I started teaching this morning. Overall I’ll be teaching English, soft skills, art and hopefully someday Japanese. I partner with my best friend to establish a free weekend class for the kids and youth in her small library in south area of Yogyakarta. It is a community support that we humbly provide for a better leadership and communication skills of our young generation.
We have very very very limited budget but we commit to help the community not only to welcome but also to design bright future.
Pray for us.
May all beings be happy.
children class this morning — very very basic communication skills of reading, writing, listening, speaking — what a sweet fun session! 💝
these two girls were the youngest students today 💝
… Passed the crossroad; Grasses are greener, Flowers are prettier, Breeze is thinner, Morning is fresher, Day is busier, Night is calmer, Birds are happier, Cicadas are louder, Fireflies are brighter, No snake, no crocodile, no tiger. Passers-by smile at each other With neither pride nor prejudice. End is farther, It doesn’t matter.
It’s a low key path After a detour from a glowing avenue.
She is humming the softest beauty with light breathing while celebrating the richness of abundant blessings.
Dear, oh Dear…. You came from Nowhere Destroying my scores!
No wonder the soundtrack of my stories Became messy.
Go eat fish, My sheets won’t suffice your belly.
Cat has no logic, Only fun.
——
i used to live with a rescue cat, i named him Bob; he was more interested in tearing my paper apart or sitting on my laptop to playing with his toy or sleeping on my bed 💝
Today I saw magic Warmly greeted my throbbing head. “How deep is your love?” Said she. “To whom?” Asked I. “Does it matter?” Said she. And so I was magically charmed By these heart beats Chanting a repeated naive rhyme About how nice I’ve been breathing.
——
only those who know the death is just an inch away can do this wholeheartedly 💝
Without him I die and with him’s no better With or without him longing’s the same
I found him, finding what I hadn’t foreseen, the cure and disease as equal fevers
His silhouette flares as we draw near each other and burns more proud
The deeper the harmony the sharper the pain Measure for measure as decreed
——
The above is poem excerpted from below book — one that well explains how love consumes good soul. By simply loving life has shown what joy and pain can be perceived as either happiness or unhappiness depending on how deep or how true love is given meaning or taken for granted.
It has taken me quite long journey to finally connect the dots among the manifestation of love, pain, joy, harmony. It takes whole life to refine love and it takes big love to refine life — a vicious circle that keeps the fire burns, light flares and smoke billows bringing hope up to the sky.
I’ll love No matter what I’ll be over anyways. I’ll work No matter what I’ll be over anyways. There is me Or not, It might be the same. Yet as long as there is me, I’ll do what I can To add more Meanings And Utility To my life. I’ll love No matter what In life. Life is good, I won’t skip A thank And Or Cheers.
This is my second Tapa Brata and both of them are special. My first in 2018 was special because Pak Merta Ada’s teacher (Merta Ada is my health meditation teacher) a Buddhist high priest visited his retreat center and gave us blessings. This second one is because we found that May 5 is his birthday! He was born on May 5, 1957 — a long journey of a meditation teacher and healer.
Someone is also celebrating his birthday across the ocean. May 5 becomes more special today this time. A journey of a silent traveler.
Happy birthday Pak Merta and dear KU. Both of you have a special place in my heart.
For Pak Merta, we immediately prepared a green sarung rangrang. For KU I thoughtfully prepared a poem.
—-
Alone the bird flies From a nest on a tall tree It knows where home is.
🙏🏼
May 5 2023 is when the biggest moon rises this year; Waisak (Vesak) is already celebrated in some countries (on May 6 in other countries) — my meditation teacher is celebrating his birthday, another life teacher of mine is celebrating his
an “emergency” birthday present for Pak Merta Ada from our class, wrapped in a beautiful fancy paper from the nearest small shop nearby to wrap a sarung rangrang I originally bought for my additional spread and table cloth — what a beautiful togetherness in this meditation class 💝
Sky invites me To swarm around a show That is glistened with colours In a Saturday night.
Rain almost falls But is held until the show ends Simply to tell me You are welcome.
