Monday, February 13, 2012

ONE IN A MILLION DO NOT KNOW THE TRUE SIGNIFICANCE OF LIFE

One in a million may be concerned about knowing the purpose of life. Most people in the world do not know "the true significance of life... Many do not even seem to care about it."

This concern is the first step in the journey towards the ultimate goal. Most of the people get contentment... in eating, sleeping, dressing and rearing a big family as the main aim of living.

My beloved friends! All these are undoubtedly necessary to some extent. But they alone cannot contribute to peace of mind or fullness in life. Please note; The phenomenon of the external world is what the eyes see, the ears hear, and the mind cognizes. And please remember; "All these are sensory phenomena."

Beyond the senses is the 'MIND' and greater than the 'mind' is the 'INTELLECT'. The 'intellect' is governed by the 'GOD'. It is man's destiny to realize the 'GOD'.

Among the sense organs, the most powerful is the mouth (which has the power of speech and of consuming food). When the mouth is under the control of the mind, all other senses can be controlled. Speech should be restrained as much as possible. Then, the attention of the mind should be directed towards..."the intellect (which has the power of discrimination)".

When the intellect is turned towards the GOD, it begins to recognize the
all persuading Spirit.


"BLISS OF SPIRIT"

The inextricble connection between the phenomenal world outside and the world of consciousness "inside eludes the understanding of ordinary people." Immersed in the desire for enjoying worldly pleasures, "they do not attempt to discover the boundless joy to be derived from the inner Spirit"

This is because all the sense organs are open only to experiences from outside. It is not surprising that the "common man is a subject to the outward vision."

"Only a few develop the inner vision and enjoy spiritual bliss."

Is it the Body that derives joy from looking at a thing of beauty? Or is the Spirit?
What is it that relishes the food that is consumed?
The Body or the Spirit?

What is that which enjoys fragrance or is moved by companionship?
Enquiring in this manner, it will be found that the Spirit is the enjoyer and not the physical body.

And please remember!

"The body by itself is gross and is incapable of experiencing joy. It must be realized the Spirit transcends the mind and the intellect and persuades the entire cosmos."

The Spirit is the basis for the cognition of the external world and experiencing the inner world.

And also please understand:

"Music and literature, physics and chemistry, botany and zoology... All these different branches of knowledge are "related to the phenomenal."

"They belong to the category of the lower knowledge. People devote their lives mainly of these studies."

And please remember!

"Only Knowledge of the Spirit is the Supreme Knowledge."

Worldly Knowledge is pursued mainly for earning a living. But even worldly knowledge exists to point the way to spiritual awareness.

"Without Spiritual Knowledge, all other knowledge is valueless."

Every man has to question whether each moment of his life is diverted to a purpose and goal of life.... and please note:

"Eating, drinking, sleeping and passing away cannot be called the meaning of human life."

All these are common to birds and beasts. What is the uniqueness of man?
He is endowed with faculties which can enable him to rise above the animal to the human and to the Spirit level.

The universe is permeated by the Spirit. Even if you are unable to see it. The Spirit is present in everything.
All our senses function because of the Consciousness that operates in every being. Without the consciousness, man would be an insentient creatures.

The universe contains innumerable objects. In all of them, the one unchanging 'eternal principle is the God'. It is the power of this eternal principle which sustains the evanescent and ever-changing objects in the universe.

"Existing, shinning and pleasing are three indices of the Divine."

The body is impermanent. But is the abode of the indewelling Soul (Spirit). Hence the body should be cared for in the same way in which 'an iron' safe which is of little value in itself, is safeguarded for the sake of the valuables kept in it.

What is that binds man to the illusory world? It is not family or property. "These can be given up when one wishes to do so."

But what are most difficult to renounce 'are attachment and hatred'. As long as these are dominant in man, he cannot realize his true self. And as long as man remains unaware of his true self he is in bondage.
"For man in bondage, there is no freedom from suffering or worry."


From Empty Hands,
A. Rahman bin Mahadi
Labis, Johore.
016-602 0321

13 February 2012

Next Topics: 1."Guna Akal Untuk Tujuan Perkembangan Kerohanian"

2. "Death Is Not The End Of Life"

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

BAGAIMANA MENGHADAPI KEMATIAN

Tajuk di atas adalah lagi satu masalah yang akan dihadapi oleh semuaa manusia; Bagaimana hendak berhadapan dengan 'KEMATIAN', terhadap yang kita sayangi, yang kita kasihi, termasuklah diri kita, ibu bapa kita masing-masing.

Saudaraku pembaca yang dikasihi!

Kita semua perlu sedar bahawa 'KEMATIAN' adalah lazim berlaku di sana sini di dunia ini. Betapa kasih sekalipun kita terhadap orang tua kita yang kita cintai, atau sesiapa saja, "perlu kita ketahui bahawa setiap orang, tua keadaan fizikalnya dari segi fakta biologinya".

Bahawa sel-sel manusia juga punya jangka hayatnya. Waktunya adalah 'PASTI' sampai bila ia mula berhenti memperbaharui sel-selnya. Dalam ertikata lain, memang sudah dijangkakan. Sel-sel juga akan lemah dan hilang keupayaannya untuk mengekalkan keseimbangannya, lalu lemah dan sudah tidak berdaya atau sudah tidak punya proses pemulihan dan tidak akan mampu untuk membuat tubuh badan itu terus sihat.

Saudaraku pembaca!

"Tanya semua manusia di muka bumi ini, sejarah apakah yang paling menarik dan disukainya, atau ditakutinya? Dan apakah sejarah yang paling tidak disukainya dan cuba lari darinya?"

"Sejarah yang paling tidak disukai oleh semua manusia dan cuba lari darinya adalah.... 'KEMATIAN'....

Untuk pengetahuan, lain agama, lain budayanya dan ada caranya yang tersendiri untuk lari atau mengelak dari mati.

Ambil ingatan ini!

"Semua manusia, di akalnya INGIN HIDUP KEKAL, tetapi penghidupan itu sendiri yang berada di tubuh badan itu membuatkan tubuh badan itu tidak kekal. Sebab itulah ketidakpuasan itu mengganggu akal fikiran semua manusia."

Sebab itu ramai di antara kita manusia tidak ada yang paling ditakutinya adalah 'MATI', ya! memang kita tidak mahu mati, itu cuma permaianan akal. Realitinya 'HIDUP' itulah juga yang membuat 'akal' itu berfungsi. Bila hidup itu tidak lagi dikandung jasad, maka seluruh organisme akan 'mati'.

Bagi yang sudah hidup lama dan faham akan erti'hidup' itu apa dan menyedari bahawa 'hidup' bukan lawannya 'mati'. "Sifat 'hayat' atau 'hidup' itu tidak mempunyai sifat 'takluk' dan boleh ditakluki."

Kalau kita benar-benar orang yang tahu dan menyedari 'hakikat penghidupan' itu apa dan siapa? Pasti sepanjang kita berada di dunia ini dan kuat pegangan agamanya, tahu membezakan yang 'hak' dan 'batal'. Dan tahu serta pasti bahawa 'mati' adalah 'pasti'. Maka 'kematian' itu pasti akan kita sambut sebagai tetamu, kerana:

"Mati dan hidup tidak boleh dipisahkan dan ia merupakan 'kawan yang paling akrab' yang telah lama tidak bertemu."

Ada pepatah mengatakan:

"Apabila bertemu 'Roh' dengan 'jasad', salah satu pasti binasa (mati)."

Bila sampai waktunya tubuh yang sudah 'mati' itu akan lebih tenang dan elemennya akan balik kepada anasir asal usulnya dan meninggalkan dunia ini dengan penuh tenang dan sejahtera.

