2009-02-28

人生天地間

人生天地常如客,何獨鄉關定是家﹔
爭似區區隨所遇,年年處處看梅花。

佛經上說:

『一切有為法,如夢幻泡影,
 如露亦如電,應作如是觀。』

意思是說,世界上的事物都像夢境、幻術、水泡和影子一樣空虛而容易破滅,世間所有的一切都像朝露、閃電一般稍縱即逝。盡歡極樂,但樂極終歸要生悲,和短促的年命一樣,和世間所有因緣所生的事物一樣,人生的歡樂也注定不能永恆。

晏幾道晚年為自己的詞集作了一篇序文,大約說道:

『追惟往昔過從飲酒之人,
 或壟木已長,或病不偶。』

考其篇中所記悲歡合離之事,如幻,如電,如昨夢、前塵,但能掩卷憮然,感光陰之易遷,嘆境緣之無實,曾經有過的悲歡離合,最終也都倏忽如昨夢前塵。


人生就是以這樣微不足道的狀態,生存於宇宙之中。陵上青青的柏樹與澗中磊磊的山石,是永恆大自然的象徵;而人生如過客,若飆塵,卻是短暫而易逝的。在茫茫的天地之間,人就如遠行的過客,只作短暫的逗留,沒有永遠的歸宿。

魯迅先生《過客》中『困頓倔強,眼光陰沉』的過客形象,是卑微的人生徬徨與困頓的喻體,來路佈滿荊棘,向前去的道路最終通向墳場,那是黑暗和絕望的所在。鄭愁予有道:『我噠噠的馬蹄是個美麗的錯誤,我是個過客,不是歸人』這樣的詩句之所以動人,是和人生飄渺無依這樣的背景相關的。

衰落和消亡是注定的,憂傷和落魄於是成為一種宿命。
  

2009-02-24

Stubborn Monk ...

老漢生來性太偏,不肯隨流入世廛;
頑性至今猶未化,剛將傲骨抹儒禪。
儒重功名真已喪,禪崇機辯行難全;
如今垂死更何用,祇將此念報龍天。





2009-02-21

冷冷的夏

人生只要做錯幾個重要的決定,最後便會剩得個落天長恨、一無所有,面對將來,只能說句:

『老去悲秋強自寬』

如何面對自己,面對關心自己的人,面對自己所愛的人,真的不容易、不容易。

一個男人,如果不是終生奮鬥,而又益以運程永在,多數會像女人上了中年的臃腫,事業中落,『好日子』不再見。

經常對著過去得意的好日子傷感,所得到的是些甚麼?也不過是傷感。或者還加上傷感的後遺症。也許有人認為,人總不免於懷舊,尤其是今昔之比,『大不如前灑淚時』,人情之常。

但要是將這種懊惱變為喜悅,也未嘗不可。可喜者在於,至少有許多東西,『我以前有過』。而他人到今日亦未必有之。這是一喜。

再能夠想一想,天下間實際沒有能夠永遠擁有的東西,能夠早點沒有,反而少去一段長時間的精神負累。亦是一喜。

空山拍手,細看身邊一無所有,這樣離世,豈不乾淨?

其實幾許皇圖霸業,夢醒時只不過『覺來知是夢,不勝悲』罷了,反為有情所鐘,攜手歸於淡薄,才是幸福的真貌,妳說是嗎?

冷冷的夏 - 王芷蕾 
(正確的歌詞如下)



作詞:姚若龍
作曲:B.Jones/B.Mc Dill/D Lee
編曲:陳志遠

想著他, 想他那夜說的話
木棉花, 怎能燦爛一季夏
怪只怪那時不明白話中話
木棉落盡,我才發現我好傻
我真的好傻, 我好傻, 我好傻

  迷惑的心四處張望
  不見熾熱的胸膛
  多情的淚縱然溫暖
  暖不了黑夜長長

  落寞隨風飄盪輕輕唱
  今夜好淒涼
  也許我該邀請星光
  共度這憂傷

忘了吧, 忘了冷冷的眼光
不再讓, 雨絲飄入我心窗
霓虹不再閃爍,醉人的光芒
卸了妝的愛情,原來是憂傷
原來是憂傷, 是憂傷, 是憂傷
  

2009-02-17

Monday Morning ...

這是改編自 Peter, Paul & Mary 一首叫 Monday Morning 的舊歌, 歌曲講述男主角身罹絕症,臨終前回想與女友相聚的美好時光。奈何天意弄人,他身患絕症,自此她不再來,沒有慰問關心,只令他思憶懷念。但他沒有埋怨,卻是細訴遺願,希望她找得好伴侶,祝她幸福。

當中獨白的一段,聽來哀傷,惹人憐痛!

