I am told by a few people sometimes not to question. Not to ask too many questions and just accept things as they are. Accept things because that is the way it always has been. People accepted it before you, and so should I. But the people before us are not like us. They did not have the tools to question. They did not have relatively high literacy rates, did not have full access to libraries, educational programs, or even the rights and responsibilities associated with democracy. All these privileges give us the right, the responsibility to question what may seem normal. What has been accepted for hundreds of years. We can learn for ourselves, we ponder, and study. Instead having to travel to hear a scholar or master speak, we can simply go online and look up a youtube video, or even go to the library and read their biography and books. It is all at our fingertips. Our ancestors did not have these benefits and therefore less of them had the ability to fruitfully ponder their reality.
That is the difference, and that is why we should and can challenge the status quo, challenge the hypocrisy of our time, and challenge societies inequalities.
Tuesday, 29 July 2008
Saturday, 12 July 2008
Be the Star
It isnt easy to find a star in any society, but then it is up to us, the individual, to strive to be that star, to rise up, and encourage others, and it is that human quality, that star quality, that others will be instinctually attracted to, and emulate.
You and I must become aware, and spread that awareness through good living, good action, good thinking, good deeds, and it will spread by God's will on its own.
I know how it can be disillusioning sometimes when you are faced with the malicious people, the people that you cannot understand. But know that even they are a product of their environment at some level, and dont hate them for it, but show love in order for them to understand that ignorance is not the way, because I believe, it takes a lot of effort to be ignorant. It takes a lot of effort to close your eyes to reality, to the benefits of positivitiy, reason, order and love. And if we live that love, we STRIVE to improve ourselves all the time, not others, but ourself, to remove hatred, anger, maliciousness and ignorance from our hearts and mind, and become more self aware of our actions, and our drain, and how we can and do hurt others. 1) it will take up most of our time, we wont have time to hate others, and 2) we improve. We make the personal Jihad against the Nafs. We cleanse our soul. And a pure heart is an attractive heart, that will have its followers.
You and I must become aware, and spread that awareness through good living, good action, good thinking, good deeds, and it will spread by God's will on its own.
I know how it can be disillusioning sometimes when you are faced with the malicious people, the people that you cannot understand. But know that even they are a product of their environment at some level, and dont hate them for it, but show love in order for them to understand that ignorance is not the way, because I believe, it takes a lot of effort to be ignorant. It takes a lot of effort to close your eyes to reality, to the benefits of positivitiy, reason, order and love. And if we live that love, we STRIVE to improve ourselves all the time, not others, but ourself, to remove hatred, anger, maliciousness and ignorance from our hearts and mind, and become more self aware of our actions, and our drain, and how we can and do hurt others. 1) it will take up most of our time, we wont have time to hate others, and 2) we improve. We make the personal Jihad against the Nafs. We cleanse our soul. And a pure heart is an attractive heart, that will have its followers.
Thursday, 10 July 2008
No More...
No more distractions
no more differences
no more hatred
no more ignorance
no more fear
NO MORE
Do not allow yourself to be dragged into ignorance. Do not allow yourself to believe that you will be ignorant, that you are destined to be ignorant if you are not educated, if you are not old, if you have not paid your dues. All your answers, all fundamental knowledge will not be found on TV, in Books, in Experiences, but inside. Through reflection we will find our humanity, regain the knowledge of our dignity. The answers are always inside us, regardless of color, race, language, nationality, age. We can always find it. We, YOU, are capable of everything. I am capable of everything. I will REMOVE myself from the stream, no, the raging river of distractions, of lies, of profits and wake up to my own abilities, to the power of my mind, and of MY HEART. We are slipping further and further from ourselves, from the Truth, from GOD. They are the same, and we cannot allow it any longer. I cannot allow it for myself. I will stand up, and I will die proud and free, the way God created me, and I will know Him, know myself. I will love my brother and sister, regardless of race, religion, creed. God created us all, and we are all the same, and we are ALL lost, and we must find ourselves, find GOD, and remove our minds from focusing on distractions. We must not let our society, our surroundings control who we are: humans, with God-given dignity, rights, responsibilities and freedoms. I cannot betray that responsibility, that test. I cannot be forgetful any longer. I will break free from these shackles that serve to limit my potential, these human shackles. I will use powerful tools granted to ALL human beings, tools of love, of reason, of respect, of responsibility. These tools are accessible to all of us because they are inside of us. I will not let myself be manipulated, to be controlled, to be told of my limitations, to be reminded of my limitations. I am not too young, too slow, too simple, too negative, too naive or too positive. Do not shackle me, and let us be free. Free of hatred, of anger, of destruction, of war, of murder, of rape, of violence, of ignorance, of limitations. You and I are capable, always have been capable and always will be capable. I say no more... for your sake, for my sake, for humanity's sake.
