How do you write "euuuugghhh"? Or is it ´"eeuuuwww"? Like when you see something and you are amazed about it in not such a positive way. Or should I say whoooa here? More neutral and can mean both ways.
That is what I thought when I read my recent writings again. Have I really gone that serious? Hm, should step back or step aside a bit. Even more so when I read the blog of a friend, Hani - in Indonesian. So light yet so entertaining and beautiful.
I should do that. I should. Learn something new everyday. Relax, va, lighten up a bit.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
A new phase
Today I felt like I have entered a new phase in my spiritual journey.
I have been shown what has happened in my past and what I needed to learn from that. I have been pointed out what my objectives should be. I have been given a glimpse of the tasks ahead of me along with their challenges.
So what am I to do now? I think, now, it is drilling time. I need to prepare myself for the battle ahead. God has been kind to give me such a lovely training ground and an ample amount of time. Being here in Seville and Barcelona, Spain, for six months. So much yet to learn.
I think God agrees. After I wrote this, it was late afternoon, there was a brisk rain and sun at the same time. This can only mean one thing: rainbow. A beautiful rainbow. Let me write this one more time. A very beautiful rainbow. And you know what they say about what is at the end of a rainbow. Thank you.
I have been shown what has happened in my past and what I needed to learn from that. I have been pointed out what my objectives should be. I have been given a glimpse of the tasks ahead of me along with their challenges.
So what am I to do now? I think, now, it is drilling time. I need to prepare myself for the battle ahead. God has been kind to give me such a lovely training ground and an ample amount of time. Being here in Seville and Barcelona, Spain, for six months. So much yet to learn.
I think God agrees. After I wrote this, it was late afternoon, there was a brisk rain and sun at the same time. This can only mean one thing: rainbow. A beautiful rainbow. Let me write this one more time. A very beautiful rainbow. And you know what they say about what is at the end of a rainbow. Thank you.
Disciplining the soul
Two quotes from Al-Ghazali on disciplining the soul. A translation by TJ Winter.
"Aspirancy (irada) is, according to a useful definition, ‘ the desire to come to the Beloved through inner combat (mujahada)’. Put differently, it is ‘the voluntary quest of the of the heart for spiritual sustenance.’ … Once the spiritual wayfarer has set off, numerous distractions and obstacles beset him. … The most intransigent are ‘money, status, conformism and sin’."
"A man once asked the Emissary of God (may God bless him and grant him peace) about good character, and he recited His statement (Exalted is He!) Hold to forgiveness, and enjoin kindness and turn aside from the ignorant ones. Then he said (may God bless him and grant him peace), ‘It is that you should seek reconciliation with those who avoid you, give to those who withhold from you, and forgive those who deal with you unjustly’. "
Just want to share this with you. You have guessed it, it is the book that I am reading now. I have just reached page 15 and already there is so much I can learn from it.
"Aspirancy (irada) is, according to a useful definition, ‘ the desire to come to the Beloved through inner combat (mujahada)’. Put differently, it is ‘the voluntary quest of the of the heart for spiritual sustenance.’ … Once the spiritual wayfarer has set off, numerous distractions and obstacles beset him. … The most intransigent are ‘money, status, conformism and sin’."
"A man once asked the Emissary of God (may God bless him and grant him peace) about good character, and he recited His statement (Exalted is He!) Hold to forgiveness, and enjoin kindness and turn aside from the ignorant ones. Then he said (may God bless him and grant him peace), ‘It is that you should seek reconciliation with those who avoid you, give to those who withhold from you, and forgive those who deal with you unjustly’. "
Just want to share this with you. You have guessed it, it is the book that I am reading now. I have just reached page 15 and already there is so much I can learn from it.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
The cartoons of Muhammad
(may God bless him and grant him peace)
I did not pay attention to this issue because.. because I think we should handle this differently and focus our mind on other things. But this changed yesterday when my teacher made me read the news and asked me to give my opinion. Then I became curious about it and I just need to get it out of my system. So I started writing.
I bet many of you think: what is the fuss all about? To Moslems, it is a big fuss.
