Recently I read some articles on placebos and how patients have got well on pills that contained nothing but plain water or syrup. When it happens all the time in all the researches conducted every now and then, those researchers have no alternative but to admit that placebos do have the same effect as the drugs being tested when those in the programme do get well when they believe that the pills given do contain the drugs being tested although they were not as they were merely placebos.
Upon reading the above information I instantly went back to my beloved teachers such as Napoleon Hill, Dale Carnegie and Norman Vincent Peale. These are the first few teachers who taught me through their books that whatever the mind of mind can conceive and believe, he will achieve. Then, later, I went through a seminar in Kuala Lumpur in the early seventies with Lawrence Chan of Malaysia. All of them taught me to believe in whatever I set my mind to and since then I had proved them right.
For me, I have always believed that happiness is my ultimate goal in life and so whatever I do I do it for the pleasure and joy I can derive from it. That, I know, is what draws the friends I have to me. And it is what causes me to smile in my mirror the first thing in the morning and confirm to myself my health, my fitness, my youthfulness and my happiness. And this sixty-five year old has proved beyond a doubt that it happens when you believe. Well, I still run, jump and climb up that hill as fast and flexibly as any forty-year old! (Egoistic, ain't I but when it comes to this, I just have to be.)
That was exactly what I did this very morning despite a cold drizzle that greeted me as I enthusiastically dressed up for a trek up the hill. No drizzle can ever dampen the desire to enjoy the walk up the hill. Thus, I drove to the foot of the hill and found my car the only vehicle in the area. After a drink of water, I got out into the rain. I have an umbrella in the car but i did not use it. It is such moments that I look forward to walking in the rain, getting soaking wet without a care in the world, just enjoying the coolness of the morning and the refreshing cleansing of raindrops. You know, I also believe I would not catch cold, and although I have walked in the rain a good number of days the last two weeks, the cold could not catch up with me.
You know, I still wish for the pure rainwater that God pours upon us giving us the best liquid we can ever obtain. Yes, pure rainwater contains hydrogen peroxide which helps our body to absorb more oxygen. Unfortunately, today's rain has to go through a lot of chemical pollution as it descends to us and what we get is acid rain. You see, when humans are careless with the wastes manufactured we destroy something which is so important to us and the plants. Yes, plants for plants given pure rainwater containing hydrogen peroxide would thrive even better. Sometimes, I wondered if rainwater that reaches us after a few hours of rain could possibly not have to be contaminated by the impurities in the air and so contain hydrogen peroxide. It is at such times, I drink some of the rainwater and hope to enjoy its benefits. Well, I could have been able to enjoy those benefits as I am certainly extremely fit and healthy still.
Yes, since I have read about how powerful our mind is, I have practised it on my health, strength and happiness and thank God, I am appreciative of the mind He has given me, it has been found to be true. Thus, without a doubt, I certainly agree with those researchers that the mind can perform wonders if you really believe in it and work at it. Well, all things are possible to him or her who would put his mind to it.
Showing posts with label mind. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mind. Show all posts
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Friday, September 10, 2010
The mind of a child.
One day he was arranging the chairs and stools of different sizes and height in a winding row so that he could climb up at one end, step from one stool to another or from one chair to another until he reached the other end which was approximately twenty chairs and stools away. Fortunately for him, his parents' house was big enough and possessing sufficient furniture to allow him to form a bridge from one part of the house to another.
The imagination of this child was indeed good. Another day, he would create a vehicle out of a computer table, enter it through an open door and have the maid push the vehicle so that it could move on its four small wheels.
A child sees a car and then he sees the vehicle in other furniture of objects in the house. He wants to be in the driver's seat and with that the dream of driving a car comes into existence.
And that is why parents who hope their children would one day be a doctor would buy them stethoscopes and dress them as doctors with the hope that their dreams will come true. Of course it would be easier if the child has a doctor as a father, especially one the child loves and is proud of. However, to foster the desire to be a doctor, children should support extracurricular activities such as St. John's or in Malaysia the Bulan Sabit Merah where they learn how to treat minor injuries. Of course, if the child is not academically inclined, he or she could end up as a nurse or an hospital assistant. But then, except for getting the child interested in reading and learning about science and gaining more knowledge, that is practically all that parents can do. The rest we leave to the child and his/her inclinations or life's destination or fate.
A lot of a child's future depends upon his/her interests and inclinations taking him/her to various directions which would eventually decide his/her future. Whatever it is, parents must allow the child to develop his mind as fast as is possible so that he will be ready when opportunity comes. Give him the chance to imagine, to think and to experience all that can be had. Provide him/her with such exposures to ideas, knowledge and things to help his/her mind to grow and form the foundation upon which his natural interests can given the impetus and motivation to reach their greatest potential.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Try to understand before criticising.
Instead of criticizing, we ought to try and understand the feelings of others. Without the sometimes sad, disappointing and frustrated experiences that some people had, can a critic be able to understand the feelings and pain those people could have gone through. Can he claim to understand the feelings of those people?
Yet, on Thursday, 24 June 2010, I read a letter in a newspaper in which a Malaysian Chinese who had lived in Russia where he studied for many years for many years criticized other Malaysians for not loving Malaysia by laughing and making a remark at a man who was wearing a T-shirt imprinted with the words ‘Saya Cinta Malaysia’ which means ‘I love Malaysia’.
Of course, the man wearing that T-shirt ought not to be laughed at for that was just an open declaration for the love of his country. Everyone of us should love our country and I believe almost all of us do. For those who claim they don’t, we have to ask them the reason before any criticism is made. Do they have a good reason for their statements? Perhaps, they do. If we are open minded enough to try and understand such people, we may even come to sympathise with them.
Perhaps, those people who claim they do not love their country could have been confused and had mixed up the government of the day with their country. What I am saying is that those people were born in a certain place and since their parents, siblings, relative and friends are there, that’s where home is. Good or bad, that’s where they belong. They feel comfortable being there. Then when they grow up, they realise certain things, things other than the people and the surroundings they know. They found their country being ruled in a certain way. Born in a certain country, brought up playing with their friends, studying with their friends, living with their friends, helping each other, they would expect to be treated the same as those friends by the government. Then the day came when they pass their examinations at secondary school level and discover that only certain friends, most with not as good results as them, were given the privilege of being given entrance to certain privileged colleges to study for just a year with almost certainty of qualifying for tertiary education while they had to go for two years of upper secondary schooling which is so much more difficult. Why is there a difference? As a good number of their friends who were given the special privilege were even richer or better off than them, of course, it can be expected that they would feel that that was unfair. Can we blame them for feeling thus?
Then, when they managed to get excellent results, they did not get their country’s scholarship to study overseas although others more privileged friends who had not as good results, who even come from financially better families who did not exactly need those scholarships were given such financial aid to further their education. Would not such students feel frustrated at losing an opportunity which they merited? Should they be expected to love a government which had not considered them equal to other citizens although they were born and bred in the same country with no other country they call their own?
Even for tertiary education in their own country, it is not the best students who qualify for a place. The citizens are divided into certain categories with a certain community given more places.
Again, when it comes to jobs, with the exception of jobs in the private sector perhaps, jobs are given out again based on communities. When it comes to promotions, that happened too. (I have a brother-in law who quit the RMAF, the Royal Malaysian Air Force, from a job he loved because each year he watched younger staff with the same qualifications ascend the promotion ladder faster than him, overtaking him easily. ) Despite doing all that, the government of the day expects every citizen to be grateful to the government for some of the ‘crumbs’ given, usually just before or during elections.
Now if, like the Malaysian Chinese who criticised the others for not loving the country, someone who has his parents financial support to study anywhere he wishes, then the person does not feel or know the same pain, disappointment and frustration that the poor Malaysian Chinese or Indians would feel under such circumstances. (I know for I have personally comforted such a tearful person and felt his pain as he told me of his great disappointment at not being able to go for tertiary education despite his excellent results. Those who have not known such disappointment and pain might not be able to understand what I have written, perhaps.) Could such a person whose whole life-time would never be as good as it ought to be, be expected to be grateful for having all his dreams dashed by a government’s policy? If you were him, think how you would feel. (Sometimes we cannot fathom certain things unless and until we get into the shoes of those people. After all such things do not happen to us and certainly not the Malaysian Chinese who could not understand those people who ridiculed the guy who wore a T-shirt with the words ‘I love Malaysia’.
Poverty has no barriers. It exists in every race or community. A country which wishes to assist the really poor to give them a better chance at life should draw up policies to help all poor citizens regardless of race. When the policies are drawn up dividing all citizens into communities, many of the poor do not actually get the assistance. Even for the targeted community, time has proved that those who benefited from such a policy are not the truly helpless poor but the well-to-do and those well connected with the people who walk the corridors of power.
Thus, those who criticise ought to find out what has transpired, understand the situation properly, know the experiences and feelings of those unfortunate people before reaching a conclusion to base on whatever criticism the person wishes to make. Certainly, it takes some effort and an open mind to appreciate properly other people’s feeling and thoughts.
