No, this time, you do not have to put up with my pseudo-intellectualism.
This time its someone elses pseudo-intellectualism.
Ok, ok, not pseudo - this is someone a lot closer to intelligent than I may ever be.
Aloysious Mowe writes about people who act holier than thou, and intellectual dishonesty.
2008-10-16
2008-07-09
the use of the word “Allah”
Here is a news item from the STAR today.
(I have found that the New Straits Times is an unreliable news source, because their stories and pages can 'dissappear' from their site. Probably when the article is deemed 'sensitive')
Religious councils want to intervene in application.
KUALA LUMPUR: Two more parties are applying to be part of the Catholic Church’s application for a judicial review over the use of the word “Allah”.
The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) yesterday filed its application to intervene in the suit through Azra & Associates while the Kedah Islamic Religious Council (Maik) filed its application through the firm of Omayah, Nawal & Partners.
Other parties to the suit are the Islamic religious councils for the states of Penang, Terengganu, Perak and the Federal Territories as well as the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council, the sole non-Muslim intervener in the suit.
Among others, Mais and Maik are seeking to intervene on grounds that they were responsible for the administration of Islam and Islamic laws in the two states and to prevent any confusion that could threaten public peace and security or raise religious sensitivities.
While the dedication of these religious councils to the dignity of Islam is commendable, I can not but wonder if it is misplaced. There have been articles and letters in the Malaysian media pointing out that in the Middle-East, "Allah" is the name used for "God" by many communities, not just the Muslim community. Specifically, "Allah" is used by middle-Eastern Christians without causing even a blink of surprise by their Muslim neighbors.
If the use of "Allah" by Christians and Sikhs would be occasion for the downfall of Islam and mass apostacy, as our dear Malaysian politicians say (yes, I blame the politicians and not the religious authorities), then there would be mass conversions to Christianity in the Arab countries and to Sikhism in India. But as my friend Johan said - it is insulting to us Malays that you think we are so stupid as to be confused so easily.
The dedication of the religious councils would be better put into spreading truth among the ummah (that "Allah" is a word that pre-dates Islam, and is used by many communities) than to keeping the truth away from the ummah. We dont want Malaysians to become like "katak di bawah tempurung".
(I have found that the New Straits Times is an unreliable news source, because their stories and pages can 'dissappear' from their site. Probably when the article is deemed 'sensitive')
Religious councils want to intervene in application.
KUALA LUMPUR: Two more parties are applying to be part of the Catholic Church’s application for a judicial review over the use of the word “Allah”.
The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) yesterday filed its application to intervene in the suit through Azra & Associates while the Kedah Islamic Religious Council (Maik) filed its application through the firm of Omayah, Nawal & Partners.
Other parties to the suit are the Islamic religious councils for the states of Penang, Terengganu, Perak and the Federal Territories as well as the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council, the sole non-Muslim intervener in the suit.
Among others, Mais and Maik are seeking to intervene on grounds that they were responsible for the administration of Islam and Islamic laws in the two states and to prevent any confusion that could threaten public peace and security or raise religious sensitivities.
While the dedication of these religious councils to the dignity of Islam is commendable, I can not but wonder if it is misplaced. There have been articles and letters in the Malaysian media pointing out that in the Middle-East, "Allah" is the name used for "God" by many communities, not just the Muslim community. Specifically, "Allah" is used by middle-Eastern Christians without causing even a blink of surprise by their Muslim neighbors.
If the use of "Allah" by Christians and Sikhs would be occasion for the downfall of Islam and mass apostacy, as our dear Malaysian politicians say (yes, I blame the politicians and not the religious authorities), then there would be mass conversions to Christianity in the Arab countries and to Sikhism in India. But as my friend Johan said - it is insulting to us Malays that you think we are so stupid as to be confused so easily.
The dedication of the religious councils would be better put into spreading truth among the ummah (that "Allah" is a word that pre-dates Islam, and is used by many communities) than to keeping the truth away from the ummah. We dont want Malaysians to become like "katak di bawah tempurung".
