Muay Thai Boxing

Thailand is full to the brim of Muay Thai gyms, and every morning you will see troops of trainees running around in the boiling hot sunshine. I have often driven past them thinking that these people are insane to do this, and had a look at the gyms which are open wood rooms with long boxing bags hanging out in the open: no walls, no security - just raw, in the open, in the heat training.

Hmm. I have always managed to mentally challenge and develop myself, but I have never really tried to see what my body can really do: or even what I can teach it to do.

So....I went and joined one. And for this past week I have been up at 7am running around, skipping and punching punchbags until 9am, then I am back at 4.00pm - 6.30pm to spar in a boxing ring, do sit ups, press ups, leg strengthening exercise after which I get to be beaten up by an ex-fighter called Bang Bang as I try (after exhausting myself with exercise) to land some form of punch or kick or elbow or knee on this man who is covered in pads and could probably burst a punchbag with one swing if he wanted to.

I have never sweat so much that it drips off my face and soaks through my t-shirt, nor have I ever punched something until I can't life my arm, or kicked until I can't stand up - nor have I ever run in 30 degree heat around a forest.

They wrap up your hands with these things that look like bandages and then put a 12 ounce boxing glove on you which has the same affect as wearing thermal gloves: you start to overheat straight away. Tough luck: that's the way it is - no negotiation. They are carving a fighter out of you.

When you get tired, they make you do press ups or sit ups. Once you've done those, its time to skip, when you can't skip anymore it's time to punch, when you can't punch any more it's time to kick, once your legs have gone, you use your elbows and when you start seeing butterflies and the sounds turn into only the muffled beat of your heart pounding too hard for your chest to contain and you feel yourself start to ascend to a higher plain - they throw water at you and it's time to spar with Bang Bang. When you can't stand up anymore, they pick you up and put you on your feet.

And then: after your three minute rest, you have to push a punchbag with each leg a hundred times, do 40 sit ups, 20 press ups, stretch...and then you can go home.

My life has flashed before my eyes more than once. It has been only a week and already I can feel the power increase, the energy boost and can see the change in my body shape. Stamina increasing and overall calm levels higher then ever before and I don't think there is any therapy better than sparring, and pushing yourself to the point of no-return and then going for 10 seconds more, 10 seconds more, 5 seconds more...and seeing what you can do. Head remains totally clean and clear when you are focused on that target - kick the target, kick the target - swing the hip, swing the hip, punch the target, punch the target - it really leaves no room for thought overload - and I can see how people get hooked.

I really recommend it. It's like taking some super powerful drug that makes everything perform better - only it's not a rug, it's your own body improving daily. And, you are learning a skill. And you are learning close-combat fighting, which is great for self defence.

Its great! I think everyone should do Muay Thai.

Muay Thai rocks!

The Many Wives "argument"

Did I mention that I have been teaching English here in Thailand?

Here's a small literacy lesson I prepared and taught (to speakers of other languages. Lets see if you can do it.

Number 1. Ready?

Statement: If the house catches on fire, run down the stairs and get in a line by the small shop on the corner.

Question: Is this sentence telling you to run down the stairs and get in a line by the small shop on the corner?

Answer: No. The sentence starts with the word "if", and you only need to run down the stairs etc "IF the house is on fire".


Number 2. Here we go.

Statement: If you feel like you cannot breathe, place your hands on the back of your head, and stretch upwards instead of downwards so as to enable the flow of Oxygen to your body.

Question: Is this sentence telling you to place your hands on the back of your head and stretch upwards?

Answer: No. It is telling me only to do that if I cannot breathe.

***

Now one for you:

Statement: And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan girls them marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four;...

Question: Is this statement telling you to marry two, or three or four women of your choice?


Answer? Up to you.

And God knows best.

Being Right

Its a but hypocritical to treat me like I'm some kinda idiot or arrogant person for arguing my side and behaving as though all that interests me is "being right" when in actual fact the only person interested in being right is you.

So whatever quality it is in me, or my argument that is pissing you off - you can actually see it right there in yourself.

So whilst you go on as if you are higher and mightier and more moral than me in some way - please note: we are the same.

Only I didn't get personal. And you did.

So here's my personal bit for you.