Sepeninggalan kita dari dunia ini bukanlah orang yang mementingkan diri sewaktu hidupnya. Tetapi dia seorang yang berkeyakinan bahawa dia telah meninggalkan sesuatu untuk manfaat seluruh kewujudan yang ditinggalkannya adalah:

- Ilmu yang memberi manfaat
- Sedekah jariahnya dan anak-anak yang soleh
- Untuk agama, masyarakat, dan seluruh kewujudan di alam ini.


Hanya manusialah satu-satunya 'ciptaan Tuhan' yang boleh faham dan tahu pada suatu hari nanti ia akan berhadapan dengan 'kematian'.... "Sebab itulah ia bimbang, risau dan takut tidak tentu pasal. Ingat!.. 'Takut Akan Mati' tidak akan membuat 'MATI' itu berhenti dari berfungsi."

Saudaraku yang dikasihi! Justeru, kenapa tidak kita terima saja 'kehadirannya' dengan tenang?

Sebaliknya, apa yang saya lihat seperti kawan-kawan yang terdekat, saudara mara, ipar duai, adik beradik, mereka langsung tidak mengendahkan soal perjalanan hidupnya yang akan berakhir pada bila-bila masa. Dan langsung tidak mengambil tahu apa yang akan terjadi selepas mati, apakah hidup yang sedang dilaluinya sekarang ini?

Tetapi yang menghairankan sewaktu hidup ini, ia hidup penuh dengan kerisauan, penuh masalah, dan dalam masa yang sama juga, risau tentang 'kematian' dan 'penghidupan selepas mati'!!...

"Tahukah kita selain manusia, mereka semua bebas dari perasaan begitu".

Ambil nasihat saya ini!...

Kita selaku manusia, perlu sedar bahawa apa jua metod yang kita cuba kita tampil atau ketengahkan untuk mengatasi apa jua masalah, ianya adalah mustahil untuk kita mendapatkan kepuasan sepenuhnya, sehingga kita benar-benar pandai melatih dan menjinakkan akal kita masing-masing dan mengurangkan sifat mementingkan diri.

Kalau kita seorang yang benar-benar mendalami hal-hal keagamaan, bukannya ikut-ikut dan peniru. Apa yang didedah oleh Nabi-Nabi dan Rasul-RasulNya tersirat sesuatu misteri yang boleh membuatkan seseorang itu faham akan sifat 'Istighnak' atau 'Iftiqal' Tuhan. Maka pastinya tidak timbul masalah dan memudahkan kita untuk mengatasi dan berhadapan dengan 'kematian' tanpa cemas dan takut.

Ambil kata-kata mudah daripada seorang yang sangat tua, sebagai rangsangan...

"Hidup ini semuanya tidak pasti...Tetapi 'MATI' mesti pasti".

"Kematian bukanlah bererti berakhirnya hidup ini, sebaliknya kematian itu membuatkan hidup itu baru bermula dan kelahiran seseorang itulah langkah ke arah 'KEMATIAN'".

Maksud kiasan tersebut, kalau dikaitkan dengan alam:

"Terbenamnya matahari (MATI) di sini, dan terbitnya (KELAHIRAN) di negara lain, membawa erti bahawa... 'Kelahiran dan Kematian' memang tidak boleh dipisahkan".

Seperkara lagi yang hendak saya ingatkan kepada sidang pembaca bahawa:

"Setiap 'Kelahiran' manusia ke muka bumi ini, 'kelahiran' itu adalah 'ratapan kesedihan', kedukacitaan dan kehampaan. Lagi lama seseorang itu berada di dunia, bertambah bodohlah ia dan bertambah bertambah jahillah ia".

"Hidup yang dilalui oleh semua manusia di dunia ini, apakah rasanya? Rasanya adalah sangat 'pahit'. Kenapa pahit, pedih dan mengecewakan? Kerana di dunia ini apa yang diinginkan dan dicapai tidak pernah tercapai dan terlaksana. Ertinya, cuba perhatikan tangan Si mati, apakah yang ada di genggamannya?... Kosong!...."

"Kehausan dan kedahagaannya untuk terus hidup di masa hadapan tidak membuatkan ia benar-benar hidup pada hari-hari ini."

Bukankah kita telah diingatkan oleh Al-Quran, Hadis dan orang-orang yang arif Ketuhanan telah mengingatkan kita:

"Bahawa apa jua yang wujud di dunia ini semuanya tidak kekal dan abadi". Ertinya:

"Dengan 'kelahiran', diikuti dengan 'kematian'."
"Yang terbit akan terbenam."
"Yang timbul akan tenggelam."
"Yang bersama akan berpisah."
"Yang bermula akan berakhir."


Justeru, "mana mungkin, bila ada 'KELAHIRAN' tanpa 'KEMATIAN'?"
"Mana mungkin, bila kita bersama, akhirnya kita tidak berpisah?"


Cuba pegang sehelai atau selembar benang - ia diumpamakan bahawa 'Kelahiran dan Kematian', mempunyai 'hujung dan pangkal' yang sama; ertinya "Bila ada Awal, pasti ada Akhir."

Kita tidak boleh mengenepikan 'MATI' dan meninggalkan 'kewujudan 'begitu saja, tetapi sudah lumrah bahawa:

PERTAMA: "Manusia terpaksa bergelut untuk mengelak 'MATI'. Tahukah kita bahawa kita tidak pernah 'WUJUD', tetapi kita bergelut untuk 'WUJUD', yang kita gelar 'PENGHIDUPAN'."

Saudara pembaca yang dikasihi!

Halusi segala penulisan saya ini, bawa merenung sedalam-dalamnya, pasti akan hilang segala kemusykilan, rasa cemas dan takut, dan juga sila dalami di penulisan saya yang bertajuk, "Death With Dignity" pada tarikh 19/02/2011.

SELAMAT MEMBACA!!!...


From Empty Hands,
A. Rahman bin Mahadi
Labis, Johore
016-6020321

04 JANUARY 2012

Next Topic: 1. "One In A Million Do Not Know The True Significance Of Life"
2. "Guna Akal Untuk Tujuan Perkembangan Kerohanian"

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

MIND IS A GREAT FORCE ON THIS EARTH. THE MIND OF MAN FUNCTIONS ON THREE PLANES

The mind of man functions on the three levels viz;

1. Instinctive mind, or automatic mind.
2. Intellect.
3. Higher mind.


In the scale of evolution the mind functions in various phases, depending upon the body in which it operates. "Thus it goes from the subconscious to simple consciousness, gradually evolving to self-consciousness, until it reaches universal consciousness."

"In the lower kingdom such as plants and animals, the mind is manifested in a state where consciousness is automatic. This portion of the mind is predominant in plants and animals."

Human beings also possess it and it is a great help in their present stage of development. "This mind is known as the subconscious or instinctive mind."

"The mind of man functions on more than one plane and there are SIX MENTAL STATES";

6. INTUITIVE
5. ILLUMINATED
4. HIGHER MIND
3. SUPER CONSCIOUS
2. CONSCIOUS MIND
1. SUBCONSCIOUS MIND.



SUBCONSCIOUS PLANE OF THE MIND

At first sight it would seem that the conscious part of man's mind does most of the work, but a little reflection will show that conscious reasoning of the mind is only a part of its function. In a broad sense, the mind of man functions on the three planes viz;

1. Subconscious
2. Conscious
3. Superconscious;


Please note!

Each plane gradually shading into the planes on either side of it, the one next higher and one next lower, "like the colours in a rainbow".

And please remember!

Man shares 'the subconscious' plane of mind in common with lower animals. "It is the first stage of mental development in the scale of evolution".
The first dawn of the 'instinctive mind' can be traced even in the material kingdom. Then, in the plant kingdom, it grows more distinct and higher in the scale. Again, in the animal world, there is an increasing manifestation of the 'automatic mind' from the almost plant-like intelligence of the lowest forms until we reach a degree almost equal the lowest of human beings. Then, among men, we see it shading gradually into the intellect "the middle principle of mind"
But even the "very highly evolved men of today use the subsconscious mind and in varying degrees".

