TINKERING WITH MEDITATION

 

As a Muslim, I respect other religions as pointed out in Surah Al-Kafirun:7 still I like to gather more knowledge learning about others.

When I was transferred to my Selangor branch, there was this hard working Chinese staff (who was an assistant sifu in hope of eventually become a master himself) who  frequently took leave. I was told for meditation so curious, asked how? He respectfully clarified fundamentally, he releases bad energy(qi)  that disrupts the body's metabolism and brings in good energy. This brought about much relief to the point he profusely sweat as if he did some hard jogging. He said I could give it a try but WARNED not to fall into a trance without prior equipping myself with spiritual protection from my guru, he said his guru already gave him a talisman.

Why? He explained at the point of sliding into a trance, one is immediately greeted by bad spirits who are not keen with humans entering their spiritual domain so will try to disturb.

Explain! He said in the worse case, bad spirits possess one's body so the importance of getting early protection or else the assistance of a tok guru is needed to bring the victim back to his senses. I said OK understand so teach. 

After being taught, itchy me staying on my own couldn't wait and after dinner, I sat cross-legged resting against the wall. I started with some breathing: slow full inhale then double that time exhale, cleared my mind and concentrated on a powerhouse somewhere in the region of my belly.

It was not long maybe 10 mins then I felt a certain warmth in my belly. As I concentrated, that heat source appeared to move on it's own upwards along my gullet. That sensation was so noticeable and moved up to my chest then up to my nose. Suddenly I felt my nose getting warm. It felt like a bad pimple on my nose so I touched it with my right hand but there was no pimple there. It was there alright and the heat was getting stronger.

The heat sensation then wanted to go to my head and I could feel my head slowly going into a trance as if I'm about to fall asleep. Then remembering what my staff taught me not to go into a trance if not protected, I quickly force myself to wake up.

Saved! I remembered my staff telling me the head is the gateway to the spiritual world. I asked what do the bad spirits want? In his belief, he said they were just hungry and consumed our good deeds as if it was their food and satisfied would leave. He said it is okay because we humans can easily replenish ourselves by constantly doing more good deeds which is what he does.

I, being creative, asked what happens when the first batch contented left is followed by a second batch of hungry bad spirits also expecting "food" and behind them a long line of eagerly waiting bad spirits anxious too to fill their belly. Won't we run out of good deeds? My staff stopped and thought for a moment by my killer question and laughed. He said that was a good one, he couldn't answer and needed to consult his sifu. He never experienced that probably thanks to his talisman said he. I explained I haven't even seen my Tok Guru yet and we both laughed.

The End.

MIL POST SURGERY EXPERIENCE

 

It is clear to me, my destiny is one of a senior citizen caretaker, as way back to 1980 when I took my landlady to the Emergency Section of Johor Bahru hospital because she bled seriously from menopause. Later, the doctor said my timing was Godsent, had she come in even an hour later, she might have been in serious condition.

Then my old man had his first of two strokes when he was 65. His doctor adviced and I would wake him up at 4am daily to see he did his morning exercise, later bath and clothe him plus assist him in his abulution before shooting off to work. I was a bachelor so told my married siblings I could manage with mom alone but would only require replacement if I had to attend official outstation trips.

Years later, my mother suffered from old age and us siblings would rotate the task of sending her for regular checkups other than monitor her overnight at the hospital as she frequently caught fever.

In 2022, I went to Kedah, stayed with my MIL as she broke her arm slightly lower than her left ball joint and stays alone. I would bring her for monthly checkups at Sg Petani hospital and do all the domestic task except cooking which her friend came to assist. Based on my personal experience, I made her take 3 teaspoons (less than that lacks that creamy taste) of Anlene Gold milk daily which surprised the surgeon as the bone completely joined within a month what he expected in 3 mths.

On January 18, 2024, 85yr old MIL broke her bone again, this time her right leg slightly lower than her ball joint. A metal rod was implanted as support which surgeons said normally takes a year for patient to normalize. This time we took her back to my house as there are more hands to assist. The first month was very difficult for everyone as she was restricted to a wheelchair. I knew I had to be very firm, often hard with her (up she accepted) to push her with daily sit-ups (gradually up to 50x) so that she would not be dependent on the wheel chair for indoor mobility. We later both agreed it made a big difference and with physiotherapy she was allowed to move indoor with a walker but assisted.

