Not sure about the supposed contrast with US Democratic Party members, though. “From a Democratic Party supporter’s point of view, the ‘deep state’ symbolises institutional integrity” – this might be true of some particularly shallow ‘resistance’ nerds, but the concept of a ‘deep state’ has had overwhelmingly negative connotations in US political history as well.
I do not agree with Hla Oo who was mentioning.
1. Gen Aung San could not organize once British left.
2. Gen Aung San and his cabinet colleagues were assassinated. In fact Kyaw Nyein and the socialists plotted and committed the crimes in colabouration with Atlee’s British Government.
Well, it’s not “justifiable evils”. It’s so pure, so wholesome that Westerners can never have such a level of understanding. The question is, can killing to defend Sassana be justified in Buddhism? The answer is no. “Killing” can never be justified in Buddhism. But “using a knife to cut an abdomen” to defend Sassana can be justified, in a very limited circumstance.
To understand this, you need to have an advanced understanding of the Buddhist idea of no attachment. It’s attachment, or clinching, to things that causes sufferings. Buddha did not forbid eating tasty food. He told his disciples not to eat with attachment. The central idea is to get rid of unwholesome thoughts and feelings that were caused by attachment and to welcome wholesome thoughts and feelings.
Suppose that you are sweeping the floor of a pagoda to earn good deeds. While you are sweeping, someone has poured VX on the floor. Your sweeping caused a kid exposed to the VX and died. Will you go to hell? Well, the answer is no since you have no intention to cause any harm to the kid. Suppose also that you are sweeping. But you sweep the floor with a hatred toward the dust. Would you get any merit for your actions? The answer is again no. You have done “unwholesome” deeds.
So, can cutting an abdomen with a knife to defend Sassana be justified? Well, the answer is yes with some caveats. It has to be done with total purity of thoughts and feelings. There must be no hatred toward the “enemies.” In fact, you must not even have a thought about whose abdomen you are cutting. Your only intention must be to defend Sassana, just like the one sweeping the floor to earn good deeds.
The line of thoughts is supported by a sutta which name I don’t remember. In that sutta, an arahat swore all the time. When other disciples asked that Buddha how can an arahat swear all the time when he has lost all the attachment, Buddha said he swore out of habit and not out of hatred.
Sebagai seorang mualaf, penulis perlu lebih kuat dan serius dalam mendalami Islam supaya mendapatkan solusi dalam semua aspek kehidupan, termasuk pendidikan. Bacaan di bawah ini pasti turut membantu penulis mengenal agamanya:
Al – Quran adalah inspirator, maknanya bahwa dalam Al – Quran banyak terkandung teks – teks (ayat – ayat) yang mendorong manusia untuk melihat, memandang, berpikir, serta mencermati fenomena – fenomena alam semesta ciptaan Tuhan yang menarik untuk diselidiki, diteliti dan dikembangkan. Al – Quran menantang manusia untuk menggunakan akal pikirannya seoptimal mungkin.
Al – Quran memuat segala informasi yang dibutuhkan manusia, baik yang sudah diketahui maupun belum diketahui. Innormasi tentang ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi disebutkan berulang – ulang dengan tujuan agar manusia bertindak untuk melakukan nazhar. Nazhar adalah mempraktekkan metode, mengadakan observasi dan penelitian ilmiah terhadap segala macam peristiwa alam di seluruh jagad ini, juga terhadap lingkungan keadaan masyarakat dan historisitas bangsa – bangsa zaman dahulu. Menurut firman Allah SWT : “Katakanlah (Muhammad): lakukanlah nadzar (penelitian dengan menggunakan metode ilmiah) mengenai apa yang ada di langit dan di bumi …” ( QS. Yunus ayat 101).
interesting article. It reminded me of a story in the WDR 2017:
“A few years ago, an entertainment magazine in a
Latin American country captured this dynamic in an interview
with an unlikely political observer, the chef of the
presidential residence. After a tight election, the new president
and his family had just moved into the residence. The
interviewer asked the chef whether it was difficult for him
to adjust the menu to the new presidential family’s tastes.
“It is really not that problematic,” he reflected, “because
even though the presidents change, the guests are always
the same.”