In fact, "we cannot exist without it, we must learn to use and guide it intelligently".

INTELLECT:

"Intellect is the second phase of mind, which civilized man uses at present, has unfolded only to a small degree. For many the intellectual unfolded only to a small degree. For many the intellectual unfolding, is only the beginning".

"If we analyse, we can see that men are little better than animals: their minds function almost on the instinctive plane though it is shaded by the incoming rays of the intellect".

A majority of people are led by political leaders and leaders of various communities and tribes. "This is nothing but the animal instinct or herd instinct. Where herd follows the leader. Again, we see that average people think very little; thinking becomes merely automatic in their daily lives".

The lowest phases of the work of the instinctive mind are akin to the same work manifesting in the plant kingdom; Such as, birth, growth, decay and death are automatic processes. This is common to plant, animal and man. "These processes are functions of the instinctive mind".

During the existence of the body, whether the body of plant, animal or man, the constant work of repair, change, digestion, assimilation, elimination, circulation, etc., is being done by this portion of the mind, all in, the sub-conscious plane, "without our conscious knowledge".

All the involuntary organs and their functions are under the superintendence of this mind. These involuntary functions are only a small portion of the work of the instinctive mind. In the scale of evolution of the animal, certain things became necessary for its existence,.... "as reasoning power was not developed to meet existences", the wonderful intelligence, subconsciously lying unfolded as instinctive mind. Took the plane of intellect. This function of the mind (fighting instinct) like all the politicians of the world they have 'fighting instinct'.

All the sufferings and problems in life arise from undeveloped mind (fighting instinct). Undeveloped mind follows the lower nature instead.

"Man of this nature is a burden on the earth".

The fundamental human values all emanate or based on Truth.

This 'fighting instinct' or undeveloped mind will leads to disaster. Man has de-humanised himself systematically by neglect of the basic Unity.

"From slings to arrows, from cannon balls to bombs, from fusion to fission, man has progressed in the art of killing and entered the Darkest Age of history. The greed for wealth and power has overwhelmed the creed of compassion. The law of self-aggrandizement reigns; the law of self-abnegation has receded. When the son is acclaimed as a good fellow, the father congratulates himself; when he is ostracised as a bad fellow, the father condemns others for leading him astray"!

That is the functions of 'Instinctive mind' and it is essential for the animal existence not for human beings.

Instinctive functions such as making a nest, migrating before the approaching winter, hibernation, nursing the young, "are all functions of the subconscious mind" which are essential for the animal existence.

Until the development of the intellect without reasoning.
"Another function of the subconscious mind is to do automatically things that we have learnt through the intellect".

When we learn things by heart, we have really mastered them on the intellectual plane and "then passed them to the sub-conscious plane by mentation".

This process is a higher manifestation of the subconscious mind and is due to the contact and blending with the developing intellect.

Much of our daily work is done automatically such as "walking, painting, talking, sewing, driving, etc." If not, the intellect would tire if it had these everyday tasks to perform consciously or intellectually.


"THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND":

Is also a habit mind or rather, an obedient servant. As it cannot reason, it often has to be guided by the intellect of the individual or that of some other person.

Any idea from the intellect, consciously or unconsciously, comes to it and is carried out faithfully to the very letter. Old notions and tensions lying subconsciously can be corrected and removed through better - instructions by the intellect of the individual or of someone else.

"It is amazing to note how helpful the subconscious mind is; for example, when we have to catch a train early in the morning, all we have to do is to suggest to the subconscious mind to make us at a certain time, and it does so".

"The subconscious mind does not carry out only good instructions from the intellect, but also wrong instructions";

So unnecessary fear, anxieties, and worries, created during our daily activities are taken on by the subconscious mind and later on projected to the conscious mind. "A shock or fear in childhood will torment a person" even he is old, unless he is helped by counter suggestion.


"IN THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND"

In the subconscious mind lie all the knowledge and impressions received from various sources. It is something like a store house having everything, known and unknown. Which it has received through hereditary and various other sources that it has unfolded within itself. It also contains the knowledge gained by the intellect as well as the knowledge gained from the association with others.

It is a common experience that a forgotten passage that are learnt in youth, "suddenly projects itself from the subconscious mind" though we have not thought of it for many years. Some persons get the memory of the past life from this mind, though it is very rare.

"Nature keeps away the mysteries of the past life from consciousness; otherwise it would increase our mental tension by reviving past good and bad memories".

In concluding our discussion on the lower phase of the mind such as; 'instinctive mind' or 'subconscious mind' which known as the seat of the "lower emotions, instincts, passion, desires, appetites, greed, and lust".

We should also remember that there are higher emotions, aspirations, and desires for knowledge in advanced man that is "from the unfolding spiritual mind and not of the lower mind".

The lower mental principle is the grossest and the lowest of the three mental principles and is the one which is ready to bind us closely to the earth and earthly things.

The subconscious or instinctive mind consists of submerged experiences and memories throw into the background but recoverable:

"As the body grow old, the first symptom is that it is difficult to remember person and places. It is not hard to find the reason".

"The mind, as we know, generally remembers through associations. In old age, one can still remember passages that have been read in school and college. But at the same time, one is hard put to remember a passage read the night before. This is because the subconscious mind has lost its power of grasping and storing ideas, as the cells of the brain have degenerated".

By the degeneration of the brain cells through... "overwork, worries, and anxieties. Memory power is soon lost and very little impression is left on the subconscious mind".

The reasoning processes are limited to the field of consciousness alone, messages, when ready, come out like a flash from subconscious mind.

"Only small percentage of mental activities come into the field of consciousness".

When we drive a car through a crowded street, even though we are talking to friends in the car or solving some problem, the driving, turning, stopping are done almost subconsciously. When we sit and try too hard to solve a problem we may fail.

But during sleep, at times, this kind of problem is solved subconsciously and is projected to consciously and is projected to conscious mind during wakening: During that period the subconscious mind is working like man at the wheel while driving.

Even in sleep, this mind works without any rest and "solves problem, arranges, classifies, compares, sorts all facts, and works out a proper, satisfactory solution".

With the help of the subconscious mind we can remove tension from external and internal organs and give them proper relaxation.

All the involuntary vegetative functions of the body that are below the conscious plane are under the able management of the subconscious mind. "Subconscious intelligence as instinct rarely fails".

"An animal almost instinctively knows a poisonous herbs from an edible one". But the work of instinct is limited. It works like a machine.

Then comes "a higher state of knowledge" (intellect), which is fallible and makes mistakes often; Its scope is larger, "we call it reason". It is much larger than instinct but instinct is surer than reason.

Animals know instinctively what to eat and what not to eat, when they are sick, nature prompts them to fast. When the dog or cat is sick, we see that he does not like to take food. "The internal mechanism is controlled by the subconscious intelligence" which prompts the dog or cat to take nature's remedy of removing poison through fasting.

"This portion of the subconscious mind is still with us, helping us in various ways. But owing to the development of reasoning power, man has lost most of his instinct, though it still plays a great role in our daily life".... and please note:

"Even such animals as dogs and cats lose much of their instinct owing to association with man and, subsequently suffer like man."

Instead of guiding and giving proper suggestions with the developed intellect, man interferes with the natural work of the subconscious mind through wrong suggestions and thus adds miseries to his life.

With the help of the subconscious, we can change vicious nature by cultivating healthy, virtuous qualities that are opposed to undesirable ones. "If we want to overcome fear, we must mentally deny fear and concentrate on the opposite quality, courage. The positive always overcome the negative".... Remember that.

Even distasteful tasks and duties can be changed by cultivating a desire and taste for them. All actions, pleasures, and experiences leave subtle impressions induces memory.

'Great sages' dive deep inside this mind to obtain the knowledge. Such occult phenomena of the mental world as... 'telepathy', 'thought-reading', 'hypnotism', 'mesmerism', 'distant healing', 'phychic healing', etc.

