Fabricated Words from a Non-Fiction Life

The Blind Men and the Elephants

2010-08-25T19:03:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine told me this story. I quite loved it and decided to go ahead and publish it in here in the hope that it will illuminate us a bit more on our lives.

There was once a group of blind men who lived together. They were friends and they supported each other as much as they could.

One fine day, one of them came back screaming "The elephants are here! They are at the lake! The elephants are here!"

None of them had felt (or seen) elephants before, so as best as they could they rushed to meet the huge creatures by the lake. The elephants were effectively there, calmly drinking water and enjoying the cool weather.

Each blind man got hold of an elephant; one of them was holding the foot, the other one the tusk, while another one had firmly grasped an elephant's tail. Each one of them was convinced to have felt the elephant, and after a while they all left, truly satisfied. However, none of their interpretations of the elephants was correct and arguments ensued.

When it comes to God, we humans are the same. Each one of us is convinced to have the truth, because we have felt it deep in our hearts, with absolute certainty. However, God is such a huge thing... that it is impossible to truly grasp it while being blind.

Dear God

2009-08-31T02:44:00.001-07:00

Dear God,

Thank you for everything that you have given me. I'm happy I have a healthy body. I'm grateful to you every time my hunger is satisfied. I'm happy to have such wonderful parents, they have always done everything for me. Thank you for blessing me with my amazing uncle John and auntie Hema. Without them I would be too lonely in here.

God, thank you for the lessons this world has been teaching me. I have faith in you and in the destiny that you set for each and every one in this world. Please bless me with the courage to resist temptation. Please shine light on my path so that I can walk the road you set for me.

Those are the most trying years of my life, as well as that of my mother's. Since she is leaving the homeland to complete her law degree, please protect her with all your might. Bless her, dear God, because she has fulfilled her duty as mother. She has gone beyond her limits to bring me up. If tomorrow I end up poor and destitute, she would still have achieved her goal since I am now a good - better - person.

I know I'm asking for a lot but please help Amelia find her way. I'm very sad that such a good person is suffering so much. I am guessing this is the test you have set out for her: the natural outcome of having such a great Karma. Please alleviate her pains and worries.

Help Dewi lose some weight and gain confidence in herself. She too is a very kind person who deserves more than she has. I feel sorry that I cannot give her what she wants... but please give grant her someone who will truly love her.

You have blessed me with so many talents. I am the master of so many skills which are greatly admired by my peers. I don't know whether I asked for it in a previous life or not, but I also have to thank you for granting me the possibility of understanding this whole universe and its natural cycle. I will very soon reach you and once again become part of your infinity.

The soul which goes by the name of Rowan.

Your Arrival

2009-06-28T18:23:00.000-07:00

My dearest Soulmate,

I saw yet another red sunset without you. That made me miss you. Is it possible to miss someone you have never met? I suppose I miss the idea of you; you are an intellectual set of requirements and expected behaviour patterns that have yet to take shape as a human being I am acquainted with. Or probably something completely different from what I expect, who knows?

In my whole life those two moments I suffered so, One was before you came, The other after you left.
- Cosmic Orient, La Pila

Very soft winds have been whispering your arrival in my heart. I know that you are coming, there is no doubt about that. It seems that prior to your arrival, the universe has slowly been preparing me by leading me to the strangest and saddest conclusions: our lives and attachments to this material world are marked by impermanence... and even immortality cannot transform the fleeting and evanescent nature of this world into permanent happiness.

I know that finding you does not lead to ultimate happiness. I seek your company not for my own satisfaction anymore... I know that once we are together, I will live to make you happy. I promise that I will make the same writing mistakes that you do, I will always pick boxers of your favorite colours, and I will never let your hand sway without mine. Every single day of our lives I will love you as if it were the last, because now I know how tragic this world is.

Poem

2009-06-16T00:58:00.000-07:00

Baby we derive from the same abstract,
Our method signatures are exact.
I know I have the right arguments,
To turn your variables into constants.
Just give me one little pointer,
So I can call your constructor.

Oh baby let me put you in a do-while,
Our code I would then compile.
There would be no need for a switch-case
'Coz I already implemented your interface.

Oh baby you make my stack overflow,
Our code would an error throw.
But of course that I would catch,
'Coz baby you are my perfect match.

For us there will be no debug,
'Coz baby you are my drug.

