As I walk along..

I read a recent news from China. Two snatch thieves on motorcycle snatched a handbag from a woman pedestrian and sped off. A motorist happened to pass by and upon seeing the incident, gave chase in his car. Eventually, the driver in the car caught up with the snatch thieves on motorcycle and rammed it with his car. One of the snatch thieves fell and died. The driver of the car was congratulated by the local mayor and hailed a hero. Later he was sued by the deceased family for causing the death but the case was dismissed by the court.

In Australia, a female security guard carrying a bag of money to the bank was attacked by a man with a knuckle duster in an attempt to rob the bag of money. Though seriously injured and bleeding from her head, the security guard somehow shot and killed the man who attempted to rob her. She was committed to face trial for murder.

The two cases highlighted the extremes on both ends. In the first case, the driver who killed the snatch thieve was hailed a hero, while in the second case, the security guard who killed the man who attempted to rob her was to face trial for murder.

I believe both cases highlighted the extremes of the two very different systems and cultures. One is the exhibition and enhancement of the public desire of zero tolerance for crime while the other is the strict adherence to a legal system which may not have kept up to date with the changing time. For the coming New Year 2006, may I wish that we all learn to adopt the moderate way and learn to walk the path of moderation. Happy New Year 2006.

Today is Dong Zhi or Winter Solstice for the northern hemisphere. It is the day the sun is furthest south from China. . In accordance with Chinese culture and traditions, Chinese around the world celebrate the Dong Zhi festival, marking “the arrival of winter”. (Dong Zhi in Chinese Mandarin or Tang Chek in Chinese Fujian dialect). In the Chinese calendar, the Dong Zhi festival falls six weeks before the Chinese New Year.
The festival involves the making of glutinous rice ball of various colours boiled in syrup called "tang yuan" or "Koay Ee". The name of the traditional sweet dessert carries much meaning for the Chinese as it sounds like tuan yuan (“Yuan” means “round” or “ circle”, so “tuan yuan” means reunion). It is a time for members of each family to remind themselves that they were a family unit and hence an occasion for family reunion and preparation for the next exciting New Year.

Christmas tree decoration in a shopping complex of a Sydney suburb.
Merry Christmas to All.

This Stupa is a latest addition to the Aloka Meditation Centre located in Peats Ridge, an hour drive north of Sydney.