Heard of Def Tech before? They are by far one of the most phenomenal musical duos in Japan. Their rise to fame is exponential! Literally from zero to hero!
I was introduced to thier music by some Japanese friends of mine, and i must say that i was totally blown away! Their brand of music is know as "Jawaiian." From what i gather, "Jawaiian" incorporates Jamaican & Hawaiian raggae music, Japanese J-pop, as well as Hip Hop/R&B. It's a smooth blend of musical styles, to me at least. But what really impressed me was the things that they sing about. They're not just a bunch of boyband wannabes who sing only about love, relationships and sex (although I don't think that's a very bad thing either), rather, they sing about issues like discrimination, women's rights friendship etc.
One of the Def Tech members, Micro, happens to be a very active SGI member as well, which probably explains lyrics.
I love the SGI!
---
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Monday, October 02, 2006
Book review...
What can i say about "The Buddha, Geoff and Me?" It's an awesome book! Buddhism equals daily life is being incorporated into this book perfectly. It is a Buddhist book written in a non-Buddhist fashion; it totally defies the stereotype about Buddhism that most people might have. The author is Edward Canfor-Dumas, a very active SGI-UK member. A significant point to note about the book's publication day, Thursday, July 7th, 2005, is that it coincided not only with the terrorist attacks in London but also with the opening of the "Gandhi, King & Ikeda Peacebuilders" exhibition in The Harlequin shopping centre.
Below is the summary of the story written at the back of the book:
'Ed is having a hard time at work, in his love life and, well, generally. Then he meets an unlikely Buddhist who drinks and smokes and talks his kind of language. Bit by bit, things begin to change... Ed doesn’t always take Geoff’s advice. Or, when he does he lapses at the crucial moment. His path to understanding is not a straight one, especially as life keeps throwing more and more ‘stuff’ at him. Often he fails like most of us, in fact. But sometimes he manages to get it right. And when he does, surprising things begin to happen...'
To give a brief description, the novel is set in London during the summer of 2000 and follows protagonist Ed, whose life is falling apart. While looking for solace in a pub during lunchtime, he gets roped in to help Geoff, who has taken it upon himself to flush out the blocked tank in the gents' toilet, in completing his task. Opening the cover of a blocked sewage tank and plunging an arm into the vile contents to clear a blockage might sound like unusual behaviour for a spiritual teacher, but that is exactly what the friendly Buddhist Geoff does in the opening scene. It's not a pleasant job but, as Geoff explains, it needed doing and he wasn't prepared to ignore it, as the stench was affecting everyone in the pub.
At first Ed's problems seem to get worse, but he receives unexpected advice from Geoff who explains some of the principles of Nichiren Buddhism to him. As Ed struggles to deal with his problems, Geoff's wisdom starts to make sense, in spite of Ed's cynical attitude towards religion. Geoff is not a monk or a priest, he is but an ordinary working man living in the real world. Although they aren't old friends, Ed would somehow always look for Geoff and pour his problems out.
Through Geoff, Ed also got to meet a Buddhist recruitment consultant who encourages him to become a best-selling writer by following Buddhist principles.
I shall not divulge too much of the story. However, to me, one of the factors that made me so attracted to this book was the way Buddhist principles were being explained. For example, does any one of you have any idea what WCC is? No? Well, go find out for yourself! :-)
Oh, and by the way, i'll let you in on a little secret embedded in this book. The opening letters, the ones that are in bold capital letters, of each chapter (there are 16 chapters by the way), form a really wonderful word. I strongly urge all of you to get a copy of this book! Please don't just read it, enjoy and learn from it to the maximum!
Below is the summary of the story written at the back of the book:
'Ed is having a hard time at work, in his love life and, well, generally. Then he meets an unlikely Buddhist who drinks and smokes and talks his kind of language. Bit by bit, things begin to change... Ed doesn’t always take Geoff’s advice. Or, when he does he lapses at the crucial moment. His path to understanding is not a straight one, especially as life keeps throwing more and more ‘stuff’ at him. Often he fails like most of us, in fact. But sometimes he manages to get it right. And when he does, surprising things begin to happen...'
To give a brief description, the novel is set in London during the summer of 2000 and follows protagonist Ed, whose life is falling apart. While looking for solace in a pub during lunchtime, he gets roped in to help Geoff, who has taken it upon himself to flush out the blocked tank in the gents' toilet, in completing his task. Opening the cover of a blocked sewage tank and plunging an arm into the vile contents to clear a blockage might sound like unusual behaviour for a spiritual teacher, but that is exactly what the friendly Buddhist Geoff does in the opening scene. It's not a pleasant job but, as Geoff explains, it needed doing and he wasn't prepared to ignore it, as the stench was affecting everyone in the pub.
At first Ed's problems seem to get worse, but he receives unexpected advice from Geoff who explains some of the principles of Nichiren Buddhism to him. As Ed struggles to deal with his problems, Geoff's wisdom starts to make sense, in spite of Ed's cynical attitude towards religion. Geoff is not a monk or a priest, he is but an ordinary working man living in the real world. Although they aren't old friends, Ed would somehow always look for Geoff and pour his problems out.
Through Geoff, Ed also got to meet a Buddhist recruitment consultant who encourages him to become a best-selling writer by following Buddhist principles.
