a purpose

A life without purpose is a languid, drifting thing; Every day we ought to review our purpose, saying to ourselves: This day let me make a sound beginning, for what we have hitherto done is naught!

Thomas A. Kempis

another report for CNN World Report

This is another report I made for CNN World Report three weeks ago. The main report was actually 15 seconds longer and more attractive! but I think the version that was broadcast this saturday 19th January is still worth to watch...

Imam Hussain (pbuh)

On the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH), I went through some of his sayings. An example of the depth of his perception can be seen in his praying on the day of Arafat:

" (Oh Allah) How could an argument be given about Your Existence by a being whose total and complete existence is in need of you? When did you ever disappear so that you might need an evidence and logic to lead (the people) towards You? And when did You ever become away and distant so that your signs and effects made the people get in touch with you? Blind be the eye which does not see You (whereas) You are observing him. What did the one who missed You find? And what does the one who finds You lack? Certainly, the one who got pleased and inclined toward other than You, came to nothingness."

That reminds me of Rumi's famous poem in his book named Massnavi as he describes the relationship between human being and Lord:

We are as pieces of chess engaged in victory and defeat:
our victory and defeat is from thee, O thou whose qualities are comely!
Who are we, O Thou soul of our souls,
that we should remain in being beside thee?
We and our existences are really non-existence;
thou art the absolute Being which manifests the perishable.

Also, the great French philosopher Pierre Teilhard de Chardin has well explained our nature:
"We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience."

And then I go through some news and still do not understand why there is nothing but violence to see, nothing but "Bomb Crash" to hear, nothing better to read but the terms: attack, prison, murder or war, all done by this Human Being who has denied his spiritual part.



I go back reading Imam Hossein's saying when he left Madina for the last time:


"I am not rising (against Yazid) as an insolent or an arrogant person, or a mischief-monger or tyrant. I have risen as I seek to reform the Ummah of my grandfather. I wish to bid the good and forbid the evil."

How much do I like to hear the term "reform" by which one can seek inner and world peace without any act of aggression, furiousness or wildness?

So instead of moaning, let's all pray for the universal peace tonight and keep a moment of silence thinking how we can bring it back to our World Community; isn't it achievable just by going back to that spiritual nature of ours?

saying

Smart people talk becuase they have something to say.
Stupid people talk becuase they have to say something.

The long escort

Back to October 2005, when I was working in Britain as a news correspondent, I read in the Guardian, a small piece of news regarding an 80 years old football referee from Wales. Antony Johnson, had criticized, as a retired referee veteran actually, the declining behaviour of footballers in the pitch.

Reading the article, I thought to myself it would be a good subject for an interview; One week later, I was at his beautiful house in "llanbedr", a faraway village by the sea in North Wales.

I really enjoyed interviewing him about the morality in football and also chatting with him and his wife Margery about different issues. As it was the first time I had gone to the region, I stayed confused watching my A-Z map in front of my car when decided to go back to London. Realizing my problem, Antony started whispering to his wife… five minutes later, I found myself in my car following Antony's in the narrow roads of the region! They leaded me to the Motorway going straight to London. While saying goodbye, Margery told me as she was smiling: "we are not anxious anymore!"
One week later, I checked the distance from "llanbedr" to the main road by the internet. I realized that they had escorted me for about 40 miles. The longest escort I had ever received!

* * *
After three years, we are still good friends. I'll never forget their hospitality.

I use this "bloggy" opportunity to say hello to them from here, from more than three thousand miles away...

dignity

One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but cannot be taken away unless it is surrendered.

Michael J. Fox, in "Saving Milly" by Morton KondrakeUS (Canadian-born) actor (1961 - )

Masoumeh's first painting

My daughter "Masoumeh", finished her first oil painting today.

I believe she will prefer to make happier paintings from now on..