Mid Term Break: Acheen Street Masjid

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah

 

Just returned from Tesco. Imagine how cheap stuffs that we bought from the store. I just paid RM12 for Premium BBQ Puff, Chicken Curry Puff, few Cucumber Sushi and a box of Chicken Rice which cost me about RM2. It's better than having meals in restaurant around my hostel here or at mamak restaurant where we pay around RM6-RM7 for a plate of rice and drinks. I walked home through my old hostel which was Aman Hostel, thought of spending some minutes there watching TV but I found that many anak ikan (young guys) are sitting there watching football. Anak ikan, hahahaha... 

I also saw my ex-hostel mate there, Jantr of Pendang and because he never contact me after we graduated in 2009 and he was there in Aman Hostel perhaps looking for his gangs. I think he's working in Kuala Lumpur, maybe he has something up here like seminars that made him spending some time in this "lovely" institution. The time had passed so its enough... No one will stuck in the same place and time but we will move to other places and spaces.

I just walk right away in front of his nose without saying any word as I will only open up my mouth if I feel important. No important thing, no talk. If people wanted to take this as arrogance, go on. I don't care a bit. Sometimes there are some things which make people acting in certain manner. I did called him last time, and also sending texts to most of my friends not only him. I don't care about people status, racial background or even skin tone because I always assume myself as lower than others since the God never look at those physical stuffs but at our heart and sincerity because of Him. If people do not think that it is important, I would just get away from them. At home I also think like that because many times my sisters also asked me assistance and opinions but when I need them, they would stay away. No dependence, no satisfactory, no feeling, nothing except dependence to the God.

Lets see our pics of Acheen Street Masjid with its unique architecture though simple, few minutes before عموديم 'ammudim (dipping for maghrib prayer service) rituals : )

Thursday, 14 Zulhijjah 1432 H (10 Nov 2011) 11:36 am

Acheen Street Masjid a.k.a Malay Masjid

Minaret

View from the gate

 

Front view, some Chinese National Type School students are listening to their teacher talking about the history and architecture of the mosque

Traditional style houses of masjid staffs

Modern style houses of masjid's residence

Balcony of the masjid

Wudhu' pool, before entering the prayer hall make sure that we are in state of ablution to respect the Lord of the House

 Prayer hall with the place to deliver sermon which is called as minbar and mihrab

 It wasn't Dzuhr prayer service time yet so we just perform tahiyyat al-masjid salat to respect the Lord of the House

I've got a test tomorrow for the paper that I have to repeat. What can I do, it's already fated so we just go on. I have to read few journals as well and it's difficult to understand. I just want to read my Quran, I am tired and sick of all of these duniya (worldly) matters : (

Sealed with prayers for mercy, peace, and love, amin!

Serawak Easter 2010

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

These were taken in 2010 few months before I become a post-graduate student. I went for Serawak, the Land of Hornbill and coincidentally it was Easter celebration. In conjunction to this event, I went to Saint Thomas Anglican Cathedral in Kuching to listen the Easter sermon but could not be there for long as the time coincides with Maghrib prayer service. 

The next day would be their procession day for their religious figure which is Jesus Christ. Didn't join the procession but I went to museums and looking for colonial buildings around. I'm not familiar with Anglicanism but I guess they have their sacraments almost the same to Old Catholics. I know few points on Orthodoxy where I had asked some friends from Middle East seminaries to send me files about their theology, most of them are in Arabic. The sermon in the cathedral was conducted in English so I can understand what people were talking about. However, I couldn't snap pics while they were conducting rituals in the prayer hall to respect them. I just went out to Kampung Surabaya across the Kuching Waterfront for Maghrib prayer service.

 Entrance

 Few minutes before Easter service, climbed the stairs. It's quite hilly

Have to hastily go out for Maghrib prayer service

I can't find public prayer rooms in the town there except for Indian Mosque at the end of the town which takes quite a time to walk and my prayer time will be injured. The easiest way to find mosque is to take boats at waterfront to another side where there are several Malay villages. Kuching Waterfront area is weird... Trying to retrieve more pics in Serawak as to make sure they could be preserved in printed form before I delete everything.

Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love, amin!

News from Friend: Tibetan Summer Retreat in Bhutan

Assalaamu'alaikum wa rahmatullah!

Just saw some pics by a friend, Sherab Palsang who lives in Arunachal Pradesh in Indian eastern region. He is a Tibetan monk in exile which I had known since many years ago. He had many times invited me to visit him at his monastery but I have to finish this studies and lack of mobility. 

He went for Singapore when I was in the first semester doing this post-grad degree but I was occupied so I can't see him. Maybe when I get proper job and stable that I would plan a visit to India and visiting him beside traveling to other parts in India. I hope he at least could come to Penang or Thailand and I would be glad to meet him, having cup of drinks. I had lost his monastery address. I have got some English books to be donated to the monastery library for educational purpose. Some had been donated to mosques and random libraries. People need education to be civilized.

These pics are about summer retreat during Shrawant to Bhadrapad months in conjunction to events in August and September. Thai Theravada Buddhism called it as Warn Khao Pharnsa (Varsha) which begins around the mid of July and ends in the mid of September. Monks would retreat and fasting in their monasteries rather than traveling around. It is to avoid harming little creatures and crops if monks traveling around during the period. Let us see how Vajrayana-Tantra Buddhists performing their varsha or rainy season ceremonies. This is also my first time seeing Tibetan style ceremonies.

 Sakya Rinpoche which is the monastery head in India arrived in Mon Thawing, Bhutan.

 Confession ceremony where monks would confess their errors and ordination ceremony 

Trairattana ceremony

Pattimokka (monastic rules) recitation in the hall in front of Wairocana statue

Laymen devotees at monastery compound

Sadhana mudra ritual where devotees would go around the mandala

Feast where they distribute barley porridge at the monastery head quarter

Sherab graduation day, guess this is more than six or seven years ago since the pic looks old. I think Sherab is at the middle. They look almost the same, hehe. I am proud of you, friend. It's not easy to be ordained

Special thanks to our friend, Sherab Palsang for pics sharing. Sharing is caring. I would visit you and your monastery if condition permits me, someday... You live in such a nice place with fresh air. It is a good place to study :)

Sealed with prayers for peace, mercy, and love, amin!