Saturday, March 28, 2009

Not So Pearl & Gem

" Beri salah.......Tak beri kalah "
" Dulu..Kini.....dan Selama lamanya "

The enduring credo of United Malay National Organisation. The largest,richest, and most powerful Malay political party in the whole wide world.

PS :" Yang beri pun kalah !"

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Pearls & Gem : Remembrance of Death

Today I was told by Shan, my clinic PA that Encik BL, a regular patient of mine just 'passed away' in his sleep yesterday. He was just 54. In robust health despite a major 'heart attack' some 4 years ago at which time I had implanted, as an emergency procedure, 2 brand new, costly, drug eluting stents each in his right coronary artery and his more important left anterior descending artery. Emergency because the left one showed life threateaning proximal 100 % occlusion the day he presented to us at ER in the wee hours of the morning in June , 2004.[ Emergencies have the peculiar habit of coming in the wee hours of the morning when the rest of the world were happily on cloud nine ! ]

I was 'rudely' shocked because I saw him a week earlier in the best of health, he, talking about his impending retirement in September, and myself, persuading him for the third time to undergo a check angiogram, the earlier the better in view of a positive stress ECG done some 5 weeks earlier. I am not a 'prophet' ,and the art and practice of medicine is far from being an exact science', thus I could not say and quantify with certainty the 'urgency' of the 'weakly positive' stress ECG. At the 'highest level , the private discussion between doctor and patient at least at the outpatient clinic scenario, is' intuitive and gut feeling'.

The big jump to 'exact science' lay in the court of the patient upon recommendation of the doctor. When further invasive procedure is thought necessary and recommended, and if especially involving risk and high cos , there is a lot of cajoling and' horse trading' going on . It would be an easier life for us doctors if decision making in medicine is black and white [ as in law ] but in practice, there is a whole load of grey areas in the' soft science' of medicine. The science is easy and universal, the art in this caring proffesion requires years of 'wisdom collection'. 'Intuition' and most importantly' intellectual honesty' are premium values.

Most doctors, would be able to sleep better if all their patients listen to advice but there is no way we can force things into our patients' throats on just the basis of 'qualitative analysis' especially in a situation when the recommended procedure itself [eg . coronary angiogram with a view to invasive corrective balloon angioplasty and stenting, if deemed urgently required ] carries a very small but finite 'mortality risk'. In such scenario one can spend hours discussing the potential 'cost benefit ratio and analysis' but at the end of the day , patients , like Encik BL ,would rather sit on 'things' and procrastinate, to their own detriment. By all mean get a 2nd opinion or even a third , but never sit and sleep on a serious 'advice'. Some serious medical conditions , like heart, brain conditions or cancers are' silent conditions' that kill ,unlike toothache !

"Ces't Dieu Qui Direct": We plan, God Direct. I think BL died of a 2nd heart attack in his sleep .

This brought to mind another dear University colleague of mine, several years my senior at First College UM [ Datin Sri 'R' was there as well , I am positively name dropping here!!! ] , in the early 70's. Saw me some 15 years back for a check up while on his way to catch up a flight to Sarawak at the then Subang Airport. Positive stress test, no symptom of angina to warrant urgency. Flight in half hour's time. Important meeting in Sarawak over Petronas/Esso production sharing etc etc.

"Definitely will see you next Tuesday, Doc. Cannot miss this , meeting . Will see you after I see Hassan on Monday". I went scuba diving in Tioman on Sunday and latter at dinner read that head of Sarawak Petronas died over the weekend while attending a dinner . Innallillah hiwainnailaihirojiun ! Had to live with that 'sinking feeling in the heart' for years whenever I see his widow who used to live in the neighbourhood.

Ces't Diue Qui  Direct.

Which also reminded me of my dear cousin's demise just exactly a year ago today. Datuk Dr Nik Zainal . Effervescent,flamboyant character, full of life. A life of public service. The 1st ever Malay cardiologist. Whenever I passed by the the junction of the Karak Highway meeting the old KL-Bentong road, my mind thought of Nik Zainal. How could he, a very caring doctor par excellence , careful person and not a 'hurried' kind of driver, missed the oncoming trailer ladened with logs? He was fasting the 'six day fast' that day and it was 5 pm. His vision could be 'clouded'by hypoglyceamia [ low blood sugar ] ?

