet, our health will be kept very optimal. Vegetarianism is the number one contributing factor to good health and guess what, nothing else beats that, i.e., if you believe in Mr. Einstein's wisdom.

2. Chances for survival of life on earth: Are human beings and other life forms going to survive on earth? Are we using science and technology for creation or destruction? Are we living in harmony with all creatures? Is our enviroment getting better or getting worse? Has the earth got enough resources for everybody to live materialistically happy? Why do we seem to pollute our mother earth all the time?... How will vegetarian diet do good for survival of life? Again, if you have faith in Mr. Einstein, vegetarianism is also the number one helping factor to survival of life on Earth.

To put it in short, if you are a person who care about your health and our mother Earth, come and become a vegetarian.

And interestingly enough, Stephen Hawking wrote about survival of human beings on Earth roughly 2 weeks ago:

“We are entering an increasingly dangerous period of our history. Our population and our use of the finite resources of planet Earth are growing exponentially, along with our technical ability to change the environment for good or ill. But our genetic code still carries the selfish and aggressive instincts that were of survival advantage in the past. It will be difficult enough to avoid disaster in the next hundred years, let alone the next thousand or million." And he continued: “Our only chance of long-term survival is not to remain lurking on planet Earth, but to spread out into space."

Mr. Hawking is talking about survival of human life from the physical perspective, I presume. Venturing out into outer space helps create more resources for human consumptions. When more resources are available people will be busy venturing out rather than fighting over limited resource back home on Earth. But it most likely doesn't help with the 'selfish and aggresive instincts' of human beings. As long as this 'selfish and aggressive instincts' are still with us, we'll always use force to solve conflicts and problems. And 'it will be difficult to avoid disaster' in the remote future too.

Many people believe, and I believe, that vegetarian diet helps cultivate love for all living beings, thus helps diminishing 'selfish and aggressive instincts'. It's all so important to recognise the root cause: the selfish and aggressive instincts of human beings. Thank you, Mr. Hawking.

Mr. Einstein and Mr. Hawking have both provided their insights and solutions as to the survival of life on Earth. Mr. Einstein's approach seems covering all life forms and more of a change of personal actualization; whereas Mr. Hawking's idea is more outward and in line with scientific adventure.

If you ask me (well, nobody asks though, ha!), I'll say: "What about both? And many others too." Many times we human beings are looking for just one answer to a complex question and situation. There are many methods and approaches to solve many things. I'm sure many people are quietly and brilliantly doing their parts for the people and mother Earth they love.

We should all become vegetarians to preserve more natural resources and protect all life forms.

And at the same time some of those more adventurous people will go to the outer space for resources on other planets. There is no contradiction whatsoever.

PS: --------------------------------

+) Albert Einstein (1879-1955), widely regarded as the greatest scientist of the 20th century and a lifelong promoter of peace, who said, “Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.” On a similar note he stated, “Our task must be to [widen] our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” And on the day he became a vegetarian, Einstein wrote in his diary, “So I am living without fats, without meat, without fish, but am feeling quite well this way. It always seems to me that man was not born to be a carnivore.” - Info from the Florida News Group, USA

+) Mr. Hawking's excerpts published by the Winnipeg Free Press: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/human-survival-depends-on-space-exploration-says-stephen-hawking-134135238.html

+) More about Stephen Hawking at here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking

+) “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.” - Albert Einstein. I find this quote very amusing and can't help laughing after reading it for the first time and everytime! I'm laughing because it's very sure that human beings are stupid and those that are smart enough will know that humans are stupid; these smart people are humans too and therefore stupid too. And those that are stupid will believe they are very smart indeed. Human beings' stupidity is infinite! Ha ha!

Releasing lives gets fortune

Releasing lives gets fortune

(Click on the pictures for larger views)
or for convenient viewing at:

http://www.lews.info/blog/Releasing-lives-gets-fortune-100-sparrows.html

http://www.lews.info/blog/Releasing-lives-gets-fortune-100-sparrows.html

******************************** ********************************

One hundred sparrows: Benefits of protecting lives

During the Qing dynasty in the city of Jing Kou, Jiang Su province, China, lived a ministry councilman, Fan.

