Phone and Internet

Today we are living in a world where the mobile phone and internet is inseparable from us. In fact, if I can only choose an item to bring with me, I would choose the mobile phone over wallet or keys.

I was away to the jungle for two and a half days and this is what I got:

403 whatsapp messages!!! This is worse than the time I went overseas. At least, there was roaming and Wifi internet.

Our phones play such a significant role in our lives that I cannot even imagine not having them.

How Life Works

Finished reading the book, How Life Works by Andrew Matthews in 2 days during the 2014 NAC. Andrew's book is really interesting because it has a lot of cartoons drawn with the words. He speaks with words and pictures.

The book talks about how we always attract what we think and explains why some people always have good things happening to them while some others always get themselves into the same mess. This is similar to the other books about our subconscious minds and law of attraction.

Then Andrew went on to talk about detachment, acceptance and forgiveness. Detachment is about stop struggling or trying too hard but to let go and let things flow. Giving with joy is one way to make us happy and be detached. Acceptance is about accepting how things are and recognition that ,"This is a part of my journey". Acceptance allows us to move on. Same goes for forgiveness. Forgiveness sets us free. Andrew states that to achieve our goals, the hard way is forcing things to happen while the easy way is allowing things to happen. 

So what is the formula for success and happiness?

Live with joy and enthusiasm
Use your imagination to create vivid pictures of what you want
Persists toward your goals in a light-heated happy way
Live without fear and prejudice
Let go off disappointments
Forgive in a heartbeat
Love for no reason

Many people believe, "Success makes you happy." The truth is; happiness makes you successful.

Next, Andrew continues with Be Grateful, Living in the now and Love Yourself. How can we love ourselves?

You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection. Buddha

He also encourage us to meditate.The purpose of meditation is TO BE without purpose.  We are so busy "doing", we often forgery to be human "beings". Meditation is the ultimate exercise in detachment and feeling good.

Andrew concluded by asking, "Why am I here?" Imagine for a moment that we gathered some spiritual masters - Jesus, Buddha,  Muhammad, Lao Tzu - and asked them to answer some big questions, they would all agree on the answers.

What am I?
You are a spark of God, or Source. Your essence is love. The rest is illusion or wrong thinking.

What is my goal?
To think like Good thinks. To love like God loves. To create like God creates.

In summary, we are a spirit having a physical experience. The major rules of the game are:
Accept - yourself, others and your current situation
Forgive - yourself and others
Be Grateful
Live In The Moment
Feel Your Goals Already Achieved
Replace Fear With Love and Kindness
Be Happy

Bribery and Giving Tips

Earlier today I was given a ticket from the police for parking my car at KLIA. When I saw the policeman, I quickly rushed towards him and asked him for a chance. He said it was too late and continued writing the summon.

Then he asked what I do, where I stay and what I do. I asked him how much does the ticket cost and he said RM150. I asked if I can get a discount if I settle early. He said no and there's late payment charges. Later, he continued to say he can help to settle for only RM50. Openly, he asked for a bribe.

Lying and bribing are two things which I am strongly against. I told him I will settle myself but forgot to thank him for not accepting bribes. In this world, bribery is so rampant that sometimes people just bribe to get away with things or get things done their way...fast. And I think that the giver is worse than the receiver thought both are just bad.

Many years ago, someone asked if I consider giving tips as wrong. I quickly answered no and asked why. He then explained how tipping is similar to bribery. I agree with him in the sense that people who give tips or tip more will enjoy better service than others. But then again, why should we not do our best and give our best service regardless of the rewards? At the end of the day, we are the ones who sow what we reap.

Being and Living the Moment

I'm reading the book A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle and about to finish now. This book is surprising interesting although it is not easy to understand. For some reasons, I can relate to the book; partly due to the author himself and mainly due to my belief in the Baha'i Teachings and Principles.

Ego, the paradox of time and consciousness presented here hold a lot of truth. Take the paradox of time for example. I am someone who is always ponder about my past and think about my future. The thoughts in my mind occupy my time more than what's happening at the present moment. I also think too much and act too little.

According to Eckhart, the purpose in life always lie with the moment. For example, I am now sitting in front of my computer and writing this blog, this is my purpose. My thoughts should not wander to thinking about other things. If my phone rings, then my primary purpose becomes to reach for the phone while the secondary purpose is to answer it.

I find this idea particularly empowering because it keeps us focused in whatever we do. Believe me, when we are totally engrossed with whatever we are doing, we will produce surprising high quality results. In other words, we are living life to the fullest. In psychology, this is called flow, a mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement and enjoyment in the process of the activity. Notice the words 'full involvement' and 'enjoyment'.

As a Baha'i, I believe that my life purpose is to know God and to worship Him. To know and to worship imply actions and to worship God can be further broken down to many actions such as work, serving others and pray etc. These actions are inseparable from our daily lives. Worship also implies presence and focus. Combining presence in our daily lives and focusing in whatever we are doing, we are living the purpose of our lives. Being totally present, we are in the joy of being.

The Baha'i prayers often touch on the protection on vain imaginings and corrupt desires, both are inseparable from thinking and ego. Not to get me wrong in the sense that we should just do and not think. Rather, the awareness and consciousness should come first.

Reading a Poorly Written Book

I've finally finished readying the a book titled, "The Transformed Mind Reflections on Truth, Love and Happiness" after more than 3 months. I kept telling myself to move on to another book because its note worth reading this book but for some reasons I cannot understand, I did not want to give up reading halfway. I must say that the time would have been better spent reading other books or doing something else.

2 Weeks Fasting Experience

Abstaining from food and drinks for about 12 hours from sunrise till sunset has not been a very challenging task. However, the social forces and temptations make it really challenging.

I was on a 4 days 3 nights trip to Chiang Mai and fasting while travelling was no easy feat. Fortunately, the hotel breakfast started at 530 and I had a sumptuous meal before fasting. What I found particularly challenging was temptations of the food and drinks in the city. As I was the only one fasting, I would be left alone while the others enjoyed their lunches. Breaking fast time was also irregular. It was quite an experience and I survived it.

Back home from the holiday, we faced haze and water shortage. My house was affected by the water rationing. The water supply was cut for two days and resumed for the next two days. This is scheduled to last until the end of the month. I'm particularly troubled by the haze even during the non-fasting days. For some reasons, fasting just became more and more challenging. My productivity drops, temper became shorter and I became rather impatient. Nevertheless, the fasting went on.

Today was the only day I could not keep the fast. I did not have the courage to tell my parents that I am fasting as a Baha'i. I simply decided to skip fasting today and replace it on another day.

Dr. Ray Zimmerman shared with us on the Baha'i teachings website Why Baha'i Fast. Other than the importance of detachment form this world, fasting serves as a symbol of our commitment to keep ourselves free from potentially destructive desires, addictions, and appetites of self and ego.

Throughout this fasting period, I've also frequently reflected and reminded myself why I fast and why I chose to become a Baha'i. I do not have to go through all these but I cannot deny that deep inside my heart, this is the right way of life. In Dr Ray's words, "Fasting confirms one's individual loving surrender to God and commitment to spiritual growth". Much have changed in my life and I believe things are getting better and better.

Third Day Fasting

The longest I have ever fasted for was 3 days. So, after today, I would have broken my personal record of fasting.

Actually, I don't find fasting a difficult thing to do. The challenging ones are keeping a mindful attitude during this fasting period. As they say, a hungry man is an angry man. I notice that my temper and patience have become much shorter later. I suppose this is the time we really learn to be patient and appreciate all the good things we have.