Saturday, November 8, 2014

Embrace the Chaos ~~~


12 Reasons to Embrace the Chaos Next Year!

1. Accepting the chaos of life is better than trying to fight it
Life has always been in unpredictable and full of uncertainty. We just didn't realize it. Accept it. Don't fight it. Accepting the reality of our world today is the most important way to learn to live in it. Let go of your ego. Let go of trying to force order and perfection to an imperfect life full of ups and downs and uncertainty. Often, stress, anxiety and tension occurs when you fight hard to change something you cannot change. You can't control the chaos. You can only change you... your thoughts and your actions. And that's really good news... to focus on what you CAN control... you!
2. You cannot predict the future
Uncertainty about how things will turn out tomorrow holds a lot of us back from pursuing our life ambitions, relationships or business ideas. We waste so much time trying to make sure the path we take is the "right one," when the reality is that there is no right path... just the one you're on! No one knows what's going to happen tomorrow. That's a good thing in some respects because the walls around us are malleable and move constantly. You and I have just as good a shot as anyone at success and happiness. Stop trying to figure out the future and CREATE moments by working towards your purpose in the here and now. This moment right now is the only one you can be certain of.
3. You will feel better doing than not doing
Taking a step forward in any direction makes you feel like you have some level of control of your life. When you take action, you stop over thinking and get less anxious because in some sense, you are creating your own future in the here and now. You get a rush when you're consumed with activity geared towards pursuing a goal, irrespective of how tough the goal. You feel like you're in charge again because you are... of your thoughts and your actions. The positive energy generated by movement of hands and body in forward motion towards the pursuit of a higher purpose, a life-long trip, a business goal or to raise a child, is often what keeps us energetic, youthful and feel alive.
4. One thing always leads to another
Like a stone thrown into a pond of water, somehow one tiny little step forward puts in motion other pieces, rippling away, leading you to places, people and opportunities that you can never have imagined. You didn't get to where you are right now by your perfectly laid out plans years ago. So many of us arrived where we are through the zig zag motion of life, through stepping stones that were laid out all over the place. Some of the greatest things in your life right now, came to you by chance, randomness and luck.
5. You will become a better person... faster, stronger, leaner and sharper
The mind is a muscle and like any muscle sometimes the mind needs resistance and tension to grow and develop as much as it needs nourishment and positive energy. Use the chaos of life to learn and develop. Adversity forces you to dig down deep inside to make you rediscover your inner strength or to fire synapsis in your brain that create new learnings. Moving forward in uncertainty forces the potential energy that is already within you to come out.
6. You are resilient and know how to adapt
You don't know what real strength lies within unless you're put in a situation that forces you to bring it out. You have an innate ability deep within to adapt and improvise to our new environment. You can handle it because your DNA has gone through a history of difficult times and has progressed ever since. As human beings, we have this awesome ability to persevere in really difficult times with nothing more than what you've been given: an able body and a strong mind. The resiliency inside all of is dormant but kicks in when you move forward in life.
7. You are meant for bigger things
Within each of us lies a potential for great things. Think about the possibility of becoming who you really want to become... a better parent, a more successful business person who creates jobs for many, a better spouse or partner or simply contribute more to society. This great person will never be realized unless you take steps to move forward in life and do something different... to accept the chaos and move forward anyway. All of us are meant to create positive impact to all those around us, in our own unique way.
8. Chaos forces us to clarify what's really important... and what's not
When you embrace the chaos and move forward in life, you get crystal clear as to what makes you more fulfilled, more satisfied and ultimately, more happy. Self discovery and self realizations happen during moments of confusion, clutter and consistent complexity when you're feeling lost, headed for trouble. That's when your mind gets really clear as to what's the most important thing you want out of life. Because the mind cannot focus on all of those things, your mind suddenly awakens and hones in. For some of us, a big challenge or adversity that seems insurmountable at the time, jolts us to recognize what we really want. And for some people, it becomes less about the money... and more about the relationships, the family, the kids and good health.
9. It will make you grateful
Humility is a wonderful thing and for some of us, it only comes when you're forced to deal with something life changing. Life is so unpredictable, fast and really, really short. When you accept the ups and downs and the uncertainty of life, you begin to be grateful for what you have not on what you don't. The joy and happiness that comes from appreciating what you have adds fuel to the fire already burning inside to achieve your life long goals. You'll only realize how great of a life you have when your wake up and see the realities of our existence. Being grateful makes you so much happier in the smallest things.
10. Chaos can be transformative
Sometimes difficult, unpredictable and terrible experiences awaken us to the realities of our existence often encouraging us to get on with work we have been waiting to do. Whether we like it or not, it forces us to make difficult choices and take bold steps forward in life. And we might have to go through these difficult times in order to truly transform into the kind of person we want to become. Once you actually embrace uncertainty and go ahead with a life goal or a relationship, you begin to change, discovering new things about yourself. You begin to value different things in life... to have deeper, more richer conversations with friends, colleagues and family. To find real meaning and joy in the smallest things. Like a caterpillar, you transform into a butterfly.
11. Things have a way of working out in the end
People say, "things have a way of working out in the end" because it is often so true. Perhaps not always but there's a reason why it is a commonly used phrase. For me, in a strange way, you have to have some level of faith perhaps a belief that what accidents happen in life are there to teach us something. To shape our life, to shape our core beliefs, to make us who we are. When you're in the thick of uncertainty and chaos at work or in your personal life, it's hard to see but think of all the times in your past, when you thought it was really, really bad... and maybe it really was... but often it isn't as bad as we think and things work out.
12. Going with the flow is a lot of fun
I used to be this type A, order loving, always hyper-stressed guy. Still am... sort of. By learning to take action, let go and see what happens, I've had a lot less stress and a lot more fun. Life is good... sure it's hard... but it's still good and can be so much more fun if you go with the flow. Some of most fun I have ever had occurred when I was working hard on creating a new business with my wife, while performing at a high level in my corporate career. Moments came up where I realized that wow... this is so cool. It was a lot better than sitting around in anxiety and stress waiting for the shoe to drop. Ten years from now, you may remember the difficult times but you'll have more significant memories of the times where you joined in, moved forward, embraced spontaneity and said, why not!

