after life

"What's gonna be after?" I asked him.

"Close your eyes", said he. And I did.

"Think of the best moments of your life."

I thought of my daughters, how cute they were, how much love they brought and how much better life was with them.

"Now stop thinking", he said.

And I did. All that was left was that feeling, the full of joy heart, the peace, the realization that somehow without understanding anything, it really made sense.

"There..." he said, "that is the heaven we'll go to, if we are good guys..."

birds

photo credit

the oak

painting on the sky

Photo by Saad Faruque

offshore

the shore: waves are furious

offshore: the lake

is peaceful

Happiness is not something you find, it is something you build

Agile programming for families

Chapters funny rules

I went to Chapters to buy Hobbit+Lord of the Rings boxed set which was on sale online for $20.

Price in the store: $40.

I showed them the online price, they couldn't do a price match.

Okay, I said, if these are the rules.

I went back to the computer, went online, order the books for $20, got a $2 discount because I am a member, free shipping and pick up option from the store I have just left...


[edited]

And the nice answer from them:

Dear Dragos Ionel,

Thank you for your feedback regarding online versus in-store book pricing.

We are often asked about the difference in pricing between online and our stores. The differences stem from the different economics of these two channels. We hope that you find the explanation below helpful.

For our online channel, our book pricing is only a small amount above our cost. The economics of online book selling are dependent upon very large volumes to ensure the overall profitability of our business. Despite the challenges, we remain committed to this channel and to providing this service to our customers.

We cannot match our online pricing in our physical stores. The service in our stores is more involved and can be more tailored to an individual shopper. We employ trained and committed staff and maintain a diverse inventory to provide our customers with the most inspiring retail environment in the world for books and life-enriching products and experiences.

It is our policy to provide the best possible pricing in our stores. We offer a discount of 20-30% for a significant number of top-selling books. We also have a large selection of "Bargain Books" at discounts of up to 80% off the list price, providing our customers with tremendous value. There are also numerous in-store sales and promotions throughout the year and most purchases in our store are eligible to collect points through our free plum rewards program for participating members.

When you want the lowest possible price for a book, you can shop online at www.chapters.indigo.ca and choose from over 2 million books available all the time. If you enjoy browsing and more personal service, or need your book immediately, then you may prefer to shop in our stores.

Whether you choose to shop online or in-store – or both – we look forward to offering you unparalleled service and selection at competitive prices.

We thank you for taking the time to provide your feedback and invite you to do so again in the future.

If you require any additional assistance, please contact us.

Thank you for choosing Indigo.

Sincerely,

Tracy
Customer Service Team

Meditation is not a good thing: You are not special anymore

Admit it or not, you and I and all others think we are special people.

During school, at work, in family, even when walking on the street. We are sure we are a special individual.

When you start meditating, your subtle body become cleaner and as a result you start seeing things more of what they are and not of what you think about them.

You know more about you and about others.

You learn how you and others are.

As a result, you understand you are not really a very special person. You are not anymore very smart, handsome, or funny.

You are one person with qualities and defects. Just like any other.

You are just one of the seven billion people on the planet.

You are just a regular person.

Who wants to feel that way?!? Eh?

February twenty-third

when the sun is gone
the warmth stays
forever

Why we can only appreciate someone or a relationship ...

... more only when we can no longer have?

That is because we have no idea about anything. As much as we think we do, we don't.

Say, you walk on a street and you see a BMW. You like it so you tell your friend: "What an awesome car. I wish I had one!" He might say: "You know, Mercedes is a better car, I wish I had a Mercedes car instead."

Now who is right? Of course, none, both are looking at the things from his own perspective.

Say you have a good friend for 20 years. He is your best buddy in the whole world. Then you find out he cheated you with $100. You get so mad that you never speak with him again. "What a crook!" you think. When were you right, 10 minutes ago when you liked your friend or now when you think he is a thief. It is the same person, you know.

Same about memory. Try to describe the person you saw when you came out of the house. Probably you don't even remember him or her. The memory is so weak so when you remember something there is a bigger chance is wrong than right.

And now coming to talk about people or things you don't appreciate until you lose them. The reason is that again you have no idea about anything. All that you have is your image about that particular thing. It is an artificial image, lots of time with no relation with the reality. An image your brain is building using the thoughts as tools. And such bad tools the thoughts are. They can build a monster out of a saint and the other way round.

When we have something, lots of times, out thoughts are making a mess out of him or her. We see the bad habits and we amplify them using our brain.