One day, Mr Fan got back home excitedly.

Mr Fan: "Chun Mei, is madam's illness getting better today?"

Chun Mei: "Madam isn't eating anything at all."

Mr Fan: "Oh!... Never mind, tell madam I'll be seeing her soon."

Chun Mei: "Yes, master."

Shortly after, 5 cages of sparrows were sent in by a bird shop.

Mr Fan: "A-Cai, bring these sparrows to the backyard."

A-Cai: "Yes, master."

A-Cai was wondering: "Why is master buying so many sparrows?"

After which Mr Fan rushed to see his wife in her room.

"Sweetheart! Good news! Dr Wang told me a secret ingredient of treating Lung TB this morning," said Mr Fan excitedly.

"He taught me to make medication from brain marrows of 100 sparrows, and to be consumed in 21 days."

"Then your illness will all be healed."

"I've already bought 100 sparrows and they're at the backyard now."

After hearing what her husband said, Mrs Fan got up angrily.

She started talking but can't help coughing breathlessly:

"In order to save my life, that's to sacrifice the lives of 100 sparrows."

"Hmm!" Mr Fan exclaimed.

Mrs Fan: "I'd rather die of the illness than to do this."

"Chun Mei, help me to the backyard."

Chun Mei: "Yes, madam."

Mr Fan: "Sweetheart, what are you doing?!"

"I just don't want 100 sparrows die because of me," said Mrs Fan.

Chun Mei helped Mrs Fan to the backyard; Mr Fan followed closely.

Mr Fan: "Sweetheart, please don't be angry. Okay, I promise I won't kill them."

Mrs Fan: "No. I have to set them free myself or I'll be worrying about them."

Mrs Fan opened the cages and talked to the sparrows with full of compassion: "Go fly! Go fly! Don't let people catch you again."

One hundred sparrows flew out from cages, chirping loudly and cheerfully.

Mrs Fan saw them leaving; and her face smiling.

They all witnessed the magnificent vibrancy of life forms.

Mr Fan was a bit disappointed:

"Sweetheart, let's get in the house, or you'll get cold again.”

“Please take a good rest. I'm going to the doctor for other medication.”

Mrs Fan: “Hmm, thank you.”

But Mr Fan was worried there might not be better medication to treat her wife.

“Chun Mei! Take special care of madam!”

Chun Mei: “Yes, master.”

As time went by, surprisingly, Mrs Fan got better and was eventually completely healed.

Furthermore, she gave birth to a baby boy the following year.

Mr Fan: “Ha! Look at this baby, smart look with clear eyebrows and sparkling eyes, he must be somebody one day.”

Mrs Fan: “Darling, you see here. There is a birthmark on his arm. Does it look like a sparrow?”

Mr Fan: “Ya! It's so much like a sparrow!”

And Mr Fan said, thoughtfully: "Sweetheart! Do you remember what we did with some sparrows 2 years ago?"

Mrs Fan: "Of course I do."

Mr Fan: "Did this baby come as a result of your kindness to living beings?"

Mrs Fan: "Maybe!"

"I deeply believe in "Accumulate-kindness-one's-family, sure-have-extra-celebration". We must do more good deeds from now on."

The couple looked deeply at the baby in their hands. And they smiled happily.

******************************** ********************************

积善之家，
必有余庆。

ji shan zhi jia,
bi you yu qing.

Accumulate-kindness-one's-family,

sure-have-extra-celebrations.

A family that accumulates good deeds will always have extra good health, wealth and happiness.

******************************** ********************************

人人咸欲达期颐，
不必寻思觅巧医。
戒杀放生若作得，
愈汝顽疾添麟儿。

ren ren xian yu da qi yi,
bu bi xun si mi qiao yi.
jie sha fang sheng ruo zuo de,
yu ru wan ji tian lin er.

Men women all desire reaching expected health,
No need search worry look-for talented doctors.
Abstain killing freeing lives if doing so,
Cure your tough illness getting kirin baby.

Everybody wants to heal and cure their illnesses fast and have a healthy body. There is no need trying so hard to look for talented doctors. If you can stay away from killing living beings and promote freeing lives, you can then cure your illnesses and even be able to bear intelligent and beautiful children.