Friday, November 7, 2014

Private THoughts ~~~


閱讀像戀愛一樣,
是接觸式運動,contacting sports
而不是只用雙眼看的!
當然讀者與作者的身體接觸只限於腦袋,
真正的問題是兩個腦袋的相遇!

在這個人人皆可成作家的讀物氾濫年代,
閱讀應該是一個需要判斷力做出的決定 a judgement call .
認真的閱讀就像養成的愛好,就像抽象藝術,和古典音樂,要時間浸淫才會懂得欣賞甚至樂在其中。

學者稱這種能力為享受高層次樂趣的能力。
capacity for higher pleasure ...


" 私想 Private Thoughts: 性,愛,自由,幸福,痛苦,宗教,男人與女人的私密聯想。"
by 林沛理

Best Japanese Restaurant in Taipei ~~~~


My Book Club Luncheon yesterday was  Inspiring !!

As I look closely into my Astrology Chart, I realize how much it indicates the complexities of our insights! Not only the Sun Sign, Moon Sign, Ascending Sign, the angle of each stars, but also  the certain house your stars dwell in will influence the outlook of your personality and your fortune !! More importantly, as we understand more about ourselves, we would know the strength and weakness of our insight, so that we can confront with the issue we need to resolve and learn to develop a more meaningful and flourished life!  

When we walk into a new environment, we always appear  the personality of Ascending sign, while we protect ourselves by showing our moon sign as walking down the street passing by strangers, and as we become more acquainted , we would reveal our Sun sign, at last, when we become close friends, we will show our subconscious sign, moon. 

Believe it or not , the Astrological expert said I have a creative and contradictory mind, and sometimes I suppress my own feeling too much,  which means I am emotional and sentimental insight but seldom express myself. The lesson I should learn this life is to cultivate and train my mind, where is my true home. 

Furthermore,  she said I  should start writing or create something which will be published, Ha, Isn't that inspiring ?! 





Sunday, November 2, 2014

Magic in the Moonlight ~~~~


Angel has been enchanted with the word "Magic" since Halloween .... Believe it or not . 
Woody Alan's romantic film had never disappointed me, as he always submerges into character's deepest subconsciousness discovering the purest form of love , beside his analytical cynical remarks ! ~~~ after "Magic in the Moon light "


Director:

 

Writer:

 

Stars:

 ,

Friday, October 31, 2014

Ferinelli !!! The Legend !!!




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5mvN-WTAY8&feature=em-share_video_user

ARIAS FOR SOPRANO BY: 

RiCCARDO BROSCHI (c.1698-1756)
15:54 - "Ombra fedele anch'io"' (excerpt) : Dario's Solo: Act II, Scene XI, from Opera 'Idaspe'. 
Libretto by G. P. Candi and Domenico Lalli, 1730, Venice.