Much of the critique strikes me as being fair enough (and the writer certainly knows far more about Laos than almost any other commentator). But one phrase in particular caught my eye: the World Bank should ‘make amends’. How? What would constitute amends? More broadly, what pathway should an enlightened LPDR government (or any organisation/country) trying to raise standards of living of the country’s people take? How is the nation to raise the funds for social as well as economic improvement? I am not saying that critiquing anything is easy. I am sure Prof Shoemaker has had to work extremely hard and take enormous personal risks to have done so much excellent work for so long in the difficult circumstances of LPDR. But suggesting (and, even more so, implementing) a feasible alternative is very much more difficult.
By the way, keep an eye open for the impacts of the Vietnamese-built dams northeast and east of Attapeu meant to provide central Vietnam via Pleiku with power over the next few decades. Nothing like the attention and care provided for the people around Nam Theun -despite its apparent failure, there were such things – went into the construction of that series of dams which may well compound harm the fullscale clearing of forest in the region (weirdly evident in the all-timber hotel at Attapeu) has already caused.
Dear Sir, Would like to seek some help. I have a very interesting background. My grandmother( with her 3 sisters) actually came to Malaya from Africa. would like to know if there are any leads on this. She was a Christian. Got married to my grandfather somewhere in 1930. I also would like to know little bit on how the British Government hired people to work in the PWD those days. Are there any record of that. I do have certificate of good service issued to my grandfather by the officer at PWD. According to the record he worked in the PWD from 1924 to 1942.In fact my grandfather passed away 52 years ago today.Would love to get some information on the two things mentioned
Very interesting and enlightening description of Majapahit influence in Southeast Asia. Im a Portuguese born Indonesian who lived most of my adult life in Java an Bali. Passionate about History, Anthropology and Cultural influences. Although not a scholar, I would love to keep in touch.
Thank you for the update information about me and history issue say because this issue my mestrious and TRRAGDY for me step by step improve the world Thanks
Dear Autor ESq
This is a good hystories but there id little bid incorrect especially of Rajasa Sang Amorwabhumi (KenArok) governed as the Founder of Tumapel kingdom. In 1200 He was succede to kill Jaya Katwang and needed more than 20 years to war with Kreta Jaya of Kidiri kingdom.Than He was aKing of Tumapel until He was die when lead on minester meeting 1227 (not killed by Anusapati’s order as He was a pure the soon of Ken Arok)
The detailef as duly written on my book with the title id “KEN AROK (SRI RAJASA SANG AMURWABHUMI TOKOH REVOLUSIONER ABAD XII”. How if we synergize of sories properly?
Best regards
Ki Ageng Singhasari PN.
Re-reading this analysis, originally composed several months ago, now at a time when Australia is facing its worst climate crisis, at least in this writer’s lifetime, gives rise to reflections that the distinguished authors of this post cannot be blamed for not having considered when they first wrote it.
The contemporary era, dubbed ‘The Asian Century’ in many quarters, demands to be renamed ‘The Century of Accelerating Climate Change’. Indonesia will be no less affected by climate change than Australia, but in a different form.
Justifying his decision to build a new capital city, Jokowi acknowledges that Jakarta is sinking, though he doesn’t seem to be conscious of the danger which climate change poses for the entire north coast of Java, not to mention other parts of Indonesia. If Indonesia is lucky, Jokowi will not see prayer as the answer to climate change, but effective policy. If only we were so lucky here.
As the years of this century pass, analysts of Indonesia’s democracy may be well advised to include some reference to how that democracy is facing up to the most grievous challenge all of us face.
Hello ,in the town of Butuan , Philippinesthere is a Bay ,Nasipit . This is the first safe port city when sailing from The Pacific Ocean side. There are small canoe style boats that have been carbon dated to the 1500’s to 1700’s by Scripps in San Diego, Calif. But I believe there are more shipwrecks in the area . I also have done over 10 years of Shipwrck research in The Philippines and I believe Ferdinan Mageallean First landed in this area and Not Cebu City as the records now state. More research in this area would be needed and Change the History Of F. Magellean.
My grand aunty Tata, originally from Pandeglang (the western tip of Java called Banten) was married to George Clunies Ross. When he passed away, my grand aunt for reasons unknown to me migrated to Singapore bringing with her my grandpa Rajie, grandma Halimun, uncle Adnan who worked for Cable & Wireless and later became Master At Arms with the British navy, my dad Ahmad or more popularly known as Jogen to Cocos Islanders and my three aunties. Initially Cocos Malays had difficulty in interacting with local because of their unique names which the locals perceived as Christians.
In early 80s I was a marine officer on a vessel called Tropic Seas and had the opportunity to set foot in Cocos Island (only me) when John Clunies Ross came to know that I am a descendant of Cocos. Later on I was transferred to another vessel the Tropic Sands owned by J.C.Ross and managed by Captain Paddy Keenan.
