我是这样度过每一天
----向死而生-----
Drugstore trips on 8.6 and 8.7
2010-08-08QingyangThis week I visited CVS twice on 8/6 and 8/7.
The first time I got Colgate toothpaste, Gillette razor and two Sobe Life water ($16 tag price), used $6.75 coupon and $7.99 ECB. Paid 0.98 out of pocket and got 7.00 ECB.
Then I found out I was about to be out of Vitamin C. I found out CVS has Ester-C BOGO and I had 2 $3/1 coupons. I just cannot miss this deal. So came the second trip to CVS. This time I got 2 bottles of Ester-C and another Colgate toothpaste ($24.57 tag price), used $6 coupon and $8 ECB. Paid $0.74 out of pocket and got another $2 ECB to roll next week.
So, two trips to CVS, got $40.58 worth of product. Paid $1.72 out of pocket.
Good deal!
The trip to Rite Aid was also fun except that I forgot to spend my UPRs. Have to spend them next week.
At Rite Aid, I got $38.45 worth of product, used $15.25 coupons, paid $20.89 out of pocket and earned 6.55 UPRs + $10.99 SCR.
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超越思考 之六
【原文】
Choose an object lose to you —— a pen, a chair, a cup, a plant—— and explore it visually, that is to say, look at it with great interest, almost curiously. Avoid any objects with strong personal associations that remind you of the past, such as where you bought it, who gave it to you, and so on. Also avoid anything that has writing on it such as a book or a bottle. It would stimulate thought. Without staining, relaxed but alert, give your complete attention to the object, every detail of it. If thoughts arise, don’t get involved in them. It is not the thoughts you are interested in, but the act of perception itself. Can you take the thinking out of the perceiving? can you look without the voice in your head commenting, drawing conclusions, comparing, or trying to figure something out? After a couple of minutes or so, let your gaze wander around the room or wherever your are, your alert attention lighting up each thing that it rests upon.
Then, listen to any sounds that may be present. Listen to them in the same way as you looked at the things around you. Some sounds may be natural —— water, wind, birds——while others are man-made. Some may be pleasant, others unpleasant. However, don’t differentiate between good and bad. Allow each sound to be as it is, without interpretation. Here too, relaxed but alert attention is the key.
When we perceive without interpreting or mental labelling, which means without adding thought to our perceptions, we can still sense the deeper connectedness underneath our perception of seemingly separate things.
【译文】
在你周围选一件物品——可以是笔，椅子，水杯或者盆栽——仔细观察一下。带着极大的兴趣甚至是好奇来观察。不要选那些待遇个人感情的物品，它们能勾起你旧时回忆，比如你是从哪里买的啦，是谁送给你的啦等等。也不要选那些有字的物品，比如书或者瓶子——字能引发思考。不要把玩，把全部的注意都投放在这个物品上，不放过每一个细节。放松但保持警觉。如果有念头或想法出现，不要管它们。你需要关心的不是想法，而只是观察。你能把想法从观察中剔除么？你能只是看而不让头脑里的声音评判，比对，下结论或者试图理解它么？这样过几分钟，让你的视线在你的周围漂移一会儿。你的警觉的注意就会使每一件进入视线的物品都鲜活起来。
然后，听一下周围的声音。用你观察周围物品的同样方式来倾听，继续保持放松且警觉的注意。有些是自然的声响——水流，风动，鸟鸣，有些则是人类活动的声响。有些悦耳，有些难听。但，请不要区分好坏，也不要试图解释。体验每种声音的原汁原味。①
当我们只是接收周围环境而不对其进行解释或者分类，也就是说不对我们的感知觉赋予想法的时候，我们仍然察觉到那些貌似分离的知觉之间的深层联系。
【评论】
通常，人们是通过思维来了解一件事物的，通过把事物分类，与其他事物类比等等方式。这里，我们遇到了另外一种说法，即便是没有思维的参与，不对事物进行思考辨别，而只是简单的观察与感受，事物之间的紧密联系一样会显现出来。不进行思考的观察才是更直接的了解世界的方式。思考会让我们忽略很多细节。而没有了细节变成了头脑中的概念的事物，离真实相差很远。
【注释】
① 这段我调整了原文语序。不然，怎么读也不通畅。
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超越思考 之五
【原文】
This is most people’s reality: As soon as something is perceived, it is named, interpreted, compared with something else, liked, disliked or called good or bad by the phantom self, the ego. They are imprisoned in thought forms, in object consciousness。
You do not awaken spiritually until the compulsive and unconscious naming cease, or at least you become aware of it and thus are able to observe it as it happens. It is through this constant naming that the ego remains in place as the unobserved mind. Whenever it ceases and even when you just become aware of it, there is inner space, and you are not possessed by the mind any more.
