Personal Reflections of a Shaolin Wahnam Student

Dragon, dragon, dragon

2009-12-18T01:35:00.000-08:00

Just a short post to keep my family updated. Things are going well, probably not going to move into the Sunway home this weekend as the internet connection has not been set up yet. Trying my hand at various writing sites like helium.com, ezinearticles.com and constant-content.com. Brainstorming some ideas for a book to write about. Enjoying my time at 98, very comfortable and nice. Looking forward to training with the staff and jian.

Alright, will write more again soon.

Cheers!

A Brief History of Traditional Chinese Medicine

2009-12-15T23:28:00.000-08:00

The Chinese have a long, continuous and unbroken history of medicine that is still practiced today. From esoteric chi kung exercises to acupuncture, the Chinese still adhere to these traditional arts as they have a proven record of healing and helping patients to recover. Since earliest times, the Chinese have extensive knowledge of how to use and apply herbs for treatment. Also, archaeological findings have unearthed ancient tools and needles constructed from bamboo and stone that were used in acupuncture treatment. The Xia (ca. 2,100-1,600 BCE) and Shang (ca. 1,600-1,046 BCE) dynasties did not see much development in Chinese medicine. Even then, it is significant to note that during this period of Chinese history when the Chinese written language came into being, the Chinese have developed words for medical terms and personal hygiene like microorganism and bath.

The succeeding Zhou dynasty (1,066- ca.221 BCE) saw the bloom and flowering of Chinese medicinal thought. The concepts of ying-yang harmony and the five elemental processes were incorporated into ancient Chinese medicinal thought to describe certain medical concepts figuratively and pragmatically. Two great medicinal texts, the Ben Cao Jing (Great Herbal Classic) and Nei Jing (Inner Classic of Medicine) were compiled during this time. They were attributed to Shen Nong and Huang Di, two great emperors from prehistoric China. It is more correct to say that the texts themselves were the result of the collective effort of the peoples of ancient China in compiling their knowledge and experience into written form, to serve and benefit future generations.

The Nei Jing was very astounding in its forward-looking description of the human body. For example, it detailed the circular flow of blood in the body and even classified blood based on the ying-yang principle. The Ben Cao Jing, though written and compiled several hudreds of years ago, is still as relevant today as it was then. The text identified 365 natural drugs and included precious instructions on how to prepare them, use them for treatment, and ways of preserving them. Two great personalities from this period are Bian Que and Wei Po Yang. Bian Que wrote "The Eighty One Difficult Topics of Hwang Ti" which was a comprehensive book on the subjects of acupuncture, human anatomy and diagnosis, while Wei Po Yang wrote "The Classic of Elixir" which is a treatise about the Chinese art of chi kung for extending one's longevity and maintaining health.

The Han (202 BCE-220 CE) and Tang (618-907 CE) dynasties was the pinnacle of ancient Chinese medicine. This was exemplified by two very accomplished physicians of that period, Hua Tuo and Zhang Zhong Jing. Hua Tuo carried out surgery with anesthetics and developed a system of chi kung to keep the body healthy and fit. Zhang Zhong Jing was a very logical and rational physician. In line with Chinese medicinal thought which is very rational and based on proven facts and records, he wrote the treatise Shang Han Za Bing Lun (The Treatises of Epidemic Colds and Fevers) which is based on the actual application of Chinese medical concepts. Being a responsible physician, he strove to educate people on the causes of illnesses and epidemics and fought against the prevailing belief that major diseases are caused by supernatural means.

Also, it was during this golden age of Chinese medicine that the great Indian monk, Bodhidharma, introduced Sinew Metamorphosis, a system of chi kung to the monks at the Shaolin temple. This system of chi kung has grown and evolved through the ages and has played an important role in Chinese preventive medicine. Today, chi kung is practiced by people in parks and fitness centers everywhere.

Traditional Chinese medicine has continued to grow and adapt to the changing times and circumstances. It has benefited millions of people throughout its development and history. Certainly, it will continue to benefit and help future generations to come. I hope that his short article has enlightened the reader a little on the subject of traditional Chinese medicine.

