Spiritual Aphorisms (Missing Nietzsche Seminar and Feeling Philosophical)

1.

It’s not about getting to some other place, be it psychological or physical, but appreciating and relaxing in the place we are in right now. This is the most important thing I’ve discovered since coming to Malaysia. It is a totally new perspective on Buddhism that lends it even greater credence in my mind. I encountered it in Pema Chodron’s book, When Things Fall Apart, but it pervades Buddhist philosophy and is one of its most poignant tenants.

Live each moment as if that moment will continue into eternity. Live it as if you have no hope, no dreams, no desire and no fear.

Barack Obama’s path to the White House can be summed up by his two extremely marketable adages: “Change” and “Hope”. It’s funny that in a recent Zencast, Thich Nhat Hanh calls Barack Obama an enlightened leader because these two concepts, which are paradigms of the American way, are the antithesis of Buddhist philosophy. (sidenote: I think Obama is enlightened and his phrasing must be looked at in its context) But, these two words nearly sum up the source of suffering. The desire for change – to have a new girlfriend, to change your job, to improve your living situation – is a source of tremendous suffering. Similarly, hope – the hope for a better tomorrow; hope for the stock market to turn; hope for people to like me – causes incredible pain. The way out of this path of pain and suffering towards a more peaceful existence is to give up hope and abandon the desire for change. Try settling into the current set of circumstances you find yourself in.

Since I started reading about Buddhism, I have encountered phrases like ‘the heart of the Buddhist warrior’ and discarded them for exaggerating the seemingly safe and passive action of sitting in silence on a pillow. Now that I have discovered the concept of relaxing into the present moment whether it is joyful or happy, I recognize the bravery that the path actually requires. All of the typical stress-relief rituals we go through that help distract us from reality are thrown out. The practice is to be compassionate with yourself when moments of extreme suffering come up. When your father dies or wife divorces you, try (the near impossibly task) to avoid the comfort of a drink or a movie. The goal – that seems extremely far off for me right now – is to be able to relax into the moment of suffering and embrace it. See how the whole bravery thing comes in? Pretty incredible.

The main idea is best expressed in Chodron’s words: “we think that the point is to pass the test or to overcome the problem, but the truth is that things don’t really get solved…thinking we can find some lasting pleasure and avoid pain is what in Buddhism is called Samsara.”

--“Any time you push anything away, it’s still there” – Ram Dass--

2.

I want to be comfortable and certain about what I believe in. I want to know that my convictions make the most sense. I mean, I want my theology to coincide with reality as effectively as my limited mind can make it. I struggle with Western traditions because I find that they do not coincide with the reality that I see around me.

3.

I refuse to take my conception of reality and metaphysics on authority. I refuse to believe something simply because my family believes. I refuse to believe something simply because it is the most useful in helping me deal with my issues (sorry Nietzsche). My philosophy may be as effective as any at helping me deal with problems, but I refuse to hold a metaphysical belief that Thor will take care of all of my problems just because it alleviates some anxiety. I take pride in this perspective. I see it as enlightened. And that may be the biggest problem.

4.

Other problems: A fellow Fulbrighter here pointed out a little nugget of truth the other day just after our minds had been blown by a deep-space visualization at the science center in Kuala Terengganu. Having witnessed only a smidgeon of the massiveness of the universe, and the subsequent insignificance of humanity in comparison, he explained, ‘anyone who thinks he can construct some sort of a universal and objective metaphysics from this incredibly limited point of view has gotta be on crack’.

It must have struck him as we were sitting back at a 45-degree angle staring up at a IMAXesque simulation of the depths of the universe that literally go on forever, leaving the infinitesimal earth and its pathetic Milky Way behind about five minutes into the hour long video. The arrogance or ignorance, it must be one or the other, of an individual to create a universal law of metaphysics or, even worse, a universal legal code that should apply to all beings in existence, is hilarious. My buddy went on after the experience, ‘so if some alien, who lives 100,000,000 light years away and has never seen a pig before, comes to earth, he is obligated to refrain from eating pork or else he will be condemned to a life of eternal damnation?’

The concept that an ant (granted, a self conscious one) is capable of creating an all-encompassing world view and legal code is as outrageous to me as the concept that man is capable of the same task.

5. 
A reflection on number one... I'm reading Paul Tillich's Courage To Be, which analyzes the concept of courage from the perspective of a diversity of philosophical and spiritual traditions. I have just come upon the chapters summarizing Nietzsche and Spinoza, who propound a similar philosophy on courage which emphasizes self-affirmation and the will to power. 