28:47 - "Qual guerriero in campo armato' (excerpt) : Dario's Solo: Act I, Scene XVI, from Opera 'Idaspe'
Libretto by G. P. Candi and Domenico Lalli, 1730, Venice

44:31 - "Son qual nave ch'agitata" (excerpt) : Arbace's Solo, from Opera 'Artaserse' 
London, 1734, in collaboration with J.A.Hasse.Libretto by Pietro Metastasio 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riccardo_Broschi
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artaserse

JOHANN ADOLPH HASSE (1699 - 1783)
57:59 - ​"Generoso risvegliati, o core" (excerpt) : Poro's Solo: Act II, Scene 4, from Opera 'Cleofide' (Alessandro nell'Indie)
(aria for male soprano sung by 'Farinelli' at 1731 a Venice)
Libretto by Michelangelo Boccardi after Pietro Metastasio. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Adolph_Hasse
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleofide

GEORG FRIEDRICH HÄNDEL (1685-1759)
1:19:07 - "Lascia ch'io pianga" (excerpt) : Almirena's Solo: Act II, Scene IV, from Opera Rinaldo at King's Theatre, London 1711.
Libretto by Aaron Hill (1685-1750), translated by Giacomo Rossi.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handel
http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rinaldo

1:20:34 - "Cara Sposa" (excerpt) : Rinaldo's Solo: Act I, Scene VII, from Opera 'Rinaldo' at King's Theatre, London 1711. Libretto by Aaron Hill (1685-1750), translated by Giacomo Rossi.

1:24:28 - "Venti turbini" (excerpt) : Rinaldo's Solo: Act I, Scene IX, from Rinaldo's Opera at King's Theatre, London 1711. Libretto by Aaron Hill (1685-1750), translated by Giacomo Rossi.

NICOLA PORPORA (1686 -1768)
1:40:02 - "Alto Giove, è Tua Grazia" (excerpt) : Acis Solo: Act III, Scene V, from Opera 'Polifemo' at King's Theatre.
Libretto by Paolo Antonio Rolli, London, 1735,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porpora
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphemus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_operas_by_Porpora

1:46:41 - Instrumental of Aria "Se Al Labbro Mio Non Crede", from Artaserse's Opera by Riccardo Broschi/ J.A.Hasse, sung by "Farinelli" in London at 'Opera Of The Nobility, 1734.


FARINELLI'S VOICE provides by:
Soprano: Ewa Mallas-Godlewska and Male Alto: Derek Lee Ragin, who were recorded separately then digitally merged to recreate the 'sound voice' of a Castrato.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ewa_Mallas-Godlewska
http://www.derekleeragin.net/

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Why Meditate ??

What is Meditation ?
頂果欽哲法王and 宗薩仁波切

In the stage of Non Distraction is Meditation !
If you would be distracted, you are loosing yourself; you are not being mindful !
And this means that you are not in meditation !
Meditation is a status of mind that you are with your nature of mind without any distractions from any thoughts, any thinking, anything ! You are the light shinning through the clouds residing in Rigpa !




The purpose of meditation is not to feel tranquil and peaceful, but to gain Wisdom !!

----- Dzongsar Khentze Rinpoche,  The Way of Bodhisattva's Life




Friday, October 24, 2014

Music and Architecture ~~~

Venice Opera House ~~
音樂是流動的建築,
建築是凝固的音樂!

In Greek Language, Muzike means Muses , representing by 8 goddess, who govern various areas of art !  As in a famous saying, " Everything is Numbers ", music and architecture are both corresponded with numbers and structures !



Thanks for 炎江老師




Imperial Chinese Cuisine in Taipei !!



「宮廷菜」終於來臺北了喲!好吃精緻的料理不是French , Japanese 的專利,「中國料理」也可以好好吃也好精緻!很開心!

 — at Family Li Imperial Cuisine.




Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Yosemite Meditation ~~




As I can breath through the golden clouds into heaven,
I bow to the profoundness and awe,
I pray for the bliss that
arises in  each array of the light !

I surrender to the you…
I am you;
I am the nature,
I am the emptiness,
I am the light !






