Noticed these…
… lots of people seem to be using this particular theme in their WP blogs.
… watched Sunshine and thought that sudden twist in the part where Icarus tells Capa about the remaining hours left till death was totally wtf. STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID idea to add that twist in…
… don't overload on ipoh white coffee… it gives you the jitters and makes for fainting episodes
… how come I keep missing out on juicy Al Jazeera video posts
… no option to religious freedom is super real in Malaysia hoh? sad sad sad sad sad.
… also supposes (this is a difficult supposition btw) that had we not defined Malays as being Muslims and had Malaysia not make it so darn impossible for true religious freedom… bangsa Malaysia would have been a reality a long long time ago and we probably wouldn't be so concerned with skin colour and being righteous.
… agrees that the above suggestion of thought is a dangerous one and hopes to God that I can get away lightly with this little observation
… also says that I can't quite blame Muslims (in Malaysia, the most of them anyway) for being so darn 'radical' when I personally cannot quite tahan Charismatic / Pentecostal Christians who are so intent on sending everyone else who is not Christian to Hell… literally…
On another note (this is equally provocative), I was sharing with a group of friends the other day about this experience I had…
A few weeks ago I was at a particular seminar, and in the middle of a longer lunch break the group of us went out to a nearby mamak restaurant for food. I sat near this Muslim guy who was obviously very pious, you know, the type who does his required five times a day prayer and observes all the necessary pillars of being Muslim, plus is able to quote at random from the Quran and apply its bits and pieces to different parts of life… yet being kind enough to be respectful towards our other faiths and is totally amicable and a joy to be around with. Any I sat near him and was having a talk with him about the sessions that we had shared previously.
Right about this point there was a Buddhist monk who walked into the restaurant holding an alms bowl… just as the monk walked past our table (monks typically don't stop unless you ask them to stop, and they're not supposed to ask from you, they take what you give I believe…), when my Muslim friend asked him to stop and wait.
'Tunggu,' said my Muslim friend to the monk. The monk stood there. My friend took out his wallet and pulled out a ten-ringgit note and proceed to drop it into the monk's bowl.
I am keeping this imagery of serene peace and amazement in my mind forever. Think of this, a pious Muslim, asking a Buddhist monk to stop, and then proceeding to place some money into the alms receiving bowl, in a Mamak Restaurant. Jadi tak? I know at least 10 Christians who would turn away from the monk and then as the monk disappears from sight, will proceed to discuss the stupidity of such a religion that requires his disciples to go around' begging' like that. I know one particular Muslim blogger who has written a whole book under the disguise of comparative religion, blasphemizing what is essentially a non-theistic teaching.
Yet at that particular point in time some one up there decides to place me in a situation where I am to witness a Muslim man asking a Buddhist monk to stop and then proceeding to give something to the Buddhist monk's bowl, and there I was stunned… and amazed… and then, thankful that I had been given that opportunity to see something so incredibly life-changing.
And I know I was supremely embarrassed to claim to be a following of Jesus at that point in time, knowing that I would have turned away from the monk.
Anyway I'm sharing that memory here because I believe it is important.
April 27th, 2007 at 10:16 am
yeah gurl..I have been in the midst of such fanatical ppl and it pisses me off to see that many “pious” ppl feel that their religion is right and all the others wrong.. Who in the world are they to judge whether we go to heaven or hell in the first place..If heaven is gonna be filled with such boring ppl like them, maybe going to hell would be a better option after all :D..just kidding
April 27th, 2007 at 10:46 am
April 27th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
generousity is not exclusively own by one specific religion. it depend to each own mentality if he want or want not to donate his/her money to help others. there are no need to feel guilty over others generous act when you not doing as well as him. indeed that we’re in a competitive society but do we have to be in the extend that every person who devoted to this or that certain believes have to competitive with each others even to its generous exercises.
there will be some bad apple and most good apple in a box of apple, or oranges. some got it just right and some will be so over extreme and radical about it. this is a balance of life. how can we see the different of good and bad when every people doing the same good or bad thing. living in a religious believes life such as a christian, muslim, buddhist is personal self experience. when the time you feel embarrass to be christian, the muslim man and the buddhist monk living everyday life without judging you or his other extremist friend. one proud of being muslim even when muslims around the world blow each other up. one proud to be a buddhist, even when he have to beg for food and being poor.
so, do you still proud of your believes even when you know 10 of your christian’s friends who turn away from a monk in a bowl or so enthusiastic sending non believer to hell or when you not part of contemporary stream of charismatic and pentecostal christians. if NO, better find a new believes that can really make you proud without others embarrassing you or make you mad each time things not work as you desire.
April 27th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
I think the AL-jazeera news you mentioned was a just a rumour.