The only reason I am in dialogue with you is because once upon a time you wanted clarification and explanation. Your questions are not a favour to me, but rather - I feel when you ask one, that you want an answer. And once upon a time, you thanked me for it.

Now that the answers no longer please you, it's a different story.

This is not a problem for me. I wish you the best.

Jihad - Holy War

When reading the histories relating to the events surrounding the establishment of Islam, the politics, the people and the hadiths and the Quran I sometimes get "stuck" on something I feel uncomfortable about and I think about it constantly.

This morning I awoke with this all powerful feeling in my mind about what the Prophet peace be upon him did.

When we look at the Quran and religion, what we often do is look at it from a birds-eye view. We summarise everything into minute snippets of detail - entire lifetimes, entire wars, births, deaths and generations are packed into one or two lines, maybe one or two sentences. The information is so summarised, that it is easy to make the mistake of not expanding that information to fill in the missing gaps - the bits that are missing. The laughing, the worry, the thought, feelings and emotions.

Today I was thinking about the voice of the Quran and who it is talking to. ts talking to a man called Mohammed and it is guiding him through a lifes-work. Everything he says or does is a direct result of a mission that had been given to him by God.

His mission was to establish Islam - monotheism, goodness, ethics, principles, and justice. His mission was to get rid of a society that was polluting this incredibly sacred place that Abraham built. His whole life, his whole experience was a result of being pushed forwards to achieve this mission - and upon achieving this mission, he died. That was his life, that was what was written for him.

In parts of the Quran there are references to Holy War, and in historical biographies and hadiths, there is much reference to it. My understanding of this man, this mission and this Holy War was that it was Holy because it was establishing Islam.

Take a step back for a minute, and instead of going forwards from the time of the Prophet - go backwards from today.

Look at what Mecca is.

Turn on whatever relevant channel you have, whatever you tube access you have and look at Mecca. Look at it's function, it's purpose, it's meaning and most of all it's exclusivity - the untouchable boirthright of every Muslim in the world, regardless of race, religion, finance, or sex. It is the perfectly protected source of Islam - and will be so forever.

And the establishment of that, the protection of that, the preservation of that specific goal is what "Holy War" is referring to in the Quran. And when you know that over a thousand years later, today's Mecca is what it is referring to - maybe you can understand why this particular war against people who were using Meccain disresepctful, corrupt and questionable ways had to be fought against, why it was ordained and written for the Prophet peace be upon him.

Today, people bandy this word "Jihad" around as a justification of battles that come no where close to the establishment of Mecca and the security of the Kaaba. They use this word "Jihad" and "Holy War" in such a way that they believe that taking over a country is as Holy as establishing what Mecca is to Islam today. There can be no equivalent, or substitute, or even anything midly comparable to the Prophet's Holy War. No way.

HIS Holy War established Mecca, establshed the Kaaba and protect the worship of Allah for all time, and created the heartbeat of Islam. Where the Kaaba, and Mecca remain - Muslim's and Islam will always be - flowing out in pure example of worship. A constant reminder, a constant message.

So from my understanding so far, the only real Holy War that will ever be - is the one that occurs when Mecca is under threat.

And I have no doubt, no doubt whatsoever - that should the day that someone tries to take the Kaaba, or invade Mecca comes - every single person will even 1% of Islam in their body will jump to arms.

And from my understanding, should there ever be another Holy War - that is the only type of war that would constitute "Jihad".

"All Elephants Cry"

There are Elephants everywhere in Thailand. Elephant shows, elephant rides, elephant parks and also elephants walking down the road every now and then.

So just two days ago I pull up by this elephant that was standing on a green area: just to stare at it. The enormous creatures are so big yet so gentle and obedient and calm that it takes your breath away to see it.

There I am staring at this elephant when I see tears dropping from its eyes. I looked closer, and tears were streaming down the elephant's face, from both eyes - just streaming and streaming.

I got out of the car, and looked and it went to take a step toward me and wiggled the chain on it's leg that was preventing it from moving. It was really hot and she couldn't move around much and...well...she was crying. She was pulling at the chain around her leg with her trunk, trying to get it off.

