Venerable Watareka Vijitha Thero
http://groundviews.org/2013/10/09/buddhist-monk-attacked-by-bodu-bala-sena-and-police-inaction/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+groundviewssl+%28groundviews%29
Once in a way, Sri Lanka produces a few worthy heroes.
Hajiani Sara Sona (Brock) Barnes
I Miss YouTake it intellectually… metaphorically… spiritually…
Watch, listen and be truthful.
I AM SALAHUDDIN:
The reunion between siblings – two brothers – Ismaeel (alaihissalam) and Ishaaq (alaihissalam) … through their progeny after hundreds of painful years apart… That’s the REAL MEANING of the reunion between the Christians and Muslims… this has already begun taking place, alhamdulillah.
Listen:- Kansas – Hold On:
Don’t know how? Listen:
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10152860861745634
Read the Bible: http://www.ahlalhdeeth.com/vbe/showthread.php?t=3014
I understand your questions… and the fear and pain that must accompany it… I’ve been there – I KNOW how it feels… go ahead and ask those questions; but ask them from the ONLY ONE who can answer them –The Giver of Life and Death – God Almighty Allah – Rabbul Aalamin, the Lord of all the Worlds.
Judas, when you ask the right questions from the wrong one:
Read the Qur’aan:
“{And because of their saying: “We killed the Messiah, ‘Isa the son of Maryam, the Messenger of Allah.” But they killed him not, nor did they crucify him, but it was made to appear to them so, and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no knowledge; they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely, they killed him not.}” [Qur’aan 4: 157]
He did not die: Just as Avatar Aang never died… yeah, behind every great man there is always a tainted; painted, great woman…
So, I say to you:
“O People of the Book (Jews and Christians): Come to a word (in good terms) that is Just between us and you, that we worship none but Allah (God) (alone), and that we associate no partners with Him, and that none of us shall take others as lords besides Allah (God). Then, if they turn away, say “(O People of the Book) bear witness that we are Muslims.” [Qur’aan3:64]
To my Sri Lankan brethren: Let’s start the wave – start the ralle…
Come on Sri Lanka!
WE can do it! 😀
Listen: Nirvana – Come As You Are:
ISLAM CURES RACISM – Paradise for Paradise Island!
Help me reach out: Please go viral sharing 😉
Peace be with you.
Muslim by Right Effort –
Hajiani Sara Sona (Brock) Barnes
My pater-boy W. A. (Brock) Barnes
Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Raheem (In the name of God the Supremely Merciful, the Most Kind).
As I was becoming a woman, just prior to my ninth birthday, my father, W. A. (Brock) Barnes, informed me through word and deed, in no uncertain terms, that he was a complete failure and no example to follow. To offset this, he introduced me to Bruce Lee; his biography, philosophy and trailblazing excellent work as sensei, mentor and movie star. Dad said; ‘Listen to him – he’s a man. He knows what he’s talking about, and he walks his talk.’
Dad also taught me cricket – to bat, bowl, and field, and the philosophy of the game. He said if I applied the rules of cricket in life, I would not go wrong. Dad didn’t believe in God.
Bruce Lee
Dad armed me with the most excellent armor known to him. I bear witness; he did his excellent best.
A female growing up with two brothers – six and seven years elder – is no small task. It was a typical democracy – the majority oppressed the minority. Life was tough. Rule of the jungle: survival of the fittest. But God is with the oppressed. I did more than survive – I found ingenious ways to live life to its fullest. I loved, as well as cried, deeply, and indeed, found Joy Inside My Tears. All praise to Allah.
But, a cornered lone animal, fighting for its life with its back against the wall, is far more ferocious and dangerous than those attacking it.
My dad told my brothers about me one day: “Don’t try to mess with her mind. She’ll give you a ‘Bruce Lee flying kick’ and you won’t know what happened to you.”
So dad set out to engrave it upon me – “NEVER strike until struck. But if struck, you know what Bruce Lee does, step up and do it – take it on the full and drive it over the bowler’s head – straight into the grandstand.”
Dad taught me an ’eye for an eye,’ and omitted ‘but it’s better to forgive.’ He left that for me to discover the hard way.
The sands of time never obliterated his relief work. Islam keeps it sheathed – like the Sword of Gryffindor – to be pulled out of the Hat only if absolutely necessary.
Stabbing the Basilisk – Leader of the Serpents – in the mouth
My darling grandma
V.T. Asirwatham Sinniah
Parallel to Bruce Lee being my hero, my maternal grandma, V.T. Sinniah, nee Asirwatham (Veema Thangamma Asirwatham), was my heroine – literally from the day I was born. My mother, Rani Sinniah (familytreemaker.genealogy.com) and I nearly died at my birth. She bled as my struggles wrapped the umbilical cord nine times around my neck. On the way to the hospital, dad had slammed the Morris Minor front seat against mom’s stomach – a last minute manic effort to kill me before I was born.
My grandma, a well-read, kind, calm, wise and collected soul of moderation and simplicity, with nerves of steel and defiant truth upon her tongue – was a believing woman of the Scripture. She endeavoured to read the Bible daily and meditate. Like Bruce Lee, she also walked her talk.
Grandma was guardian angel, mentor, and sage – the mother I never had. Mater used to grudge the bond between grandma and me. May Allah guide my mother. I was an utter disappointment to her – an alien. I chose to include spiritualism in my life. The Middle Path: Balance. I was a Muslim without anyone’s knowledge – least of all mine – until Allah revealed it to me through His Speech in a book, when I entered my twenties.
