In the past few months, I have been wondering where he’d gone because he is usually very active on the net. I was a little bit afraid that the darkness would consume him as I feel that it was in there from our exchange of thoughts, but because I never knew him at personal level, I never asked the question. He left me a message before saying he will respond to my latest comment, but never did.

Weeks passed, and today I received a DM from his twitter account – @VinaMist notified me that Chris (lethe’s real name) had passed away a month ago. I was just at Taste Of Melbourne, in rapture after savouring the myriad of beautiful food and wine in that place. To receive news of death at such a joyous occasion is a new experience to me.

To be honest I feel for him, not many people connects to others with that amount of sincerity. He connects to people through his work – I feel that had he not died, he would have contributed greatly to the world of literature. He invited me once to converse over Skype, I wished I had taken that opportunity while it was still knocking on my door. But such is life, I guess.

I don’t think that the news ruined the experience. I accept that this is the nature of things, that for every beginning there is an end. At the back of my mind I wanted to know, how did he passed away? But for me who is on the other side of the world, this would be a no-question. This would be like asking whether the Dailai Lama owned  a pair of jeans or not.

For those who have no means to find out, it is a no-question. I will never know. And so I let go of the question and appreciate what little is left.

Lethe, this will be my final poetry for you. May you rest in peace, my friend.

The Day Turned

With eyes open I stepped outside;
on the pond was the moon,
reflected.

Darkness falls, the day is gone
and the sun’s warmth in my heart,
remembered.

It is common practice for Oracle stored procedure to pass cursors to calling client. The client then needs to guarantee that the cursors are handled and closed properly, otherwise overtime the open cursor will accumulate into an ORA-1000 error (“ORA-1000 Maximum Number of Cursors Exceeded”)

In Java world, cursor translates as ResultSet. In the case where an open cursor is passed from a stored procedure to a Java code (over JDBC), the code must work with the ResultSet and not forget to close() it after it’s done with it. However, this is often overlooked, because when ResultSet is garbage collected, the close() is not called and as a result, the open cursor remains open in the Oracle server.

This fault is surprisingly common amidst Java programmer – and the reason is because inexperienced Java programmers are usually spoiled by Garbage Collection, and many of them failed to develop the strict habit of clearing resource after they are used.

Therefore, Java programmers should always remember to explicitly close() any resource that is explicitly open such as file, and in this case, Oracle database cursors (ResultSet).

Example

This is an example of stored procedure using cursor:

PROCEDURE A_PROC(P_1 IN VARCHAR2, P_OUT_VAL OUT SYS_REFCURSOR) IS
    -- body of execution ---
    OPEN P_OUT_VAL ...
    -- exception handling --
    EXCEPTION WHEN OTHERS THEN
    -- don't forget to close cursor here
END A_PROC;

on stored procedures that passes cursor to the client, it is important to first agree on the way cursors will be handled on exception cases. The best case is usually for the stored procedure to close all open cursor that it can close in the case of exception. In the case where open cursor is successfully passed, the Java/JDBC code need to handle it like so:

CallableStatement cstmt = conn.prepareCall("SQL...");
ResultSet rs = null;
try {
   rs = // obtain result set here
}catch(Exception ex){
   // handle exception here
}
finally{
   // ensure result set (cursors) are closed
   rs.close();
   // ensure statement is closed here
   cstmt.close();
}

Offline ResultSet

What if you need to use the result set outside the context of the operation? Then use CachedRowSet – Oracle provide a concrete implementation that will work fine, called OracleCachedRowSet. Like so:

// this is where the live cursor is
ResultSet rs;
// define offline container & populate it.
CachedRowSet crs = new OracleCachedRowSet();
crs.populate(rs);

But beware:

• ResultSet can be huge, CachedRowSet is convenient but beware of extracting too many data into the cached rowset. That cache lives in memory, don’t blow it out.
• ResultSet resource lifecycle still need to be maintained as per usual, close if when you’ve done reading.

