crohn's disease

Yesterday, I finally saw my teenage student, A. We were supposed to start our tuition class in January. However we had to delay the class until yesterday due to his illness, which he told me was known as Crohn's disease.

I was quite shock to see how much weight he had lost during the school holiday. I remember very well that our last class was in November and he was still the chubby looking boy. It was heartbreaking for me to see him losing 9 kg in just 2 months.

I decided to read about the disease starting with wikipedia. According to the site, it is said that the usual onset is between 15 and 30 years of age, with no difference between men and women. The main gastrointestinal symptoms are abdominal pain, diarrhea, which may be bloody, and weight loss.

The cause of Crohn's disease is not known. It is only known that the disease occurs when the immune system contributes to damage of the gastrointestinal tract by causing inflammation.

My student, A, will be on a long term medication and would not be able to take part in any outdoor activity. I hope the doctors will be able to help him recover soon.

Q&A about Buddhism - part 5

Disclaimer: For non-Muslims or Buddhists only unless if you are reading this for knowledge purpose. This is a Q&A with HH Sakya Trizin.

This is a continuation from part 4.

Q: Are the hells metaphors for states or amounts of suffering or do they really exist as described in the Buddhist ‘Sutras’?

A: Something really exists, I think. Actually it says in the Sutras that they really exist much more terribly than they are described because, it says, the Buddha didn’t fully describe them. If he fully described them, people would have fainted.

Q: How real are they?

A: They are real as the life we have today. Yes, many people think that they are not real, like a dream. But actually, we are happy and unhappy in dreams, just as real as we are when we are awake. This present experience also is not real, but we think everything around us is real. Hell is as real as this. Of course hell, also, in reality, is not real. This is also not real. What is this, then?

Q: Do the Buddhas suffer?

A: No, they never suffer. They are absolutely free from sufferings.

Q: Do they see suffering?

A: They don’t see suffering, either.

Q: Then how can they help people who are suffering?

A: They don’t suffer. This answer is one of the differences between the Sakya and Gelugpa orders; the Gelugpas say that the Buddhas do see suffering and we say that they do not. The man who has awakened from sleep doesn’t have dreams. This impure Samsaric scene of suffering is like a dream; it’s like an illusion. So the man who has awakened from this illusion can never dream again. But, due to his Bodhicitta, (Enlightenment-mind) and his compassion, help for others spontaneously arises. But the Buddha himself never sees suffering. For him, all things are transformed into pure appearance.

Q: Is the Buddha involved in ‘Karma’?

A: He has achieved the final Karmic result, the highest and the best possible results of Karma.

Q: Can anything happen to us that is not the result of our own actions?

A: No, never.

Q: Can the Buddha perceive the results of his or other’s acts?

A: Yes, for instance, there have been many prophecies, but I don’t think the Buddha sees or perceives these results. Where there is a need for a prophecy, it just arises spontaneously.

Q: Can we modify the results of past acts?

A: Certainly. The Vajrasattva meditation can purify many of our past bad actions, but in any case, the creation of good causes and merit is very helpful and necessary.

In the next part, we will get more answers from HH on Buddhism.

Disclaimer: This interview was taken from the book "Pointing Towards Vajrayana" published by The Singapore Buddha Sasana Society Sakya Tenphel Ling. The Palden Sakya Centres of American Buddhism Sakya Shei Drup Ling actually holds the right of this text.

German Film Week @ AEI

The international movie screening at the Asia-Europe Institute (AEI), University of Malaya is back. I'm sure those of you who read papers already know the screening will be from today until this Friday.

A few years ago, AEI and ATMA-UKM (Institute of the Malay World and Civilization, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia) used to collaborate and had regular screening of international movies here in UM. My friends and I loved it very much because it's free entertainment on every Wednesday and not to mention the generous refreshment after the show.

Later, the fellow researcher at AEI who run the programme left UM and formed Kaki Kino. Together with Dr Wan Zawawi, they brought the weekly international movie screening to FINAS. I was very disappointed by the move. Not long after that move to FINAS, Kaki Kino landed themselves in trouble when one of the films screened had explicit scenes.

Anyway, I'm just glad that this programme is back at AEI with new management. Hopefully they will make it a regular event.

Date/Time: 5 - 9 February 2007, 8.30 pm Venue: Auditorium, Asia-Europe Institute Organiser: Asia-Europe Institute, UM and Goethe Institute Contact Person: Puan Joharah (+603-79674645)

Movie Title: Mostly Martha Date: 5 Feb 2007 (Monday) Time: 8.30-10.30 p.m.

Movie Title: Comedian Harmonists Date: 6 Feb 2007 (Tuesday) Time: 8.30 -11.00 p.m.

Movie Title: Good Bye, Lenin Date: 7 Feb 2007 (Wednesday) Time: 8.30-11.00 p.m.

Movie Title: Run Lola Run Date: 8 Feb 2007 (Thursday) Time: 8.30-10.00 p.m.

Movie Title: Nowhere In Africa Date: 9 Feb 2007 (Friday) Time: 8.30-11.30 p.m.

winning a desktop PC @ the Microsoft Vista launch

Now I feel really bad for complaining about the Amazing Vista Walk Hunt for not providing better Hunt Kit in my previous post.

Why? Because today I received not only extra Microsoft Vista freebies (pen, notepads, paper clips, etc) but also a new HP Desktop PC preloaded with Window Vista for winning the 1st prize in the Windows Movie Maker contest.

I did not save up the 90 sec clip I submitted last night though. My clip is about Visit Malaysia Year 2007 with a little bit sense of humour by using the limited number of photos available in the PC available at the foyer of Low Yat Plaza.

When the Microsoft people called me on my mobile asking me to come over to the stage @ about 5 p.m. today, I was in PJ. Luckily my friends were there to be my representative.

Thank you to my friends (Shuh Yong, Chia Chia, Sok Ei, Jess and Dr Ho), Bro and Sis for taking part with me in the hunt. And especially thank you to my good friend Shuh Yong for noticing the contest and persuaded me to join. Shuh Yong, Jess and Chia Chia also helped me to pick up my prizes today. Love you guys! Congratulations to Dr Ho for winning the 3rd place in the Windows Movie Maker contest as well! Let's celebrate this week!

In the end, special thanks to Microsoft and HP for the prizes! Coincidentally, I'll be collecting the desktop PC on my birthday.