水自流 » Religion

我为什么成为巴哈伊信徒 – May 04, 2008

水自流 — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:52:00 +0000

每当夜深人静的时候，每当人声鼎沸的时候，每当听动力火车的“当”的时候，我都会问自己，为什么我这么快成为巴哈伊信徒，又或者是为什么要成为巴哈伊信徒？

面对这个问题的时候，答案一般都是：“需要理由么？不需要么？”

要现实的回答这个问题，我想答案如下（有些排名不分先后）：

一、Melic人很好，他们人很好；
二、巴哈伊教的大同思想不错；
三、巴哈伊教给我的感觉更像是一个行政机构，比如更像是NGO；
四、可以认识很多本地人，很多“外地人”；
五、很多时候可以有免费的食物享用；
六、可以锻炼我的英文水平；
七、不会在新加坡感到孤单；
八、可以构建和谐社会；
九、待补充

上个星期收到Ming Hwee的一封主题为“policy regarding PRC citizens enrolling”的邮件，内容如下：

Guidance from the Universal House of Justice:
“It is correct that citizens of the People’s Republic of China who accept the Faith are not required to formally enroll at this time. In the specific case of a Chinese citizen residing outside of the mainland, he or she should be left free to decide whether to enroll officially or not. In other words, a Chinese citizen may be accepted as a Bahá’í in good standing on the basis of his verbal declaration of faith, even if he does not wish to be officially registered as a believer with an Assembly. This policy applies to all Chinese citizens residing outside of the mainland, irrespective of whether they have permanent residence status in another country.”

星期三上儒禧课程的时候，他对我说可以选择参加巴哈伊教的行政义务和权利活动，也可以不选择参加，另外也可以选择登记或不登记。这个规定专门是对中国的巴哈伊信徒而定的。我当然要参加，不过Teck Cheng说世界正义院的担心是有道理的，而且不知道会对家人有什么影响。

昨天的VOA新闻邮件有一篇名为“北京在奥运前打压基督教家庭教会”的报道，导文为“中国当局在北京奥运会举办前夕仍然没有放松对家庭教会的打压，尽管中国政府坚持说要构建和谐社会”。小标题包括：

1. 共产思想衰落宗教兴起
2. 基督徒不少于中共党员
3. 余杰：中共不容独立组织存在

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New category of ‘the Bahá’í Faith’ – Apr 15, 2008

水自流 — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:38:04 +0000

I will learn the Book One of the lessons of the Bahai Faith with David under the introduction by Teck Cheng and Ming Hwee tomorrow evening. And this is the right time to begin a new category especially for ‘the Bahá’í Faith’, following are the posts in my website since I knew this religion:

狮城日志：大年初二 – Feb 08, 2008
it was the first time

Melic – Feb 23, 2008
How I know Melic

狮城日志：混沌 – Feb 24, 2008
the bahai faith friends

狮城日志：parties – Mar 04, 2008
Melic and Lalitha, parties

Origin of the Human Race – Mar 12, 2008
the new page for the Bahai Faith

First Youth For Peace Interfaith Symposium – Mar 16, 2008
one unity, one dream, one world, one human being

Naw Rúz – Mar 20, 2008
the Bahai Faith new year

狮城日志：这些天 – Mar 23, 2008
Melic, parties

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First Youth For Peace Interfaith Symposium – Mar 16, 2008

水自流 — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 08:13:30 +0000

The struggle between happiness and unhappiness is the story of human existence. The struggle between peace and war is the history of the human race. The power that leads us to eternal victory amid these struggles is the power of good within us. — Daisaku Ikeda

星期天（Mar 16）赶到Expo Hall 4去看一场演讲，主题是”Humanizing Religions, Creating Peace”。主讲人是Mr George Yeo (Minister For Foreign Affair)。能有这个机会去看看这样的活动，当然是Melic帮忙拿到门票给我。既然是”Humanizing Religions, Creating Peace”，那么新加坡的主要宗教都派了代表出席这个活动。虽然大部分的演讲辞都听不懂，还是能够感受到要达到不同信仰相互了解相互包容的努力。会上也发布了一本书，名字叫《180° Yearnings for Peace – self.family.community.PEACE.youth.education.humanity》，书中摘录了各个宗教的一些短句，分成self，family，community，peace，youth，education，humanity各篇。除了讲话，参插其中的文艺表演也是超赞的，比如Masjid Ba’alwi Mosque的那首非洲歌曲和Central Sikh Gurdwara Board的民族舞蹈。

《180° Yearnings for Peace》

Foreword

Everyone wants peace but peace is not easily achieved. Peace does not come without struggle. Sometimes it has to be fought for. In Singapore, all young men have to do National Service and bear arms. To have peace, we must be prepared for war. That is the hard reality.