Moslems believe that there should never be any picture of Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace), however meaningful, beautiful and artistic it may be. Because it may hinder us from focusing solely on God and may make us imagine or glorify Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace) out of his proportion. And maybe because.. well, look what has happened now.
Some people then pointed that this is a free country. People can express whatever they want to express. Shall we express it even at the expense of other people’s privacy and beliefs? Oh such a difficult subject to discuss.
If we think a person is ugly, shall we go ahead and say it? If we hear something bad about someone, should we go out and spread it? Have we already known the whole story or do we only know an incomplete picture? What are the advantages and disadvantages of saying it? Is it that important for us (and him) to say it?
Do we really need to say it, in that way? How do we think he and his loved ones will feel? Do we care? Is there a better way of doing it? Will it be better if we just keep quiet and think of what is positive about him instead?
There is also a question of how the Moslem should respond to it. Are they over-reacting? If somebody you hold so dear, in your point of view, has been maltreated, will you not respond enthusiastically?
But if we respond, how should we respond? And if we respond in the same manner as this initial cause of chain reaction, does it mean we are guilty of the same ‘mistake’? How can we make the other people see, appreciate and respect our point of view? How can we stop this from being a vicious, pointless, never-ending cycle of arguments that may lead to more hatred and prejudice in the world? (Oh, just what we need)
I must confess. Before I wrote this article, I searched the Internet for the pictures. What I found was naïve pictures of the Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) (perhaps too naïve to understand the consequence behind it), pictures of the rage caused by it, and pictures of the rage caused by the reactions (these ones are so heartbreaking for me) When will this stop? Why should this unnecessary hatred start?
It is such a difficult subject to discuss. Had we known the answer, perhaps there will be peace on earth. But let us give it a shot anyway. Let us stop having pointless and never-ending cycle of arguments. Let us be more productive, helpful and loving to one another.
In cases where we do not see eye-to-eye, as my boss (Hi Ong ;)) used to say, let us just agree to disagree and be done with it. Respect the differences that exist among us.
May wisdom, love and peace be upon us all.
I did not pay attention to this issue because.. because I think we should handle this differently and focus our mind on other things. But this changed yesterday when my teacher made me read the news and asked me to give my opinion. Then I became curious about it and I just need to get it out of my system. So I started writing.
I bet many of you think: what is the fuss all about? To Moslems, it is a big fuss.
Moslems believe that there should never be any picture of Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace), however meaningful, beautiful and artistic it may be. Because it may hinder us from focusing solely on God and may make us imagine or glorify Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace) out of his proportion. And maybe because.. well, look what has happened now.
Some people then pointed that this is a free country. People can express whatever they want to express. Shall we express it even at the expense of other people’s privacy and beliefs? Oh such a difficult subject to discuss.
If we think a person is ugly, shall we go ahead and say it? If we hear something bad about someone, should we go out and spread it? Have we already known the whole story or do we only know an incomplete picture? What are the advantages and disadvantages of saying it? Is it that important for us (and him) to say it?
Do we really need to say it, in that way? How do we think he and his loved ones will feel? Do we care? Is there a better way of doing it? Will it be better if we just keep quiet and think of what is positive about him instead?
There is also a question of how the Moslem should respond to it. Are they over-reacting? If somebody you hold so dear, in your point of view, has been maltreated, will you not respond enthusiastically?
But if we respond, how should we respond? And if we respond in the same manner as this initial cause of chain reaction, does it mean we are guilty of the same ‘mistake’? How can we make the other people see, appreciate and respect our point of view? How can we stop this from being a vicious, pointless, never-ending cycle of arguments that may lead to more hatred and prejudice in the world? (Oh, just what we need)
I must confess. Before I wrote this article, I searched the Internet for the pictures. What I found was naïve pictures of the Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) (perhaps too naïve to understand the consequence behind it), pictures of the rage caused by it, and pictures of the rage caused by the reactions (these ones are so heartbreaking for me) When will this stop? Why should this unnecessary hatred start?
It is such a difficult subject to discuss. Had we known the answer, perhaps there will be peace on earth. But let us give it a shot anyway. Let us stop having pointless and never-ending cycle of arguments. Let us be more productive, helpful and loving to one another.