2008-03-07
Malaysia: ‘Allah’ Just for Muslims
We all know about the HERALD being at risk of not having it's licence renewed due to this issue - you can read a quick summary in the New York Times article HERE
Notice at the end of the article:
"Abdullah Mohamad Zin, the government minister for Islamic affairs, clarified that the restriction on Allah was still in place. “The use of the word Allah by non-Muslims may arouse sensitivity and create confusion among Muslims in the country,” the newspaper The Star quoted him as saying."
Effectively, the renewal of The Herald's licence in Dec2007 was just a concession - probably because of the coming elections. It's no secret that the issue was brought up to the PM (Badawi) by a Christian Govenment Minister. If the Barisan National wins a 2/3 majority, I would NOT be surprised if the 'Allah' issue eventually crops up again, and (contrary to how the rest of the Islamic world uses the word), "Allah" in Malaysia becomes the property of Islamic organisations.
A vote for BN will determine the freedom of religion of your children. Vote wisely on Mar 08 2008.
Cross reference - click here to read an interesting blog article on 'ALLAH'.
Notice at the end of the article:
"Abdullah Mohamad Zin, the government minister for Islamic affairs, clarified that the restriction on Allah was still in place. “The use of the word Allah by non-Muslims may arouse sensitivity and create confusion among Muslims in the country,” the newspaper The Star quoted him as saying."
Effectively, the renewal of The Herald's licence in Dec2007 was just a concession - probably because of the coming elections. It's no secret that the issue was brought up to the PM (Badawi) by a Christian Govenment Minister. If the Barisan National wins a 2/3 majority, I would NOT be surprised if the 'Allah' issue eventually crops up again, and (contrary to how the rest of the Islamic world uses the word), "Allah" in Malaysia becomes the property of Islamic organisations.
A vote for BN will determine the freedom of religion of your children. Vote wisely on Mar 08 2008.
Cross reference - click here to read an interesting blog article on 'ALLAH'.
2008-01-02
Homilies of a Jesuit
This is an excellent find!! Someone is collecting the homilies of a Jesuit and blogging them (with permission of course, and before you ask, its not me).
Great for a weekly reflection based on the theme of the previous Sunday readings.
The home page is here: http://homiliesofajesuit.blogspot.com/
This is the reflection for Christmas 2007.
Great for a weekly reflection based on the theme of the previous Sunday readings.
The home page is here: http://homiliesofajesuit.blogspot.com/
This is the reflection for Christmas 2007.
2007-06-25
I wish you enough
(Something in my email today...)
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright,
No matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
We often wish each other the best of everything, not thinking that growth and maturity come at a price, and that price is often (or always) painful.
I see parents in luxury cars breaking traffic rules and getting as close to the school gate as possible to drop off their 'Pride and Joy'. Yet these same kids are ignoring teachers, misbehaving, smoking, and playing truant, no less (though perhaps no more) than the rural kid who walks 5km to the school gate rain or shine.
Maybe our kids will grow up better if we gave them "just enough" instead of "the best of everything".
I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright,
No matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.
We often wish each other the best of everything, not thinking that growth and maturity come at a price, and that price is often (or always) painful.
I see parents in luxury cars breaking traffic rules and getting as close to the school gate as possible to drop off their 'Pride and Joy'. Yet these same kids are ignoring teachers, misbehaving, smoking, and playing truant, no less (though perhaps no more) than the rural kid who walks 5km to the school gate rain or shine.
Maybe our kids will grow up better if we gave them "just enough" instead of "the best of everything".
2007-02-05
Something to think and pray about this week
The following reflection was given on Sacred Space today. Beautiful. Go to Sacred Space to see reflections and prayers for the day, every day.
Describing progress towards God, Von Hügel writes of an institutional stage, followed by a critical stage, and culminating in what he calls a mystical stage. This does not mean magic or heavenly voices, but rather this: we oldies have seen it all, and know that good and evil, like the wheat and cockle of the parable, coexist not merely in countries and institutions, but in each of us. Pitch darkness and pure light are seldom the order of the day. We learn to live with both, light out of darkness. We do the best we can, and are ready to renounce the seductions of having the perfect formulation of reality, or the perfect formula for everyone's life.
In the mystical phase we still carry with us the institutional phase: we still love the sights and sounds of worship well carried out, and the sense of participating in a great body of believers. We have not left the critical phase behind, but carry it with us: we use our heads about our religion, and have no illusions about the weaknesses of Jesus' followers -- after all, Peter, the first Pope, had to live with the memory of denying the Lord publicly, again and again. But when we have argued about all the great questions of human existence, especially the mystery of evil, we realise that we rely more on the gift of faith than on clear-cut reason.