Defence and foreign relations can help to create an external environment favourable for peace. Internally, however, we must also be at peace among ourselves and within ourselves. Very often, it is internal discord which invites external interference. When a person is not at peace with himself, it is difficult for the famly to have peace. When a group is unsettled for whatever reason, its relationship with other groups gets affected. Racial and religious harmony in Singapore cannot be imposed from the top by the government although the government’s role is important. It has to be built from the bottom up, starting with the individual.

This Symposium brings together youths belonging to different races and religions in Singapore. The values and beliefs which divide us are not superficial. We will fail if we try to homogenize them. While we should seek common ground, we should never think that all the differences can be bridged. Therefore, the first condition for peace is an acceptance of diversity. If we can find it in our hearts to celebrate diversity, that will be very good but it is not always possible. However, we are united by a common yearning for peace and that is a good starting point for our interaction.

Programme of “First Youth for Peace Interfaith Symposium”

2:30pm Fringe Events
a) Dance by SSA Sunflower Dance Ensemble
b) Song by Masjid Ba’alwi Mosque

3:00pm Arrival of Guest of Honour
– Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo

3:05pm Official Opening of SGI Exhibition by GOH

3:15pm Culture — Soka Chorus

3:20pm Opening Address
– SSA Young Men Division Leader

3:25pm Peace Lecture by Guest of Honour (videos: http://beyondsg.typepad.com/beyondsg/2008/03/minister-yeo-at.html)

3:45pm Book Launch
Presentation of Token of Appreciation

3:55pm Speeches
a) Spiritual Assembly of the Ba’hai of Singapore
b) Mahakaruna Buddhist Society
c) Church of St Mary of Angels
d) Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple
e) Young Sikh Association (Singapore)

4:10pm Cultural Performances
a) Central Sikh Gurdwara Board
b) Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society
c) SSA Young Men Division Callisthenic Group

4:20pm Grand Finale

4:30pm End of Event

展览馆内景

很喜欢他们表演的那首非洲歌曲

George Yeo和各个讲演者，最靠右的是巴哈伊教的Ming Hui，第一次到Melic的家里就见到他了。

Central Sikh Gurdwara Board表演的舞蹈

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Post tags: Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, Jewish, Religion, Taoist, The Bahá'í Faith

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狮城日志：混沌 – Feb 24, 2008

水自流 — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:00:21 +0000

在新的第二月可以说是在各处走马观花，时光卢梭，岁月菲戈，明天又是一个新Module，British Council的赚钱速度没有丝毫减慢的现象。请允许我穿回迷蒙的时光，用昏花的眼光慢慢打量曾经的足迹。

Liu Jie从国内给我带来了一个oppo的MP3，她考虑到携带方便所以选了一个娇小的外形，一条橙色带包裹着黑色的外表显得刚中带有，在这里谢谢了。过了没几天她那里闹贼了，她的S$500不翼而飞，一同不见还有Junhao的RMB200和Yang Yang的RMB(?)200，她们在这个hostel住了一个星期就搬出去了，离学校很近的地方找了个房子合租，那个住宅还有其它的几个来自中国的学生。那个贼只拿了Junhao放在一块的RMB600元中的200表明是内贼所为，如果不去数还发现不出来。没有办法，就当是交学费吧，以后就会将所有的钱放到银行去了。据说这两天安装上了摄像头，还不允许外人进出，补牢晚已。Liu Jie说我所说的乱是由于没有目标所造成的，她分析的头头是道，平时胡思乱想不能集中精神，而且平时混混僵僵，让我更加惭愧虚长了这……么多岁。

