God is the Light

God is the Light

How great the wonders of the heavens
And the timeless beauty of the night
How great – then how great the Creator?
And its stars like priceless jewels
Far beyond the reach of kings
Bow down for the shepherd guiding him home.

But how many eyes are closed
To the wonder of this night?
Like pearls, hidden, deep beneath a dark
Stream of desires.
But like dreams vanish with the call to prayer
And the dawn extinguishes night – here too are signs.
God is the Light - God is the Light

How great the beauty of the Earth and the creatures
Who dwell on her.
How great – then how great the Creator?
As its mountains pierce the clouds
High above the lives of men
Weeping rivers for thousands of years.

But how many hearts are closed
To the wonders of this sight?
Like birds in a cage, asleep with closed wings
But like work stops with the call to prayer
And the birds reside – here too are signs
God is the Light – God is the Light

How great the works of man and the things he makes
How great – then how great the Creator?
Though he strives to reach the heavens
He can barely survive
The wars of the world he lives in.

Yet, how many times he’s tried,
Himself to immortalise?
Like his parents before him in the Garden of Eden
But like the sun sets with the call to prayer
And surrenders to the night here too are signs

God is the Light Everlasting
God is the Light Everlasting
God is the Light Everlasting
God is the Light Everlasting


-By Yusuf Islam a.k.a. Cat Stevens-

Before knowing who was the writer and singer of the song, does it sounds like a Christian song of praise and worship to God?

The Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) worship the one true God.
As Islam praises the one true God, Allah, doesn't it sound like any Christian worship?

This is because Judaism, Christianity and Islam shares the same faith which was passed down from God through a lineage of Prophets.

The Quran (Final Revelation given by God Almighty) to humankind, urges us to worship the one true God and associate no partners with the most high.

Quran 3:64
Say: "O People of the Book! come to common terms as between us and you: That we worship none but Allah. That we associate no partners with him; that we erect not, from among ourselves, Lords and patrons other than Allah." If then they turn back, say ye: "Bear witness that we (at least) are Muslims (bowing to Allah's Will)."

Quran 3:67
Abraham was not a Jew nor yet a Christian; but he was true in Faith, and bowed his will to Allah's (Which is Islam), and he joined not gods with Allah.

People who bow down truly to the will of God are called Muslims. Islam is being total submissive to God's will. As recorded in the Holy Bible, Jesus PBUH was in Gethsemane. He showed how should one pray (falling on the ground on his face and pray, like how the Muslims do). Jesus PBUH showed an example to his disciples in praying to God.

Matthew 26:36-39 (KJV)
Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.


Thus, we should all prostrate ourselves to God and work the will of God by serving him and mankind. As long you are of the Abrahamic faith, you are all brothers and sisters of the same faith line. Praise none but God.

-Proper faith-

Here I attached the video to the song.

God is the Light by Yusuf Islam

Charity: Love in Action

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.
-Lao Tzu-

Charity is an act of love. Charity is giving out of love without expecting to be repaid.

Often we hear, that we hear about declaration to world peace. No peace can be achieved if we do not understand the true meaning of charity. Rather than stealing from our brothers, we should share our wealth with our less fortunate brothers, whether they are black or white, male or female. Mankind are of the same root, thus it makes us brothers.

O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has At-Taqwa (i.e he is one of the pious). Verily, Allah is All-Knowing and All-Aware.
-Quran 49:13-

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
-Mother Teresa-

Furthermore, God loves the charity doers.

In Buddhism, in order to attain Buddhahood, it is important to cultivate the 6 paramita (as Buddha preached in the Lotus Sutra), and the first paramita is Dana paramita, which means generosity and giving of oneself.

Those who spend (in Allah's Cause) in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves Al-Musinun (the good-doers).
-Quran 3:134-

Then Jesus said to his host, ""When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
-Luke 14:12-14 NIV-


How are we to give we have no money?

Often, we misunderstand that giving or doing charity means giving material good. Charity is not always material. Charity is not always saving a hungry nation from famine. Charity can be a simple act. A smile can also be charity. Helping an old lady crossing the street is also an act of charity. If we give in the name of God, surely, God will bless the righteousness in His way.

No one has ever become poor by giving
-Anne Frank-

Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness, of understanding, of peace. Money will come if we seek first the Kingdom of God - the rest will be given.
-Mother Teresa-

If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one.
-Mother Teresa-

It is important that charity is done in modesty. Sending aids to the needy and later shouting about it is no charity. Giving to the poor in order to gain a reputation as a kind person, is the lowest act. God does not value the act of charity with an intention. Jesus tells us that charity should be done in secret and surely God will reward the good doers (Matthew 6:1-4).