Cocos Malays dominated two areas in Singapore, namely Kembangan and Lampung Dunlap which later gave way to other development.
Another uncle, Bepo Wahid an RSM with the British Army served in two wars and was decorated by Her Majesty the Queen. But sad to say that none of this was ever brought to light by the Ross family. It,s like it never existed.
One can understand why some Buddhists would be hesitant to roll out the red carpet for the current pontiff given John Paul II’s negative representation of Buddhism in his book “Crossing the Threshold of Hope”.
Buddhist chauvinism is not helpful, but in attempting to understand it, the views and actions of Catholic/Christian leaders cannot be ignored. It provides historical context.
Thailand had no interaction with Aryans nor did they learned anything from that particular Civilization directly. The Siam kingdom was formed from the Khmer Empire itself so it’s almost a continuation of the old Empire. But the new rulers who either spoke the Tai language, wanted to differentiate from the Khmers. The local people within the Empire are generally Mon-Khmer people. There are waves of Tai speakers as well as Chinese that migrate into the Kingdom but it doesn’t displace the current population. They simply integrate and assimilate into the society. Once Siam started to modernize and learn European ways is when they change their name to Thailand. This is the start of a modern nation with nationalistic views and pro nationalism. They learned this from the British. Now they have the need to prove that there is a so called “Thai Race”. So the struggle to prove it is real.
Unpacking the idea of Malaysia’s ‘deep state’
Interesting article – thanks!
Not sure about the supposed contrast with US Democratic Party members, though. “From a Democratic Party supporter’s point of view, the ‘deep state’ symbolises institutional integrity” – this might be true of some particularly shallow ‘resistance’ nerds, but the concept of a ‘deep state’ has had overwhelmingly negative connotations in US political history as well.
The ASEAN pincer: caught between elite capture and populists
Can you offer any concrete examples of where and how this is taking place in ASEAN at the moment?
Islam, a religion of peace
i read your complete article
Islam is given a peace full message and also complete life guide for all men and women,
Burma in Limbo, part 4
Hi all,
I do not agree with Hla Oo who was mentioning.
1. Gen Aung San could not organize once British left.
2. Gen Aung San and his cabinet colleagues were assassinated. In fact Kyaw Nyein and the socialists plotted and committed the crimes in colabouration with Atlee’s British Government.
Sitagu Sayadaw and justifiable evils in Buddhism
Well, it’s not “justifiable evils”. It’s so pure, so wholesome that Westerners can never have such a level of understanding. The question is, can killing to defend Sassana be justified in Buddhism? The answer is no. “Killing” can never be justified in Buddhism. But “using a knife to cut an abdomen” to defend Sassana can be justified, in a very limited circumstance.
To understand this, you need to have an advanced understanding of the Buddhist idea of no attachment. It’s attachment, or clinching, to things that causes sufferings. Buddha did not forbid eating tasty food. He told his disciples not to eat with attachment. The central idea is to get rid of unwholesome thoughts and feelings that were caused by attachment and to welcome wholesome thoughts and feelings.
Suppose that you are sweeping the floor of a pagoda to earn good deeds. While you are sweeping, someone has poured VX on the floor. Your sweeping caused a kid exposed to the VX and died. Will you go to hell? Well, the answer is no since you have no intention to cause any harm to the kid. Suppose also that you are sweeping. But you sweep the floor with a hatred toward the dust. Would you get any merit for your actions? The answer is again no. You have done “unwholesome” deeds.
So, can cutting an abdomen with a knife to defend Sassana be justified? Well, the answer is yes with some caveats. It has to be done with total purity of thoughts and feelings. There must be no hatred toward the “enemies.” In fact, you must not even have a thought about whose abdomen you are cutting. Your only intention must be to defend Sassana, just like the one sweeping the floor to earn good deeds.
The line of thoughts is supported by a sutta which name I don’t remember. In that sutta, an arahat swore all the time. When other disciples asked that Buddha how can an arahat swear all the time when he has lost all the attachment, Buddha said he swore out of habit and not out of hatred.
The teka-teki of Indonesian
Nowadays, you can’t see becaks, they’re considered annoying in big city like Jakarta, apparently we all missed becaks as a traditional transportation.
