Concept 5 – Wrong Effort, Wrong Results: The Cow, the Milk, and Human Suffering
We often confuse effort with correctness and expectation with causation. When outcomes fail to appear, frustration follows quickly, as if reality betrayed us. But the problem is rarely effort or belief. It is alignment.
Pulling a cow’s horns will never produce milk, no matter how hopeful, angry, or detached you feel. Expectation does not create results, and disappointment does not negate reality. Milk comes from udders because that is how the system works.
Suffering begins when we argue with cause and effect. We get angry at outcomes, proud of instabilities, and confused when reality refuses to cooperate with our inner narratives. Understanding where results actually come from dissolves blame, pride, and frustration. Wisdom is not about forcing detachment but about seeing clearly. When action aligns with reality, results follow quietly, without drama.
Late life asset erosion
Late life asset erosion is emerging as one of the most serious financial risks facing Canadian seniors, as rising care and housing costs collide with fixed incomes and longer lifespans. For many middle‑class families, the “retirement plan” built around a paid‑off home and modest savings is no longer enough to withstand a decade or more of elevated expenses in very old age.
Concept 4: Understand Arya Dukkha and Eliminate It
Arya Dukkha does not arise from events themselves, but from the belief that things should or should not have happened in a particular way. The unavoidable experiences of life are like two falling water drops—brief, limited, and manageable. Suffering begins when those drops turn into rain through expectation, resistance, and craving. Honking traffic, abundant food, a lost possession, or even a dog chewing a meatless bone are not the true causes of distress. The real suffering comes from believing that relief, happiness, or satisfaction must arise from these conditions. Understanding this distinction is not mere intellectual clarity; it is a practical step toward ending suffering at its root.
Concept 3: We Cannot Manufacture Happiness or Sadness by Thinking or Wishing
We often believe happiness can be created by thinking happy thoughts, and sadness avoided by suppressing painful ones. But thinking only offers temporary shifts, not lasting change. Pleasant or unpleasant thoughts are like dodging raindrops—they may help for a moment, but they do not stop the rain. Understanding that lasting happiness or sadness cannot be manufactured by thought alone is not discouraging; it is liberating. This clarity marks a decisive step toward seeing things as they truly are.
Journal
Welcome to my space—a collection of thoughts, experiences, and lessons gathered along the way.
This blog brings together my professional life in
data engineering, analytics, AI, and data pipelines
with the everyday interests that keep me curious and grounded.
You’ll find reflections on learning and problem-solving,
alongside posts about hiking, travel, gardening, cooking, movies, and hobbies
that shape my perspective beyond the screen.
I also write about practical, real-world topics such as
tenancy, rentals, short-term accommodations, and the housing market,
informed by observation, research, and lived experience.
Whether I’m exploring a trail, building a data workflow, or analyzing systems that impact daily life,
my goal is the same: to share insights that are thoughtful, practical, and useful.
This blog is both a journal and a knowledge hub—where technology meets life,
and learning never stops.
Versailles, History, and the Data-Driven Mind
As a data analytics and data engineering professional, most learning happens in front of SQL editors,
dashboards, and documentation tools. Yet some of the most valuable lessons about systems, power,
and human behavior come from an unexpected place: historical drama.
One recent example is Versailles, a three-season series about King Louis XIV and the creation
of the Palace of Versailles. The show explores how a young monarch centralizes power by relocating
the French court from Paris to Versailles, transforming a hunting lodge into a tightly controlled
system of influence, politics, and authority. It is a world of shifting alliances, hidden agendas,
poisoners, and enemies operating at every level of status and power.
The Great Flood
As a data engineer moving toward AI, I see The Great Flood as a metaphor for how we design emotion-aware systems: iterative simulations, curated memory, and clear objectives. My work in SQL-driven pipelines, data quality, and governance directly aligns with building trustworthy “emotion engines” that learn from structured experience, not noise. This intersection of analytics, simulation, and human-centered design is exactly where I aim to grow my AI career.
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The Ladder of Life: Climbing Up and Lifting Others
Success isn’t just about who you know; it’s about the social architecture of your life. To truly evolve, you need a balanced “inner circle” that functions like a ladder. At the top, you need three mentors—the “deities” who challenge your limits and pull you toward excellence. As the Stoic philosopher Seneca noted, we must model ourselves after those who have already mastered the path.
However, true mastery is only solidified through teaching. By extending a hand to two mentees, you ground your knowledge and “lift as you climb.” This dual-action growth—inspired by Tai Lopez’s Law of 33% and Jim Rohn’s Rule of Five—ensures you are constantly reaching for your potential while anchoring your progress. Are you ready to stop drifting and start climbing? Discover how to curate the five people who will define your future.
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Surrey BC, Canada