graphs of my Universe
Nuts ‘bout you she is,
Doesn’t mind if you know not.
Beautifully wrapped
By the hard shell from nature;
Sweetly tasted in silence—
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Life is uniquely designed to be experienced differently to taste the same reality. This sweet is that sweet and it is called sweet….
….with spectrum of sweetness spread from zero to infinity
Is that?
Flower, Beloved
Triggers moods or decoys dreams.
You are, Beloved
The beauty behind beauty.
Sheer in the dark to sharp eyes—
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When seeing this flower for the first time, I was wondering if it was plastic or real flower. That particular shape in the garland of real jasmine was still plastic in my head because when browsed in the Net, it was still found as plastic flower.
Until when found in Tekka Market. Oh goodness! It is a real flower! This flower exists! The flower seller said it is not easy to find and many use plastic to replace it for flower garland. No wonderrrrrr!
Browsing browsing browsing….
Ms Wiki said it is Calotropis Gigantea! And it is not something new. It’s been a flower scattered in front of the very eyes of mine back in dear homeland! We call it kapuk duri where I grew up; it is called biduri or widuri in Indonesian language.
You simply didn’t know that flower is hidden inside its crown, Self!
Some beauty lies behind beauty.
Salaam….
Dear tree, wait for her.
She’s caught up but will come back
To give you big hug.
Not that you miss her hugging.
It’s she missing your stillness.
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Some friends are so loyal that they still touch your heart even without talking to you.
Thanks to a friend from a distance for her humble wisdom every now and then, for inspiring me silently….
It’s just beautiful!
If young Indonesians don’t sing those songs, let them rot in hell. 🎼 At least three of those songs, guys! No worry about your out of tune — just sing! Or hum! Ok, sing in silence! 😩
🐣
Chasing the sunset,
Pushing cardio. Keep fit.
For one happy breath—
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Living healthily. That’s enough to make one happy…. Eh? Not really. I mean that’s condition #1 of being happy. 🤩
Ready for another packed week! Oh, dear Corona…. Would you please spare me from your not-only-making-people-sick-but-also-making-them-super-busy?
May all beings be happy.
Salam….
I’m a torch no more.
I’m a morning for my day
To be. Am I free?
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Just one click! Then the monitor shows something brighter and full of hopes! Vast ocean of happiness—
Why is it so blocked to be optimistic? Take a mirror, unlock just one sweet smile, look into the smiling face more deeply a little bit longer and know why…. Dear, Love. Just one click!
May all beings be happy.
Where are you, oh dear?
Mountains and oceans are passed
By with beauty glued
As memory. Beloved,
Where’s the next stop? Peek a boo!
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When I was young; I joined spiritual workshop, class, training; read spiritual books, journal, articles; listened to spiritual preaching, cassettes, radio programs; name more —mostly informal, some non-formal, one formal not finished oh I’m blessed that It wasn’t. Whenever I was asked why I did, I would say “I wanna know God.”
Hopeless popus!*
Has anyone experienced this looking-sophisticated-but-actually-comical thing? Thanks God (s/he’d like to be censored actually) I’m not alone in this zero to zigzagging journey— from being very excitedly curious to being a drunken master. 🤪
What a blessed journey it was!
If I’m supposed to tell that young me when starting through the reading of those looking-sophisticated-yet-actually-comical random materials, I would say “Hey, Lady Haha! You should have a map but a destination is paramount!”
And I still feel so blessed!
May all haha moments be deciphered. 😊
* refer to the video of “How To Dad” in “How To Teach A Kid Curse Words”.
Bruised and scarred she is;
A stained-glass window to see
Both sides of her world.
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22:22 / Sunday – June 6, 2021
I thought all of those were wounds and warts until observing carefully. I’ve been living with a beautiful stained-glass window which puts colours and gives unique perspectives when seeing inside and outside. As long as it doesn’t derail from being a human being, I think I’m blessed.
Why shouldn’t I be thankful and happy? 💞
And….
May all beings be happy.
Salam.