To Rajiv

2009-03-29T16:05:00.001-07:00

My dearest Rajiv,

It's been a while since I left the country and we haven't had the opportunity to interact as much as we should have. I am writing you this letter in the hope that it will bring you much courage and illuminate your path. We have a lot in common, especially when it comes to problems in our lives. What I am going to explain is pertinent to most of the issues in our everyday lives – and it's up to you to see how and where you will implement the solution.

You see my dear friend; we like to see what lies within the extremes. Not unlike the rest of this world, we like to test both the maximum and the minimum. I don't know why we do it, but this is nothing to be ashamed of. Buddha too has been on both extremes of life: first he was a prince and although there were no actual recounts of any of his partying exploits, he has lived in the most vibrant and luxurious comfort that could exist in his era. And after renouncing to everything and going to search for illumination, he also tried the other extremity of life: utter privation as an ascetic. None of those lifestyles were right, and he instead chose the middle way – that of moderation instead of excess.

The middle way is the right way. An excess of salt in food makes it salty, while not enough simply doesn't give it any taste. Eating a lot will make you fat, whilst depriving your body of the right aliments will make you sick. Sleeping too much will ruin your life, while sleep deprivation will decrease your lifespan. Everything has to be done in the right amount, in the right quantity. That is one of the greatest wisdoms that you could apply to your life and to everything that surrounds you.

Today, the world is going wrong because humans are trying both extremes: the western lifestyle is one where pleasures are tested at their extremes, whilst their arch-enemies in the Islamic world are more in favour of a lifestyle of privation and harsh rules. None of them are right.

Don't spend too much. Don't spend too little. Don't love too much, and don't turn your heart to stone. You have yet to try the middle way. Trust me, nothing tastes better than food with the right amount of everything.

Your friend always,
Rowan

Loneliness

2009-02-27T08:45:00.000-08:00

The weather’s warnings are subtle, imperceptible by the untrained soul. Slowly dark clouds invade the dazzling blue sky and the fiery atmosphere charged up with unbearable heat relaxes and the temperature drops down by a few degrees. By then, birds and other creatures more aware of their environment would already have found shelter in a safe place; while men will go on with their routine activities, their senses lulled into a false sense of security brought along by the permanent buzz of air conditioning devices.

The first few drops of rain are enough to warn the people outside. Those living in the huge concrete apartments or boxed within cubicles will notice only a few minutes later, when the first clap of thunder reaches their ears. For some it will be just another day in their little world. For me, it’s another sad day spent in a far-away place without you.

I have long pondered about whether you exist or not. Since your existence can neither be proved nor disproved, I live my life hoping to meet you someday. You are the reason I dress up nicely every time I go out. You are the reason I do my best to be a good man. And you are the reason behind the sadness that strikes me when lighting splits the sky in two and thunder roars. For some reason, I wish I were next to you: very very close to you to comfort you and tell you that it will all be okay.

It will be yet another lonely evening in Malaysia, yet another day spent without you.

Everything Happens for the Best

2009-01-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

Note: This is a story that I heard from my teacher at an Art of Living course. Its depth and inspiring nature motivated me to write it down and post it in here.

A long time ago in a kingdom far away, ruled a righteous King. The King was a great man by all means and he always sought the wise counsel of his prime minister in the affairs of the state. The prime minister was also the King's best friend, and they both spent their free time hunting and fencing.

It so happened that one day, during a fencing match, the King was gravely injured by the prime minister. The Royal arm was bleeding profusely, and the open skin was foretelling a deep scar. The King was in a great deal of pain. The prime minister, however, was extremely calm. He said:

- "My dear friend, worry not, for everything happens for the best."

The King, upon hearing those words, could not contain his anger. He burst out screaming for his guards, and ordered them to take the prime minister to jail. Without offering any resistance, the prime minister allowed himself to be taken away.

A few weeks later, the King's injury healed leaving behind a huge scar. There was no pain, if not for the unpleasant feeling that looking at his own arm would bring him. The prime minister, on his part, was still unforgiven and lingering in jail. This was troubling the King a great deal, but he had decided that he wanted to be firm on his decision. To forget about this issue, he ordered his guards to prepare for a hunting party.

So the King set off to the forest, accompanied by a few men. His mind would however come back to his friend who was in jail on his orders. Had he been too harsh? He could not be sure. It was true that the words of the prime minister were senseless, but then he had not acted on purpose, nor with an ill intention. Yet, he was the King! Uttering such words at an ill moment would mean great disrespect, justifying the jailing of the offender.