no more differences
no more hatred
no more ignorance
no more fear
NO MORE
Do not allow yourself to be dragged into ignorance. Do not allow yourself to believe that you will be ignorant, that you are destined to be ignorant if you are not educated, if you are not old, if you have not paid your dues. All your answers, all fundamental knowledge will not be found on TV, in Books, in Experiences, but inside. Through reflection we will find our humanity, regain the knowledge of our dignity. The answers are always inside us, regardless of color, race, language, nationality, age. We can always find it. We, YOU, are capable of everything. I am capable of everything. I will REMOVE myself from the stream, no, the raging river of distractions, of lies, of profits and wake up to my own abilities, to the power of my mind, and of MY HEART. We are slipping further and further from ourselves, from the Truth, from GOD. They are the same, and we cannot allow it any longer. I cannot allow it for myself. I will stand up, and I will die proud and free, the way God created me, and I will know Him, know myself. I will love my brother and sister, regardless of race, religion, creed. God created us all, and we are all the same, and we are ALL lost, and we must find ourselves, find GOD, and remove our minds from focusing on distractions. We must not let our society, our surroundings control who we are: humans, with God-given dignity, rights, responsibilities and freedoms. I cannot betray that responsibility, that test. I cannot be forgetful any longer. I will break free from these shackles that serve to limit my potential, these human shackles. I will use powerful tools granted to ALL human beings, tools of love, of reason, of respect, of responsibility. These tools are accessible to all of us because they are inside of us. I will not let myself be manipulated, to be controlled, to be told of my limitations, to be reminded of my limitations. I am not too young, too slow, too simple, too negative, too naive or too positive. Do not shackle me, and let us be free. Free of hatred, of anger, of destruction, of war, of murder, of rape, of violence, of ignorance, of limitations. You and I are capable, always have been capable and always will be capable. I say no more... for your sake, for my sake, for humanity's sake.
Friday, 27 June 2008
Quality over Quantity
It is not the quantity but the quality of the mind. It does not matter how many people follow a certain thought. Society is simply a collection of minds. What is important is the quality (clarity, strength, purity) of the mind. This is not a dictatorship or control. You would not be affecting the world through your individuality but through the quality of your mind. This mind quality would be something people would instinctively follow.
In this way, change will come from inside us and not found outside. We must search our souls in order to locate it, to free our minds of the shackles of confinement and the mob mentality.
In this way, change will come from inside us and not found outside. We must search our souls in order to locate it, to free our minds of the shackles of confinement and the mob mentality.
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
The Struggle
"Joy lies in the fight, in the attempt, in the suffering involved, not in the victory itself." - Gandhi
Will we achieve what we set out to do, no matter how indomitable it may seem? Does it even matter? The struggle, the "Jihad" is where we can find the fulfillment. As difficult and as painful as it might be, it strengthens the soul, nourishes the soul. The destination is important, but it is the journey that defines us.
Let's take the journey, and not hasten the coming of our own ends.
Will we achieve what we set out to do, no matter how indomitable it may seem? Does it even matter? The struggle, the "Jihad" is where we can find the fulfillment. As difficult and as painful as it might be, it strengthens the soul, nourishes the soul. The destination is important, but it is the journey that defines us.
Let's take the journey, and not hasten the coming of our own ends.
Discipline of Conscience
"It is because we have at the present moment everybody claiming the right of conscience without going through any discipline whatsoever that there is so much untruth being delivered to a bewildered world" - Gandhi
I believe that this sentence has many implications and directions for anyone with the courage to think about it. Do we have an existential right of belief, of personal understanding, or does it come from study, thought, and discipline? But the follow up question is what constitutes enough discipline, or correct discipline? Does all discipline lead towards the same direction? And if so, how do we achieve the discipline?
I think that Gandhi has it spot on here, and I discipline involves personal growth, questioning and understanding. But this goes a step further. Discipline involves knowing that their are limitations to your thoughts, to your understanding, and you might have missed some things. You should be open to those being pointed out to you. The discipline to not retreat to ignorance and close mindedness and to face the fears of mistakes, and muster up the strength of will to question and study with new information in light. To know you know nothing. To know you don't have the answers, and you only make an attempt for good, even though that attempt might be wrong.
