Buddha's awakening - birth, aging, sickness & death
The cause is "Persistence" - the heart wants to persist, thus birth (effect)takes place and this leads to aging sickness & death.
What is the cause of "Persistence"? It is "To have it".
What is the cause of "To have it"? It is "Greed".
What is the cause of "Greed"? The cause of "Greed" is "Feeling".
The cause of "Feeling" is "Touch".
The cause of "Touch" is "Heart of awareness".
The cause of "Heart of awareness" is "Behavior".
The cause of "Behavior" is "Relative ignorance".
We always have the wrong perception of thinking that we have a physical presence & think that all phenomena are the existence of a physical presence. Therefore the behavior constantly changes & cannot be stable and results in the changing power of everything in the universe.
Buddha found the answer of existence of everything. He relieved from the cycle of birth, aging, sickness & death and became an awakening achiever.
Self-awakening instructions
Stay silence & still. Ask yourself repeatedly the following questions:-
1. Why do I exist here?
2. What am I doing now?
3. What's wrong with me?
4. What terrible things have I done?
5. What am I scared of?
6. What I am afraid of?
Tell yourself repeatedly:
"I want to go home".
7. How long will I be free of suffering?
8. How long will I be free of hurt?
9. Why am still here?
10. What is the purpose of my life?
11. What is the meaning of my life?
12. What have I missed?
13. Am I lonely?
14. What have I persisted in?
15. What have I desired?
16. Who am I lying to?
17. Who got hurt?
18. Who obstructs me?
Tell yourself:
1. I can awaken my heart.
2. I have love & mercy.
3. I can create light.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Food And Nutrition For Inner Growth 93 (ACIM - specialness)
ACIM quotes (pg 502-507)
Comparison must be an ego device, for love makes none. Specialness always makes comparisons. It is established by a lack seen in another, & maintained by searching for, & keeping clear in sight, all lacks it can perceive.
Pursuit of specialness is always at the cost of peace.
Specialness is the idea of sin made real. Sin is impossible even to imagine without this base. For sin arose from it, out of nothingness; an evil flower with no roots at all.
You choose specialness instead of Heaven & instead of peace, & wrapprd it carefully in sin, to keep it "safe" from truth.
The death of specialness is not your death, but your awakening into life eternal. You but emerge from an illusion of what you are to the acceptance of yourself as God created you.
Forgiveness is the end of specialness. Only illusions can be forgiven, and then they disappear. Forgiveness is release from all illusions, and that is why it is impossible but partly to forgive. No one who clings to one illusion can see himself as sinless, for he holds one error to himself as lovely still. And so he calls it "unforgivable", and makes it sin. How can he then give his forgiveness wholly, when he would not receive it for himself? For it is sure he would receive it wholly the instant that he gave it so. And thus his secret guilt would disappear, forgiven by himself.
What rests on nothing never can be stable. However large & overblown it seems to be, it still must rock & turn & whirl about with every breeze.
It is your specialness that is attacked by everything that walks & breathes, or creeps or crawls, or even lives at all. Nothing is free from its attack, and it is safe from nothing.
They are lost in dreams of specialness. They hate the call that would awaken them, and they curse God because He did not make their dream reality.
Comparison must be an ego device, for love makes none. Specialness always makes comparisons. It is established by a lack seen in another, & maintained by searching for, & keeping clear in sight, all lacks it can perceive.
Pursuit of specialness is always at the cost of peace.
Specialness is the idea of sin made real. Sin is impossible even to imagine without this base. For sin arose from it, out of nothingness; an evil flower with no roots at all.
You choose specialness instead of Heaven & instead of peace, & wrapprd it carefully in sin, to keep it "safe" from truth.
The death of specialness is not your death, but your awakening into life eternal. You but emerge from an illusion of what you are to the acceptance of yourself as God created you.