Friday, October 17, 2014

Joyce Jonathan - Je ne sais pas (Clip officiel)







rench

Je ne sais pas

Il y a des mots qui me gènent, des centaines de mots, des milliers de rengaines qui sont jamais les mêmes
Comment te dire, je veux pas te mentir, tu m'attires et c'est là que se trouve le vrai fond du problème
Ton orgueil, tes caprices, tes baisers, des délices; tes désirs, des supplices; je vois vraiment pas où ça nous mène
Alors, on se raisonne
C'est pas la fin de notre monde
Et à tort on se questionne
Encore une dernière fois
Je ne sais pas comment te dire
J'aurais peur de tout foutre en l'air, de tout détruire
Un tas d'idées à mettre au clair depuis longtemps
Mais j'ai toujours laissé derrière mes sentiments
Parfois je me dis que j'ai tort de rester si passive, mais toi tu me regardes, moi je te dévore
Et c'est parfois trop dur de discerner l'amour
Mon ami, mon amant, mon amour et bien plus encore
Alors, on se raisonne
C'est pas la fin de notre monde
Et à tort on se questionne
Encore une dernière fois
Je ne sais pas comment te dire
J'aurais peur de tout foutre en l'air, de tout détruire
Un tas d'idées à mettre au clair depuis longtemps
Mais j'ai toujours laissé derrière mes sentiments
(x2)
Je te veux toi avec défauts et tes problèmes de fabrication
Je te veux toi, je veux pas un faux, pas de contrefaçon
Je veux pas te rendre pour prendre un autre
Je veux pas te vendre pour une ou deux fautes
Je veux tes mots, je veux ta peau, c'est jamais trop
Je te veux plus, changé d'avis; j'ai vu un autre un peu plus joli
Je ne veux pas, je ne veux plus, jamais voulu
Et puis t'es qui ? Je te connais pas, t'as dû rêvé, ce n'était pas moi
Mes confusions, tu les connais, laissons tomber
Comment te dire, j'aurais peur de tout foutre en l'air, de tout détruire
Un tas d'idées à mettre au clair depuis longtemps
Mais j'ai toujours laissé derrière mes sentiments
Je ne sais pas comment te dire
J'aurais peur de tout foutre en l'air, de tout détruire
Un tas d'idées à mettre au clair depuis longtemps
Mais j'ai toujours laissé derrière mes sentiments
(x2)
Try to align
English

I don't know

Versions: #1#2#3
There are some words which embarass me, hundreds of words, thousands of same old things that are never the same
How could I tell you, I don't wanna lie to you, you attract me, and this is where lies the true heart of the problem
Your pride, your whims, your kisses, your pleasures, your desires, torments, I really don't see where this is getting us
So we pull ourselves together, it's not the end of our world
And we wrongly question ourselves again one last time
I don't know how to tell you, I'm afraid to screw up everything, to ruin everything
A lot of ideas to clarify from way back
But I've always been leaving my feelings behind
I sometimes think that I'm wrong staying so passive, but you look at me, I devour you
And it's sometimes too hard to distinguish love
My friend, my lover, my love and even more
So we pull ourselves together, it's not the end of our world
And we wrongly question ourselves again one last time
I don't know how to tell you, I'm afraid to screw up everything, to ruin everything
A lot of ideas to clarify from way back
But I've always been leaving my feelings behind
(x 2)
I want just you with flaws and your manufacturing problems
I want just you, I don't want a fake, no forgery
I don't want to return you to get another
I don't want to sell you up for one or two mistakes
I want your words, I want your skin, it's never too much
I don't want you anymore, I changed my mind. I've seen another one a bit better-looking*
I don't want, don't want anymore, never wanted
And who are you, I don't know you, you must've been dreaming, it wasn't me
My confusions, you know them, let's give up
How to tell you, I'm afraid to screw up everything, to ruin everything
A lot of ideas to clarify from way back
But I've always been leaving my feelings behind
I don't know how to tell you, I'm afraid to screw up everything, to ruin everything
A lot of ideas to clarify from way back
But I've always been leaving my feelings behind
(x 2)


Taken from http://lyricstranslate.com/en/je-ne-sais-pas-i-dont-know.html#ixzz3GNUJaVyn

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

To the other Shore ~~~



Angel 可能是嚴肅的深思的,也許是甜蜜的光明的。。。
也許是。。。
沉浸在。。。
心經中的到達彼岸。。。

:):):):)



Superb French Restaurant in Hong Kong ~~



 1982 Festival ~~~   at Amuse Boche 


1982 Pichon Lalande
1982 Mouton Rothschild
1982 Hunt Brion
1982 Chaval Blanc
1986 D'yquem
1986 Krug Champaign

To celebrate friends' Birthday, 12 of good friends flew all the way from Taipei to Hong Kong, and nothing disappointed us. The wine and the meal were superbly flawless and amazingly luxurious and  delightful , while the traffic was blocked by the protestors, I had the first time experience of using the MTR in my life .  