As for your experience at the mamak stall, i think it would stick in your mind for a very long time. Long enough for you to share with you kids and grandkids next time eh?
April 27th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
i have no any intention of putting you in a difficult situation. i know that my english not as good as yours. i know that i will not write an argument as good as you. i’m not saying nor suggesting you convert to another religion. that is your choice.
yes, i don’t really understand you. i never think or assume that i understand someone. i hope that you don’t think everyone think that they know you each time they write a comment. yes, i trying to make some point but you can choose to agree or not agree.
i have no any intention or suggestion when i post the comment. it just my personal opinion and thought. if you feel annoyed by my comment, please accept my apology.
April 27th, 2007 at 5:00 pm
No lah… I dun think you need to be ashamed of Christians. There are all kinds of Christians. Just as there are all kinds of people. Period.
I would have turned away the monk. I call it practicality. I give to my church, you see. From there, we will do good works. If I started giving out money to every charity on the street, I’d be poor in a week. So I’m not ashamed of the fact that I give selectively.
April 27th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
i don’t know why you react to my post comment. i’m not challenging your faith. i’m not trying to provoke you. i understand your feeling about those christian who as i quote: “…place location in heaven as utmost priority.”, but you cannot denied it is the main reason to be a christian. the reward of our effort. if heaven not the place, where it suppose to be?
i’m not trying to convince you anything. just have faith on your belief (i believe you do) and don’t be too hard on yourself. ^____^
April 27th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Perhaps the fault lies with the individual practitioner of each belief, not the religion itself. Humans are flawed, after all. Love the sinner, hate the sin.
April 27th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
the al-jazeera was shown on tele on wednesday morning, 9.30am. It’s confirmed. My friend taped it.
Good post mini, can’t comment much, but as always i agree with your observation and you have once again put it so well, straight to the point without beating around the bush. I myself also need to reflect- in terms of judging other religions, and it is clear that it is not OUR job to say who is going to heaven or who is doing good, etc, etc, the job belongs to God, and let God do His job.
Our lives are the best advertisement about one’s belief. Stepping down on other religion is a very common thing to do nowadays, sad but true. So what it says about us who do that? Nothing, it only speaks one belief in a negative way.
Jesus loves all including the monks. That story is really inspiring.
Opps, say no time to comment so much, end up write a short essay..hahahha..sorry..hehe..
Bless you, mini.
Sunshine very yucky, “bei tahan”.
alvin
April 27th, 2007 at 10:29 pm
Hey guys…..not sure if any1 is aware of this, but 2 yrs ago (if memory serves) the Buddhist Temple down in Brickfields commented in the NST that monks are only allowed to beg for Food and Water, and to that before 12pm. Maybe the rules have changed now, who knows.
Just thought I let y’all know.
Have a great weekend.
April 27th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Alvin: Is it the apotasy case one? It’s also on Youtube. I was told that it was supposed to be on Sunday Morning 9.30, but looks like it was on Wednesday instead. x_x
April 28th, 2007 at 3:20 am
i don’t mind of being called stupid and ignorant in you blog. no, i don’t intend to continue posting any comment in this post anymore after your negative and rude respond.
April 28th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
I think you point out something very significant - that religion need not be something that divides us if we don’t choose to let it do so. I was a member of the Interfaith Council at my university. Every week, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Atheists, Jainists, Bahai, and Hindus met together and discussed religious topics and worked on building the bonds between the followers of our respective religions. (Well, I’m not sure if Atheism counts as a religion or philosophy, but they were represented) I have never met people I have more respected than the members of the faiths represented at the Council. Every week I felt inspired to learn from these people.
I think if everyone really was willing to put as much effort into learning about the bonds we share with other religions rather than the distinctions that separated us, religion could be something that could strengthen all of us instead of divide us.
April 29th, 2007 at 11:53 pm
Question : do you turn away from the monk because of your religious beliefs, or that you think he is a conman?
There had been too many articles talking about fake monks, beggers working for syndicates etc etc, so I wouldn’t give them anything based on my belief that they are all fakes.
Which brings to this question : What would Jesus do?
< blockquote> Jesus probably wouldn’t judge a conman prior to finding out whether he is a conman or not. So what if he cons me off. How much would I get con off?
April 30th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
I would refuse all of ‘em. Cos I’m not rich and can’t afford going around donating to every charity.
Basically, I stick by what I said lah. I choose who to give to. This includes effort.
I only give money to certain organizations. I click daily online only on The Literacy Site. Not any other sites (eg. The Breast Cancer Site, The Hunger Site etc.) I volunteer only at certain places.
A person can only do so much. We have to be wise with what we want to invest in.