Legislation for Conversion?

As announced yesterday by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz and reported in various medias, the Cabinet decides that children must follows the original religion of the parents at the time they got married if any one of the parents converts to another religion.

The Sun reported that "These were among the long-term solutions discussed by the Cabinet today in the wake of the latest case of Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah and his wife, M. Indira Gandhi, and several other similar cases before them."

This decision by the Cabinet is laudable but I hoped the AG office will come out with a specific law to ensure the Cabinet decision is to be adhered by all civil servants all the way from the top to the lower rung.

This request should be understandable since the government announcements on similiar issues in the past has been just like that. Announcements without any concrete steps to ensure it will be implemented as intended.

What happens to the April 2008 announcement that steps will be taken to set a regulation that requires any non-Muslim who is converting to Islam to inform their family before their conversion. It is already more than a year but there is no developments on this matter since the announcement by the then Prime Minister.

Do we have to wait for another similiar case to have this matter to be taken seriously by the Cabinet, again?

1Malaysia, Performance Now? - Loka

In The Buddha's Footsteps (8)

Sabba papassa akaranam,

kusalassa upasampada

Sacitta pariyodapanam,

etam buddhana sasanam.

Not to do any evil,

to cultivate good,

to purify one's mind,

-this is the Teachings of the Buddhas.

-Dhammapada verse 183-

Sunday, March 29th 2009, Kusinara - Sarnath

Wat Thai Kusinara is the most well maintained Thai temple that I had stayed in India so far. It it just like a resort in the outskirts. The air in the morning is so refreshing and the surrounding sound is like music when wind breezes through the trees and birds chirping outside our rooms. I woke early about 4am in the morning to have my meditation at the verandah. We left the temple at 7.30am for our next destination - Sarnath.

By 9.00am we reached Gorakhpur, which is consider large in comparison with other towns or villages that we had been for the last few days. There is a huge lake beside the town. Not too far after leaving the town, the bus stops beside a plantation with trees which looks like rubber trees. It's loo break. As usual those having their businesses have to locate their own spot!

When I noticed the large amount of leaves on the ground, I was tempted to grab a fistful and says as what the Buddha said 2500 years. "The knowledge we have is just like a fistful of leaves in our hand compared to those in the forest."

Lunch was at a tourist bungalow in Duharighat at about 11.00am. We only utilized the place to have our packed lunch which was prepared from the Wat Thai earlier. Some ordered hot tea and also Coke to go with their lunch.

In front of the government-run tourist bungalow where we had our packed lunch. I was informed there are limited places in the surrounding districts which are clean and decent that is suitable for tourist to have there meals.

Life is full of contradiction. While the temperature outside reches between 35-37 degree Celcius, the bus air-conditioner gets cooler the longer distance we travelled. All of us were shivering to the bones and I have to cover the air-cond vent with my hat as it was getting too cold for me. We can't switch-off the air-cond and open the bus windows as it is too dusty and hot outside!

After travelling for about 9 hours, we finally arrived at the Wat Thai Sarnath, where we will be putting up for the next two nights. Sarnath is within the Varanasi district, which is considered a holy place for the Hindus where the Ganges River passes through the city.

The facade of the main shrine of Wat Thai Sarnath are not the same as other Thai temples. The wall are built with red stones and the interior are from marbles. Sarnath and the surrounding areas are famous with its stones and many sculpture of Buddha are found in Sarnath and nearby sites.

Since it is still some time before dinner, some of us took the opportunity to go for a walk. Most of the important holy places are just walking distance from the Wat Thai Sarnath.

I ends up buying some stones handicraft from a stall within the Jains Temple (above) compound. Prices are reasonable and the stall owner even gave me a free piece.

After a simple dinner we had the evening puja before calling it a day since we will be rising very early the next morning to visit the Ganges River at Varanasi. Most of us were very tired anyway after the long distance bus ride....zzzzz

To be continued....

In The Buddha's Footsteps (7)

"And the Lord said to Ananda: 'Ananda, it may be that you will think: "The Teachers's instruction has ceased, now we have no teacher!" It should not be seen like this, Ananda, for what I have taught and explained to you as Dhamma and discipline will, at my passing, be your teacher."
- Mahaparinibbana Sutta, Digha Nikaya, verse 6.1

Saturday, 28th March 2009, Kusinara

After taking some traditional medicines, Chinese and also Thai prescriptions, I felt better already. The Wat Thai Kusinara environment was is very suitable for pilgrims and also those who wants to have a retreat there.