******************************** ********************************

The message is simple:

Be kind to animals and all living beings,
good fortunes will bestow on you.

Whenever possible, spare and release lives.
Good fortunes and more lives will come back to you.

******************************** ********************************

PS:

+) Contributors: Story adapted by 慧长(Hui Zhang); comics drawn by 牧谷(Mu Gu); Comic version presented in 护生漫画集 (Hu Sheng Man Hua Ji, Protect-Lives-Casual-Drawing-Collection or Protection for living beings). English translation by www.lews.info.

+) Story: adapted from 故事图说(Gu Shi Tu Shuo; Past stories illustration narration).

+) Quote: "Accumulate-kindness-one's-family, sure-have-extra-celebrations." is from "积善之家,必有余庆." in the book of 周易(Zhou Yi) or 易经(Yi Jing), more known as "I Ching" in the west; an ancient philosophical book in Dynasty Zhou, BC 1066 - BC 256.

+) Names of people/places/events involved: 范(Fan), 清朝(Qing Chao; Qing dynasty, 1644-1911), 京口(Jing Kou) city, 江苏(Jiang Su) province, 放生得福(Fan Shang De Fu; Releasing-lives-gets-fortune).

+) Right and wrong? To seek help or not? It seems I'm going to be in trouble by translating and publishing the poem here in my blog; it will then mean I agree to what it says about not necessary to look for good doctors for medical complications. The fact is that I believe in doing the right things right. The right thing to do in this story is we must not kill the sparrows for their brain marrows as medication. All lives are precious; it's not like we can take others' lives to save ours (Even if we can, that's a bigger price to pay ahead). And the other right thing to do is to seek for medication which is herbal based or which we don't harm living animals. Therefore, at the time we're looking for medical help, we need to ask ourselves: "Am I doing the right things right?" If the initial approach has been wrong and inhumane, how can we expect the outcome be right and beneficial to humanity?

Mid Autumn and Mid Spring

Mid Autumn and Mid Spring

This time of the year the northern hemisphere is celebrating the period of mid autumn. The Chinese celebrates it on the 15th day of the 8th traditional farming calendar month (A bit like the lunar calendar too). The west will be welcoming the mid autumn roughly on late September. And I suppose many parts of the world where farming is still of importance will happily welcome the mid autumn in different ways and similar time. After all, everyone enjoys harvest during autumn time.

Seasonal change takes place roughly the same time everywhere. And seasonal change is such an important part of traditional farming.

Down at the southern hemisphere, few weeks down the road is the mid spring time. Not sure if there are many people celebrating it. It's more like a forgotten role yet most people are busy pruning and planting seeds ahead of this time to take advantage of the season's great potential growth.

Autumn is the harvesting time; spring is the cultivating time. The mood, of course, will be very different. Comparing to one's life span, it's like seeing someone appreciating harvest at the age of 55 and some others adventuring into adulthood at the age of 15.

So it takes turn. The teenager eventually will grow into 50s and 60s. And the elderly uncle will shred his piece of old body and move on to some other realms? And coming back as new born creature? That is, if you believe in reborn or reincarnation...

Spring, then summer, then autumn, then winter. Then what's next? Spring again... summer again, and the cycle goes on and on. It's been like this probably as long as lives existed. So it seems living creatures do come and go...

And we celebrate all things seasonal every year too.

Hmm...

What am I trying to say? I guess what I'm trying to bring across is: Things come and things go in a pattern of cycles. We human beings need to recognize them and live according to the law of nature. Ha.

Oh, before I really truly forget, some people believe the ultimate goal is to break free from the cycle of lives; to be free from seasonal change, for example. Ha.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

PS: Many times I myself don't know what and why I'm writing on something. This piece is most likely one of those. Thank you so much for your time.

Ants move house

Ants move house

This is children's naughty act? Small stools lined up as road barriers blocking pedestrians? Or some sorts of children games? The boy and the girl use stools acting like daytime soap series? For behaviours of children, many adults who are busy making a living usually don't care, don't notice, don't understand about what children do.

