Whither the ‘soul’ of 11MP?

Professor Tan Sri Dato' Dzulkifli Abdul Razak
My View - The Sun Daily
June 10, 2015

WHEN the earthquake hit Ranau in Sabah, many were quick to point to the uncouth “nudies” who violated the sanctity of Southeast Asia’s highest spot.

Ranau is close enough to Kundasang and Mount Kinabalu to lend credibility to such claims especially by the locals who suffered from the disaster.

Others thought the “nudies” were a mere nuisance or some low grade tourists who have no respect for other cultures. Their pale bodies are all that they have and to flaunt them for the world to see is what seems a cultural achievement to them. Mount Kinabalu is not the only victim of such vulgarity.

I recalled reading a warning notice while ascending Machu Picchu in Peru some time back that must have been the result of a similar incident by another group of low grade tourists. There must be something about being nude on hilltops that we have yet to fathom.

That said, earthquakes in Sabah, indeed Malaysia are a novelty. The recent incident is the third in Sabah since 1876, the last one was four decades ago. In a sense it is yet another “freak” occurrence for Malaysia just like the unprecedented flooding in many parts of the nation recently; though not quite the same as the plunder of Cameron Highlands that has been going on for a long time. Nevertheless, these incidents have also been subjected to other forms of vulgarity that go beyond just the naked human bodies.

Eastern wisdom and philosophy have always dwelt on the importance of the sacredness of nature and its intimate connection to human existence. Life and existence are guided by maintaining a fine balance. And that the balance is a point of respect so there will be harmonious relationships among all the parties involved.

In other words, it must be internalised such that a state of (perfect) balance too exists within the soul that is fully conscious and alive in striving for its own balance. It is fully adorned by the values of baraqah (bliss) that exudes its own wisdom to maintain the perfect inward balance.

To some it could be the karma that must be balanced and nourished at all times before the state of nirvana could be touched by the untainted soul.

It is when viewed this way that we begin to discern the various forms of vulgarities that we have been wallowing in that dehumanise the person and desecrate his soul. He is no more than the “living” dead hollowed out of the baraqah within. Everything else is outside of himself to be measured and detailed as though that is the ultimate measure of life itself.

Be it the technology or even the knowledge base that is only capable of bringing into use another gadget that will make the user even more a captive of the world outside. It fails to bring about wisdom that feeds and nourishes the soul which then remains void and empty.

We lack the humility of being that is well-displayed in nature and the macrocosmos, as our own nature slips into arrogance and our microcosmos turns topsy turvy making us the perfect paragon of the living dead. Not unlike the “nudies” who lost their humility and shame when they stood on Mount Kinabalu and Machu Picchu.

Thus, as we embrace the 11th Malaysia Plan with its six main initiatives, including improving people’s well-being, where will the “soul” be? Or would it be “soulless” initiatives that are external to the human being with the many abbreviations of GDP, GNI, KPI, EPP, and more recently GST, IMDB, etc that will eventually be turned into yet another set of “vulgarities” that we will have to subscribe to. To be sure, on the horizon not too far off is the possibility of another “killing field” that is predictable, if not predicted – unless the soul is brought back into the bigger picture or plan.

A week from today will be the blessed month of Ramadan where the soul takes centre stage for Muslims. It is a month of sacrifice and humility as a means of purifying the soul and the heart. None of the above abbreviations and measures apply or are even relevant. What matters is utmost sincerity for which the untainted soul and heart know best and be accountable for.

At this stage, the baraqah will be free-flowing, karma is released, and nirvana is within sight. Peace and happiness will ensue regardless of what the numbers say. Otherwise a metaphorical quake will hit us many times over.