What is life? What is destiny?

 

What is life? What is destiny?

 

These are only two of the questions that go through my mind at the moment. What made me think of this? Music. Listening to the proper music can get you really philosophical. But let’s be serious for a while.

 

 

Are we given this life for a reason? Do we have a scope in our lives? Does God puts us on this Earth in order to do something? Or is our existance just a waste of time?

 

I’m 100% Romanian, but when I was very little I fell in love with the Orient and everything that has to do with that part of the world, from the religion, to the culture and traditions. I kept listening to Arabic music and I have to confess that I was often watching Turkish movies, those kind of music where you could see all the traditional things. I liked reading about that. I simply fell in love.

 

 

 

And then mum left to Kuwait, a small country in the Middle East. That was when my dream came true. I was even closer to the world that I was attracted too. There was a lot of visiting before actually moving there. The buildings, the palm trees, the prayer call which could be heard 5 times a day, the people, the air.. everything was different. Everything was the way I liked it. Everything was the way I was dreaming.

 

Colourfull clothes.. jewelry.. perfumes.. elegance.. 

 

 

It really attracted me. There was a different scent in the air. The scent of the world I liked.

I learned how to belly dance. I learned Arabic and a couple of words in Turkish. I read about the history.. I tried to copy the style. I put on the hijab to see how it looks like. I listened to the prayers.. I read the Qur’an to see what are the differences, but even the similarities between that and the Bible.

 

Is it wrong for a westerner to feel all that? Is it weird?

 

 

I get along better with foreigners than with people from my own country. I get along better with people from that part of the world. I visted it and it felt like I was home. I can actually see myself live there. I can see myself integrate so well in those places, between those people.

 

What will I do in life? Where will I be? What will happen to me?

Did God send me here, on this Earth to live there? To make connections between the world I was born in and the world I love? Is this my destiny?

 

I don’t know at the moment. I will meditate, look within myself.. think carefully, listen to my inner voice.. trust myself and never lie to myself. And I am proud of what I feel. No matter what others think or even say, I am proud to feel all these things. This is who I am. This is how God made me..

 

Thank God for what you have

No matter what happens, thank God for what you have. There may be people who have nothing of what you have and would do everything to have even a little of that.
If you’re happy, thank Him for your succes. If you’re upset, thank Him for the lesson you’ve learned.

God is one and there is always a reason behind everything!

Believe in God

Believe in God! No matter how sad and upset you are, He is there for you. He looks over you. He protects you. Don’t just talk to Him when you need Him, do it all the time. But when you’ll truly want something, be sure that He will help you achieve your goal.

Ramadan Kareem

 

Mum told me that tomorrow’s Ramadan and I want to wish everyone a Happy Ramadan.

 

This is the first time I am away from Kuwait during Ramadan, or at least, it’s the first time I’m spending many days away.. I wish I could be there, but oh well, I guess my new life starts here. I don’t know what will happen, but I know something for sure, I will never forget Kuwait. I love that place and it’s like home. I grew up between those people there.. I know each and every street, whether it’s a main road or a small one. I simply know everything.. culture.. tradition.. everything. Oh and I’m proud of it. I mean, come on, who doesn’t want to know new things? Who doesn’t want to live in a new place?

 

Because I will never forget my time spent in Kuwait, I want to be one of the people who will wish you Ramadan Kareem. May all your wishes come true and may God give you all you want!

 

Taken from: Google images

 

“(It was) the month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’aan, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that month…”

– [al-Baqarah 2:185]

 

Is democracy always appropriate?

I know I’ve said it might take a while but I’ve realised that if study a bit more I’ll go crazy and forget everything.

Yes, democracy is to some extent, a ‘good thing’ which all societies should aspire. But there are some situations in which democrat is not appropriate.

In Europe and USA the fact that we should all be free and there should be freedom of thought, expression and so on is true. However, what if other countries don’t believe in this?

There are many places which I ruled by religious codes and the people there don’t know much about democracy. They’ve been ruled that way since ever and they expect their leaders to govern them according to the teachings of their Holy Book (I’m being diplomatic and not naming any religion because I don’t wanna infuriate people). People in those countries don’t really care about democratic principles. Do they? Well, there may be some. But not everyone. They’re probably a minority if they do aspire to democracy.

There may be economic reasons for which a country decides to put economy on the first place, before democratic principles. Many African states this.
However, real democrats such as Nelson Mandela insists that ‘people would prefer to be free than to be well fed.’

I have to disagree with this. I’m totally against it. How can anyone say this? I understand that him and black people have been attacked many times because of their colour but you can’t say this. Why would you be free if you’ll die in a couple if days anyway because you have nothing with what to feed yourself and your family. Let’s be logical. There’s no point. If you, the one who reads this thinks the opposite, please do let me know and I’ll happily read what you wrote and also reply.

And going back to the point, moreover, even established democracies such as the UK and America put aside some aspects of their democracy when faced with a war.

I believe this is the right thing to do. Let’s all live in democracies. But let’s not exaggerate. Law and order or/and national security is more important than some democratic aspects. Especially because those will be reimplemented once the country is out of that critical situation

As I said before. I’ll happily read your comments. Any opinion is welcome!