Wat Thai Kusinara is very well-maintained and the compound is covered with trees and other plants.
Facilities for meditators are ample within the temple compound.

The first place that we visited was the Nirvana Temple and Stupa which is the main site that Buddhist pilgrims normally visits when they are in Kusinara.

Even though the Nirvana Temple was only built in 1956, what is more important is that the stupa was built over the very site where Lord Buddha attained final Nibbana.

In front of the Nirvana Temple are Sal trees. As mentioned in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta, Buddha's final passing took place between two Sal trees as mentioned in the Mahaparinibbana Sutta verse 4.38 as follows.

"Tonight, Ananda, in the last watch, in the sal-grove of the Mallas near Kusinara, between two sal-trees, the Tathagata's final passing will take place...."

Inside the Nirvana Temple is a 6.1 meters reclining Buddha statue which reflects the position of Lord Buddha during His Mahaparinibbana.

"....There the Lord said: "Ananda, prepare me a bed between these twin sal-trees with my head to the north. I am tired and want to lie down. 'Very good, Lord', said Ananda, and did so. Then the Lord lay down on his right side in the lion-posture, placing one foot on the other, mindful and clearly aware."
- Mahaparinibbana Sutta, Digha Nikaya, verse 5.1

I was surprised when the bus stopped nearby the Kushinagar Clinic. I thought the intention was to enable those having medical problem to have a check-up, including me!

When we went in then only I realized the purpose is for us to have an understanding of the welfare project partly sponsored by the Thai people including Wat Thai Kusinara. Patients are treated free-of-charge in this clinic.

The Kushinagar Clinic is building another facility for the patients and visitors are encouraged to be part of the development by offering their pot of sand.

At the north-west of Kusinara is the village of Pava where Cunda the blacksmith has a mango grove. When Cunda heard the Lord had arrived at Pava and staying at his mang0 grove, he went to pay his respects and listens to His discourse on the Dhamma. Then Cunda invited Buddha and His order of monks to his house for dana the next day. (Mahaparinibbana Sutta verse 4.14 & 4.15)

We visited a stupa in Pava which once stood the house of Cunda, where he offered Buddha His last meal before His MahaParinibbana.

This is the Ramabhar Stupa which was built to mark the spot where Lord Buddha was cremated. In the Mahaparinibbana Sutta, this place was mentioned as the Mallas' shrine at Makuta-Bandhana. ( Verse 6.15 & 6.16)

"Then the Venerable Kassapa the Great went to the Mallas' shrine at Makuta-Bandhana to the Lord's funeral pyre and, covering one shoulder with his robe, joined his hands in salutation, circumambulated the pyre three times and, uncovering the Lord's feet, paid homage with his head to them, and the five hundred monks did likewise. And when this was done, the Lord's funeral pyre ignited of itself."
- Mahaparinibbana Sutta, Digha Nikaya, verse 6.22

We had our chanting, meditation and then circumambulate the stupa. The sound of chant vibrates throughout the surrounding areas. It was also a reflection for all of us on the law of impermanency, where all things are subject to change and decay. Life is uncertain, death is certain.

"Then the Lord said to the monks: 'Now, monks, I declare to you: all conditioned things are of a nature to decay - strive on diligently.' These were the Tathagata's last words. "

- Mahaparinibbana Sutta,Digha Nikaya, verse 6.7

To be continued....

In The Buddha's Footsteps (6)

"No sooner the Buddha reached Vesali a torrential downpour occured - the rain descending in such volume that all the putreying corpses were swept away and the polluted air was completely purified. Thereupon the Buddha expounded this Ratana Sutta to the Venerable Ananda and instructed him to tour through the city with the Licchavi Nobles, reciting the Sutta as a mark of protection for the inhabitants."

-The Buddha and His Teachings, Narada, BMS, Kuala Lumpur, 1988, pg 689.

Friday, 27th March 2009, Nalanda-Vesali-Kusinara

We will be travelling long distance today. Before we departs for Vesali which is further up north, there was a topping-up ceremony to build a clinic within the Wat Thai Nalanda complex for the benefits of the people in the surrounding areas. As mentioned previously, there will be a clinic and a school in each and every Thai Buddhist temples in India as part of the social service to the needy in the vicinity of the temples.