上个周日，Melic约好了带我去一个朋友家，大概在Kallang MRT站附近，在那里碰面后，沿着Kallang河绕了一圈，经过National Stadium，包括露天和市内运动场，他说他曾在新加坡国庆节的时候做了几次露天运动场的警备工作，至少有三四个狙击手分布在周围的灯塔上。而离运动场不远的一栋政府公寓靠运动场的那边完全没有窗户，都开着另外一边以便减少境界任务和风险。去到Sim TH家才发现那是一个有点庆祝他儿子玄齐满月的聚会，Sim家大概是小型3居室，不一会儿屋内挤满了人，第一次看到Melic的妻子，她会说几句广东话，对闽南话在行。有几个会说客家话的耶，跟紫金声差不多，但她们来自马来西亚（或许是印度尼西亚，my poor memory)。刚到不久就有几个believer跟我讲述一下巴哈伊信仰的历史，之前Melic给我看过那本中文简略版的书了，从礼貌上来说好像除了点点头哼哼哈哈表示兴趣外没有其它的选择的。吃了简单的自助餐后，哦，那个芋头泥很美味，就围坐在客厅里面开始唱歌，唱了很多中文经典的流行歌曲。当唱了一首巴哈伊的歌后，有个小孩子说不要再唱这么无聊的歌曲了，然后她的阿姨就把她叫出去训了一句。当然这是小插曲，不过我觉得那个阿姨执行度不太好，小孩子哪能理解什么时候该表示尊敬啊。之后由Heany说了两个小故事，中英文各一遍，大概说的是自己平时要努力提高自己，总有一天会遇到同样跟你那么努力的另一个人。故事讲完后差不多说goodbye的时候了，我是粘着Melic两夫妻去Heany夫妻的家逛逛，因为如果留在那里她们估计会跟我说另外一半简略版历史了。Heany夫妻是教师，Heany写一首不错的毛笔字，而且还能画色彩鲜艳的画，很有印度风格。他俩住在一栋公寓里，那栋公寓的电梯只在1，5，10三层楼提供服务，听说过这种只在几栋楼停靠的电梯，算是经历过了，一般是每三层一个进出口。他们的家是两个标准的公寓连在一块修改过的大房子，有电影厅、书房、观景台，很大。Heany的妻子Mrs. Sin非要我写几个毛笔字，说每个到她家的人都要写的吧，以表示对我的好意头。只能用我那童子功写下了了“花开富贵，鼠年吉祥”八个小字，下面贴出。Mrs. Sin还在新加坡读书会发展协会（Reading Development Association (Singapore)）担任活动组副组长。在他们那享受了两首印度歌曲的HiFi后，她让我将对联带回，再加上一个红包。Melic最后送给我一本名为“巴哈伊教，一个新崛起的世界宗教(Bahai Faith, the emerging global religion)，”作者是威廉.S.汉切尔与 J.道格拉斯.马丁(William S. Hatcher & J. Douglas Martin)。忘记在段前加上“那天我度过了一个美妙的晚上”了。

关于巴哈伊信仰，他们相信：

一个神(One God)
人类合一(The Oneness of mankind)
个人独立探索真理(Independent investigation of truth)
所有宗教同源(The common foundation of all religions)
科学与宗教互相协调(The essential harmony of science and religion)
男女平等(Equality of man & woman)
消除所有偏见(Elimination of prejudice of all kinds)
普及强迫教育(Universal compulsory education)
以灵性原则解决经济危机(A spiritual solution of the economic problem)
一个普及辅助语言(A universal auxiliary language)
一个世界性政府维持全球和平(One worldwide government for peace)

心里对把自己交给上帝不能接受，但是在现实生活中却对别人言听计从，毫无主见形成强烈反差。在我的心目中，真正的宗教，真正的相信有个上帝的存在，首先是要解除物质的束缚，那将是没有差别的世界，但现实告诉我只要人的存在这种“大同”世界永远不会到来。今天下午在牛车水跟Melic座谈了半天，我也说明了我的困惑和真实想法，他告诉我没有关系，你可以尽量参加他朋友的一些读书会，你的目的是锻炼英语，其它的不用去管。Melic也是这样帮我的，或许他早就不打算要把我“发展”成巴哈伊中的一员，但是却每个星期总是找个机会大家坐坐，以便锻炼我的口语，对我不懂的单词一个个写下来。尽管我不喜欢心中有个上帝，但是关于巴哈伊的信仰却是很有兴趣，因为它交待它的信徒首先要用自己的脑子想一件事情，而不是看别人怎么做就怎么做。第二不必去做礼拜，信徒根据自己的条件自行祈祷，没有什么要求，而且也没有教堂可去，大家聚在一块的时候可能只是要一个人带领大家读读经典，没有主教，大家都是平等的。第三是对上帝和另外一个世界的弱化，按巴哈欧拉的理解是人脑还没有发展到可以理解人死后所发生的事情，所以专注于现在的工作与生活才是首要任务。第四是没有地狱与天堂这么一说，而是你所做的事情决定了你离上帝的远近。第五是一个人类一个语言一个政府这个思想。这里只是暂时的理解，其中也有Melic对我问题的解答。等我看完了那本介绍后，可能会具体介绍一下上面他们的信仰，不得不说书本的中文翻译太差劲了。

