Death

Once upon a time, there lived a prince who was said to be destined to be either a great king or a great spiritual leader. His father, the King, fearing that his son will walk down the spiritual path shielded him from the suffering of the world and showered him with great luxury. One day, the prince decided to venture out of his palace to observe his subjects. Along his journey, he saw an aged man, a sick man, a corpse and an asetic. He returned to his palace, disturbed by what he has seen. The prince left the palace the very night, and started his journey to enlightenment. That prince was to become Gautama Buddha. Through the Middle Way, Buddha found peace and clarity of mind. He sought to move away from the extremes. He found enlightenment, and achieved Nirvana six years after the beginning of his journey.

In his last words before he entered the state of Nirvana, he said;

“Behold O monks, this is my last advice to you. All component things in the world are changeable. They are not lasting. Work hard to gain your salvation Do your best,”

And he left the world, where he no longer has to go through rebirth. He no longer has to experience death.

All men fear death, for death takes everything away from men. I fear death. One my journey to college this morning, there was one elderly couple who were discussing about their sickness. In the cafetaria just now, I spoke to a lecturer of mine, who just one month ago was hospitalised for a life-threatening condition. The elderly couple and the lecturer; they look so frail and fragile. They remind me that as strong one can be, we all cannot escape the cycle of life; birth, ageing, sickness and ultimately, death. 

Enjoy our life while we still can; but the more we enjoy our life, the more we want to cling on to our life isn’t it?

I am still on a quest to understand Buddhism. I feel at peace the most when I am in Buddhist temple, and nowhere else. But I find myself not brave enough to accept the impermanence of everything, especially life. I feel like clinging on this life forever.

The Rotaract Dilemma

Last week, I met two people who told me about their negative perception on Rotaract. One is a young lawyer from KL Bar Young Lawyers Association, and another is my lecturer. Generally, the words they used implied that Rotaract is a club for posers and people who like clubbing. I did not enquire further the reasons for they have formed such perceptions, as I perfectly understand the disease that has been plaguing the Rotaract organization, especially here in Malaysia.

When Rotaract was first conceived in 1968, it was meant to be a vehicle for young adults to serve the community, develop their professional skills and to nurture these young adults into responsible citizens. No where in the Rotaract constitution and by-laws provides for the requirement of “fellowship”. Nevertheless, taking into consideration the importance of good networking for young adults, and the necessitation of good networking to ensure the smooth running of projects, the idea of fellowship was readily embraced by Rotaracters. Then, the motto “Fellowship through Service” took centre stage.

Notice how the motto is worded as “Fellowship through Service”, rather than “Service through Fellowship”. The message is simply loud and clear, to serve first, and to have fellowship alongside that, and not the other way around.

However, forty years on, the concept of “service”, and even leadership and professional development is being slowly taken over by the idea of “fellowship”. Slowly, people with wrong intentions and motives are trickling into the organization. We have allowed Rotaract to be used as a vehicle to self-gratification and self-promotion. Rotaracters look upon themselves as elitist, and have forgotten their primary objectives. The young lawyer I met, scoffed at Rotaract and said, “We are different (referring to KL Bar Young Lawyers), we do our work, rather than just talk”.

Worst still, this negative culture is also much much alive in Interact (a Rotary service club for school students aged 14-18), and I can testify to this fact through my years in Interact, and as Group Discussion Leaders in the previous Interact Conference. We cannot blame them for this. They lack proper guidance, be it from Rotarians or Rotaracters.

I must qualify myself: that there are many good Rotaracters and Rotaract Clubs out there, who have stayed true to the spirit of Rotaract. They are the sincere ones, who put the needs of others above their own and they are inspiration to other youth. I am inspired by them. As I ask myself the need to sacrifice my time and energy on an organization that is potentially losing its way, I am reminded by the reasons Rotaract Club of ATC was formed a year ago, to make changes, to better ourselves, and to inspire others to better themselves.

I am thankful that the Rotaract Club of ATC have not digress from its true purposes. I have seen how my fellow Rotaracters have progressed in person, and how Rotaract have changed them for the better bit by bit. Of course, along the way, we all did have our dose of fun. However, despite the many things we have done, there are still some people who perceive Rotaract as a “drinking, clubbing, party” club. Perhaps, it is because the club itself is not totally free from what I would call the “Rotaract Dilemma”. There are people who want to be in it just for the fun the benefits of it, never for the work and sacrifices.

It is perhaps that Rotaract is trying too hard to be everything, that we have become lost in translation. I have met former Rotaracters who left because they find it hopeless to be in Rotaract. Many former Interactors refused to join Rotaract as they cannot find inspiration from the organization.

We need to define ourselves by looking back at our origin, the real reasons of our existence. I believe that Rotaract have the capabilities to be better than what it is now, and that Rotaract can live to inspire people, especially youth. Let us not be engulfed by this Rotaract Dilemma

Blogger’s Block

I want to blog, but I have no idea what to blog about. So I wonder, how on earth will I have nothing to blog about despite the fact that I have so many things happening in my life now. It’s not really that those events are not worth blogging about.