SEO vs SIM

2009-12-12T02:35:00.001-08:00

Search engine optimization (SEO) is about maximising a search engines' search results through unpaid means so that a website appears near or is at the top of the results, and therefore, drastically improving the volume of traffic flow to it. SEO, as an internet marketing strategy, is used to increase and direct traffic flow to a specific website with the aim that sales volume will increase as a result, to gain visibility for the website, or other such similar means. Social influence marketing (SIM) is about combining and harnessing the power of social media (blogs, podcasts, social networks, wikis, etc.) and social influencers (people who write content for these social media and have considerable influence among their peers) to meet marketing and business needs.

The evolution of social networking online has progressed so swiftly that a transition from SEO to SIM methods of marketing online is, I believe, to be warranted. A decade ago it would have been feasible to use SEO methods to push a website's rankings up on a search engine so that more traffic will travel to it and hence, to have increased sales. This is under the assumption that people are making their purchasing decisions alone or with a very limited number of sources. This would have been the case then as social networking online is still in its infancy and there are not as many peers and social influencers on the Internet for the purchaser to share information with as compared to now.

Actually, in my mind, the way of purchasing has come full circle in a way. Say we want to buy a car. Naturally, we want to buy the car that is right for us, so to find out more information about the type of car we want, we'd probably consult our friends, family, experts and other trusted sources for their driving experiences. We don't simply pick up a car magazine, look at the car that is on the cover, and automatically buy that car. Here lies the crux of the matter; while SEO might bring in the traffic and people to your site, that doesn't necessarily translate into good sales. The way people make purchasing decisions in the real world is finally being realized on the Internet; they consult with each other on Youtube, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms before making informed purchasing decisions. What this means is that people are relying less on search engines and more on their social influencers when making purchasing decisions. Indeed, it is quite ironic that search marketers are now receiving more traffic from links that are on other websites than they do from search engines.

In conclusion, the online marketer must take into consideration not only the consumer, but also the social influencers of the consumer when planning marketing campaigns to influence purchasing decisions on the Internet. SEO marketing techniques rely on only one channel, search engines, to market their products and make their presence known. SIM harnesses the networks of social media platforms to effectively reach out to hundreds and thousands of people through many different channels.

What to do if you have your heart broken in a relationship

2009-12-08T02:07:00.000-08:00

This is such a profound gem that I feel that I must share it here. It is from my Sifu’s Q&A series, May 2007 edition. Sifu gives his answer in regards to having your heart broken, and in Sifu’s usual understated way, is very clear and concise. Here it is:

Your main problem is not girls constantly breaking your heart but your perverted view. In chi kung terms, it is your mental blockage. Once you have cleared this mental blockage, you will not only overcome feeling miserable, but also be able to find a good girlfriend. I am going to explain to you a time-proven method to overcome this problem. The method comes in two parts, the philosophical and the practical.

Philosophically, the girls did not break your heart. It was you yourself who allowed your heart to be broken. Luckily, it was not too serious. You recovered enough to repeat similar processes.

If you analyze your feelings more deeply, you would find that actually you were not in love with any of the girls; you were in love with love itself. In love with love is not a bad thing, but you need to find the right girl to place your love in.

You will have your own choice of qualities to look for in the right girl. But I shall mention one important quality. She must also love you. This may or may not be the first or second most important quality you want in your right girl, but it is an essential quality. In other words, no matter how wonderful she may be, if she does not also love you, then she is not your right girl. You should not waste your time on her. There are literally thousands of other eligible girls elsewhere.

This is the first part of the method to overcome your problem. Be reminded that the problem here is not how to find the right girl — this will be explained later. The problem here is that you allow your heart to be constantly broken and you feel very bad about it. To avoid this happening again, you have to clear your mental blockage by understanding the following three points:

The girls themselves did not break your heart. You allow your heart to be broken.
This happened because you were in love with love. Somehow you believed that having your heart broken was part of the process of being in love. This was a perverted view. You should find the right girl to place your love in.
You can choose the qualities you like in your right girl, but an essential quality is that she must also love you. Otherwise, don’t waste your time on her. There are literally thousands of other lovely girls waiting for you to sincerely love them.

Now the practical part, which is simple yet very profound.

