'Cause Pigs can Fly

 I bought On Sal Mal Lane for quite a few reasons; I was told it was a nice book, that it was better than A Disobedient Girl, which I loved, and because if you were to judge a book simply on its cover, On Sal Mal Lane will be one that will definitely find room on your bookshelf. I also had to spend more than one hour in a book store, found the book which I feared I’d have to someday order online (can’t afford that right now) and wanted to buy it because I wanted to read the book I had heard/read so much about. So I bought it but didn’t plunge deep into it for quite a few days. Once I did start reading it, On Sal Mal Lane captured my heart and at least for a few days, gave me a world full of happiness, innocence and love. It wasn’t a book you couldn’t put down; because every now and then you have to put the book down to really feel what Freeman is telling you, to picture that world the Heraths, Silvas and Bollings live in. And you aren’t totally immersed in the book either...

I don't think temples are really asking us to send them our ideas and suggestions, but as a Buddhist, these are some of the things I would like monks to focus on. 1. Majority-minority I don't understand why numbers matter, especially since we use them to claim ownership of land which contradicts what the Buddha said about ownership. Anyway, if Buddhists are worried about the now-minorities soon becoming the majority, then you need to focus on why that's happening, instead of trying to kill each other. It could be that there are less Buddhists. This is understandable since the protectors of the Dhamma are no longer doing a good job. So less reasons to believe, less in number and less reasons to claim ownership of land. It could also be that forced conversion is taking place. If this is happening, do something about it because while you are shouting like lunatics about Halal and shawls, there are people being forced to convert to other religions. Give us a reason to believe. ...

Constructive criticism is supposed to help. The truth is encouraged because lying is sinful. Negative comments are a big no, people say. Looking at most pictures that people post on Facebook, my first thought is "dear Jesus, who would upload such an ugly picture of themselves?" I see outfits people wear and think how terribly matched they are. Do I say these things to the people concerned or any other person? No. I keep my opinions to myself, especially if they are negative, if they are hurtful. However, not many do this. While calling someone ugly is considered extremely offensive, calling them an idiot seems okay. Why? Because everyone is beautiful but not everyone is smart. As a human, would you like it if people left comments on your pictures calling you fat, ugly or disgusting? As a photographer, would you like it if people told you, in a public forum, that your photographs suck? That you are better off selling your camera and working at a fast food joi...

There are reasons. Reasons enough to explain. Reasons that are mere excuses. Reasons that are half-truth. Reasons that are desperate attempts of explanation. There are reasons silly or serious, real or made up. There are reasons. So few at times, they feel unreal. Too many at times, the word sounds too familiar to be with meaning. Reasons abandon us. Reasons suffocate us. There are reasons. Reasons to stay. Reasons to leave. Reasons that make us want to hold on. Reasons that make us let go. Reasons to say hello. Reasons to bid farewell.