When the Going Gets Tough

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As long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive...！

They say you've got to be tough

Ok,people...here are a few fitness classes below. Take whichever you please.

	The Prince's Trust Party In The Park 1999
	Top Of The Pops,UK 1999
	Brit Awards 1999
	Smash Hits Poll Winners Awards 1999 Quite honesty, this is papa (Keith) letting his kid win the game haha... On a serious note, talking about popularity,I couldn't care less. If one of them leaves,it's 4/5 Boyzone, two leave, 3/5 Boyzone, simple math. 5 Ronans won't make a Boyzone, 'nuff said.
Do you reckon being famous and popoular will help you be a strong person? You could take a lok at Mikey's story here. (May'09.Last accessed Apr'23) & here (Apr'09) We may not need to play tough if we can believe in ourselves. Props to all the celebrities out there who openly admit and accept their weakness as human beings. How harsh could it be to be grounded and at the same time trying not to lose popularity by looking good and healthy so as to meet their fans' unreasonably high expectations! Hey, if not all of us deserve to be glamorous, we all at least deserve to be miserable humans!
	Comic Relief 99 Mikey taking the lead vocal in Ronan's absence.

Oh yes, can't forget laughing is good for your health!

But some say you just need to believe

The reason why I decided to update "When the Going Gets Tough" after quite some time (I've been pretty busy though I always wanted to update stuff...) was that I've just finished reading a little book on 普门品 (Universal Gateway) Chapter 25 from 法華経 (Lotus Sutra) written by my favorite Buddhologist. It's basically about the miracles delivered by 観音 (Guanyin/ Goddess of Mercy) whom I've already talked about a bit in my previous post 懺悔文.

The song below is by the same singer, Chyi Yu, and is another hauntingly beautiful piece. The mantras are taken from the aforementioned sutra, one of the main teachings of which is how every single creature-the earth, plants, animals, individuals, etc., - possesses 仏心 (Buddha Heart), which allows you to attain enlightenment to evolve into Buddha.

Thus, in that sense, your own courage in the face of adversity is more focused on, the scholar argues, rather than the supernatural forces from above the clouds aiming to save you from hell, and that will to live your life itself is a miracle.

Yes, you may not be able to cast spells like Harry Potter, but you can still be hopeful because you are encouraged and supported night and day by 観音, a mother figure for all people. You do what you can do as her child on this earth, and the rest will be taken care of.