Early every morning go to the open, or to an open window if the weather outside is unfavorable, and smile from the heart. Just do this. Just smile from the heart. Simple. And profound.

I believe what other books on love and relationships try to write about in hundreds of pages, Sifu sums it up in just a few paragraphs.

Enjoy!

Family

2009-12-06T16:26:00.000-08:00

Recently the extended family all gathered together to catch up with each other. It was a great learning experience for me, to appreciate people from different backgrounds and views. We might not always see eye to eye on certain matters but deep down we all know that it's done out of love and concern. I don't need a perfect family, just a family that cares and looks after their own.

I love all my family and wish them all the best.

For my cousin sis

2009-12-05T02:53:00.000-08:00

Ain’t no one gonna knock you down
Ain’t no one gonna hold your hand up
Ain’t no one gonna give the thanks you deserve
Ain’t no one gonna walk by your side

And yet you stood tall and strong
Despite the pain you feel inside
It’s not easy to face the night alone
It’s not easy to navigate the ocean of life

I believe you will emerge stronger
The scars will fade in time
The sweet smell of spring is just round the corner
Nothing stays grey and dreary forever

But most of all you will survive
Because you are you
Because you are you

Night

2009-12-04T04:17:00.000-08:00

White snow gently gathers on the ground
Snowflakes drift across the starless night sky
Moonlight dances across the empty fields
Her fingers softly caressing the retreating shadows

The wind carries its secrets ever yonder
Fleeting whispers that echo silently over the hills
Kindred spirits share a final embrace
Tears are shed before the silent parting

Forlorn is the solitary figure at the top of it all
Grasping at dreams that were never meant to be
A lonely gaze falls on the world below
Twilight claims what is rightfully his

Shaolin Wahnam Kung Fu Demo by Wahnam Scotland

2009-12-03T16:36:00.000-08:00

Ho Family Flowing Water Staff

2009-12-02T16:31:00.000-08:00

This staff set is the fundamental staff set of Shaolin Wahnam. The “Ho Family Flowing Water Staff” was once taught only within the Ho Family. However, my Sifu was one of the lucky disciples to learn it from my Sigung, Sigung Ho Fatt Nam, when he decided to teach it to a few selected disciples outside the Ho family. This set is actually plain looking to watch. One may wonder why past masters are so secretive over such a simple looking staff set. However, as with genuine Kung Fu, once one understands the secrets and applications it can be a very formidable weapon.

Here, Sifu Anthony Korahais demonstrates the Ho Family Flowing Water Staff.

Clarity of Mind and the Monkey Wrench

2009-12-02T16:29:00.000-08:00

I’d never thought that I’d get hit with writer’s block, but here I am sitting in front of my laptop with a blank mind, with nothing to-

(sudden realization, cue light bulb being turned on)

Or not.

It just occurred to me how much I can get done just by swinging into action. I wasn’t typing before this, just trying to formulate thoughts and organize them into a coherent topic from which I can write some content about. I didn’t have foodies nearby for that extra energy brain boost (which all along isn’t necessary for good creative writing). Apparently, at the very first sentence, something clicked inside my head as I typed out the word “blank” on the first line. It was so simple, yet quite profound.

I couldn’t write not because my mind was blank. I couldn’t write because my monkey mind was jumping here and there, thus exhausting my mind energy. How ironic that I couldn’t write because I was too busy thinking of what to write. Ha. Things became a lot easier once I discarded all that noise, and just let my fingers flow naturally on the keyboard.

By stilling my thoughts and letting go, the content is provided naturally. I have to thank my Shaolin training for enhancing my mind, or shen in mandarin chinese, for increasing my clarity, focus and robustness of mind. Shaolin Kung Fu is combat effective and increases your health and vitality, but what most people would not know is that it also cultivates the mind. Not just from doing sitting meditation, mind you. You can also cultivate shen by performing your Kung Fu sets in a Chi Kung state of mind. Relaxation is very important here. In fact, my Sifu always says to relax, relax and relax. If you tense your muscles you will tense your mind, and vice versa.

Of course my monkey mind is always active in the background. I cannot quiet it completely. My standard isn’t of that high a level yet. However, it just dawned on me that to improve the quality of my shen, I should let go of myself more and open my heart. Let go of thoughts and emotions, and smile from the heart.