I wondered loudly to my sis-in -law one day and was 'brought back' to reality: " C'mon Howk, don't be stupid, that is just cause and effect, Izra'il had been looking at his dairy for hours, waiting for him near that durian place you always like to stop for your monthly 'Musang King'. Abe Deen certainly had no chance, fasting or no fasting "

Mashaallah, Alhamdullillah, Allahuakbar, even Nik Isahak, the big time doctor from that five star hospital, also oftentimes need to be reminded that when one's time come there is '' no delay or hastening of even one millisecond''. The 'cause' is just the 'science' of Allah.

Make me wonder, just thinking laterally, whether the 'profound insight' that Izra'il, is always carefully studying his dairy for any last minute' inclusion or exclusion' [ or 'event organizer' if you are IT inclined ] from his "Boss', could make any difference as to how we approach life . Visiting us some 20, 30 times in a day, and this is common knowledge to those intelligent 'people's rep' in the hallowed hall of Putra Conventiotion Centre today, whether that would make them less interested in jockeying for power and ultimately practice less money politics. But come to think of it ,how many of them care despite so many Abduls and Siti's from amongst them ! Some would even 'stab their brothers' in the back or even figuratively 'kill' to taste power.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. But then again,It is just human to plan, Allah ultimately decides.

PS : Funny what happened at Ameno Youth level! KT's group said KJ won by 'rasuah'.MM's group thought both KT anfd KJ practiced 'money politics. Young 'gangsters' at work. No honour, integrity nor accountability. It is frightening for all of us that clowns like these would run Malaysia in 10 years time. Ameno has not changed. Corruption is very much the order of the day. A party cannot really depend on 2500 numbskulls to elect the future PM of Malaysia !Ameno is doomed. Too many clowns running the show.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Not So Pearl & Gem ; UMNO Erection

"Ali Rustam , by UMNO standard my friend, is very clean. That is why he is still the CM "


Dr Nik Howk

Friday, March 20, 2009

Exercise : Mixing the Profane and the Sublime

Exercise, that magic word in this very narcissistic modern world, where any form of formulae promising a 'long and healthy life' will launch a thousand best sellers, rightfully is the' sine qua non' to living a healthy life at best. On statistical ground, [ even Muslims are allowed to use this phraseology when discussing life and death ], exercise does prolong life. No doubt about it. Proven scientifically and demographically . Here we talk about numbers not individuals per se, in case 'purists' do take offend at my suggestion and conclusion.

Exercise is the perfect 'elixir of youth', full-stop. One of the common denominators of the long living octagenarians from Okinawa, the Hunzas [ not Hungas as earlier stated ] of Northern Pakistan, the Vilcambe people of Ecuador and the Abkhasians in Central Caucases, Georgia, is continuous physical activity throughout their childhood and adult life.[ see Some Random Thots on Longevity, July 13th, 2008 , Health Section ]

Exercise reduces obesity and the potential for 'metabolic syndrome' accompanying it: diabetes, ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, hyperinsulinaemia, strokes . In short, a life with a 'short' fuse, in the worst case scenario to put it succinctly and in not so much words [ how I wish my 2 sons read his dad's blog for they are both obscenely obese! ] , and at best, to couch in better diplomatic language, a life without vitality ! To see Dr M riding his horses at age 80,bullying a much younger but 'slow loris' Pak Lah , at 74 ,over his lack of 'cerebration' is to comprehend the true meaning of vitality! Most people at 84 could not tell the difference between 'yesterday' and 'today'. [ read : The Four Jokers, Monday 5th January, 2009, Health Section ].

Increasingly, more meaningful for us modern inhabitants of this planet's cities and suburbs caught up in a highly competitive material world, recent scientific data also had shown another benefit for exercise: increasing brain power in the young and the old due to more potential for brain neurons regeneration and repair. Exercise, according to a recent Scientific American article releases potent 'brain-growth inducing factor'.