These steps walk me To where blessings are. These breaths inhale me To where peace is.
Among the crowd I find a calmness With my own self I find merriness All is well All is good
I enjoy Saturday night in Central Ubud.
i normally stay rather far from city center of Ubud but this one night i wanted to stay in the city where dance performances are located in many different spots — this is the side gate of Puri Saraswati Dijiwa Ubud opening to the lotus garden
tonight’s performance in lotus garden was Tari Janger (janger dance), maybe next time 🙏🏼
i wanted to watch Legong Dance performance so i walked to Pura Saren Ubud which was 200 meters away from where i stayed
was the first to enter to get a seat in the 1st row and later found it was not at all the 1st row 😂
seeing the preps is already exciting!
musicians were getting ready
Tari Pendet (welcoming dance) — i learnt this dance as a child, felt like wanted to laugh remembering how funny i was dancing with my sister 😂
Tari Topeng #1 — sorry i don’t know the name; watching with many types of spectators whose joy might be over the limit and blocks others’ view 😂
Tari Legong – the primary show 👏🏼
Tari Legong — i wanted to watch this simply because i have a sleeping gown with legong dancer on it 😀
Tari Oleg Tamulilingan
Tari Kupu-Kupu (butterfly dance) inserted as part of Oleg Tamulilingan
Tari Oleg Tamulilingan (dancing bees)
Tari Oleg Tamulilingan (dancing bee)
Tari Topeng #2 — sorry i don’t know the name
we didn’t know who was behind the mask but he did perform so well and we enjoyed it 💝
thanks for the show! 🙏🏼 happiness is an ambiance shareable with those we don’t know and we probably don’t care to know — God bless all 💝
All cuts and bruises Paint a life of a blossom Before it decays.
—
i was so young and innocent, a loved friend of many, a hated enemy of some — i was so much blessed 💝
life has brought me travel through labyrinth of life with traps and turns that cut and torture yet i am still a loved friend of many, a hated enemy of some — i am still so much blessed with cuts and bruises 💝 i’ve lost much but i find myself
no one shall erase this happy girl within — a blessed soul that travels through space and time 🙏🏼 thank you
Breathing the same air Under the same sun and moon, All pray for good days.
—
Sharing is not only about self satisfaction and social support, it is also about gauging how much I dare to let go of what heavy and significant. Trust me giving will not make you poor.
This monthly food sharing is about Ramadhan odd night and night of revelation (lailatul qadar).
Salaam.
💝
package for some elderly people and tricycle drivers who deserve food sharing back in my mother’s town 💝
what’s inside
while the monthly food sharing is without kue apem, this maleman food sharing is with kue apem 💝
When a lady goes, Two dogs race with her, saying See you again, friend!
—-
Completing the mosque night in Jakarta, I hopped to the next island. I have a holiday in lieu as I was working outside Singapore in its public holiday so why not meeting my friend in Bali to spend my Monday?
This good friend is a Buddhist, a devoted pupil of Dalai Lama. She has met him four times in person in Dharamshala. So it is a good thing to discuss about the news circulated about him; the sooner, the better for me to clear my hazy mind.
I explained to her my understanding about sexual harassment and abuse and the video that has made what might be called framing or true case depending on what brings to whom. She listened to me patiently. Then she explained to me quite long and clear about the Tibetan culture of “tongue eating” not “tongue sucking” and mostly about what kind of person Dalai Lama whom she has met and shaken hand with. She also asked me to watch the complete video, not only some part of it so I can build clearer context.
We had a long talk. Based on the chat l decided to delete my posting about Dalai Lama, not because I totally agree with my friend but simply because I don’t want to make things more unclear. Resting my case—
Sleeping under dome, Reciting signs of wisdom, Ramadhan odd night
—-
Some friends of mine and I stayed overnight in Istiqlal Mosque on Apr 15 (25th night of Ramadhan) to focus on “sleep less, pray more”. We did much earlier as high schooler when we stayed overnight at school in 2 Ramadhan nights to sleep less and pray more to gain lailatur qadar that my friends and I believe is special night to reveal truth within our own selves.