When Jesus told us that we should not store up for ourselves treasures on earth but storing our treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). What did Jesus meant?

Jesus urges us not to cling on to the material gain on earth. Making big gains and hiding all the money in your own bank account does not pay off, in the sight of God. Spending your wealth to help the needy, is a way to cure our greediness and depositing our wealth into the treasure chest in heaven.

The third pillar of Islam, Compulsory Charity (paying Zakat), is a wonderful act. Zakat means purification. It purifies our wealth and our heart of greed, by sharing 2.5% of an individual wealth and assets. If everyone followed Islam and pays Zakat each year, our wonderful world will be free from poverty and peace will be on earth.

The Quran emphasizes feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, helping those who are in need, and the more one helps, the more God helps the person, and the more one gives, the more God gives the person.
-http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/46/-

Thus, do not shout about world peace. Love can only the realized through act of kindness. Peace starts with charity. Start with little act of kindness. Start it at home and do not let it ends there.


-Proper faith-


(Proper faith thanks www.brainyquote.com for the quotes by Anne Frank, Mother Teresa and Lao Tzu)

Women: Gender equality or inequality

What do you think about gender equality? Does woman has equal rights with man?
This article is written to unveil the truth behind women's right in different religion.


Buddhism

In Buddhism, it is preached of equality. In the Sutra of Complete Enlightenment, it is said that all sentient beings are to be Buddha by nature. Attaining enlightenment and becoming a Buddha is merely understanding the way of the nature and universe.

Thus, in Buddhism, man and woman are equal in nature. However, in practical, they are not the same. Down to the fundamentals, physically and emotionally, they are different. The question is, how there can be equality then?

Men are physically stronger, therefore they have the responsibility of hard work and earning for the family. Women on the other hand, are much detailed and caring, therefore they hold the responsibility of taking care of the family. Their status are equal but responsibilities are different.

There is parable in the Lotus Sutra. A 8 year old female dragon (female i.e. woman and in the animal realm), who was wise and sharp, listened to the dhama preached by Buddha. She attained enlightenment and achieve Buddhahood when she presented a jewl to Buddha as an offering there and then. Some attendees of the dharma talk disbelieved and were unhappy about her achievement.

They questioned of her capability of attaining Buddhahood. Being a woman, and being a child, it is impossible to attain Buddhahood at the blink of an eye while Buddha had been through many eons of cultivation before attaining enlightenment. Bodhisattva Manjusri explained the equality of man and woman on the path of Buddhahood as to preach to Sariputta who was having an unequal mind and discrimination on woman. The dragon girl in the end proved her enlightenment by transforming into a boy and left on a lotus to other world.


Christianity

With the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in the occidental countries, women are treated equally and given voting rights etc.

However, in the bible, I would say it to be a little male-oriented. I would like to clarify that the bible and teachings might be suitable for the culture during those era while the fundamental of doing good still remains the same (e.g. Worship one God, love your neighbors, honor your parents etc).

Some verse actually suggest that women are inferior to men.

Leviticus 12:1-5
Giving birth of a boy causes the mother to be unclean for seven days while given birth to a girl makes her unclean for two weeks.

1Cor 14:34-35
It is disgraceful for woman to speak in the church.

1Timothy 2:11-14
It calls for women to be submissive to man and put the blame of eating the forbidden fruit on Eve alone.


Islam

However in Islam, we are often mislead by the media with perception of Islam equals terror, abusing women and polygamous.

With an open mind, if we look into the message brought by Prophet Muhammad and the prophets conduct as role model, Islam is a religion of peace and treats women with high respect and gave them equal rights.

In the 114 books of the holy Quran, there is book named "Women" (Surah 4- An-Nisa). A chapter in the book dedicated to women!

In this book, it tells the men to respect women as they are created equal in the eyes of God.
Rather than blaming Eve for the deceit (Genesis 3:12) and God punished the Eve first (Genesis 3:16), the Quran (Surah 7:23) tells us that both Adam and Eve repented and asked for forgiveness from God. They are equally responsible for disobeying God.

In Islam, women shares equal rights as men. They are to inherit an equal share of properties left by their parents, sharing among sons and daughters. Men are made to be the protectors and maintainers of women (Surah 4:34).

Contrary to the bible saying women should be silent, women opinions are as important as men. Surah 4:19 tells us that men are forbidden to inherit women against their will (meaning women have a say!) and should not treat them with harshness.

