What have been achieved?

I flipped through my notebook. Its the first notebook I ever used to write down what Obek taught. The date was 12th May '02. I was 26 then. It has been 6 years now. I asked myself what have I achieved? I remember he told me if someone would have studied in any Uni, for that long period of time, he would have achieved his Masters or even Doctorate of something.

As I reflect upon myself, what have I achieved? In that 6 years, lots of things happened. I want to be the same innocent girl I was when I was 26. Along the years there were people I met. Some of them blurred my vision, some others indirectly strengthen me.

It has been 6 years now. One thing I know my 'Play' is not over yet. I want strive for my 'Play' to be over. Only when its over, there come victory. When that time arrives, I know my heart will be fluttering again, this time its forever...and I would feel free and unbounded..whats left would just be waiting and counting my days, smiling..

May He guide me and my love ones, May He shield us from any impurities. For He is the best protection for us.

Only the self can help thyself....focus, purify, suppress, raised


Ros.R outz in silence..

Months of Blessings

The month of Rejab..the month for taubat, the month of Allah. I was caught off guard when HE granted my prayer and those who are praying for me..Subhannallah...

Now its the month of Syaa'ban..the month for muhibbah, the month of Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. For the 2nd time, I get to meet another of prophet's descendant:D. I have seen his face on the picture. Last week was my first time to see him face to face. Its the same light I saw he emitted. Its not his attire or turban or beard which captured me.. its in his face. There is no doubt in his words. All the words he said is true...every single one of it. And he has a sense of humor too...something which I did not expect to discover...:)

Its was also my first time to come across a bai'ah. I had vague knowledge what bai'ah is. Instead of peace after the session, I felt restless. I want to know what it is for sure. The only one who has an assured answer for me is him. He told me that bai'ah is the acceptance of knowledge from the Sheikh to the person he transfered his knowledge to. He encourages me to proceed with seeking the knowledge. When I got his permission, my worries + uncertainty vanished! For a day, I felt I was not earthly bounded. Its been ages since my heart feels so freeeeeeeeee and light. I could even feel it fluttering among the clouds. It was really an indescribable feeling which only those whom have tasted that moment would understand.

It was raining lightly in Geylang yesterday morning but I experienced a flood on my seat. Prophet's love is too overwhelming surrounding us...just too overwhelming to describe. May Allah guides me for whats in my heart....Let it only HE and myself know whats this heart been yearning for...

The Supplication - Sami Yusuf

Ramadhan..the month for reaping what we have worked for through these years...Its OUR month. Its the month where in it hidden a gift which Allah granted especially for the Prophet's ummah. Year after year we waited to obtain that gift on that night where the angels descended from the sky, commanded to visit each home to bestow the gift Allah has promised only for the deserving.....Year after year it has passed and now it is visiting us again in less than a week.

Ros.R wants to feel her heart flutters again..heartz fluttering check 5/10

The Brain and Learning

The greatest gift which distinguishes the human and the animal is the mind. Activities in the mind is processed in the brain. The brain appears to look like a walnut to me. It always interest me to know more about the human brain and how it works. My first non fiction book has got something to do with making use of the fullest potential of the brain. By understanding the human brain, it can aid my little clients better in their learning.

Some facts about the Human Brain.

• Brain weighs 3 pounds
• Brain pays conscious attention 1 at a time
• Brain needs time to think
• Brain thinks in chunks hence there is a need to make connection
• Brain remembers best that which comes first and second best that which comes last
• Brain remembers well after repetition 3 times...repetition enhances memory retention
• Brain learns best when it is not in high stress
• Brain learns best when they are actively engaged
• Brain learns best when facts and skills are related to life experiences
• The one who talks more grows more dendrites in the brain..talking helps in memory.
• Attention span of the brain is approximately equal to a person's age..20 mins is the maximum time to engage the brain
• Emotions gives an impact to the brain
• 7 is the average number of facts/activities which the adult brain can hold

Some brain-compatible lessons

• Writing - helps to organise the things in the brain
• Visual - visual content leaves greater impact for children
• Discussion - talking grows more dendrites in the brain
• Humour - laughter puts the brain in positive state which promotes learning
• Use of manipulatives - engages the brain
• Graphic organizer - helps the brain to make connections of information learnt

Ros.R's sanity check..1/10...need to grow more dendrites

Spiritual

I sat in the same table with them. They were talking things beyond spirituality. Most of the time, I just listen. I don't usually like to talk much..I listened and silently prayed. HE has enlightened me. I want to continue to be enlightened..without any doubt. There are some parallel thoughts to what they believe and to what I am learning. The knowledge they have is part of the truth which Allah has enlightened them. But there is something which sets us apart.