Clearly prove the existence of the extraordinary functions of the mind. From the automatic writing and other experiences of hypnotized person, "we can clearly infer the existence of the subconscious mind".


"ALL GENIUSES HAVE CONTROL OVER THE SUBCONSCIOUS MIND"

If an idea is planted in the mind, it grows at night through the operation of the subconscious. Those who know how to manipulate the subconscious mind can turn out tremendous mental work through the automatic process.

When the subconscious is at work, the conscious reasoning part of the mind is completely at rest or working only partially, supervising the subconscious mind. Therefore, one feels more relaxed even after hard work.

"All great individuals have control over the subconscious mind and know how to make it work for them. This ability of the subconscious to operate automatically results from association with the unfolding intellect".


"MIND IS A GREAT FORCE ON THIS EARTH"

He who has controlled his mind, is full of power. He can bring all minds under his influence; one is struck with awe and wonder at the marvels and mysterious power of the mind of a man. The subconscious mind manifests varying degrees of consciousness, it varies from almost wholly 'subconscious' to 'the simple consciousness' of the highest of animals and the lowest form of man who lives almost on an instinctive plane with only a touch of the developing intellect.

"Self consciousness comes to man with the unfolding of the intellect". Cosmic or 'universal consciousness' comes with the unfolding of the 'intuitional mind' or 'higher mind'".

As we have seen, the lower mind is the seat of "appetites, passions, desires, instincts, and emotions of the lower animals".

"These lower instincts is still with us". So learn to curb and control these lower instincts and subordinate them to the developing intellect and higher mind.

"As we grow spiritually, we can see the lower instincts in us predominant, yet we need not be discouraged by it. And please remember. "Even to know that they are in us, is a sign of spiritual progress".

When the lower instincts was working, we could not recognize what it was, where as now it is seen and recognized. As we progress on the spiritual path, the higher mind will obtain mastery over the lower mind, "patience, perseverance, purity of mind, and faith" required for the task.

Dear readers;

Please read repeatedly, understand and experience it, until it is ingrained. And please follow the second and third about 'Intellect' (The Conscious Mind) and 'Intuitional Mind' or 'Higher Mind'.

It is a great thing to develop intuition. Very few have developed the faculty of intuition, while many are unaware of its existence. If you happen to be the seekers please forward to all friends all over the world. From the higher mind comes all the knowledge of the unknown and this is the source from which the seers the sages obtain their vision and foresight.


From Empty Hands,
A. Rahman bin Mahadi
Labis, Johore
016-602 0321

30 November 2011

Next Topic: 1. "Bagaimana Menghadapi Kematian"
2. "One In A Million Do Not Know The True Significance Of Life"

Thursday, October 27, 2011

KISAH MENGENAI BAI'AH DAN PERISTIWA PERJANJIAN AQABAH

Perjalanan sejarah atau sirah Nabi Muhammad SAW sama ada sukar atau mudah untuk diikuti, amat penting untuk kita ketahui. Malah kalau dapat kita dalami dan dikaji dengan lebih lanjut lalu dihayati, itu adalah lebih baik bagi orang-orang yang ingin berjuang dengan berpegang teguh dengan sumpah dan janjinya kepada Allah.

KISAH MENGENAI BAI'AH ATAU PERJANJIAN AQABAH

Secara ringkasnya ia merupakan 'Perjanjian Damai' atau 'Sumpah Setia' yang berlaku antara Nabi Muhammad dengan beberapa penduduk Yathrib (nama lama Madinah Al-Munawarrah) yang datang menemui baginda di sebuah tempat atau bukit bernama 'Aqabah'. Bukit itu terletak beberapa kilometer di utara Kota Mekah itu berdekatan dengan Mina.

Kita jangan keliru kerana terdapat sebuah perkampungan di Timur Laut Tebing Barat, Palestin, juga dikenali sebagai 'Aqabah' yang dirampas daripada penduduk Palestin untuk dijadikan sebuah kem tentera besar Rejim Israel.

Juga perlu diketahui sebuah bandar di selatan Jordan juga bernama 'Aqabah', di samping kita menyebut 'Aqabah' iaitu perbuatan 'ibadat haji' iaitu 'melontar batu Jumrah yang ketiga, iaitu 'Jumrah Al-Aqabah'.

'Perjanjian 'Aqabah' merupakan 'Perjanjian Pertama' antara baginda dengan mana-mana pihak, sama ada dari dalam mahupun luar kota Mekah. Ia melibatkan satu persefahaman untuk memberi ketaatan kepada Rasulullah.


PERISTIWA PERJANJIAN 'AQABAH

Perjanjian Aqabah merupakan susulan "selepas enam (6) orang penduduk Yathrib memeluk Islam" pada musim Haji Tahun Ke 11 Kenabian. Mereka berjanji kepada baginda untuk menyampaikan risalah Islam di kalangan kaum mereka apabila pulang semula ke Yathrib.

Hasilnya, pada musim Haji berikutnya, iaitu musim Haji Tahun Ke 12 Kenabian, bersamaan Julai tahun 621 Masihi, "datanglah seramai 12 orang lelaki termasuk lima orang yang menemui Baginda sebelum ini."

Lima (5) daripada tujuh (7) muka baru yang menemui Baginda itu terdiri daripada suku atau Kabilah Al Khazraj, manakala dua (2) lagi, suku Aus.

Mereka bertemu dengan Baginda 'di Bukit Aqabah', bagi memateri satu perjanjian yang dikenali sebagai 'Perjanjian Aqabah'. Antara lain seperti yang diriwayatkan oleh Al-Bukhari daripada Ubadah bin Al-Samit, iaitu salah seorang daripada suku Al-Khazraj yang menerima Perjanjian Aqabah itu, bahawa Rasulullah SAW bersabda:

"Marilah, berbai'ahlah kepada Ku, bahawa kamu tidak akan mensyirikkan Allah dengan sesuatu apa pun, tidak mencuri, tidak berzina, tidak membunuh anak-anak kamu, tidak membawa cerita-cerita fitnah dari hadapan dan belakang, dan tidak mendurhakai ku dalam kebajikan."

"Barangsiapa yang terlanggar sesuatu daripadanya lalu dihukum semasa di dunia, maka itu adalah sebagai penebusan (kaffarah)."

"Namun jika sesiapa yang terlanggar akan perjanjian itu dengan melakukan perkara yang sama-sama kita berjanji untuk tidak melakukannya, tetapi ditutupkan oleh Allah daripada pengetahuan manusia, maka urusannya terserahlah kepada Allah. Jika Dia mahu, maka Dia akan menyiksakannya dan jika Dia mahu, Dia akan mengampunkannya."

Ubadah pun berkata, "Lalu aku pun membaiahnya."
Diriwayat lain disebutkan, "Lalu kami pun membai'ahnya atas perkara-perkara yang disebutkan oleh Rasulullah itu."

DARI ASPEK SOSIAL DAN POLITIK

Namun dari aspek sosial dan politik, penduduk Arab melakukan "Perjanjian (Bai'ah) Damai" antara kabilah dan sebagainya, adalah biasa dilakukan. Telah menjadi adat dan tradisi mereka "saling menyatakan sumpah setiakawan atau bersahabat baik bagi mencapai pelbagai tujuan dan matlamat tertentu".

DI SEBALIK PERISTIWA PERJANJIAN AQABAH:

Di sebalik perjanjian itu, tentunya kita tertanya-tanya mengapa penduduk Yathrib dengan begitu mudah dan tanpa sebarang masalah menerima dakwah daripada Rasulullah?... Hanya dengan satu pertemuan sahaja dengan baginda. Mereka seolah-olah seperti telah lama menunggu saat menerima dakwah baginda itu.

Persoalan ini memerlukan kita melihat situasi yang berlaku di Yathrib itu sendiri yang menjadi sebab musabab utama mengapa mereka dengan mudah memeluk Islam.