遺言- 馮偉棠



繁星點點在照耀,心間悲痛知多少?
月色映照小橋,愁懷心緒漫寂寥。

念當初嬉水綠潮,秉燭相對深宵,
月色映照青苗,苗為君種為君翹。

樂聲中偎倚共唱和鳴,婉婉喜聴鶑聲,
月色映照風鈴,無情驚破愛的寂靜。

「自從我病咗之後,
 好耐都冇見妳嘞!
 妳知唔知我每日喺露台等妳吖?
 太陽落山,就好似妳同我嘅感情慢慢消失;
 我唔會怪妳,我只希望妳嘅新朋友,
 比我對妳更好、更加愛妳!」

斜影金光萬度明,哀哀悲痛嘶聲,
月色映照我孤零,遺言祝妳 ......
  

2009-02-16

非洲賣鞋

去非洲賣鞋,一個老生常談的故事:

有一間運動鞋公司,看中了非洲這個市場,因非洲人都不穿鞋的,所以委派了一位業務發展經理去了解一下市場。經理觀察過後,便滙報說:「這裡市場很小,非洲人都不喜歡穿鞋,他們喜愛自然。」總裁將信將疑 ....

於是多派了一位業務發展經理去,再了解一下市場。這個經理觀察過後,卻滙報說:「這裡市場非常大,每個非洲人都會跟我們買鞋。」


現實又如何?

非洲是個鞋油大市場,每年銷量達六千萬美元。非洲人都穿鞋了嗎?非也。 《商業週刊》稱非洲穿鞋者不多,市場不大,然而擁有鞋者,莫不珍而重之,經常擦亮,鞋油於是多用了。

現實從來都比虛構故事更堪玩味,商機又何嘗想當然得出來者?
  

2009-02-11

朝來寒雨 ...

光影流逝無聲,
一轉眼,
很多人和事都在翻騰,
有的很快忘記,有的卻一直記得。
不說太多,
留個小小的紀念給自己。



林花謝了春紅,
太匆匆,
無奈朝來寒雨晚來風。
胭脂淚,留人醉,
幾時重?
自是人生長恨水長東!


摘自『五代.李煜.烏夜啼』


我想,思念,是一種病。
當你在穿山越嶺的另一邊,
我在孤獨的路上沒有盡頭。
一輩子要有多少來不及,
才會發現,
最重要的東西已經遠去。

思念,也許是一種病。
讓我在黑夜裡想起難忘的事情。
到底要做多少愚蠢的事情,
才能學會,審視自己,
不抱怨事與願違。

思念,其實是一種病。
讓我緊緊抓住不屬於自己的一切。
那些人,那些事物,匆忙離去。

忘記本身就是一種記憶。
逃避,沒有任何作用。
我知道還會有來不及。
思念,真的是一種病。
  

2009-02-09

Good Qualities of a Man ...?

依照常理,重視承諾的人,理應會受人喜愛,因為他是個可以付託的人,只要得到他的承諾,便會有絶大的信心,他將不負所托,因為他一旦承諾了,便會生死以之,至死方休地實現承諾。可是,在現實世界中卻往往適得其反,太重視承諾的人,反而不會輕易的許下承諾,因為害怕自己答應了的事,到頭來卻不能兌現。於是,不了解的人,反倒會覺得他沒有擔當,常常以為他不肯作出何承諾。這會是個相當吊詭 (paradox) 的狀況。

就正如問一個沒有什麼談戀愛經驗的女人,她的理想伴侶要有什麼條件,你會發現她們可以開出各式各樣的條件,比如:溫柔、體貼、有責任感、愛我、孝順、有錢、有男子氣概,或沒有不良嗜好、可以養家活口、學歷好、身高,有的還希望要有很好的職業:醫生、律師,也有人喜歡軍人......。