Forgiveness is the end of specialness. Only illusions can be forgiven, and then they disappear. Forgiveness is release from all illusions, and that is why it is impossible but partly to forgive. No one who clings to one illusion can see himself as sinless, for he holds one error to himself as lovely still. And so he calls it "unforgivable", and makes it sin. How can he then give his forgiveness wholly, when he would not receive it for himself? For it is sure he would receive it wholly the instant that he gave it so. And thus his secret guilt would disappear, forgiven by himself.
What rests on nothing never can be stable. However large & overblown it seems to be, it still must rock & turn & whirl about with every breeze.
It is your specialness that is attacked by everything that walks & breathes, or creeps or crawls, or even lives at all. Nothing is free from its attack, and it is safe from nothing.
They are lost in dreams of specialness. They hate the call that would awaken them, and they curse God because He did not make their dream reality.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
What not to say - to avoid conversational pitfalls
What Not to Say About Someone's Appearance
Don’t say: “You look tired.”
Why: It implies she doesn’t look good.
Instead say: “Is everything OK?”
We often blurt the “tired” comment when we get the sense that the other person feels out of sorts. So just ask.
Don’t say: “Wow, you’ve lost a ton of weight!”
Why: To a newly trim person, it might give the impression that she used to look unattractive.
Instead say: “You look fantastic.” And leave it at that.
If you’re curious about how she got so svelte, add, “What’s your secret?”
Don’t say: “You look good for your age.”
Why: Anything with a caveat like this is rude. It's saying, "You look great―compared with other old people. It's amazing you have all your own teeth."
Instead say: “You look great.”
Don’t say: “I could never wear that.”
Why: It can be misunderstood as a criticism.
(“I could never wear that because it’s so ugly.”)
Instead say: “You look so good in skinny jeans.”
If you slip, say something like “I could never wear that…because I wasn’t blessed with your long legs.”
Follow these tips to shop smart for your own body type.
Expert advice from Clinton Kelly, cohost of the TLC show, What Not to Wear.
What Not to Say in the Workplace
Don’t say: “That’s not my job.”
Why: If your superior asks you to do something, it is your job.
Instead say: “I’m not sure that should be my priority right now.”
Then have a conversation with your boss about your responsibilities.
In the past year, the rules of the workplace have changed. Learn how to shine at work in the new economy.
Don’t say: “This might sound stupid, but…”
Why: Never undermine your ideas by prefacing your remarks with wishy-washy language.
Instead say: What’s on your mind. It reinforces your credibility to present your ideas with confidence.
Don’t say: “I don’t have time to talk to you.”
Why: It’s plain rude, in person or on the phone.
Instead say: “I’m just finishing something up right now. Can I come by when I’m done?”
Graciously explain why you can’t talk now, and suggest catching up at an appointed time later. Let phone calls go to voice mail until you can give callers your undivided attention.
Don’t say: “You look tired.”
Why: It implies she doesn’t look good.
Instead say: “Is everything OK?”
We often blurt the “tired” comment when we get the sense that the other person feels out of sorts. So just ask.
Don’t say: “Wow, you’ve lost a ton of weight!”
Why: To a newly trim person, it might give the impression that she used to look unattractive.
Instead say: “You look fantastic.” And leave it at that.
If you’re curious about how she got so svelte, add, “What’s your secret?”
Don’t say: “You look good for your age.”
Why: Anything with a caveat like this is rude. It's saying, "You look great―compared with other old people. It's amazing you have all your own teeth."
Instead say: “You look great.”
Don’t say: “I could never wear that.”
Why: It can be misunderstood as a criticism.
(“I could never wear that because it’s so ugly.”)
Instead say: “You look so good in skinny jeans.”
If you slip, say something like “I could never wear that…because I wasn’t blessed with your long legs.”
Follow these tips to shop smart for your own body type.
Expert advice from Clinton Kelly, cohost of the TLC show, What Not to Wear.
What Not to Say in the Workplace
Don’t say: “That’s not my job.”
Why: If your superior asks you to do something, it is your job.
Instead say: “I’m not sure that should be my priority right now.”
Then have a conversation with your boss about your responsibilities.
In the past year, the rules of the workplace have changed. Learn how to shine at work in the new economy.