Yet, on Thursday, 24 June 2010, I read a letter in a newspaper in which a Malaysian Chinese who had lived in Russia where he studied for many years for many years criticized other Malaysians for not loving Malaysia by laughing and making a remark at a man who was wearing a T-shirt imprinted with the words ‘Saya Cinta Malaysia’ which means ‘I love Malaysia’.
Of course, the man wearing that T-shirt ought not to be laughed at for that was just an open declaration for the love of his country. Everyone of us should love our country and I believe almost all of us do. For those who claim they don’t, we have to ask them the reason before any criticism is made. Do they have a good reason for their statements? Perhaps, they do. If we are open minded enough to try and understand such people, we may even come to sympathise with them.
Perhaps, those people who claim they do not love their country could have been confused and had mixed up the government of the day with their country. What I am saying is that those people were born in a certain place and since their parents, siblings, relative and friends are there, that’s where home is. Good or bad, that’s where they belong. They feel comfortable being there. Then when they grow up, they realise certain things, things other than the people and the surroundings they know. They found their country being ruled in a certain way. Born in a certain country, brought up playing with their friends, studying with their friends, living with their friends, helping each other, they would expect to be treated the same as those friends by the government. Then the day came when they pass their examinations at secondary school level and discover that only certain friends, most with not as good results as them, were given the privilege of being given entrance to certain privileged colleges to study for just a year with almost certainty of qualifying for tertiary education while they had to go for two years of upper secondary schooling which is so much more difficult. Why is there a difference? As a good number of their friends who were given the special privilege were even richer or better off than them, of course, it can be expected that they would feel that that was unfair. Can we blame them for feeling thus?
Then, when they managed to get excellent results, they did not get their country’s scholarship to study overseas although others more privileged friends who had not as good results, who even come from financially better families who did not exactly need those scholarships were given such financial aid to further their education. Would not such students feel frustrated at losing an opportunity which they merited? Should they be expected to love a government which had not considered them equal to other citizens although they were born and bred in the same country with no other country they call their own?
Even for tertiary education in their own country, it is not the best students who qualify for a place. The citizens are divided into certain categories with a certain community given more places.
Again, when it comes to jobs, with the exception of jobs in the private sector perhaps, jobs are given out again based on communities. When it comes to promotions, that happened too. (I have a brother-in law who quit the RMAF, the Royal Malaysian Air Force, from a job he loved because each year he watched younger staff with the same qualifications ascend the promotion ladder faster than him, overtaking him easily. ) Despite doing all that, the government of the day expects every citizen to be grateful to the government for some of the ‘crumbs’ given, usually just before or during elections.
Now if, like the Malaysian Chinese who criticised the others for not loving the country, someone who has his parents financial support to study anywhere he wishes, then the person does not feel or know the same pain, disappointment and frustration that the poor Malaysian Chinese or Indians would feel under such circumstances. (I know for I have personally comforted such a tearful person and felt his pain as he told me of his great disappointment at not being able to go for tertiary education despite his excellent results. Those who have not known such disappointment and pain might not be able to understand what I have written, perhaps.) Could such a person whose whole life-time would never be as good as it ought to be, be expected to be grateful for having all his dreams dashed by a government’s policy? If you were him, think how you would feel. (Sometimes we cannot fathom certain things unless and until we get into the shoes of those people. After all such things do not happen to us and certainly not the Malaysian Chinese who could not understand those people who ridiculed the guy who wore a T-shirt with the words ‘I love Malaysia’.
Poverty has no barriers. It exists in every race or community. A country which wishes to assist the really poor to give them a better chance at life should draw up policies to help all poor citizens regardless of race. When the policies are drawn up dividing all citizens into communities, many of the poor do not actually get the assistance. Even for the targeted community, time has proved that those who benefited from such a policy are not the truly helpless poor but the well-to-do and those well connected with the people who walk the corridors of power.
Thus, those who criticise ought to find out what has transpired, understand the situation properly, know the experiences and feelings of those unfortunate people before reaching a conclusion to base on whatever criticism the person wishes to make. Certainly, it takes some effort and an open mind to appreciate properly other people’s feeling and thoughts.
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
Maturity of a person lies in the development of the mind.
We understand that a person is truly matured by the way his/her mind works, how he looks at things and acts on them. If the mind is unable to differentiate between right and wrong, truth and myths or the seriousness and priorities of a situation, then the mind cannot be considered developed or matured enough to understand things well enough to see the differences and the needs, to separate one from the other.
So, the body may develop and grow into the size and shape of an adult but if the mind does not grow and develop in maturity, the person, his feelings, emotions and thinking will remain childish and immature. The mind can only develop through knowledge and experience as well as the use of it to solve and settle matters properly and correctly.
Opportunities for the mind to develop must be given so that decisions and independent thoughts could be derived at confidently. Thus, we ought not to spoon-feed or pamper our children. Giving assistance and so helping the child along initially is invaluable but overdoing it can lead to spoon-feeding and developing the habit of consistently depending on the parents or other people for answers and solutions to the many problems that crop up in life.
Parents could at the first ten years of life of the child allow the child to tackle small problems such as making decisions on less important matters. Then, as he or she grows older, allow the child to decide on more important issues such as considering whether there is a need to attend tuition classes, in which subjects he/she needs assistance and where he could go for such assistance. That does not mean that the parents do not need to do their homework and discover the best place or the right teacher for the child to go to. As the child makes decisions, the parents could give suggestions and opinion to assist the child come to the right decision. Thus, the child could be helped indirectly to come to the best possible move.
Parents are guides, giving knowledge and experience where necessary and extending a strong protective arm and body when needed, indicating the right path when children are in doubt and backing off when they are sure the children have got things right.
Such are the moves that we extend to assist them with opportunities to strengthen their mind in their progress to maturity.
So, the body may develop and grow into the size and shape of an adult but if the mind does not grow and develop in maturity, the person, his feelings, emotions and thinking will remain childish and immature. The mind can only develop through knowledge and experience as well as the use of it to solve and settle matters properly and correctly.
Opportunities for the mind to develop must be given so that decisions and independent thoughts could be derived at confidently. Thus, we ought not to spoon-feed or pamper our children. Giving assistance and so helping the child along initially is invaluable but overdoing it can lead to spoon-feeding and developing the habit of consistently depending on the parents or other people for answers and solutions to the many problems that crop up in life.
Parents could at the first ten years of life of the child allow the child to tackle small problems such as making decisions on less important matters. Then, as he or she grows older, allow the child to decide on more important issues such as considering whether there is a need to attend tuition classes, in which subjects he/she needs assistance and where he could go for such assistance. That does not mean that the parents do not need to do their homework and discover the best place or the right teacher for the child to go to. As the child makes decisions, the parents could give suggestions and opinion to assist the child come to the right decision. Thus, the child could be helped indirectly to come to the best possible move.
Parents are guides, giving knowledge and experience where necessary and extending a strong protective arm and body when needed, indicating the right path when children are in doubt and backing off when they are sure the children have got things right.
Such are the moves that we extend to assist them with opportunities to strengthen their mind in their progress to maturity.
Monday, February 08, 2010
You can be still young as long as.....
What caught my eyes in the news this morning was the true story of an 88 year old who beat 86 other participants in the 3-day Johor International Kit festival to win the Best International Kite Performance trophy. This Taiwanese, Robert Yen, who had competed in this annual competition for the last 14 years was the oldest participant this year. Although he was aged eighty-eight years, he looked so hail and hearty. I should be really happy to be that good looking at that age. What a marvellous start for the year!
I am pleased to note that it all started as a hobby at the age of eight years. It means that there is a passion for something in his life. That is important for then, there is meaning in still being alive after we have retired from the financial development part of our lives. to be still young; here I throw out those meaningless numbers, the chronological age of a person. It is more the energy we are capable of having, the strength to carry on with activities throughout the day and the desire to wake up each day with eagerness to perform in our passionate activities. If we have at least those, if not more, then we can consider ourselves still young.
Having a passion for some kind of activity is important to life. What is life without that but sleeping, eating, working and trying to last till the end of the day without any excitement or joy in the day's activities. To me that is not meaningful life. That is merely survival, living each day aimlessly.
Furthermore, any kind of passion for any kind of activity would keep our mind and body healthy. With the passion for an activity, the mind and its thoughts are consistently returning to the activity, thinking of how to improve on the activity, how to go further into it and participate in it to the highest level, maybe in competition. when the mind is active, the mind will be stronger and not deteriorate into amnesia in later years.