Corner case: Cursor Spike

It is also possible to encounter ORA-1000 error when a JDBC Connection (Oracle Session) is shared amongst multiple thread of execution. A cursor limit is usually imposed on a given Session – sometimes it is possible that due to high usage of the shared session, the cursor ‘spikes’ and exceeded this limit.

This will give a false impression and could cause database developers and JDBC developers to go round chasing the cause for days, while in fact it is not a code problem, but rather session capacity / provisioning problem.

The solution to this is to implement good logging in both end (JDBC & DB side) to isolate the cause, working with DBAs to categorically record session usage and seeing patterns in which the session is being used.

The ideal solution is to control the Connection sharing via Connection Pools.

The middle way is not found in the fanatics
It is also not found in the ignorant and non-believers.

The middle way is not for the lazy
It is also not found in overwork.

The middle way is more subtle
than the hint of sweetness in a strong black coffee.

It is unimaginably difficult to perceive.
yet for those who have seen it, it can’t not be seen again.

As Buddha say in the lotus Sutra
“The Door to enlightenment is difficult to perceive and impossible to attain”

It is only with constant practice, and determined effort
can one understand one’s true nature

And it is only through understanding of the one true nature
that the universe is subdued.

When this done,
The way that is no way
will be in full play.

this is a very good way of capturing notes on the go. This is done through an application called MaStory. Seriously, is there anything this phone can’t do!?

Btw I am gathering notes on n900 configuration. It will be one hell of a guide once it’s done.

On art & reframing of context

I agree with you – art is not the invention of an object. Art is the expression that captures the perception of the artist towards that object at that moment. In doing so, the work is imbued with the artist’s life state. Such work leaves us in awe because the better the expression, the clearer/easier it is for us to EXPERIENCE that imbued life state.

In doing so, great work of art inspires.

Reflecting on the narrative of Basquat

My immediate emotion after watching the film was sadness.
How is it that a certain narrative comes to define a person’s life?

This is the nature of all phenomena: From thought comes intent. From intent, action. From action, interaction. From interaction, causes are made. From causes, effect/impact on the world.

Simply, our life is our ultimate work of art. That Basquiat’s life inspires sadness is proof that his mind works in that plane. It is very sad indeed because it is unnecessarily so.

Success, Fame and the price you pay.

“Success breeds disappointment, because success and failure are two sides of the same coin” – I disagree with this. I think we are not disappointed by our failure, but rather by our expectation to succeed being unfulfilled.

Basquiat aspires to be famous. He works his ass off to be famous. I imagine that he expect that if he does so, fame will follow. And if fame arrives, happiness will, too. But what if success didn’t come as he wish it to be? What if he is not famous? Well, in this case, he does, but at what cost?

People who base their happiness and “success” on how many of these expectation will materialize will live very unhappy life. Because we don’t control every single event that happens around us. It is such a dangerous and subtle trap. it is like having a hole in your attic. From this hole came one mouse to steal your food. And from where one came, many will follow.

This is why you say from Fame comes Isolation, Impact on one’s character, beliefs and mindset and the terrible fate that awaits the successful artist who can not handle the weight of his own glory.

But the weight and devastation comes not from the fame. It comes from the subtle trap.

So here is a little bit of my buddhism dump. Hope you like it

Cause and Effect

Those who yearn for fame and success,
believing it will bring them happiness
is like an unlit candle who yearn to be
the warmth and illumination in a cold dark room.

Warmth and illumination
are simply by-products of FIRE.
When the fire is alight,
warmth and illumination will follow.

This is the law of cause and effect.
It is very simply, plain common sense.
So focus on the cause, not on the effect.
and light the fire within.

In this way, come what may,
success or no success,
fame or no fame,
acceptance or rejection,

The artist will retain his beauty.
the work will retain his originality.
and his life, his ultimate work of art,
will be sublime.

Oh, and click play here:

java -Xdebug -Xrunjdwp:transport=dt_socket,address=8888,server=y ....