Don’t say: “This might sound stupid, but…”
Why: Never undermine your ideas by prefacing your remarks with wishy-washy language.
Instead say: What’s on your mind. It reinforces your credibility to present your ideas with confidence.
Don’t say: “I don’t have time to talk to you.”
Why: It’s plain rude, in person or on the phone.
Instead say: “I’m just finishing something up right now. Can I come by when I’m done?”
Graciously explain why you can’t talk now, and suggest catching up at an appointed time later. Let phone calls go to voice mail until you can give callers your undivided attention.
Food And Nutrition For Inner Growth 93 (Zero Limits - Ho'oponopono)
"對不起，請原諒我，謝謝你，我愛你", 於是想起了這《零極限》的力量。
修．藍博士正是運用這四句話，療癒了夏威夷州立醫院所有的精神疾病罪犯和疲憊的員工。這是因為，我們生命中的每一件事，都是我們的責任。這整個世界是我們創造的。
將《零極限》四句話掛上即時通的朋友，就想這樣對台灣說，這樣對自己說。他們正改變自己的內在，進而希望能改善這個世界。
人生是個複雜的謎題，唯有愛可以解答一切。還記得嗎？全班小朋友持續誇獎著米飯，米飯會發出香味；集中對湖水祈禱，水質會變得清澈；同時對城市發送平靜，犯罪率逐漸下降。只要你相信「相由心生」，體會《祕密》《生命的答案，水知道》正面表述的力量。
貼上這四句話（由你喜愛的順序）, 同時淨化自己、他人和所愛之地的能量；更重要的是，讓每個看到你的文字的人，也都漾起相同的美好意念！
我愛你，對不起，請原諒我，謝謝你。
1984年，有一位夏威夷治療師，以三年的時間，成功治癒了夏威夷州立醫院的精神疾病罪犯和疲憊的員工，卻沒有任何面對面的諮商。
他只是在察看病歷時，不斷重複這四句話來「清理」自己：
我愛你。對不起。請原諒我。謝謝你。
以這四句話來清理自己的過程，是一種夏威夷的傳統療法，叫作「荷歐波諾波諾」（Ho'oponopono）。
這個方法不僅讓精神病患罪犯被療癒，也讓一位過敏氣喘了五十年的婦人，在一夕間神奇治癒，還有許多在人際關係、工作、健康等成功運用此法的真實故事都蒐錄在書中，帶你逐漸揭開這個方法的神祕面紗。
這時我必須要問一個重要的問題：
「你在自己內在做了什麼事，讓那些人改變？」
「我只是清除了我內在與他們共有的部分。」他說。
啥？我不懂。
修．藍博士解釋，對自己的人生負全部責任的意思是，你生命中的每一件事——就只因為它在你的生命裡——都是你的責任。從字面上來說，整個世界是你創造的。
哇，這很難讓人接受。為我自己的言行負責是一回事，為我生命中「每一個人」的言行負責，又是另一回事。
然而事實是：當你對自己的生命負完全責任，那麼所有你看到的、聽到的、品嘗到的、接觸到的，或者以任何方式經驗到的都是你的責任，因為它出現在你的生命裡。
這個意思是，恐怖分子、總統、經濟——任何你經驗到卻不喜歡的人事物——都要由你來療癒。或者不妨這麼說：要不是從你的內在投射出來，他們是不存在的。
問題不在他們，在於你。
而要改變他們，必須先改變你自己。
我知道這很難理解，更不用說接受或實踐，因為責怪遠比負完全責任簡單多了。
修．藍博士解釋：「簡單地說，荷歐波諾波諾就是『使之正確』或『改正錯誤』。『荷歐』（Ho'o）在夏威夷語是"導致"的意思，而『波諾波諾』（ponopono）則是『完美』。根據古代夏威夷人的說法，錯誤是由被過往痛苦記憶污染的思想所引起的，這些痛苦的思想或錯誤會造成失衡狀態與疾病，而荷歐波諾波諾則提供了一個方法，來釋放這些能量。」
簡言之，荷歐波諾波諾就是一個解決問題的方法，然而這一切都在你自己的內在完成。
這個看待生命本身的新方式真是讓人覺得天旋地轉，在某種程度上，它或許解釋了修．藍博士如何治癒那些患有精神疾病的罪犯。他並沒有在他們身上下工夫，而是在自己身上做功課。
修．藍博士說：「任何一個願意百分之百對他或她在每個當下所創造的生命負責的個體，都能從問題和疾病中解脫。
在古老的夏威夷療法『荷歐波諾波諾』裡，個人會祈求愛來改正他內在的錯誤。你說：『對不起。
不論我內在發生了什麼而顯化成這個問題，都請原諒我。』接著，愛就會負責轉化他內在那些顯化成問題的錯誤。」
他還說：「荷歐波諾波諾不把每個問題視為苦難，而是機會。問題只是過去記憶的重播，它們會出現，是為了再給我們一次機會，用愛的眼光去看待這些問題，然後出於靈感而行動。」
還想了解更多.