Not only do these terms reflect each other, but they almost mirror the Buddhist concept of courage, which Nietzsche famously and ignorantly repudiated as superstitious mumbo jumbo. Nietzsche says in Zarathustra, "He hath heart who knoweth fear but vanquisheth it; who seeth the abyss, but with pride. He who seeth the abyss but with eagle’s eye, - he who with the eagle’s taons graspeth the abyss: he hath courage." It's essentially the same idea as Chodron in number one. 


The individual who is able to experience groundlessness without panicking and grasping after a god, a pill or a distraction, has courage. The Buddhist perspective takes it a step further to say that this courageous person will consequently experience less suffering in her life by living presently and relaxing into this sense of groundlessness. 

6.

What kind of omnipotent, omniscient, benevolent being gets jealous?
What kind of omnipotent, omniscient, benevolent being requires occasional offering?

What kind of omnipotent, omniscient, benevolent being needs to rest on a weekly basis?

A Moderate Muslim Country?

According to the Islam teachers at my school, the hijab or tudong, as it is called in Malaysia, is worn to suppress desire in boys. I must admit, it is an extremely effective instrument. Who knew that covering the head of a school girl could effectively eliminate the high school boy's libido?

A tiny bit of background on the hijab - mainly just because I'm interested and feel like we all need to have some level of understanding. Hijab comes from the Arabic root hjb which means "to veil; separate; or cover by a curtain". These definitions point to the original purpose of the hijab, which has evolved from a curtain for separation to a headscarf in the past 1300. The Prophet Muhammad used the term hijab to denote the curtain that separates his wives from men who are addressing them. In its original form, it did not make any specific mandates regarding women's attire. The Qur'an makes very clear the importance of modesty and moderation and references to the contemporary hijab can be found in the Hadith, but in its original form as found in the Qur'an, the hijab only referred to the curtain to separate guests from the Prophet's wife, and his wives only. (Qur'an, 33:53)

Before I came to Malaysia, I heard many people say, "Malaysia is a moderate Muslim country". Be careful not to misinterpret the term "moderate". I know I did. I must admit that I am living in Terengganu, which is arguably the most conservative Muslim state in Malaysia and is home to one of the highest percentages of Malays in the country. My state is nearly 100% Muslim, while the majority of the country has a variable mixture of Chinese, Indian and Malay cultures. Consequently, I am surrounded by some of the most devout Muslims nationally. There is evidence to show that, if Malaysia continues to progress as it has, it will become more and more like Terengganu. Twenty or thirty years ago the tudong was a rare siting in Malaysia. It is only in the years since the Iranian revolution that the popularity of the tudong in particular and Islam in general have blown up in Malaysia.

A little history lesson to clarify the politics of Islam in Malaysia: In 1946 , after the British were bankrupted by WWII, the Malay states became independent of British rule and all citizens gained equal rights regardless of race. In response to the threat that the Chinese and Indians (who were shipped to Malaysia in the 1700s by the British to work the tin mines) would dominate the Malaysian economy, the Malay people founded a political party called UMNO (United Malay National Organization), which would be devoted exclusively to answering the needs of the ethnic Malays. In 1957, when Malaysia came into existence, UMNO took power and hasn't capitulated since. By the way, in order to be considered ethnic Malay and gain all the benefits of Malay status (termed bumiputra), one must by Muslim. There is no such thing as a non-Muslim Malay. With UMNO in power, Islam became more and more involved in Malaysian social and economic fabric.

Islam, like most of the Abrahamic traditions globally, has experienced massive growth in the past 20 years. Since 1989, Islam has experienced 72% increase globally. Malaysia has felt the rush of Islamic fervor itself, especially in terms of economic and political policies. In response to the Iranian Revolution, the government implemented policies promoting conservative Islam that are formally called dakwah, which translates to something close to "missionary work" in the 1980s. In 1991, usury - or collecting interest - was made illegal. The same year, the Prime Minister set quotas on how many Malays must be on corporate boards. In recent years apostasy - the act of leaving Islam - was made illegal. And in 2009, the government issued a ban on Christians using the word Allah. The ban was short-lived and was removed the same year, but its removal caused a nationwide uproar that resulted in a number of fire-bombings on churches around Kuala Lumpur (1)(2), portraying the growing intensity of the Muslim community.