Then, any decent IDE (such as Eclipse) with facility to remote debug a java application will be able to attach into the running process under the specified port (in this case, 8888).

in Eclipse:

• Run > debug configurations > remote java application
• Use standard (socket attach), specify the port
• Attach the project source code
• start debugging

Not a netbeans fan so I don’t know how to work netbeans to do remote debug, but I imagine similar facility should be available.

Wept the Autumn Wind
and all, hundred-thousand
cherry blossom petals,
rains upon the ground.

In awe and admiration,
I observe this change of season.
Oh, heavenly orchestration!
How did you become?

My own self dies
as I realize
the “I”
that was never there

Beautiful is
the heart that appreciates,
the eye that sees
the world as is.

-

written in response to one by Lethe Bashar called ‘The theatre is self-contained‘. Note: tree image is found through google, I didn’t take this picture.

The Ten Factors (10-nyoze)  is a model for conceptualizing the law of cause and effect as expounded by Gautama Buddha in the 2nd chapter of the Lotus Sutra. This note covers my study on understanding its meaning.

To me, to understand Cause and Effect is to understand the very fundamental aspect of this universe. There is not a single atom or particle in this world that does not interact with any other entity. If there is, then such an entity will be unknown to us.

Lotus Sutra – Cause and Effect.

The Lotus Sutra is the final sermon given by Gautama Buddha – unlike other Sutra who is preached by Buddha to answer a given problem, the Lotus Sutra seeks out to enlighten its audience to the ultimate truth. Lotus embodies Cause and Effect due to its nature – it blossoms and plant it seeds at the same time. This signifies that when a Cause is made, the Effect is determined at the same instant.

The law of cause and effect is NOT a system created by Gautama Buddha – he simply realizes it. And to this day, I have not found anything that defies this law.

Ten Factors

They are:

1. Appearance: the external look that is seen by others, the physical aspect of our entity.
2. Nature: our temperament, likes and dislikes and so on – non-physical aspect of our entity.
3. Entity: a complete representation of our life as a being, a combination of (1) and (2).
4. Energy: the internal drive within that propels it to act.
5. Influence: the impact exerted by an entity as a result of the action taken
6. Internal Cause: Is the possibility inherent in our life
7. External Cause: Manifestation of that possibility through an action (thus creating a tangible cause)
8. Latent Effect: Is the effect of the causes made in (7) – that is still unmanifest
9. Manifest Effect: Is manifestation of (8) when it becomes tangible
10. Consistency from beginning to end: a consistent representation of 1-9 at any given moment, embodying the integrity of the law.

Elaboration through example

Character: Appearance, Nature, and Entity.

let’s take a look at this picture (which I obtained from Google Images by querying: ‘kids playing’)

Appearance (1st factor) is simply the aspect of how one living being appears to other living being who can see/hear/feel it. Here, we can see many children holding hands and playing on a grassy playground, under a blue sky. The one on the left, wearing a red jumper, is smiling and appears to be very happy. This is appearance – very simple. But just by looking alone, can you tell his nature? Why is he wearing a red jumper, as opposed to a blue one? Why is he playing with others, as oppose to staying with his parents?

To understand this is to understand the boy’s Nature (2nd factor). Does the boy like to throw tantrum, or will he listen, respect, and learn from his parents? Does he likes playing in the outdoor, is he social, or is he more of the shy type, who shuns other and prefers the company of their parents? These are aspect of an entity that you can not perceive by just looking at them alone. True, some of us have the gift to perceive a lot of information from just the appearance, but this is why we have the term “appearance can be deceiving”.

Now if you have perceived the boy’s Appearance – and if you have spoken to the boy and understood his Nature, then it can be said that you have understood the boy’s Entity (3rd factor).

In summary: My head, my face, my body, by clothes, my glasses are some of the things that made up my appearance. My fashion taste is part of my nature that made me buy the clothes I am wearing today. My mood and preference is what made me wear those clothes today. So you can say that to understand these 2 factors is to understand my entity, or my character.