Where to go? Let’s go!
River never knows but flows.
This is estuary,
Beloved, sea welcomes you.
Black to blue is true. Slow down....
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One of my best friends is flying to Bali this morning. She’ll live in her most favourite island for how long only Heaven knows.
We knew she has dreamt of living in Ubud without knowing how to materialise it as she’s a full time employee in Jakarta and her job requires her to sit in front of her computer for 8 hours a day 5 days a week. Bali was just a holiday or weekend escapade that helps refresh before going back to the busy metropolis.
We had a 3-hour call last night, celebrating her flight to her paradise! She’s happy. I’m happy for her.
How can I not believe that this pandemic is a blessing? It has moved someone’s cubicle to her living room then to her mother’s home, and soon to a beautiful place where dreams have lingered for Heaven knows how long. I can imagine how serene and fun her productivity will be!
May all beings be happy.
Happy and healthy
Two to walk, to cook good food—
About the balance
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Have ever questioned why duality is everywhere? Right left. Hot cold. Bright dark. Name it.
So much about duality in which one finds oneness as the balance after these years of living and to many years to continue living— With less and less confusion for sure
Harmony
Black in white, white in black
Polarity well comprehended
Centeredness in busy hours
Distance between zero and infinity
May all beings be happy.
How sweet is a day?
Take a bowl of taste, sit down.
Nature’s gift is real.
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There is always a way to make a good day as long the stove has fire. Cooking can be one tastiest meditation. Stewed pumpkin and crunchy cashew nuts!
Did my father teach me how to curse? 😁
This dad has made me work hard to recall what and how my father taught us to do things as kids. 🤩
He’s a Javanese and a Buddhist. It’s always a perfect combination when someone can blend one’s belief with one’s own root. A blessings!
It’s never about what religion one holds, it’s about a good heart one nurtures.
So blessed to be born as a female human being, a Javanese, raised by parents of different religions and nurtured by complex environments, living around people of different walks of life and various nationalities and so much diversity—
Never want any other way than this. Thank you, Life…. 💝
Salaam.
When chords are played,
Heart beat tunes its harmony.
Song of peace and grace—
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Bengawan Solo is always giving me home wherever it is. There is a river flowing in me.
What happiness brings?
Smiles, grins, and message of love
From long unmet friends—
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Two cute jars of Lebaran cookies and a beautiful message from my dear niece whom I haven’t met for more than one year due to this pandemic and some illness, while we live only 5 kilometers away.
How are you, Lotus?
Your beauty was raised by mud.
Do you remember?
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Life story needs foundation. It is often time a bog of mud.
What about now, Love?
Now’s the time. Maybe no later—
Happiness can’t wait.
🐣
There is moment for every experience, there is expiry date for every life.
Young people, be vibrant, idealistic and fiery.
Grab the chance to be the agent of change! Change all the dead skin! Don’t change the sacred soul!
Young generation, you’re just gorgeous! Very much thankful to be young before and still feeling the vibe until now through all what I see in you!
I never regret of getting older every day ‘coz when I was young, I was on the side of those needing the loudest voice!
May all beings be happy. 💞
Without knowing it,
You’ve made me happy. Truly
You’re the sunshine. One—
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It is almost time to sleep and I am not waiting for another sunshine because the only one sun is shining every hour around this rotating globe. That’s enough to be happy to have a 24/7 sunshine.
Let it share its light spreading hope everywhere it is faced by all opening eyes on earth. Not an empty hope— 🐣
Weekend is always a sweet space. Oops nope nope…. I mean it is sweet except with the awaiting laundry….. 😩
Thanks that I forget,
When not forgive. Not easy
But age will make it.
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Who isn’t happy getting old? One should remember getting old means forgetting painful and/or shameful experiences.
Yes to getting older every year? Oops! Even every second! Yes!
Forget more things and be happier. Like Dory 🥰
Palate, hard or soft,
Still rules.... Voice or taste with which
Days are counted on—-
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After three giant scoops of sinful ice cream, let’s enjoy the day with much and much vegetable and protein! This must happen the whole day! Or the whole week 😩
Life is always good by ignoring nerve and counting the blessings.