I asked for the man in charge who explained to me that this elephant has been here for three weeks - and the she has only recently started "working there". Its a female, age 60 -all of the working elephants are females, and apparently: all elephants cry. Where is her water? I asked. Are you aware of how hot it is? "We take her for a shower soon he said. "Where is her food?" I asked. She eats those leaves he says and points to the bits of greenery around the elephant, right next to her poo. Aren't you sad? I asked him, aren't you worried that this elephant is crying? He laughs and tips his head sideways in that way people do when they are talking to a three year old and said "no", like I was crazy to suggest such a thing.

Another man came along and unchained her and led her to a different area where she was going to get washed. She walked, obediently after him, and watched this old-lady elephant walk past, tears streaming down her face, swaying to and fro like any depressed person.

I don't know you guys, I'm telling you that this elephant was crying, and trying to get the chain off of her leg - it was sad and upset. I felt really sad for her, and started thinking about my grandma standing in the sunshine all day, having to go toilet on herself and on her food and then having to eat it and then crying all day in the burning sun.

Then I cried.

I looked into Elephant Sanctuaries in Phuket and apparently their natural habitats have been destroyed and they are all pretty much homeless, asides from being in zoos and working like slaves.

Then I looked into Elephant Emotions and found out they laugh, cry and a lot of oter feelings too.

And then I started to get really down about how shit the world can be.
And then I got upset about: how am I supposed to do anything constructive with my life when the world is so overwhelmingly full of sadness?
And then I started thinking about orphaned elephants, and rain forest destruction, and worked myself up into a really depressed place where I just thought: God, what am I supposed to do huh? I can't do anything can I? I cant help that elephant, I cant replace the rainforests, I cant even report it to a sanctuary -

God, my life is a little life, my voice is a little voice, my pounds are small in number and my power is non existent. And the badness the world is drowning in is so much bigger than me. Even the small wrongs Lord, they are so much stronger than me. What am I supposed to do when you put these things in my path?

And now I feel very sad, and so tiny and so quiet and so much like...I have no power to do anything at all.

;0(

Islam is NOT Maths

It makes me sad you know - how people talk about Islam like it is maths. Its not maths. Islam is not an equation that you need to balance. Its a way of being, that comes from an intention and a love for God.

People ask: what is the ruling on this? What is the ruling on that? Islam has become a matter of five pillars - its this plus this plus this equals heaven and this plus this plus this equals hell.

Sample equation: "I do not show love to my parents, I con people out of money, I overcharge them, I do nothing for free, I am trying to get my neighbours evicted because I dont like them, I ha vent spoken to my brother in a year now - but its OK. Once a year I go to Hadj and it clears me of my sins and I start again."

Whats the matter with you? Where did you go wrong?

Maybe you havent read in detail about the Prophet peace be upon him, about Aysha, Khadijah, Fatima, and Ali. Maybe you have not read the history and the people and got a clear grasp of their characters and who they were being.

These people did not follow a formula, they did not do this plus this plus that. They WERE Muslim. They could be no other way. Aysha could not hold on to any wealth without feeling guilty, Ali captured Aysha in battle and returned her without a a shred of damage to her, he forgave her. On his deathbed, he insisted that no war be started - that only the men responsible for the damage be taken to account for their actions.

Can't you see that these people did not follow formulas? Their faith was so powerful that their hearts and minds could not stand to do a bad deed - they did not have a bad thought. They were being a certain kind of person, they had a certain kind of thought process, a certain type of behaviour. They did not think "Oh, I will just live this corrupt life for a few years - once I get rich I will do Hadj and it will all be OK." No. They did not do that.

Who exactly are you trying to fool with your equations?

Islam is like a martial art, you train yourself and educate yourself until you ears, your eyes, your very limbs - your conscious and subsconsious mind responds to every stimulation with a good action and begins to steer away from bad actions and bad thoughts - you ARE MUSLIM, you embody a character that can create no badness, no injustice no inequality in this world - you cannot do it. You are a Muslim. A Submitter. A believer.