Action: Energy, Influence

Made up of the following factors: (4) energy, (5) influence

No living being can stop taking action. It is impossible to NOT take action, unless, you are dead. To hold your breath, or to breathe is an action. In fact, if you are facing a crisis and you decide that you don’t want to take any action – that in itself is an action!

We are not a puppet that is controlled and moved by something outside ourselves. We move our own body. We decide what we want to do and we do what we do. Energy (4th factor) is the fuel that drives a living entity to live. You can also call this Free Will.

When you act, you interact with the world. When you type, your hand touches the keyboard – when you take a glass, drank water, and put it down on the table, your hand interact with the glass, and the glass interacts with the table. This interaction causes things around you to change. In other words, your Action, carried as you are fuelled by the Energy within, have caused an Influence (5th factor) to the things around you.

Thus defines your existence in this world.

Cause

Imagine, for example, that you are born into a family with a history of being prone to a particular disease, such as cancer or high blood pressure (Scientist attributes such things to genes).

As you grew up, from a very young age you are raised in an environment that really provokes your interest in music. We can then say that such a person, at any given moment, have the possibility of developing cancer, as well as becoming a rock musician. This possibility is driven by our blueprints, as well as by our everyday life. This possibility is factor (6) – Internal Cause.

These internal cause affects our day to day action. If I have lived a life of negligence and ignorance, I would perhaps not worry about my health at all, and all the more reason to pursue a life of sex, drugs and rock and roll!!

This internal cause of negligence and ignorance would perhaps manifest itself in my decision to take a particular action of drowning myself in drinkin way more than I should drink in a day. But perhaps it would also increases my creativity, and thus my ability to produce better rock music.

When this possibility is manifest in an action, the external cause – factor (7) – is made. And when a cause is made, the effect will follow.

Effect

Let’s follow through from the example set in the section above (cause) . Obviously concerned friends and family members would gave sound advice to my over-drinking life, to take it easy and not drink so much. But the moment I decided that I don’t want to listen to them and I want to drink as much as I want to, when I want to, then the inherent effect (factor is already made. No human can calculate what this inherent effect will be – if you can, then perhaps you have attained enlightenment (in which case, congrats!)

Perhaps one day my liver will blow, or perhaps I will get into an accident from drink-driving. All of this are inhenrent, they have not happened yet. But sooner or later it will – it is only a matter of time.

When the inherent effect DID manifest – then it is called the Manifest Event, which is factor number (9). At here, you can say that I have reaped the effect of the cause I have mad ein the past: a life full of over-drinking and not listening to sound advice from friends and family!

Is to refine himself by quietude,
and develop virtue by frugality.
Without detachment there is no way to clarify the will;
without serenity there is no way to get far.

Talent requires study,
study requires calm,
Without study there is no way to expand talent,
without calm there is no way to accomplish study.

If you laze, you cannot do thorough research;
if you are impulsive, you cannot govern your nature.
If your will is not strong,
if your thought does not oppose injustice,

You will fritter away, your life stuck in the commonplace,
silently submitting to the bonds of emotion,
forever cowering before mediocrities,
never escaping the downward flow.

Aspiration should remain lofty and far-sighted,
look to the precedents of the wise;
Be patient in tight situations as well as easy one,
eliminate all pettiness!

Seek knowledge by questioning widely,
set aside aversion and reluctance.

What loss is there in dignity,
what worry is there of failure?

Zhuge Liang and the essay

Wikipedia Entry:

Zhuge Liang (traditional Chinese: 諸葛亮; simplified Chinese: 诸葛亮; pinyin: Zhūgě Liàng, 181–234) was Chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era.^[1]

Often depicted wearing a robe and holding a fan made of crane feathers,^[2] Zhuge was not only an important military strategist and statesman; he was also an accomplished scholar and inventor. His reputation as an intelligent and learned scholar grew even while he was living in relative seclusion, earning him the nickname “Wòlóng” (臥龍, or “Sleeping Dragon”).

Zhuge is an uncommon two-character compound family name. His name – even his surname alone – has become synonymous with intelligence and tactics in Chinese culture.