In cases where we do not see eye-to-eye, as my boss (Hi Ong ;)) used to say, let us just agree to disagree and be done with it. Respect the differences that exist among us.
May wisdom, love and peace be upon us all.
Temper.. temper..
Just when I thought I have mastered my temper, something is telling me otherwise.
My friends and I were talking about the topic of marriage and how men treat their women. Suddenly, one friend pointed at another friend who happened to be Moslem and said sharply that Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace) also had three wives.
Oh the pain in my heart. I thought I could take ït but I could not. She was accusing somebody (I mean, Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace)) who was so dear to me without knowing the story behinds it.
First reaction that came to mind was to say “hey, now, wait a minute..”. But then after a split second, I have calmed down and tried to explain it, and may I add, in Spanish. Of course, I do not think I made much sense while speaking about such a complex topic in a language that I barely have mastered. But I let it rest after that. Let it be.
You see, had I reacted in the same sharpness as hers, I would have been guilty of the same mistake: expressing my feeling and opinion about something without having a complete picture of it. I did not know why she had such a strong opinion. It can be because of a very logical reason. I do not know.
Prejudice and quick judgment -- how destructive they can be.
My friends and I were talking about the topic of marriage and how men treat their women. Suddenly, one friend pointed at another friend who happened to be Moslem and said sharply that Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace) also had three wives.
Oh the pain in my heart. I thought I could take ït but I could not. She was accusing somebody (I mean, Muhammad (may God bless him and grant him peace)) who was so dear to me without knowing the story behinds it.
First reaction that came to mind was to say “hey, now, wait a minute..”. But then after a split second, I have calmed down and tried to explain it, and may I add, in Spanish. Of course, I do not think I made much sense while speaking about such a complex topic in a language that I barely have mastered. But I let it rest after that. Let it be.
You see, had I reacted in the same sharpness as hers, I would have been guilty of the same mistake: expressing my feeling and opinion about something without having a complete picture of it. I did not know why she had such a strong opinion. It can be because of a very logical reason. I do not know.
Prejudice and quick judgment -- how destructive they can be.
Train-spotting
My friend once said that a train-spotter is a person who sits in the railway station for hours doing nothing but watching the trains come and go.
In a way, I am a train-spotter. I love watching people. You ought to have known that by now. And this is what I have seen in the last couple of days.
On the bus: A woman with two small children trying to get off the bus. Another lady near her helped her with her second child while asking the bus driver to wait for a bit until the two children were safely off the bus. The bus driver waited patiently.
On the bus: A young woman calling out to an elderly couple and letting them take her seat. They were from different races.
While walking: My teacher taking her daughter to school. Because the gate of the school was not open yet, they sat on the bench in front. The daughter sat on my teacher’s laps while the mom is warmly hugging her.
While walking: A father holding her mentally challenged daughter with love and telling her stories about the surroundings.
In the restaurant: a waitress casually – without being disrespectful – greeting two senior citizens who have just walked in the restaurant by saying “hey girls” and starting to chat with them.
They were such wonderful scenes. There is still love in the world. Thank you, Lord.
In a way, I am a train-spotter. I love watching people. You ought to have known that by now. And this is what I have seen in the last couple of days.
On the bus: A woman with two small children trying to get off the bus. Another lady near her helped her with her second child while asking the bus driver to wait for a bit until the two children were safely off the bus. The bus driver waited patiently.
On the bus: A young woman calling out to an elderly couple and letting them take her seat. They were from different races.
While walking: My teacher taking her daughter to school. Because the gate of the school was not open yet, they sat on the bench in front. The daughter sat on my teacher’s laps while the mom is warmly hugging her.
While walking: A father holding her mentally challenged daughter with love and telling her stories about the surroundings.
In the restaurant: a waitress casually – without being disrespectful – greeting two senior citizens who have just walked in the restaurant by saying “hey girls” and starting to chat with them.
They were such wonderful scenes. There is still love in the world. Thank you, Lord.
… we only live once – La segunda parte
A little Spanish there.
We only live once. Are you sure? Oh that can open up a whole different door for discussion. For this time, I will limit my question to: if we only live this life, what shall we do about it?