Describing progress towards God, Von Hügel writes of an institutional stage, followed by a critical stage, and culminating in what he calls a mystical stage. This does not mean magic or heavenly voices, but rather this: we oldies have seen it all, and know that good and evil, like the wheat and cockle of the parable, coexist not merely in countries and institutions, but in each of us. Pitch darkness and pure light are seldom the order of the day. We learn to live with both, light out of darkness. We do the best we can, and are ready to renounce the seductions of having the perfect formulation of reality, or the perfect formula for everyone's life.
In the mystical phase we still carry with us the institutional phase: we still love the sights and sounds of worship well carried out, and the sense of participating in a great body of believers. We have not left the critical phase behind, but carry it with us: we use our heads about our religion, and have no illusions about the weaknesses of Jesus' followers -- after all, Peter, the first Pope, had to live with the memory of denying the Lord publicly, again and again. But when we have argued about all the great questions of human existence, especially the mystery of evil, we realise that we rely more on the gift of faith than on clear-cut reason.
2006-06-26
Power
Job 38:8-11
[8] "Or who shut in the sea with doors,
when it burst forth from the womb;
[9] when I made clouds its garment,
and thick darkness its swaddling band,
[10] and prescribed bounds for it,
and set bars and doors,
[11] and said, `Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
and here shall your proud waves be stayed'?
This was in the Sunday readings today. It struck me again, as it did when someone explained it to me before. The sea was once regarded as a God. Or like Poseidon, there was a "god of the sea" just as we believe there are "datuk" protecting land and forests and rocks.
But here in Job, and more so in Genesis, the world and the powers of Nature are depicted as mere objects or creations of god. God says "let there be light", and there was light. God spoke, and Sun, Moon, and stars come into being, all these things that were deified by ignorant man. The sea, that is worshipped and feared by mariners is more like a frisky baby to God, who wraps it in a cloth of clouds, and sets barriers which it cannot cross.
We have become paganised. We have been entertained by superheroes, wizards, and witches so much, we have begun to believe in the powers of Nature, of spirits, of witch doctors, or bomohs.
The god who made all these, to whom all these belong, and to whom all these bow in worship, sits there in the tabernacle. Who else should you ask for help?
[8] "Or who shut in the sea with doors,
when it burst forth from the womb;
[9] when I made clouds its garment,
and thick darkness its swaddling band,
[10] and prescribed bounds for it,
and set bars and doors,
[11] and said, `Thus far shall you come, and no farther,
and here shall your proud waves be stayed'?
This was in the Sunday readings today. It struck me again, as it did when someone explained it to me before. The sea was once regarded as a God. Or like Poseidon, there was a "god of the sea" just as we believe there are "datuk" protecting land and forests and rocks.
But here in Job, and more so in Genesis, the world and the powers of Nature are depicted as mere objects or creations of god. God says "let there be light", and there was light. God spoke, and Sun, Moon, and stars come into being, all these things that were deified by ignorant man. The sea, that is worshipped and feared by mariners is more like a frisky baby to God, who wraps it in a cloth of clouds, and sets barriers which it cannot cross.
We have become paganised. We have been entertained by superheroes, wizards, and witches so much, we have begun to believe in the powers of Nature, of spirits, of witch doctors, or bomohs.
The god who made all these, to whom all these belong, and to whom all these bow in worship, sits there in the tabernacle. Who else should you ask for help?
2006-06-18
Corpus Christi
The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ.
The night before he died, Christ shared the Passover dinner with his diciples. This is where he took bread, gave thanks for it, broke it, and gave it to them saying:
"Take this and eat - this is my body"
Then he took the cup, filled with wine. He gave thanks and gave it to them, and said:
"This is my blood"
And so for the past 2000 years, the Catholic Church has had this power and this responsibility - that in the celebration of the Eucharist, a validly ordained priest, with valid intention, obeys God's command and changes bread and wine into the real body and the real blood of Christ.
