Chung Tian Art Gallery

28/11/2016

Our new exhibition has opened!! ✌

The oil painting exhibition by Jih-Yin Liao opened on Sunday, 27th November 2016, and will run until the 14th January 2017

Please bring your family and friends to come and pay a visit! 😁

It is worth it!

Here are some photos of the Opening Ceremony

27/11/2016

【Morning Quotes】Do not cheat nature. Do not cheat people. Do not cheat the conscience. Do not cheat society.

　　 　　

　　Our conscience is the root of conduct. Whether a person is good or bad depends on the consideration of the conscience. Conscience is intuitive knowledge. An individual with conscience would not go into the wrong direction based on intuitive knowledge, no matter whether he is speaking, dealing with issues or interacting with others.

　　However, this may not be true if an individual is lacking in intuitive knowledge. An individual who lacks intuitive knowledge faces a future that is full of frustration and dashed hopes.

　　An individual can lose his money, position and power but not his conscience. An individual can feel sorry for others or find remedy for a mistake but there can be no effective cure if an individual does something regrettable to his conscience.

　　Conscience can also mean possessing kind and benevolent characteristics. There are theories about good and evil characteristics in Confucian literature. Buddhism says that every sentient being has an innate Buddha nature and Buddha nature means conscience.

　　In fact, every one of us has a conscience. The problem is that we may have lost it and we need to find it again.

　　People who know how to feel ashamed, admit their mistakes and show appreciation are people with conscience.

　　When an individual has conscience, he would definitely consult his conscience before taking any actions, and to justify whether an action is right or wrong. Thus, avoid any unconscionable action as it would be too late to regret.

　　（Photo by Lai Tong Heng）

26/11/2016

【Morning Quotes】Life will come to a standstill if there is lack of self-confidence and self-esteem. Integrity will become mean and low if we refuse to uphold virtue and practise wisdom.

　　 　　

　　There are many people who follow things blindly in this society. Following blindly means unthinking obedience. It can also mean lack of one’s own point of view and the ability to be discerning.

　　The reason people follow blindly is because they are too lazy to think. If this becomes a habit, things get done half-heartedly. This leads to society moving backwards and causes people to pander to foreign powers.

　　The habit of following blindly undermines our ability to differentiate between right and wrong as well as the courage to express one’s choices. For instance, students tend to choose schools and majors not based on their own interest but on their popularity. This only creates problems in the end.

　　The habit of following blindly reflects ignorance and lack of self-confidence. There is a Chinese saying by Mencius, a Chinese philosopher that “it is better not to have books if we trust books completely.” This means we cannot simply follow things blindly. Without following blindly, we can create wisdom, innovation and stand firm on our own position. Removing the habit of following blindly allows us to remain pure and live on our own lives.

　　（Photo by Peter Lim）

25/11/2016

【Morning Quotes】Accept criticism if you have made a mistake and sincerely correct it. Do not refute even if you are treated unjustly but look within yourself.

　　 　　

　　There is one phrase that people tend to use especially after making mistakes, and that is, “I thought…...”

　　“I thought” is in fact the phrase used to excuse oneself for making mistakes. For example, after beheading a person and one might say, “I thought the sword was not sharp.” Another example is, “I thought it was just a sleeping pill,” after poisoning some people. So, you can see the seriousness of the phrase “I thought.” There are many more instances, such as “I thought there wouldn’t be a typhoon tonight,” “I thought it wouldn’t flood,” “I thought he could stand my fist,” “I thought he knew how to swim and wouldn’t drown.” Even an irresponsible person will say “I thought…” In fact, that is not the case at all.

　　The phrase “I thought” is guess-work. Quarrels in office and families are mostly due to the phrase “I thought”. Undoubtedly, the phrase “I thought” can be used at an appropriate situation. However, this phrase can also create negative effects. Hence, it is advisable to speak consciously and confidently, and avoid using phrases like “I thought.”

　　（Photo by Yong Zhao）

24/11/2016

【Morning Quotes】A person who only thinks of himself will not feel happy. A person who emphasises self-interest would fail in the end.

　　 　　

　　The incitement to “follow your instincts” in this era is full of danger, especially among the younger generation. If your instinct tells you that you need something, but that thing goes against moral values or the law of society, then this instinct should not be followed. On the other hand, we should do things that fulfil benevolence and peace, even if our instinct does not tell us so.

　　Worries and stress are similar to thieves, stealing our merits at any time. If we allow the organs of our six senses, (eye, ear, nose, tongue, body and mind) to reach out freely, then we would easily worry, feel stressed, be cheated and even suffer losses. Hence, we cannot simply follow our senses without differentiating between right and wrong.

　　Another negative phrase that is often employed is “What’s wrong with it as long as I like it?”

　　If an act breaches human ethics and morality, then we should not perform that act no matter how much we like it. On the other hand, no matter how we dislike it, as long as an act upholds friendship, honour, service, love and contribution to society, we should also make an all-out effort to do it.

　　Therefore, if we have the inclination to “follow instincts” or say “what’s wrong with it as long as I like it,” we should correct our mind before we commit a big mistake. It would be too late to regret it if we simply acted hastily and “followed our instincts”.

　　（Photo by Lai Tong Heng）

23/11/2016

【Morning Quotes】Things lasting for some time would create a feeling of dullness and apathy. Feelings that are too strong may not last long.

　　 　　

　　We need to learn how to “brake” in our life. People experience bad consequences due to unawareness to brake at the right time. For example, when there are disagreements in a conversation, one should know when to stop before the situation becomes more serious. A lecture that overruns and ends without an acceptable conclusion will only bore the audience.