談過戀愛或是踏入婚姻的人就會知道,這些條件再好,一對佳偶還是可以在年久失修後,變成一對怨偶;當時愛得死去活來,過不了幾年,可能恨得水深火熱,溫柔體貼可能只是一時的假象。
  • 有責任感的人可能要求你更有責任感,他總會覺得他所負的責任,比你的責任沈重,而且重要得多。
  • 你的人,可能用錯誤的方式愛你,你就好像一塊密無孔隙的石頭,永遠吸收不了他的愛。有些人的愛,像颱風過後的流水,在滋潤你的同時也會帶來砂;砂石淤積,愛就被嫉妒所佔據。
  • 你因為他太孝順而決定託付終身,在不久的將來,你離開他的理由,和你愛他的理由往往相同,因為他太孝順了,勢必覺得你受到輕視,你只有黯然離開,把他送還他的媽媽。
  • 有錢歸有錢,你可能用不到,不然,就是捲入了一個大家族。有一個女人,她本來有美貌有才華,經濟上也自給自足,只因為戀愛失敗,為賭一口氣相親嫁給了一個富家子,沒想到,沒撈到什麼享受,反而換來一身勞役。家有家規,她每一天從早忙到晚上十二點,全年三百六十五天無休,年薪還是看公公高興才有。直到她離開了這個家,她才發現,自己的投資報酬率算錯了。最委屈的是,她發現自己從未愛過那個沒什麼出息的紈褲子弟,還為他生兒育女。
  • 有男子氣概的人,可能生性暴躁,或者兇殘。當初他迷人的地方,將來變成一種致命的吸引力。
  • 沒有不良嗜好,聽起來是個基本條件,但是如果除了沒有不良嗜好之外,他就沒什麼好說的,你極可能會發現他是一個無趣的人,跟他一起過日子,好像永遠在喝一碗沒有加任何調味料的粥,連個配飯的小菜也沒有。
  • 如果你挑的是職業,挑醫生、挑律師、挑有為的商人,難免會有一種「悔教夫婿覓封候」的感慨。他會忙得沒有時間陪你,愛情品質常不如你的想像。當然,以上都是往壞處想,你也可以往好處想,他如果沒有時間陪你,你可能獲得較多的自由。但在還沒認識他之前,你本來就有不受約束的自由,婚姻或愛情,並不只是用來爭取自由的。
如果「擁有」這麼難,那就學習「放下」吧。
  

2009-02-05

Marketing a Product

A project to create a business with a group of enthusiastic students in 2006 with some "old fashion" marketing pitches shown below:

This Spring …

We met. I remember quite clearly when this story happened. I bought you this mobile phone lace as a gift. That time, you were in me and I was in you. Well, I thought we were …...


This Summer …

You left. I don't know what happened. And I don't know why either. I bought myself this key holder ring, and to hold you in my heart ……


This Autumn …

Anyway, life still has to move on. I bought both you and me two necklaces. Because I loved you; and perhaps I love you still ……


Recommended Readings:
  • 學生創意飾物膺最佳產品 [星島日報] 2006-12-17 A10 港聞
  • 千六中學生體驗營商之道 [大公報] 2006-12-17 A12 港聞
  • 學生展銷會疏爽 鄭大班荷包乾塘 [太陽報] 2006-12-17 A23 太陽谷
  • 1600 學生變身企業家 [新報] 2006-12-17 A10 政情 政情糖不甩 鐘環友
  • 鄭海泉闊綽光顧學生老闆 [明報] 2006-12-17 B01 經濟

  

2009-02-03

Order Out Of Chaos

Task: The group is blindfolded. Each member (total 12 persons) is assigned a number (the number could be negative and non-integer). Once the numbers are given out, the members must line up in proper numerical order without talking.

Rules: No talking is allowed, blindfolds should remain in place until the task is completed.



One of the solutions:

One of the members started clapping his hands continuously and walked to the center of the room gradually. He was trying to establish a center of communication by attracting members to gather around him through hearing the sound of clapping hands. He knew that the clapping hands would help people to find his location by the sense of hearing.

When people came near him and touched him, he had to find a way to reveal his number without making a noise. A quick solution he could think of was to grab the hand of the other member and wrote his number on other member’s palm. In return, the member got the idea of exchanging information through writing on each other’s palm. He wrote on the palms of those members that got near him and soon a small group of members began to line up according to the value of their own number without uttering a sound.

Then, another problem appeared. There were 2 other members imitating the hand clapping and also gathered a small group of people with them. Not knowing if these 2 members had the same idea and were communicating with other members the same way, so the first person who clapped his hands figured that he should do it persistently. By that the other 2 members might give up in clapping their hands. Then he could get the chance to attract all members coming around in one place. After clapping for few more minutes, the other 2 members finally gave up clapping their hands. Progressively, every member came along one by one. Then each member exchanged information by writing on other members palm and a line began to form.

Eventually, after a few more minutes, the whole group of members was able to form a line according to the ascending order of each member’s number value, from -2.02 to +6.5. The total time taken was around 20 minutes. It was quite amazing for a group of people who just got to know each other for no more than 2 days.

This Team Building game stipulated some interesting questions:
  • What ways did you see to solve the problem?
  • How did you try to communicate this solution?
  • What examples can of not understanding what someone was trying to say?
  • How did you deal with any frustration?
  • What kind of leadership came out of the group?
  • What did you like about how the group made decisions?