In any sustained activity, the body has the opportunity to maintain if not increase muscle mass. Whether muscle mass is increased or not depends upon the type of activity involved. If the activity necessitates increasing strength, then the opportunity to increase muscle mass will be there. Even for those people whose activity does not increase the volume of muscles, the urge to remain healthy and be strong enough to continue the activity can motivate the person to take up some weight-lifting exercises to maintain the muscles or increase its mass. When muscle mass is maintained or increased, strength will be improved and with some kind of impact activity, bone density will remain sufficiently good for agility and any required movement. Through activity, fat can be reduced. With more muscles than fat, the metabolic rate of our body will be better, preventing obesity. With activity, our aerobic capacity will remain better than those who are sedentary which means we will be not pant and become tired easily. Then, with activity, the body functions of removing toxic waste are in greater condition. Thereafter, with the right nutrition and rest, the kidneys, the liver, the big intestines and the skin will be in tip-top condition. And with strength, agility, good metabolic rate, less body fat content and a well regulated waste disposal system, we can be assured the body will be able to function just as well as any forty-year old, if not better. Thus, our body's youthfulness can be maintained, no matter which number we have reached on the chronological age level.
As we can see, with an interested activity, it is not difficult to remain youthful and active throughout life.
I am pleased to note that it all started as a hobby at the age of eight years. It means that there is a passion for something in his life. That is important for then, there is meaning in still being alive after we have retired from the financial development part of our lives. to be still young; here I throw out those meaningless numbers, the chronological age of a person. It is more the energy we are capable of having, the strength to carry on with activities throughout the day and the desire to wake up each day with eagerness to perform in our passionate activities. If we have at least those, if not more, then we can consider ourselves still young.
Having a passion for some kind of activity is important to life. What is life without that but sleeping, eating, working and trying to last till the end of the day without any excitement or joy in the day's activities. To me that is not meaningful life. That is merely survival, living each day aimlessly.
Furthermore, any kind of passion for any kind of activity would keep our mind and body healthy. With the passion for an activity, the mind and its thoughts are consistently returning to the activity, thinking of how to improve on the activity, how to go further into it and participate in it to the highest level, maybe in competition. when the mind is active, the mind will be stronger and not deteriorate into amnesia in later years.
In any sustained activity, the body has the opportunity to maintain if not increase muscle mass. Whether muscle mass is increased or not depends upon the type of activity involved. If the activity necessitates increasing strength, then the opportunity to increase muscle mass will be there. Even for those people whose activity does not increase the volume of muscles, the urge to remain healthy and be strong enough to continue the activity can motivate the person to take up some weight-lifting exercises to maintain the muscles or increase its mass. When muscle mass is maintained or increased, strength will be improved and with some kind of impact activity, bone density will remain sufficiently good for agility and any required movement. Through activity, fat can be reduced. With more muscles than fat, the metabolic rate of our body will be better, preventing obesity. With activity, our aerobic capacity will remain better than those who are sedentary which means we will be not pant and become tired easily. Then, with activity, the body functions of removing toxic waste are in greater condition. Thereafter, with the right nutrition and rest, the kidneys, the liver, the big intestines and the skin will be in tip-top condition. And with strength, agility, good metabolic rate, less body fat content and a well regulated waste disposal system, we can be assured the body will be able to function just as well as any forty-year old, if not better. Thus, our body's youthfulness can be maintained, no matter which number we have reached on the chronological age level.
As we can see, with an interested activity, it is not difficult to remain youthful and active throughout life.
Friday, February 05, 2010
Is it all in the mind?
There was a time when I taught at a school in Kodiang, Kedah, where the food in the canteen was really tasty, especially a meaty soup which we could use with noodles or bread.
All the teachers enjoyed that soup and so, each day, most of us ordered that to go along with other types of food.
There was this teacher who enjoyed the soup just as much as anyone of us for a number of years. Then, one day, as we were talking, the subject of allergy cropped up. I told them about my allergy with beer and other alcoholic drinks. This teacher talked about his allergy towards beef. Well, it is understandable that a Buddhist would not take beef, whether he is allergic to it of not. However, this Chinese man claimed he could not consume beef because he was allergic to it, not for religious reasons.
He told the group of teachers there that he would throw up each time he ate beef. The discomfort and reactions to the meat was so bad that he had no alternative but to forgo eating such meat. Well and good, as no one can deny that would be the best move to make under such circumstances.
Then, just as we continued slurping our soup, one of the other teachers spoke up, "Hey, Ah B, do you know what you are taking?"
Ah B turned towards him and replied, "Soup. What else?"
"Do you know what Ah Kau Shou put into that soup, ahh?"
"Don't know but it certainly taste fabulous."
Another teacher turned his head towards the kitchen, saw Ah Kau Sou, the canteen lady and shouted towards her direction, "Kau Sou ahh, what do you put into that soup of yours?"
The canteen lady looked puzzled a moment, smiled and replied, "Don;t worry. It's just spices, bean curd and beef ribs."
Everyone turned his or her face towards Ah B. The guy stopped taking the soup all of a sudden and turned to Ah Kau Sou for confirmation, "Are you sure, Ah Kau Sou?"
"Of course! Why? What's the matter? You think I don't even know what I put into my soup, ahh? Don't worry, lah. It's good meat from the butcher."
Ah B suddenly stood up, he face pale and he claimed he felt like vomitting. He quickly disappeared from the canteen in the direction of the toilet.
After he had gone, the group was quiet for a while. The question on everyone's lips was, "How's it possible? He has been enjoying that soup all these years without any side effect until today."
Since, no allergic effect took place without the mind receiving the knowledge that beef was in that soup for so many years, could it be all in the mind? The urge to vomit only took place when the mind received the information that beef had been consumed. Was it truly an allergy or was it a preconditioning of the mind and its reactions by the parents or someone else earlier in Ah B's life?
If we take a good look at some of the feelings and attitudes of people, we discover that some of these feelings are due to religious or cultural teachings. Some people in our society have been preconditioned to love, hate, like, dislike, incline or disincline towards all things and people.
Religions sometimes do that. They do it for various reasons. Hindus and Buddhist are taught not to eat beef while the Muslim have a distaste for pork. Similarly, a dislike for dogs exist among some Muslims.
Other factors other than religion, culture and parents could possibly be contributed through superstition or unfortunate experiences. Such traumatic experiences could cause fears and dislike for things and people.
Thus, it is important to try and understand others, to allow other to act according to their needs, empathise with others the fears and dislikes or whatever which we ourselves may find hard to comprehend.
Of course, many things are not easy to understand as we do not have the same experience that could have cause the other's behaviour. The behaviour comes about through the mind interpretation of the incidents in one's life. Well, sometimes, it is all in the mind. The mind and its thoughts made things real.
We may ridicule ah B's sudden allergic reaction but we ought to understand that for Ah B, the thoughts in his mind made all that happened real. And this understanding is necessary as it can happen to any one of us unless we control our thoughts.
All the teachers enjoyed that soup and so, each day, most of us ordered that to go along with other types of food.
There was this teacher who enjoyed the soup just as much as anyone of us for a number of years. Then, one day, as we were talking, the subject of allergy cropped up. I told them about my allergy with beer and other alcoholic drinks. This teacher talked about his allergy towards beef. Well, it is understandable that a Buddhist would not take beef, whether he is allergic to it of not. However, this Chinese man claimed he could not consume beef because he was allergic to it, not for religious reasons.
He told the group of teachers there that he would throw up each time he ate beef. The discomfort and reactions to the meat was so bad that he had no alternative but to forgo eating such meat. Well and good, as no one can deny that would be the best move to make under such circumstances.
Then, just as we continued slurping our soup, one of the other teachers spoke up, "Hey, Ah B, do you know what you are taking?"
Ah B turned towards him and replied, "Soup. What else?"
"Do you know what Ah Kau Shou put into that soup, ahh?"
"Don't know but it certainly taste fabulous."
Another teacher turned his head towards the kitchen, saw Ah Kau Sou, the canteen lady and shouted towards her direction, "Kau Sou ahh, what do you put into that soup of yours?"
The canteen lady looked puzzled a moment, smiled and replied, "Don;t worry. It's just spices, bean curd and beef ribs."
Everyone turned his or her face towards Ah B. The guy stopped taking the soup all of a sudden and turned to Ah Kau Sou for confirmation, "Are you sure, Ah Kau Sou?"
"Of course! Why? What's the matter? You think I don't even know what I put into my soup, ahh? Don't worry, lah. It's good meat from the butcher."
Ah B suddenly stood up, he face pale and he claimed he felt like vomitting. He quickly disappeared from the canteen in the direction of the toilet.
After he had gone, the group was quiet for a while. The question on everyone's lips was, "How's it possible? He has been enjoying that soup all these years without any side effect until today."
Since, no allergic effect took place without the mind receiving the knowledge that beef was in that soup for so many years, could it be all in the mind? The urge to vomit only took place when the mind received the information that beef had been consumed. Was it truly an allergy or was it a preconditioning of the mind and its reactions by the parents or someone else earlier in Ah B's life?
If we take a good look at some of the feelings and attitudes of people, we discover that some of these feelings are due to religious or cultural teachings. Some people in our society have been preconditioned to love, hate, like, dislike, incline or disincline towards all things and people.