When I was young, this was so wonderful a truth that I could focus my whole being on those 8 simple words when they were spoken. I could feel awe and gratitude every time that the creator of stars and planets and galaxies and nova would lower himself to be present to me in what seemed to be a tiny wafer of bread. But age and cynicism have dulled the senses, and dimmed the awareness of the miracle happening before me every Sunday (and, indeed, happening daily all round the world wherever a mass is celebrated).
Lost innocence can not be reclaimed, unfortunately. But perhaps, with the will, the mind and heart can be taught again to see what we believe, and to believe what we can not see.
My prayer for tonight: "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief."
The night before he died, Christ shared the Passover dinner with his diciples. This is where he took bread, gave thanks for it, broke it, and gave it to them saying:
"Take this and eat - this is my body"
Then he took the cup, filled with wine. He gave thanks and gave it to them, and said:
"This is my blood"
And so for the past 2000 years, the Catholic Church has had this power and this responsibility - that in the celebration of the Eucharist, a validly ordained priest, with valid intention, obeys God's command and changes bread and wine into the real body and the real blood of Christ.
When I was young, this was so wonderful a truth that I could focus my whole being on those 8 simple words when they were spoken. I could feel awe and gratitude every time that the creator of stars and planets and galaxies and nova would lower himself to be present to me in what seemed to be a tiny wafer of bread. But age and cynicism have dulled the senses, and dimmed the awareness of the miracle happening before me every Sunday (and, indeed, happening daily all round the world wherever a mass is celebrated).
Lost innocence can not be reclaimed, unfortunately. But perhaps, with the will, the mind and heart can be taught again to see what we believe, and to believe what we can not see.
My prayer for tonight: "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief."
2006-05-15
Into the Desert
It's the 5th week of Easter, and I have been numb all this time.
After the euphoria of singing at the EASTER Vigil, I thought I'd turn over a new leaf, and start praying regularly.... but instead, her I am in week 5, and not even a night prayer said.
There are, of course, always excuses - work has been crazy. My migraines have been back with a vengence, sometimes twice a day. The strain of doing a job I picked up because no one else wanted it (or knew how to do it) is beginning to be too wearisome. My attempts to escape, and find another function that is less frustrating have been stillborn.
And yet, maybe its the other way around.... Perhaps it is wrong to say that I am not praying because of these problems. Perhaps closer to the truth would be to say that I am in this rut BECAUSE I am not praying.
An Epiphany of sorts.
15 past midnight - and I intended to sleep a 11pm .... I already feel a twinge of a headache, triggered from tiredness and lack of sleep.
A quick prayer tonight, Lord, and then to sleep.
"Help me come back to you."
After the euphoria of singing at the EASTER Vigil, I thought I'd turn over a new leaf, and start praying regularly.... but instead, her I am in week 5, and not even a night prayer said.
There are, of course, always excuses - work has been crazy. My migraines have been back with a vengence, sometimes twice a day. The strain of doing a job I picked up because no one else wanted it (or knew how to do it) is beginning to be too wearisome. My attempts to escape, and find another function that is less frustrating have been stillborn.
And yet, maybe its the other way around.... Perhaps it is wrong to say that I am not praying because of these problems. Perhaps closer to the truth would be to say that I am in this rut BECAUSE I am not praying.
An Epiphany of sorts.
15 past midnight - and I intended to sleep a 11pm .... I already feel a twinge of a headache, triggered from tiredness and lack of sleep.
A quick prayer tonight, Lord, and then to sleep.
"Help me come back to you."
2006-04-17
READING (from the Office of Readings for Holy Saturday)
THE LORD DESCENDS INTO HELL
Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled, and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.
He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him, Adam the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all,” Christ answered him: “And with your spirit.” He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendents I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated.
THE LORD DESCENDS INTO HELL
Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled, and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear.
He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep. Greatly desiring to visit those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and the son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him the victory. At the sight of him, Adam the first man he had created, struck his breast in terror and cried out to everyone: “My Lord be with you all,” Christ answered him: “And with your spirit.” He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: “Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
I am your God, who for your sake have become your son. Out of love for you and for your descendents I now by my own authority command all who are held in bondage to come forth, all who are in darkness to be enlightened, all who are sleeping to arise. I order you, O sleeper, to awake. I did not create you to be held a prisoner in hell. Rise from the dead, for I am the life of the dead. Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image. Rise, let us leave this place, for you are in me and I am in you; together we form only one person and we cannot be separated.