Feeling very Grateful !! 
 — at Amuse Bouche.






The most relaxing sofa in Taipei ~~



 Post the mid autumn, suddenly I felt a bit chilly but somehow loving the breeze so much that I smiled…

Perhaps, I have the affinity to this pink sofa where , as I recalled,  the same outfit I wore playing with the mini i pad so amusedly a year ago ….

Time does not soar as people say in my perception,  on the contrary, I do realize the frozen period of calmness and tranquility that appeared in my mind … in the meditation stage.  Why do you wish to stay in sadness or agony instead of feeling grateful and appreciated? 

As I noticed in the photo,  the Louis Vitton Bag displayed as orange color, and it was originally bright yellow though; however, the tone color of  warmness comforted my afternoon ~~~




Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Nirvana Yoga Meditation ~~~

Chiva Some in Thailand ~~
《今日的瑜珈沈思》

~所謂由惡夢中清醒過來,
意味著你不再接受自己天生就不值得愛的那個幻覺。

人間有些愛常是發自內疚和憂懼,
你不知不覺地從人們身上學到了有條件的愛,
並奉它們為你學習的典範。
這不是你的錯,你只須覺察到這一事實即可。

從嬰兒時期開始,你就以人們是否
正面回應你來評斷自己的價值,
從那當中,你學會向外建立自己的價值,
此信念根深柢固地滲入了你每一個生命經驗裡。

你父母的經驗與你的沒有兩樣,
你子女的經驗與你的也毫無差異,
你們都承受了類似的創傷,有待治癒。

然而,你必須先清楚意識到自己所受到的傷害,
才能釋放從中滋生的種種情緒,
而這是所有心懷傷痛的人學習把有條件的愛
轉換成無條件的愛的必經之路。

在療愈過程中,首先,你必須無條件地愛自己,
那是你不曾從親生父母那裡獲得的禮物。
經過療愈,你,重生了,好似再次被撫養長大一般,

但這回可不是仰賴另一個權威,而是靠你內在的愛之源頭。
要學會去愛一個心靈受創的人,你必須先扭轉自己的信念,
只因你一向相信自己的價值是建立在別人對你的看待上。

如今,你慢慢訓練自己,
知道如何憑著自己當下的真相來自我評價,
在那當中,全然不加任何條件。
那是任何人都無法為你做的事,別人只能協助你、鼓勵你,
但沒有人能教你如何愛自己,
那是每個靈魂必須為自己做的工作。

每個靈魂進入肉體,
都是為了解決“自我價值” 這個問題而來的。
然而,靈魂一但進入肉身,
它與生俱來的愛的能力就已受到了限制,
這種限制會把周遭的人一起牽連進去。

解除這些限制,成了人生最重要的課題。
靈魂在離開人世之際,
若還認定自己的一生純粹是個受害者的話,
那它勢必會再度被拉回人間,
來試圖扭轉這一信念。

反之,靈魂惟有覺悟出:它的價值,
原本就不是建立在心智或經驗之外的任何人或任何事上的;
惟有如此,它才能重返愛的源頭,
並從歷盡滄桑的惡夢中覺醒過來。

所謂由惡夢中清醒過來,
意味著你不再接受自己天生就不值得愛的那個幻覺。
藉由無條件地愛自己,你證明了愛的存在。
而且,當你這樣做時,
你會吸引許多無條件愛你的人進入你的生命裡。

向身外尋求愛,注定會失敗!
因為你無法從別人身上得到你尚未給予自己的東西。
你若吝於疼愛自己,
必會吸引那些同樣不愛你的人進入你的生命裡。

無條件的愛,這種經驗必須從
你的內心開始,而不是向別人索求來的。
切莫將別人愛你與否視為你能否愛自己的先決條件,
更別將你的信心放在愛的條件或它的外在形式上。
因為所有那些,都是變化無常的,都是遷流不定的,
只會隨著每一時刻的遭遇,生滅起伏不已。

真愛是不會改變的,
它的存在絲毫不受愛的外在形式所限。
這個永恆不變、無所不在且
無形無相的愛的源頭,一直就在你內邊。

你的信心只能放在這個源頭上,
因為這種愛經得起千錘百煉,
遠遠超過你所認識的一切事物。
它一旦深植你心,你就再也不會往身外尋找快樂了。

在你一生種種際遇裡,人們來來去去,
有些人對你很好,有些人則顯然不夠友善。
但無論如何,你應先肯定愛的存在,同時也試著看出,
那些缺乏愛的言行背後原是一個受傷的人在哭求幫助。