Monthly checkups went by but in June, surgeons detected bacteria at the metal implanted. Another surgery was immediately done having taken into account her age and feared the bacteria would spread via the bone marrow. They took out the metal implant but this time recovery period to normalize would take 2 yrs from that surgery date not including other factors which could extend it was found she has osteoporosis. Surgeons clarified her case is categorically not serious but CRITICAL and on all accounts she MUST avoid a serious fall.

11 mths passed since that second surgery now the surgeon officially discharged her clarifying her bone completely joined but recommended she follow up at a goverment clinic for regular bi-annual checkups senior citizens do.

It is true what is reported on the internet and elsewhere to that taking care of such patients is physically and mentally exhaustive. A familiar nurse clarified the situation worsens as in my case where the patient is very elderly as the brain cyclically begins think like a child and it is wiser for the caretaker to take it easy and not to expect too much because whilst they might understand an advice for the moment they completely switch off and repeat what they are advised not to. 😣

XIAOMI POCO C65 REVIEW

 

2 weeks before my March 31 birthday, my trusty 7 yr old iPhone XS Max broke down from one too many falls over the years. Wifey bought me this birthday present, told me to choose whatever I wanted. I was fine with a reasonably powerful OEM hp but my family was against it because it didn't have any warranty so I chose instead the Poco C65, currently, the second cheapest (new unit)  Xiaomi with a 15 mths warranty at RM398 from its original price of RN1099 so that's very good value for money. I placed an order for the 5G 8GB+256GB chipset version  but maybe the seller was in a good mood, maybe it was the Eid Mubarak season or maybe he was overstocked so I ended up with the 8GB+4GB version 😁.

Upon receiving the unit, I immediately updated the system, uninstalled the many apps I didn't need, later reconfigured the security features of the system and every app. This made the operating system much smoother/lighter. As I don't play games nor view movies, the C65 is good enough for me.

At first, I took photos at default setting, photos were not crispy at the iP XS Max. After tinkering with the settings, I now take photos using the 50MP lens as shown here with minor +25 contrast editing. People who viewed the photos were generally  impressed it came from a budget handphone.

If you are into photography like me, I hope in 2-3 yrs time to upgrade to the Xiaomi 15T Pro which as a Leica lens which delivers sharper and richer images and good in poor lighting condition.

LOOKING BACK AT LIFE

 

On March 31, 2025, I amazingly entered the 70 series: a milestone if one succeeds this far. It’s a time to reflect past achievements, experiences and memories:

Born uniquely tongue-tied made it physically impossible to properly recite the Quran. A late surgery clarified an ENT specialist was my father's mistake to rectify the problem and I still stammer sometimes in public speaking when thoughts flow faster than my tongue can cope. I wonder why I was born with this handicap but it taught me humility from a very young age.

Over the years, I’ve been literally broken here, mended there but Alhamduillah, still in one piece. I should have kicked the bucket as early as 4 but for reasons Allah knows best, I survived death many times. There obviously must be something crucial I not die yet.

Being playful during school days saw me get pathetic exam results but a change in mindset earned me a diploma and degree in town planning. In career, I earned 3 Excellence Service Award, even got honored AMN 🤗, I think could have clinched a State Datuk lordship had I stayed longer but I was more interested in furthering my studies where I was awarded a MSc. in GIS and Geomatics  My old man who almost gave up on me when he saw my MCE results, smiled a quiet relief.

Tinkering with Open Source not of my academic line, my name became synonymous with QGIS with both public and private sector when I promoted it seeing its potential to save millions ringgit of public fund but it was very difficult as I challenged the dept IT status quo preference for propriety software. However, the whole department began to show their respect when they found out I quietly won the Prime Minister's Open Source Grand Award at the EPU's 2010 anugeral Open Source Software competition. That started to open doors. The final feather in the cap came after I pensioned as I was recognized as a departmental Pioneer (1 out of 9 in a department with 1000 employees) for promoting Open Source in particular QGIS at a time when the average Joe never heard of it.