About the Mother of Jesus, Islam had given the highest utmost respect to women. Surah 3:42 says that Allah has chosen Mary, purified Mary, and chosen her above the women of all nation. Such great respect was not mentioned in the bible. Furthermore, a chapter in the Quran (Surah 19- Maryam) was named after the mother of Jesus, dedicating it to the mother of a powerful messenger of God.

Many claims that Islam is a religion where polygamy is allowed. Yes it is.
Surah 4:3 says that men can marry women of their choice, two or three, or four.
However, the revelation given is not because of lust of men, but the responsibility given to men to take care of women who are of the weaker sex. Furthermore, Islam is the only religion, in its holy book, stating that if a man are not able to deal justly between his wives, he should only marry ONE.

It is argued that Prophet Muhammad had 13 wives and suing him to be lustful. However, Prophet Muhammad had only ONE wife and the married again after the death of his first wife (Khadijah) and had taken other wives for political reason to spread the gospel. Before Islam was spreaded, polygamy was normal and women are treated as items. If the Prophet really was lustful, he could had married more at his younger age, but he was faithful to his wife.

Abu Hurairah(RAA) reported that a man asked: "Messenger of Allah, who is most deserving of friendly care from me?" He replied: "Your mother" He asked who came next and he (the Prophet) replied: "Your mother." He asked who came next and he replied: "Your mother." He asked who came next and he replied: "Your father" (Bukhari and Muslim). Thus the Prophet(SAW) gave three times as much weight to the mother as to the father when it comes to good treatment from a child.

Mother (woman) is given so much respect in Islam.



As a conclusion, I would like to say that man and woman are EQUAL in the eye of God but DIFFERENT only in responsibility.

-Proper faith-

Arise and Step Up!

Guess this is my first time writing a post on Properfaith. :D

I am from Christian Fellowship of Segi College Subang Jaya. Recently we had a joint CF Camp consisting of students from 3 of our campuses, namely Segi Kota Damansara, Segi KL and also Segi Subang at PeaceHaven Genting Highlands. Our theme was Arise and Step Up. We invited Pastors Alex and Shaun from Eagle Point Church to deliver the message during camp.

What I would like to share here today was the message that was delivered.


The Lord always has a plan for our lives. No matter how you plan, if its not according to the Lord's plan, things will never go well. Eventhough this is said, we must never sit around, idle. God never uses an idle mind. He uses an active mind and the people that we least expect it. The Lord works mysteriously in every one of us and in every way. We may be guided away from our plans gently by His hands and we wont know it at all. The Lord always has a Bigger plan for us and it will lead us to something similiar or something even better than that of our original plan.

People always have fears. They fear of being laughed at. They fear of being left out. They always have the thought of 'I am so small, what can I do?' All these are factors that are keeping people from rising and stepping up for the Lord.
It does not matter if we start small. No matter how small, it has the capability to make a difference. As the Lord had said, ''if you have the faith of a mustard seed, you alone can move mountains'' A mustard seed is extremely tiny. We as an individual have the capability to make a difference. As long as we do not give up trying, as long as we ourselves do not let our fire for God die down, we can continue to make a difference no matter how much time it takes us.

There are 3 main principles to keep in heart.
Conviction not Convenience
Its never about convenience but about conviction. Do not have a don't care attitude about things. Doing things out of convenience sake is never a good thing.

Truth not Trends
Make your decisions based on the truth and not by following trends. By following trends, means that you are following the trends set by others not the truth that is set before you.

Purpose not Popularity
Decisions that brings us closer or further away from God. Also, the Lord tells us to respect and honor other people.

Besides this, there were also a testimony from a friend of the Pastors, who stated that how broken his life was after a certain incident and it slowly began to piece back together after he accepted Christ. Now he is serving in the Campus Ministry, helping others to see that they too can make a difference. They too can Arise and Step Up for the Lord, just as he has done.

It is never too late, or too early or too small to Arise and Step Up.


-Proper faith would like to thank this post by Ms Jigoku Shoujo-

Ghost? Christianity vs. Buddhism (Part 6)

Ghost? A dialog among Buddhist, Catholic and Christian (Christian and Catholic point of view, author's comment)

-This would be last post of the dialog-

Throughout the talk, Pastor Enoch and Father Huang had kept their speeches easy-to-understand for the non-Christian faith followers.

Pastor Enoch had pointed out that it is important to understand between medical condition and paranormal activities.