What exercise and how much?
Combined aerobic [ brisk walking, jogging, swimming, mountain climbing etc etc , anything that moves that damned muscles, sinews, ligaments and bones ] and some moderate weight bearing exercise. From 9 to 90. From 30 minutes, 3 times a week minimum to several hours per day, 7 times a week. The more the better.

Exercise though, as always , is hard work and keeping to a regime day in and day out can be difficult for most people. Not many can be as disciplined as my friend, for example, a CEO of an IPP company, who exercises daily,think nothing of cycling from Putrajaya to PD and back on a weekend, or complete an 'ironman competition' in say 14 hours at the young age of 52!

How to keep the boredom away and be able to keep going days and months, doing it on a regular and sustainable basis and at the same time enjoy it. This is what I want to discuss today.Most would exercise while listening to their favourite 'orchestra' on the I-Pods, others do their 'sums' and problem solving, while some do 'mental yoga'.

My favourite 'hobby' and formullae is mixing the 'profane' [ possibility of delaying death, delaying that 'inevitable interview', a longer and god-forbid, less[ not more] kufr existence, insyaallah, on this planet Earth, more enjoyment, big muscles and more good look, and lastly but definitely not the least, a better more vibrant sex life ] and the 'sublime' [ The celebration and remembrance of Allah, constant reminder of death and the eternal life after death ] .

Years back when I took up scuba diving in order to 'conquer' the fear of depth and the deep unknown, I got more fearful of the inherrent and perceived dangers that 'lurk' down there . To help overcome that primal fear I used to' tasbih' and' tahmid' 80 feet down on the sea bed with every breath I took but alas! Even this did not the push the 'fear factor' away. I subsequently gave up Scuba.But looking back it is actually a great mental and spiritual exercise! At 80 feet down, your personal space is only that one inch of air infront of your face and the highly compressed mask you wear .To a frightened 'soul' like me who took up the sport to conquer my own fear of death and depth, each 'subhanallah' alhamdulillah' and 'allahuakbar' at that depth with sharks etc etc had a greater meaning than life itself. That made me comprehend the 'sufic' expression that 'life is nothing more than a finite number of measured breaths' and the fragility of life is just that,one breath at a time. Nonetheless ,the sea was too much for me and I finally freaked out and gave up that experiment and sport.I found to my dismay I had to pray 'hajat' longer and longer the nights on diving trips while my diving buddies slept like logs left ,right and centre .On a desolated beach somewhere ,that itself was mind bending and torture. So much for trying to conquer fear.

Chose equestrian instead at a ripe 'young' age of 45. Doing endurance means riding competitive rides between 80 to 160 kilometres in one day. For my 1st International competitive ride for Dubai World Endurance Championship, involved a selection ride over 120 kilometres in 1998, done at UPM ground involving going round the farm over 25 times from 5pm Saturday to 12 noon the next day,a total of 17 hours riding time,with some short rest periods in between .Mind over matter .Allah has 99 names and attributes: one name for each kilometre and the rest covered by repeating short surahs. World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain in 2003. 160 kilometres of hills and dales in heavy rain, soggy ground and lightnings. Same formullae , no surah this time but just 'Asma ul husna' but too much 'ya Mutakkabbir, ya Mutakkabbir'. Horse died of exhaustion 10 kilo from the end without showing signs of exhaustion on the 'on board' heart rate monitor! Could more 'ya Rahman' or 'ya Rahim' make a difference? Allahualam .

Why equestrian endurance you may ask.I have looked at the jumping and the dressage group and even the polo group.I could not blend in...different philosophy. Endurance....yes, it is much nearer to sunnah rasul. If I have the time I would pick up archery as well.Perhaps next year!

Exercise, amongst other things, activates the 'endorphin' cascade at the neuronal level in the brain giving the person a sense of euphoria and decreased pain sensation . That is only the'profane' part. The 'sublime' connection I 'dunno' what it does exactly but why not !? A friend with some 'sufic' leaning the other day asked me a simple question as to why we give' salam' all the time at the conclusion of our formal prayer . I could not give a decent answer. It is for that 2 'chaps' on our left and right , he said.