Enjoy the moment.

Enjoy the stillness.

Rolling Bamboo for Three Years (how is that even relevant to Kung Fu training?)

2009-12-02T16:28:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite stories is Rolling Bamboo for Three Years. It is a short but poignant related by my Sifu.

A young man from a rich family wanted to learn Kung Fu. Of course, his father invited many instructors to teach his son. Now, his son is either inept or lazy, because after just a few seconds of standing in stances he would complain of sore muscles. Stance training is very important in Kung Fu for it builds the force necessary for effective fighting. He would make up a hundred excuses to get away from his force training. I guess you could say he mastered the Kung Fu of A Hundred Complaints.

The instructors were in a bind. Hey, this rich man pays handsomely for my services, and yet his lazy son can’t even bear force training! What am I to do? The smarter ones came up with a solution. Ah! Just fill the young man with many beautiful Kung Fu sets and patterns! It’s not like he’s going to start trouble on the streets anyway just because he learned Kung Fu. So the young man, in addition to his art the Kung Fu of A Hundred and Two Complaints (practise makes perfect), was able to perform many Kung Fu sets.

The father became proud, and would ask his son to perform whenever there was a social function. All the guests would praise the young man for his elegant and beautiful Kung Fu moves. Soon the father and son became arrogant. And naturally arrogance attracts trouble.

One day the father and son were involved in a fight with several people. The young man sprung into action, a blinding whirl of flashing kicks and hammering fists.

He was elegant.

He was agile.

He was beaten senseless.

And so, he got a right royal scolding from his father, in addition to the bruises he received from the fight. That very night, he ran away from home and promised himself never to return until he became an efficient fighter, or die trying. Ok, maybe not the die trying part, but he was very determined to succeed.

The prodigal son went far and wide in search of a Master. He traveled to the far corners of the Earth, to the moon and perhaps even the sun too, though I doubt the Kung Fu he learned previously would have helped him survive there. Ok, so he just went to the nearest mountain to look for a Master, and never set foot on the far corners of the Earth or the moon. He may be lazy, but he had enough common sense to reason that since he had heard tales of many masters living on mountains, he should climb the nearest mountain to look for a Master.

And what would you know, there was indeed a Shaolin monk living on the mountain. Talk about luck! He won’t have to climb the other 999 mountains to look for a master. His legs were already pretty sore just from climbing this one mountain. He wasn’t exactly looking forward to climbing the other 999 mountains.

The monk was Venerable Tie Pi. The young man begged the old monk to teach him Shaolin Kung Fu. “I have practised Kung Fu for quite some time, but when I had to defend myself and my father, I found out that my Kung Fu was useless! Please, Venerable, I beg for your instructions in genuine Kung Fu.”

“Show me your useless Kung Fu.”

After reviewing the young man’s Kung Fu performance, Venerable Tie Pi simply said, “It’s you and not the Kung Fu that’s useless!” The master then ordered the young man to go to the woods and fetch for him some round bamboo stems. “You are not ready for fighting, so stop harboring thoughts of glory and vanity. Why, you are fit only to roll bamboo!”

The young man was speechless. He had never done menial work before his entire life, and now the old monk was not only telling him to go to the forest to get for him bamboo stems, he was only good enough for rolling bamboo! Of course, he wasn’t exactly sure what rolling bamboo would mean here. It could mean rolling the bamboo stems around the mountain with his hands, or it could mean rolling the bamboo with his toes. Good thing for him he had changed, so he did as the monk said and returned with some bamboo stems.

“Now place a bamboo stem on a table. Stand at the horse-riding stance and roll the whole length of your arm over the bamboo. Do it every day. No questions!” The monk instructed the young man.

Will the young man quit, or will he persevere in his training? What secret method is this rolling bamboo?

I shall continue the story in my next post.

Skills and Techniques (or, should I cram my head with a gazillion Kung Fu moves or just focus on one?)

2009-12-02T16:24:00.000-08:00

Have a seat, a nice cup of coffee (not too strong or you won’t sleep!) and hear the ramblings of a Kung Fu practitioner.

I’m going to give you an offer you can’t refuse (now where did I hear that line from? Haha).

