Divine Message on 11th June 2015 - Spritiual Evolution

When we were very very young, we don't really know if we are praying or not. And when we've grown up we don't even remember that praying moment because we are unsure if we were really praying.

As we grow older, we start to have needs and wants. And usually we pray to God for our "wants".

As we continue praying for our wants, we will eventually come to a stage where we'd like to express our gratitude to God for giving what we want. So in this case we will have idols as "target" for us to offer physical items such as flowers and fruits and etc to express our gratitude. At this stage still we will continue to pray with "wants" in our mind.

Until one day we pray to God without any want, at that moment we are already deeply connected with God. It's a state of Total Surrender. At that time we don't really need idols anymore. We don't even need to pray physically because we are already praying all the time since we are deeply connected with God.

This is the process of Spiritual Evolution.

Different people go through different stages of spiritual evolution. Some takes longer time, some takes lesser time. It is sheer ignorance that we think we are more spiritually evolved than another guy. As spiritual evolution sometimes could happen overnight.

萬達酒店鉆苑中餐廳 Zuan Yuan @ One World Hotel

我办公室位于万达酒店隔壁。我如果是泊在万达广场内，上下班都会取道该酒店来回办公室，而且还时常经过钻苑­酒家。

某次马来西亚讲华语运 动想要办执委新年聚会，执委四处寻找有私人房间的中餐馆，有这种"设备"的中餐馆非常­难找，最终找到一家，即钻苑也。我身为副主席，又跟钻苑近在咫尺， 所以也有去钻苑询问一番。钻苑的私人套房­设备实在难得，而且只须预订就可以了，并且无须为房间付费，订房也不以花费价格来为条件。

地点方面，万达商场乃国内数一数二的大型商场，广为人知，所座落的地点交通便利，驱车前来非常方便。当然，­那些在吉隆坡东边地区的人要驾车前来此处确实距离颇远。一旦尚在建设中的轻快铁站准备就绪可载送人后，那交­通会更加方便了。

就 如其他酒店一样，钻苑是万达酒店里的唯一中餐馆，而且也是清真的。这在马来西亚很正常，目前国内许多酒店­的中餐馆都已"清真化"了。可是，钻苑的菜肴还 是色香味齐全，完全不受清不清真影响。我曾吃过数间酒店的中­餐馆，也是清真菜肴，味道真的比钻苑差得远。在钻苑无论是烤鸡也好、各种菜蔬也好，都吃得出 厨师的用心。

在钻苑内的三小时半，服务生不时都来房看看我们有什么需要，一面也为食客添茶水，服务可谓非常周到。而且，­房内似乎有静音效果，我们在厢房内讨论东西，声音都未传出外头。而外头的嘈杂声也没干扰到房内众人。

钻苑食物好吃，服务又周到，价钱应该不菲吧？又不会。我们八人点了六道菜，才共花费四百多元左右，以豪华级­酒店中餐馆又订房间而言，已不算贵了。当然，如果拿钻苑所介绍的新年套餐，共八样菜，价格大概是整千元，由­于都是比较珍贵的食材，也不算太贵。

太平拉律馬登小販中心炒魚丸粿條麵 Fried Fishball KueyTeowMee @ Larut Matang Hawker Center Taiping

余上怡保，趁机再上太平走走，先去著名的太平湖看看。日正当中，热气腾腾，大树、青草和湖水降不了暑气。

太平湖适合喜欢大自然的人，不适合爱热闹爱人潮的人。有家庭者可考虑来此处野餐。不过最好是逢傍晚才来，比较没那么热。

看完太平湖，饥肠辘辘，去拉律马登小贩中心用膳。

这是余第二回来此处享用美食。第一次来时是晚间，许多档包括著名的63号已休息，应该是只做午市。

这回是午间，全部档都有开，人潮好多。太平街上静静的，而此处简直是另一个世界。仿佛所有人都挤到这里来了。

找到了63号，在附近坐下，点了鱼丸炒粿条。排队打包的人好多。我还真怕帮我点菜的那人忘了我的那份。後来发现到他虽没写下来，但是他另有方法记，就是事先备好辣椒碟。厉害！

其实，鱼丸炒粿条麵要真说起来也没什么特别。就是有鱼丸和叉烧作佐料。不过粿条不像是炒，反而像干捞多点，但我确实看到老板是用炒的方式来煮粿条。粿条看起来油得发亮，可能是放了许多油去炒吧？