Very plausible answer from these 'sufi' people, you tend to get over any life's issues . Plausible indeed ! The 2 chaps , they connect our every thoughts, actions and intentions to 'people of the higher plane'.
in your solat you are supposed to be in a different plane.
you are on your personal' mikraj'.
when you come back to 'this dunya', you say 'salam' to your two companions on the left and right who temporarily have to leave your presense, in the presence of a much  higher being.....so to speak,

"The people of the higher plane" through a complex system of vetting and revetting, connect to Him ,the One and Only. The humoral-neuronal cascade from lower down interacting with 'people of the higher plane' ,why not ? Non sufi, mere mortals like you and me call this 'barakah' . No venture, no gain. Try it for size.

Yes,my friends, do try mixing the 'profane'with the 'sublime' occasionally during your mundane exercise, you will be able to do more and enjoy more. In fact you will be more addicted to exercise.
mere mortals like you and me , we are not blessed to be in continuos remembrance of HIM.

we eat, we sleep most time, we exercise, we go about with our 'cari makan' business, etc and etc.
but if we master the art of mixing the profane and the sublime , we can emulate the people of ihsan.
even if we cannot be in continuos zikr, we could be counted to be one almost in continous zkr!

insyaallah.





Monday, March 16, 2009

Quotable Quote

"...all these scandals have made us stronger" .

Rosmah Mansor

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

A Parable : The Straying Servant

A person who is concerned for himself is like a servant whose master has dispatched him on a mission. The master had sent him to some land that the master owns in order to procure some cloth there for him. When the servant arrives in that place, he begins to say to himself, "Where will I reside? Whom will I marry?" He gets preoccupied with these questions, expanding all his energy on anxiety about these concerns, until he is delinquent in executing the commands for which his master had sent him. When his master calls on him, his reward from the master will be that the master cuts him off and separates himself from the servant, since he was totally preoccupied by his own affairs rather than observing the prerogatives and rights of his master.

So it is with you, my fellow believer. The True One has dispatched you to this world and commanded you to serve in it faithfully, and has undertaken to support and sustain your existence contingent on your service. If you become engrossed in worrying about your own concerns for yourself and neglect the rights held over you by your master, then you have turned aside from the path of right guidance and slid down the low road to ruin.


Ibn 'Ata' Allah al Iskandari [ d.1309]
The Book of Illumination
Kitab al-Tanwir fi Isqat al-Tadbir

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Pearls & Gem : A Du'a

O God ,we know that your command cannot be resisted and your decree cannot be contradicted. We are incapable of rebuffing what you have decreed or repealing what you have decided. So we ask only for your grace in what you decree. We ask only your support in bearing what you decide . In all this, we ask that you include us among those whom you guard and protect, O Lord of the universe.

O God, you have already measured out for us our provision and you alone bring each portion to us. So let us come to it with wellbeing. Let us be secure from all distress and preserved from all uncertainties and alienation, encompassed in receiving it by illumination of arriving near you. Let us bear witness that our provision is from you. Let us be thankful toward you and ascribe it to you alone and to nobody else in all worlds.

O God, from your hand comes all provision, in this world and in the world to come. So provide for us in both worlds, and give us only as much as you know to be good for us and only as much as will benefit us. O God, make us from among those who choose you, not from those who prefer anything else to you. Make us to be from among those who pass control back to you, not those who stand in opposition to you. O God, we stand in absolute dependence upon you, so give to us. We stand weak and unable to obey you thoroughly, so empower us. Give us the ability to carry out your will and turn us from rebellion against your will. Make us stand in peace, at peace with your lordship over us,patiently enduring the commands of your divinity, standing ennobled by our relationship to you, with repose in our hearts from our reposing complete trust in you. Make us to be among those who enter the courtyards of contentment. Let us wash our feet in the heavenly river of being at peace,plucking the right fruits of knowing you directly, wearing the sandals of being specially selected, rapt with the inscrutable delightful gift of intimacy with you, held open to presence of divine love. There, let us eternally serve you. Let us fully realize our knowledge of you. Let us faithfully live up to the example of your prophet, Muhammad. For we have striven to inherit his virtues and take allegiance to him. We come to realization through him, standing in for him with full responsibility. Seal for us a good fate, O Lord of all worlds.