【译文】
大多数人只要观察到点儿什么，那虚幻的自我就要开始对其命名，解释，与已知事物比对；还要表示喜欢或厌恶，将其打上“好”或“坏”的标签，最终将它以思维的形式囚禁在主观的意识当中。
这种强迫症似的无意识的命名行为不停止，你就无法清醒，充满灵性。你至少得意识到到这一行为，才能关照它的发生。自我（ego）通过不断的给事物命名才得以不被观察，并在心智中存有一席之地。当命名停止，或者当人们注意到这一行为时，内在空间才开始形成，你也将不再被心智所掌控。
【评论】
当人的注意力在外在世界，只能被外在世界的纷繁浮躁所俘虏，征服。心智被扰乱。只有通过对内的观察，才能使得内心平静下来，厘清各种头绪，并获得掌控力。
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超越思考 之四
【原文】：
When we go into a forest that has not been interfered with by man, our thinking mind will see only disorder and chaos all around us. It won’t event be able to differentiate between life (good) and death (bad) anymore since everywhere new life grows out of rotting and decaying matter. Only if we are still enough inside and the noise of thinking subsides can we become aware that there is a hidden harmony here, a sacredness, a higher order in which everything has its perfect place and could not be other than what it is and the way it is.
The mind is more comfortable in a landscaped park because it has been planned through thought; it has not grown organically. There is an order here that the mind can understand. In the forest, there is an incomprehensible order that to the mind looks like chaos. It is beyond the mental categories of good and bad. You cannot understand it through thought, but you can sense it when you let go of thought, become still and alert, and don’t try to understand or explain. Only then can you be aware of the sacredness of the forest. As soon as you sense that hidden Harmony, that sacredness, you realize you are not separate from it, and when you realize that, you become a conscious participant in it. In this way, nature can help you become realigned with the wholeness of life.
【译文】：
当我们走进人迹罕至的原始森林，那“善于思考”的头脑能看到的，只会是周遭的无序与混乱。甚至，它都无法从中区分哪些是活的（好的），哪些是者死的（坏的）。随处可见的是新生命在腐烂衰败的物质上蓬勃生长。只有当思考的喧嚣平息，心如止水时，我们才能觉察那内在和谐，神圣及一种更为高级的秩序。所有的事物都处于这一高级的秩序当中，它们在其中各自拥有完美位置。无论其存在方式或者其本身，都无可取代。
在风景如画的园林中，头脑才会怡然舒泰。这是因为园林经思考的有计划的修饰，不再是自然生长的了。经过修饰的秩序是头脑可以理解的。而森林中的高级秩序对于头脑来说则是混乱一片，超越了“好”或“坏”的心灵分类。你无法通过思考来了解它。但是，当你放弃思考，变得心如止水，心境澄莹时，你就能感觉到它。不要试图去理解或者解释——只有如此才能觉知森林的神圣。当感受到它的内在和谐与神圣，你就会认识到你与它并非分离开的。认识到这一点，你就成了这和谐与神圣的参与者。通过这中方是，大自然还能过帮你与生命的完整性对接。
【评论】：
强调感性与直觉的重要性。
我们的大脑，我们那么复杂的大脑，喜欢的却是简化的世界。它不停的在给感知到的各种事物进行类比，归类。原因呢，我想是这样的：相对于整个世界来说，我们的大脑实在是过于简单，无法胜任处理太多的信息。看看人们所做的事情吧，发现新事物，先是命名，之后就是按照它的属性与其他事物的特性做对比，以期将其归为某一类。这是简化。我们把屋子，社区，城市等等收拾的井井有条，是简化。如果不简化，我们的大脑过不了多久就得出问题。有些人的depression说不定就是因为无法胜任处理这么多的信息造成的。
然而，经过简化的自然界，已然不是自然。经过思考过滤的世界，也不是真实的图景。对比人类的简单理解与自然的复杂本身，我们就无法不由衷地感到自然的伟大。
我们，也是自然的造物。遵循自然的法则。与自然联系的方法，也许可以不通过思维。通过感官直接与外部世界相连。
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My wallet, lost then found
What happened to me today is worth noting (20100802).Today, I got my parking permit for the new semester. I chose the permit for the parking lot near the psychology building out of the the one near my apartment. This way, I can not park my car near my apartment during work days so that I will “have to” drive to work every day. This is my strategy to beat my laziness of staying home all the time.
The strategy is not perfect.
