Marhaban ya Ramadhan
The title means welcome Ramadhan, as the holy month in Islamic calendar has arrived and I am truly thankful to be given a chance to be alive and experience Ramadhan once again. I don`t think I need to explain what Moslems do during this holy month (I assume many people know this), but I think I have to share with you what I`ve learned so far before Ramadhan and will try to do my best to practice those lessons.
1. Never fear to speak the truth although the truth may kill you. People have minds and hearts; they will take proper positions to support you.
2. When you`re stuck between two conflicting parties, it`s best to remain neutral and not to spread what other party`s opinion to the opposing party. Remain silent and be a good listener.
3. There are things that are not appropriate to be shared with good/close friends, family, or even spouse.
4. There`s an adage saying if there is a friend who betrays you, then blame that friend of yours. But if there are two or more friends who betray you, then blame yourself.
Well, it`s always easy to say but difficult to do what we have said. Anyway, I would congratulate my two dear friends, Dinar Yasmina M. Samoeri for being promoted as the President of the Indonesian Student Association (PERMIAS) of St. Louis chapter for 2004 - 2005 and Edhy Trisno Rahardjo for being promoted as the President of the Indonesian Student Association of the University of Missouri - St. Louis chapter for 2004 - 2005. I believe in both of you, I`ve witnessed your efforts during the preparation and the performance of the Indonesian Night 2004: A Passage to the Immaculate Eden - Indonesia at the UM - St. Louis last October 2, 2004. You guys are also supported by other tremendous officers. One thing that comes across my mind is the fact that Amanda Trisia Supriadi has been promoted as an officer of one of these organizations for three times in a row! That shows how people believe in her efforts and credibility and I know personally how busy she is as she is not only the officer of ISA but also the officer of other organizations in UM - St. Louis. To all the new officers, I once again congratulate them and I would like to remind them that what is valuable and wonderful is not the outcome (events, performances, fundraisings, barbecue parties, etc), but is the effort and the teamwork. Outcome to certain extent has different perceptions among different persons, but effort and teamwork remain the same in people`s mind.
As for me, I can only regret the fact that I`m not going to be a part of the upcoming Indonesian Night 2005. I will return straight to Jakarta once I finish my school on May 2005 (well, probably on June 2005 as I will fly to Washington DC to visit my family for a month). I just hope that the committee will send me a free VCD of the Indonesian Night 2005 (gosh, I haven`t even received the one of the Indonesian Night 2004). One more thing, I just got this beautiful yet terrifying story (but a fact based on my belief) from the bulletin board at friendster.com. This is actually based on Islamic belief, but for those of you who are not Moslems, I think it`s also important to know it so it will encourage you to do more good deeds before we all die.
The voice that only the dead can hear
The 3 things that come along with the dead are family, wealth, and deeds. Only two of those that leave after the dead is buried, which are family and wealth. But deeds will remain with the dead forever.
When the soul leaves the body, the dying hears a voice shouting from the sky
"Fulon, oh the son of Fulon
Are you leaving the world or is the world leaving you?
Were you collecting money (wealth) or were you collected (driven) by money (wealth)?
Were you conquering the world or were you conquered (defeated) by the world?
Did you drown (control) the world or were you drowned (controlled) in the world?"
When the dead is laid to be bathed, he/she hears a voice shouting from the sky
"Fulon, oh the son of Fulon
You were once strong and firm but why are you now laying there motionless?
You were once an excellent speaker and were talkative but why are you now laying there in silence?
You used to be an excellent listener but why are you now laying deaf?
You used to have many good/best friends but why are they now leaving you without any sign?"
When the dead is dressed in a white sheet (kafan), he/she hears a voice shouting from the sky
"Fulon, oh the son of Fulon
Be happy if you befriended with good deeds
You`ll be doomed if you befriended with the wrath of Allah (God)
Fulon, oh the son of Fulon
You are about to embark in a journey
A faraway journey without anything to bring with
You have left your house and never will you return
You are now ready to embark to a destination filled with ambiguity"
When the dead is carried to his/her final resting place, he/she hears a voice shouting from the sky
"Fulon, oh the son of Fulon
Be very happy if you did good deeds
Be very happy if you died with purity
Be very happy when your life had started with obedience"
When the dead is being prayed, he/she hears a voice shouting from the sky
"Fulon, oh the son of Fulon
If they were good deeds then they will be shown to you in delight
If they were bad deeds then they will be shown to you horribly"
When the dead is laid in his/her grave, he/she hears a voice shouting from the sky
"Fulon, oh the son of Fulon
What have you prepared from your magnificent mansion in your world for the next life here which will be empty and dark?
Fulon, oh the son of Fulon
Once you were laughing gaily, now you cry in my stomach
Once you were happy and gay, now you mourn in my stomach
Once you talked many words, now you shut your mouth in silence here in my stomach"
When all people leave the dead alone in his/her grave, Allah speaks to him/her
"My creature,
You are now left alone
With no friend and no relative
Here in a small and dark place
They have left you all alone in this place while you once disobeyed me because of them
Now I will show you my true love for you
The true love which will amaze the whole universe
I will love you even more than a love from a mother to her child"
To those calm and serene souls, Allah has spoken
"To all of you calm souls
Return to your God with a content heart and be blessed by Him
Then gather in the circle of my blessed people and enter my heaven"
I know that the words in the above story seem odd to most of you, as I translated them straight from Bahasa Indonesia. Well, I just realize that there are no more stories to share with in this post, come and visit my blog next week. Happy Ramadhan, and please forgive any mistake that I`ve done or any word that I wrote above.