This very time in Istiqlal 3 things were emphasised by some teachers to all of us.
Birr walidayn (doing good deed to our parents) including but not limited to making them feel in ease and peace, show respect and gratitude, talk softly, pay regular visit, cook their favourite food, buy good clothes, and other good deeds
Knowing one’s self = knowing the God — interaction with one’s self is as important as interaction with other human beings as tools to clearly see the core self within
Loving fellow creatures is paramount in life — no choice as human beings without discrimination!
Thousands of muslims stayed in the mosque and we didn’t know each other, we just followed the scheduled activities mostly in silence or very casual salaam except talking in low voice to few friends going together as groups.
Thanks for giving me one night to sleep less and pray more.
💝
with girl friends in senior high school class — me with 2 besties 💝💝💝 night for (crazy) youngsters
Ramadhan Odd Night in Istiqlal Mosque, me and 2 good friends slept under the 3rd pillar in the female chamber (left side of the hall), there is partition between male and female chambers — felt like staring hundreds of star clusters 💝
Is there a space For happiness in an angry man’s belly?
Simple joy can cure hunger. It draws smiles. It brews laughter. It dampens dry heart. It cheers up weary soul.
Is there a space For unhappiness in an angry man’s belly?
If he knows joy is as simple as A pattern on matcha latte, He should say “Sorry for breaking your heart, But loving myself is a priority”.
Simple joy is not that simple For those knowing no simplicity.
—
we asked the barista in our office to draw flower on on the matcha latte but he said it was too difficult “this time this lah, flower needs more training haha…. sorry ya” 😁 thank you, that is pretty, too
The longing has gone Too far left by trueness. No plate is prepared, No wish is grown, No intelligence is to decipher message As heart is numb by laughter And ridicule. No number symbolises, No alphabet pronounces, All are faded away. There’s only mine on its way. Dandelion, Bring it fly To where it roots beauty, Peace and eternity.
Only love remains For the journey That appreciates Not a point That fades away.
—-
i’ve met dandelions in many different spots; all of them are blooming new dreams, totally new, leaving the blur ones — prayer heard and soon coming true 💝
Is life abundant? She asked. They said, When you have everything. She walked away, There was never everything In imperfection.
She says. Life is generous. They say, Because you have everything. She walks away, There is never perfection In everything.
Life is abundant, She agrees. They ask, Do you have everything? You are not perfect. She walks away, There is always perfection In anything imperfect.
—-
anger has long gone but sadness is still lingering like a hungry fox hunting a chicken 🙃 yet life is so generous to me offering sweet imperfection and simplest perfection that might be just a dream for those perfect perfection — so thank you as always! 💝
Every weekend This heart multiplies. They wander Everywhere Through music, pictures, poems and prayers Sending peace And love That might not be Returned. What a sweet weekend!
—-
although you’ve targeted me with uncertainty, (pic: Banksy’s)
although you prefer war (pic: Banksy’s)
although you ignorantly hijack the love, (pic: Banksy’s)
sweet heart is still what you deserve,
no missile but beautiful heartshould be sent to you (pic: Banksy’s)
freshened and showered with warm heart is your right
at the end a bunch of flowers will be thrown to you (pic: Banksy’s)
hahahaha…. i am always laughed by my best friends for constantly being “love sick” (pic: Banksy’s)
The sun rises, sets At two ends to tell the time To the open eyes.
—
I always become guilty when my nieces say they want to be like me after breaking up romantically. They might think being single is the best choice in that situation, which is true yet nothing is permanent. Don’t be too sure about what you think, that’s what I always tell those young ladies.
The wedding of my niece recently was truly one miracle to witness after so long she thought she would not trust marriage institution. She finally trusts a man, a lucky one as much as my niece is lucky to be married by that funny guy! 💝
Behind the wedding scene one of my nieces approached me and asked me questions and here is the interestingly funny abridged conversation.
N: Auntie, you still hope to get married?