Our Father / Pater Noster
We started saying the Pater Noster, i.e. the "Our Father" in Latin in church. Well... its being chanted actually, not just recited. If you want to hear what a chanted Latin prayer sounds like, go here.
The Pater Noster is being projected with the English translation, but I think the Bahasa Malaysia translation is better - mainly because the syntax of BM and Latin are similar, so it's possible to make almost a word-for-word translation. This may help the majority of young Malaysians (who are better in Bahasa than English anyway) to appreciate the Latin better.
I append my humble translation below.
The Pater Noster is being projected with the English translation, but I think the Bahasa Malaysia translation is better - mainly because the syntax of BM and Latin are similar, so it's possible to make almost a word-for-word translation. This may help the majority of young Malaysians (who are better in Bahasa than English anyway) to appreciate the Latin better.
I append my humble translation below.
Pater Noster (Our Father)
Pater noster, qui es in caelis,
Bapa kami yang ada di syurga
sanctificetur Nomen tuum.
Kuduslah Nama mu
Adveniat regnum tuum.
Datanglah keRajaan Mu
Fiat voluntas tua,
Jadilah kehendak Mu
sicut in caelo et in terra.
Seperti di syurga dan di bumi
Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie,
Rezeki kami secukupnya berikan kami hari ini,
et dimitte nobis debita nostra
Dan ampuni kami kesalahan kami
sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris.
seperti pun kami mengampuni kesalahan mereka
Et ne nos inducas in tentationem,
Dan janganlah kami dibawa ke percubaan
sed libera nos a malo.
Tapi bebaskan kami dari kejahatan.
Amen
2006-03-29
Forgiveness
A collegue, out of nowhere, handed me a book this morning - one of those Christian Publications that teach you a little about the faith, and hopefully get you interested enough to ask for more information.
It was on the topic of forgiveness, and stressed the need for you to forgive your peers, as a prerequisite for receiving God's forgiveness. I dont have the book with me now, but it quoted several texts (I am sure correctly) that supported this view.
Rubbish.
You would have me believe that the forgiveness of God, a.k.a. the Love of God, is conditional? That God will only love me if I love Him first, and forgive others first?
What - did Christ, bleeding and dying on the Cross that first Good Friday, suddenly look the camera's and Mel Gibson in the eye and say "This offer of Salvation for a limited time only: Terms and conditions apply" ??
But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us
Romans 5:8
Christ died for you whether you wanted it or not. God loves you whether you believe in Him or not, and irrespective of whether or not you think you deserve His Love. And God, with the death of His only Begotton Son, has forgiven all our sins whether we acknowledge them or not.
The key here is WHETHER WE ACCEPT THAT FORGIVENESS.
If I am hard and bitter and vindictive, can I imagine a God who is kind and gentle and generous?
If "I dont get angry - I get even" is my rule in life, can I believe in a God who takes the lash on His own back on my behalf, when I am unfaithful to Him?
If I live my life saying "I will enjoy myself to the max, and then say I am sorry before I die", am I sure that as I die I will be NOT be angry because of all the pleasures I will no longer experience?
No.
It is only when we ourselves become forgiving people that we begin to appreciate forgiveness, and understand that we ourselves can be forgiven. This is by an act of free will, a conscious choice we make, to forgive. We do not forgive because "we are afraid God will penalise us if we dont forgive". Christ died for sinners, not for 144,000 Christians with a 'holier than thou' attitude. Salvation is not a reward for the good, but a gift poured out freely for Jews and Gentiles alike.
Isiah 55:1 ""Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. "
All you have to do is come, and receive.
Pax Vobiscum.
It was on the topic of forgiveness, and stressed the need for you to forgive your peers, as a prerequisite for receiving God's forgiveness. I dont have the book with me now, but it quoted several texts (I am sure correctly) that supported this view.
Rubbish.
You would have me believe that the forgiveness of God, a.k.a. the Love of God, is conditional? That God will only love me if I love Him first, and forgive others first?
What - did Christ, bleeding and dying on the Cross that first Good Friday, suddenly look the camera's and Mel Gibson in the eye and say "This offer of Salvation for a limited time only: Terms and conditions apply" ??