For a long time the King kept thinking, and he totally forgot about the party that was accompanying him. When he looked back, he could not find his men anywhere. A small fear struck in the King's heart, but he turned back and rode towards his palace, hoping to find his men. Unfortunately, the treacherous roads within the forest led the King to deeper and unknown paths, and for hours and hours, the King kept looking for the way back, in vain. Darkness was creeping in and what was a small worry within the King's heart became tangible fear. Sleeping in the forest at night all alone was dangerous. Wild creatures roamed freely at this time, and one could easily lose one's life. The King could not stop wondering whether that was punishment from God for jailing his own friend.

Desperate to get back, the King rode on, without giving up. He went into narrower and darker roads, following his own instinct. At last, the King found a village. He felt his fears evaporate as he shouted loudly: "I am the King! I am the King! Help me!"

Four villagers came out. Two of them grabbed the King's horse, while the rest pulled down the ruler. The King only understood this as joy on the part of his citizens on meeting their King, and he laughed and allowed them to carry him.

- "I am the King! I am the King! Don't worry, I'm alright, I just lost my way!"

The two men carried the King to the center of the village. That was when the King realized that he was in the company of very strange people. A huge man came out, and he looked like the leader of the village.

- "Who are you?" asked the chief.
- "I am the King of this country, and I lost my way while hunting in the forest."

The village chief turned back and spoke to his friends. Everyone seemed genuinely happy, and they nodded their heads in agreement.

- "We worship the demon Kali, and today we would have sacrificed one of our own for our ritual. However, since you have come, I can only understand that this is destiny. We will sacrifice you tonight, when the moon is high up in the sky."

The King was numb with fear and astonishment. He looked around, and every single one of the villagers looked satisfied.

- "But I am the King! The King! I can give you anything you want! Tell me what it is that you desire? Money? Food? Clothes? I have it all! I can give it to you! You have my word!"
- "We do not wish for such things. Men! Take him away and have him take the ritual bath!"

The two men who were holding down the King dragged the latter into a hut. The King kept yelling: "I am the King! I am the King! You cannot do this!" but nobody would pay attention to his words. They took off his armour, and started to undress him. The King, understanding that all hope was now gone, quit fighting back.

Suddenly, one of the men saw the huge scar on the King's arm. Astounded, he examined the scar and called the village chief who also came to inspect it. After much debate, they gave the King back his clothes and his armour and brought him to his horse.

The King, who could not understand much of what was happening, felt like he was dreaming. He quickly climbed on his horse and after assuring himself that it was all real, turned back and asked the chief:

- "But why are you letting me go? I thought you were going to sacrifice me?"
- "No, we cannot use you as a sacrifice. Your scar makes of your body imperfect. We need to sacrifice someone with a perfect body to the demon Kali. Go, take your horse and never come back!"

The King didn't wait much longer, and rode off towards the exit of the village. Behind him, the men were fighting for none of them wanted to be sacrificed.

After many long hours of riding, the King finally reached the end of the forest. His subjects, upon seeing him, were extremely happy. They all went to meet the King, and escorted the latter to his palace.

The first thing the King did was to free his old friend. The latter came to the court, pale and a bit thinner, but still smiling. The King then narrated his story to his friend and everyone present.

- "I told you, everything happens for the best."
- "But then, my good friend, tell me what good did that whole week in jail do to you?"

The prime minister thought for a moment before replying:

- "My King, had you not put me in jail, I would've come hunting with you, and surely I would have been the one to be sacrificed in your place!"

There ends the story of the great King and his wise minister.

First Post

2009-01-08T15:02:00.000-08:00

The only permanent thing in this universe is change. It's time for some change in my life, and I've decided to take away my other blogs from the "public eye". The public eye unfortunately isn't the average joe surfing the internet, googling up the name of his dog, but rather my not so small social circle.

My old blog is about a place I don't live in anymore, and covers a wide variety of subjects, many of which should not be discussed around a dinner table. Not that I think of my topics as lowly, but I've decided to get a little bit more "serious" in my writing. Fortunately, serious doesn't mean boring, since sarcasm is inherent to my writing.

Therefore, in a spirit of seriousness, I bid you a warm welcome to my new blog. This is serious stuff I'm dealing with here, and you'd better love it. I suspect that the posts will be much more denser than my previous blogs, since my new lifestyle demands empty hours to be filled up in a creative fashion.

The painting you can see on this is January in the series of Les très riches heures du Duc de Berry. The painters, two brothers, died in 1419 in what appears to have been an epidemic.