Buddhism..

 

After reading the post I’ve lastly reblogged, I realised I have so many things to say about Buddhism, that’s because I think different things from many other people.

 

“In Buddhism we have relative truth and absolute truth.”

– Dalai Lama

 

As Dalai Lama says in his quote, I also think Buddhism is just truth, peace, relaxation. I don’t see it as a religion, I see it as a way of life. Anyone can be a Buddhist. Anyone can meditate. Anyone can live a Buddhist life, not fully, but you know what I mean.

I find Buddhism great. I personally try to meditate from time to time and I must say that it feels amazing. Moreover, I also listen to Buddhist chants every day and they make me feel like I’m so light, like I can do anything I want, like life is just perfect.

 

I would love to share my first meditation experience, because I found it unusual.

I listened to these chants so loud and I was sitting on the floor, right in front of my bed. I don’t know what happened next and although I knew my position, I knew I was in front of the bed, I could see myself from somewhere above. I could see myself where I was, as if my body was down on the floor, but my mind was somewhere up. The sensation was amazing! However, unfortunately I haven’t had any other so intense, even though I did lose all my thoughts and my head was empty on the whole duration of the meditation session.

Buddhist chants also helped me concentrate on things. They helped me to look inside of me and quite understand myself better.

 

Therefore, I have one dream, to go to as many temples as possible, all over the world and learn the art of meditation, because to some extent it is an art and not many can do it properly.

Here’s my favourite chant:

 

 

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”

– Buddha

 

My plans starting with the Holy Week

 

Today, the 9th April starts the Holy Week. As I have written in my previous post this week is very important for Orthodox Christians.

Because of this I have decided to read the Bible again. Although I do pray, I don’t go to church much, because in a place like the one I am in, it is not very easy to do it. Yes, in Kuwait there are churches, but not many and they are only Catholic ones. The only time I go to church here is Easter night. However, every time I go back to Romania, I spend days in the monastery and I just pray and relax.

I could say that I have a close ‘relationship’ with God, but I feel like I need to do more. It’s been a while since the last time I’ve read the whole Bible, so I decided that today is the right day.

Therefore here I am, starting to read the Bible.

 

God bless us all!

 

Bible in English or other languages: http://bibleresources.bible.com/bible_read.php

The Bible in Romanian: http://www.resurse-ortodoxe.ro/biblia/

 

PS. It is never too late to get close to God, for He will always be there for us, whether we need Him or not.

 

The Holy Week (†)

For us Orthodox Christians, the Holy Week begins today.

 

What is the Orthodox Church? A very brief introduction:

The Orthodox Church traces its beginnings to the self-revelation of God on earth. As testified in the Scriptures, God has revealed Himself through a particular people whom He chose and taught through the prophets, teachers, evangelists and all those who have made His righteousness known throughout the ages. Most particularly He has revealed Himself to us through His Son, Jesus Christ (the anointed one of God) who became a man, suffered, died, rose again, ascended into heaven and is coming again in glory to bring judgment and salvation; and through His Holy Spirit who was revealed to us on the day of Pentecost. This Holy Spirit gave the Apostles the power and understanding to preach the good news (the Gospel) of Jesus Christ throughout all the world. Those who received and followed their preaching rightly and faithfully are the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church of which the Nicene Creed speaks. The Orthodox (literally, “right-believing”) Church is the company of Christians who have upheld the whole tradition of the Apostolic Faith to this day.

 

More info:

•  http://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity

This is the most sacred time, because by entering the Holy Week, we commemorate of our Lord’s freely chosen journey to the Cross, his death, and finally his resurrection: the Holy Pascha (Sunday, April 15).

 

This is also the time when I fast for a whole week, I meditate over the bad things I’ve done and I try to change them and make them all better.

This will be a long week, but it surely is worth it, because after, I do feel closer to God.

 

Religion is to do right. It is to love, it is to serve, it is to think, it is to be humble.

It annoys me so badly when I see people arguing about religion. I doubt many of them even know the core values of every religion and they keep commenting about it. Before saying anything, read.. it can help a lot.

Muslims are not terrorists. Christians are not racists. You can find this kind of people everywhere at any time. Whoever kills or does any crime in the name of God shouldn’t even be called a human because I’m 110% sure God doesn’t want anyone to die ‘for’ Him.

I also don’t see the point of changing your religion and I’m not talking only about converting from Christianity to Islam, but vice-versa too. I mean, you grew up your whole life into one kind of culture and out of no where change it? There are no perfect Christians or Muslims who’ve been practicing their religion for years and some try to just change and become ‘good’.

No. If you don’t find peace in one reliigion, then you won’t find it in another either. Why so obsessed over this if God is only ONE whether you call Him God, Dios, Dieu, Allah. He is ONE and He will always be ONE.

I’ve personally read the Bible four times, the Qur’an twice, the Hebrew Bible as well as different things about Buddhism and Hinduism. They’re al interesting.. ALL. And they all talk about peace. You don’t need to part of one religion, when you can take the good side from all of them. Wouldn’t that make you a better person?

We should all stop being so obsessive and so hypocrite when it comes to religion. There’s only one God.. so start getting over it and stop arguing over this.