To them, religion is just a name confined by rules. They believe in breaking the rules. In doing so, they believe that the law of marginal utility will set in somewhere and the lower nafs will be erased in the long run. But I know it too well that my favourite law of marginal utility doesn't work for this. I know it far too well that if one is not careful, giving in will only cause vicious cycle of addictions.

HE is the All Mighty...For a man is helpless without what HE has gifted him. For nothing is to happend if HE did not allow it to happen.

All of a sudden, my heart cries! I want to be out. I want to run home to Obek and Mom. That is where the real truth lies. As I made my way back, my heart seeks HIS protection.

Ros.R recites dua kalimah syahadah

The Moon & Syaa'ban

Its the 10th of Syaa'ban today. How time flies..again. I gazed at the moon. It is no longer a crescent. Its already half way to full. I love gazing at the moon. Sometimes, I saw the face of a lady smiling down to Earth. Then I smiled back at her..=). When its low and full, it reminds me of the large bulb street lamp emitting light in the park. Most of the time, I wish I can reach out for the moon and rest it on my palm. I would touch it lightly and then it would drift back up in the sky.

I can be gazing at the sky for hours. Speechless. For I cannot describe what there is up there in words. I remembered my first plane ride. As I looked out of the window. I saw the clouds. It looked like there is a kingdom of its own up there in the sky. I just go speechless again but the heart is not.

In the book mom bought for me it says...

Rejab bulan menabur benih
Syaaban bulan menyiram tanaman
Ramadhan bulan menuai

Rejab menyucikan badannya
Syaaban menyucikan hatinya
Ramadhan menyucikan rohnya

Rejab bulan menghfirah keamapunan
Syaaban bulan syafaa
Ramadhan bulan menggandakan kebajikan

Rejab bulan taubat
Syaaban bulan muhibbah
Ramadhan bulan dilimpahi pahala amalan seperti hujan mencurah

Through those words, there is more hidden then whats just written for the heart which seeks.

Ros.R counting down to 15th Syaaban

Smelling-licious today

After done with the laundry and toilet cleaning, I need to smell EXTRA good.

Its the art of body pampering and Smelling-licious..

Shampoo and Conditioner : Giovanni Organic Hair Care..with rosemary and lavender extract.

Hair Moisturiser: Nexus Y Serum, Mirabella Lotion

Body Scrub: Pradasari Scrub with Rose extract

Body Mask : Body Shop SPA Wisdom body mask with purifying greanium and grapefruit essential oils.

Face Scrub: Clinique 7 Day Scrub Rinse-Off Formula

Face Mask: Clinique Turnaround 15-min facial

Body Lotion: Citra Lasting White Extract with pearls

Body perfume: HUGO BOSS alcohol-free scent

Next in the list is - Project Lavender Curtain which I plan to complete in 2 days. Oh....how I love to stay away from work...=D

Ros.R smelling yummy-licious

Reread

I have been reading again. It used to be a skeptical move to pick up an Islamic book in English as I am more comfortable to read it in my own language. However after reading Iman Al-Haddad's book in "The Lives of Man", I am ready to pick up another book in English. Decided to revisit "Heart, Self & Soul" for the book act as a reminder to me to remain in my life track. Next in my list is the book which Sheykh Khalil Moore used in his seminar.."The Two Treatises : Mutual Reminding and Good Manners". I am able to get connected with the words from the book. For sure, this will be another book which I will be pasting post tabs to remind me of the important reminders written. It will be another book filled with scribble notes of my own. Life long learning need not be confined to increasing economic growth. Life long learning in the spiritual aspect is more important to me..one way is to read and to have someone knowledgeable to refer to for anything unclear during the read.

I will revisit the scripts which Obek handed in to me. I remember what he said and I will hold on to those words. Keep that believe unshaken, revise on whats been taught, reflects, communicates, seek and I shall find. For "the beginning of the path is a powerful urge of divine origin needs to be strengthen, protected and responded to"

Jelauddin Rumi says...

Hear from the heart worldless mysteries!
Understand what cannot be understood!
In man's stone-dark heart there burns a fire
When the veils are burned away, the heart will understand completely...
Ancient Love will unfold ever-fresh forms
In the heart of the Spirit in the core of the heart.

Then again, the cleansing starts from the heart even before we are to seek who we are to begin on our path.

Ros.R high-5s all the bookworms