The best in any level of society anywhere.

We find the best and the worst in any level of society. Through knowledge of happenings in our world, I have no alternative but to come to such a conclusion.

Just a month ago, I read in the news about this homeless man, a Mr. Dave Talley, who found a backpack. In the backpack were three thousand, three hundred American dollars in cash. Well, a man without money to even secure a small home somewhere must be really poor. Right or wrong, he could have easily persuaded himself to believe it was God's way to help him out of his predicament. He could have slipped the money into his pocket and walked away from the backpack. All that he did not do.

He did not steal it, an act I know some people would stoop to perform, given half the chance. Among the poor, there are thieves and among the rich and powerful, there are those in authority who become even richer through corruption which in my mind is also a kind of thieving, robbing someone in a persuasive way, using the authority they hold just as a common thief would a knife.

No, he did not touch a cent of that money. He returned the full sum as well as the backpack to the owner. Mr. Talley must have known the address from information he found in that backpack. That is what made me say a prayer for that man. He overwhelmed me with the beauty of his deed. Whatever his religion is, he is certainly more god-like than many.

To me, he is the walking example of honesty and greatness. No matter where he is, I wish him my very best. Perhaps, in his present position, he is able to perform his mission well, perhaps indicating to all that you do not need to have anything to be generous, that greatness lies not in the external form but in the inner self of a being.

Whose life are we actually concerned about? The Indian Star Tortoise's?

Today I finally decided not to wait for a reply to my appeal for a permit from the office of the Protection of wildlife to keep my two Indian Star tortoises. I phoned a reporter to help me reach out to more authorities so that the voice of truth, reason and concern can be heard. Unfortunately she was not able to make it to my place and promises to phone back one day when her schedule permits her to do so. I shall wait for I have waited quite some time now.

Well, about eight years ago I bought two Indian Star tortoises from a pet and fish shop in Penang Island. At that time these two cute little ones were approximately the size of a fifty cent coin. I looked after them each day giving them attention and food. Gradually they grew bigger and bigger with the female enlarging itself faster than the male. Today, the female is almost double the size of the male. They have grown so healthily and strong in the large enclosure I have given them.

Never in my mind was there the thought that one day I would have to apply for a permit for them, what more to fail to get the permit and not receive a reply after I had made an appeal before the date when they would enforce the law, for at the time I got them at the shop, Indian Star tortoises were sold openly not just in that shop but in almost every pet and fish shop in the country. I know that for a fact as I am an animal lover and where there are animals to see, there I would be. In those days, especially when my wife was still around, we went even up to fish and pet shops in Malacca. As for the other places, I have heard from people with similar interests that they can be bought from other states too and they were always sold openly. Today you cannot find them for sale anywhere.

Then, I read about the International Trade in Endangered Species Act(Intesa)2008 which was gazetted to come into force on December 28, 2009. The ministry concerned has announced a six-month grace period from the date of enforcement of the Act until June 28, 2010. According to the Secretary-General of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, during the grace period, private owners who have in their possession CITES-listed species that were attained before the enforcement of Intesa may apply for a special permission letter from the relevant authorities starting from Feb 17 to June 28, 2010. However, the issuance of a special permission letter is subjected to terms and conditionsdetermined by the authorities.

As I felt that all I needed to do was to apply for the special permission, that was what I did for my four pig-nosed turtle and my two Indian Star tortoises. Unfortunately, I was told that Special permission was given for my pig-nosed turtle only and I was to surrender my tortoises to any one of the offices for the protection of wildlife. Since I fear for the safety and survival of my Star tortoises, I wrote them an appeal.

I must thank the lady officer in the Sungai Petani Protection of Wildlife office for after hearing my reason for appealing she took the trouble to even rush to get me the forms for my appeal and I filled up the form and had it sent back to her at the office. She went the extra mile to get the form to me in front of the Taman Intan surau (mosque) so that my appeal could reach the higher authorities before June 28 2010. Then I waited for the answer but except for a phone call from the Alor Star office informing me that my appeal would be rejected, I have yet to receive a letter to that effect. I had told the person who phoned me that once I had been officially informed I wished to appeal through the newspapers and perhaps any other authority which could offer to listen to the voice of reason.

As I have stated in my appeal, I had requested for reconsideration as the tortoises had been with me for eight years and animals kept for so long from the wild would not be able to survive should it be released in the wild again. And if they are to be taken from me to be reared by someone else, could such a person know them better than me, the person who has looked after them for so many years? I have heard of many who failed to look after their Indian Star tortoises well enough to have them survive for long. What guarantee would there be that my pets would be given the best chances of survival? Who are we concerned about? Are not these tortoises' welfare the concern of all animal loving authorities? If so, should not the person who have proved beyond doubt that he knows these tortoise well enough to have ensured their growth and development the one to be allowed to look after them?

Well, I hope there would be people who truly think of the welfare of the animals in deciding the best action to take. If they listen to the voice of truth and reason, then the action they ought to take should be obvious.

Such honesty as this I'm most grateful for.

Yesterday I went to the bank to send RM100 to Universiti Putra Malaysia for the use of their gown for my son's convocation in approximately ten days' time. At the bank, I was given Ms Lau's counter. After geeting her, I extended my RM100 and the form for sending the money. Then she discovered that I had forgotten to fill in the details of my son. I had to go back to the car to get them. Upon returning with the details I forgetfully gave another one hundred ringgit which she took. With the processes complete, I went home contented that I had done the part my son had requested me to do.
He had already started work at a place where it was not convenient to get to a bank.