這幾句話，包含了解決我們人類內外在衝突的所有資源。隨著我自己靈性成長的進程開展，我真的發現「懺悔」與「感恩」是兩個最重要的成長工具。不要小看了這幾句話。一段時間之後，一定可以看到你的生命會有不一樣的改變！
──張德芬（靈性作家）
"荷歐波諾波諾"有如修行成佛助人的過程。凡事反求諸己，讓心歸零就是證悟空性，就能具足利益眾生的能力，也就是零極限。這是學佛人落實修行的必讀好書。
──鄭振煌（佛教學者，《西藏生死書》《心靈神醫》等著作譯者）
「為一切負全部的責任！」這句話充滿了溫柔與堅定，如水流一般川流不息在每一個呼吸之間。從那個深刻的感動之後，我對生命的責任又多了一層了解。
──許麗玲（宗教學博士、《老鷹的羽毛》作者）
修．藍博士正是運用這四句話，療癒了夏威夷州立醫院所有的精神疾病罪犯和疲憊的員工。這是因為，我們生命中的每一件事，都是我們的責任。這整個世界是我們創造的。
將《零極限》四句話掛上即時通的朋友，就想這樣對台灣說，這樣對自己說。他們正改變自己的內在，進而希望能改善這個世界。
人生是個複雜的謎題，唯有愛可以解答一切。還記得嗎？全班小朋友持續誇獎著米飯，米飯會發出香味；集中對湖水祈禱，水質會變得清澈；同時對城市發送平靜，犯罪率逐漸下降。只要你相信「相由心生」，體會《祕密》《生命的答案，水知道》正面表述的力量。
貼上這四句話（由你喜愛的順序）, 同時淨化自己、他人和所愛之地的能量；更重要的是，讓每個看到你的文字的人，也都漾起相同的美好意念！
我愛你，對不起，請原諒我，謝謝你。
1984年，有一位夏威夷治療師，以三年的時間，成功治癒了夏威夷州立醫院的精神疾病罪犯和疲憊的員工，卻沒有任何面對面的諮商。
他只是在察看病歷時，不斷重複這四句話來「清理」自己：
我愛你。對不起。請原諒我。謝謝你。
以這四句話來清理自己的過程，是一種夏威夷的傳統療法，叫作「荷歐波諾波諾」（Ho'oponopono）。
這個方法不僅讓精神病患罪犯被療癒，也讓一位過敏氣喘了五十年的婦人，在一夕間神奇治癒，還有許多在人際關係、工作、健康等成功運用此法的真實故事都蒐錄在書中，帶你逐漸揭開這個方法的神祕面紗。
這時我必須要問一個重要的問題：
「你在自己內在做了什麼事，讓那些人改變？」
「我只是清除了我內在與他們共有的部分。」他說。
啥？我不懂。
修．藍博士解釋，對自己的人生負全部責任的意思是，你生命中的每一件事——就只因為它在你的生命裡——都是你的責任。從字面上來說，整個世界是你創造的。
哇，這很難讓人接受。為我自己的言行負責是一回事，為我生命中「每一個人」的言行負責，又是另一回事。
然而事實是：當你對自己的生命負完全責任，那麼所有你看到的、聽到的、品嘗到的、接觸到的，或者以任何方式經驗到的都是你的責任，因為它出現在你的生命裡。
這個意思是，恐怖分子、總統、經濟——任何你經驗到卻不喜歡的人事物——都要由你來療癒。或者不妨這麼說：要不是從你的內在投射出來，他們是不存在的。
問題不在他們，在於你。
而要改變他們，必須先改變你自己。
我知道這很難理解，更不用說接受或實踐，因為責怪遠比負完全責任簡單多了。
修．藍博士解釋：「簡單地說，荷歐波諾波諾就是『使之正確』或『改正錯誤』。『荷歐』（Ho'o）在夏威夷語是"導致"的意思，而『波諾波諾』（ponopono）則是『完美』。根據古代夏威夷人的說法，錯誤是由被過往痛苦記憶污染的思想所引起的，這些痛苦的思想或錯誤會造成失衡狀態與疾病，而荷歐波諾波諾則提供了一個方法，來釋放這些能量。」
簡言之，荷歐波諾波諾就是一個解決問題的方法，然而這一切都在你自己的內在完成。
這個看待生命本身的新方式真是讓人覺得天旋地轉，在某種程度上，它或許解釋了修．藍博士如何治癒那些患有精神疾病的罪犯。他並沒有在他們身上下工夫，而是在自己身上做功課。
修．藍博士說：「任何一個願意百分之百對他或她在每個當下所創造的生命負責的個體，都能從問題和疾病中解脫。