#1 Ghost. Angel or Demon?

According to Pastor Enoch and Father Huang, ghost can be either be good or evil. Good ghost is called an Angel while evil ghost is called a Demon. Demons are fallen angels. Lucifer rebelled against God and was casted down to hell. He purpose is to lead man astray and away from God, using either fear or delusion.

Angels were created to serve man (Genesis 24:40) and not to be worshipped . He who is worthy of praise and worship is God alone (Deuteronomy 4:19). In the Quran 3:64 and Mark 12:28-31 emphasized that there is no commandment greater than worshipping God and only God. Worship no angel, no man, no idol but God alone.

Fear. Fearing demon possession and paranormal attacks, people starts to give offerings to the demon. Indirectly fear is bringing us to him, worshipping the rebel of God.

Delusion. Delusion is the biggest problem we will ever face. Satan will deceive us using wondrous miracles, powers and authority. In 2 Cor 4:4, it is said that the Satan blinded us to be astray from God.

How do we identify God? Have you ever seen faith healing, praying in the name of Jesus Christ heals many sickness and done wondrous miracles in transforming people's life? Even false gods, false prophets, false Christ are able to perform miracles, how are we to be spared.

With strong faith, even without the blessing from God, miracles can happen. Jesus said in Mark 5:34, faith has healed the bleeding woman (Story can be found in Mark 5:25-34). Faith alone can do miracles, thus the devil misuses the name of Jesus (Matthew 7:22) to perform miracles and disguise themselves as the living Christ (Matthew 24:24). Satan is the master of deception, therefore, beware even if they claim that they are the loyal followers of Christ and prayed in the name of Jesus Christ. Not all churches are the true follower of Jesus Christ. We were warned.


#2 Avoiding contacting the spirits

Pastor Enoch Lam warn us about contacting the spiritual realm. People who provokes the spiritual realm are prone to be possessed or encounter paranormal activities. Why should we, rather than inviting the righteousness in to our life, we invite the devil?

Even Confucius said in Analects, 敬鬼神而远之, respect the gods and supernatural but do not befriend with them.



#3 Attitude towards ghost

Pastor Enoch Lam also expressed that as Man, we should not be the servant of devils (ghosts/fallen angels).

He gave a very earthly example. Before entering the hotel room, most superstitious act done was to knock and to "inform" the ghost in the room that you will be sharing a room with them and plead for forgiveness for intruding. THIS IS WRONG! Why should we be afraid of them? In earthly view, we PAID for the room. The ghost is the one should leave the room and let the rightful owner to reside in it.

Amazing story told yet spoken with authority. We should be awaken. We are created with the breath of the Lord. We are the blessed creation on earth.



afterword by the author
I would like to thank all the readers who had followed all the post regarding this little dialog I attended. I hope I was able convey the message brought by the two venerable monks who represented Buddhism, Pastor Enoch Lam representing Christianity and Father Huang representing Catholicism.

I hope my humble comment and addon were able to bring you to a better understanding towards Buddhism and Christianity. If you have futher questions about Buddhism and Christianity, please send them to properfaith@gmail.com. I will try my very best to find the answers to your questions.

Ghost? Christianity vs. Buddhism (Part 5)

Ghost? A dialog among Buddhist, Catholic and Christian (Christian and Catholic point of view as heard by the author)

-This is the 4th post of the dialog-
It has been a week since the dialog, memory is fading. I'll try my best to recall with the help of my notes.

The dialog started with Venerable Hui Xuan, Father Huang, Pastor Enoch and ended with Venerable Chang Hui

Pastor Huang started his speech after Venerable Hui Xuan

In Catholicism , we can categorize ghost into two the good and the evil. When Lucifer rebeled against God, he was banished from Heaven and casted into Hell. From thereon, the good ghost we call them angel, while the evil one is known as demon.

To be truthful, when I was a young boy, I was afraid of ghost. Not because I had ever seen a ghost, it was because the illusion and perception generated. During my schooling days, the toilet was rumored to be haunted. Although no one ever confirmed the existence of ghost there, the seculded toilet from the main building which had an eerie dark environment encouraged every one to think so. We fear because we do not see.

About exorcism or repelling evil spirit, we use the holy water, which has been sanctified by a priest of bishop.


Pastor Enoch continued after Father Huang

Ghost, in Christianity, is viewed as evil spirit sent by the devil. The devil existed for two purposes, to cast fear into us and to confuse us from the path of the righteous.