Happy Vesak Day!
Sugar, sugar please.
Sometimes only sweetness works.
Is it tongue or brain?
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When palate should win over everything, taste is the only one can help….
Tongue twisted by words;
By taste, too that kicks the sense;
A toast to the health!
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So you need to move To be happy? Yes. Move to Your kind heart. Stay. Smile.
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I had a group call with some good friends and we asked one favourite friend how she could be always light and calm even when she didn’t have enough materially.
Just as a description about her (with her consent): This kind, humble, strong, cheerful, a bit crazy lady is a widow with two children (both finished their education and are now working to support themselves). Her husband left her without anything for another woman. She works a lot of temporary jobs to survive. She lives in a very small rented house until now. She earns less than USD500 per month. She supports her brother who is physically impaired. Yet she is the one that we run to for advices, wisdom, consolation and she never complains to us, her friends.
She said “Maybe I was born to be happy, happier than all of you hahaha…. Let me put it this way. I’m light because my life is simple. I know I don’t have that much others have and that’s why my happiness measure isn’t the same with theirs. I don’t even think of what you think of to spend a holiday. I know you get upset when your food isn’t good; I think good food is about something edible, clean and filling, not about palate.
And I’m calm because I believe people appreciate me the way I am. Some people think too much about how they look and start behaving pretentiously. I’m not. This is me, carefree, open, comfortable with myself. And I don’t want to hurt others. People might not like it; I just need to be nice and stay away.”
“Are we your friends, Mbak?” We teased her.
“Stupid question! Yes! Because you appreciate me not with money but simply with friendship although you girls can look very ugly when very busy; annoying when very stressed! You just need to go back to this!” She put her right palm on her left upper chest where heart is.
This type of friend makes us real. One who appreciates others not through what is materially defined and knows that one one’s self is appreciated genuinely.
I don’t have to move to Finland or Denmark to be happy. Of course not with nothing. A good laugh and some chocolate (good chocolate I mean) should be the least. Honestly I still want to at least travel there! 🤪
May all beings be happy.
Red fades away of Talks, drinks, not kisses. Lovely, Lively, blessed long day.
—————————————————
You want to drink more after talking, you do. Drink! Water, not alcohol.🫖
You don’t want to look pale even when you’re too tired, you don’t. Put lipstick. Why did I even put lipstick when I didn’t turn on the video in the call? 🧐
Long day is as short as short when you know what you’re doing.
May all beings be happy.
Balance off? Get up! Round wheels, thousands of chances— Some laughter won’t harm.
———————————————————————
When joy overrides pain, laughter is the best medicine!
No one sees! Only ghosts are around! Laugh again! More loudly!
She walks to a place, Knowing it or not. She’s timed, Knowing it or not.
—————————————————
One used to want to be a doctor then changed to be an engineer then to a flight attendant then to a journalist then to a teacher then to a writer then to be rich then to be happy and peaceful then to be a human being…. Maybe someday she will change, who knows?
Hope time and space take the side on her.
🐣
Too much love will kill Who? None. Love will overflow, Reviving the death.
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Finally an agreement was achieved among some friends to start a project to support a few batik makers that we know and to spread knowledge about batik from unique perspectives. There will be video about batik, the batik artisan’s life and thin slices of Javanese wisdom. And so I have to restart the old hobby that has been dormant for how long only heaven knows.
Can’t wait to travel to dear home-base-will-be and produce slides and shows….
Hope it works well.
Friendship nurtures human beings in many ways possible.
What is in the spread? A bunch of grub and wisdom Don’t leave any bit.
—————————————————
It is Lebaran today.
I put what I cooked on the table (the only table in the house), took picture of it and sent to those with whom I would love to enjoy it together on Hari Raya: family, close friends and some colleagues. This year, we’re virtually enjoying it through pictures or video calls! What an exciting morning!