Education on the fringe in Indonesia
Sebagai seorang mualaf, penulis perlu lebih kuat dan serius dalam mendalami Islam supaya mendapatkan solusi dalam semua aspek kehidupan, termasuk pendidikan. Bacaan di bawah ini pasti turut membantu penulis mengenal agamanya:
Al – Quran adalah inspirator, maknanya bahwa dalam Al – Quran banyak terkandung teks – teks (ayat – ayat) yang mendorong manusia untuk melihat, memandang, berpikir, serta mencermati fenomena – fenomena alam semesta ciptaan Tuhan yang menarik untuk diselidiki, diteliti dan dikembangkan. Al – Quran menantang manusia untuk menggunakan akal pikirannya seoptimal mungkin.
Al – Quran memuat segala informasi yang dibutuhkan manusia, baik yang sudah diketahui maupun belum diketahui. Innormasi tentang ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi disebutkan berulang – ulang dengan tujuan agar manusia bertindak untuk melakukan nazhar. Nazhar adalah mempraktekkan metode, mengadakan observasi dan penelitian ilmiah terhadap segala macam peristiwa alam di seluruh jagad ini, juga terhadap lingkungan keadaan masyarakat dan historisitas bangsa – bangsa zaman dahulu. Menurut firman Allah SWT : “Katakanlah (Muhammad): lakukanlah nadzar (penelitian dengan menggunakan metode ilmiah) mengenai apa yang ada di langit dan di bumi …” ( QS. Yunus ayat 101).
https://www.kompasiana.com/dindaborumufarrokhahsiregar2275/5d25e1d9097f3634b204b232/paradigma-islam-terhadap-sains-dan-teknologi?page=all
The ASEAN pincer: caught between elite capture and populists
interesting article. It reminded me of a story in the WDR 2017:
“A few years ago, an entertainment magazine in a
Latin American country captured this dynamic in an interview
with an unlikely political observer, the chef of the
presidential residence. After a tight election, the new president
and his family had just moved into the residence. The
interviewer asked the chef whether it was difficult for him
to adjust the menu to the new presidential family’s tastes.
“It is really not that problematic,” he reflected, “because
even though the presidents change, the guests are always
the same.”
The Lao dam collapse: a tragedy long in the making
Much of the critique strikes me as being fair enough (and the writer certainly knows far more about Laos than almost any other commentator). But one phrase in particular caught my eye: the World Bank should ‘make amends’. How? What would constitute amends? More broadly, what pathway should an enlightened LPDR government (or any organisation/country) trying to raise standards of living of the country’s people take? How is the nation to raise the funds for social as well as economic improvement? I am not saying that critiquing anything is easy. I am sure Prof Shoemaker has had to work extremely hard and take enormous personal risks to have done so much excellent work for so long in the difficult circumstances of LPDR. But suggesting (and, even more so, implementing) a feasible alternative is very much more difficult.
By the way, keep an eye open for the impacts of the Vietnamese-built dams northeast and east of Attapeu meant to provide central Vietnam via Pleiku with power over the next few decades. Nothing like the attention and care provided for the people around Nam Theun -despite its apparent failure, there were such things – went into the construction of that series of dams which may well compound harm the fullscale clearing of forest in the region (weirdly evident in the all-timber hotel at Attapeu) has already caused.
Was Majapahit really an empire?
Interesting and informative article on one of the most important empires of pre-modern Indonesia, thanks for sharing
Was Majapahit really an empire?
Bukan Jayakatwang melainkan Tunggul Ametung, kan?
>Orang yang dibunuh oleh Ken Arok
Indian migrant workers in Malaysia – part 1
Dear Sir, Would like to seek some help. I have a very interesting background. My grandmother( with her 3 sisters) actually came to Malaya from Africa. would like to know if there are any leads on this. She was a Christian. Got married to my grandfather somewhere in 1930. I also would like to know little bit on how the British Government hired people to work in the PWD those days. Are there any record of that. I do have certificate of good service issued to my grandfather by the officer at PWD. According to the record he worked in the PWD from 1924 to 1942.In fact my grandfather passed away 52 years ago today.Would love to get some information on the two things mentioned
Was Majapahit really an empire?
Very interesting and enlightening description of Majapahit influence in Southeast Asia. Im a Portuguese born Indonesian who lived most of my adult life in Java an Bali. Passionate about History, Anthropology and Cultural influences. Although not a scholar, I would love to keep in touch.
Was Majapahit really an empire?
Thank you for the update information about me and history issue say because this issue my mestrious and TRRAGDY for me step by step improve the world Thanks
Was Majapahit really an empire?