The ‘poetry’ above is an appendage of two letters that are sent out by Zhuge Liang to his nephew and his son on his dying days (which I found in the intro to The Way Of The Generals)

Combining the two letters together and rearranging the sentences and prose, I ended up with a poetry whose title is derived from the first line in the letter,’the practice of a cultivated man’.

As usual, we started with chanting daimoku for 30 minutes, and then moved into Cate’s living room, sit around in circle, get cozy, nibble some chocolates and chips while sipping tea (A ritual I thoroughly enjoyed)

The discussion begins with talk of problems that affects our happiness in live, and with one case raised we all started to identify ourselves and a pattern seems to emerge: that true, lasting happiness is not determined by career, wealth, fame, and so on. Although it is agreed that these things contributes to make us happy they are not the primary determining factor.
The question

How can we attain true happiness, especially when we are not happy with our current life conditions?

How can we be happy if our loved ones are suffering (whether that be your children, lovers, parents, or close friends). This discussion leads to the question : so what makes us truly happy? What are the key factors to finding true, lasting happiness?

The 6 Foundation of Happiness

I don’t know from which book this is, but I believe the message it is trying to convey is true. Tony took photocopy of 6 pages off this book and gave the copies to us for reading material.

The six foundations are:

• A sense of fulfillment
• Posessing a profound philosophy
• Holding fast to one’s conviction
• A Positive view of life
• Living with Courage
• (and) Tolerance/Compassion

Food for thought indeed. I will list the conditions here each under a sub section, with relevant paragraph (if not the whole section itself) quoted from the text.

A sense of fulfillment

Where on earth is happiness found? How can we become happy? These are fundamental questions of life, and human beings are no doubt destined to pursue them eternally. The teaching of Buddhism, faith in the mystic Law, provide fundamental answers to these questions.

Ultimately, happiness rests on how we establish a solid sense of self or being. Happiness based on such externals as possessing a fine house or a good reputation is “relative happiness”. It is not a firm, unchanging “absolute happiness”. One can be in apparently the most fortunate circumstances, but if that persons feels only emptiness and pain, then he or she cannot be considered happy.

Some people live in truly splendid houses yet do nothing but fight in them. Some people work for famous companies and enjoy a prestige that many envy yet are always being shouted at by their superiors, left exhausted from the heavy workloads and rendered sick and weary of life.

Happiness does not lie in outward appearances nor in vanity, it is a matter of what you feel inside; it is a deep resonance in our lives. I would venture that the first condition for happiness is fulfilment.

To be filled each day with a rewarding sense of exhilaration and purpose, a sense of tasks accomplished and deep fulfilment – people who feel this way are happy. Those who have this sense of satisfaction even if they are extremely busy are much happier than those who have free time on their hands but feel empty inside.

Note: This passage is the whole untouched section, it is so good I feel that I must note the whole thing as is.

Possessing a profound philosophy

Posessing a profound philosophy and living it, to me, is to walk the path of Buddhism. In doing so contentment, balance and peace is found, while at the same time contributing great value to the people around you.

Gongyo (chanting) is a solemn ceremony in which we are at a dialogue with the universe. Doing Gongyo (chanting) in the morning represent the dawn, the start of a new day, in our lives. It is the sun rising, it gives us a profound sense of contentment in the depths of our being that nothing can surpass. Even on this point alone we are truly fortunate.

In addition, each of you (in SGI) is striving to do your best in your job or other responsibilities and to win in all areas of life while using your spare time to study the Law, work for people’s happiness and for the welfare of the society.

In this Latter Day of the Law teeming with perverse individuals, you are exerting yourselves energtically, often amid many hardships and obstacles, chanting for other’s happiness, travelling long distances to talk with friends and show them warm concern and understanding.

You are truly Bodhisattvas. There is no nobler life, no life based on a loftier philosophy. Each of you is translating this unsurpassed philosophy into action. To possess a philosophy of such profound value is itself the greatest fortune.