鱼丸炒粿条麵吃起来还是觉得很不错。香味四溢，可能有加入猪油吧！难怪如此出名。

隔几档的65号档口也很闻名。卖的都是饮料。我从智能手机某软件得知该档以“虎加狮”闻名，就以闽南语问档主何谓“虎加狮”。档主没直接回答，只说包好喝！

喝了。果然不错。原来是很普遍的NESLO而已，不过真的泡得很浓厚很好喝。

虎代表雀巢咖啡，狮代表著名巧克力饮料美禄（MILO）。不知哪个家伙想出了“虎加狮”这个名堂。就像新山和新加坡人称美禄为“踢球”一样。非常有趣。

廣告： 華孝英雄（華Xiao英雄）的笑點

很快的，这套戏今天就在本地各院线上映了。

这戏有许多好笑的环节，都是靠关德辉的那张严肃脸来支撑着，有冷笑话的味道。

至于类似其他笑戏的胡闹情节，也是有，不过我感觉不会太过严重。

不过，真的要称赞朱咪咪这位老戏骨。她一出现，这套戏就得到更多的笑声。

关德辉先生要以搞笑的方式来上演华校的故事，真的不简单。因为华校课题是很严肃的课题。

廣告： 華孝英雄（或華Xiao英雄）首映禮

昨夜有幸受邀出席华孝英雄首映礼。在首映礼，可与电影金主握手拍照，可近距离与演员交流，可享用当局准备的点心，然後入场与众演员看完整套影片。费用全免，由电影金主帮你付。真的很感恩。因为金主未必能赚得回投资在电影的那笔钱。

当夜坐在我隔壁的竟然是那位本地电影《一路有僵尸》演则优则导的“未来世界明星”Jaguar Lim。他很专心的看完整套《华孝英雄》，从他的表情看不出他是喜欢还是不喜欢这套影片。

这部戏到底拍得如何？以我看电影多年的经验而言，不是非常出色，也不是大烂片，还是可以一看。关德辉先生花了三年时间筹备这部电影。所以买票观看，是看关先生的三年心血，非常值得。

以下是首映礼当晚的照片。

My First English Poem

When I see Sufi, I see Zen
When I see Zen, I see the Presence
When I embrace the Presence
I see no religion
What do I see?
I only see God

一身教服来授課

数年前，我获派往马六甲首长署做事。当时获安排坐在某培训室内工作，大家在上课，我在后方忙我的事，偶尔会听听大家究竟在上什么课。

一日，某高廋友族进入培训室。他头顶白帽，身著长袍，一副虔诚宗教师模样，一时令人搞不清楚状况，心想他应是来教宗教。

只见他缓缓走向培训室前方，立于白板前，侃侃而谈，满口尽是电脑技术词汇，方知非宗教师，而是电脑专业培训师也。

如此就是虔誠信教？

某华裔流动小贩向来在邻镇卖包点和豆浆。近来也来到此地做生意。才经营两三日，市议会和宗教局就派员来，谓此地以穆斯林为众，故此地禁卖一切非清真食物。 该小贩为此因而无端接罚单。

原来穆斯林为众，就可剥夺非穆斯林享用非清真食品的饮食权。

此等人学宗教，越学越昏沉，穆圣回生，必拿戒尺敲醒之。这尚为小 事，若是大事如回教法等，由此等人来负责执法，非穆斯林岂不歹哉？

Fahaman Yang Salah Tentang Atheist

Saya mendapati bahawa sesetengah orang tidak berapa faham apa maksud sebanar Atheist. Mereka anggap orang yang tidak suka/percaya kepada agama adalah golongan Atheist. Fahaman ini adalah tidak betul.

Atheist pun ada kepercayaan. Kepercayaan mereka adalah Evolution, Science dan Tiada Tuhan.

Terdapat juga orang yang mempercayai kepada Tuhan dan Nabi-Nabi. Mereka berpendapat bahawa agama itu ciptaan pengikut Nabi-Nabi demi kepentingan mereka sendiri. Kadang kala mereka saja mahukan kuasa. Nabi-nabi saja ingin menunjuk jalan ke kebenaran tetapi Nabi-nabi tidak pernah hendak mencipta agama yang bersifat Institutional. Kita tidak sepatutnya memanggil orang seperti ini sebagai Atheist. Mereka masih percaya kepada Tuhan.

舊街場白咖啡 Old Town White Coffee @ BU8

旧街场白咖啡售卖的都是经典的本地食物，如烤面包、椰浆饭等等。

论食物，旧街场白咖啡肯定是不错。至于价格，自然会比街边所售卖的贵。旧街场白咖啡卖的可说都是环境。与其­他类似的新式咖啡店比较，旧街场咖啡店的环境实在算是很高贵了。

为旧街场白咖啡店设计内部装潢的人看得出都很有功夫。论色彩，黄金色引人注目，而且非常高贵。然後每间旧街­场皆有挂上写着"旧街场"的牌匾，而且还特地安装黄色灯光照射之，凸显该品牌。

这 间旧街场白咖啡更加特别。隔壁就是联昌银行了。周日午间，联昌银行的顾客到此处办事，若需要等候，可以在­旧街场白咖啡处坐下点一杯"白咖啡"配烤面包半 生熟鸡蛋来打发时间。或者可在办完事後先享受一下冰咖啡配暹­罗米粉等小食才去下一站。或者顾客若还未用正膳，可在这里点招牌的炸鸡椰浆饭等吃。