I have a machine right here that can instantly, in a blink of an eye, transfer knowledge of a thousand Kung Fu techniques from the various schools into your brain. All the moves are available for you to use right this instant (however, I am not liable for injuries and accidents caused as a result of overly enthusiastic displays of Kung Fu movements); No-Shadow Kicks, Hung Gar Tiger Claws, Praying Mantis Kicks, even the dreaded, legendary Dim Mak!

..or, I can teach you one move. Just one. And then proceed to beat you senseless with my training cane until you get the postures right. You must repeat the move 1000 times, both left and right modes. Nope, no toilet breaks allowed. So go get some diapers ready.

So, what choice will you make? It’s really not that hard. Some would say it’s a no-brainer. I don’t have a crystal ball and I can’t read minds, but I guess most people would go for the machine. Hey, this is the information age after all, what with all those fancy iphones and such.

Knowing many techniques is not necessarily a bad thing. It expands your horizons and your arsenal. It gives you more choices when faced with certain situations. You can choose to utilize a chin na grip or a surprise counter, for example, when an opponent launches a Fierce Tiger against you. This, of course, assumes that you have sufficient force, perfect form and experience with the techniques.

This is where skill comes in. A Shaolin axiom says, “Strength cannot match techniques, techniques cannot match force, force cannot match speed, and speed cannot match the marvelous“. Let’s say that there’s a fighter called Victorious Fist Lau. He was always victorious because of just one technique; a simple straight punch. However, because of his hard work and dedication spent practising and mastering this technique, it became his trump card. Sure, his many opponents employed all sorts of tricks and moves against him. Throws, kicks, takedowns, punches, headbutts, hidden weapons, and maybe even a bite to the ear, but I’m not sure of that. You name it, they used it. And yet Lau was always victorious. He won because he had developed sufficient skill in technique, force and speed borne from years of practise to successfully implement his move and strategies in the fights.

Now, knowing and expanding one’s repertoire of Kung Fu moves is certainly encouraged, but in order to develop the skills necessary to successfully use your Kung Fu and not let it degenerate into mere Kung Fu dance, one must always practise, practise and practise.

I shall relate an interesting story, told by my Sifu, in relation to techniques vs. skills in my next installment.

Apologising

2007-09-12T10:37:00.001-07:00

Here is an excellent article on the art of apologising, sourced from http://www.thelaboroflove.com/forum/oct00/relationship2.html. I put it here to share with you all.

Apologising - A how to guide
By Sharon Jacobsen

How many times has somebody upset you, and yet although you are sure they must know what they have done, an apology is never offered? Some people simply refuse to see the error of their ways, some a afraid to apologise incase their apology is rejected. Some even think that you should automatically "know" that the other is sorry (yep, they truly expect us to be mind readers). But if you've upset somebody, an apology should always be offered.

Why do you need to apologise?
Without an apology, you can't expect to be forgiven. If you've upset somebody, the chances are that they'll carry their resentment with them. The resentment may give with time, but it's unlikely to be completely released. An apology opens up for the chance to talk about what happened, put things into perspective, understand the mistake and put it behind you.

Don't pass the buck!
The biggest mistake we do when apologising, is to start excusing our actions. "It's Angie's fault really, for taking the car in the first place".....or worse, "Blame my upbringing, if my parents hadn't have been alcoholics, I wouldn't have got drunk and gone off with him that night". YOU are responsible for your actions and choices, nobody else. When apologising it's important to show that you know that you are responsible and are truly sorry that YOUR actions caused hurt. Tell the person that you are sorry, and why you are sorry. That's all. If the apology opens up for further discussion, then it may be right to explain further about the background for your actions, but explain also that the mistake you made is something that you need to learn from, so that earlier experiences won't effect your relationship with others in that way again.

Don't offer cheap apologies
Have you ever been in a situation when you felt that you should apologise for something that you really didn't feel sorry about. Just because it was expected of you? Children experience this all the time. Mum says "Tell Auntie Jane you're sorry". But you weren't sorry. You thought Auntie Jane deserved what she got, but because you were a child, you had to follow orders and apologise Do you still do this as an adult? Don't! These apologies are cheap and meaningless. If you feel that an apology is expected, but that you really aren't in a position to offer one, speak to the person involved. Explain that you understand that you've upset them in some way, and that you are sorry for that, but explain also that you don't understand what has upset them, or why they feel that you are to blame. Perhaps when you see the situation from their viewpoint, you will understand it and feel able to offer an apology. Or perhaps the other person will understand that you are not entirely to blame. Again, don't pass the buck, simply explain your situation.