Yes, there were good times: I studied abroad, visited 30+ countries through holidays and on-government service and got fully sponsored for umrah. I was not good in having a successful relationship but eventually settled down at 35 and built a closely knit family. Obessed with improved performance and customization, after 4 yrs of working, I realized my radical Fiat 131 Supermirafiori to make it take corners like a leech and fly like a bat out of hell. That was a 10 yr. love affair.

After pensioned, I owned a zebra stripe hardtail bobber, my schoolboy's dream at the age of 60 but life has been challenging to say the least. I’ve tasted blood, sweat and tears yet somehow bounced back. I've survived a broken arm bone, a hemorrhoid and 2 separate hernia surgeries plus a hairline fracture at my hip bone.

Reaching 70, I find now I easily get tired and wonder when my time will come and this always takes me to a time after bapak had a second stroke. I asked if he was ever afraid of dying? He was 64 then and said living any day after 63 (the year Rasul demised) was a bonus so it didn’t matter. I too have that similar feeling and see death merely a gateway to the permanent world; we are not perfect but insyallah, to Jannah.

I uniquely survived 10 death defying incidences:

1. At 4, I lost much blood after broken glass milk bottle cut my arm vein. Doctor said had I reached hospital 1 hr later, I might not have made it.

2.  At 7, I dived into deep end of Port Dickson (PD) beach lagoon without first checking. I managed to get out safely after some struggle and my feet somehow  managed to touch the edge of slope so I pushed myself forward.

3. At 18, the car I was in spun on top of a hill ledge around the wet road missing cars from both directions because my brother had not serviced the brake pads. 

4. At 19, the car I was in sommersaulted down 40' ravine but stopped short of crashing into rock boulders. The police inspector who visited the site said I should have died but it was not my time ... yet.

5. At 25, I drove along JB-Kota Tinggi road in the night, took hair pin corner suddenly the right side of car lifted. I drove on 2 wheels for a while but landed gently as road curved to the right.

6. At 26, I got leg cramp while swimming in the Tioman sea. I managed to swim with one leg to a friend 10' close by who then helped me swim back to our boat.

7. At 33, an oil tanker crossed my path from left to right then stopped 3/4 way because of on-coming traffic. A mad 2 sec. steering wheel left to right flick together with a 5th to 2nd gear manuever helped avoid direct collision.

8. At 34, I drove along Batu Gajah-PD road in the night, suddenly, I came across cows lazing in the middle of the road. I miraclously drove in-between them and avoided a head-on accident.

9. At 35, I again drove along Batu Gajah-PD road and just managed to avoid a fast army truck that popped out from a deceptive undulating corner.

10. At 37, I was about to fix a wall bulb when suddenly fell off the ladder. I manage to flip mid-air and avoid breaking my back, thankfully, just broke arm.

To have my 70th birthday fall on Eid Mubarak which has never happened before in my life is statistically rare. I have a gut feeling it is auspicious but I'm no fortune teller. In October, MIL after selling her home up in Kedah to stay with us sponsored to repair my 5yr long haul storaged bobber. In November, my brother called to sponsor all 3 children for a February 2026 umrah which they all accepted. By Christmas, wifey and me will move to reside in a up-market double storey link house my children bought as a long term investment as they don't want to rent it and will continue to reside at our present home as they all work in Kuala Lumpur.

In the meantime, since January 2024, I've been full-time caregiver to mother-in-law which I now realize is physically, emotionally and spiritually exhaustive but so obvious to me a task given by divine decree as I'm the only one with free time, being a pensioner while the rest have their commitments thankfully recently wifey officially pensioner now assists in this task. 2yrd before, I stayed with MIL after she broke her arm for 3 maths until the bone joined.

I've come to the conclusion, unlike others who I see as metaphorically hexagon nuts, I'm a 7 sided heptagon nut designed by Allah for a specific purpose(s) and compared to my peers, live away from the limelight and glamour yet without which life's tapestry will go haywire.