Shall we ‘fun’ ourselves to death? (Death? Aha! That is another interesting topic. Shall we talk about it? Remind me) Or shall we make the best of it and try to make ourselves useful to the world or at least the people around us?
Perhaps I should end this article here. And let each of us answer it ourselves.
We only live once. Are you sure? Oh that can open up a whole different door for discussion. For this time, I will limit my question to: if we only live this life, what shall we do about it?
Shall we ‘fun’ ourselves to death? (Death? Aha! That is another interesting topic. Shall we talk about it? Remind me) Or shall we make the best of it and try to make ourselves useful to the world or at least the people around us?
Perhaps I should end this article here. And let each of us answer it ourselves.
Let’s have fun, we only live once
An expression I have heard so many times in my life. Yes, but what’s fun? Your definition might be different from mine.
The noun ¨Fun, according to MS’s Encarta, is a time or feeling of enjoyment or amusement or something such as an activity that provides enjoyment or amusement.
So what amuses us? For me, now it is less about partying and drinking all night, talking and laughing perhaps at the expense of other people, or banging our heads to that loud music (Banging? I am so eighties).
To me, more and more, fun is about watching a child feeling so content in her mother’s arms, is about being one with nature, is about singing with the less fortunate orphans in their emergency school (hi mbak Mel, miss you much), fun is .. a lot of things I cannot describe here but you get the drift.
Now, how can I have fun…
… when I was browsing the Internet to search of updates of my country, the first thing I found was news about a mom-to-be celebrity having a baby shower but few people know who the father is?
… when everywhere I go I see homeless people on the street, I witness people fighting over nothing, and I watch people suffer from hunger and disease?
… when I know there is so much wrongs in the world yet so little I can do? I can feel the tears in my eyes even as I wrote this.
So, are we having fun yet? Shall we or shall we not have fun? Do we deserve to have fun? If so, what kind?
[to be continued]
The noun ¨Fun, according to MS’s Encarta, is a time or feeling of enjoyment or amusement or something such as an activity that provides enjoyment or amusement.
So what amuses us? For me, now it is less about partying and drinking all night, talking and laughing perhaps at the expense of other people, or banging our heads to that loud music (Banging? I am so eighties).
To me, more and more, fun is about watching a child feeling so content in her mother’s arms, is about being one with nature, is about singing with the less fortunate orphans in their emergency school (hi mbak Mel, miss you much), fun is .. a lot of things I cannot describe here but you get the drift.
Now, how can I have fun…
… when I was browsing the Internet to search of updates of my country, the first thing I found was news about a mom-to-be celebrity having a baby shower but few people know who the father is?
… when everywhere I go I see homeless people on the street, I witness people fighting over nothing, and I watch people suffer from hunger and disease?
… when I know there is so much wrongs in the world yet so little I can do? I can feel the tears in my eyes even as I wrote this.
So, are we having fun yet? Shall we or shall we not have fun? Do we deserve to have fun? If so, what kind?
[to be continued]
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Beautiful prayers
I have put three here.
One.
Dear Lord.
Help me to live this day
Quietly, easily;
To lean upon thy great strength,
Trustfully, restfully;
To wait for the unfolding of Thy will
Patiently, serenely,
To meet others
Peacefully, joyously;
To face tomorrow
Confidently, courageously.
Amen
Two.
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Praise be to God, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds;
Most Gracious, Most Merciful;
Master of the Day of Judgment.
Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.
Show us the straight way,
The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace,
those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.
Amen
Three. This one is so cute. It is a prayer of a fisherman:
Dear God
Be good to me
The sea is so wide
And my boat is so small
One.
Dear Lord.
Help me to live this day
Quietly, easily;
To lean upon thy great strength,
Trustfully, restfully;
To wait for the unfolding of Thy will
Patiently, serenely,
To meet others
Peacefully, joyously;
To face tomorrow
Confidently, courageously.
Amen
Two.
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Praise be to God, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds;
Most Gracious, Most Merciful;
Master of the Day of Judgment.
Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.
Show us the straight way,
The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace,
those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.
Amen
Three. This one is so cute. It is a prayer of a fisherman:
Dear God
Be good to me
The sea is so wide
And my boat is so small
Bypassers
Last week, I said goodbye to many people – two teachers and several fellow students of my school. Some I held dear to my heart.