KOMPOSISI PENDUDUK 'YATHRIB'

Komposisi penduduk di Yathrib terdiri daripada tiga kelompok yang besar, iaitu kaum Yahudi dan dua lagi kaum Arab terdiri daripada suku kaum 'Al-Khazraj' dan 'Aus'.

Kedua-dua puak Arab ini merupakan kaum yang menyembah berhala di Yathrib, manakala kaum Yahudi dengan agama Yahudi, mereka sebagai golongan ahli kitab yang mempercayai 'Kitab Taurat'.


DALAM BUKU KARANGAN HUSSEIN HAEKAL

Menurut Hussein Haekal dalam 'bab Ikrar Aqabah', dalam buku 'Sejarah Hidup Muhammad SAW', kaum Yahudi dan dua suku Arab di Kota Yathrib itu tidak pernah hidup aman. Persengketaan demi persengketaan yang membawa peperangan, sering berlaku. Sejarah mereka agak panjang iaitu melibatkan "pelbagai punca terutamanya soal agama."

Menurut Haekal, apabila 'puak Nasrani' yang mendiami 'Syam' yang berada di bawah pengaruh Rom Timur (Baizantin), mereka terlalu membenci dan memarahi kaum Yahudi tanpa mengira di mana puak itu berada.

Mereka percaya kaum itu telah menyebabkan kematian Nabi Isa AS, iaitu dengan cara menyiksa dan menyalib baginda. Lalu kaum Yahudi yang sekian lama mendiami Tathrib, turut menjadi mangsa kemarahan kaum Nasrani itu. Namun, cubaan untuk menghapuskan terus 'kaum Yahudi' itu tidak pernah berjaya sehinggalah puak 'Nasara' meminta bantuan daripada 'suku Arab Khazraj dan Aus, untuk membalas dendam.'

Namun kedudukan Yahudi semakin terancam apabila suku Arab itu sendiri ingin menyingkir kaum itu keluar dari Yathrib, bagi membolehkan mereka memonopoli dan menguasai sepenuhnya bandar yang makmur dan subur dengan pelbagai hasil pertanian dan perniagaan itu.

YAHUDI PECAH BELAHKAN SUKU-SUKU ARAB

Namun Yahudi yang menyedari niat suku Arab itu, 'betindak pantas dan bijak' dengan melancarkan "gerakan memecah belahkan suku-suku Arab tersebut".

"Caranya, dengan menciptakan pelbagai 'provokasi dan fitnah' yang menyebabkan suku Khazraj dan Aus sering bertelagah sesama sendiri."

Gerakan licik dan halus oleh Yahudi itu benar-benar mengembalikan semula kedudukan mereka di 'Yathrib'.

Soal keagamaan turut menyumbang kepada berlakunya 'Perjanjian Aqabah'. apabila kaum Yahudi di Yathrib, yang merupakan golongan ahli Kitab, dan mempercayai Tuhan yang 'SATU' (MONOTEISME), sering mengejek-ejek dan mencela perbuatan suku Arab Khazraj dan Aus menyembah berhala.

Kaum Yahudi sering memperingatkan kepada mereka mengenai ramalan dalam Taurat mengenai kelahiran seorang Nabi yang akan menyelamatkan kaum Yahudi.

Namun mereka tidak bermaksud untuk mengajak suku-suku Arab itu memeluk agama mereka.
Maka apabila suku Arab di Yathrib mendengar dan mengetahui mengenai "seorang Nabi telah muncul di Kota Mekah" menyebabkan mereka akhirnya mengakui kebenaran ramalan dari kitab 'Perjanjian Lama Yahudi' itu.

Agaknya inilah nabi yang disebut-sebut oleh orang Yahudi mengetahui mengenai Nabi Muhammad SAW itu dan kita mendahului mereka untuk menerima kedatangan Nabi ini.

"Biar kita beriman terlebih dahulu, sebelum kaum Yahudi beriman terhadap Nabi itu, jika tidak tahu hujung pangkal, nasib kita tiada siapa yang tahu." Kata puak-puak Al-Khazraj dan Aus itu.


From Empty Hands,
A. Rahman bin Mahadi
Labis, Johore
016-602 0321

28 October 2011

Next Topic: 1. "Mind Is A Great Force On This Earth. The Mind Of Man Functions On Three Planes"

2. "Bagaimana Menghadapi Kematian"

Monday, October 3, 2011

ABOUT WOMEN AND WHY WOMEN NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT WAR

Women does not have a war instinct, and she is not interested in invading countries, creating empires. It is just not in her nature. "That's why I'm insisting that if women took over all the parliaments, war could simply be stopped without any difficulty."

It is the women who suffers most in a war: either her husband dies or her son dies or her father dies. Whenever her country is invaded,"the first victim is the women".
"She is raped by the soldiers of the invading nation; the first thing that the soldiers do is to rape women. She gets nothing out of war except losing everything and being used brutally and violently."

And please note:

War will continue if man remains in power. "Man has to be removed from power- he has a war instinct."

'WOMAN'... Has all the great qualities in her. And whenever a man becomes awakened, he attains to the same qualities which he has been condemning in women. "The qualities that are thought to be weak are all the feminine qualities." And it is a strange fact that all the great qualities come into that category. What is left are only the brutal qualities, animal qualities.

Strength has many dimentions. Love has its own strength. For example, to carry a child in the womb for nine months needs strength, stamina, love. No man would manage it.

"It is difficult to give life to another soul, to give a body to another soul, to give a brain and mind to another soul."

The woman shares wholeheartedly in giving to the child whatever she can manage. And even after the child is born, it is not easy to bring up children.

"To me, it seems to be the most difficult thing in the world."

Any mountain climbers and Astronauts...
These people should first try to bring up children... Then only can we accept that they have done something by climbing the Everest; otherwise it is pointless. Even if you have reached the moon and walked on the moon it does not matter, it doesn't show that you are stronger.

A living child - so volatile, such an energy overflowing that he will tire you within hours. Nine months in the womb and then a few years....

"Just try one night with a small baby in your bed. During that night, in your house, something is going to happen: either the child will kill you or you will kill the child. Most probably you will kill the child, because children are the nastiest people in the world."

They are 'so fresh' and they want to do so many things and you are dead tired. You want to go to sleep, and the child is fully awake; he wants to do all kinds of things and "he want your advice, and questions... and if nothing works then he wants to go the bathroom! He is feeling thirsty... he is feeling hungry in the middle of the night."

I don't think there is any man who can have a pregnancy or who can bring up children."It is the strength of the women." But it is a different strength. There is one strength which is destructive, there is another strength which is creative. There is one strength which is of hatred, and "there is another strength which is Love."

"Love,trust, beauty, sincerity, truthfulness, authenticity - these are all feminine qualities."

And they are far greater than any qualities that man has. But the whole past has been dominated by man and his qualities.

"Naturally in war, love is no use, truth is of no use, beauty is of no use, aesthetic sensibility is of no use."

Remember! In war you need a heart that is more stony than stones. "In war you need simply hate, anger, a madness to destroy."

In three thousand years man has fought fire thousand wars. Yes, this is also strength but not worthy of human beings. "This strength derived from our human inheritance."

It belongs to the past, which is gone, and the feminine qualities belong to the future... Which is coming.

As a woman there is no need to feel yourself weak because of your feminine qualities. "You should feel grateful to existence that what man has to earn, you have been given by nature as a gift."

Man has to learn how to love. Man has to learn how to let the heart be the master and the mind be just an obedient servant. Man has to learn these things.

"The woman brings these things with her." But we condemn all these qualities as weakness. Please note;

"Even if you have chosen women as great individuals, you can see what you have chosen - you have chosen a man, because you have chosen the qualities of man that were in the woman."