1. Never fear to speak the truth although the truth may kill you. People have minds and hearts; they will take proper positions to support you.
2. When you`re stuck between two conflicting parties, it`s best to remain neutral and not to spread what other party`s opinion to the opposing party. Remain silent and be a good listener.
3. There are things that are not appropriate to be shared with good/close friends, family, or even spouse.
4. There`s an adage saying if there is a friend who betrays you, then blame that friend of yours. But if there are two or more friends who betray you, then blame yourself.
Well, it`s always easy to say but difficult to do what we have said. Anyway, I would congratulate my two dear friends, Dinar Yasmina M. Samoeri for being promoted as the President of the Indonesian Student Association (PERMIAS) of St. Louis chapter for 2004 - 2005 and Edhy Trisno Rahardjo for being promoted as the President of the Indonesian Student Association of the University of Missouri - St. Louis chapter for 2004 - 2005. I believe in both of you, I`ve witnessed your efforts during the preparation and the performance of the Indonesian Night 2004: A Passage to the Immaculate Eden - Indonesia at the UM - St. Louis last October 2, 2004. You guys are also supported by other tremendous officers. One thing that comes across my mind is the fact that Amanda Trisia Supriadi has been promoted as an officer of one of these organizations for three times in a row! That shows how people believe in her efforts and credibility and I know personally how busy she is as she is not only the officer of ISA but also the officer of other organizations in UM - St. Louis. To all the new officers, I once again congratulate them and I would like to remind them that what is valuable and wonderful is not the outcome (events, performances, fundraisings, barbecue parties, etc), but is the effort and the teamwork. Outcome to certain extent has different perceptions among different persons, but effort and teamwork remain the same in people`s mind.
As for me, I can only regret the fact that I`m not going to be a part of the upcoming Indonesian Night 2005. I will return straight to Jakarta once I finish my school on May 2005 (well, probably on June 2005 as I will fly to Washington DC to visit my family for a month). I just hope that the committee will send me a free VCD of the Indonesian Night 2005 (gosh, I haven`t even received the one of the Indonesian Night 2004). One more thing, I just got this beautiful yet terrifying story (but a fact based on my belief) from the bulletin board at friendster.com. This is actually based on Islamic belief, but for those of you who are not Moslems, I think it`s also important to know it so it will encourage you to do more good deeds before we all die.
The voice that only the dead can hear
The 3 things that come along with the dead are family, wealth, and deeds. Only two of those that leave after the dead is buried, which are family and wealth. But deeds will remain with the dead forever.
When the soul leaves the body, the dying hears a voice shouting from the sky
"Fulon, oh the son of Fulon
Are you leaving the world or is the world leaving you?
Were you collecting money (wealth) or were you collected (driven) by money (wealth)?
Were you conquering the world or were you conquered (defeated) by the world?
Did you drown (control) the world or were you drowned (controlled) in the world?"
When the dead is laid to be bathed, he/she hears a voice shouting from the sky
"Fulon, oh the son of Fulon
You were once strong and firm but why are you now laying there motionless?
You were once an excellent speaker and were talkative but why are you now laying there in silence?
You used to be an excellent listener but why are you now laying deaf?
You used to have many good/best friends but why are they now leaving you without any sign?"
When the dead is dressed in a white sheet (kafan), he/she hears a voice shouting from the sky
"Fulon, oh the son of Fulon
Be happy if you befriended with good deeds
You`ll be doomed if you befriended with the wrath of Allah (God)
Fulon, oh the son of Fulon
You are about to embark in a journey
A faraway journey without anything to bring with
You have left your house and never will you return
You are now ready to embark to a destination filled with ambiguity"
When the dead is carried to his/her final resting place, he/she hears a voice shouting from the sky
"Fulon, oh the son of Fulon
Be very happy if you did good deeds
Be very happy if you died with purity
Be very happy when your life had started with obedience"
When the dead is being prayed, he/she hears a voice shouting from the sky
"Fulon, oh the son of Fulon
If they were good deeds then they will be shown to you in delight
If they were bad deeds then they will be shown to you horribly"
When the dead is laid in his/her grave, he/she hears a voice shouting from the sky
"Fulon, oh the son of Fulon
What have you prepared from your magnificent mansion in your world for the next life here which will be empty and dark?
Fulon, oh the son of Fulon
Once you were laughing gaily, now you cry in my stomach
Once you were happy and gay, now you mourn in my stomach
Once you talked many words, now you shut your mouth in silence here in my stomach"
When all people leave the dead alone in his/her grave, Allah speaks to him/her
"My creature,
You are now left alone
With no friend and no relative
Here in a small and dark place
They have left you all alone in this place while you once disobeyed me because of them
Now I will show you my true love for you
The true love which will amaze the whole universe
I will love you even more than a love from a mother to her child"
To those calm and serene souls, Allah has spoken
"To all of you calm souls
Return to your God with a content heart and be blessed by Him
Then gather in the circle of my blessed people and enter my heaven"
I know that the words in the above story seem odd to most of you, as I translated them straight from Bahasa Indonesia. Well, I just realize that there are no more stories to share with in this post, come and visit my blog next week. Happy Ramadhan, and please forgive any mistake that I`ve done or any word that I wrote above.
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