Religions sometimes do that. They do it for various reasons. Hindus and Buddhist are taught not to eat beef while the Muslim have a distaste for pork. Similarly, a dislike for dogs exist among some Muslims.
Other factors other than religion, culture and parents could possibly be contributed through superstition or unfortunate experiences. Such traumatic experiences could cause fears and dislike for things and people.
Thus, it is important to try and understand others, to allow other to act according to their needs, empathise with others the fears and dislikes or whatever which we ourselves may find hard to comprehend.
Of course, many things are not easy to understand as we do not have the same experience that could have cause the other's behaviour. The behaviour comes about through the mind interpretation of the incidents in one's life. Well, sometimes, it is all in the mind. The mind and its thoughts made things real.
We may ridicule ah B's sudden allergic reaction but we ought to understand that for Ah B, the thoughts in his mind made all that happened real. And this understanding is necessary as it can happen to any one of us unless we control our thoughts.
Saturday, January 02, 2010
When humans crave for power, sensitive issues are nuggets to them.
In a dream I saw God and He told me too many people on planet Earth are playing God and instilling fear and nonsensical stuff into people even when they know the truth. He said that what he had heard about Malaysia and the use of the word 'Allah' is most disturbing. These people are really confused about him, he said.
"Did I not send Jesus down to Earth to teach them about me?" he asked.
I agreed that that was what the Christians and the Muslims profess as I know that they accepted Jesus as the first of the prophets.
"Did I not send Muhammad to remind the people about me?" he enquired.
"Yes, you did and they created a religion and called it Islam." I told Him.
"Islam or Christianity, what's the difference? Am I not still the same God?" he demanded.
"Yes, God. Of course, you are God, the one and only." I told him.
"Then what is this I heard about their fighting over a word to refer to me." He was really annoyed. "What's a name but just a word. How can the minds of some of my followers not be able to understand that? Furthermore, if the Muslims want to refer to me as Allah, why not allow the Christians to do the same? After all, are they not talking about the same God, me?" God said, indignation clearly expressed on his face.
"Yeah. In fact, there is this Muslim who does not want another religion to use it because the word Allah refers to the one and only God," I told Him.
"Isn't that ridiculous when the Christian God of Jesus is myself too. Why must I be given two names just because humans created two religions? After all, as my prophet Muhammad had said, Jesus is the first of the prophet and he himself is the last. Are these people trying to say that Muhammad was wrong, that Jesus's God is different from Muhammad's God?" God shook his head in disgust.
"There are Muslims who claim that the word 'Allah' can only be used for the Muslim religion," I told Him.
"What nonsence!" he exclaimed. "Do such people not have the knowledge that the word 'Allah' is the combination of two words and in Arabia and Egypt it just means god. In fact, the Arab Muslims, Arab Christians and the Jews have been using the word 'Allah' for centuries and they had no problem with it. These people who say that there is a problem with Christians using the word has an agenda of their own. I don't like it when people use a word which refers to me to achieve their own miserable human goals." God was unhappy.
"You know, there are knowledgeable Muslims who have told these people that the word 'Allah' has been used to refer to god years before Islam and Christianity came into the world. Those people would listen to them. But unfortunately, I think, the knowledgeable ones are the minority." Hearing that, God shook his head.
"In fact, there was this Christian Father who told the court that the term 'Allah' had been used by Christians in this region for about 400 years." I continued.
"And they took it to court, right? The High Court handed down a decision to allow them to use the word to refer to me, right?" He questioned.
"Yes." but they were not happy with the decision." I explained.
"Well, if a court had made a decision, the leaders of the community must respect the court's decision. Even if they disagree, they must go back to the court and not show contempt of the decision made."
"Oh, yes! There was this so-called leader who criticised and questioned the judgement. He justified his criticism with the saying that the judge was merely a human being.And being a human being, he cannot be 100% impartial." I told Him.
"Of course, the judges are human beings but they are learned beings put there by the leaders themselves. So, in time to come, everyone who loses a case would show the same contempt of a judgement by using the same reason, that the judges are human beings and therefore cannot be 100% impartial. I created every human with a mind to think correctly, you know? If we are not going to respect our judges and the court, what is the purpose of having them. Are you people going backwards to the days when might is right?" God asked.
"Yes, my God. Looks like that is what is going to happen. When people craze for power they would use any means to influence others to their warped way of thinking. According to Malaysia Kini, an online survey was done and it looks like the pro-government blogs are trying to use this issue to blacken the Muslims of the opposition parties. And I believe they are willing to stoop to conquer as the stakes are high and this issue looks like a very sensitive and promising one for changing the tides of political fortunes. Please God, help us all," I had to appeal.
"Did I not send Jesus down to Earth to teach them about me?" he asked.
I agreed that that was what the Christians and the Muslims profess as I know that they accepted Jesus as the first of the prophets.
"Did I not send Muhammad to remind the people about me?" he enquired.
"Yes, you did and they created a religion and called it Islam." I told Him.
"Islam or Christianity, what's the difference? Am I not still the same God?" he demanded.
"Yes, God. Of course, you are God, the one and only." I told him.
"Then what is this I heard about their fighting over a word to refer to me." He was really annoyed. "What's a name but just a word. How can the minds of some of my followers not be able to understand that? Furthermore, if the Muslims want to refer to me as Allah, why not allow the Christians to do the same? After all, are they not talking about the same God, me?" God said, indignation clearly expressed on his face.
"Yeah. In fact, there is this Muslim who does not want another religion to use it because the word Allah refers to the one and only God," I told Him.
"Isn't that ridiculous when the Christian God of Jesus is myself too. Why must I be given two names just because humans created two religions? After all, as my prophet Muhammad had said, Jesus is the first of the prophet and he himself is the last. Are these people trying to say that Muhammad was wrong, that Jesus's God is different from Muhammad's God?" God shook his head in disgust.
"There are Muslims who claim that the word 'Allah' can only be used for the Muslim religion," I told Him.
"What nonsence!" he exclaimed. "Do such people not have the knowledge that the word 'Allah' is the combination of two words and in Arabia and Egypt it just means god. In fact, the Arab Muslims, Arab Christians and the Jews have been using the word 'Allah' for centuries and they had no problem with it. These people who say that there is a problem with Christians using the word has an agenda of their own. I don't like it when people use a word which refers to me to achieve their own miserable human goals." God was unhappy.
"You know, there are knowledgeable Muslims who have told these people that the word 'Allah' has been used to refer to god years before Islam and Christianity came into the world. Those people would listen to them. But unfortunately, I think, the knowledgeable ones are the minority." Hearing that, God shook his head.
"In fact, there was this Christian Father who told the court that the term 'Allah' had been used by Christians in this region for about 400 years." I continued.
"And they took it to court, right? The High Court handed down a decision to allow them to use the word to refer to me, right?" He questioned.
"Yes." but they were not happy with the decision." I explained.
"Well, if a court had made a decision, the leaders of the community must respect the court's decision. Even if they disagree, they must go back to the court and not show contempt of the decision made."
"Oh, yes! There was this so-called leader who criticised and questioned the judgement. He justified his criticism with the saying that the judge was merely a human being.And being a human being, he cannot be 100% impartial." I told Him.
"Of course, the judges are human beings but they are learned beings put there by the leaders themselves. So, in time to come, everyone who loses a case would show the same contempt of a judgement by using the same reason, that the judges are human beings and therefore cannot be 100% impartial. I created every human with a mind to think correctly, you know? If we are not going to respect our judges and the court, what is the purpose of having them. Are you people going backwards to the days when might is right?" God asked.
"Yes, my God. Looks like that is what is going to happen. When people craze for power they would use any means to influence others to their warped way of thinking. According to Malaysia Kini, an online survey was done and it looks like the pro-government blogs are trying to use this issue to blacken the Muslims of the opposition parties. And I believe they are willing to stoop to conquer as the stakes are high and this issue looks like a very sensitive and promising one for changing the tides of political fortunes. Please God, help us all," I had to appeal.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Greed, mind and awareness
This evening, I watched a man with a trolley cart at one of the boxes taking out some pieces of coconut candy from a torn plastic bag. I watched as he removed some pieces and held the pieces in his hand. Of course, i did not see him tear open the plastic bag. Still, open or not, he should not remove the pieces from that torn bag. Suddenly, he realised that i was observing him. Aware of being watched, he stopped, closed his fist and moved off. I followed at a discreed distance and found him putting one piece after another into his mouth. Obviously, the man had no intention to pay for it.
All that happened in a supermarket. I wonder how many times this same man had done this while shopping. After encountering such a person, I can now understand how some bags or packages of food were sometimes left exposed or open. There must have been the same pilfering that i had just noticed.
This man must have been one of those who constantly do this, knowing that it is difficult to catch him redhanded. Furthermore, by the time he reached the cashier's counter, the food would have disappeared into his stomach. Unless a bothersome X-ray is done on him, the evidence is no longer to be seen.