For example; if you have read the history, Joan of Arc had all the qualities of man. She could fight with a naked sword, could kill people without any problem. Such women have been chosen in history and great tribute has been paid to them by the historians. "And they don't represent women; in fact that is the reason why they have been chosen - because "they are just carbon copies of men."

"The women's liberation movement has to learn one fundamental thing": That is, not to imitate men and not to listen to what he says about feminine qualities, the feminine personality. "Drop all the ideas of man that he has been putting in your heads. And also drop the ideas of the women's liberation movement, because they are also putting nonsense into your minds."

Their nonsense is that they are trying to prove that men and women are equal. They are not- and when I say they are not, I don't mean that someone is superior and someone is inferior. "I mean that they are unique."

Women are women and men are men; there is no question of comparison. Equally is out of the question. They are not unequal and neither can they be equal;... "They are unique."

Rejoice in your feminine qualities, make a poetry of your feminine qualities. That is your great inheritance from nature. Don't throw it away, because the man does not have them.

I would like the whole world to be full of feminine qualities... "Then only can wars disappear. Then only can we have one world: A loving a peaceful, a silent and beautiful world."

So drop all the conditionings man has given to you. Find your own qualities and develop them.You are not to imitate man; neither is the man to imitate you.

There is no need of any conflict between you, because you are man and woman together.

"Rather than creating a conflict, my whole work is to indicate to you the path, how you can create an orchestra of all your qualities together.
That will be your wholeness as a human being."



From Empty Hands,
A.Rahman bin Mahadi
Labis, Johore
016-602 0321

04 October 2011

Next Topic: 1. "Kisah Mengenai Bai'ah dan Peristiwa Perjanjian Aqabah"

2. "Mind Is A Great Force On This Earth. The Mind Of Man Functions On Three Planes"

Thursday, September 8, 2011

TANGGUNGJAWAB IBU BAPA TERHADAP ANAK-ANAK

Tanggungjawab ibu bapa terhadap anak-anak bukanlah seperti kita pergi kerja, "masuk jam 8.00 pagi dan balik jam 5.00 petang."

Kalau kita pergi kerja jam 8.00 pagi dan balik jam 5.00 petang, justeru, di manakah tanggungjawab Si ibu bapa kalau kedua-duanya keluar dari rumah dan meninggalkan anak-anaknya? Natijahnya, apa yang sedang dihadapi oleh institusi kekeluargaan dan kesannya kepada agama dan negara, menjadi tanda soal serta perdebatan yang meluas.

Ingat! "Tugas dan tanggungjawab ibu bapa bukanlah dari jam 8.00 pagi hingga jam 5.00 petang", seperti kita pergi kerja pagi dan balik petang. "Ianya suatu tugas yang tidak berkesudahan". Dari segi masa pula, kita memang tidak cukup masa untuk melakukan apa jua, dari segi tugas dan tanggungjawabnya terhadap anak-anaknya.

Saudaraku yang dikasihi selaku ibu bapa!

Tidak kiralah berapa usia anak-anak kita, baru lahir atau yang sudah pandai bertatih, masih tidak terlambat untuk meletakkan tanggungjawab menjadi keutamaan kepada anak-anak, dan berbangga menjadi ibu dan bapa yang pengasih dan penyayang.

Ramai ibu bapa berfikir bahawa dialah saja yang tahu apa yang terbaik untuk anak-anaknya, meletakkan sangkaan dan jangkaan serta harapan yang sangat tingi. Dia memaksa anak-anaknya agar mengambil 'tuition', sedangkan Si ibu bapa sendiri boleh melakukannya. Dalam masa yang sama, disuruh anak-anaknya agar belajar menari, jika anaknya perempuan, dan taekwando, jika anaknya lelaki, kelas muzik, kelas komputer dan sebagainya.

Dalam masa yang sama, tekanan terhadap anak-anak; "mesti dapat 'A' dalam peperiksaannya nanti, dan cemerlang dalam semua aspek". Dalam berlumba-lumba untuk berjaya ('rat-race'), Si ibu bapa tidak menyedari bahawa Si anak bertukar menjadi 'pemburu kepada kebendaan', bersaing, berlumba-lumba, menghakmilik di mana ia boleh berbangga dan menunjuk-nunjuk kepada kawan-kawan, saudara mara, dan lain-lain, untuk jadi bahan bualan.

Pada zaman dahulu, penghidupan anak-anak remaja tidak begitu tertekan, kerana tidak banyak tekanan dan pengharapan yang diletakkan sebegitu tinggi untuk dipenuhi. Tetapi anak-anak remaja masa kini, terutamanya di bandar-bandar, kini sudah menular ke kampung-kampung, terlampau atau terlalu banyak perkara-perkara yang hendak dibuat dan bersaing, maka itu ia adalah 'bukan seperti anak-anak biasa'.

Ramai di antara ibu bapa 'gagal' menyedari selaku 'ibu bapa' bahawa ia 'ada hak tertentu dan tanggungjawab'. Si anak pula punya 'hak dan tanggungjawabnya' juga.

Tetapi apa yang berlaku pada hari ini, kita mempunyai ibu bapa yang 'arah' atau 'haluan' secara melampau. Tetapi dalam banyak kes kita lihat anak-anaknya menjadi sebaliknya, tidak menjadi seperti apa yang diangan-angankan.

Saudaraku ibu bapa, biarlah kita jadi ibu bapa yang realistik dan bertimbang rasa. Janganlah kita menetapkan sasaran, di mana ia tahu bahawa anak-anaknya tidak dapat memenuhi hajatnya. Oleh itu selaku ibu bapa, tidaklah perlu mencipta tekanan yang tidak sewajarnya dalam sebuah keluarga. Ingat! "Mencipta sebuah keluarga bahagia adalah suatu proses yang berterusan."

Selaku ibu bapa, bukan saja perlu peka sepenuhnya terhadap peranan dan tanggungjawabnya, tetapi perlu juga menyesuaikan diri selaku ibu bapa pad zaman moden yang penuh cabaran, dengan memahami teknik dan kesesuaiannya; Seperti kata-kata yang sangat tua:

"Jika kita ada enam (6) jari, jangan cuba hendak mengurangkannya menjadi lima (5). Dan jika kita punya lima (5) jari, jangan dicuba untuk menjadikannya enam 6)."

Ertinya:
"Janganlah kita cuba hendak mengatasi hukum alam."

Selaku 'ketua keluarga' atau 'ibu bapa', kitalah yang bertanggungjawab terhadap kebaikan dan kesejahteraannya. Jika Si anak-anak itu membesar sihat dan beradab, bersusila,serta menjadi seorang warganegara yang baik, itu semua adalah usaha gigih ibu bapa. Tetapi jika Si anak-anak itu membesar tidak beradab dan rosak akhlak atau moralnya, maka kitalah selaku ibu bapa yang bertanggungjawab...
"Jangan sekali-kali kita menyalahkan orang lain."

Selaku ibu bapa, memang sudah menjadi tuntutan dan bertanggungjawab untuk membimbing dan mengasuh anak-anak ke jalan yang betul. Walaupun ada kes-kes yang tidak boleh diperbetulkan lagi kerana kerosakan akhlaknya, namun apapun selaku ibu bapa, secara moralnya, kitalah mesti dipersalahkan... Ingat!

"Anak sipakah mereka itu, kalau bukan anak kita?"

Sokongan dan pengawalan adalah perlu sewaktu anak-anak sedang meningkat remaja. Selaku ibu bapa akhirnya anak-anak itu mesti dijadikan sebagai kawan yang karib mengikut kesanggupan dan kemampuan masing-masing. Ada kesilapan yang berlaku kepada ibu bapa yang cuba menjadikan anak-anaknya yang berusia 6 tahun sebagai kawan. Kita selaku ibu bapa perlu berhati-hati apa yang saya maksudkan sebagai 'kawan'. Saya tidak bermaksud kita jadikan ia sebagai 'kawan', seperti 'kawan' yang sudah matang, tetapi mesti diberi 'kasih sayang, kepercayaan, dan penghormatan'. Pada usia semuda itu selaku anak-anak, ia sangat memerlukan ibu bapanya, bukannya... kawan-kawan.