Perhaps it is because by nature, I am a reflective blogger. Rather than blogging about what’s the details of things around me, I have a tendancy to blog about my reflection on life and thoughts.

Recently, I have WAY TOO MUCH things going around me that I have forgot to pause and reflect. More precisely, I do not have the time to pause and reflect. 

Breath….

Sigh..

Ok.. I need more coffee

The Ritual

Two guys and a girl..

When watching Manchester United matches..

One has to support the other team although he is a United Fan..

One is forbidden from wearing United shirt when watching the matches..

They must watch in threes, never in pair, at the same place

EVERYTIME…

and Manchester United always WIN

….I was talking about me, my ex-housemate, Giri and our neighbour/classmate/squasy buddy, Steven. We stopped doing that since Giri and I moved out of Abadi Indah.

No wonder they kept losing and drawing…sigh..

Truthfulness

People,

What a dilemma,

Their ability to say things in innuendos,

Their inability to be truthful and straightforward.

 

What hardship,

If only they can be true in their words,

That is how trust is built, and the gap is bridged,

 

Disappointment, despair, drowned with sorrows

Perhaps, some truths are just not meant to be known,

Because the truth hurts, they think, perhaps

 

But they fail to think how valuable the truth is, in building trusts

that value has been trampled on by them,

and now, destroyed

Forever,

A Message from the Dude Up There

I just got an e mail from God:

________________________

Dear Chiew Ee,

Congratulations! You have been chosen as one of my few candidates for “Changing Your Life Programme”. You might have not realised this, but we have actually observed your performance since your move from Sabah, and you have passed all those preliminary tests we have dished out to you with flying colours.

Hence, we are offering you this wonderful opportunity to change your life. If you made it through this round, you will never have to worry about your future anymore. You will have a lucrative career ahead of you with the leadership skills, and all other knowledge you will gain out of this programme. There is no saying no by the way. as you have signed up for the programme one year ago when you decided to read law.

For your information, this programme has been tailor-made for you, just as it is for everyone else. No two people go thorugh the same programme. In order for you to successfully complete this programme, you will only need to complete a few simple tasks. Now, don’t worry. It’s as simple as ABC.

But there’s a catch. You will not get any holiday for the next two years. Your life will revolve around lectures, classes, tutorials, meetings and meetings, and did I mention assignments? You will have to spend lesser time with your family, and cut down on futsal and football.

You have just got your first mission, the Rotaract Club last year. All is well for the Club, but you still have half a year more to go as the President, remember that. You have also done well in your first year exams, and that vindicated our faith in you. But, you will have to do more, and work harder in order to pass this programme.

Your next mission is the two moot court competitions you will be involved in. Worry not. As it was in Rotaract, we have given you wonderful people to work with. You cannot fail. Do not forget also one of your main mission this year is to score your Part 1. The ball is in your court now.

At this juncture, remember that

For many are called, but few are chosen, Matthew 22:14

You are the chosen one. Only you can change your life.

With much love,

God

__________________

So I said yes. Not like I have any choice. The opportunity is just too good to let it pass by. Thank you, God.

p/s: I picked up the line from the Bible when I was in St John Cathedral for a tour with Mummy Irene and Brother Bong.

I Have A Dream

If Abraham Lincoln is still alive today, he would be proud. The man who led the movement towards abolition of slavery of the African-Americans in United States will stand proud of his nation for being brave in accepting changes by electing the first black president of the country.

When Barack Obama, the now president elect of US was born in 1961, the African-Americans in the southern states were still excluded from the franchise.

Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963 in his inspiring speech, “I Have A Dream”, spoke about his desire of a future where blacks and whites will co-exists harmoniously and equally in the American society. He never have the chance to see this future as he was assasinated in 1968. Forty years on, his dream has become a reality.

But, what is more inspiring is that Obama was not voted in by the Americans because he is an African-American. Rather, Americans chose him for his charismatic leadership, sharp acument, and most importantly, his promise to bring changes. Americans, have gone beyond voting along the racial lines.

Let us then analyse the situation in Malaysia. When our forefathers drafted our Federal Constitution with our former colonial masters, they envisaged a society where everyone will be treated equal. Tunku Abdul Rahman and his collegue never intended for there to be a preference of one race over the other in the original Federal Constitution.

Since Merdeka, every Malaysian who reaches the universal suffarage age, regardless of age and gender have been allowed to vote, and be involved in politics without any restrain. Our acceptance of equal voting rights among citizens came almost one decade earlier then the Americans.

Yet today, Malaysia’s politics is still conducted along the racial lines. Politicians, the government and opposition alike, and narrow minded Malaysians have the mindset that only Malays can become the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

I am not being racist, but I would like to see a day where in Malaysia, everyone is treated as equal, where the term Bangsa Malaysia is not merely used as a political tool, but a word that carries a meaningful idea, an idea of a united race consisted of people of different ethnicity living in harmony.

Martin Luther King Jr. never got his chance to see his dreams come true. I hope I will get mine.