From my observation, building of schools will play an important role in the social contribution of the Buddhist clerics to the people especially poor children. A group of children from nearby village were already waiting for us outside the temple gates since early in the morning. They were asking for handouts from visitors to the temple. After the temple management allows them to get in, they duly queue up for handouts which was given out by some in our delegation. They were either given some rupees or foodstuffs. Ten Indian Rupees (about US 20 cents) will enable them to buy at least a simple meal.

We arrived at Vesali about midday. We stopped at the Wat Thai Vesali for offerings to the temple and also the partaking of our lunch. Lunch was pre-packed from Wat Thai Nalanda.

After lunch we proceed to the Buddha's Relic stupa for prayers. We circumambulate the stupa which enshrined the small casket that has a portion of the Buddha's ashes given to the Licchavis after the cremation of the Lord Buddha.

Vesali was the place where Buddha delivered the Ratana Sutta to protect its people from disease and evil spirits. Buddha also spent His last rains retreat at Beluva, which is at the outskirts of this city, before His Maha PariNibbana. It was during this last rains retreat that the Lord was attacked by severe sickness, with sharp pains as if He were about to die but He endured all this mindfully, clearly aware and without complaining.

One hundred years after Buddha's Maha PariNibbana, the Second Buddhist Council was held in Vesali.

It was in Vesali at the Capala Shrine that the Buddha informed Venerable Ananda Thera that His final Nibbana will be in three months from thereon.

"Then the Lord, having risen early and dressed, took his robe and bowl and went into Vesali for alms. Having returned from the alms-round and eaten, he looked back at Vesali with his "elephant-look" and said: 'Ananda, this is the last time the Tathagata will look upon Vesali'. "....

- Mahaparinibbana Sutta, Digha Nikaya, verse 4.1

We visited a stupa with an Asoka Pillar at the side. We found a shady spot about 50 meters from the stupa where we sat and had our chanting. After that we get on to the bus for our journey to Kusinara. We arrived at the Wat Thai Kusinara late in the night at about 10.00pm.

As for me, it was an uncomfortable journey because I was experiencing stomach upset. The first night at Kusinara was very unpleasant for me as I visited the toilet at least six times. Not sure if the diarrhoea is caused by the food or water that I consumed earlier at Vesali or it is a test on my endurance and commitment in following the footsteps of the Buddha.

By tomorrow morning I will know if I had overcome this small hindrance, with the help of some anti-diarrhoea pills for sure.

To be continued....

Stranded at Suvarnabhumi Airport

The mayhem in Thailand had started again and luckily I was not in Bangkok around this time. But I will remember my last trip there. It was the first time in my life I have to sleep in an airport.

Well, I was on transit at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport on April 3, 2009, waiting for my 8.20pm Air Asia flight back to Kuala Lumpur. I arrived from Katmandu at about 6.25pm the same evening.

When I was leaving Katmandu earlier in the day, a Thai friend of my teases me on my attire. I was wearing a red T-shirt. Knowing well ahead the turbulance that is simmering in Bangkok that time, it will be rather " sensitive" for me to be in red attire when I reach Bangkok later. But then if I take a cab, maybe the driver will waive the fare since I was informed taxi drivers are the red shirts supporters.

Anyway my red T-shirt did not give caused me any anxiety or free taxi ride but it was the other red of the day that gives me the headache. My Air Asia flight was delayed for 4 hours and 5 minutes! The flight took off only at 12.25 am on April 4, 2009. That means I was stranded at the airport for 6 hours! Luckily I had my sleeping bag ready in my backpack.

Until now I did not receive not any official apology from the Air Asia management and neither the RM200 e-voucher guarantee that Air Asia promises to be delivered via email within three days of the delayed flight to those who are make to wait more than two hours from the actual flight schedule. Due to the delayed, I only arrived at the KLIA LCCT at 3.30am in the morning. Adding salt to injury, I was made to pay extra 50% midnight surcharge for my LCCT taxi. ( After waiting for two weeks, Air Asia emailed me the e-voucher worth RM200 on April 17, 2009 but I must redeem it within three months. There was no response on my query regarding the taxi surcharge paid by me due to the delay.)

I had already emailed my complaint to them via their website one week ago. No response at all. Tried calling them, no one picks up the phone!

Air Asia- promises are easy to make but find difficulty in honouring it. - Loka