When we lose somebody, we start to see what we don't have anymore and then the better side of that person or thing comes into mind. And using our continuous though process we build a statue out of it.

Satty

(More Q&A with Satty here. If you have a question, send it over.)

Why do people do things they know will not make them happy?

Satty seemed sad at this question. He said:

"This is a good question. Why, when we know something is wrong we still do it? Not only that, but after we do something and it turns out bad, we do it again.

The reason is simple: people don't know how beautiful they are.

If there is a beautiful painting, let's say a Da Vinci, people come from all the corners of the world to see it. They talk about it, they write books about it, they make movies.

But nobody is amazed at the beauty that he or she is.

Nobody believes anymore in how precious he or she is.

We are just like the small wheels in a watch. Each of huge importance to the correct functioning of the mechanism. One goes slows down, the watch slows down. One stops, the watch stops. The small ones just like the big ones. The one above as the ones below.

Each of us is a beautiful flower but just because we forgot how to look inside we just see us as the result of our actions in the world outside. If we are successful, then we are worthy something. If we are not, then we are worthless.

That is the reason our lives is sometimes so screwed up. We run after shadows and we hit our head on the walls."

"What is the way out?" I asked.

"Simple. Find yourself."

(More Q&A with Satty here. If you have a question, send it over.)

Is the National Lottery manipulated?

If I thought yesterday was cold, then you should see today. When getting out of the house you felt you entered a freezer.

So, again, we skipped the walk in the park and we met for a tea. A hot one to unfreeze those parts of the body that we did not feel anymore after the walk to the tea house.

"So, bring it on", said Satty waiting for the question of the day. He promised to answer one, but only one question per day and so far he kept his word.

"Here it is:

Is the National Lottery manipulated?"

Satty was taking a sip of the hot tea and started laughing at the same time which caused him to choke...

"Ha, ha, ha, this is a good question. The answer is No, it isn't", he said and continued to drink.

"That's it?" I asked.

"Yeah, that's is. You had a question and I gave you an answer. This is what we agreed upon."

I was a bit disappointed to tell you the truth, but, hey, he was right, he gave me the answer...

"So, I'll just have to pray long enough and maybe I will win", I said thinking about the joke he told me the other day.

"That will not help though", he said.

"Yeah, of course, if the lottery is not manipulated, then everything is by chance, a chance that is so slim that you can consider it zero."

"Nothing is by chance", Satty said.

"What do you mean?", I asked. "Everything is by chance. Lottery is by chance: some balls moving into a basket and one being picked out. This is by chance."

"Not really."

"So you are saying that the Lottery IS manipulated?"

"Yes, it is."

"But you've just said that it is not."

"Yes, it is not."

"Making fun of me?"

"Not really. It is manipulated, but not by whom you think, not by people running it, or by the government or by a secret organization."

"By whom then?"

"By a universal law that organizes all in the universe."

"By God you mean."

"This is a simplistic name and it makes you think of a guy with beard running all. It is not that."

"Then?!?"

"Think for a bit. Is the fact that you came here by chance?"

"Not really", I said, "I chose to do that to meet you."

"Exactly. Are the clothes you have on you there by chance? Probably not, you picked them up this morning..."

"Well actually my wife did..." I said smiling.

"Yes and she didn't do it by chance. Is this table here by chance? No, it is not. Is this nice tea nice by chance? Is this building by chance, the road, this city, this country? Of course not, somebody at one point made a decision and as a result these all came to life.

So is everything else. All those things we think are by chance, for example the colour of your eyes, are not really by chance. There is a reason for being so.

We can go further. The moment of your birth is not by chance, nor is the moment of your death. Whom you meet and when you meet, who is your friend, who is you parent, who is you son of daughter. None is by chance.

And to answer your question, as I think this is what you are trying to ask in the first place.

Winning a lottery is not an event that takes place by chance. There is a reason behind it..."

"So you are saying all is predefined and we don't really have free will..."

"He he he, I am not so easily tricked. You have your question today. If you want to talk about the free will, we can. But another day..."

(More Q&A with Satty here.  If you have a question, send it over.)

Will I find the reason of my life?

The weather is getting really cold so instead of a walk in the park, Satty suggested a walk to the McDonald's. I totally agreed as I love the unhealthy Big Mac.

I ordered a Big Mac meal and so did Satty but he asked a Coke without ice. 

"Smart", I said, "with the weather outside I should have done the same."