Today, I had an experiment to run at another building on campus which is 5-minute walking distance to my apartment. Because of the new permit, I can not walk there. In stead, I had to drive to the department first, park there and then take a bus back to the building. I was running a little bit late. Plus, doing this kind of commuting on such a hot day was not fun at all. So, as you already know from the title, my wallet was lost on the bus.
It’s at the door of the building for my experiment and I cannot find my door card to get in that I found out my wallet was missing. I did not go back to look for the wallet right away because the experiment was about to start. My friend Jason let me in so I got everything setup on time. After that, I called the bus service and they told me the bus driver did not see a wallet. Kim was talking about her experience when her daughters purse was stolen and gave me some advice. And mentioned there are more non-student on the city bus. I knew she was trying to help but I felt upset at that point thinking all the things I would have to do in case the wallet could not be found. Calling banks, credit card companies and all the offices to cancel my cards, to get a replacement ID… all that kind stuff made my head spin. Ahh, too much to think about. I just could not concentrate on work anymore. Thank God that William was there to help me with the scan.
Then I tried to calm myself down and told myself that panic or upset was my natural response in this circumstance. But it’s not helping at all to be panic or upset. I also told myself that my wallet might or might not be found, but I do not know what will happen at the end of the day. Other than assuming it’s gone and being upset, it’s better to believe it will come back and feel at least calm and normal if not happy about the whole thing.
That’s what I did since then. I wrote to the city bus asked them to keep an eye on the wallet. Then, I changed my Gchat status to “come back, my wallet”. After that, I acted just as everything was fine. I watched YouTube videos with my colleagues and laughed with them, I executed some of the program for experiment presentation. I printed out my girlfriend's letter and read them.
When the missing wallet came to my mind, I told myself only one thing: “It will come back”.
When the experiment was done, I did not even rush out. I helped packing everything up and put them to the right place. I take time to clean everything behind me, make sure I will not lose anything else. I said goodbye to my friends and then headed out.
You know what happened?
As soon as I walked out the building and laid my eyes on the road, I saw the bus passing by. I followed it to the bus stop, hopped on and asked the driver if he saw a wallet. The gentleman recognized me and then handed my wallet to me. Can you imagine how happy and exciting I was? I was so happy and even forgot to ask the gentlemen's name. My friend Lauren saw this and cheered for me! Yay!
So that’s the story of my wallet. I am so happy everything works out this way. I wrote an email to the bus service to express my appreciation. To all my friends who wished me good luck: Thank you all!.
This made my day :)
So I wrote it down(did not do proof reading) to let all you know I am thankful, for all the things happen to me.
