I stumbled upon this particular poem of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi’s while I was struggling to understand the existing and the departing of certain people around me. Sharing it here with y’alls.
The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
~ Rumi
We are bombarded with all kind of emotions or thought daily … at least I am. A good reminder to a stray soul like mine … beautifully written indeed.
As I strolled through my photo collections, I felt like sharing these photos of a very patient Quran teacher that I saw at Jami Masjid, Agra, India. Why did I thought that he was a patient teacher?
A humble place to learn to read the beautiful Quran
I was watching him while he was teaching.
His voice was calm and soft towards his student. And … my friends and I … strangers with cameras clicking around him doesn’t annoyed him at all.
I was comparing this situation back home in Malaysia whereby …certain people, especially those who has certain level of religious knowledge more than the average, would easily get agitated with strangers ( I am being carefully polite here).
But … yeah, I might be wrong though.
Another shoot from above. A nice warm feeling whenever I looked at this photo
It’s hot and hazy here in Kuala Lumpur. Feels like staying indoor 24×7.
A good reason to start preparing myself for my next gateway. Emptying my expectation and straightening my judgemental mind. A blank canvas could be a canvas full of possibilities … right?
Bye
Cheers
MM
p.s – Learning to be at peace with myself. Oh Allah … please be gentle with me and never leave me alone unattended by You. Indeed oh Allah … You are the best Protector and the best Helpers
India 2015: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.”
It has been awhile since my last post here. So many things happened during that period of time … smacked down moments that make the happy go lucky me went silent without words … my ‘maturity’ lesson, I called it.
Or maybe a trade-off for my current lifestyle that I am having now. In order for me to enjoy my “jiwa MERDEKA” or “free spirited” life … I have to experience these emotional confusion about responsibility, accountability, loyalty, trust, love, friendship, religion (as what PEOPLE imposed me on believing) and death. More you get of X, less you get of Y.
Accepting and understanding death is the hardest for me. Loosing someone who is close to you through death does not feel the same as loosing him/ her through a devastating broken relationship. But well … life continuously goes on and on … and time heals you accordingly. For arwah Abah and Paksu … al-fatihah.
What really helped during those confusing moments? … the act of kindness by people closed to me and by those unexpected strangers in my life … helps to ease up my confusion and at the same time giving me hope and space … so that I would rise up better than before. Alhamdullilah and thank you …
If I rant further more … then this post will ended up as philosophical as Sigmund Feud thesis paper on understanding human psychology.
India 2015: “We rise by lifting others.”
The truth is … I am craving for my solitude and silence more than ever now.
With this thunder inside me now … if I continue forcing myself out, words spoken or written surely would sound more defensive and hostile. The hidden drama queen in me would probably go berserk 😉 … but ‘I am no hero and I’m not made of stone.
Looking at photos has a temporary tranquility effect on me … my all-natural tranquilizer. Sharing some human interest portraits from my recent India trip with my readers here. Images are mostly in monochrome, if you want to view in color then you can check-out my flickr account.
I need a lullaby to keep me going while preparing my today’s post. I am singing my heart out with my karaoke version of “Until it Sleeps” by Metallica. Let’s sing along together with me … 1… 2 … 3 😉
Note: click the video below so that you can continue reading while listening to the song as your background music
India 2015: “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.”
Where do I take this pain of mine? I run, but it stays right by my side
So tear me open, pour me out There’s things inside that scream and shout And the pain still hates me So hold me until it sleeps
India 2015: What is the color of kindness?