I think that would solve the issue of getting carried away with something, or taking something too far.
I believe that this sentence has many implications and directions for anyone with the courage to think about it. Do we have an existential right of belief, of personal understanding, or does it come from study, thought, and discipline? But the follow up question is what constitutes enough discipline, or correct discipline? Does all discipline lead towards the same direction? And if so, how do we achieve the discipline?
I think that Gandhi has it spot on here, and I discipline involves personal growth, questioning and understanding. But this goes a step further. Discipline involves knowing that their are limitations to your thoughts, to your understanding, and you might have missed some things. You should be open to those being pointed out to you. The discipline to not retreat to ignorance and close mindedness and to face the fears of mistakes, and muster up the strength of will to question and study with new information in light. To know you know nothing. To know you don't have the answers, and you only make an attempt for good, even though that attempt might be wrong.
I think that would solve the issue of getting carried away with something, or taking something too far.
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Immigration Racism
Pim Fortuyn, a dutch politician once commented in a column about foreign immigration into the Netherlands bringing with them their own customs, values and traditions that he perceived disturbed the more liberal state and constitution: "How dare you! This is our country, and if you can't conform, you should get the hell out, back to your own country and culture."
This view I feel is common amongst many in the world on all sides of the table. If you don't like it the way it is, then go back to where you came from. But how can such an idea be logical or sound in a world that is so affected by each other, with globalization, multi-national capitalism, and the effects of a devastating age of colonialism that has hardly left our sights, let alone our memories. I am sure many immigrants would love to just go home, but our home is not ours anymore. It is the dictators and tyrants that you have empowered and supply with money, weapons and a blind eye that forces immigrants into leaving their homes. It is your economic policies, your unbalanced deals, your broken promises that has destroyed my home and caused me to come to yours. And I remain a thorn at YOUR side even now, as you are the thorn in mine. My very existence bothers you, my food, my language, my difference bothers you. That causes you to hate me, but you hated me before you ever cared about differences, when you cut up my land and split up its families. I allowed it to happen, and I must clean up the mess, but I cannot even use my own land as a base, since my words are my very own death sentence. You built your country on by stealing, conning and raping my home, and with your elite ideology, you insult me. And now you want me to conform and convert my identity to yours, to the identity that raped me. You want me to become the rapist that raped me! And if I do not, I go home, to my culture, the culture that has been violated, the land destroyed, the families murdered, the voices silenced. Violated, destroyed, murdered and silenced with YOUR weapons, with your "culture", with your ideology. How dare you! How dare you!
This view I feel is common amongst many in the world on all sides of the table. If you don't like it the way it is, then go back to where you came from. But how can such an idea be logical or sound in a world that is so affected by each other, with globalization, multi-national capitalism, and the effects of a devastating age of colonialism that has hardly left our sights, let alone our memories. I am sure many immigrants would love to just go home, but our home is not ours anymore. It is the dictators and tyrants that you have empowered and supply with money, weapons and a blind eye that forces immigrants into leaving their homes. It is your economic policies, your unbalanced deals, your broken promises that has destroyed my home and caused me to come to yours. And I remain a thorn at YOUR side even now, as you are the thorn in mine. My very existence bothers you, my food, my language, my difference bothers you. That causes you to hate me, but you hated me before you ever cared about differences, when you cut up my land and split up its families. I allowed it to happen, and I must clean up the mess, but I cannot even use my own land as a base, since my words are my very own death sentence. You built your country on by stealing, conning and raping my home, and with your elite ideology, you insult me. And now you want me to conform and convert my identity to yours, to the identity that raped me. You want me to become the rapist that raped me! And if I do not, I go home, to my culture, the culture that has been violated, the land destroyed, the families murdered, the voices silenced. Violated, destroyed, murdered and silenced with YOUR weapons, with your "culture", with your ideology. How dare you! How dare you!
Sunday, 15 June 2008
Smile
I was just walking down the street and a little girl, aged about maybe 11-13 years old was walking in the opposite direction. She looked at me and just smiled. An innocent pure hello smile. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. It made me think, we are funny creatures. Something so small and seemingly insignificant can have such an affect on our mood. I wanted to thank her. It was such a nice smile. It picked me up. This is probably wishful thinking, but could you imagine if we did that to each other more often, just smiled at strangers. We don't smile to convince them of something we don't smile to make them feel comfortable. We just smile. And we never see them again. I hope the feeling she gave me doesn't go away and I can pass it on. It was great. Just great.