From my experience here in Terengganu, I would say that Malaysian people are moderate Muslims in their tolerance for other traditions (relative to some Middle Eastern countries), but are not moderate in the intensity of their devotion. My experience so far has been defined by my encounter with Islam. Even beyond the Azan, or call to prayer, which reminds me every classes, practices and morning that I am in Malaysia and not Vietnam any more, Islam is noticeably more pervasive in Malaysia than any religion I have ever seen. Every class, meal, football match, and personal encounter is packed with reminders of where I am. My initial reaction to this intensity has been, 'wow Christianity is so much less integrated into American life than Islam is in Malaysian life'. Like Buddhism in Vietnam, Islam is completely integrated into the Malaysian experience. In Vietnam, Buddhist ritual was seamlessly assimilated into mundane life to the point where there is no separation between the sacred and the profane. In Malaysia, Islam is deeply integrated into mundane life, but there is a clear delineation between the sacred and the profane. This delineation makes the Islamic influence on the society stick out every time it is brought to my attention because I am reminded of the presence of their god. It's a pretty fascinating experience.

Well, that's all for now. Another disorganized essay on my thoughts is waiting in the wings. Thanks for checking in.


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Interesting website I just stumbled upon:
Muslim Women in Malaysia
Veil: Modesty, Privacy and Resistance

feeling right at home...

After having listened to Aubrey's newest great creation, "Great Book Series", I'm inspired to post a profound and momentous blog that properly reflects the glorious pomp and circumstance of my introduction ceremony. 

It was a day not to be rivaled by the coronation of King George VI or the birth of Shiloh (Brangelina's child). It overshadows the glorious final scene of Slumdog Millionaire and makes the birth of Jesus seem incredibly unimportant. It was an occasion for the record books. 

A bejeweled chariot picket me up at the crack of dawn and rushed me to a ceremony for which I was surely unprepared. I wore my best attire - unfortunately that meant a mismatched suit and a pair of Kenneth Cole kicks that my mother wishes had been destroyed ages ago. As the chariot approached the gate, I noticed a large banner with a few words of welcome and a snapshot of my face that should have been deleted at the source and retaken. As I passed under the gates, the drums began to echo through the schoolyard (i'm being serious...they were beating traditional, Malay drums). I stepped out of the car and onto the red carpet and was greeted by the school principal and her entourage. After the head prefect graced me with a welcome shawl and an oversized corsage, I began my triumphant walk along the red carpet. I was led by two girls carrying trays of fruits and flowers. The walkway was lined by students carrying shiny tree-like arrangements - that must only grown in the most remote corners of Borneo - boys wailing on traditional drums, and girls tossing flowers at my feet. [this is all factual... the only exaggeration so far has been the chariot - it was really just a Hyundai minivan]

As my procession entered the auditorium, my arrival was announced to a crown of just under 1,000 people who immediately got to their feet and whipped out their camera phones to capture the moment. I walked to the front of the auditorium to sit upon my throne (see below).

After three or four songs... including the beautiful national anthem, less beautiful state song and even a little bit less beautiful school song, there were speeches and performances, songs and dances. I felt like a nomadic chief being serenaded in my tent in the desert; being fanned by palm leaves and entertained by local dancers and singers. I gave a short speech of my own (which i tried posting, but the file is 450 MB so i can't - you can see it some day), indulged in some local treats and called it a day. It was certainly one to remembered.

P.S. - Today at school (a week after the event), a new teacher came to SMKDRI. He received the same treatment. The red carpet, drums, flowers and all... rats

i am a teaching ASSISTANT!

So, after much consternation and late nights of deep meditation, I have decided that a blog is the most effective way to keep everyone up to date on my travels, uncomfortable bowel movements, near death encounters, international conquests and moments of enlightenment. 


WARNING: i strictly forbid my students to read this blog and discourage anyone who cares deeply about the perpetuation of the holy English language to read this blog. as a result of my limited understanding of English grammar, sentence structure and words like gerund, i cannot be held responsible for the decimation of proper English. have pity on me and my writing (and always remember, I am an English Teaching ASSISTANT. NOT an English teacher... so i'm allowed to plead ignorance when it comes to things like gerunds).


Now that i've established that preliminary word of caution, i would also like to note that this blog has no direction, goal or coherent message. it will most likely morph into a stream of conscience rant much akin to emails between Logan Burruss and myself (but with fewer obscene images, words and videos attached).


With that, i'm off to bed... since i have to wait for an international license from KL, i have to get a ride to school every day with my lovely mentor Roselina. she is an unfortunately punctual person and will be picking me up at 6:50 am tomorrow. Baik Malam...