This is clearly a demostration of that weakness in humans that we call greed. Greed has been the downfall of many a human. And it looks like almost everyone, except those who have discipline, is suscepible to greed. Politicians turn corrupt because of greed. You would have thought the filthy rich would not be easily led astray on the path. Unfortunately, history tells us otherwise. Even the guardians of the peace, our law enforcers, fall easily into its web. And the lure to greed is always there at every corner of life.
Those who manage to conquer greed are those who are strong in character and are true believers of God. The weak fall to its lure and find themselves in trouble in one way or another.
Those who always escape from being caught or never become aware of the wrong that they do are in worse trouble. You see, these people would be the bad example for their own families, perhaps even teaching them or encouraging such a weakness. Some may even show pride in escaping detection and numb their conscience. When the concience of a human is numbed or lost, that human is no longer human any more. Without conscience, that human will sink into the deepest, darkest, vile traits the world can ever think of.
Therefore, Man, who is given a mind which comes together with a conscience must use it well and correctly, failing which he descends to a level lower than the lowest animals.
All that happened in a supermarket. I wonder how many times this same man had done this while shopping. After encountering such a person, I can now understand how some bags or packages of food were sometimes left exposed or open. There must have been the same pilfering that i had just noticed.
This man must have been one of those who constantly do this, knowing that it is difficult to catch him redhanded. Furthermore, by the time he reached the cashier's counter, the food would have disappeared into his stomach. Unless a bothersome X-ray is done on him, the evidence is no longer to be seen.
This is clearly a demostration of that weakness in humans that we call greed. Greed has been the downfall of many a human. And it looks like almost everyone, except those who have discipline, is suscepible to greed. Politicians turn corrupt because of greed. You would have thought the filthy rich would not be easily led astray on the path. Unfortunately, history tells us otherwise. Even the guardians of the peace, our law enforcers, fall easily into its web. And the lure to greed is always there at every corner of life.
Those who manage to conquer greed are those who are strong in character and are true believers of God. The weak fall to its lure and find themselves in trouble in one way or another.
Those who always escape from being caught or never become aware of the wrong that they do are in worse trouble. You see, these people would be the bad example for their own families, perhaps even teaching them or encouraging such a weakness. Some may even show pride in escaping detection and numb their conscience. When the concience of a human is numbed or lost, that human is no longer human any more. Without conscience, that human will sink into the deepest, darkest, vile traits the world can ever think of.
Therefore, Man, who is given a mind which comes together with a conscience must use it well and correctly, failing which he descends to a level lower than the lowest animals.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Happiness is where we wish to have them..
It's still dark but the trees are a welcome sight.
Slowly but surely, the sun appears to greet us with its warmth.
And the path up is so wide at certain places.
The scenery from the Semarak Hill.
A smile to brighten the day.
------------------------------------------------
This morning, when I woke up, I looked into the mirror and gave myself a smile. I liked what i saw and i was happy with my face and the smile that makes it attractive. Vain, right? Yes, that is part of my ego. I just love my face. Now, if you you do not like your own face, how can you expect anyone else to like it? So, like it! Nay, love it, for that is the only face you have.
I was happy just looking at my face. See, it is so easy to be happy. Do that, look at the mirror and give yourself that beautiful smile to brighten up your world for a good start for your day. It always works.
After my warm-up on the yoga mat, my patma exercise followed by the Kriya, I took a very light breakfast before heading to the hills. At 6.40am. it was still dark but I started treking up the Samarak Hill. As I went up the hill I concentrated on the number of exercises I did which were walking uphill backwards, sideways, and forwards again. I stretch my strides as i went along giving full attention to the muscles of my legs and pelvic area as well as my breath. Soon, despite the cold breeze, I was starting to sweat. I was aware of the change in body heat as I continued up the hill.
Then, I met a few friends up at the summit. Awareness of their presence brought a smile to my lips as I greeted them and was delighted to receive greetings and smile in return. Happiness lights up my heart as my mind takes in the happening. I dwell on that joyful connection with those friends.
At the top of the hill where the fround is fairly level, I broke into a run and enjoyed the breeze brushing and cooling my face and body as I sped forward. The cold was even more welcome as body head rose while I began to pant. Just before another slope, I stopped to regain my breath and looked at those squirrels as they leapt from branch to branch with such wonderful grace. And those branches and their foliage would open up every now and then, as I moved forward to reveal slightly more light and the fantastic view of the still-lighted town below. Every so often, I heard noises in the underbrush as some small creatures rush off to hunt for food, perhaps.
Up there, there is one particular spot where I would stop to relax a while before I do some leg exercises and pumping before I continue my run. I have always enjoyed the knowledge of the lightness of my body and legs as I galloped along mindful of the stones, rocks and branches in my path, happy to realise that I was still agile enough to leap more to the left or the right to avoid such obstacles.
As the morning got brighter, I met more friends, with whom I would exchange some jokes or banter as we smiled and laughed over whatever cropped up in our mind then.
As I ran or walked backwards down the hill, there was always something to light up the spirit as more and more people are encountered.
With sufficient exercise and a joyful start for the day, I looked forward to work and other healthy pursuits of the day.
Happiness in not the only thing i gained from each morning's exercise. At the age of sixty-three, I have no aches to slow me down. I never had a headache. No aches unless I knock some part of my body against a hard object which sometimes happens when I am clumsy enough, especially when my attention is distracted by a beautiful female figure. Well, I believe I am not the only guy with such a weakness. After all I am human. And although it's painful, it's a delightful happiness.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Limits in our mind: Complacence can put us into a rut.
Once I told someone about the Art of Living basic course. And without feeling any sensitivity about it as I was merely telling the person what I would myself hope to achieve every day of my life; I told him the course would certainly make him a better person. He was stung by my words. Annoyed with what I had said, he turned and walked away.
At first, I wondered what could have created such a reaction. Then, going over what I had just said, I realized it was his reaction to the words, ‘a better person'. The words must have been an affront to his dignity. I told myself I should not have said those words. He must have thought that he was great enough. How dare anyone belittle him with words which could imply that he was not good enough!
On further thought, I realized it was not my fault that he felt the way he did. Of course, he had the right to feel that way but I too had the right to believe that everyone, including me, can become an even better person, physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally than what we are today. There are still ‘mountains’ to conquer, ‘rivers’ to cross, ‘stars’ to reach for and many, many ways to expand our horizons.
Have you thought about it? The day there is no further growth, be it good or bad, we are either dead or perfect in every way; as perfect as God. I cannot think of anything or anyone more perfect than God. Can you?
I do not think we can be that perfect as each and every one of us has some kind of weakness here and there. So, there is always room for improvement. Buddha reached Nirvana. Have we reached that stage yet? If not, there is still need for improvement and we should try to be better tomorrow than we are today.
Thus, as long as we live, and since we do not exactly know how long we are going to live, we ought to think of what work we can do, what to eat, the best way to exercise our body, to rest sufficiently, to develop spiritually and emotionally so that we will always be progressively better in every way possible for whatever lies ahead.
Is our work enjoyable and fulfilling? If not, what other work can we do? Do we understand nutrition? Is what we eat nutritious enough? How good are we physically? Have we given our body the opportunity to enjoy some form of suitable exercise? Do you realize the importance of rest and sleep? Do we allow this beloved body of us sufficient rest to reenergize it for another day, week, month or year? What about our spiritual development? Of course, the atheist will insist that there is no need for spiritual understanding or development. Are they sure of that? Have they given this sphere of development the chance to show them that spirits exist, that there is a life after death? Have they given themselves the opportunity to open the third eye so that they can see the truth? Are we in control of our emotions or are our emotions in control of us? Are our emotions calm enough to face the challenges of life that lies ahead?
If we know the answers to the above and are practising all the right moves, well and good. If not, why not? What are the obstacles? Are they insurmountable obstacles? Have we thought of overcoming them? Can it be done?
Only we are able to understand our own problems. But are they real problems? Or is it merely a mental obstacle, our mind refusing to push it aside and let a solution or knowledge be found. Our mind can be very stubborn, refusing to let go of things that are a burden to our progress. When that happens, we must put in new ideas and thoughts to overshadow the undesirable ones. Some people call this self-hypnosis when it is merely replacing consistently old negative thoughts with new positive ones. In time, the old negative thoughts fade away while the fresh positive thoughts bring forth good vibes and corresponding good results and progress.
Well, thinking that we already know everything or achieved everything gives us a sense of confidence, value and greatness. What else is there to know? When we truly believe we know everything, a sense of complacency settles in and there is no need to know anything else anymore. One thing such people have found is great happiness. But for how long will such euphoria last when there can be no more improvement? No more progress! That’s all! The progress is stopped by a mere stumbling block thought.
It is like the only guy who found the way to survive the war, gloats about it to himself only for a few days as he eventually realized that there is no more meaning in his life.
At first, I wondered what could have created such a reaction. Then, going over what I had just said, I realized it was his reaction to the words, ‘a better person'. The words must have been an affront to his dignity. I told myself I should not have said those words. He must have thought that he was great enough. How dare anyone belittle him with words which could imply that he was not good enough!