As the ghost has no form, it takes form to your greatest fear or greatest earthly attachment to mislead you. For example, they can transform to take form of your parents, relatives and friends to lead you astray. For example in Hong Kong, during paranormal discussion, people who encountered paranormal activities sighted the ghost as to be in long hair, white robe and floating. This, however, is a typical TVB (Hong Kong television) ghost.

Being possessed by evil spirit is another grave problem. However, we should clarify whether the victim is really possessed and in need to exorcism or he/she is suffering schizophrenia which in need of medical care. Both being possessed and schizophrenia show very very similar symptoms. As a rule of thumb, being possessed will show supernatural activities. For example, possessed and schizophrenia victims hear voices (asking them to commit suicide etc), but possessed victims will do supernatural activities such as maybe perform a few somersaults while he/she was not capable of doing so before possession.

Pastor Enoch also stated that people who are prone to paranormal activities are people who invite such or born with such capability. Playing Ouija board, tarot cards etc are ways to attract ghost to you.

He also told a story about a girl who played the kokkuri (spirit communication via board) which attracts a spirit to follow her home. However, she became friends with the spirit. The spirit even took care of her when she was sick. One day, the spirit asked her to commit suicide. The spirit became very pushy. The girl went to Pastor Enoch and she invited Christ into her life and the spirit left.

Pastor Enoch also gave a few example of paranormal encounters such as haunted hotel and what kind of attitude we should have if encounter ghost in the hotel room.

Pastor Enoch too emphasized that angels were created to serve man. Fallen angels (demon) want us to serve them instead. Since we are created to be above angels, why should we be afraid of them.

To avoid being disturb by paranormal activities, invite Christ in your life and with the Lord on the throne, no evil spirit may delude you.


(Hope this is as close as possible to the dialog on that day. Please forgive if there are any things left out or added on. If you have a better overview, please email it to properfaith@gmail.com)


-Proper faith-

Ghost? Christianity vs. Buddhism (Part 4)

Ghost? A dialog among Buddhist, Catholic and Christian (Buddhist point of view, author's comment)

-This is a post in response to the talk by Buddhism representatives-

After listening to the speech given by Venerable Hui Xian and Venerable Chang Hui, they are many good points for us to ponder.


#1 Ghost are one of the sentient beings in the six domains of the desire realm

In Buddhism, it is viewed that all sentient beings possesses the seed to Buddhahood. It is just a matter of acheiving enlightenment.
杨次公云：‘爱不重，不生娑婆，念不一，不生极乐。’
Yang CiGong: "Without desire, will not I be born in desire realm; without enlightened mind, will not I achieve Nirvana'

I would like to be given the opportunity to talk about the Six Domains of the Desire Realm. In the desire realm, we have Heavenly realm, Asura realm, Human realm, Animal realm, Preta (hungry ghost) realm and Hell realm.
To be reborn into one of these realms, it follows one's karma.

Heavenly realm - able to hold firm to the ten precepts
Asura realm - able to hold firm to the ten precepts but with mindful of anger and jealousy
Human realm - able to hold firm to the five precepts
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Precepts)
Animal realm - dominated by ignorance
Preta realm - dominated by greed
Hell realm - dominated by hatred
(http://buddhismteacher.com/three_poisons.php)


#2 Spreading the gospel to ghost?

As mentioned above, ghost in Buddhism, is one of the sentient beings in the Preta Realm. It is mentioned by the two representatives of Buddhism in the dialog that we should treat them with compassion and lending them a helping to leave the realm.

The question is how?
By virtue and kind conduct with the recitation of the sutra and counseling, merits can be transferred and becomes a helping force to deliver the ghost from its suffering.

The problem lies with, it is easier said than done.

Similar to prayers, reciting sutras may generate a good merits. However, without proper understanding of the recitation as well as without a pure kind heart and virtues, those merit will not formulate. Reciting sutra will be just like reading any other books/magazines/newspapers if its recited with a superstitious mind or craving for merits.

It is by their sin for they fall into the lower realm. Spreading gospel to the ghost is similar compared to spreading gospel to other human beings. It is to preach repentance.

I would suggest the repentance is defined as the following:
i) To know of a sin
ii) To confess the sin
iii) To refrain from commiting again
忏悔即是不二过
All these three must be present. If you know not a sin, you may not confess it. If you confess not a sin, you may not refrain from commiting it. If you refrain not from sinning, it becomes pointless to knowing or confessing it.

#3 It's from the heart

In Buddhism, it preaches that we change not the environment but our heart and precepts.
"What you think you become" -Buddha-

By cultivating unholy thoughts, we invite unholy incident. In this sense, it is also psychological work.