An eye for an eye
Somebody upset you and never offered an apology. This annoys you, and you think "well, if she/he can do it, so the hell can I". We often validate our actions this way. But should you really hurt somebody simply because they hurt you? That also validates THEIR actions. You've opened a pathway to acceptance for this type of action. Do you really feel that this type of action is acceptable? Obviously not, or you wouldn't have been upset by it in the first place. The fact that another person didn't apologise for their action, does not mean that you should do the same thing "to teach them a lesson". There is only one thing worth doing: TALK! Explain that you are upset and why. If the other person still doesn't understand or feels an apology is in order, then accept that they have different values to you, and reassess your relationship to them.

Allow the other person to be upset
It's important to validate the other person's feelings. Don't start passing the buck again, by telling them that they are overreacting. We all react differently to situations. If the situation upset that person, then you need to accept that. Don't say: "Big deal. I threw a glass at the wall. It didn't hit you did it?" It's better to say something like: "I'm sorry that I upset you. I didn't realise you would be so upset by this. You have a right to react and I'll make sure that it doesn't happen again.

Make sure they know why you are apologising Just saying "I'm sorry" isn't enough. Tell the person why you are sorry. Something like: "I'm sorry that I didn't call to say I'd be late. I realise it's no fun waiting around like that, and it was inconsiderate of me" or "I'm sorry I said you're stupid. You're not, and it was wrong of me to let my temper take control that way." People want to know that you understand which actions have upset them. By admitting your mistake, and showing that you understand where you went wrong, you show that your apology is sincere and stand a much higher chance of being forgiven.

Be patient
Don't expect everything to be hunky dory again immediately, just because you apologised. The other person's hurt won't disappear on hearing the words "I'm sorry". Give them time to release their feelings of hurt. Allow them to talk about why they felt hurt, and listen. Above all, don't become defensive.

Conclusion
Never ignore a situation where it's obvious the other person is upset, and NEVER offer a cheap apology. If you don't mean it, don't offer it. Instead, explain that you don't understand why the other person is so upset. Talk about it. A cheap apology is worth nothing and will solve nothing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sharon Jacobsen is editor/owner of WeWomen.co.uk (http://www.wewomen.co.uk), a portal and community for women in the UK, offering a web directory, articles, ecards, discussion, jokes, poetry, and lots more. Contact Sharon on sharon@wewomen.co.uk.

New Header

2007-08-30T15:49:00.000-07:00

My sister was able to design some headers for my blog, and I opted for this one as it conveys a sense of peace and serenity. I like the fact that it is nature themed, something akin to taking a step back from our busy daily lives to just let the whole moment sink in and saviour it. This is going to be a short post, and thanks again Mei for the beautiful, evocative designs.

Refugees in Malaysia

2007-08-24T12:19:00.000-07:00

My country, Malaysia, is going to celebrate 50 years of independence this month. 50 years of planning, refinement and reflections by its leaders and citizens have gone into making what Malaysia is today. The accomplishments and benchmarks that Malaysia has achieved and surpassed within this short period of time have made me proud.

Yet, I believe when it comes to human rights records, our country is sorely lacking. Wehave achieved many miletones when it comes to erecting magnificent structures and launching outlandish mega projects, but when it comes to the livelihoods of Malaysia's people, allits people, we are sadly trailing behind. I am not just talking about Malaysian citizens.I am also talking about the unseen, unheard and oft ignored presence right here, right nowin Malaysia that are treated with scorn and disdain.

They are the refugees.

I chanced upon this excellent article on the plight of human refugees in Malaysia written by Hon Yi Wen of Malaysiakini (http://www.malaysiakini.com/rentakini/71566). Up until now,I had no idea that our country does not differentiate between undocumented migrants and refugees/asylum seekers. Even though Malaysia is a member of the United Nations Human RightsCouncil, it has not approved the United Nations Convention in relation to the Status of Refugees (1951) and Protocol (1967). What this means is that those people with a valid reasonto seek refugee status do not have any legal means or channels to do so in our country. Eventhose who do have a UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) card are often mistreated and abused.