Accordingly, the second condition for happiness is possessing such a profound philosophy.

Holding fast to one’s convictions

We live in an age in which people can no longer clearly distinguish what is right or wrong, good or evil. This is a global trend. If things continue in this way, humanity is destined for chaos and moral decay. In the midst of such times, you uphold a teaching and way of life of profound philosophy: the teaching of Nichiren Daishonin’s buddhism.

In the “Opening of th Eyes” the Daishonin writes: “This I will state. Let the gods forsake me. Let all persecutions assail me. Still I will give my life for the sake of the Law” (WND-I,280).  In this same gosho, he instructs his believers not to be swayed by temptations or threats (distractions) however great – such as being offered the rulership of Japan or being told that one’s parents will be beheaded.

The important thing is to hold on resolutely to one’s convictions, come what may, just as the Daishonin teaches. People who possess such unwavering conviction are definitely on the path of attaining true happiness.

A note to avoid misinterpretation, ‘giving your life for the sake of the law’ does not mean to forsake everything you have and uphold the Law only. To do that, in fact, would be to forsake the Law itself.

What this passage means is to possess strong conviction on the Law and to embody that spirit in our character. It is through this that our eyes can be opened and see the values and teaching in this ‘lofty philosophy’ (IMO that’s why the Gosho is titled, ‘The opening of the eyes’) – through it we will be able to attain other foundations of happiness: a positive spirit, courage and tolerance.

A positivie view of life

Those who are always complaining and grumbling make not only themselves but everyone else around them miserable and unhappy.

By contrast, those who always live positively and filled with enthusiasm, who possess a cheerful and sunny disposition that lifts the spirits and brightens the hearts of all they meet are not only happy themselves bu6 are a source of hope and inspiration for others.

Such individuals can view even a scolding by a loved one (such as spouse or partner) as sweet music to their ears – to be able to view events such as this on a positive light cultivates wisdom and cheerfulness that accompanies such attitude, leading to happiness.

To regard everything in a positive light or with a spirit of goodwill, however, does not mean being foolishly gullible and allowing people to take advantage of your good nature. It means having wisdom and perception to actually move things in a positive direction by seeing things in their best light, while all the time keeping our eyes firmly focused on reality.

Faith and the teachings of Buddhism enable us to develop that kind of character. The acquisition of such character is a priceless treasure surpassing any other (material) possesion.

Courage and Tolerance

Courageous people can overcome anything. The cowardly, on the other hand, because of their lack of courage, fail to savour the true, profound joys of life. This is truly unfortunate.

Those who are tolerant and broad-minded can make people feel comfortable and at ease. Narrow and intolerant people who berate others for the slightest thing, or who make a great commotion each time some problem arises, just exhaust everyone and inspire fear.

Leaders must not intimidate or exhaust others. They must be tolerant and have a warm approachability that makes people feel relaxed and comfortable. Not only are those who possess a heart as wide as the ocean happy themselves, but all those around them are happy too.

Courage and Tolerance is the fifth and sixth condition of attaining true happiness.

Note that “leaders” here does not means only people who are in management / leadership position, but I believe it also refers to people who are leading a life of leadership / possessing a leading character.

These individuals usually attains leadership role within their circle (work, life) but might not be so. However, these people are the ones who are there making a difference, day by day. Courage is the primary ingredient of a leading character – but to be able to lead well, tolerance is very important. In attaining both we can forge ourselves a very fine leading character.

If life is a journey of a ship in the sea, a leading character must be like having a steering wheel on a very strong ship that you can use to control the direction of your vessel. Jack Sparrow (of the Pirates Of the Carribean movie) remarked that the Black Pearl represents freedom. I say that ultimately, a leading character manifests a very fortunate side effect in our life – freedom to live and control our destiny. In it, surely, happiness will be found!

Concluding remark

This is a very huge topic, and one that took us 2 meetings to complete.

But the teaching being discussed here is very profound, and in a way it is a model that you can use to measure yourself – how far am I from attaining a life of true, absolute happiness?