Dear Autor ESq
This is a good hystories but there id little bid incorrect especially of Rajasa Sang Amorwabhumi (KenArok) governed as the Founder of Tumapel kingdom. In 1200 He was succede to kill Jaya Katwang and needed more than 20 years to war with Kreta Jaya of Kidiri kingdom.Than He was aKing of Tumapel until He was die when lead on minester meeting 1227 (not killed by Anusapati’s order as He was a pure the soon of Ken Arok)
The detailef as duly written on my book with the title id “KEN AROK (SRI RAJASA SANG AMURWABHUMI TOKOH REVOLUSIONER ABAD XII”. How if we synergize of sories properly?
Best regards
Ki Ageng Singhasari PN.
Indonesia’s democratic paradox
Re-reading this analysis, originally composed several months ago, now at a time when Australia is facing its worst climate crisis, at least in this writer’s lifetime, gives rise to reflections that the distinguished authors of this post cannot be blamed for not having considered when they first wrote it.
The contemporary era, dubbed ‘The Asian Century’ in many quarters, demands to be renamed ‘The Century of Accelerating Climate Change’. Indonesia will be no less affected by climate change than Australia, but in a different form.
Justifying his decision to build a new capital city, Jokowi acknowledges that Jakarta is sinking, though he doesn’t seem to be conscious of the danger which climate change poses for the entire north coast of Java, not to mention other parts of Indonesia. If Indonesia is lucky, Jokowi will not see prayer as the answer to climate change, but effective policy. If only we were so lucky here.
As the years of this century pass, analysts of Indonesia’s democracy may be well advised to include some reference to how that democracy is facing up to the most grievous challenge all of us face.
The Java Sea Wreck: New research on an ancient ship
Hello ,in the town of Butuan , Philippinesthere is a Bay ,Nasipit . This is the first safe port city when sailing from The Pacific Ocean side. There are small canoe style boats that have been carbon dated to the 1500’s to 1700’s by Scripps in San Diego, Calif. But I believe there are more shipwrecks in the area . I also have done over 10 years of Shipwrck research in The Philippines and I believe Ferdinan Mageallean First landed in this area and Not Cebu City as the records now state. More research in this area would be needed and Change the History Of F. Magellean.
Australia’s Malay population
My grand aunty Tata, originally from Pandeglang (the western tip of Java called Banten) was married to George Clunies Ross. When he passed away, my grand aunt for reasons unknown to me migrated to Singapore bringing with her my grandpa Rajie, grandma Halimun, uncle Adnan who worked for Cable & Wireless and later became Master At Arms with the British navy, my dad Ahmad or more popularly known as Jogen to Cocos Islanders and my three aunties. Initially Cocos Malays had difficulty in interacting with local because of their unique names which the locals perceived as Christians.
In early 80s I was a marine officer on a vessel called Tropic Seas and had the opportunity to set foot in Cocos Island (only me) when John Clunies Ross came to know that I am a descendant of Cocos. Later on I was transferred to another vessel the Tropic Sands owned by J.C.Ross and managed by Captain Paddy Keenan.
Cocos Malays dominated two areas in Singapore, namely Kembangan and Lampung Dunlap which later gave way to other development.
Another uncle, Bepo Wahid an RSM with the British Army served in two wars and was decorated by Her Majesty the Queen. But sad to say that none of this was ever brought to light by the Ross family. It,s like it never existed.
Papal visits in Thailand and “foreign religious subversion”
One can understand why some Buddhists would be hesitant to roll out the red carpet for the current pontiff given John Paul II’s negative representation of Buddhism in his book “Crossing the Threshold of Hope”.
https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/bps-essay_30.html
Buddhist chauvinism is not helpful, but in attempting to understand it, the views and actions of Catholic/Christian leaders cannot be ignored. It provides historical context.
Nationalism and genetics: Thai obsession with race
Thailand had no interaction with Aryans nor did they learned anything from that particular Civilization directly. The Siam kingdom was formed from the Khmer Empire itself so it’s almost a continuation of the old Empire. But the new rulers who either spoke the Tai language, wanted to differentiate from the Khmers. The local people within the Empire are generally Mon-Khmer people. There are waves of Tai speakers as well as Chinese that migrate into the Kingdom but it doesn’t displace the current population. They simply integrate and assimilate into the society. Once Siam started to modernize and learn European ways is when they change their name to Thailand. This is the start of a modern nation with nationalistic views and pro nationalism. They learned this from the British. Now they have the need to prove that there is a so called “Thai Race”. So the struggle to prove it is real.