I shall not divulge too much of the story. However, to me, one of the factors that made me so attracted to this book was the way Buddhist principles were being explained. For example, does any one of you have any idea what WCC is? No? Well, go find out for yourself! :-)
Oh, and by the way, i'll let you in on a little secret embedded in this book. The opening letters, the ones that are in bold capital letters, of each chapter (there are 16 chapters by the way), form a really wonderful word. I strongly urge all of you to get a copy of this book! Please don't just read it, enjoy and learn from it to the maximum!
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Friday, September 15, 2006
airing words....
Running a business is not an easy thing. Especially for a guy like me, who's got less than average drive, pityful character and lots of fear. To change these unglamorous qualities of mine won't be easy, then again, what in the real world is easy? Life is not a bed of roses, but roses has thorns, and if that's the case, wouldn't lying on a bed of roses be painful? Well, not unless i've removed it's thorns, or better still, it's stalk! Then again, once i have done all of those, shouldn't the whole sentence be 'life is not a bed of rose petals?'
Was at my friend's pub last night together with my Japanese friends. We bumped into two of thier friends, both of whom are Chinese Nationales. After some chit chatting, they decided to join us at the pub, a karaoke pub. Now i 'm developing a liking towards one of them. Why? Why do i get 'affected' so easily? I've clearly not been through alot.
My outlook of life is one of naivity. Indeed, my mind is that of a child. I'm an 'immature adult.' Push the boundaries of my limited self, i must. Expand, ever expand my mind, heart and soul.
Truth, value and gain. Truth is the fact. If that is a horse, it is a hores. But being able to ride on the horse is value, and ploughing the field using the horse is gain.
Sing a song of hope, always inspiring. Renewing my determination everyday. Telling myself, 'nevermind, try again!' But at the same time, no excuses must be made. Worse still, never let renewing my determination everyday be an excuse in itself!
Perhaps being able to run my own business is the best way to build my character, creativity and patience. I should get thrown in the deep end of the pool, no, ocean, and learn how to float, to swim and to survive. Even when i've managed to find the shore and stop swimming, i should walk until i've found new territories.
Open up new, rock solid paths for my future generations.
To stagnate is to regress. There's no in between. It's either win or lose. I want to win.
Look at my problems from the sky. Take off and fly. Higher. Somemore! More!
Would having that special someone right beside me really push me? Maybe. If i've established my own family, that is definately fuel for my combustion, my 'forced motivation.' I need lots of inspiration and motivation. I need to fall in serious love.
Love of life. Love of challenges, Love of problems.
Mish mash, mix and match. Life. Life. Live it. Build it.
Don't just sigh, worse still, don't ever cry!
The force is always with me. Yes!
Never be afraid.
Was at my friend's pub last night together with my Japanese friends. We bumped into two of thier friends, both of whom are Chinese Nationales. After some chit chatting, they decided to join us at the pub, a karaoke pub. Now i 'm developing a liking towards one of them. Why? Why do i get 'affected' so easily? I've clearly not been through alot.
My outlook of life is one of naivity. Indeed, my mind is that of a child. I'm an 'immature adult.' Push the boundaries of my limited self, i must. Expand, ever expand my mind, heart and soul.
Truth, value and gain. Truth is the fact. If that is a horse, it is a hores. But being able to ride on the horse is value, and ploughing the field using the horse is gain.
Sing a song of hope, always inspiring. Renewing my determination everyday. Telling myself, 'nevermind, try again!' But at the same time, no excuses must be made. Worse still, never let renewing my determination everyday be an excuse in itself!
Perhaps being able to run my own business is the best way to build my character, creativity and patience. I should get thrown in the deep end of the pool, no, ocean, and learn how to float, to swim and to survive. Even when i've managed to find the shore and stop swimming, i should walk until i've found new territories.
Open up new, rock solid paths for my future generations.
To stagnate is to regress. There's no in between. It's either win or lose. I want to win.
Look at my problems from the sky. Take off and fly. Higher. Somemore! More!
Would having that special someone right beside me really push me? Maybe. If i've established my own family, that is definately fuel for my combustion, my 'forced motivation.' I need lots of inspiration and motivation. I need to fall in serious love.
Love of life. Love of challenges, Love of problems.
Mish mash, mix and match. Life. Life. Live it. Build it.
Don't just sigh, worse still, don't ever cry!
The force is always with me. Yes!
Never be afraid.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
A poem....
“See that road ahead?
Do I seem afraid?
Not unless I’ve faith,
And yes I must be brave.
Reading words of Wisdom,
Unlocks me from that prison.
Practice makes Perfect,
Be patient and self reflect.
Miracles do happen,
But I must not slacken!
Human Revolution,
Is not about conclusion.
I must make a firm stand,
Before I go to Japan!
Now I make this vow,
I never must be down!”
Poem composed on the 31st of July, 2006.
Do I seem afraid?
Not unless I’ve faith,
And yes I must be brave.
Reading words of Wisdom,
Unlocks me from that prison.
Practice makes Perfect,
Be patient and self reflect.
Miracles do happen,
But I must not slacken!
Human Revolution,
Is not about conclusion.
I must make a firm stand,
Before I go to Japan!
Now I make this vow,
I never must be down!”
Poem composed on the 31st of July, 2006.
Salute to the late 'nictor.blogger.com'
Ok...now...i used to have a blog...but i have since deleted it... i really wanna start anew!!!!
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