The enlightening fiftyrefugees (http://fiftyrefugees.wordpress.com/), the brainchild of Aris Mohamad Oziar, gives a voice to this group of people. I have read some accounts of therefugees, and they are truly sad and painful. Many have escaped from their native homelandsto Malaysia, fleeing from forced conscription and labour, slavery, political instability and violence. However, I fear that they are not better off then they were before. They are living in limbo, because technically they are illegal immigrants. Most cannot speak Englishor Malay. They are easily exploited by unscrupulous agents and are not able to find work.Even if they do, they do it for a pittance.

As a responsible Malaysian, I believe that our country should hear the plight of these peopleand give them a safe haven. It need not be permanent, but the refugees should have a choiceas to whether they wish to stay here or return to their country once the situation is morefavourable. In the meantime, they should be offered protection and a means of livelihood sothey can support themselves. Malaysia should also ratify the United Nations Convention in relation to the Status of Refugees (1951) and Protocol (1967), and our legislation shouldbe changed so that it recognize the status of refugees/asylum seekers.

I believe it is not too much to ask of my fellow Malaysians to listen to the stories that these refugees have to tell and to relate to their experiences. There are news everywherethat perpetuate the stereotype of migrants as uncouth, thuggish and undisciplined, but thetruth is that there are many more accounts of the suffering, plight and injustices that they have to endure that are never published, never told.

We should not turn a blind eye to the situation faced by these people. Please raise awarenessabout these refugees and perhaps we can make a difference.

4 Modes of Preparation and 3 Arrivals

2007-08-22T11:40:00.000-07:00

Below is my interpretation of our Shaolin Wahnam school's principles of 4 modes of preparation and 3 arrivals

The 4 modes of preparation are:
1. Prepare yourself (jing,chi, shen)
2. Assess your opponent
3. Seek an opening/create an opening if there is none
4. Exploit the opening by acting smoothly and quickly

The 3 arrivals are:
1. Arrival of the heart
2. Arrival of the feet
3. Arrival of the hands

These principles can be applied not only to combat, but our daily lives as well!

When starting out on any venture, we must be sure of our aims and objectives, our resources and of course the situation at hand. We must be prepared emotionally, physcially, mentally and spiritually (jing, chi, shen). Emotionally by knowing our feelings and heart is at the right place, right time. Physcially by knowing that our feet and hands are ready to act and are able to, mentally by knowing that we have mental clarity to plan ahead and have plotted out appropriate measures and and spiritually by knowing that God, Buddha, or Universal Cosmos has given us the blessing and that all is aligned for the venture to take root. We must also be aware that the Universal Cosmos, God, or Buddha listens to what we truly need and want, and not what we think we need or want.

We then assess the situation/opponent. What is the true situation/opponent? Is this the right time to act? Is this the right place to act? What are the available options? With mental clarity and chi at our dan tien, we are able to see the situation/opponent as it is, not as we think it should be.

We then seek the opening that is there for us. If there is no opening, we create one. How to do this? If we follow the above 2 principles, we should be able to create one, by exploiting a weakness. For example, in sparring we make the first move so the opponent will act, but that which limits his options to act to those moves that we have already anticipated and thus are ready to exploit upon.

By preparing ourselves sufficiently beforehand, we are now able to act when the opportunity arises. If we had not, we are not at our optimum when we act, or at the very worst we cannot act at all.

The arrival of the heart, I would say, corresponds to the first 2 stages of the 4 modes. We must have a plan and are willing to act.

The arrival of the feet means we have placed ourselves in a optimum situation to act. Right timing and right spacing.

The arrival of the hands means we act. We engage the situation.

In combat, we must first have the mental clarity and chi at dan tien. We assess the opponent (Arrival of the heart). We then move into our stances (arrival of the feet). Finally, our hands then engage (arrival of the hands). So, in order, heart, feet then hands. Our Shaolin Wahnam Kung Fu always emphasize strong, stable stances. The feet reach first before the hands.