May God bless the Prophet, our leader, Muhammad.
May God bless the people of Muhammad and give them peace.
Amen.


Ibn 'Ata' Allah al- Iskandari [ d.1309 ]
from Kitab al-Tanwir fi Isqat al Tadbir

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Pearls & Gem : Surah Al 'Alaq [ The Clot ].. [ Letter 96 , Ayat 1 to 8 ]

Read : In the name of thy Lord Who Createth ,[1]
Created man from a clot .[2]
Read : And thy Lord is the Most Bounteous ,[3]
Who teacheth by the pen ,[4]
Teacheth man that which he knew not .[5]
Nay , but verily man is rebellious [6]
That he thinketh himself independent .[7]
Lo ! Unto thy Lord is the return .[8]


Read ,my friends ,read !

Read the immensity of the universe and the Arash ,The Throne .The universe is a speck of dust compared to the 'Chair' ,the 'Chair' is just a speck dust within the Arash . Dust upon dust upon dust upon dust . That is what we are !

Read the beauty and splendour of created things .This universe and the heaven started from nothing .Then 'Kun Fayakun' , 'one entity ' ,then the The Big Bang .Heaven ,galaxies of stars split asunder .A 'controlled ' explosion : an ever expanding universe , the Milky Way and millions of galaxy of stars like that,millions and millions of light years apart .Some of the light of stars percolating through space so distant away that the original stars are already 'burnt out' but the ensuing light will keep coming for millions of years to come .The complexities of the universe and heaven are a million times more than life itself . "If all the oceans are ink ,and all the earth trees would be pens ,nothing can justify the immensity of Lord's Knowledge " ..quote unquote from the Glorious Quran.

Read the paradox in the immense complexity and simplicity of life itself :Life is just a 'sea of biochemical reactions separated by billions of cell membranes .Thoughts are just 'electrical charges' at synaptic junctions of billions of neurons ,interconnected into myriads of complex circuits .Yet who are 'we' ,what are these entities called 'myself' ,'me' ,'you' ,'us' and 'them' ?
Where and what are 'souls' ?

Read in the beauty and simplicity of complex mathematical theorem ,photons ,Cern partical ,matter and anti matter- matter .Read in the movement of the stars and planets ,in the nostalgic symphony of life giving rain and sunshine .

Read into the simplicity and finality of this life itself : a sperm journeying up the 'Yangtze River' thousands of 'sperm miles' up to meet an ovum followed by fertilization ,cell division from one to a hundred , blastocoele stage to morulla ,then differentiation into stem cells ,then billions of cells forming tissues ,tissues forming organs and organs forming a group of closely interlinked systems :cardiovascular ,neurological ,digestive ,skin ,musculo-skeletal so on and so forth .Fetus ,baby ,young man ,middle age ,old age and finally death .

"
Nay but verily man is rebellious ,[6]
That he thinketh himself independent .[7]
Lo ! Unto thy Lord is the return .[8]"

Yes , indeed ,our journeying has a return , unto thy Lord is the final return !
Inna lillah hiwainna ilaihirojiun .

Dr Nik Howk

ps : You may wonder why I am so introspective and 'gloomy' today .Yesterday was my 57th birthday ,the evening of most life ..I received news my 40 year old 1st cousin died in the morning , I was still busy doing some emergency 'plumbing work' on another 40 plus year old at 2 am . in the wee hours of this morning .What a life !
40 plus ,my friends ,is just about the right time to die even though in my book , life actually starts at 50 .Go figure it out , this apparent paradox .

Monday, March 2, 2009

Not So Pearl & Gem : Our Very Own Malaysian Mae West

Quotable quote from our very own Malaysian 'Mae West' ,some years ago ,apparently to her tailor :

" I take everything ,big and small ! "

How very sexy .