Thoughts are Things November 10, 2008

Motivational Monday : ‘Thoughts are Things’

In his classic, ‘Think and Grow Rich’, Napoleon Hill describes brilliantly the principle of ‘Thoughts are Things’.

Men are made by his thought. And this is one true principle that is undeniable as the theory of gravity. This topic is really is wide and deep as the study of human’s thought will also involve the study of philosophy and metaphysics (in my opinion).

However, to keep it fairly nice and simple (at first), let me just attempt at being Anthony Robbins with a dash of Oprah Winfrey and of course, guided by the wisdom of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

Everything starts in the mind. Every single grain of rice that you eat, the penny and cents that you earn, the love that you shared – all begin in your head. Once you decide, or you think of being who you are, earning how much your earn and loving who you love, it will one way or another will manifest exactly the way that you want it to be.

This idea that you can decide who you want to and achieve what you want to achieve just by thinking is quite radical, especially if you were taught from small that ‘this way of life is the only way to live’, or you were surrounded by negative people who constantly complains about their lives.

Quite similar when thousands of years ago, when people were taught that the earth was flat and they believed it their whole life, and suddenly this one person came and said ‘hey you kow what, the earth – its not flat. It’s round’ And people goes berserk! So if you feel like going berserk, or scoffing the theory, please don’t just yet. Consider all knowledge, and make informed decision.

Great men and women of all discipline, became who they are because they have this thought in their head, that they want to be or do something great in their lives. Of course then they have to go and do something about it, we won’t be hearing anything about them if it’s not because of their actions and their contributions. However, what came first? It’s the thought. The idea.

Think of nice things, be grateful, think of great big brilliant ideas, think of beautiful things, think of love and hope and peace. And there you go, Obama won! (different story but quite related).

Anyway, my point is, fill your mind with all things nice and good and it will become your thought. And your thought then, will become things.

Do read ‘Think and Grow Rich’ Napoleon HIll. Brilliant read, with lots of amazing stories about great men of America who achieved great things in their lives.

Do read the Quran and ponder at how many times it mentioned the word ‘think’. It can’t be coincidental now can it? Indeed our Creator knows and have taught us many times recurringly again and again in his Great Book about what is they key to our success. And that is, by thinking.

Ok, see you next Monday, for another Motivational Monday by Naziehah

And oh, lastly I will leave you with this excellent quote, also from the book ‘Think and Grow Rich’,

‘Whatever The Mind Of Man Can Conceive and Believe, It Can Achieve’.

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Image from here.

Copyright © Naziehah 2008

Lost in Translation March 31, 2008

Born-Muslim that were brought up in Muslim country, most of us were forced into this ‘belief’ that we already know it all. Coupled with the feeling of superiority, or complacency or just pure laziness – our study of the religion stops at a very superficial level. In case of Malaysia, the issues then becomes more pronounced because our first language is either Malay, Chinese,Tamil, English (basically non-Arabic), and hence all our knowledge about Quran came from translation sources of the Arabic language.

In my search of greater understanding of my own ‘way of life’, I faced many challenges. I have many burning questions, with no answers. I was fed again and again, with superficial, one-dimensional answer that do not satisfy my curiosity. I seek my own Quran translation and still, I was dissillusioned.

Until I came across a knowledge that there were a ‘lost in translation’ issue when it comes to Quran translation. Quran was revealed in a distant language in an ancient time. It went through many levels of ‘translation’ - which encompassed the literal translation, the social translation, the cultural translation, and not to mention the personal interpretation of the translator. Through time, I knew that there were many types of translation – good ones and also not-so-good ones.

Then it hit me, I have been reading the not-so-good translation of the Quran all these while!  All due to my ignorance of  many other Quran translations that is available. If I keep reading from one source of translation, it means I am only listening to that one person’s translation, based on his own understanding and marked by his own personal interpretation. No wonder sometimes I felt that something was missing that I can’t really put a finger on. I knew there are many beautiful stories and answers and inspirations in the Quran, but somehow, I could not find it.

I started looking for other translations and my understanding grew. My appreciation of the many translations also grew. I am grateful that I was brought upon this knowledge, Alhamdulillah.