Oh you, busy walking by, please bend down your body and take a good look. Underneath the row of stools is a team of living life force full of discipline and marching spirits. Ants are moving family/house! Up front are leaders with sharp destination in mind; no distractions get in the way. And follow by soldier ants of strong forces, many of whom carry heavy loads of grains.

These two children are setting up corridors from stools in order to protect the ants crossing the middle of the street safely. In the world of tens of thousands of climatic scenarios, there are many 'normal scenes' which get ignored by human beings. And thus many small and minute lives get jeopardized. In the journey of life, the weak life forms need to be protected. And that the sacred hearts of children, and children's behaviours that are full of love and care, need more nurture and encouragement!

Please praise and encourage children games such as this one that helps ants move house!

NOTE:
+) Comic: Comic drawn by the late Mr. 丰子恺 / 豐子愷 (FENG Zi Kai) in his book 《护生画集》; hu sheng hua ji; Protecting-lives-drawing-collections. Original writing in the comic: 蚂蚁搬家, Ma-Yi Ban Jia, "Ants Move Family/House".
+) Writing: Original writing in Chinese edited by 宋慧燕 (SONG Hui Yan), Sin Chew Plus， July 20th, 2011, of Sin Chew Daily, a Malaysian daily newspaper in Chinese language.
+) Translation: By John Lew, trying to keep the original tones and grammar patterns intact.

Deer's intestines broken in inches

Deer's intestines broken in inches

(Click on the pictures for larger views)
or for convenient viewing at:

http://www.lews.info/blog/Deer-hunting-intestines-broken-in-pieces.html

http://www.lews.info/blog/Deer-hunting-intestines-broken-in-pieces.html

Drawing: 牧谷 Mu Gu;
Modified by: 慧长 Hui Zhang;
English: www.lews.info

There was the time of Jin dynasty (265 AD - 420 AD) in China. XU Xun, a resident of He Nang province, was skillful at archery. He enjoyed animal hunting. One day, he was again getting ready to go hunting.

Zhang: Good morning, Mr. Xu. Are you going hunting again?
Xu Xun: Yes! Mr. Zhang. Do you want to come along?

Zhang: Sure! We can have some Barbecue. Just a sec, let me go get my gears.
Xu: Okay.

After Mr. Zhang got his bow and arrows, the two of them went straight up to the mountain for hunting.

When they got to the mountain...
Xu: Hey, Mr. Zhang. There are two deers right over there.

**********************************

Zhang: We'll go beneath and against the wind; let's not scare them away.

They moved slowly and hid behind a big rock downstream.
Xu: Look like mother-son they do.

Zhang: Hey, we'll shoot them at the same time. You shoot the little guy; I go for the mother.
Xu: Alright.

They then aimed and shot their arrows at the deers...

Zhang's arrow missed the mother deer and landed near her legs. The mother deer quickly reacted and ran away.

**********************************

The poor baby deer got shot and wounded badly, collapsing after uttering a loud whine.
Xu: Haa Haa! Great shot!
Zhang: You're good. Too bad I missed the mother deer.
Xu: It's ok, Mr Zhang. Let's go over and take a look.
Zhang: Ok.

Suddenly there was movement.
Xu: Hey, Something's moving. Let's stay away first.
They hid themselves behind some bushes and noticed the mother deer came back to the baby deer.
Zhang: Alright! I must get it this time.
Xu: Wait a sec, Mr. Zhang. See...

**********************************

They saw the mother deer in tears and licking her baby's wound again and again.
And she went around her baby wailing in great sadness...
After a while, the mother deer collapsed and dropped to the ground too.
Xu: Hey, what happened to the mother deer?
Zhang: Hurry, let's take a look.
Xu: The mother's dead.
Zhang: Impossible. Let me see.

**********************************

Zhang: Hey, really, she's dead. She must've felt too sad!
Xi: Really?

Xu Xun was curious and full of doubts, and he asked Mr. Zhang:
Xu: Why don't we cut her open and see what happened?
Zhang: But why?
Xu: I just wanna know how she died.
Zhang: Okay, let's find out.

And so the two of them cut her abdoment open.