On further thought, I realized it was not my fault that he felt the way he did. Of course, he had the right to feel that way but I too had the right to believe that everyone, including me, can become an even better person, physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally than what we are today. There are still ‘mountains’ to conquer, ‘rivers’ to cross, ‘stars’ to reach for and many, many ways to expand our horizons.
Have you thought about it? The day there is no further growth, be it good or bad, we are either dead or perfect in every way; as perfect as God. I cannot think of anything or anyone more perfect than God. Can you?
I do not think we can be that perfect as each and every one of us has some kind of weakness here and there. So, there is always room for improvement. Buddha reached Nirvana. Have we reached that stage yet? If not, there is still need for improvement and we should try to be better tomorrow than we are today.
Thus, as long as we live, and since we do not exactly know how long we are going to live, we ought to think of what work we can do, what to eat, the best way to exercise our body, to rest sufficiently, to develop spiritually and emotionally so that we will always be progressively better in every way possible for whatever lies ahead.
Is our work enjoyable and fulfilling? If not, what other work can we do? Do we understand nutrition? Is what we eat nutritious enough? How good are we physically? Have we given our body the opportunity to enjoy some form of suitable exercise? Do you realize the importance of rest and sleep? Do we allow this beloved body of us sufficient rest to reenergize it for another day, week, month or year? What about our spiritual development? Of course, the atheist will insist that there is no need for spiritual understanding or development. Are they sure of that? Have they given this sphere of development the chance to show them that spirits exist, that there is a life after death? Have they given themselves the opportunity to open the third eye so that they can see the truth? Are we in control of our emotions or are our emotions in control of us? Are our emotions calm enough to face the challenges of life that lies ahead?
If we know the answers to the above and are practising all the right moves, well and good. If not, why not? What are the obstacles? Are they insurmountable obstacles? Have we thought of overcoming them? Can it be done?
Only we are able to understand our own problems. But are they real problems? Or is it merely a mental obstacle, our mind refusing to push it aside and let a solution or knowledge be found. Our mind can be very stubborn, refusing to let go of things that are a burden to our progress. When that happens, we must put in new ideas and thoughts to overshadow the undesirable ones. Some people call this self-hypnosis when it is merely replacing consistently old negative thoughts with new positive ones. In time, the old negative thoughts fade away while the fresh positive thoughts bring forth good vibes and corresponding good results and progress.
Well, thinking that we already know everything or achieved everything gives us a sense of confidence, value and greatness. What else is there to know? When we truly believe we know everything, a sense of complacency settles in and there is no need to know anything else anymore. One thing such people have found is great happiness. But for how long will such euphoria last when there can be no more improvement? No more progress! That’s all! The progress is stopped by a mere stumbling block thought.
It is like the only guy who found the way to survive the war, gloats about it to himself only for a few days as he eventually realized that there is no more meaning in his life.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The importance of correct healthy thinking.
Recently, a political secretary to a state assembly man was found dead near the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) office. The death raised a lot of questions as this political secretary was in the MACC to assist an investigation into the country's opposition politicians when his death occured. According to evidence known to the public now, he was questioned until past three o'clock in the morning. He was too tired to even go home after the questioning although he had his car and so, according to the MACC, had slept on a couch in the MACC building. Apparently he was even too tired to request for his handphone. At the time of his death, his handphone was still with the MACC.
Before I continue, I wish to stress that this is not a political view that I wish to convey, though I realise it does, considering the circumstances involved, sound like one. There is nothing wrong with having a MACC. There is nothing wrong with investigations and getting reports from witnesses. What has happened was due to the choice of officers in an important government body, in this case an anti-corruption agency.
To have capable officers in such a body, they must be courageous in the performance of their duty, able to perform with integrity irregardless of what their boss may think. They have to be disciplined and fair to all those who need to be investigated or questioned. They must never be biased. Above all else, they must possess a healthy mind and body. Yes, these are of utmost importance when dealing with matters such as corruption.
In fact, if our children were to possess all the above qualities, then the parents have no fear that they will perform well no matter what position their capabilities have placed them.
Coming back to the political secretary, what kind of officer would subject a person who is to assist an investigation to such a torture as sleep deprivation to the extent that he could not find the energy to return to his own comfortable bed to sleep? Would it not be normal for anyone assisting an investigation be allowed to rest by midnight and return the next day to continue? Was it an order from the top? Was it an indication of a sadistic streak in the officer concerned? That would mean un unhealthy mind. Could such a person rightly be allowed to perform in such an investigative post?
Well, it looks like a lot of questions which need answers.
Perhaps, the officer concerned was not totally wrong. He could just be doing a duty obeying orders to torture the person until a tired mind would agree to anything just to find relieve in sleep.
Whatever it is, the person who chose the officers is responsible. How are these officers picked? Were the best of Malaysians elligible for the posts picked? What was the criterion for the choice?
I am sorry but I have no alternative but sound racial when I question this: With so many brilliant Malaysians from the various races, how is it that the choice-maker(s) could not have an investigating team comprising of all the races in Malaysia. Are the citizens from the other races inferior to those chosen? Was the mind of the selecting committee biased?
As we can see, a healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body. Wrong thinking can lead us astray, leading to problems which can never arise if leaders or bosses are courageous, disciplined, fair and unbiased in treating people.
Before I continue, I wish to stress that this is not a political view that I wish to convey, though I realise it does, considering the circumstances involved, sound like one. There is nothing wrong with having a MACC. There is nothing wrong with investigations and getting reports from witnesses. What has happened was due to the choice of officers in an important government body, in this case an anti-corruption agency.
To have capable officers in such a body, they must be courageous in the performance of their duty, able to perform with integrity irregardless of what their boss may think. They have to be disciplined and fair to all those who need to be investigated or questioned. They must never be biased. Above all else, they must possess a healthy mind and body. Yes, these are of utmost importance when dealing with matters such as corruption.
In fact, if our children were to possess all the above qualities, then the parents have no fear that they will perform well no matter what position their capabilities have placed them.
Coming back to the political secretary, what kind of officer would subject a person who is to assist an investigation to such a torture as sleep deprivation to the extent that he could not find the energy to return to his own comfortable bed to sleep? Would it not be normal for anyone assisting an investigation be allowed to rest by midnight and return the next day to continue? Was it an order from the top? Was it an indication of a sadistic streak in the officer concerned? That would mean un unhealthy mind. Could such a person rightly be allowed to perform in such an investigative post?
Well, it looks like a lot of questions which need answers.
Perhaps, the officer concerned was not totally wrong. He could just be doing a duty obeying orders to torture the person until a tired mind would agree to anything just to find relieve in sleep.
Whatever it is, the person who chose the officers is responsible. How are these officers picked? Were the best of Malaysians elligible for the posts picked? What was the criterion for the choice?
I am sorry but I have no alternative but sound racial when I question this: With so many brilliant Malaysians from the various races, how is it that the choice-maker(s) could not have an investigating team comprising of all the races in Malaysia. Are the citizens from the other races inferior to those chosen? Was the mind of the selecting committee biased?
As we can see, a healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body. Wrong thinking can lead us astray, leading to problems which can never arise if leaders or bosses are courageous, disciplined, fair and unbiased in treating people.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Could it be all in the mind?
Have you experienced this before?
You had a stomachache. Home and the nearest known toilet was quite far away. You knew you had to hold on. And the beautiful thing was that you did. When you reached home, you immediately headed for the toilet and it was just in time.
Or you were at an important meeting. The tummy said you had to go. The mind said no. You had to wait for the guy to finish so that all of you could put the idea to a vote. Your vote counted. It might make the difference. So you stayed on. The uncomfortable feeling subsided. About three quarter of an hour later, the meeting was over. You moved straight to the toilet just in time to empty the bowels.
What a relief! Saved you the unnecessary embarrassment of having to excuse yourself, all attention suddenly diverted to you, looking askance, probably wondering what you could be up to, to be so bold as to interrupt such an important discussion.
And then, there was the time when you were at home watching a movie on the television. The stomach began to complain. The discomfort and the rumbling continued. The toilet was near but it was the most thrilling part of the movie you’re at. You delay giving attention to the complaint. The waste threatens to exit. Unable to postpone attention to its threat, you ran towards toilet. Just before you reached the door, wet unpleasant drippings descent. Even as you pull down your jeans and sat on the bowl, you knew it was already too late.
What a mess! So near, yet far enough to cause you some inconvenience; cleaning up, washing, bathing and changing.
But then, how is it that it seldom if ever happens in the office or at some place where the toilet do not seem to be around. Have you ever thought about it? Perhaps not; probably because it’s such an unimportant thing.
Nevertheless, it’s one of those small insignificant matters which prove that our mind is a wondrous thing. It clearly shows the control our mind has over our body.