It’s time to practise my English. Andy, who is my classmate in Academic one, he is from Hongkong. He had been married. He likes to drink and he sat in the Food Court with me for whole night at the Tanglin Mall on Wednesday. He likes to talk to other people, you know I’m not a good speaker, but a good listner. We speaked in English for practising. And the next day he invited me to go to a food court near Lavender MRT station, the beer in that place is cheape, but S$5 per bottle. We talked a lot, I was very enjoy to talked with him. I dropped tears when I mentioned my ex-girlfriend, Liao Na, who told me I would be regret for leaving her. That might be true, I feel really sorry for her, she was very very kind to me and hid every grievance, but I’m a person having so many orexis. Sorry. Back to Andy, when we were sitting at the food court, Robin appearanced, who is my another classmate, come from Norway, because he knew Andy must been there. If I were him, I would send a message first. Haha.

And there was a pub night in British Council began at 6.30 on Friday. The place was in the back of the teaching building, which belongs to the Embessay of United Kingdom. We’re not allowed to bring the camera and mobile phone to get inside the pub area. I bought a drink and just had some talk with several familar person, it’s hard for me to start a conversation to a stranger, so I left at about 9 p.m. I get to knew a monk who is from Jiang Su province, and I’d thought he is come from Taiwan. He was graduated from the Buddhism College which is located in Xiamen last year. And he is acting like a exchange student to get a master degree in Sri Lanka, before that, he just learning English in British Council. Oh, his name is 仁虚.

星期三Fitri给我带了一本缩小本的New Testament（新约圣经），她教我怎么用那本新约圣经，当然是英语的，程度对我的水平来说有点难，但是很容易找到一些经典句子。我也问了她为什么会相信Jesus，根据我的听力她好像是有段时间很苦恼，不知道该做什么，也不知道人生的方向在那，就在那段时间，她感到了有个来自上帝那边的声音对她说要平静下来该怎样怎样的暗示吧，然后她就相信Jesus了。我也想有那种感觉，想想跟一个“外星人”有接触那多酷啊，Fitri却告诉我要先接受Jesus那为你牺牲的心才能够感受到上帝的存在，如果你都不接受他的好意，你怎么感受呢？再说一次，听力真的不行，只能连猜带蒙带不停的提问得到一些答案。Fitri建议我去参加周末的礼拜，所以今天我就跟着她的朋友Hendri去Orchard Towers里面的Hyatt Hotel去参加10.30的印尼文service，他们无线耳机提供中文或英文的翻译。Hendri说道他为什么信Jesus，理由好像是两年前他感觉到来自上帝的召唤，他的哥哥和妹妹也陆续感觉到了。这个service是在酒店的一个会议室举行的，每个星期都有。虽然有翻译，但是有时候不连贯，而外面的印尼文声音太大，下面的文字只能大部分是感观感受。一开始是唱歌，跟Fitri给我的CD中的歌曲类似，带有POP和ROCK的元素，气氛很愉快。然后换了一个主持，似乎是对Jesus的死的悲痛，那个主持人紧闭双眼一把泪一把鼻涕的怀念Jesus的痛苦，但是稍微注意下，他会时不时吊起一个眼皮看看下面群众的反应。之后讲一下为人处世和读一下圣经的段落，在然后又是唱歌。这样差不多三个小时就过去了，结束的时候还有个捐款的环节，大家把自己要捐的钱抓在手心，不要被别人看到数目的情况下放到一个天鹅绒做的袋子里面。在那过程中我时不时的在想一个终极问题：如果没有这么好的条件，这么足的冷气，你们还会将双手向上做要触摸到上帝的模样么。哦，最后还放了一小段视频，是关于两个好朋友的故事，Fitri就是用这个故事来解析一下天堂和地狱的存在的吧。如果我的英语阅读能力还准确的话，故事大概是这样的：“这两个好朋友当然关系很好，她们一块上课一块shopping一块玩，A是Christian，B不是。B知道A经常去教堂做礼拜，A不知什么原因总是说下次再带她去。有天晚上，A做了个梦收到B写来的一封信，责怪A为什么不带她去教堂，现在她只能永远呆在地狱里面了。惊醒后，A就决定第二天就去B的家里带她去上教堂，实现她的承诺。但是，太迟了，B就在昨晚出车祸去世了。最后以A痛不欲生的镜头结束。”我不禁问一句，那个女孩究竟做了什么让她下地狱去了？就因为没有去过教堂？吓人哪，谁不是吓大的呀？Anyway，真的很谢谢Fitri和Hendri，让我体验到不同的感觉，愿上帝保佑你们。