"Actually the reason I did not order with ice has a more subtle explanation" said Satty, becoming at once serious.

"And what is that?" I asked looking forward to hearing what he had to say. I was totally focused to hear it...

"If you get no ice, you get MORE COKE" said Satty and started laughing.

"Oh man, you are such a charlatan..." said I laughing as well.

"Okay, let's get to the business", he said while devouring the Big Mac.

"Here is the question from Florin:

Will I find the reason of my life before I die?"

"Good one... I will tell you a joke before answering.

There was a guy who everyday prayed to God to make him win the lottery."

"This should be good as I have another question about lottery too...", I said.

"Every night, before going to sleep, with all his focus, he was repeating: Oh, God, please, please, please, make me win the lottery!

That day after day, month after month, year after year, decade after decade.

When he was eighty or so, and while he was praying, the heavens opened and he heard a voice from above: I will make you win the lottery, but please, please, please, buy a ticket!!!"

"Ha, ha, ha" I laughed, "good one, but what on earth does it have to do with finding the reason of one's life?"

"Well, I ask you back: do you search for the meaning of your life? 

Are you doing it every day, every minute, every thought, with every action? 

Is the aim of your life finding the reason of your life? 

If yes, definitely you will find it. 

But if you don't, you are just like the guy in the joke. 

Hoping to get something without doing the work... And this does not work in this case."

(if you have more questions for Satty, send them over)

If I know every inch of the route to perfection...

The weather is getting a bit chilly these days. While there is not too much snow, the wind is blowing a bit so the walk in the park is not as pleasant as it was few days ago.

But still, as promised, Satty agreed to join me for a walk. His warm smile make me forget a bit about the weather.

"I hope you have some a good question for me..."

"I actually have more than one, I got a list to tell you the truth..."

"Then pick one but pick fast before we both freeze to death" said he laughing and walking faster so we can both can get warmer...

"Here is the question", said I.

If I know every inch of the route to perfection like the back of my hand, why am I still not perfect?

He became serious for a second then a big smile came to his face.

"Here is the thing. There are two incorrect topics in your question.

First you don't know every inch of the way to perfection. Not only that, you don't even know about the route to perfection. More, there is not route to perfection. And if there is none, you can't be knowing it.

And the second incorrect item in your question is that you are not perfect. Oh, but you are perfect. And so I am. And so is Ginni who asked the question.

The problem is that we don't know that, we actually forgot about it. We knew it not so long ago when we were small babies and our mind did not start screwing up our life, we were more aware of how perfect we were. And that is why we were happier then.

We are just like a diamond in the mud which does not lose any of its perfection by being in the mud. At the most it gets dirty and hidden. But one day comes when somebody finds the diamond, cleanse it with a bit of water and there you go. The sparkly diamond is known to the world."

"I am a bit confused", said I. "If I am a diamond, how come I don't shine?"

"Because you are deep in the mud. And you need to be found."

"But who is the one who is going to find me and cleanse me so I can be shiny again."

"That is you my friend. You have to search for the real you. Once you do that, you will shine not like a diamond, but like a million diamonds."

"How can I do that?"

"No more questions for today... We agreed to one question per day. And if we stay longer in this cold, none of us will find no diamonds..."

(if you have more questions for Satty, send them over)

Why everyone wants to be happy...

Here is the first question I asked Satty:

"Why everyone wants to be happy when happiness doesn't last? "

Satty laughed...

"This answer is simple. When you are happy you feel good so why wouldn't you like to be happy?!?

Why happiness does not last, that might be an interesting question. But because you did not ask it, I won't answer it."

I could see that he was joking so I also laughed...

"When something has an opposite, you cannot have one without another. You cannot have light without dark, you cannot have heat without cold, you cannot have up without down. And of course, you cannot have happiness without unhappiness. Both are related, both are together.

You cannot be happy forever. After a while, you find a reason to be unhappy even in your happiness...

You might want a happy family, but if you have you might start worrying about loosing it.

You might want lots of money, but if you get them you start being afraid of thieves.

That's how life is...

Nothing one can do can change that"

My friend

While walking in the park some time ago, I met an interesting guy.

We had a nice conversation and he promised he would answer any questions I had, but only for a limited period of time.

He did not tell me when the period will end so he suggested I would make good use of the time and ask questions that would really matter.

For the next little while, the posts will be just that, his answers to my questions.

If you have any question, please send it over. But do only send important ones, questions that might change your life if you found the answer.

His name (a bit of unusual one) is Satty and here are his answers...