It is amazing how God has made me stay put in Seville and see people come and go because most students spend less time here than I do.
Such is life. People come and go. We gain things and we lose things. Embracing things as it comes. Making the most of them - learning and enjoying - while we have them. Letting them go when it is time to do so and moving on. Realizing that the only thing that remain is always God and His blessings.
Some of the great lessons in life we need to learn. It is all one great puzzle of life - with God (or whichever Supreme Being you may believe in) putting little clues here and there. We just need to have a keen eye and a conscious heart to decrypt them. (Decrypt? Blessed are all the cryptologists ;) )
Goodbye my friends. Thank you so much for the good times and the great lessons.
It is amazing how God has made me stay put in Seville and see people come and go because most students spend less time here than I do.
Such is life. People come and go. We gain things and we lose things. Embracing things as it comes. Making the most of them - learning and enjoying - while we have them. Letting them go when it is time to do so and moving on. Realizing that the only thing that remain is always God and His blessings.
Some of the great lessons in life we need to learn. It is all one great puzzle of life - with God (or whichever Supreme Being you may believe in) putting little clues here and there. We just need to have a keen eye and a conscious heart to decrypt them. (Decrypt? Blessed are all the cryptologists ;) )
Goodbye my friends. Thank you so much for the good times and the great lessons.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Be with those who help your being
Cannot help but put another Rumi here:
Be with those who help your being.
Do not sit with indifferent people,
whose breath comes cold out of their mouths.
Not these visible forms, your work is deeper.
A chunk of dirt thrown in the air breaks to pieces.
If you do not try to fly,
and so break yourself apart,
you will be broken open by death,
when it is too late for all you could become.
Leaves get yellow.
The tree puts out fresh roots and makes them green.
Why are you so content with a love that turns you yellow?
May we all find true love, peace and happiness in our heart – the kinds that can only come from the Merciful and Compassionate One.
Be with those who help your being.
Do not sit with indifferent people,
whose breath comes cold out of their mouths.
Not these visible forms, your work is deeper.
A chunk of dirt thrown in the air breaks to pieces.
If you do not try to fly,
and so break yourself apart,
you will be broken open by death,
when it is too late for all you could become.
Leaves get yellow.
The tree puts out fresh roots and makes them green.
Why are you so content with a love that turns you yellow?
May we all find true love, peace and happiness in our heart – the kinds that can only come from the Merciful and Compassionate One.
Look at Love…
Get into the wagon of the Valentine’s spirit! ☺ Let’s talk about love. For this subject, and several others, few people say it better than Djalal ad Din Rumi:
Look at Love...
how it tangles
with the one fallen in love
look at spirit
how it fuses with earth
giving it new life
why are you so busy
with this or that or good or bad
pay attention to how things blend
why talk about all
the known and the unknown
see how unknown merges into the known
why think separately
of this life and the next
when one is born from the last
look at your heart and tongue
one feels but deaf and dumb
the other speaks in words and signs
look at water and fire
earth and wind
enemies and friends all at once
the wolf and the lamb
the lion and the deer
far away yet together
look at the unity of this
spring and winter
manifested in the equinox
you too must mingle my friends
since the earth and the sky
are mingled just for you and me
be like sugarcane
sweet yet silent
don't get mixed up with bitter words
my beloved grows
right out of my own heart
how much more union can there be
Look at Love...
how it tangles
with the one fallen in love
look at spirit
how it fuses with earth
giving it new life
why are you so busy
with this or that or good or bad
pay attention to how things blend
why talk about all
the known and the unknown
see how unknown merges into the known
why think separately
of this life and the next
when one is born from the last
look at your heart and tongue
one feels but deaf and dumb
the other speaks in words and signs
look at water and fire
earth and wind
enemies and friends all at once
the wolf and the lamb
the lion and the deer
far away yet together
look at the unity of this
spring and winter
manifested in the equinox
you too must mingle my friends
since the earth and the sky
are mingled just for you and me
be like sugarcane
sweet yet silent
don't get mixed up with bitter words
my beloved grows
right out of my own heart
how much more union can there be
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