The house phone rang at about 5pm when I was working at home and upon picking it up, I was surprised to hear Ms Lau's voice informing me that she had found that her accounts could not tally as there was an extra RM100. According to her recollection of the day's flow of cash, it could only have come from me. As I was no more thinking of what I had done at the bank, I told her I was not very sure of it. However, she told me that it could only have come from me and she remembered how I had given her RM100 twice. So she told me to get it from her the next morning and that was what I did this morning.

It was only after her informing me about my going off to get my son's details that I remember having inadvertently given an extra RM100. Well, what honesty! I mean, I did not even realise my own mistake and she had to think of when the extra RM100 could have come from.

At that thought I was so delighted to have received that call from her. It was not just the sum of RM100. I am quite a careless person at times and have lost more than this before. Always when there is such a known loss or misplacement I just forget about my own mistake. No, I am very generous to myself. I forgive myself for any loss of money very easily. I just forget about it and there is no stress, no sleeplessness or insomnia over it. You see, that is the beautiful part about believing in God. I believe that should God want me to have it, it will come, no need to buy a lottery, although just like any human I do buy them once in a while.

I was in so high spirits since then because of the fact that there are still honest people in this beautiful world. There must be so many more Ms Laus in this warm and dear world of ours. Sometimes politicians make us angry and sad and we write things we should not have but the Ms Laus in this world sweeps away all the dirt and rubbish that some of them vomit out each day, clearing the skies with their honesty.
Thank god for the existence of such wonderful people.

Great is the Faith of the Faithful.

On the 18th of November, I read in the AP Associated Press about a woman who left $40,000 in rare U.S. coins at the National Shrine Grotto of our Lady of Lourdes near Emmitsburg so that Virgin Mary could help her to keep her savings safe while she left her house empty while she went outstation for a week.

She obviously had great faith in God. She must have strongly believed that the Virgin Mary would ensure the safety of her valueables.

And believe it or not her faith was well placed for despite it being found by the groundskeeper, the money was kept secured and returned to her when she looked for it. Here is a story of not just faith but honesty. The people involved must be truly religious, truly believing in God. They must be beautifully honest!

Not that I know no equally honest people. In the Art of Living, especially amongst those who give their time and effort as volunteers, I have heard and seen of the many generous deeds of these friends of mine. I am truly fortunate to know them.

However, most of the time when we read the news media, we get the feeling that greed for money and power is so prevalent that each day passes with some kind of terrorism and power-struggle.

Therefore, when I read this beautiful story of faith, trust and honesty, I just had to put such information into this blog so that as many people as possible can savour such goodness. In a poor world where greed is so common, it is enriching indeed to know that such lovely, such wonderful people are among us.

To realise how great her faith in God was, I ought to let you know that she merely left her rare coins under some leaves. Great must have been her trust in God as to merely leave them under some leaves. In fact, according to her, she was afraid to leave the coins in her own empty house. Imagine that!

When the money was returned to her, her faith was reaffirmed as she believed that Virgin Mary did watch over it by getting the groundskeeper to find it.

Such faith as this, only true believers have. Honesty here also indicates that the divine spirit is still so evident. Thank God for that.

With such great people on this earth, God certainly would not allow a 2012 end-of-the-world happening. Good karma forces will pull us through and ensure earth's existence.

To some, honesty is not the best............

This morning I went to Penang Island where I visited the esplanade. The Penang esplanade hold a lot of memories, memories that I remember vividly to this day. For me, it was a place of sadness, a place of romance, a place for running practice, the place where I learned that honesty is appreciated by some but not all and a place where I learned and developed leadership qualities.

Once upon a time, there was a youngster who, whenever he could spare the time, would help his elder brother to earn his living by selling cuttlefish and cockles in the evening and at night at the food court at the esplanade.

At the age of fifteen, it was interesting to do the work of adults and there was the pride of being allowed to be involved in doing some kind of business. He would boil the vegetable known as 'kang kung', pressed the vegetable to remove excess liquid and cut it into bite sizes. He would remove the bone, the thin layer of membrane covering the cuttlefish and slice halfway through the thickness of the fish to get criss-crossed patterns on the cuttlefish when it was boiled. Then, it was his job to cut the cuttlefish into suitable sizes before covering it with a most delicious sauce.

Then he would take the plate of delicacy to the people who had ordered it. Before returning to the stall, he would scan the area to see if any customer had finished his/her food. He might then have to collect the plates and chopsticks as well as the payments, returning change when necessary. This was the place this youngster learned responsibility and understand how tough life could be, how meals on the table had to be worked for and know the existence of the various types of people who make up this world. There were the kind ones who treat you humanely and there were those who treat you with disdain. There were those who worked hard for a living and there were those who looked for easy money.

It was at this esplanade one night that this young boy discovered that not everyone appreciates honesty.

As the boy was carrying a plate back to his stall to wash, he saw a man get up from his seat. In doing so, his wallet slipped out from his back pocket. The young boy ran towards the wallet, took it up and ran with it towards its owner. The owner was indeed grateful and thanked the boy before going towards his car.

As the boy turned towards his own stall with a smile on his face, happy at having helped someone; he was confronted by some of the other stall owners. Their words took that smile off his face immediately.

"Hey, if you do not want that wallet, you should not have picked it up. Let someone else who want it take it. Really stupid, you!"

The boy knew his action was right but he did not voice his thoughts, not when he realised those people could rough him up. He just turned and quickly returned to his brother and their stall.

This was one of those encounters with the real world where different people have different ideas and opinions about almost anything. So much depends on their attitudes, their motives and their experiences.

Well, life is a learning process and I was that young boy who, even now, finds that there is still so much to learn and discover in this wonderful world.