Me: You?
N: You know what happened. I believe mother told you. She said to me you disagreed with my decision.
Me: Of course. You are young. No reason to not getting married.
N: You? Tell me.
Me: I am slightly different.
N: Old?
Me: Yes.
N: Are you abnormal?
Me: Like what?
N: Homosexual.
Me: No.
N: You hate men?
Me: No
N: You are afraid of being poor?
Me: I am not. But I won’t want to be poor.
N: So what makes you single for so long?
Me: The same as you.
N: Trust?
Me: Yes.
N: Do you think I can get my trust back faster than you?
Me: Yes. Look at Dan. It took her only some years to finally getting married.
N: I hope I can.
Me: When you still talk about hope, it means you will get it.
N: But I hope you get married first before I do. Please…
Me: I hope….
N: (she smiled and went to fetch some snack)
Sometimes you’ve gotta show your beloved how much hope you have to make them keep hoping for the best. To me although I have to pretend…. 😝
N: (she got back with some snack on a plate) Do you really hope? It’s been 16 years!
Me: 😂
—
never give up, dear kids — everyone has love to share
I said to angels Near me,”Tell my love there’s love In your flapping wings”.
—
I was about to send some pictures containing angel numbers (twin/repeated numbers) to a friend who has been in love with especially 333, 3333, 33333 and all the repeated angel number 3 when realising that that friend was not in the list. Where was she? Maybe she unfollowed me? But why?
When checking in other friends’ lists this person was not there either, both in follower and following ones. Ahhh! Maybe she was deactivating herself?
As I don’t have her mobile number, I checked it with her best friend and he said “Yes, she has done it now and then. You don’t realise sometimes your list shortens? It might be her.”
Ahhh! Ok, ok…. 😊
She’s not lucky. The photos with her angel number are now for you all. 🙏🏼
Lessons? Things unknown, Still unknown, maybe won’t be, Solved with acceptance—
—
Oftentimes people make the biggest mistake because they are young, because they are stupid or because they are not clear of what they aim at in life. At least that is what my core circle has agreed.
Many people reject to go for health check earlier only to find that they have really bad health problems too late to manage through life style change— too old or too weak and can only be managed through surgery and/or medication. This happens a lot around me. They would say “I am ok. I am healthy. No symptoms. It is just light headache. It is just small numb. It is just light coughing. It will get better soon. Blahblahblah.” And boom! Big troubles come (almost) late!
Do health check without waiting for intense symptoms. Don’t underestimate a pinch as it can be a punch.
Many people think buying property can be done at later age. They prefer buying cars, branded stuff, etc for the sake of high prestige. They would say “I want to enjoy my single life. I still can live with my parents. Why so hurry? My spouse will buy it for me later. Blahblablah.” And boom! Property price soars high in just some years and those branded stuff investment can’t cover the desired property.
Prioritise property (although at the same time some fancy stuff can’t wait). Of course this is not applicable to the haves who can buy whatever they want.
Certain people overshare for the sake of feeling guilty and trying to explain excessively. I am one of them— once tried to explain why and why just because I was afraid of being judged. And so I shared something that I promised to myself would keep it for VVIP circle of mine. And boom! The humiliation and disrespect that came back to me has made me feel like a biggest moron and worthless in the universe. It is taking time to accept the total stupidity about (blind) love.
Don’t overthink. Don’t overshare even with someone that you love the most if there is no clear foundation.
Aaaahhh!
Life is a school whose next classes can only be entered through a bunch of lessons learnt because of failures and wrong doings which look unforgivable but actually truly forgivable. 😘
There is no right or wrong. What is there is only acceptance and lessons learnt.
Salaam.
—-
make a beautiful string of beads from the lessons learnt; then life is counting wisdom 💝
One by one they fall, Petals decompose to soil, Fertilising life—
—
when i see more fine lines under my eyes, i feel blessed that i am alive up to this age; i wish to live longer with the same amount of love or even more 💝 there is no regret for all are signs and turns to the home 💝
rike jokanan 
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