Suddenly Xu Xun let out a sharp cry:
Xu: Oh! You see, Mr Zhang, her intestines are broken into 1-inch pieces. How horrible!

Out of control, Xu Xun felt a sense of deep sadness and regret.
Xu: I think the mother deer must've been too sad over her baby's death and caused her intestines to break into pieces. How I regretted killing the baby deer.

**********************************

Zhang: Sigh, who would've thought of such thing. Please don't blame yourself.
Xu: I didn't know animals and human beings are alike in our love of children; even though we look so different.

Xu: Mr. Zhang, let's bury them, shall we?
Zhang: Okay. Hopefully it helps lessen our sins.

And so they buried the mother deer and the baby deer.

And Xu Xun broke his bow and arrows and vowed never to hunt again.

**********************************

Original story from 警心录 (Jing Xin Lu, Alert-Heart-Records);
Comic version presented in 护生漫画集 (Hu Sheng Man Hua Ji, Protect-Lives-Casual-Drawing-Collection or Protection for living beings).

**********************************

呦呦双鹿戏林阴
you you shuang lu xi lin
Bell bell two deers play forest shades

裂帛一声悽母心
lie bo yi shen qi mu xin
Break silk one sound hurts mother heart

寸寸断肠真实语
cun cun duan chang zhen shi yu
Inch inch broken intestines real concrete words

千秋闻者泪沾襟
qian qiu wen zhe lei zhan jin
Thousand autumns hear beings tears soak shirts

Spirit, Energy and Material worlds; Messages behind the movie Avatar

Watching the movie Avatar is an eye opener. The colors of flora and fauna are splendid and scenes of nature and jungles breathtaking. While the eye candies are delights to watch, the messages behind the film are more appealing to some, and to me too.

Let's look at the following scripts:

1: “I'm trying to understand this deep connection the people have to the forest. She (Neytiri, Na'vi native) talks about a network of energy that flows through all living things. She says all energy is only borrowed, and one day you have to give it back.”

In ancient and traditional world of living, jungles and rivers have always been the source of shelters, food, water, clothes. Any many ancient writings of scholars talked about how lives come and go around like an exchange of energy, albeit in different linguistic presentations. Many of us look at living and dying with such extreme joy and fear respectively, to the extend of horrible turbulence of emotional disturbance. If we see things through to their very real existence, all material things wear off, there are lifespans to everything. But the energy within lives on, taking different forms as mortal existence.

If we can come to appreciate all things are only borrowed, i.e., including our bodies, will we see life a little differently then?



2: “I see you... ...brother … and thank you. You spirit goes with Eywa (the spirit of the universe?). Your body stays behind... …to become part of the people.”

Jake said to the deer-like animal when taking her life. Neytiri watched to see if he had understood the meaning of life.

If you “have to” kill a living being, kill her quick. Kill her with the least pain involved. Offer your apology, give your reasons, ask for forgiveness, show your appreciation and share the benefits with mankind...

That is, if you “have to”...

The Na'vi people kill for 'good enough' and for the very basic need of everyday life. There is never greed or luxury in the motive. It's always about sustainability of the material bodies and balancing energy flow.

Look around us these days, the ideas of “simplicity”, and “good enough” are hardly found in the commercial world, where people are made into consumers of all sorts of things. We're being brainwashed into believing we need so many different kind of things in order to live a quality life.

I wonder if 'quality life' only means 'materialistic life' but not 'meaningful life'...

And how many people say “Thank you” to the unwilling sacrifice of animals? We take animal family members apart and we kill them for their flesh brutally and we make them into unrecognizable canned food and try to deceive people and we waste them by only finishing less than half of whatever we put into our stomachs.



It's obvious that's no appreciation and gratefulness... There isn't even awareness!

It's sad. It's a sad sad situation.

Human beings, please wake up to the reality, sooner or later you have to face the truth.

Let's make it sooner.

Giving Pledge and the poor people

Giving Pledge and the poor people

On June 16th, 2010, Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett launched a campaign to ask every billionaire in USA to pledge to give away 50% of their wealth for philanthropy. Needless to say, it has created more than a big stir in the economical world.