You follow the masters of the art that went before you. The Prophet (peace be upon him) and his greatest students. The ones he was most proud of, the ones that he was closest to. You look at their CHARACTERS, their motivations, their thoughts and feelings - you look at their attitudes. Not the sum total of their actions. Their actions were different: Ali and Uthmans actions were not the same, Fatima and Aysha's actions were not the same, Yusuf and Moses's actions were not the same. Look at how they were! Look at their hearts and minds - we, like them, we are all different. We share one belief, one faith, one heart one mind and that drives us - we cannot all be the same - we can be guided in the same direction with many different skill sets, many different life circumstances, many different situations - we are Muslims.

A Muslim is a way-of-being, an essence, a character - not a set of rules. Not a set of judgements and rulings and step by step instructions. When you heart is set, and I mean SET on God, when you are committed to living a life of good deeds and good actions, when you devote yourself to being the best daughter you can be, the best granddaughter you can be, the best friend, mother, neighbour, colleague, worker you can be: the best human being you can be - you should not need to ask - is this obligatory or is this makruh or is this fard. Your conscious should tell you automatically. The Quran will tell you what you need to know. The histories will tell you what you need to know.

And being the best human being you can be is not about how much money you make, its not about what you do in the confines of your home its not about how many times you say elhadulilah, or how many good thoughts you have when no one else can see you. It is in what you give to the world around you - a smile? a helping hand? forgiveness? understanding? a shoulder to cry on? a tip for a tired waitress? A hand to guide a car out of a parking spot? a call to your mother? a pat on the back for a hard worker? some change for the homeless? a signature on a petition? Good advice?

We serve everyone around us all of the time and this is the good life that we lead, because we trust in Allah, we trust that to pursue his reward is to pursue the greatest reward. We see ourselves as above or better than no one, our tongue does not permit us to say something we do not know to be true, our heart does not let us hold a grudge, we do not turn our backs on our friends, brothers and sisters no matter how big a shit they are. We give good and heartfelt advice without judging each other. We love God, we love the right path, and we are set upon that path and that path will not hurt us.

We ARE BY OUR ESSENCE a Muslim. That is our character.

Its HARD to be that good. Its a life's work - a passion, that you pursue with zest and heart and energy day in and day out - its a life's work to accomplish the kind of being that is so dedicated to God that they get to the stage where they actually cannot do a wrong.

And it's not achieved through maths.
The character of the Prophet and his students were not the result of a formulaic set of equations they systematically followed. No.
It was sincere, deep faith. Sincere, deep love. Sincere and deep good intention. It was their life's work - their life's work, their sole desire.

Not lazy maths.


Think about that.

Buddha the Psychologist

Seeing as I am in Buddhist country, I have been reading little tif-bids here and there about this man named Buddha, his life story and what he did and what he said. He said a lot of great things. I am not going to refuse knowledge. Just because someone is not a Muslim, it does not mean there is nothing to learn from them.

It is interesting to me, because the Thais really do have a wonderful way of being, they are sincerely kind, friendly and very respectful. They say things like "he who respects his teacher respects himself". Respect is a very big part of this culture - and it's genuine. Not like back home, UK, where we "should"respect and we sometimes show respect, but there is not much real and genuine respect for anyone. The dog-eat-dog and rat-race attitude has indeed reduced us to dogs and rats and to be respectful is nearly frowned upon.

Losing one's temper, changing colour, or shouting is seen as a "shame" in Thailand- by doing something like this: you debase yourself and make yourself look stupid. A calm demeanour is something to be aspired to, as is genuinely being calm and focused.

I like these things about this culture, and realised how much it has affected me when I watched someone lose their temper the other day and thought, instinctively: Öh dear, that is an ugly disgrace".

I can see now, why there are so many Muslim's here - because the combination of Islamic thought and Thai practice actually go hand in hand. We are told to "seek knowledge", ""be patient", "conceal your anger"and all of that.

I would say that reading what this man Buddha has to say about the mind. He is arguably the worlds greatest psychologist and student of the mind. Buddha's philosophy takes you forward through problems, unlike Freuian analysis which walks around the problems and examines it like a crime scene that needs to be solved by tracing backwards.

Not the soul though. I must make it very clear that he was not a student of the soul.

Its a fine line I know. But with a solid and focused head, you should easily be able to separate the two.

"Seek knowledge even if it be in China".
Do not fear that it will corrupt your faith. No.
When your faith is strong: it cannot be corrupted.
And knowledge should not scare you.