DIVE!!

It was a japanese movie. And one that talks about diving, and the inaugural youth olympics was just over. So I was curious and excited enough to stay up to catch the show.

But the movie was fantastic! The storyline was so well carved.

A teenage boy, excited about the expectations put on him, was driven to fulfil that expectation. He was undaunted that he had no experience, there was already someone who has been chosen, but concerned only by the unlimited possibility that he is able to be THE one to represent the club at the Olympics. The belief the coach has on him, the belief in himself, drives him to train hard to be good at the Diving.

The second boy was borned into a Diving family. His coach is his father who knows the game. He was the chosen one, the club's only hope to send him to represent the club. The game was to score. It does not matter that he does not do many styles, but he is required to just do his best in what he knows.

The third boy has a great diving skills inherited from his grandfather. He dives in the ocean, not in the pool. He dives to live his grandfather's dreams, to relive the glory of his grandfather. But he soon learns to dive for himself.

Every child with different skills, with different motivations, but common dreams. But it was the competition from each other that drives them to better each other and better themselves.

A simple story so beautifully structured that talks about the problems of a teenager in different context. A little town in japan, where they are not confined by where they are, as only their minds are their limits, and excelling in what they do helps them to break that limits.

A movie with a great tale, not to be missed.

The cafeteria was abuzzed with excitement. Some were looking at the works of the Venerable, some were waiting anxiously for their friends, some with tags are people attending the retreat. The air was tingling with anticipation.

Once in the hall, the serenity overcomes you. There was a venerable on stage playing the cello, another the violin. There were two venerables who came on stage to guide us through two songs. It has been a long time since I sang the song and it came back to me how calming the song is, opening out our heart to ourselves.

Breathing in breathing out

Breathing in, breathing out. Breathing in, breathing out.

Iam blooming as a flower. I am fresh as a dew.

I am solid as a mountain, I am firm as the earth.

I am free.

Breathing in, breathing out. Breathing in, breathing out.

I am water, reflecting, what is real, what is true.

And I feel, there is space, deep inside of me.

I am free, I am free, I am free.

Happiness is Here and Now

Happiness is here and now. I have dropped my worries.

Nowhere to go. Nothing to do.

No longer in a hurry.

Happiness is here and now. I have dropped my worries.

Somewhere to go. Something to do.

But I dont need to hurry.

Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh walked in with stately presence. Peacefully and mindful of every step. His disciples gathered around him on stage. There were no laughing and running, just gentle smiles and great calmness.

I had a few take aways from that night:-
1) Since tehre is no beginning and no end, and life is just a continuous evolvement, there is no fear for beginning or end, and what is more important is the present moment;
2) When are you alive in the present moment, you are living the buddha in yourself;
3) Just like there is no flower, but the sun, the water, the farmer, the florist, without which there is no existence of flower, there is no me, but my parents, my ancestors, my education, my food, my experience. Nothing exists on its own, but interdependence of each other.
4) So where is the inferiority complex, the superiority complex, when in actual fact, there is no self.

It was ten and the audience was getting fidgety. I was hungry for more of his wisdom, his reminders. Listening to him beat reading his books, and the essence will not be the same. I wish I had signed up for his retreat. but guess we had too much baggage with us, or are we still not clear of what we want.

The talk ended with a French song by sister Chan Khong. It was an enchanting son to end an enchanting night.

http://vimeo.com/14881907