这段时间似乎都是有关宗教的，但这是个很好的话题。

Update: This is my calligraphy.

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Fitri – Feb 15, 2008

水自流 — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:53:20 +0000

Fitri是我在Academic 1的同学，她来自印度尼西亚。前天我问她可不可以推荐些印尼的歌曲给我，她说现在只有基督的歌曲，但是回去印尼后她可以带其它的歌给我。昨天她带着两张刻录碟给我，让我吃惊的是，还有四页写满印尼歌词的A4纸，然后再加上一封信，说这是“Valentine’s present from God!”。她要抄完这么多歌词，我估计至少要花她一个晚上的时间，难道信教的精神力真的那么强大？昨晚大略听了一下那些歌曲，一半是英文版，另一半是印尼语的，好像是演唱会的剪辑，不像以前听的佛教那“昏昏欲睡”的念经，这些歌曲都改编或着是“职业歌手”写的流行或摇滚基督颂歌。我就很喜欢Bersyukurlah，细心的Fitri还专门列出Track List，Bersyukurlah的意思是Give Thanks。

Bersyukurlah

Bersyukurlah

Haleluyah, kumemuji-mu, Tuhan
Karna kasin-mu tak berkesudahah
Biar yang bernafas memuji sang Raja
Diatas gunung dan didalam samudra.

Tanganku ku-angkat padamu
Mensyukuri rahmat yang kau bri
Kaki-ku melompat bagimu
sbab rahmat-mu baru stiap hari

REFF:
Bersyukurlah kepada Tuhan
Sebab Ia baik, sebab Ia baik
Bahwasanya tuk selamanya
Kasih setia Nya, kasih setia-Nga..

Na, na, na, na….

然后，然后，今天，今天，她带了一本书给我，David Holdaway写的“the life of Jesus more than a prophet”，扉页上写着“Tuhan mengasihimu!”(Jesus Loves You!)。书的难度对我来说还是有点难，但是还是可以慢慢看下去的，Fitri说先看这个，比Bible简单。

Valentine’s present from God!

Hello, Tommy,

… … …

One thing I just want to let you know.
Christian is not a matter of religion.
It’s more about Jesus Christ.
When you asked me, “why should I believe in God? In Jesus Christ?”
Tommy, you know what had Jesus done?
He was born in this earth to save you and me.
He died in the cross to paid for your sins and my sins.
He came to saved us because we will never can save ourselves.

He is God who loves His children so much.
He wants anyone of us go to heaven with Him.
He doesn’t want anyone of us died for nothing
But, seek His kingdom in this world.
He is actually there anytime you need Him.

I may not force you to believe in Jesus
But, I just want to share my experience.
I found the meaning of my life
When I have Jesus in my life.
And I hope, you will also find Jesus and your eternal life in Him.
He loves you so much!

Jeremiah 29:12-13
Then you (Tommy) will call upon Me (Lord) and go and pray to Me (Lord) and I (Lord) will listen to you (Tommy). And you (Tommy) will seek Me (Lord) and find Me (Lord), when you (Tommy) search for Me (Lord) with all your (Tommy) heart.

I can’t for you to believe in Jesus Christ.
But, we won’t to believe in something
unless you try to believe
And Jesus will working in your life.
And your life will be happier.

He give you a salvation gife.
It’s Free!
And do you want to take the gife?
It’s all in your hand, Tommy!

Enjoy the songs and if you have any questions
Feel free to ask me! Okey?

In Christ,

Fitri
Indonesian
14 February 2008

这真是一份很特殊的情人节礼物呀，很谢谢Fitri，喜欢做鬼脸的女孩。问题来了，我该如何表达我的谢意呢？

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