But God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us
Romans 5:8
Christ died for you whether you wanted it or not. God loves you whether you believe in Him or not, and irrespective of whether or not you think you deserve His Love. And God, with the death of His only Begotton Son, has forgiven all our sins whether we acknowledge them or not.
The key here is WHETHER WE ACCEPT THAT FORGIVENESS.
If I am hard and bitter and vindictive, can I imagine a God who is kind and gentle and generous?
If "I dont get angry - I get even" is my rule in life, can I believe in a God who takes the lash on His own back on my behalf, when I am unfaithful to Him?
If I live my life saying "I will enjoy myself to the max, and then say I am sorry before I die", am I sure that as I die I will be NOT be angry because of all the pleasures I will no longer experience?
No.
It is only when we ourselves become forgiving people that we begin to appreciate forgiveness, and understand that we ourselves can be forgiven. This is by an act of free will, a conscious choice we make, to forgive. We do not forgive because "we are afraid God will penalise us if we dont forgive". Christ died for sinners, not for 144,000 Christians with a 'holier than thou' attitude. Salvation is not a reward for the good, but a gift poured out freely for Jews and Gentiles alike.
Isiah 55:1 ""Ho, every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. "
All you have to do is come, and receive.
Pax Vobiscum.
The Man I Want to Speak To
A Short Story
(Thanks Steven, who first taught me this)
The trap is used to catch the rabbit...
After the rabbit is caught, the trap is of no use, and we put the trap away.
The net is used to catch the fish...
After the fish is caught, the net is of no use, and we put the net away.
The words are used to catch the truth...
When I meet the man who has put away the words... he is the man I want to speak to.
(I advise you stop reading here, so that you can have your own relevation... but if you want to read mine, read on)
We are surrounded with rules, with teachings, with 'process' and 'procedures'. It is the rare person who can look at all this "how" and discover the "why". In the end, many of us are just following what we are taught, and think what we are told to think.
Always you look in black and white..... always you use the words to separate yourself from your brother. You are chewing the trap and forgetting the rabbit, sucking the net and dropping the fish.
Behind all those words there is only One God. Come to Him, and put the words away.
Pax Vobiscum
After the rabbit is caught, the trap is of no use, and we put the trap away.
The net is used to catch the fish...
After the fish is caught, the net is of no use, and we put the net away.
The words are used to catch the truth...
When I meet the man who has put away the words... he is the man I want to speak to.
(I advise you stop reading here, so that you can have your own relevation... but if you want to read mine, read on)
We are surrounded with rules, with teachings, with 'process' and 'procedures'. It is the rare person who can look at all this "how" and discover the "why". In the end, many of us are just following what we are taught, and think what we are told to think.
"Our religion is the TRUE FAITH."
"They are WRONG - we are RIGHT""Strangers are TERRORISTS"
"They are soldiers of the great SATAN""They destroyed our TOWERS so we will lay their land WASTE."
"JERUSALEM is OUR Holy City"Always you look in black and white..... always you use the words to separate yourself from your brother. You are chewing the trap and forgetting the rabbit, sucking the net and dropping the fish.
Behind all those words there is only One God. Come to Him, and put the words away.
Pax Vobiscum
2006-03-13
To the Man who stole my watch at the pool.
It is a good watch: I have had it for over 10 years, and it has kept time faithfully all through except for the times when the battery needed changing and when water got into it at the pool (after a badly done battery change).
I took it off, and put it in the soap dish in the shower, telling myself not to forget it when I got out. Then I forgot it when I got out to go to the pool. I only remembered it after doing 1 lap, but by then you had already taken it.
So what shall I say to you, who took what is not yours? Should I rant and rave? Call down curses on your head? Wish you mayhem and malady? I would like to...... but;
I wish you fair winds and sunny skies.
I pray you find happiness in the honest work your hands accomplish from day to day.
I wish health to you and your loved ones, blessings on your children, peace in your home.
I pray you learn from your mistakes, and never have to suffer from them.
I pray you look back on your life on day, and see it filled with experiences more precious than diamonds.
Pax Vobiscum.
I took it off, and put it in the soap dish in the shower, telling myself not to forget it when I got out. Then I forgot it when I got out to go to the pool. I only remembered it after doing 1 lap, but by then you had already taken it.