在古老的夏威夷療法『荷歐波諾波諾』裡，個人會祈求愛來改正他內在的錯誤。你說：『對不起。
不論我內在發生了什麼而顯化成這個問題，都請原諒我。』接著，愛就會負責轉化他內在那些顯化成問題的錯誤。」
他還說：「荷歐波諾波諾不把每個問題視為苦難，而是機會。問題只是過去記憶的重播，它們會出現，是為了再給我們一次機會，用愛的眼光去看待這些問題，然後出於靈感而行動。」
還想了解更多.
這幾句話，包含了解決我們人類內外在衝突的所有資源。隨著我自己靈性成長的進程開展，我真的發現「懺悔」與「感恩」是兩個最重要的成長工具。不要小看了這幾句話。一段時間之後，一定可以看到你的生命會有不一樣的改變！
──張德芬（靈性作家）
"荷歐波諾波諾"有如修行成佛助人的過程。凡事反求諸己，讓心歸零就是證悟空性，就能具足利益眾生的能力，也就是零極限。這是學佛人落實修行的必讀好書。
──鄭振煌（佛教學者，《西藏生死書》《心靈神醫》等著作譯者）
「為一切負全部的責任！」這句話充滿了溫柔與堅定，如水流一般川流不息在每一個呼吸之間。從那個深刻的感動之後，我對生命的責任又多了一層了解。
──許麗玲（宗教學博士、《老鷹的羽毛》作者）
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Food And Nutrition For Inner Growth 92 (ACIM - specialness)
Quote from ACIM (page 496-7)
What is Not Love is murder.
What is Not Loving must be an attack.
Every illusion is an assault on truth, & every one does violence to the idea of love because it seems to be of equal truth.
What is the same can have no different function.
From pg 501
Would it be possible for you to hate your brother if you were like him? Could you attack him if you realized you journey with him, to a goal that is the same? Would you not help him reach it in every way you could, if his attainment of it were perceived as yours?
Your brother is your friend because his Father created him like you. There is no difference.
Could you attack your brother if you chose to see no specialness of any kind between you & him?
Is it not always your belief your specialness is limited by your relationship?
What is Not Love is murder.
What is Not Loving must be an attack.
Every illusion is an assault on truth, & every one does violence to the idea of love because it seems to be of equal truth.
What is the same can have no different function.