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fitness coffee usa
2010-08-02QingyangWe live a fast paced life full of constant change, stress and uncertainty. This leads to sleep deprivation, poor nutrition and a body that is begging for help. Fitness Coffee is an all natural product designed to replenish the body without changing your passion for coffee. With over 16 of the healthiest and most beneficial ingredients, Fitness Coffee is designed to replenish your body with powerful antioxidants and nutrients. With 3.5 times the amount of antioxidants found in green tea, you do not have to give up your daily cup of delicious coffee to give your body what it needs.
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http://www.fitnesscoffeeusa.com
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超越思考 之三
【原文】：
“The wisdom of this world is folly with God,” says the Bible. What is the wisdom of this world? The movement of thought, and meaning that is defined exclusively by thought.
Thinking isolates a situation or event and calls it good or bad, as if it had a separate existence. Through excessive reliance on thinking, reality becomes fragmented. This fragmentation is an illusion, but it seems very real while you are trapped in it. And yet the universe is an indivisible whole in which all things are interconnected, in which nothing exists in isolation. The deeper interconnectedness of all things and events implies that the mental labels of “good” and “bad” are ultimately illusory. They always imply a limited perspective and so are true only relatively and temporarily.
There are no random events, nor are the events or things that exist by and for themselves, in isolation. The atoms that makeup your body were once forged inside stars, and the causes of even the smallest event are virtually infinite and connected with the whole in incomprehensible ways.
If you wanted to trace back the cause of any event, you would have to go back all the way to the beginning of creation. The cosmos is not chaotic. The very word cosmos means order. But this is not an order the human mind can ever comprehend, although it can sometimes glimpse it.
【译文】：
圣经有言：“人世的智慧，在神看来是愚拙”①。人世的智慧又是什么呢？是思想的演变以及由思想判定的价值观。
思考通常将情境或者事件孤立起来并定义其是好坏，就好象这些事情原本就是互相独立的。若对思考过度依赖，现实在人们眼中就会断裂破碎。尽管这断裂只是幻象，但若深陷其中便无法察觉，你会觉得它相当真实。然而，宇宙是一个不可分割的整体，其中所有的事物都是互相关联的，独立的事物并不存在。事物之间的深度关联也意味着主观的“好”与“坏”的标签最终也是幻象。这些标签通常来自具有局限性的观点，因而只能在特定时刻相对为真。
事件不是随机发生的，完全孤立的事情也不存在。构成你身体的原子说不定曾经属于天上的星星。最微不足道的事件也有着无穷多的原因，且与宇宙整体以人类无法理解的方式相联系。
要想回溯任何事件的原因，你将不得不回到创世纪。宇宙并非混沌一片。宇宙(cosmos)一词的字面意义就是秩序(order)。这个秩序永远无法被人的心智所了解，然而我们却时常有机会见识它。
【评论】：
这是不可知论么？这是不可知论。
宇宙如此浩瀚，人的心智不可能穷尽宇宙的奥秘。也许人的心智可以，如果人有足够的时间来做这件事。然而，生命有限，而这世界上的可做的事情又那么多。也许，人类可以靠着世代的努力与积累能对宇宙对世界有更为清晰的了解。不过，随着时间增加，这个世界的知识也在增加吧？就看是增加的速度快还是我们发掘的速度快了。
现在我们得花一点儿时间来感谢我们生而为人了。生而为人拥有心智，借由这一能力，我们能了解一部分宇宙的奥秘，人生的真谛。即便不是全部。谁在乎全部。
【注释】：
① 出自哥林多前书。
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Shopping Trip 20100729
2010-07-30Qingyang
CVS trip:The main purpose of my trip to the CVS, is to get the Free after ECB photo book. It’s going to be a gift for my girlfriend. I loaded 28 pics in my usb stick the day before and got all the coupons and shopping list ready. Then I called my friend MiaoMiao to join me.