So what shall I say to you, who took what is not yours? Should I rant and rave? Call down curses on your head? Wish you mayhem and malady? I would like to...... but;
I wish you fair winds and sunny skies.
I pray you find happiness in the honest work your hands accomplish from day to day.
I wish health to you and your loved ones, blessings on your children, peace in your home.
I pray you learn from your mistakes, and never have to suffer from them.
I pray you look back on your life on day, and see it filled with experiences more precious than diamonds.
Pax Vobiscum.
2006-03-07
Dhammapada verse 366
A monk who does not despise what he has received, even though it be little, who is pure in livelihood and unremitting in effort, him even the gods praise.
(from "Dhammapada - a practical guide to right living" Sukhi Hotu Dhamma Publications)
P. and I were attending a function at head office, sponsored by HR, and there were refreshments served. After the function, we stayed ther to work ,and noticed lots of leftover cookies in a box. The organisers told us repeatedly to help ourselves, because they didnt want to take the food back themselves.
Well, P and I worked till late, then before we left we decided to take the box of cookies back to our branch to share with the guys there. I put the cookies in tha pantry the next morning with a sign saying they were from HR, and everyone was wellcome to help themselves.
Imagine my surprise later in the day when I was making a cup of coffee and someone started complaining - he had a bad impression of HR because they had sent just ONE box of cookies. He thought it was bad of the company to have such a TIGHT budget and not provide more food for staff.
I was really dissapointed, but it also taught me a lesson - I have in the past made the same mistake that that collegue made.... I have looked at benefits that are given unconditionally, whether deserved or not, and criticised them. I have been ruled by my cravings, and have grumbled about what I have been given because it was little.
Now - I dont belittle the fact that an employer is obligated to pay a fair wage for a fair days work, neither do I ignore the fact that some employers unfairly load employees with ridiculously high expectations.
But we as employees also have obligations - to give that fair day's work, and to recognise when something 'extra' is given, not because we did our jobs, but for whatever reason, or no reason at all.
It would make us better people, in some ways, to expect less of others, and more of our selves.
Pax Vobiscum.
(from "Dhammapada - a practical guide to right living" Sukhi Hotu Dhamma Publications)
P. and I were attending a function at head office, sponsored by HR, and there were refreshments served. After the function, we stayed ther to work ,and noticed lots of leftover cookies in a box. The organisers told us repeatedly to help ourselves, because they didnt want to take the food back themselves.
Well, P and I worked till late, then before we left we decided to take the box of cookies back to our branch to share with the guys there. I put the cookies in tha pantry the next morning with a sign saying they were from HR, and everyone was wellcome to help themselves.
Imagine my surprise later in the day when I was making a cup of coffee and someone started complaining - he had a bad impression of HR because they had sent just ONE box of cookies. He thought it was bad of the company to have such a TIGHT budget and not provide more food for staff.
I was really dissapointed, but it also taught me a lesson - I have in the past made the same mistake that that collegue made.... I have looked at benefits that are given unconditionally, whether deserved or not, and criticised them. I have been ruled by my cravings, and have grumbled about what I have been given because it was little.
Now - I dont belittle the fact that an employer is obligated to pay a fair wage for a fair days work, neither do I ignore the fact that some employers unfairly load employees with ridiculously high expectations.
But we as employees also have obligations - to give that fair day's work, and to recognise when something 'extra' is given, not because we did our jobs, but for whatever reason, or no reason at all.
It would make us better people, in some ways, to expect less of others, and more of our selves.
Pax Vobiscum.
2006-03-02
Ash Wednesday, 2006-03-01
'Ash Wednesday' is the beginning of the season in the Catholic church known as 'Lent'
I just want to share something about a song we sang at church that day.
I haven't memorised all the words, but mostly it goes like this:
We rise again from ashes, to create ourselves anew,
If all our world is ashes, then must our lives be too,
An offering of ashes, and offering to You.
Now - i googled the lyrics, and was surprised to find this article and this article where these lyrics were said to be heretical..... there was another, but can't find it now.
Strange.... I was taught long ago to see things 'with the eyes of faith', and so in that context, I never thought of the words 'to create ourselves anew' as being heretical.