　　A business which unable to generate profit and returns after a period of time should reconsider whether to continue in its operation. Greed will not come to a stop and this can endanger and destroy our lives.

　　For example, equity trading and lottery gaming require intensive and careful monitoring and the need to “brake” with strict discipline. As every one of us can see, ten to one road accidents on freeways are caused by failure to observe the freeways’ rules, especially driving over the speed limit. We can thus understand the seriousness of not being able to brake.

　　People who practise religious beliefs should also “brake” when filled with remorse, discouraging and negative thoughts. Modern-day workers who overwork and do not take breaks would eventually die from overstretching and overtiring themselves. Thus, practise braking at the right time is wisdom that everyone must learn.

　　（Photo by Yong Zhao）

22/11/2016

【Morning Quotes】Rising above failure, you will realize your objective. Withstanding disappointment, you will succeed.

　　 　　

　　Determination and motivation are not like morning dew, which is unable to withstand the sun’s heat and evaporates. When reciting the bodhisattvas’ name, we normally end with “Mahasattvas,” which means “great bodhisattva,” and “underwent tribulations over a long time span.” Hence, a person who practises the bodhisattva path must be able to go through “thousands of rebirths and millions of encumbrances.”

　　As the saying goes, “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going”. If we give up easily when faced with difficulties, then we are unable to achieve Buddhahood.

　　Some people do things with a fine start but come to a bad end or work half-heartedly. These people fail easily without enthusiasm or effort. Thus, no matter what we do, we must be able to withstand the challenges of time, problems, disappointments and hardship. If our determination and perseverance are strong, and make great and boundless vows, then we can forge ahead vigorously and tirelessly on the path of pursuing Buddhahood.

　　Even in ordinary life, we must have the true spirit of a marathon, i.e. determination and cross the finishing line. In this way, we can have a bright future.

　　（Photo by Yong Zhao）

21/11/2016

【Morning Quotes】Righteousness builds a good foundation. A good foundation leads to the Buddha path. The Buddha path purifies the mind. A purified mind manifests the unobstructed Buddha nature within us.

　　 　　

　　Smattering is to talk or study superficially a subject in a shallow way lacking any depth of understanding. This may cause disagreements, clashes and disharmony. Some people speak inappropriately while others perform incompetently. These people are called “smatterers”.

　　There was a beauty named Xishi. Her every movement was very adorable, and even when she was suffering from heartache, her facial expression was delicate and touching. An ugly woman named Dongshi wished to follow her, and she frowned to elicit pity. Unfortunately, she failed to get any pity from others and her foolish act was treated as a joke. This is what we called a “smatterer”.

　　Initially, we can be smattering in the learning stage. However, what is most important is to avoid smattering when developing virtuous manners. Lacking courtesy, being unable to differentiate the importance of a matter, pretending to be an expert, lacking pragmatic steps and being idle, are the disagreeable attributes of a smatterer. It is truly most pitiful if a person is called a smatterer.

　　In addition, smatterers do things awkwardly and end up displaying their inadequacy in public. We can either contemplate before the mirror or seek advice from the elderly to eliminate our habits of smattering.

　　（Photo by Chan Gim Lam）

20/11/2016

【Morning Quotes】Use wisdom to determine your direction, and you will arrive. Use determination to treat your problems, and they will be solved.

　　 　　

　　Youngsters lose their goal and future due to laziness, anger, infatuation for romance and fame. A middle-aged person can also lose his career and wealth because of untrustworthy friends. The elderly are also worried about their daily expenses, a place to live, and final direction and destination.

　　Are you afraid of losing your way? You need a map to keep track of your direction. However, what is an actual map? It is the teacher, the virtuous intellectuals, and the elderly. This is because these people have practical experience in life and they can direct you to the right path. In addition, history and the truth can help you to identify the rights and wrongs. Religious beliefs, right thoughts, courage, earnest preparation, good health, and a strong sense of morality are elements that can lead you to the right path too.

　　The Buddha has said, “I am a virtuous guide directing people to the right path. However, if a person deviates from the right path, that person is at fault.” At times, we may have gone astray in our life directions. We can seek advice from our parents, teachers and leaders in society because they have helped and guided us in our life’s path. So, let’s make it our responsibility not to wander off and lose ourselves.

　　（Photo by Peter Lim）

20/11/2016

19/11/2016

【Morning Quotes】By listening more, contemplating and practising, we develop wisdom. By removing greed, hatred and delusion, we develop a pure mind.

　　 　　

　　Snakes have long been regarded as evil and sinister in nature. There are idioms illustrating their unpleasant characteristics, like “a snake beauty” depicting a sneaky and despised character of a woman. In Chinese literature, idioms like “gold and money are snakes,” shows that people may lose themselves in wealth. There are idioms which likened a greedy person to “a snake trying to swallow an elephant.”

　　All forms of life are equal. When we do not respect or care for another person, the people may cause harm on us. In fact, the snake uses its venom for self-defence and not to attack other living beings. Nonetheless, urban development has wiped out the snakes’ natural habitat and unscrupulous businessmen have killed snakes for monetary value. Therefore, the snakes have to defend themselves with their venom. Another example is beautiful ladies.

　　Actually, beauty does not tempt people. It is the people themselves who are attracted by beauty. If you have no intention to court a beautiful girl, then no matter how attractive she is, you will not be tempted.

　　The same goes for money and wealth. If these are spent wisely, like contributing to benefit the society, then money and wealth are good assets. On the other hand, if money and wealth are spent inappropriately, then we cannot blame money and wealth as “poison” if we are caught in the act of misuse.

　　Snakes are not frightening. In fact, our selfish minds are.

　　（Photo by Peter Lim）