It’s my first time to use the print centre computer. It’s easy enough for me to use. I asked the staff to help me out just to save time, the lady are very nice to offer the help. The printing process was not very smooth I had to say. First, they did not find my order on their machine. When I was in the process of recreate my photo book and almost done, they said they find my order. Then the machine started printing and then the lady told me the book was not in the correct size. For God sake I double checked the size before I made my order cause I do not want to accidentally chose the ones that were not on sale. So the lady wanted my to recreate my photo book. So I started over again. While I was doing it, the lady reached me again saying the photo book is in correct size, so I did not need to do it again. She apologized. I was in a good mood while doing all these, and of course I accepted her apology.
And I like the photo book I made. It’s going to be a perfect gift for my girlfriend when she is back the week after this. One more thing, my friend also got an CVS card.
Here is the summary of my CVS trip:
Made two transactions:
Bought $19 + $16 = $35 worth stuff;
Used $15 ECB and a $3 off $15 coupon;
Paid out of pocket: $12.11+$5.06=$17.17
Left with $14 ECB;
And will submit two MIR for a total refund of $25.
CVS trip summary: spend $17, get $35 of stuff and will get another $39 back in ECB and rebate.
Rite Aid Trip:
This is my first time to shop in Rite Aid. Not familiar with their programs or the organization of the store. I read from this post that some people really love shopping at Rite Aid, so , I wanted give it a try. It’s also on my way back from CVS. Make a stop is an easy thing to do :). The idea is to get a card and get everything started at Rite Aid. So my friend and I both got a card. I made my purchase basically following the deal recommendations from moneysavingmom.com. Too bad they have the Neiva body wash for men out of stock, that’s the one I really want because I got a coupon for it. I still do not figure out how their rebates work, but I do get some +UP rewards. P.S. One staff knows Chinese, she asked our nationality and then started greeting us in Chinese when I told her we are from Chine. Isn’t it nice to hear someone speak to you in your language! She might only know how to say “How are you” “Thank you” and “you’re welcome”. But still, that showed they really care about you. I did not catch her name, but I will.
Here is a summary:
Bought $25.40 worth of grocery;
Used 4 coupons, saved $8;
Paid $18.7 OOP (plus tax);
Left with $5 of +UP rewards.
Not sure about rebate as of now.
Kroger Trip:
We stopped at Kroger for Milk.
I got a gallon of milk for $1, a dozen of eggs for $1 and eight organic eggs for $1.99. Basically, I got a lot protein for my workout.
The is a happy trip. And many thanks to MiaoMiao for joining me, helping me finding the items I missed and bearing with me to wait so long for the photo book. Hope she found this trip fun too.
Also, don’t forget to enter the “Summer Savings Sweepstakes” at Kroger, you might win some free stuff.
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超越思考 之二
【原文】：
The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it.
Be aware of the thoughts you are thinking. Separate them from the situation, which is always neutral, which always is as it is. There is the situation or the fact, and here are my thoughts about it. Instead of making up stories, stay with the fact. For example, “I am ruined” is a story. It limits you and prevents you from taking effective action. “I have fifty cents in my bank account” is a fact. Facing facts is always empowering. Be aware that what you think, to a large extent, creates the emotions that you feel. See the link between your thinking and your emotions. Rather than being your thoughts and emotions, be the awareness behind them.