To me, the words talk about me making a new decision, having a change of heart, and re-aligning myself to the will of God. That is the only context in which the following lines make sense, i.e. having established that the whole world, and our lives, are no more than ashes, we offer these up as "An offering of ashes, and offering to You." The song continues;
We offer you our failures, we offer you attempts,
The gifts not fully given, the dreams no fully dreamt,
give our stumbling direction, give our visions wider view,
An offering of ashes, an offering to You.
We do not need to be perfect to come before God, indeed, if He wanted perfection, then we are doomed from the word GO. It is our incompleteness, our failures, our stumbling that God loves, so we come to Him in all our brokenness, our seflishness, our parochialism, our limited vision. He takes these ashes, and accepts them with love. And so the song continues;
Then rise again from ashes, let healing come to pain,
Though Spring has turned to winter, and Sunshine turned to rain,
The rain we'll use for growing, and create the world anew,
From an offering of ashes, an offering to You.
In the book of Job (chapter 5 verse 7) it says: "Man is born to suffering.." So this verse talks about the pain and sadness we all feel at one time or another. However, God uses this pain and suffering to make us grow, learn, and become richer in understanding and wisdom. We are raised up by our Creator, like Phoenix from the ashes, into new life. Finally;
Thanks be to the Father, who made us like Himself,
Thanks be to the Son, who saved us by His Death,
Thanks be to the Spirit, who creates the world anew,
From an offering of ashes, and offering to You.
Here we touch the untouchable, speak of the incomprehensible. God is one, and God is three Persons. And God personally involves Himself in
NOTE: If I have infringed on any copyrights by blogging this reflection, please let me know what I have done wrong, and I will remove the offending content. Thanks !
Pax Vobiscum
I just want to share something about a song we sang at church that day.
I haven't memorised all the words, but mostly it goes like this:
Ashes
We rise again from ashes, from the good we've failed to do,We rise again from ashes, to create ourselves anew,
If all our world is ashes, then must our lives be too,
An offering of ashes, and offering to You.
Now - i googled the lyrics, and was surprised to find this article and this article where these lyrics were said to be heretical..... there was another, but can't find it now.
Strange.... I was taught long ago to see things 'with the eyes of faith', and so in that context, I never thought of the words 'to create ourselves anew' as being heretical.
To me, the words talk about me making a new decision, having a change of heart, and re-aligning myself to the will of God. That is the only context in which the following lines make sense, i.e. having established that the whole world, and our lives, are no more than ashes, we offer these up as "An offering of ashes, and offering to You." The song continues;
We offer you our failures, we offer you attempts,
The gifts not fully given, the dreams no fully dreamt,
give our stumbling direction, give our visions wider view,
An offering of ashes, an offering to You.
We do not need to be perfect to come before God, indeed, if He wanted perfection, then we are doomed from the word GO. It is our incompleteness, our failures, our stumbling that God loves, so we come to Him in all our brokenness, our seflishness, our parochialism, our limited vision. He takes these ashes, and accepts them with love. And so the song continues;
Then rise again from ashes, let healing come to pain,
Though Spring has turned to winter, and Sunshine turned to rain,
The rain we'll use for growing, and create the world anew,
From an offering of ashes, an offering to You.
In the book of Job (chapter 5 verse 7) it says: "Man is born to suffering.." So this verse talks about the pain and sadness we all feel at one time or another. However, God uses this pain and suffering to make us grow, learn, and become richer in understanding and wisdom. We are raised up by our Creator, like Phoenix from the ashes, into new life. Finally;
Thanks be to the Father, who made us like Himself,
Thanks be to the Son, who saved us by His Death,
Thanks be to the Spirit, who creates the world anew,
From an offering of ashes, and offering to You.
Here we touch the untouchable, speak of the incomprehensible. God is one, and God is three Persons. And God personally involves Himself in
- Our creation - Not in the sense of our imperfection, but in the sense of our potential to be perfect.
- Our salvation - By His death, Christ freed us once and for ever from the imperfection of sin. We need only step up and accept this free and unconditional gift, in exchange for our ashes.
- Our re-creation - We are made new again by the Spirit, who brings new life into our ashes.
NOTE: If I have infringed on any copyrights by blogging this reflection, please let me know what I have done wrong, and I will remove the offending content. Thanks !
Pax Vobiscum
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