From pg 501
Would it be possible for you to hate your brother if you were like him? Could you attack him if you realized you journey with him, to a goal that is the same? Would you not help him reach it in every way you could, if his attainment of it were perceived as yours?
Your brother is your friend because his Father created him like you. There is no difference.
Could you attack your brother if you chose to see no specialness of any kind between you & him?
Is it not always your belief your specialness is limited by your relationship?
Friday, August 28, 2009
Food And Nutrition For Inner Growth 91(Contemplation)
TODAY'S CONTEMPLATION No.1
The world is a great mirror. It reflects back to you what you are. If you are loving, if you are friendly, if you are helpful, the world will prove loving and friendly and helpful to you. The world is what you are.
-- Thomas Dreier
TODAY'S CONTEMPLATION No.2
You will find yourself refreshed by the presence of cheerful people. Why not make earnest effort to confer that pleasure on others? Half the battle is gained if you never allow yourself to say anything gloomy.
-- Lydia M. Child (1802-1880)
The world is a great mirror. It reflects back to you what you are. If you are loving, if you are friendly, if you are helpful, the world will prove loving and friendly and helpful to you. The world is what you are.
-- Thomas Dreier
TODAY'S CONTEMPLATION No.2
You will find yourself refreshed by the presence of cheerful people. Why not make earnest effort to confer that pleasure on others? Half the battle is gained if you never allow yourself to say anything gloomy.
-- Lydia M. Child (1802-1880)
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Highly worthwhile reading article from a Muslim - Raja Petra
Let’s look at reality
Wednesday, 26 August 2009 16:42
There are some very upset people in Malaysia who feel that Islam is being challenged or that non-Muslims, plus some Muslims, do not respect Islam and whatnot. These are people who always think that if you disagree with them then you are insulting Islam and/or need to go and learn more about Islam. Let’s look at reality -- and then let’s argue till the cows come home.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
The entertainment industry is said to be the largest industry in the world. That actually took me by surprise because I had initially thought that the arms industry was the largest. So it appears that making love is more profitable than making war after all.
Now, when I say ‘entertainment’, I am talking about more than just movies and music. Theme parks, holiday resorts, tour packages, casinos, discos (which serves as the market for designer drugs), night clubs, cabarets, bars, pubs, prostitution, and all those other activities which allow you to ‘let your hair down’, relax, enjoy yourself, have a good time, and so on, come under the classification of ‘entertainment industry’.
Just list down all those things banned in Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s two Holy Cities, and that would come under the category of entertainment. The Saudi ulamak reluctantly allowed TV to be introduced into the Kingdom (after much pressure from the ruling elite) but only for religious programs and news, not for entertainment purposes. In that sense, anything that Saudi has banned can be regarded as un-Islamic, according to the strict Saudi interpretation (who argue that that is true Islam). And this would include everything under the entertainment industry category.
For that matter, general elections are also ‘banned’ in Saudi Arabia. Would, therefore, elections be regarded as un-Islamic since there was no such thing during the time of the Prophet Muhammad as well as during the Islamic Empire headed by the Caliphs -- until the collapse of the Ottoman Empire less than 100 years ago? And since PAS participates in this ‘Christian’-created Westminster system of parliament and general elections can PAS be considered as being involved in un-Islamic activities?
Yes, that is certainly food for thought is it not?
Going by the standards set by Saudi Arabia, the country regarded as the home of the Prophet Muhammad and the centre for Islam, it seems like only the Jews observe true Islamic teachings. And is it not also ironical that some of the best entertainers in the world (actors, actresses, singers, etc.) are Jews? This certainly represents a contradiction of sorts.
So, what, therefore, would make one a true Muslim? Would the banning of beer and the punishing of Muslims who drink beer be the proper Islamic thing to do, as many seem to think so? Or do we need to do more than that if we really want to become a true Muslim? This is the dilemma faced by Muslims and which was the point of my previous article: Go all the way or no way (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/26055/84/).
Some Muslims think I am defending the sale of beer and oppose the ban and punishment of those who drink beer. This is not the point at all. The point I am making is we appear to be preoccupied with a mosquito bite when the patient is suffering from terminal cancer and just had a massive heart attack on top of that.