因此,你會鼓勵別人也像你一樣,往內去尋找愛的源頭,
心中明白自己無法解決別人的問題,
他們惟有自願往內心去找,才可能扭轉悲慘的遭遇。

能無條件地愛人的人,不會對自己或他人的自由加以設限,
也不會故意吝於愛人,因為那樣只會失去自己的愛。

愛,在任何情況下都是有求必應的,
而且給予者永遠知道要何時給,或給予何人。

愛的行動並不復雜,惟有當你有所保留時,
愛才會變得複雜起來,而這種愛,其實已經變質了。

愛自己的人,不會害怕孤獨,
因為孤獨給人一個更深地愛自己以及接受自己的機會。

如果她的愛人拒絕他,她會覺得自己沒有價值嗎?
她會自艾自憐從世界退縮,或焦切地四處尋找替代品嗎?
不會的,她只會繼續在自己的每個遭遇、
每個步伐中,依然吐納著她的愛,延伸著她的愛。

能無條件地愛自己的人,她的愛是沒有程度之分的,
也不會附帶條件,她不會特別偏愛某個人,
她愛的是眼前的每一位,不會有這位比那位
更值得愛或更不值得愛的問題。

愛不會勒索,不須討價還價,也不會向恐懼讓步。
事實上,愛所在之處,
恐懼與它的爪牙就無立足之地了。

Monday, October 13, 2014

Best View French Restaurant in Hong Kong ~~~

Before getting on the "Hello Kitty Flight " we went to the 3 Stars Michelin Restaurant " Caprice " for Luncheon ~~~ The amazingly delicious Watermelon lobster and the mouth melting Waguee Beef were Definitely top top rated !! 🍷🍷 

10/12/2014 



The universe and Greek Heros ~~~

" The Universe, the Gods, and Men " 

In this enchanting retelling of Greek myth, Jean-Pierre Vernant combines his deep knowledge of the subject with an original storytelling style. Beginning with the creation of Earth out of Chaos, Vernant continues with the castration of Uranus, the war between the Titans and the Olympian gods, the wily ruses of Prometheus and Zeus, and the creation of Pandora, the first woman. His narrative takes readers from the Trojan War to the voyage of Odysseus, from the story of Dionysus to the terrible destiny of Oedipus to Perseus's confrontation with the Gorgons.
Jean-Pierre Vernant has devoted himself to the study of Greek mythology. In recounting these tales, he unravels for us their multiple meanings and brings to life the beloved figures of legend whose narratives lie at the origin of our civilization. With remarkable psychological acuity, Vernant presents a picture of the world as the Greeks understood it. The relationship between the human and the divine -- realms that have always been intimately connected -- and their place within a world of potent natural forces are evoked effortlessly in a narrative that retains the magical quality of myth and reads with the compelling momentum of a good novel.

In my opinion, you need to first have some knowledge of the Greek Gods in order to connect all the stories together smoothly without flipping back and forth the reference for the names. He not only tells the story of the gods and also the Ancient history of man and Greece, so that we have the opportunity to travel through time to explore the inner minds of these heroes and monsters.  In addition, the author provides an in depth thoughts on how the Ancient Greeks perceived the creation of the universe and the philosophy they withheld, which was not far beyond the Ancient Indian and Buddhist thinking. For instance, he said, there are three categories of the perception of the time: first is  the Eternity, with no beginning and end and no consistent perception of good and bad; secondly, the cycle of lives as human beings and the whole phenomenon, which consists endless cycles of birth, growth, deterioration and death; thirdly, in  the gods world, everything is created by mind and their life span is at least 500 times longer than man. 

Therefore, to have a clear diagram of the Greek Ancient Mythology, I recommend to read the other interesting book as a complimentary, " Heros, Gods, and Monster of Greek Mythology" , in which portrays every god's characteristic and related stories through a list of different stories. Besides, the audio reading was fantastic, as the narrator was actually telling a dramatic story to children. It was very entertaining !

Jupiter and Psyche



「Oh ...邱比特, 你是人神共寵的王子!!」
平時,Angel 超不喜歡愛情故事的,今日午後,卻也被這個希臘愛情故事著迷著~
可能因為他太不真實!
為了愛,他不惜放下身段,放棄神格,放棄神權。。。
這是希臘神話裡,最唯美最純情的一幕。。。
感謝邱建一老師 , Carolyn !