观世音菩萨普门品 (Universal Gateway) guān shì yīn pú sà pǔ mén pǐn

世尊妙相具 我今重问彼 shì zūn miào xiāng jù wǒ jīn zhòng wèn bǐ World Honored One, complete With wondrous marks, I now ask again, 佛子何因缘 名为观世音 fó zǐ hé yīn yuán míng wéi guān shì yīn Why is this disciple of the Buddha Called Guanshiyin? 具足妙相尊 偈答无尽意 jù zú miào xiāng zūn jì dá wú jìn yì] The Honored One of Perfect, Wondrous Marks, With verses answered Inexhaustible Intention: 汝听观音行 善应诸方所 rǔ tīng guān yīn xíng shàn yīng zhū fāng suǒ Listen to the practice of Guanyin, Who skillfully responds In all places. 弘誓深如海 历劫不思议 hóng shì shēn rú hǎi lì jié bù sī yì With vast vows, as deep as the sea, Throughout inconceivable eons, 侍多千亿佛 发大清净愿 shì duō qiān yì fó fā dà qīng jìng yuàn He has served many thousands Of kotis of Buddhas, And has made great, pure vows. 我为汝略说 闻名及见身 wǒ wéi rǔ lüè shuō wén míng jí jiàn shēn I shall now tell you in brief, That for those who hear his name Or see him, 心念不空过 能灭诸有苦 xīn niàn bù kōng guò néng miè zhū yǒu kǔ And who are mindful Of his name unceasingly, He can extinguish the suffering Of all realms of existence. 假使兴害意 推落大火坑 jiǎ shǐ xīng hài yì tuī luò dà huǒ kēng If someone is the victim Of another’s harmful intent, And is pushed into a pit of fire, 念彼观音力 火坑变成池 niàn bǐ guān yīn lì huǒ kēng biàn chéng chí If he evokes The strength of Guanyin, The pit of fire will turn Into a pool. 或漂流巨海 龙鱼诸鬼难 huò piāo liú jù hǎi lóng yú zhū guǐ nán If someone is being Tossed about in the great sea, And is surrounded by the dangers Of dragons, fish, and ghosts, 念彼观音力 波浪不能没 niàn bǐ guān yīn lì bō làng bù néng méi If he evokes The strength of Guanyin, The waves will not drown him. 或在须弥峰 为人所推堕 huò zài xū mí fēng wéi rén suǒ tuī duò If someone is on the peak of Mount Sumeru, And another person tries To push him off, 念彼观音力 如日虚空住 niàn bǐ guān yīn lì rú rì xū kōng zhù If he evokes The strength of Guanyin, He will stand firm As the sun in space. 或被恶人逐 堕落金刚山 huò bèi è rén zhú duò luò jīn gāng shān If someone is pursued By evil people, Who want to throw him Off a Vajra Mountain, 念彼观音力 不能损一毛 niàn bǐ guān yīn lì bù néng sǔn yī máo If he evokes The strength of Guanyin, Not a single hair on his body Will be harmed. 或值怨贼绕 各执刀加害 huò zhí yuàn zéi rào gè zhí dāo jiā hài If someone is surrounded By vicious bandits, Who threaten him with knives, 念彼观音力 咸即起慈心 niàn bǐ guān yīn lì xián jí qǐ cí xīn If he evokes The strength of Guanyin, The bandits will all give rise To compassion. 或遭王难苦 临刑欲寿终 huò zāo wáng nán kǔ lín xíng yù shòu zhōng If someone is in trouble With the law, And on the verge Of being executed, 念彼观音力 刀寻段段坏 niàn bǐ guān yīn lì dāo xún duàn duàn huài If he evokes The strength of Guanyin, The knives will break into pieces. 或囚禁枷锁 手足被杻械 huò qiú jīn jiā suǒ shǒu zú bèi niǔ xiè If someone is imprisoned, Shackled, or chained, Or if his hands and feet Are in stocks, 念彼观音力 释然得解脱 niàn bǐ guān yīn lì shì rán dé jiě tuō If he evokes The strength of Guanyin, His bonds will open And he will be free. 咒诅诸毒药 所欲害身者 zhòu zǔ zhū dú yào suǒ yù hài shēn zhě If someone is about To be harmed, By mantras, spells, or poison, 念彼观音力 还著于本人 niàn bǐ guān yīn lì huán zhù yú běn rén If he evokes The strength of Guanyin, The harm will all return To the sender. 或遇恶罗刹 毒龙诸鬼等 huò yù è luó chà dú lóng zhū guǐ děng If someone meets With evil rakshasas, Poisonous dragons, or ghosts, 念彼观音力 时悉不敢害 niàn bǐ guān yīn lì shí xī bù gǎn hài If he evokes The strength of Guanyin, They will then not dare To harm him. 若恶兽围绕 利牙爪可怖 ruò è shòu wéi rào lì yá zhǎo kě bù If someone is surrounded by vicious beasts, With fearsome fangs and claws, 念彼观音力 疾走无边方 niàn bǐ guān yīn lì jí zǒu wú biān fāng If he evokes The strength of Guanyin, The beasts will quickly run Far away. 蚖蛇及蝮蝎 气毒烟火然 wèn shé jí fù xiē qì dú yān huǒ rán Poisonous snakes and scorpions, Have blazing lethal vapors, 念彼观音力 寻声自回去 niàn bǐ guān yīn lì xún shēng zì huí qù But if one evokes The strength of Guanyin, At the sound of one’s voice, They will disperse. 云雷鼓掣电 降雹澍大雨 yún léi gǔ chè diàn jiàng báo shù dà yǔ Clouds of roaring thunder And lightning May send down hail Or great floods of rain, 念彼观音力 应时得消散 niàn bǐ guān yīn lì yīng shí dé xiāo sàn But if one evokes The strength of Guanyin, The clouds will Immediately scatter. 众生被困厄 无量苦逼身 zhòng shēng bèi kùn è wú liáng kǔ bī shēn Living beings are beset With hardships, And oppressed By limitless sufferings. 观音妙智力 能救世间苦 guān yīn miào zhì lì néng jiù shì jiān kǔ The power of Guanyin’s Wondrous wisdom Can rescue the world From suffering. 具足神通力 广修智方便 jù zú shén tōng lì guǎng xiū zhì fāng biàn Complete with the power Of spiritual penetrations, Vastly cultivating wisdom And expedient means, 十方诸国土 无刹不现身 shí fāng zhū guó tǔ wú chà bù xiàn shēn Going throughout countries In the ten directions, He manifests everywhere In all places. 种种诸恶趣 地狱鬼畜生 zhǒng zhǒng zhū è qù dì yù guǐ xù shēng The various evil destinies, Those of the hells, ghosts, And animals, 生老病死苦 以渐悉令灭 shēng lǎo bìng sǐ kǔ yǐ jiàn xī líng miè And the pain of birth, old age, Sickness, and death Are all gradually wiped away. 真观清净观 广大智慧观 zhēn guān qīng jìng guān guǎng dà zhì huì guān True Contemplator, Pure Contemplator, Contemplator with Vast, Great Wisdom, 悲观及慈观 常愿常瞻仰 bēi guān jí cí guān cháng yuàn cháng zhān yǎng Compassionate Contemplator, Kind Contemplator, May we constantly behold you With reverence! 无垢清净光 慧日破诸闇 wú gòu qīng jìng guāng huì rì pò zhū jǐng Undefiled pure light, The sun of wisdom that breaks Through the darkness 能伏灾风火 普明照世间 néng fú zāi fēng huǒ pǔ míng zhào shì jiān Is able to quell calamities Of wind and fire As it shines on all worlds. 悲体戒雷震 慈意妙大云 bēi tǐ jiè léi zhèn cí yì miào dà yún s Compassionate substance: The thunder of precepts. Kind intent: A wondrous great cloud. 澍甘露法雨 灭除烦恼焰 hù gān lù fǎ yǔ miè chú fán nǎo yàn He rains down sweet dew And Dharma rain, Which extinguish the flames 诤讼经官处 怖畏军阵中 zhèng sòng jīng guān chǔ bù wèi jūn zhèn zhōng In the midst of contention, When faced with lawsuits, Or when someone is terrified On the battlefield, 念彼观音力 众怨悉退散 niàn bǐ guān yīn lì zhòng yuàn xī tuì sàn If he evokes The strength of Guanyin, All his many enemies Will scatter and leave. 妙音观世音 梵音海潮音 miào yīn guān shì yīn fàn yīn hǎi cháo yīn Wondrous your sound, Contemplator Of the World’s Sounds A pure sound, a sound Like the sea tide, 胜彼世间音 是故须常念 shèng bǐ shì jiān yīn shì gù xū cháng niàn A sound beyond All worldly sounds, We shall always bear it in mind. 念念勿生疑 观世音净圣 niàn niàn wù shēng yí guān shì yīn jìng shèng In thought after thought We have no doubt: Guanshiyin is pure and sagely. 于苦恼死厄 能为作依怙 yú kǔ nǎo sǐ è néng wéi zuò yī hù In times of suffering, agony, Danger, and death, He is our refuge and protector. 具一切功德 慈眼视众生 jù yī qiē gōng dé cí yǎn shì zhòng shēng Complete with all merit And virtue, His kind eyes Watching living beings, 福聚海无量 是故应顶礼 fú jù hǎi wú liáng shì gù yīng dǐng lǐ He is endowed with massive blessings, limitless as the sea. Therefore we should Reverently worship him.