Why worry about something not life threatening when the patient is about to die? Forget about the itch on the finger when the toes have been eaten away by gangrene.
I have written about this issue so many times and I am sure by now many, Muslims in particular, are quite tired of reading about the same thing. But how can I stop harping on this same issue when we have people who still fail to grasp what the real issue is?
Below are extracts of two reports concerning the liquor industry and the problem it represents to Malaysia. What I want to stress is that the liquor industry is a huge industry and Malaysia ranks among the top ten in the world. And do you know how much tax the government earns from this (plus of course from tobacco and cigarettes which are equally haram according to many Muslim scholars)?
Okay, what happens to these taxes earned? It goes into the government coffers -- and we are talking about a huge amount of money here.
Next question: what does the government do with this money? It is used, of course. The government pays the salary of one million civil servants (more than 90% who are Muslims). The government builds roads, schools, hospitals and whatnot (which are used by all Malaysians, more than half who are Muslims).
So, how far are the Muslims prepared to go? Do they really want to be true Muslims? Do they really want to see sin and vices eradicated? Are they prepared to totally ban all forms of entertainment (liquor, beer and cigarettes being just part of it) that go against Islamic teachings? Are Muslims prepared to do what Saudi Arabia is doing to keep the country ‘pure’? And this would include a ban on interest-bearing loans and credit cards.
It is embarrassing when Muslims scream and shout about the issue of beer (or about the issue of a group called MLTR that sing tame love songs no different from Malaysia’s own Muslim singers such as Sharifah Aini, Sudirman, Siti Nurhaliza, etc. -- who they do not ask to also be banned). And when we express opinions that contradict theirs they scream about how we are insulting Islam, have no respect for Islam, should go and learn more about Islam, and whatnot.
Understand one thing, when we argue about a minor issue (and beer is a minor issue) while we tolerate the much larger problem we look like hypocrites.
The day one million Malay-Muslim civil servants throw in their resignation letters and refuse to continue working for the Malaysian government until the government stops earning tax money from haram activities would be the day I join my fellow Muslims in demanding that all forms of haram activities be banned.
Why are we so uptight about what others do? They want to drink then that is their business. It is between them and God. But if we earn a salary from taxes earned from haram activities then that would become our business. That would be when we should start getting upset.
But somehow that does not upset Muslims. They are not concerned that all these haram activities earn big money for the country and which goes to pay their salaries and develop the country with facilities that they also enjoy. They are not concerned that they are ‘partners’ in haram money. They are only concerned about what others do.
The Malay proverb about being able to see a germ across the ocean but not being able to see an elephant in front of your face rings true here.
That is the point in my whole argument.
Wednesday, 26 August 2009 16:42
There are some very upset people in Malaysia who feel that Islam is being challenged or that non-Muslims, plus some Muslims, do not respect Islam and whatnot. These are people who always think that if you disagree with them then you are insulting Islam and/or need to go and learn more about Islam. Let’s look at reality -- and then let’s argue till the cows come home.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
The entertainment industry is said to be the largest industry in the world. That actually took me by surprise because I had initially thought that the arms industry was the largest. So it appears that making love is more profitable than making war after all.
Now, when I say ‘entertainment’, I am talking about more than just movies and music. Theme parks, holiday resorts, tour packages, casinos, discos (which serves as the market for designer drugs), night clubs, cabarets, bars, pubs, prostitution, and all those other activities which allow you to ‘let your hair down’, relax, enjoy yourself, have a good time, and so on, come under the classification of ‘entertainment industry’.
Just list down all those things banned in Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s two Holy Cities, and that would come under the category of entertainment. The Saudi ulamak reluctantly allowed TV to be introduced into the Kingdom (after much pressure from the ruling elite) but only for religious programs and news, not for entertainment purposes. In that sense, anything that Saudi has banned can be regarded as un-Islamic, according to the strict Saudi interpretation (who argue that that is true Islam). And this would include everything under the entertainment industry category.