An excellent discussion on this topic is at our Shaolin Wahnam forums here, in this thread http://www.wongkiewkit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4790

My Country, My Patriotism

2007-08-21T19:34:00.000-07:00

The Negarakuku controversy got me thinking about my own patriotic feelings for my country. For those who don't know, the Negarakuku controversy began when Namewee, a fellow Malaysian currently studying in Taiwan, made a creative music video featuring our national anthem remixed in his own style. It was controversial due to the content of the lyrics, which can be viewed as racist and prejudiced.

I'm not going to judge the video, as that is not the main point of this blog entry. Instead, I'm going to examine my own feelings for my own country. To be honest, up until now I have always taken my country for granted. Sure, Malaysia is a nice country with a stable government (for the time being) and is multi-cultural and tolerant (to a certain extent). It has great food, people full of genuine warmth and humility, and a rich and diverse history.

I've always looked at my country as something to be proud of, should be proud of, and I've never ventured beyond that. I never volunteered for social activism, never voted though I am of legal age to, never really bothered with the political and religious scene of my homeland. To me, Malaysia is simply a place where I make a living. If you don't bother me, I won't bother you. Live, and let live.

But lately, I have begun to truly wonder about the welfare of Malaysia and its people. All the corruption issues and ineptitude of the present ruling government notwithstanding, I now realize that I have a responsibility to my fellow Malaysians to make my country a better place for future generations so that they can live without fear and with happiness. Not with the ISA hanging over their heads if they decide to voice their opinions.

I realize this is all talk for the moment. I am currently enjoying life in Tampa for the time being after all. But when I return, I will do something to make my country a better place. Be it social activism, blogging to raise awareness, or voting for a deserving party.

Our country, I believe, is only as good as the character of its people.

Sunday Trip to Gainesville

2007-08-21T17:12:00.000-07:00

Well, last Sunday I managed to drag myself out of bed and with my family (minus my sister who had to stay home), we sent my prodigy brother back to Gainesville, just days before classes commence.

Gainesville was much like what I remembered when I was here a decade and some years ago. Back then my father studied at the University of Florida (UF) and he brought us little tykes along. I schooled at Joseph Elementary and Lincoln Middle, and I have nothing but fond (mostly) memories for the 4 years while I was there. There was Lake Alice, still pretty much the same pristine, clear lake but with the addition of a new church that gives off a new age, shamanistic vibe. Also, I didn't get the opportunity to see the gators there close up this time around though. There was Ben Hill Stadium, the symbol of Gator pride. Then there was the Museum of Art, and also the Ritz Union. Nostalgic feelings kind of crept in but never really overwhelmed me.

It's great to see how far Gainesville has grown as well. There's the new Hume Residence, which is for Honors students. Also, the great expanse of field right next to Corry Village has been developed into a residence hall for athletes, and numerous spanky new buildings have dotted the landscape where once nature thrived.

We brought my brother to his residence, Hume East Wing, and since I was bringing in stuff for him, I can say that the residence hall is comfortable, secure and the people there are great and helpful. I saw lots of nervous, agitated faces as well, maybe it's because it's their first time living away from home. I can say that my brother was glad to be back there, being able to hang out with his friends again and living independently. My brother's always been like that ever since he attended junior high in Singapore and had to manage things on his own from a young age. I love the little guy.

I also went to Omni Books. This store goes way back, when I was still around 10 or 12 years old. It definitely looked more furnished now than before, but there are books piled everywhere, and I mean every nook and cranny. The first thing that hit me was the familiar smell of dusty tomes assaulting my nostrils, but it quickly became a nostalgic feeling as I dived right into the books and started rummaging about. There were so many book I wanted to get, but in the end I brought back Messages from the Masters and The Scottish Nations. I have a keen interest in Scottish and Irish culture, and this beautiful, hardcover book that emanates majesty just won me over the instant I laid eyes on it. As for Messages from the Masters, I want to read about people's past live experiences, and as a guilty pleasure read.

Overall it was a tiring, but rewarding day. I will be looking forward to September when I will be going to Gainesville again. Oh, before I forget, I must say that the weather there is much hotter than before.

A case of global warming?