English translation from; Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia

Skimming through the mantras it may give you a feeling of watching a horror movie...yet you know what? People enjoy watching scary scenes, because they are not the one who's actually being tortured, right? So putting your own life in the third person's perspective, your atrocious life has somewhat become entertainable... after all, you cannot be too serious about your own life but got to take it easy in order to live the difficulties. 観音 watches over our struggles which may be making us look like wannabe comedians.[*] And yes, we have a home to go back after we endure all these things.

The Buddhist scholar, the author of the book often says in his writings that the heaven, free of suffering, treasures hardships experienced on earth. The challenges you've accepted are the (only) gifts you can bring back to the place of eternity where your tales will be wholeheartedly appreciated.

[*]The book by Tom Phillips (2018) below which I happened to be reading may best explain what I'm getting at.

Let's face it

It was cool when I was about to edit this page, a song "I Will Survive" had popped up in my mind and then I found that Gloria, who would turn 80 this year, just posted the new video a month ago!

I am very grateful for this. 観音 has surely helped me encounter this, hasn't she? After all, she believes in you, too...

It makes it all the more valuable to be sung by a woman who's lived up to that age. Thank you Gloria and everyone who brought this. It's such a blessing.

"I Will Survive" written by Freddie Perren, Dino Fekaris (1978), sung by Gloria Gaynor

At first I was afraid, I was petrified Kept thinking I could never live Without you by my side But then I spent so many nights Thinking how you did me wrong And I grew strong And I learned how to get along And so you're back From outer space I just walked in to find you here With that sad look upon your face I should have changed That stupid lock, I should have made you Leave your key If I'd known for just one second You'd be back to bother me Go on now, go, walk out the door Just turn around now 'Cause you're not welcome Anymore Weren't you the one Who tried to hurt me With goodbye Do you think I'd crumble Did you think I'd lay down And die? Oh no, not I, I will survive Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive I've got all my life to live And I've got all my love to give And I'll survive I will survive, hey, hey It took all the strength I had not to fall apart Kept trying hard To mend the pieces Of my broken heart And I spent oh-so many nights Just feeling sorry for myself I used to cry But now I hold my head up high And you see me Somebody new I'm not that Chained-up little person And still in love with you And so you felt like dropping in And just expect me to be free Well, now I'm saving all my lovin' For someone who's loving me Go on now, go, walk out the door Just turn around now 'Cause you're not welcome Anymore Weren't you the one Who tried to break me With goodbye Do you think I'd crumble Did you think I'd lay down And die? Oh no, not I, I will survive Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive I've got all my life to live And I've got all my love to give And I'll survive I will survive Oh Go on now, go, walk out the door Just turn around now 'Cause you're not welcome Anymore Weren't you the one Who tried to break me With goodbye Do you think I'd crumble Did you think I'd lay down And die? Oh no, not I, I will survive Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive I've got all my life to live And I've got all my love to give And I'll survive I will survive I will survive

Finale

Let me end by quoting a song, Who wants to Live Foerver by Queen

And we can have forever
And we can love forever
Forever is our today...