For that matter, general elections are also ‘banned’ in Saudi Arabia. Would, therefore, elections be regarded as un-Islamic since there was no such thing during the time of the Prophet Muhammad as well as during the Islamic Empire headed by the Caliphs -- until the collapse of the Ottoman Empire less than 100 years ago? And since PAS participates in this ‘Christian’-created Westminster system of parliament and general elections can PAS be considered as being involved in un-Islamic activities?
Yes, that is certainly food for thought is it not?
Going by the standards set by Saudi Arabia, the country regarded as the home of the Prophet Muhammad and the centre for Islam, it seems like only the Jews observe true Islamic teachings. And is it not also ironical that some of the best entertainers in the world (actors, actresses, singers, etc.) are Jews? This certainly represents a contradiction of sorts.
So, what, therefore, would make one a true Muslim? Would the banning of beer and the punishing of Muslims who drink beer be the proper Islamic thing to do, as many seem to think so? Or do we need to do more than that if we really want to become a true Muslim? This is the dilemma faced by Muslims and which was the point of my previous article: Go all the way or no way (http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/26055/84/).
Some Muslims think I am defending the sale of beer and oppose the ban and punishment of those who drink beer. This is not the point at all. The point I am making is we appear to be preoccupied with a mosquito bite when the patient is suffering from terminal cancer and just had a massive heart attack on top of that.
Why worry about something not life threatening when the patient is about to die? Forget about the itch on the finger when the toes have been eaten away by gangrene.
I have written about this issue so many times and I am sure by now many, Muslims in particular, are quite tired of reading about the same thing. But how can I stop harping on this same issue when we have people who still fail to grasp what the real issue is?
Below are extracts of two reports concerning the liquor industry and the problem it represents to Malaysia. What I want to stress is that the liquor industry is a huge industry and Malaysia ranks among the top ten in the world. And do you know how much tax the government earns from this (plus of course from tobacco and cigarettes which are equally haram according to many Muslim scholars)?
Okay, what happens to these taxes earned? It goes into the government coffers -- and we are talking about a huge amount of money here.
Next question: what does the government do with this money? It is used, of course. The government pays the salary of one million civil servants (more than 90% who are Muslims). The government builds roads, schools, hospitals and whatnot (which are used by all Malaysians, more than half who are Muslims).
So, how far are the Muslims prepared to go? Do they really want to be true Muslims? Do they really want to see sin and vices eradicated? Are they prepared to totally ban all forms of entertainment (liquor, beer and cigarettes being just part of it) that go against Islamic teachings? Are Muslims prepared to do what Saudi Arabia is doing to keep the country ‘pure’? And this would include a ban on interest-bearing loans and credit cards.
It is embarrassing when Muslims scream and shout about the issue of beer (or about the issue of a group called MLTR that sing tame love songs no different from Malaysia’s own Muslim singers such as Sharifah Aini, Sudirman, Siti Nurhaliza, etc. -- who they do not ask to also be banned). And when we express opinions that contradict theirs they scream about how we are insulting Islam, have no respect for Islam, should go and learn more about Islam, and whatnot.
Understand one thing, when we argue about a minor issue (and beer is a minor issue) while we tolerate the much larger problem we look like hypocrites.
The day one million Malay-Muslim civil servants throw in their resignation letters and refuse to continue working for the Malaysian government until the government stops earning tax money from haram activities would be the day I join my fellow Muslims in demanding that all forms of haram activities be banned.
Why are we so uptight about what others do? They want to drink then that is their business. It is between them and God. But if we earn a salary from taxes earned from haram activities then that would become our business. That would be when we should start getting upset.
But somehow that does not upset Muslims. They are not concerned that all these haram activities earn big money for the country and which goes to pay their salaries and develop the country with facilities that they also enjoy. They are not concerned that they are ‘partners’ in haram money. They are only concerned about what others do.
The Malay proverb about being able to see a germ across the ocean but not being able to see an elephant in front of your face rings true here.
That is the point in my whole argument.
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