Just like the curse, just like the stray You feed it once and now it stays Now it stays
India 2015: They said PINK is the color of kindness
So tear me open but beware There’s things inside without a care And the dirt still stains me So wash me until I’m clean
It grips you, so hold me It stains you, so hold me It hates you, so hold me It holds you, so hold me Until it sleeps
India 2015: And, he has the color of kindness neatly tucked on his shoulder
So tell me why you’ve chosen me Don’t want your grip Don’t want your greed Don’t want it
India 2015: “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” ~ Dalai Lama
I’ll tear me open, make you gone No more can you hurt anyone And the fear still shakes me So hold me until it sleeps
India 2015: “The kindest word in all the world is the unkind word, unsaid”
It grips you, so hold me
It stains you, so hold me
It hates you, so hold me
It holds you, holds you, holds you
Until it sleeps
India 2015: “Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns”
I don’t want it … no … no … no
India 2015: “To be happy, we must not be too concerned with others”
So tear me open but beware
There’s things inside without a care
And the dirt still stains me
So wash me… till clean
India 2015: “In the end … only kindness matter”
I’ll tear me open, make you gone
No longer will you hurt anyone
And the hate still shapes me
So hold me until it sleeps
“What is a rebel? A man who says NO” … so hold me until I SLEEP 🙂
I am signing off right now … and continue taking my recovery sleep. When I finally decide to wake up … I will strike harder and better than before … In Sha Allah. Till then … 🙂
Cheers
MM
p/s Ramadhan Mubarak to all my muslim readers … and we are moving nearer to the last 10 days of Ramadhan. The most blessed days in the blessed month of Ramadhan are the last 10 days of Ramadhan. May Allah grant all of us strength and will to make the remaining days of Ramadhan work to our advantage … ameen.
Hear me roar … *r..o..a..s..squeak* *squeak* … oops
The after effect of craziness during my last trip still leaving a tint of smile on my face. A sign that I was having way too much fun with myself and my next scheduled trip in next 2 weeks seemed dry to me now knowing that I will be left all alone again roaming the street. But being all alone is what photography is all about … at least for me lah.
Spotting moment or an interesting subject while wandering around the street required quiet mind.
Witnessing the crucial moments during sunrise, sunset, moonrising or milkyway (new addition craving) required quiet mind too.
The mind need to decide on how to feel, what to do, how to capture the moment from the best available angle, which gear and camera setting that need to be used. So, … mind … please be settled and stay calm for my next rendezvous. I will sing you a lullaby to calm you down. And, I am singing it out loud here with my dear readers … this is my karaoke version of ‘Wherever I may roam’ 🙂 .
Let’s hit the lyric together now … 1… 2… 3…
And the road becomes my bride
And the road becomes my bride
I have stripped of all but pride, so in her I do confide
And she keeps me satisfied, gives me all I need
A lonely road at Pasir Berbisik, Bromo valley
And with dust in throat I crave
Only knowledge will I save, to the game you stay a slave
Rover … wanderer … nomad … vagabond
Call me what you will
A sand storm at Bromo valley
But I’ll take my time anywhere
Free to speak my mind anywhere
And I’ll redefine anywhere
Anywhere I roam, where I lay my head is home yeah …
A thinker at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
And the earth becomes my throne
And the earth becomes my throne
I adapt to the unknown, under wandering stars I’ve grown
By myself but not alone, I ask no one
An emperor at Lhasa, Tibet
Another emperor at Beijing, China
And my ties are severed clean
The less I have the more I gain, off the beaten path I reign
Rover … wanderer … nomad … vagabond
Call me what you will, yeah you will
A humble life at Ha Giang, Vietnam
But I’ll take my time anywhere
I’m free to speak my mind anywhere
And I’ll never mind anywhere
Anywhere I roam, where I lay my head is home
A home at Omo Valley, Ethiopia
But I’ll take my time anywhere
I’m free to speak my mind anywhere
And I’ll never mind anywhere
Anywhere I roam, where I lay my head is home
Human masks at Bali, Indonesia
But I’ll take my time anywhere
I’m free to speak my mind
And I’ll take my time anywhere
Anywhere I roam, where I lay my head is home
Carved upon my stone
My body lie but still I roam yeah yeah …
Hide and seek at the street of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Wow! this song is surely an old song with a good vibe for those who love to roam the road less traveled. My last trip with a bunch of strangers turned bff (best friend forever) was mainly focusing on landscape photography and learning to properly shoot dreamy landscape. Beautiful experience indeed …
Being a lazy bum, I think street photography will always be my all time favourite kind of photography. It allowed my mind to wonder freely. It encouraged the introvert me to feel comfortable with stranger and it helped me overcome my fears to changes. Oppss … sorry for sounding too philosophical yeah blue 🙂 .
I am brushing all those remaining lovey dovey dust off my shoulder now, and all geared up again for my next move 😉 . Wish me luck …