至 于我本人，则是在下班後来此处"休息"一番才回家。若是六点之前到达此处，还来得及点三点至六点才有的"­下午茶配套"。下午茶配套比正餐配套便宜多了， 区区四元就可吃到烤面包和咖啡乌。不过，旧街场时常更换配套­以给顾客耳目一新的感觉。所以每隔数月，我就发现配套内容和价格又不一样了。

至 于旧街场白咖啡的正餐，我最爱的还是海南鸡排饭。其海南鸡排做得实在很好，裹上了鸡蛋粉才炸，所以吃鸡排­时可吃到很香的炸鸡蛋粉。然後炸鸡派的酱料又做 得很香甜多汁，这酱料拿来送饭简直是一流。何况旧街场给的还­是油饭，很不错。同样十多元一餐，我宁愿吃这道海南鸡排饭多于吃炸鸡椰浆饭。当然，其炸鸡椰 浆饭不仅仅有炸­鸡而已，旧街场不是路边摊，不会吝啬提供慢慢的花生和江鱼仔等。

至于咖啡乌和白咖啡，旧街场可算是国内第一家推出白咖啡的新式咖啡店。其咖啡乌和白咖啡的品质实在一流。喜­欢海南咖啡的人绝对不会对其咖啡失望。喜欢欧美式花俏咖啡的人则另当别论了。

My thought on Brains v Brawn: Why UMNO can't match LKY

This is the original article.

And here is my response:

Lee Kuan Yew himself is an intellectial as well. Don't forget that he grad from Cambridge during 50s. Our past and current PM could not match him in terms of academic achievement. 

Lee's political ideology is the Confucius kind, to rule the country with Elites or scholars. (background: China is the earliest country that took public servants by public examination at multiple levels, as early as 500AC).

As for Lee, I guess he wanted to make himself as close to emperor as possible. In the end he did not. He is excellent and that's why abit arrogant.

強迫入教并無效

这两日上培训课。师为某已达耳顺之年的华裔女穆斯林。她本非穆斯林，因嫁马来人而入教。

两日来，她偶尔言及私事，透露爱好禅修的信息，还曾跟随某印度籍心灵导师作心灵之旅。

在本国，穆斯林修禅可被视为叛教之举，惟师之伴侣似乎对其修禅不甚在意。可见本国政府强迫婚姻改教，并无法使改教者成为真正穆斯林，信仰真主和穆圣之道，反倒令其徒有穆斯林之虚名而已矣。

New Generation of Modern Chinese Malaysian

I came across a Facebook post of a friend's friend as follows:

I lecture in different private colleges/universities that are predominantly run by Chinese and attend by Chinese. But in one such institution I have the privilege to teach a group of MARA scholars. This group of MARA students, many of them came from not so rich family and to be able to get scholarship to go to the US to further their studies is a great opportunity that they wouldn't have if they are left alone without any government assistance. 

Now I am not here to talk about NEP or Bumiputra rights or racial discrimination etc. What I want to point out is the attitude these MARA students have compare to the group of Chinese students who come from a wealthy background. These MARA students are serious with their studies because if they don't get the grades required, they will lose their scholarship. They are diligent, hardworking, attend my class regularly, and do their work without complaining. Because of their religious up bringing, they respect me as their lecturer and elder and they produce quality work. 

Come back to the Chinese students, because they don't really need to maintain a certain grade point average (their parents will be there to support them no matter what) plus growing up in a well to do family, they basically behave like the world has owe them everything. They complain just because the lecturer refuses to give them one extra mark for them to get an "A" (which they don't really deserve one), produce mediocre work, missing classes, and rude to lecturer (I guess may be their parents allow them to answer them back rudely).

I have two points here. Whatever the scholarship or financial assistance the government is giving to the Malays, they are generally (notice I say generally) given to well deserve Malay students. And it is a joy to have them in my class. 

As for the Chinese students in my class, many of them are good students and really enjoy having them in my class. 

But many of them are also spoiled to the bones. I don't blame them. I blame it on their parents. I have no idea why modern Malaysian Chinese parents have totally lost control of their children. They are so afraid of offending their children and saying "no" or "cannot" is something absolutely haram in their children upbringing. And their children can do no wrong; it is the lecturer or the college is the one who is in the wrong, abusing their children. After all, they pay to come to the institution.
My colleague and I were discussing the above issue this morning. I told her that I am concerned because we are growing old. One day, these students with this kind of attitude will take over the country and I wonder I will be taken care of at my old age...but I do see rays of hope in our MARA scholars...Insy-Allah.

My opinion is as follows:

Religious upbringing makes the difference. Many modern Chinese families don't really stress much on religion teachings. 

Ancient Chinese were very well mannered due to strong Confucianism background but modern Chinese completely abandoned Confucianism(since early twentieth century) and they have nothing(or money) to fill in the blank and here's the result.

If you study the Peranakan, you'll find Peranakan are generally very well mannered because they still retain some of Confucianism rituals and rites.