Sewaktu kita membina kasih sayang dan memberinya sokongan perhubungan yang intim terhadap anak-anak, adalah dinasihatkan agar ibu bapa dapat membantu mengembangkan hal-hal dalaman diri anak-anak tersebut dari hal-hal keagamaan dan kerohanian.

Tetapi itu semua, kita selaku ibu bapa mesti ada masa untuk anak-anak, seperti:

Kita mesti ada masa untuk menjawab semua persoalannya.
Membantunya untuk memahami 'rasa kehairanan dan kekagumannya' terhadap alam dan penghidupan di persekitarannya.

Kita ibu bapa perlu ingat dan ambil perhatian, bahawa kitalah ibu bapa yang menyekat dan membuat anak-anak itu beku dan kaku terhadap anak-anak bila kita tidak dapat menjawab soalan-soalannya apabila ia bertanya. Tahukah kita bahawa apabila anak-anak mengajukan soalan itu, ertinya ia cuba... 'berkomunikasi'. Justeru cabaran yang paling besar yang kita selaku ibu bapa perlu berhadapan adalah "untuk bersedia menjawab dengan penuh berhemah, dengan penuh kasih sayang". Dan apa jua yang kita lakukan mestilah secara natural, bersesuaian dengan perangainya yang suka banyak bertanya selaku anak-anak.

Secara Saintifik, jika kita ingin menyelesaikan masalah, adalah dengan melihat kepada permasalahan itu sendiri. Dapatkan semua maklumat atau data sebanyak yang mungkin, kemudian diadun dan disusun secara teratur.

Samalah juga anak-anak, yang mempunyai perasaan ingin tahu, memerlukan jawapan yang diinginkan akan mengajarkannya cara memikir dan secara Saintifik, disamping secara kreatif, sebagai bekalan yang sempurna apabila ia menjelang dewasa.

Ambil sedikit contoh ini:

Apabila kita memberikan bahan permainan kepada aanak-anak, berilah ia secara 'berhemah' dan penuh 'kasih sayang'. Tetapi ada ibu bapa, cara memberinya adalah dengan 'jeritan, menghentak, melontar', seraya berkata;
"Jangan buka macam itu, jangan pecah dan rosakkan permainan itu, harganya mahal. Tahukah engkau betapa bertuahnya mendapat permainan ini."

Ingat!... Selaku ibu bapa, apa kata jika permaianan itu dipecahkan atau dirosakkannya juga? Jika kita mampu membeli permainan tersebut, secara logiknya juga cara memikirnya, ia juga mampu memecah atau merosakkannya juga.

Sebenarnya apa yang patut kita lakukan selaku ibu bapa ialah mesti mengambil sikap berlembut dan mengatakan kepadanya;

"Sayang!.. mari kita buka kotak ini bersama." Dan buat sedikit jenaka dengannya dan bukannya bersikap negatif, berilah apa saja dengan sifat kasih sayang.

Itu pun hanya boleh kita lakukan jika keadaan kita selaku ibu bapa tidak dalam keadaan tertekan atau 'stress'. Sebaliknya kita mesti dalam suasana riang dan gembira, barulah suasana atau iklimnya menyenang dan menceriakan.

Ada kalanya juga ibu bapalah yang bertanggungjawab , kerana menanam benih-benih pembohongan dan hipokrit dengan pelbagai cara, ada ibu bapa yang berbohong secara langsung, sama ada secara aksi atau percakapan, begitulah bermulanya penggalakan lingkaran sebab dan akibat kejahatan mengembang.

Nasib untung anak-anak semuanya bergantung kepada kita selaku ibu bapa dan yang lebih dewasa tentang perangai baik buruknya dalam kita mendidiknya di sepanjang perkembangan dan pertumbuhannya.

Berhati-hati bila kita berbual-bual bila anak-anak berada di sisi kita, kerana ia suka meniru apa saja yang dilakukan oleh ibu bapa. Oleh itu untuk mengekang anak-anak dari bersikap kurang ajar, biadab dan kurang sopan, maka ibu bapa berhati-hatilah apabila berbual dan bebicara, gunakanlah bahasa yang lunak, lembut, dan menyenangkan.

Anak-anak umpama rebung, lihat cara kita melenturnya, ia sangat mudah terpengaruh, ia memerlukan belaian dan kasih sayang serta perhatian sepenuhnya daripada kita selaku ibu bapa sebagai model yang unggul baginya.

Tanpa kasih sayang dan bimbingan sepenuhnya, secara emosinya ia seorang anak yang cacat dan lumpuh, bukan secara fizikalnya, tetapi dari segi emosinya; bila emosinya tercalar dan cacat, akan didapatinya nanti bahawa dunia yang sedang dihuninya ini sebagai tempat yang membingungkan.

Menanam kasih sayang kepada anak-anak bukan bererti memuaskana nafsunya terhadap segala permintaannya, berpatutanlah, bersederhanalah. Jika tidak, kita akan merosakkan anak-anak kita. Dalam kita menyemai kasih sayang, kita selaku ibu bapa perlu juga tegas, bukannya berkasar dan berkeras. Tunjuk dan tonjolkan kasih sayang melalui akal dan tangan yang penuh disiplin.

Ibu bapa patut melapangkan masa yang sangat bernilai sepenuhnya ('quality time') dengan anak-anaknya. Luangkan masa dengan anak-anak dan berikan mereka hadiah kasih sayang secara sihat, bukannya memberikan hadiah perkara-perkara yang berbentuk material.

Malangnya, di kalangan ibu bapa masa kini, kurangnya belaian kasih sayang terhadap anak-anak. Inilah yang menjadi penyebab kepada kerosakan akhlak dan keruntuhan rumah tangga yang sekarang ini menjadi-jadi di dalam institusi kekeluargaan.

Gila mengejar dan memburu harta benda, dan kemajuan Sains dan Teknologi, kebebasan bergaul, sibuk bekerja, sibuk bermesyuarat, sibuk berpolitik dan macam-macam kesibukan. Tetapi di rumah.... Orang gajilah sebagai pengganti ibu bapa kepada anak-anak, atau menghantar anak-anak ke pusat penjagaan. "Maka berlakulah kebingungan deria dan akal Si anak-anak."

Ambil perhatian nasihat saya ini; terutama mereka yang banyak duit dan berpangkat, berpelajaran tinggi, yang "rumahnya macam tempat persinggahan."... AWAS!

Jika kita ada orang gaji dan membayarnya sebagai pengganti ibu bapa kepada anak-anak kita, percayalah, bila kita selaku 'ibu mati' atau meninggal dunia nanti, Si anak tidak akan menangis, tetapi bila 'orang gaji itu mati', Si anak akan menangis teresak-esak.

Membekalkan kepada anak-anak hadiah dalam bentuk barang-barang permainan yang canggih seperti 'kereta kebal, senapang, pistol, pedang' dan sebagainya, adalah sangat merbahaya, dalam pembentukan akhlak adalah tidak dinasihatkan.

Menghadiahkan 'senjata' permainan seumpama itu bukanlah sebagai ganti kepada kasih sayang seorang ibu atau bapa. Perbuatan begini adalah 'tidak betul', akhirnya Si anak itu secara tidak disedari, elemen emosi di dalam diri anak-anak itu seolah-olah telah ditanam dengan sifat-sifat agresif, yang sepatutnya anak-anak tersebut ditanam dengan sifat-sifat kasih sayang, baik hati, pemurah, dan suka menolong.

Anak-anak yang dibekalkan dengan alat-alat permainan yang berbentuk 'senjata permainan', secara tidak langsung kitalah yang membentuk kecenderungan di dalam diri anak-anak, bila ia membesar nanti.

