Spirituality

I was just chatting to this guy I know via MSN… and he was asking me about going to a temple. Now I know the only reason he spoke to ‘me’ of all people about it is because apparently I have some how joined the band wagon of poster girls for Maldivian controversy… but what really annoyed me was how he spoke of it as if it was a very extreme, shocking, creepy, outrageous thing he was about to do. It absolutely baffled me.
What on earth was the big deal?
Oh yeah yeah, we saw allegedly saw pictures of a certain politicians daughter kneeling down in front of Buddha in a temple and all that jazz… Honestly, truly I see nothing wrong. The whole experience is complete by experiencing their ceremonies, there is no point of going to watch from 20 yards away, in that case TV should suffice… after all these religions are not some little cults; they have history, culture… It took me a while to figure out what the buzz was about!
I would love to go to a Buddhist or a Hindu temple;, especially the old gorgeous ones. I have been to countless Mosques (which is also supposedly touchy, me being a woman) and beautiful gothic, Victorian churches. And I fail to see the wrong in that.
It is so annoying because this guy keeps talking as if he's doing something so BBAAAAADDDD... (Knowing Maldivian male philosophy he thinks it subsequently makes him cool – please lah, get a reality check) and I feel like injecting the motherfucker with a good dose of heroin or something. If he so fucking wants to be doing something 'wrong'… ya know?
Hinduism and Buddhism are both widely misunderstood by Muslim communities. I mean you can go on hating but do you even know what Om means?? The chant itself has a very, very complex association with the religion but in any case, what it defines has basically the same meanings we associate with Allah. Om is the Hindhu symbol of the absolute (correct me if I’m wrong please) – isn’t that the very word we are also using? And I am not doing anything wrong by linking the two religions. All the major religions of the world have many similarities. It is wrong for us to divide ourselves so vehemently.
This disassociation with each other has caused eons of hatred and violence. All religions are based on a divine existence, finding peace within one self, being good human beings, loving one another. So it does not matter whether I walk into a temple or a mosque or a church, it does not matter whether young Maldivian kids watch movies and chant along to Om Jai Jagdish because all they are saying is that they believe in their God, it does not specify any God... in fact once you observe the translation you should be noticing that it is totally synonymous with Muslim beliefs.
It really irks me. I hate the word Kafir. At least the way it is used by Maldivians. It is more than a word, it is even worse that a characterisation or stereotype – it is a judgement. And it is wrong.
There are many good people I have met and whom I love who, simply put, do not recite the same prayers that I do. All prayer is about self reflection, humbleness, hope, faith and forgiveness. For betterment of our lives, to better ourselves… for harmony, for peace, for love… does it matter what words we say or which direction we face? I say true religion comes from the heart, and it is only the heart that matters.
I have met many a fellow Muslim who has caused me nothing but pain. In fact everyday in Malaysia I face discrimination that because I have Indian looks I have no right to be Muslim. I thought Islam was about the Ummath coming together. Apparently some people don’t think so.
One must seek knowledge. Seriously, experience all sorts of rituals. Read about different beliefs. All you will discover is that we are all not much different. Something’s may seem strange, but then consider their reasoning’s, the culture of the environment and other factors and do not ridicule them. If you are so narrow minded that you must confer and confide about a simple visit to a religious area, then you are already a lost cause. Step off your high and mighty pedestal and join us humble folk. Whatever you wear, a cross or a crescent or a star… the symbol itself does not make you better than anybody else. Again, it’s what is inside you that counts. Yeah man, its’ down to our soul man… Hehe…
(On that note, you might seriously want to meditate readers, its so good for the soul, you could try it via Hindu or Buddhist methods, or any other forms of doing it… or even the simple Namaadh is really a meditation too)
The fact is that even Islam has many deviations. Shock. Horror. How many centuries has it been? Of course there are deviations. We are only human, and we carry the legacy. While maintaining our own moral values and beliefs is vital, it is far more important to stop judging other people, and to start judging ourselves.

(But please, don't just light up a joint and claim to be a rastafarian because you have dreads okay? Thats so lame. That aint experiencing another culture. That's loosing your identity. There is a difference. If you are curious, wikipedia it.)