When we realise this, we no longer wonder at stories of yogis who could stay lightly clothed, if not nude, in the Himalayan Mountains. We no longer wonder at those who practice meditation and could get their bodies to levitate. And we no longer wonder how our mind is able to control our body so well as to be well disciplined; and those of weaker minds find discipline so hard to master. The mind controls our body.
That is another reason scientists and doctors find that placebo works just as well as the medicine which is believed to be in it. The mind believes it is the real thing, and the body accepts it as such. And so placebo works!Fantastic? Not if you understand the mind!
You had a stomachache. Home and the nearest known toilet was quite far away. You knew you had to hold on. And the beautiful thing was that you did. When you reached home, you immediately headed for the toilet and it was just in time.
Or you were at an important meeting. The tummy said you had to go. The mind said no. You had to wait for the guy to finish so that all of you could put the idea to a vote. Your vote counted. It might make the difference. So you stayed on. The uncomfortable feeling subsided. About three quarter of an hour later, the meeting was over. You moved straight to the toilet just in time to empty the bowels.
What a relief! Saved you the unnecessary embarrassment of having to excuse yourself, all attention suddenly diverted to you, looking askance, probably wondering what you could be up to, to be so bold as to interrupt such an important discussion.
And then, there was the time when you were at home watching a movie on the television. The stomach began to complain. The discomfort and the rumbling continued. The toilet was near but it was the most thrilling part of the movie you’re at. You delay giving attention to the complaint. The waste threatens to exit. Unable to postpone attention to its threat, you ran towards toilet. Just before you reached the door, wet unpleasant drippings descent. Even as you pull down your jeans and sat on the bowl, you knew it was already too late.
What a mess! So near, yet far enough to cause you some inconvenience; cleaning up, washing, bathing and changing.
But then, how is it that it seldom if ever happens in the office or at some place where the toilet do not seem to be around. Have you ever thought about it? Perhaps not; probably because it’s such an unimportant thing.
Nevertheless, it’s one of those small insignificant matters which prove that our mind is a wondrous thing. It clearly shows the control our mind has over our body.
When we realise this, we no longer wonder at stories of yogis who could stay lightly clothed, if not nude, in the Himalayan Mountains. We no longer wonder at those who practice meditation and could get their bodies to levitate. And we no longer wonder how our mind is able to control our body so well as to be well disciplined; and those of weaker minds find discipline so hard to master. The mind controls our body.
That is another reason scientists and doctors find that placebo works just as well as the medicine which is believed to be in it. The mind believes it is the real thing, and the body accepts it as such. And so placebo works!Fantastic? Not if you understand the mind!
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Reach out for opportunities.
The whole world is right here with us. It offers us everything that is needed. We get light from the moon and the stars at night. It is darker at night so that our brain can produce the melatonin to relax the body for sleep. In the day time, the world is lighted by the sun. It’s glare awaken us for whatever work that needs to be done. It dries whatever is wet and gives us warmth. The sun given us the important vitamin D. It helps the plants and its chlorophyll to produce food and energy. The plants and trees provide food and shelter for other living things. It also gave early Man his fire. Then, there is rain to water the plants and replace our water supply; without which there can be no survival on this earth. Rain also ensures the river water is changed, renewed and topped-up so that its inhabitants can live and grow, providing food to some other living things. God has provided us, human beings especially, with everything.
As though those natural wealth is not enough, God has ensured much, much more by endowing human beings with brains that are fed thoughts on how the world can be improved further with all kind of inventions.
With everything here in our world, all we need is to think of is how much we can utilize everything that exist in this world. Inventors have already shown how much can be done through utilising what ever natural resources and knowledge to create more fascilities. How well we, our precious children and us, utilize all that exists in this world depends upon our knowledge, our strength, our health, our courage and our ingenuity.
To obtain the fullest amount of knowledge, we need to put together all the knowledge acquired through the centuries. We put them in books or the internet. To avail ourselves of such knowledge, we need to be able to read and understand a universal language or another language.
Train for strength and maintain your health as they are important for the energy, effort and capability necessary to put thoughts, ideas and knowledge into action.
Courage is essential to initiate some kind of action in spite of knowing the problems one may encounter in any endeavour.
Ingenuity helps us to devise new methods, new uses, or new packaging of any product in whatever endeavour we set out upon.
All of the above is made possible through god’s gift, the marvelous human mind.
As though those natural wealth is not enough, God has ensured much, much more by endowing human beings with brains that are fed thoughts on how the world can be improved further with all kind of inventions.
With everything here in our world, all we need is to think of is how much we can utilize everything that exist in this world. Inventors have already shown how much can be done through utilising what ever natural resources and knowledge to create more fascilities. How well we, our precious children and us, utilize all that exists in this world depends upon our knowledge, our strength, our health, our courage and our ingenuity.
To obtain the fullest amount of knowledge, we need to put together all the knowledge acquired through the centuries. We put them in books or the internet. To avail ourselves of such knowledge, we need to be able to read and understand a universal language or another language.
Train for strength and maintain your health as they are important for the energy, effort and capability necessary to put thoughts, ideas and knowledge into action.
Courage is essential to initiate some kind of action in spite of knowing the problems one may encounter in any endeavour.
Ingenuity helps us to devise new methods, new uses, or new packaging of any product in whatever endeavour we set out upon.
All of the above is made possible through god’s gift, the marvelous human mind.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Harness the power of belief for your child's success.
With evidence of the power of belief through research by medical experts into the placebo effect, through witnessing people perform incredible acts such as the piercing of sharp metal shafts into the body and yet suffer no injury and through knowing that gymnasts could gather sufficient confidence to perform unnatural movements, we should next think of how such powers can be harnessed to help our children achieve success in life.
The question here is, how? Well, first, the parents, you, must show your pride in your children’ s abilities. Tell them how good they are whenever the opportunity arises. Tell others how good your children can be, not behind their back but in their presence. Speak out loudly and clearly so that they can hear your praise and joy. Give the understanding that you believe they are capable.
Encourage your child to do whatever he/she is capable of. When the need arises, give your child a helping hand. Teach him. However, do not hurt his/her ego when doing so.
I have heard parents make the following comment, “Come on! Such a small thing and you cannot do it. Come. It’s like this. “ And if the child still could not do it, resumed with “What man? Look carefully at how papa does it. Like this, okay.”
Those words should never be used. Now let us look at it critically. What is the parent saying? “Come on! Such a small thing!’ tells the child he/she is useless. And the “What man?” indicate a loss of respect for the child’s ability. The parent is letting the child down. The parent can get a child to lose whatever belief he/she has in his/her ability. Without belief in one’s ability, where is the necessary confidence to tackle life and its problems?
‘
Help your child to do whatever he/she finds difficult and then either end it with praise or a consolation such as “It’s tough, isn’t it. Many people need a lot of practice to do this.” In this manner, a child is encouraged and his belief in himself or herself is not diminished. Such a child will walk the many rugged paths of life with confidence.
Prepare your child well for the life ahead. Understand his communication needs and his social development needs.
Language and knowledge are two factors that can lubricate the flow of communication. Teach him language skill early in life. Tell him as much as you can about his/her world. This means spending as much time as possible with the child. The confidence of facing a world where almost everyone can understand him or her is important to the development and the strong belief in the child that he/she is capable of staying in control of whatever situation he or she has to face.
Teach your child how to handle himself/herself wherever he/she is. If your child can handle himself or herself well, there will be less stress as popularity comes to those who mix well. Teach your child restrain, cooperation and the habit of showing joy at meeting others. The ability to mix well strengthens a child’s confidence and the belief that life can be conducted easily through his ability and knowledge.
And then there is love. Everyone needs love. It would take a very strong person to go through life without love. A lack of love caused by divorce or loss of parents can lead to a loss of confidence and the belief in the self. I have seen this lead to pressure and mental problems. Fortunately, recovery successes in such cases have been achieved through techniques taught by The Art of Living Foundation. I have personally helped one such case in 2008.
For further information on The Art of Living Foundation, please go to:
www.artofliving.org
Love gives a child the shelter to seek solace and comfort for all the pain, frustrations and fears he may come across. Love is the guiding light that leads him/her to safety. Love is the heart that never fails to comfort him/her when such a need arises. Love is everything a child needs when all else fails. Those show how necessary love is to all of us.
How can there be confidence when there is no belief? How can there be confidence when there is no love? How can there be love when there is no sufficient care? How can there be care when you do not think of the future of your family and your child?
All the above is possible. Believe it!
The question here is, how? Well, first, the parents, you, must show your pride in your children’ s abilities. Tell them how good they are whenever the opportunity arises. Tell others how good your children can be, not behind their back but in their presence. Speak out loudly and clearly so that they can hear your praise and joy. Give the understanding that you believe they are capable.
Encourage your child to do whatever he/she is capable of. When the need arises, give your child a helping hand. Teach him. However, do not hurt his/her ego when doing so.
I have heard parents make the following comment, “Come on! Such a small thing and you cannot do it. Come. It’s like this. “ And if the child still could not do it, resumed with “What man? Look carefully at how papa does it. Like this, okay.”