One of the interesting things about it is that it's a moral contract or commitment: The pledge has no legal obligation. In this world of so many laws and enforcement agencies, this tells and convinces people to do things from their hearts and own willingness. There is no one but we ourselves facing the social responsibility to the world.

It's going to be great help and have wonderful impact, both psychologically and in actual fact, to the world in terms of education, cultural, medical, healthcare, public policies, international aids and etc.

While most of the media have been focusing on how Gates and Buffett act so philanthropically with their great wealth, there have been skepticism about their motives and the methods to do it right. Nonetheless, it's great news for the seemingly selfish world.

I have a feeling it's not only the amount of money that has strong impact to the philanthropic world; the initiative will pose great significance in the culture of returning to the society.

The world is changing. Some of the old rigid golden rules of ancient societies may not seem very welcome by the new and younger generations. These days many people look upon the rich and famous and many fancy their materialistic lifestyle and glamor. So if the rich and famous can set a trend of donation frenzy, why not?

So, one may wonder if the rich and famous are running the show, what about common people like you and me? I've been thinking about this for a while. In fact, many ancient thinkers have thought about this and some wonderful concepts have always been around for long.

Below is one of those concepts I believe work well:

The poor must work harder in contributing for charitable activities QUIETLY, CONSISTENTLY and hopefully UNKNOWINGLY too.

QUIETLY means we don't have to tell the world we're doing good deeds. We do encourage everyone to do good and nice deeds but we don't boast things openly. This is called quiet charity. It encourages humble humanity.

CONSISTENTLY is important to make it a habit, so that the merit keeps accumulated.

UNKNOWINGLY is about subconscious level. The more frequent we do certain things, the more unknowingly it becomes. And when that free thought takes place, it's more in tune with the frequency of the resonance of nature; at the same time all the natural abundance will come to us...

In the world of material possessions, one takes nothing with them when one leaves the world. All the monetary and material wealth mean nothing to dead people. Only kind gestures and good deeds for people and living beings will stay in everyone's memories.

So my brothers and sisters, let's all work harder on ways we give and change how we receive from the universe. As some put it, big money makes the news, but it's the giving, both material and emotional supports, of all ordinary individuals that make the world a better place.

PS:
1. For ideas and concepts on how charity and good deeds can change one's destiny and fate, please take a look at the label "charity" on the right.

Eating meat is eating human beings?

Eating meat is eating human beings?

Chinese characters are combinations of symbols (pictographic: drawing), sounds (phono-semantic: shape and sound) and meanings (ideographic: ideology and concept). Of the three, what makes the characters stand out most visually interesting is the symbolic and artistic nature.

Take the word 肉(“rou”, meat / flesh) for example, the special thing about this word is how it's constructed from. There seems to be two 人(“ren”, man / human being) inside the character 门(“men”, door). Two men inside a door is meat? What does that mean?

The way I would interpret the character 肉(“rou”, meat) is quite similar but with a simple twist. My idea was inspired by the concept of universal love. You shall see why below:

人(“ren”, man / human being): The character looks like a man walking with two legs.
门(“men”, door): The character itself resembles a door with hinge.
內(“nei”, inside): A man inside a door means 'inside', quite graphical too.
肉(“rou”, meat / flesh): There is actually a 'human being' (the lower character 人) hidden 'inside' meat.

This is the conclusion: There is a human being inside meat. If you eat meat, you eat human beings. How do we come to comprehend this? This simple conclusion is in line with the concept of reincarnation, that all living beings keep incarnating to other living forms depending on how well (or how bad) they've contributed during their life time.

What we are really eating? This piece of chicken could have been a grandmother of your friends in previous lives. That piece of red meat (cow) could have been your own grandfather who passed away many years ago. Killing and eating each others have created deep hatred and curses. No wonder the world is full of vengeance wars of all kinds.