Justeru, tidak usah dihairankan bila anak-anak itu membesar nanti, ibu bapa berhadapan dengan masalah 'rosak akhlak, perosak harta benda awam,' dan sebagainya.

Maka semua itu, siapakah yang patut dipersalahkan, jika kita selaku ibu bapa melahirkan anak-anak yang rosak akhlak, degil, keras hati... Pastinya semua itu ibu bapalah yang harus menjawabnya.

IBU BAPA PERLU TAHU, NATIJAH KESAN DAN AKIBAH.

Terutamanya ibu-ibu yang bekerja, setelah sehari suntuk bekerja di pejabat atau di mana-mana sektor, diikuti pula dengan kesibukan kerja-kerja rumah, memang terlalu sukar untuk memanjakan anak-anaknya dengan kasih sayang yang dirindui oleh Si anak-anak. Ibu bapa yang tidak punya masa untuk anak-anak, natijahnya; janganlah di suatu hari nanti, anak-anaknya juga tiada masa untuk menjaganya, bila ia tua kelak. Ibu bapa yang menganggap mereka telah banyak mengeluarkan wang untuk membesarkan anak-anaknya tetapi terlalu sibuk dengan kerja-kerjanya, juga janganlah di suatu hari nanti ia mengungkit-ungkit anak-anaknya juga sibuk dan meminta anak-anaknya agar menghantarkannya ke rumah orang-orang tua, jika Si anak tiada masa untuk menjaganya.

Ingatlah!... Selaku ibu bapa, nilai-nilai kebaikan bukan boleh diajar melalui percakapan, tetapi mestilah melalui 'amalan atau perbuatan'. Ibu bapa mesti menjadi contoh atau 'model dari dirinya sendiri', semuanya mesti bermula di rumah. Perlu diingat!... Bahawa jika ada masalah atau konfliks antara anak-anak dan ibu bapa; "Jawapannya mesti ada pada Si ibu bapa itu sendiri."

Sesiapa juga pembaca, khususnya ibu bapa, bakal ibu bapa, nasihat saya begini:

Pengorbanan daripada kedua-dua pihak selaku ibu bapa itu perlu. Faktor 'masa' untuk anak-anak, itulah yang sangat penting, bukan seperti apa yang saya katakan pada awal-awal lagi, ia bukannya "seperti pergi kerja pukul 8.00 pagi dan balik pukul 5.00 petang." Di antara waktu itu, jam 8.00 pagi hingga 5.00 petang, berada di manakah anak-anak kita itu? Jurang waktu itu begitu lama, maka nasihat saya "buatlah pilihan yang bijak!"


From Empty Hands,
A. Rahman bin Mahadi
Labis, Johore
016-602 0321

08 SEPTEMBER 2011

Next Topic: 1. "About Women And Why Women Never Thought About War"

2. "Kisah Mengenai Bai'ah Dan Peristiwa Perjanjian Aqabah"

Thursday, August 11, 2011

THE MENTAL LEVEL IS THE MOST CRUCIAL LEVEL FOR THE HUMAN BEING

Basically, man should be healthy at the following levels:

1. "MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL LEVEL":

The highest and most important level through which the human being functions "is the Mental and Spiritual Level."
As a general definition for this plane, we can say:

"The mental plane of an individual registers changes in understanding or consciousness where, as mental level..." Thinks, Criticizes, Compares, Calculates, Classifies, Creates, Synthesizes, Conjectures, Visualizes, Plans, Describes, Communicates, Etc.

Disturbances of these functions, in turn, constitutes symptoms of "Mental Illness."

The mental level is the most crucial level for the human being. "It is the mental and spiritual content of a person which is the true essence of that person."


If the inner tools of attaining a higher consciousness are disturbed, "the very central idea of the possibility of an 'Evolution in Consciousness' is lost."

Where then the meaning of life?

A person can continue to live, be happy, and be of creative service to others and to himself, even with a crippled body, body with limbs lost, even with sight of hearing lost. If it were possible to have and absolutely... "Healthy Mind, we would see people who live continually in spiritual bliss," daily revealing new creative ideas expressed in a very clear way, and be always of service to others.

Such people would be living constantly in the clearness of light, and be never in the confusions of spiritual darkness.

The three indispensable qualities that should accompany the different functions of mind are:

1. Clarity
2. Rationality, coherence and logical sequence.
3. Creative service for the good of others as well as for the good of oneself

All these three qualities must be present, "but the third is of prime importance."

That is the quality of creative service. The same applies to the master criminal who is highly intelligent and plans a theft or a murder with the utmost degree of clarity and rationality of thinking.

Yet this person is ill in the Deepest regions of his being, because he is "pursuing Selfish Goals" at the expense of other people. Such mentality pervades our modern world to an extreme degree and is the root cause of the problems of; "Competition, Violence, Alcohol, and Drug Abuse, Poverty and War." Rather, there is a continuous graduation - a mental degeneration starting from "Selfishness and Possessiveness" leading into what can eventually be clearly defined as 'Insanity'.

Disturbing "Thoughts or Feelings", can disrupt very deeply the health of a person. "A sudden Grief, a sudden Fear, a Sudden Communication of Bad News" can lead the organism for the rest of the life.

Please note!

If we probe into the source of "Mental or Emotional" sufferings, we can easily known that such suffering arises from two basic sources;

"Broken Ambition" and "broken Attachments." These are other ways of saying "Selfishness and Acquisitiveness."

Thus, the conclusion can be drown that if a person wishes to avoid mental and emotional suffering, he should cultivate "Selfless, Humble, Altruistic qualities and Love All."

2. "EMOTIONAL LEVEL":

Emotional level is that level of human existence which registers changes in emotional states. The range of emotional expressions can be very wide:

"Love/Hatred, Joy/Sadness, Calmness/Anxiety, Trust/Anger, Courage/Fear," etc.

And please remember this level is very individual.
Feelings play a very important role in each human being. Feelings, according to their quality can be defined as "Positive or Negative."

Positive feelings are those, tending to draw the individual towards a state of 'Happiness'. Whereas, Negative are those tending to draw the individual towards a state or experiences negative feelings, the more unhealthy he or she is on this level. "In order to measure the degree of emotional disturbance of a person, find out how much, in his waking state," he is occupied with negative feelings such as "Apathy, Irritability, Anxiety, Anguish, Depression, Suicidal thoughts, Jealousy, Hatred, Envy, etc."

The most healthy and emotionally evolved people experience some of the most profound states known to mankind:

"Mystical Experiences, Ecstasy, Pure Love, Religion, Devotion" and a wide range of sublime feelings, difficult to describe.


"PHYSICAL LEVEL":

In the physical body, "Freedom from Pain" is the sign of state of well-being.

1. The physical body and its organs constitute the least important plane of the human being:
The body also maintains a hierarchy of importance as to its organs and functions.

"An in fact of the Brain" will be of more importance than that of an "in fact of the Heart" which, in turn, is of more importance than that of a thrombosis of an "Artery in the leg."

2. The organism will always try to keep disturbances away from important organs.

3. The important physical organs are (a) Brain (b) Heart (c) Pituitary Gland (d) Liver (e) Lungs (f) Kidneys (g) Testes/Ovaries (h) Vertebrae (i) Muscles (many), "Diseases of Brain are more serious that of Heart - the less important organs are muscle and skin."

Please note!

"Physical Level include sex, sleep, food and five senses."

Those three levels above are not in reality separate and distinct, rather, there is a complete interaction among them. Nevertheless, the degree of health or disease of the individual can be evaluated from a survey and basically, man should be healthy of those three levels.

"May God Shower His Grace On You!"


From Empty Hands,
A.Rahman bin Mahadi
Labis, Johore
016-602 0321

12 AUGUST 2011

Next Topic: 1. Tanggungjawab Ibu Bapa Terhadap Anak-Anak"
2. "About Women And Why Women Never Thought About War"