Rice cake (ketupat or lontong in Indonesia), sayur labu siam (chayotes in coconut milk), opor ayam (chicken opor, the yellow soup), beef rendang and sambel goreng kentang (potato sambal), kerupuk (crackers), nuts, sweet cookies from Bengawan Solo, and of course fruits! Enjoy!
And what’s under the spread? Table cloth of batik with “nitik” motif.
Nitik is a Yogyakartan-style batik which is traditionally dark colour (sogan in Javanese) with lighter colour background compared to Solo style. Nitik is the shortened structure of “nggawe (making) titik (dots)” that immediately shows the appearance of the motif, thousands of dots forming some geometrical patterns.
Historically this motif has been believed as the simplicity and humbleness of the designers and makers who were ordinary women in the villages which were located outside of city centre (palace). This motif came into palace environment after certain period of time and finally integrated into many designs.
Interestingly nitik is a Javanese word that can also mean niteni or marking based on data or facts. So, simple and humble of human beings character can show something bigger if gathered and analysed carefully. Ah my…. Why should it be that complex? Just enjoy the batik beauty, Beloved.
Selamat Hari Raya!
May all beings be happy. 💞
When moments collide, Time slows down, space enlarges. A coincidence?
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Based on solar calendar, it is my father’s birthday today. Based on lunar calendar it is his death commemoration.
Mathematically the two calculations are crossing, astronomically celestial bodies are in moving in harmony, momentarily it’s just a coincidence. To his family it’s a special moment— celebrating a point when an important human being’s life in the world is started and ended.
God bless you, Bapak. Happy 0th birthday! Are you watching me? Thank you. But no need, just take a rest, I’m safe now. 😘
Under the green leaf, Crawls then sleeps. Wake up with love. Fly, Butterfly, fly.
Metamorphosis of egg to caterpillar to cocoon before butterfly is beautiful and relevant with the cycles of human being’s life in all aspect.
How someone finds a potential and amplifies the potential with any resources that one can think of such as schooling, taking courses/training/workshop, reading, listening, watching, contemplating, consultancy…. Oh some others who don’t have clear thinking include their actions of cheating, stealing, breaking the law, stepping the integrity lines, backstabbing, etc.
It is like witnessing the eggs sheltered by some shade of plants and with the weather and pressure, they are pushed to crawl out of the shells. Here it comes one hungry caterpillar, playing happily, eating this, eating that, eating these, eating those, eating everything. This caterpillar can only stop eating when one feels numb and one’s fullness melts away and wraps itself to sleep. The things one consumed liquifies it like ice thawed in a plastic bag.
Sleep soundly, hungry caterpillar and don’t wake up until someday your fluid self come into form, embodied into a totally different creature. The butterfly you are!
There was a time when an employee is so preoccupied with what one is doing, as if one is wrapped in a system that trapped one doing the same thing like no choice is given. One does it everyday until finally not having to think of how to do it already. One might feel the job is ingrained as a thought, a feeling, an intuition, movement, the life itself. Trained skills and talents make an art, the integrity shapes wisdom. A job—when has become a dedication— will not betray a human being.
Hope someday mine becomes one. It is never about how high I climb but about how deep I dive into the commitment of making what I’m doing a wisdom and benefits for those we promise to protect and support.
I think it is ok to be one hungry caterpillar, looking greedy and craving for more knowledge, experiences, adventures. As long as it knows where poison lies, it is safe to chew and swallow anything. No no not anything…. Select wisely, Beloved.
I remember Steve Jobs said “Stay foolish, stay hungry”. That person really knew what he was doing. Many people might have thought negatively about him, laughed at what he was doing, called him crazy, kicked him out for having different ideas, backstabbed him to stop his annoyance. Those people just didn’t know that that guy was a hungry caterpillar processing into a cocoon before butterfly. Amazing human being! God bless time when he was alive and forever.
Hmm…. Perhaps he truthfully made himself hungry by fasting and foolish by learning and unlearning.
God bless you, Steve Jobs and the people around his belief about staying foolish and hungry.
Salam….
rike jokanan 
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