PS:
1. This is one perspective to look at why eating meat is wrong. If you find the idea comfortable and useful, you can help to spread the message or even translate it to your own language for a good cause.
2. The concept of 肉(“rou”, meat / flesh; 'Human beings' are 'inside' meat) includes beef, chicken, turkeys, pork, pigs, chicken eggs, cows, fish, lobsters, crabs, horses, sheep, dogs, cats, cattle, goats, swines, mules, birds, donkeys, rabbits, leopards, giant pandas, owls, pigeons, crayfish, octopus, deers, eagles, hawks, ostriches, penguins, gooses, salmon, tuna, eels, snakes, snails, frogs, turtles, ducks, calves, steaks, puppies, kittens, ponies and so on.

Mosquito fogging brings bad karma

Mosquito spraying/fogging has been carried out through out the world for many years with little successful results. The act of killing virus-carrier mosquitoes with chemicals has brought many unforeseen results.

To these days, many then unforeseen and destructive results have been known:

- Creating super mosquitoes: The use of many chemical insecticides in the past half decade or so has proven just one thing: The nature will prevail over human beings and new species of mosquitoes which can survive stronger insecticides will form by mutation. The next leading role of the movie will be the “super mosquitoes” who are not deterred by chemical pesticides. Then, what’s next? More and stronger toxic chemicals? And the same vicious cycle repeats again?

- Killing and extinguishing of its natural predators: Chemical insecticides/pesticides kill parts of mosquitoes, not all. And it also kills some other species. For example, sparrows, birds, frogs, bats and freshwater fishes could also be killed because of the fogging. And some of them are actually natural predators of mosquitoes as they feed on mosquito larvae. The decrease of the number of natural predators will only increase the number of new breeds of mosquitoes. The flourishing of mosquitoes today is the result of disturbance of natural ecological balance, partly due to fogging.


- Toxification of human beings and animals: The insecticides human beings used are synthetic pyrethroid insecticides, pyrethrins and malathion. And these are toxins. If they are toxic and harmful to mosquitoes, why can’t we understand they could be toxic and harmful to human beings/animals? In many parts of the world, there are hardly any control over the quality and quantity of insecticides/pesticides used in actual fogging. The more we use these chemicals, the more we and our children and grandchildren will suffer. The weaker our immune system becomes, the poorer health we have and the shorter our lifespan will be.

- Destruction of organic lifestyle: This is the time where more and more health conscious people are practicing the life-nourishing organic lifestyle with organically grown local produces. Many governments have also supported and hopefully will draft proper policies in helping the growth of this natural and productive agriculture. Can we imagine how chemical fogging destroys the work of organic plantations? It’s directly going against the balance of nature.

The government officials may or may not understand how ecology and nature works. Acting upon public complaints of mosquito-borne diseases like Dengue fever, Malaria, West Nile fever and so on, they are busy showing the public and media they actually do their job by busy killing mosquitoes, seemingly fulfilling the demand of general public.

Instead of opting for the chemical fogging/spraying, a government which has green/ecology wisdom will:


- Push for green environmental education: Educating public about the impossibility of killing all mosquitoes. The more fogging we do, the more adverse consequences we and our children will face. Educating public on how reducing meat intakes can reduce attracting mosquitoes; reducing the use of anti-biotics for stronger immune system which even upon bitten the body will not be affected so easily.

- Push for ecology education: The environmental department can protect the growth of frogs, sparrows, birds, freshwater fish, bats and home lizards and so on.

- Encourage the use of natural mosquito repellents and other techniques: Growing more plants which crushed leaves can repel mosquitoes like citrosa, lemon thyme, marigolds around the neighborhood. Introducing naturally and organically produced insect repellents and aroma essential oils like Eucalyptus, Cedar wood, and tea tree oils.

- Take better care of the neighborhood environment: Clean up all stagnant dead water, and scattered rubbish which actually helps the growth of mosquitoes breeding. This community-wide mosquito abatement program definitely helps in getting rid of mosquito-breeding sites.

The nature has warned us again and again on how poorly we take care of our surroundings and environments. However, many years of ignorant actions/inactions cannot be rectified by the wrong move of fogging. If we do not wake up to the callings, a red card is sooner than we can expect.

Note:
1) The writing is inspired by Mr. Simon Chau, a social and environmental activist, of www.simonchau.hk. The outline of the writing follows his style as it provides the consequences as well as solutions to what human beings can do to help.