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Mixed Heritage
In this day and age, there is a new generation. A generation I feel that truly is new. A mixed generation, one that society cannot categorize in one or the other, but share a bond through mixed heritage. I am one of these people, and the specifics of the mix itself does not really matter here but rather the feelings associated with the mixing itself. For a period, it feels strange, because members of society always seem to prefer the comfort of set categories with very little deviation, from government officials, to neighbors, to friends and to family. But it is difficult for us to sit in one category. For we are not a product of one category but rather mixed. So how shall we define ourselves, and define our legacies? Where shall we stand? Shall this mixing be that of conflict, that of West vs. East, Traditional vs. Modern, Old vs. New or rather a fruitful collaboration if you will. Only time will tell, but the question falls to the individual to define themselves.
That was the easy part, the hard part comes along at the tough times, when it feels like the odds are stacked against you and you search for support, only to find that wherever you turn people think you are crazy, because you are not "completely one" nor "completely another". To both sides you are crazy, but it all seems to make sense in your head. You are confused, as I was told once. But I was also told something else. A reminder that I would like to put into words to help during those times where support is needed; You should not feel the need to fall into one of society's predetermined categories, because you are your own mind and a result of your own experiences, and instead of having pride with that one category, that superficial creation of nation, team, color, or institution, have pride in specific values and issues. Let your stance on specific issues define who you are, as opposed to a category. I am not completely American, English, Indian, Chinese, or Australian but rather I am actively against racism, against occupation, or against colonization.
I hope what I am trying to convey makes sense.
That was the easy part, the hard part comes along at the tough times, when it feels like the odds are stacked against you and you search for support, only to find that wherever you turn people think you are crazy, because you are not "completely one" nor "completely another". To both sides you are crazy, but it all seems to make sense in your head. You are confused, as I was told once. But I was also told something else. A reminder that I would like to put into words to help during those times where support is needed; You should not feel the need to fall into one of society's predetermined categories, because you are your own mind and a result of your own experiences, and instead of having pride with that one category, that superficial creation of nation, team, color, or institution, have pride in specific values and issues. Let your stance on specific issues define who you are, as opposed to a category. I am not completely American, English, Indian, Chinese, or Australian but rather I am actively against racism, against occupation, or against colonization.
I hope what I am trying to convey makes sense.
Sadness
I am at another crossroad.
I am feeling this overwhelming sense of sadness, anger, impatience and general unpleasantness that I seem to have trouble crawling out of. Conflicting thoughts go through my head, about life, and reality. It seems easier right now to devote my life to financial pursuits, since results are immediate, savings grow, and my mind is occupied. To enter the capitalist stream and begin the life of accumulation. But there is a but. It would feel like a betrayal, a betrayal of all I thought, all I believed and all I fought against as little as I did. It just seems the fight is futile, the fight against racism, poverty and illogical wars and killing. I am wavering at this part, and I do so without a fear of judgment from others, because that is not what this is about and never has been about. This is about defining my life and making a responsible adult from the child. This is the transformation. The question is what is a responsible adult? Is it a subjective or objective? Are there definite answers? There are so many road blocks in the way in order to enlighten people, to enlighten myself, roadblocks of various proportions and magnitudes. It is lonely, trying to find the strength to dig deep and find the courage to move forward against the road blocks. But there is a fear, what if I dive in, and there is not enough? Where does that leave my heart, mind and soul? In shambles, in dust? This confusion is a mind trap.
I am feeling this overwhelming sense of sadness, anger, impatience and general unpleasantness that I seem to have trouble crawling out of. Conflicting thoughts go through my head, about life, and reality. It seems easier right now to devote my life to financial pursuits, since results are immediate, savings grow, and my mind is occupied. To enter the capitalist stream and begin the life of accumulation. But there is a but. It would feel like a betrayal, a betrayal of all I thought, all I believed and all I fought against as little as I did. It just seems the fight is futile, the fight against racism, poverty and illogical wars and killing. I am wavering at this part, and I do so without a fear of judgment from others, because that is not what this is about and never has been about. This is about defining my life and making a responsible adult from the child. This is the transformation. The question is what is a responsible adult? Is it a subjective or objective? Are there definite answers? There are so many road blocks in the way in order to enlighten people, to enlighten myself, roadblocks of various proportions and magnitudes. It is lonely, trying to find the strength to dig deep and find the courage to move forward against the road blocks. But there is a fear, what if I dive in, and there is not enough? Where does that leave my heart, mind and soul? In shambles, in dust? This confusion is a mind trap.
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