For example, staying in a eerie place, if you fear of paranormal activities, your mind will play tricks on you.

Pastor Enoch Lam gave a good example to explain this point. "If you are afraid of ghost, there is only one solution, invite Lord JesusChrist into your life."

In Christian and Buddhist point of view, Pastor Enoch Lam is right.
Rather than filling your heart and mind with fear and ghostly images, creating a loophole for the demon to invade your heart to lead you astray, you invite God into your life and fill your heart with the glory of God. Thus, it leaves not even a crack for the demon to ambush our soul and mind.


#4 Muslim ghost??

As mentioned in my previous post, Venerable Chang Hui apologized if there are any Malays attending the talk before expressing about the fasting ghost.

There many things that we should clarify.

a) Almost every Malay in Malaysia is of Islamic faith but there are also Chinese and Indians who are muslims.

b) The Ramadhan is a month whereby Muslims refrain themselves from eating, drinking and sexual relations from dawn until dusk. It is a holy month intended for Muslim to cultivate patience, humility and spirituality.

Bear in mind, most of ghost-feeding ceremony (放蒙山) is done in the evening. Even if there are Muslim ghosts (which there are not supposed to be any) going after your earthly food, they are allowed to eat. It is halal to break fast after Magrhib (sun-set prayers).

c) Muslim believe that the present life is a trial in preparation for the next realm of existence

And they say, "There is not but our worldly life; we die and live (i.e. some people die and others live, replacing them) and nothing destroys us except time." And they have of that no knowledge; they are only assuming. And when Our verses are recited to them as clear evidences, their argument is only that they say, "Bring [back] our forefathers, if you should be truthful." Say, "God causes you to live, then causes you to die; then He will assemble you for the Day of Resurrection, about which there is no doubt," but most of the people do not know.
-Quran, 45:24-26-

Surely God will raise all the dead. But God has His own plan of things. A day will come when the whole universe will be destroyed and then the dead will be resurrected to stand before God. The day will be the beginning of a life that will never end, and on that day every person will be rewarded by God according to his or her good or evil deeds

(http://www.islam-guide.com/life-after-death-by-wamy.htm)

d) When you claim that you saw Muslim ghost eating/fasting for your food (or even any ghost), was it a claim made with evidence where there are eye-witnesses?




#5 Ullambana vs. Chinese Ghost Festival

This is something that every Buddhist, especially Chinese should know of the difference between Ullambana (盂兰盆会) and Chinese Ghost Festival.

Chinese Ghost Month falls on the seventh month of the lunar calender. The fesitval is held on the 14th day of the month. During this month, it is said that the hell gates open and unleashed all the deceased to go back to the living for food and offerings, revenge etc. During this month, it is claimed (although no formal statistic by any institution, especially the bureau of statistic) that many supernatural and ghost encounters happen. During this unholy month, Chinese burn offerings and refrain from staying out at night. Buddhism which caught into this local practice too offers food to the deceased and holds many ceremony for the dead, whether to deliver them from hell/Preta realm or to feed them.

Ullambana should never be mistaken nor be explained parallel with the Ghost Festival. Although the Ullambana Sutra was preached by the Buddha during the seventh month to instruct his disciple Mahamauggalyayana on how to obtain liberation for his mother in the lower realm, it is different from the Chinese practice.

Ullambana is in the rainy season of summer, whereby Buddha disciples who were sent out to preach, comes back to the forest to be united with the sangha to celebrate the completion of their meditation, reporting their progress to the Buddha as well as Q&A session for the difficulties they encounter while preaching.

The reason Ullambana was set to be during the rainy season comes from the compassionate nature of Buddha towards the living beings who comes out of the earth after the rain. As people of that time travel on foot, it is advisable for the travelling disciples to stay at one place to avoid stepping (accidental kill) on those little living creatures.

Number of monks who attained enlightenment during that period was high and thus it is a joyful day for Buddhist. In Buddhism point of view, the seventh month can be consider the month of joy, contrary to a eerie feeling that Chinese gives it.





To attend such inter-faith dialogs, one should be well prepared and well educated in their own religious study as well as doing sufficient research in other religion (e.g. the Holy Bible, the Holy Quran, the Puranas etc) in order to effectively deliver the message through.

Poor preparation will give others a poor impression on your side as you are chosen to be representing the whole of your community. A very good example of a good inter-faith dialog speaker, Ahmed Deedat. Google up.


-Proper faith-