【译文】：
造成不幸的主要原因并非外在环境，而是对于这些情境的看法/想法。
留心自己头脑中的想法，把它与情境分离开来。好，一边儿是情境或者事实，另一边儿是我对他们的想法和看法。情境总是中性的，一贯如此①。尊重事实，不要对它用轻下判断②。举例来说：“我这下破产了”是一个判断。它制约并且阻止你采取有效的行动。而“我银行账户还有五毛钱”则是一个事实。直面事实总是会赋予人掌控的力量。你的想法很大程度上则是发情绪反应的原因。领会你的想法与情绪之间的联系：与其成为思想与情绪的造物，不如成为它们背后的觉知。
【心得】：
我们的幸福，取决于我们的心境而不是环境。这种说法并不少见。佛祖就曾说过，我们的用自己的想法创造世界*。仔细想想，这确实是真的。外界条件能影响心境。但是如果心境是积极而强大的，所谓的苛刻的外界条件是不足以引发不幸感的。
为什么要将想法与事实分开呢？这跟他们的变动性有关系：已经发生或者存在的事实是不大会变的了，而我们的想法可以。这就非常有趣了，我们的想法能创造世界，而我们的想法又是可以改变的。因此，不管客观世界如何，在我们的世界里我们是否幸福，完全可以通过改变自己的想法来实现！
要做的这一步，首先就要从自己的想法中跳出来，了解自己的想法。改变想法的第一步是清楚的认识它。
【注释】：
①调整了一下语序。
②Making up story字面意思是“编故事”，从上下文来看，story采用常见意直译并不通顺。Story这个词还有另外一个意思，指“表面现象”。这里making up story的意思其实是给事实穿上一层掩饰的外衣，而这种外衣通常是个人对于真相与事实的（歪曲了的）理解和判断。这里我译成“轻下判断”就是因为这个考虑
* "We are what we think. With our thoughts we make our world." -Budda
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[trade/sell] Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rowing Machine
2010-07-28Qingyang
Quick look:
Item: Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rowing Machine
for: sale or trade
Condition: very good, like new.
Price: $120 OBO/ or you can trade with me. If you want to trade, tell me what you have.
Shipping and delivery: If your not too far from me and can offer me a cup of coffee, I have no problem to deliver it to your door. BTW, I live in Athens, GA.
Contact: email: congel+craiglist@gmail.com or call 706 363 0303 (leave a message if no one answer the phone).If you know someone who might be interested in it, please spread the word. THX.
Why I sell it?
I got this machine a few months ago. I used it less than 10 times.
I bought this machine when I decided to change my lifestyle from sedentary to active by exercise more. I need a machine at home so I have no excuse not to go out and exercise due to bad weather or mood. I live in a cozy apartment so the machine cannot be too large. This baby met all me requirement. It did keep my doing my workout when I was lack of motivation to go out. I put it in my living room so I can watch TV when rowing it. It makes things so easy. After workout, it usually took me less then a minute to put it back in my closet.
It helped my to get started with my lifestyle changing project. Now, I am a member of a gym the gym has rowing machines there. And I now have no problem to go out the door and exercise 6 days per week. This baby has been staying in my closet and collecting dust. It's not fare to it, isn't it?
So I decide to got it out of the door to serve people in need.How much is it?
Asking for $120. or if you have something to trade, that might work too, just send me an email and let me know what you can offer.Contact info:
email: congel+craiglist@gmail.com
Phone: 7063630303Product Description
Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 Rower is the compact, portable way to row yourself into shape... GREAT PRICE! Limited space? Time? Budget? The Body Trac Glider 1050 Rower is for you. Compact and portable with a footprint of 23 1/2" x 46", the arms fold down and the rower can be stored in a closet or in the corner of a room. Rowing is widely known to be one of the best all around activities for cardiovascular fitness and strength a total body workout that is efficient, effective, low-impact and utilizes all major muscle groups including the back, legs, arms, abdominals and buttocks. Rowing is also one of the best exercises for building a strong back, as well as one of the most effective low-impact aerobic exercises for increasing your metabolism for more efficient calorie and fat burning without the impact on your joints. Steel frame and aluminum center beam is designed to withstand years of use while giving you a stable, comfortable workout; Ball bearing roller system and adjustable hydraulic cylinder resistance arms mimic the smooth motion of rowing on the water; Multifunctional fitness monitor shows speed, distance, time, stroke count, and calories burned during your workout, and keeps you motivated and on track to reach your fitness goals; Smooth gas shock resistance; Easy assembly; Folds to approx. 49 1/2 x 11 3/4 x 9 1/2" for storage; A great, compact workout at a great price. Order Today! Stamina Body Trac Glider 1050 RowerIf you want to know more about this item, please refer to this link on Amazon.com ( http://www.amazon.com/Stamina-Body-Glider-Rowing-Machine/dp/B000AMUFPS )