Those words should never be used. Now let us look at it critically. What is the parent saying? “Come on! Such a small thing!’ tells the child he/she is useless. And the “What man?” indicate a loss of respect for the child’s ability. The parent is letting the child down. The parent can get a child to lose whatever belief he/she has in his/her ability. Without belief in one’s ability, where is the necessary confidence to tackle life and its problems?
‘
Help your child to do whatever he/she finds difficult and then either end it with praise or a consolation such as “It’s tough, isn’t it. Many people need a lot of practice to do this.” In this manner, a child is encouraged and his belief in himself or herself is not diminished. Such a child will walk the many rugged paths of life with confidence.
Prepare your child well for the life ahead. Understand his communication needs and his social development needs.
Language and knowledge are two factors that can lubricate the flow of communication. Teach him language skill early in life. Tell him as much as you can about his/her world. This means spending as much time as possible with the child. The confidence of facing a world where almost everyone can understand him or her is important to the development and the strong belief in the child that he/she is capable of staying in control of whatever situation he or she has to face.
Teach your child how to handle himself/herself wherever he/she is. If your child can handle himself or herself well, there will be less stress as popularity comes to those who mix well. Teach your child restrain, cooperation and the habit of showing joy at meeting others. The ability to mix well strengthens a child’s confidence and the belief that life can be conducted easily through his ability and knowledge.
And then there is love. Everyone needs love. It would take a very strong person to go through life without love. A lack of love caused by divorce or loss of parents can lead to a loss of confidence and the belief in the self. I have seen this lead to pressure and mental problems. Fortunately, recovery successes in such cases have been achieved through techniques taught by The Art of Living Foundation. I have personally helped one such case in 2008.
For further information on The Art of Living Foundation, please go to:
www.artofliving.org
Love gives a child the shelter to seek solace and comfort for all the pain, frustrations and fears he may come across. Love is the guiding light that leads him/her to safety. Love is the heart that never fails to comfort him/her when such a need arises. Love is everything a child needs when all else fails. Those show how necessary love is to all of us.
How can there be confidence when there is no belief? How can there be confidence when there is no love? How can there be love when there is no sufficient care? How can there be care when you do not think of the future of your family and your child?
All the above is possible. Believe it!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Own wonderful mind..
A visitor to my blog emailed me with this comment: 'I think a leap of faith is required to believe that we will create whatever we thought. I am sure many parents think of great things their children will achieve, or even the good looks their children will process but they probably never materialised. Otherwise, every child will be athletic, intelligent and good looking. A paranoid parent on the other hand, will have a disastrous child.'
Thoughts are powerful and possess energy to create. You can create what you think if you believe it is possible and then follow through with actions. All inventions began with thoughts. Thoughts energises the mind to produce ideas, ideas provoke actions and actions lead to creations.
Sales people and motivators can tell us how every successful salesman thinks of closing a sale before he goes to a client.
Read or watch 'The Secret' on its website and you are told how powerful the mind is, how powerful thoughts are. In 'The Secret' we are shown how thoughts in our mind attract happenings. Your thoughts put out signals to the universe and this law of attraction responds to your thougths. Search the website for 'The secret.' It is worth watching and understanding how thoughts and the law of attraction can help you.
Regarding 'good looks', psychologists believe it is possible. Take a visit to the gynaecologist's department in hospitals or clinics and you can see the beautiful baby pictures they put up for the pregnant mothers to see and think about.
But, do you think parents would think of or visualise those babies as their own? No, I certainly do not think so. They will see their own image in their child. After all, they would not have their child look like somebody else, certainly not like the face of their neighbour! What would their friends think?
When it comes to intelligence, if parents put enough thought into it, it will happen. Again I refer you to 'The Secret' for further reading on the matter.
Furthermore, according to science, most intelligent people merely use a small portion of their potential. Here, thoughts with strong desires certainly would lead to action and this action would bring results.In this blog, I would like to tell you not only of potholes but the actions to be taken to achieve the desired results and improve the chances of your child achieving greater success.
As for paranoid parents, it is possible for such inferior thoughts to be passed to the child. The child will grow up with thoughts very similar to the parents, unless there is some other stronger influence from someone else on the child. After all, the poor children have to hear such thoughts so often that they seep slowly but gradually into the mind. We have seen this happen in families in our society. Positive parents with positive children, insecure people with insecure children and negative people with negative children.
On a positive note, negative children can change if they come into contact with positive thinking people whom they respect or like, if not loved.Sometimes, books with good examples of positive people may get children to realise their unfavourable position and inspire them to act so as to overcome their weakness.
Let me tell you a true story about myself. I was born into a poor family. Seeing other children enjoying things I could not have, I developed an inferiority complex. I liked to read and from knowledge I gathered from books even during that young age, I understood my problem. I read books by Napolean Hill and Norman Vincent Peale. They helped me to realise that I could overcome my problem and be a more positive person. That belief attracted ideas, materials, happenings and people into my life. Believe me, it was tough to overcome such a complex. I just could not do it on my own. Not that I did not try. So, I read a lot on nutrition, fitness and health. I took up weight-lifting. I developed physical strength. It helped a little when I realised that with my strength, I could be good at some sports. What was even more important, that which helped me to sweep aside my inferiority complex forever, were my friends. They helped me to realise that I could be popular with the boys and girls. Since then, I have such confidence and so positive is my thinking that there is no stranger I cannot approach to talk to. Such friends as mine are a gift from God, attracted by the belief in my mind that it could be achieved.
In a way, it is my own thoughts, thoughts of a better me that drove me towards all the above actions and created a new, very much better me. If I had not thought it possible for me to overcome my problems, I dare not imagine where I would be today. Would I be writing this? Would my ego allow me to even reveal this to you? Thoughts are indeed powerful!
Thoughts are powerful and possess energy to create. You can create what you think if you believe it is possible and then follow through with actions. All inventions began with thoughts. Thoughts energises the mind to produce ideas, ideas provoke actions and actions lead to creations.
Sales people and motivators can tell us how every successful salesman thinks of closing a sale before he goes to a client.
Read or watch 'The Secret' on its website and you are told how powerful the mind is, how powerful thoughts are. In 'The Secret' we are shown how thoughts in our mind attract happenings. Your thoughts put out signals to the universe and this law of attraction responds to your thougths. Search the website for 'The secret.' It is worth watching and understanding how thoughts and the law of attraction can help you.
Regarding 'good looks', psychologists believe it is possible. Take a visit to the gynaecologist's department in hospitals or clinics and you can see the beautiful baby pictures they put up for the pregnant mothers to see and think about.
But, do you think parents would think of or visualise those babies as their own? No, I certainly do not think so. They will see their own image in their child. After all, they would not have their child look like somebody else, certainly not like the face of their neighbour! What would their friends think?
When it comes to intelligence, if parents put enough thought into it, it will happen. Again I refer you to 'The Secret' for further reading on the matter.
Furthermore, according to science, most intelligent people merely use a small portion of their potential. Here, thoughts with strong desires certainly would lead to action and this action would bring results.In this blog, I would like to tell you not only of potholes but the actions to be taken to achieve the desired results and improve the chances of your child achieving greater success.
As for paranoid parents, it is possible for such inferior thoughts to be passed to the child. The child will grow up with thoughts very similar to the parents, unless there is some other stronger influence from someone else on the child. After all, the poor children have to hear such thoughts so often that they seep slowly but gradually into the mind. We have seen this happen in families in our society. Positive parents with positive children, insecure people with insecure children and negative people with negative children.
On a positive note, negative children can change if they come into contact with positive thinking people whom they respect or like, if not loved.Sometimes, books with good examples of positive people may get children to realise their unfavourable position and inspire them to act so as to overcome their weakness.
Let me tell you a true story about myself. I was born into a poor family. Seeing other children enjoying things I could not have, I developed an inferiority complex. I liked to read and from knowledge I gathered from books even during that young age, I understood my problem. I read books by Napolean Hill and Norman Vincent Peale. They helped me to realise that I could overcome my problem and be a more positive person. That belief attracted ideas, materials, happenings and people into my life. Believe me, it was tough to overcome such a complex. I just could not do it on my own. Not that I did not try. So, I read a lot on nutrition, fitness and health. I took up weight-lifting. I developed physical strength. It helped a little when I realised that with my strength, I could be good at some sports. What was even more important, that which helped me to sweep aside my inferiority complex forever, were my friends. They helped me to realise that I could be popular with the boys and girls. Since then, I have such confidence and so positive is my thinking that there is no stranger I cannot approach to talk to. Such friends as mine are a gift from God, attracted by the belief in my mind that it could be achieved.
In a way, it is my own thoughts, thoughts of a better me that drove me towards all the above actions and created a new, very much better me. If I had not thought it possible for me to overcome my problems, I dare not imagine where I would be today. Would I be writing this? Would my ego allow me to even reveal this to you? Thoughts are indeed powerful!
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