My mother chose materialism and denied spiritualism. This is the great divide that’s nearer, rather than farther between us. I didn’t choose to go manic on spiritualism? I chose the Middle Path; moderation; balance.
My mother Rani Barnes Sinniah
Some details of my life must remain concealed out of courtesy to my family, but suffice to say, the ongoing war between the two superpowers at home, mom and dad, led them to develop and unleash weapons of mass destruction and use their offspring as target practice, child soldiers, suicide bombers, spies, double agents, defence cover, hostages and so forth and so on, and sometimes, as agents of Trojan Horse peace too. The negatives always outweighed the positives in hideous proportions.
The happy family before my birth
Although my brothers entered family politics and destabilized the situation further, I shied away and scorned it with contempt. I became the voice in the wilderness – my eldest brother, Ravi, called me Zachariah. I’m not sure why.
The combination of Bruce Lee and grandma – honing natural tendencies – made me an independent entity; hard to contend with and near impossible to manipulate – a complete alien to politicians.
I was obstinate when it came to injustice and didn’t think twice to correct my brothers, parents, and certainly, even remind my darling grandma, when she fell into err. I applied the same rigid yardstick on myself and gave ear to correction without ever feeling small. Indeed, I felt big. I was attracted to what was good for me, without realizing it. All praise to Allah.
Yet, I was no different to anyone else during adolescence; temptations swayed me and I thought I knew everything.
Unable to be lured into taking sides unjustly, I became a big nuisance to the senior as well as junior politicians in my family. Fear of the alien turned to hatred and soon some decided I was better dead than alive. But it had to be done without leaving any footprints.
Dad’s attempt on my life before I was born, lent justification to a sibling and in-law to conjure the plan and pull dad into it – using material wealth as the bait.
To accomplish the task, they turned to the dark arts and sold their souls to the Devil.
Blood Bending
The Devil, (Iblees) arrived one night, from out of the blue, when I was just 19-years-old. It invaded my being and tried to hold my mind hostage and force me to trade my soul in exchange for ‘leaving me in peace and not harassing me.’
It was supposed to drive me to despair and make me sign all properties over to certain family members and then end my life with my own hands. A series of heartbreaking calamities took place one after another during this era and made the prospect of bidding adieu appear attractive, if not the only option.
When I called out to Jesus, the Devil scoffed me; “Jesus can neither hear you nor help you.” I sank into unfathomable depths of despair. Jesus wasn’t God. So WHERE was God?
A cornered isolated animal fighting for its life with fang and claw is bad enough. A Godless human being becomes a VERY dark animal indeed.
Black Mamba – world’s fastest and deadliest snake
Having stoically followed the Way of the Snake – Never Strike Until Struck; I swiftly took a page out of Bruce Lee’s book – Enter the Dragon, and redirected the force of my opponent’s attack back on them – return to sender – straight over the bowler’s head and into the grandstand.
General Iro The Dragon of the West
It was too late: I’d been swift as a martial artist, yet, hasty as an ignorant fool.
I had no peace of mind.
Louis the Vampire Interview With a Vampire
It had been Enter the Dragon Bruce Lee – Fight With (your fatherlord, Firelord Ozai) O’ Hara:
The blow didn’t make them relent and undo the magic (sihr); it made them fear me more and their attacks grew in proportion to their fear. I was no longer Zachariah; I was now The Devil, thanks to their handiwork.
But, I fought back. I set out to find God the Almighty; God the Lord of all the Worlds; God The King of kings; The Giver of Life and Death – the ONLY ONE that could help me rid the Devil in me.
Perfect Wave Hair Show 1988
– 19-years
It was a perfect wave alright! When the various Christian Churches tried to console me with different versions of the same fairytale to no avail, grandma rose to the occasion and ordered:
“Kneel down and pray Sona!
Don’t call on Jesus; address your prayer instead to God – the owner of those descriptive titles, and demand His help. He HAS to help you. He created you and put you in this position.”
I obeyed, and was inspired to try Islam.
Moses (PBUH) and the Burning Bush
The inspiration entered my thoughts thrice and ceased.
I concluded that I was raving mad, felt stunned and sad about it, but soon perked up with renewed hope; if I was mad, then it didn’t matter what I did.
The virtue of madness: use it constructively.
Sheikh Ahmed Deedat
When I asked Muslims about Islam, they shied away and gave me Ahmed Deedat’s address in South Africa and told me to contact him. Hopping mad, I sat and wrote and he replied. He prayed Allah to grant me guidance through his booklets on comparative religion, attached in a parcel. May Allah love him and reward him.
I replaced Bruce Lee with Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him); for ‘he did not speak of his own will, but by that which was given to him from above.’
After reading the Six Pillars of Faith: belief in Allah, all His Angels, Prophets and Messengers, Revealed Scriptures, Day of Reckoning, and Paradise and Hellfire, and the verse Surah Al Ikhlas – meaning sincerity/ refining/ purity:
Say, Say, “The truth is: Allah is One.
Allah is Besought of all, needing none.
He neither begets, nor was he begotten.
And there is none equal to Him.”
I pronounced the Shahada and declared myself Muslim in 1988 –
Lā ʾilāha ʾillā l-Lāh, Muḥammadur rasūlu l-Lāh (I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah alone, and Muhammad is His Messenger)
I was 20-years-old.
For the following ten years, Islam eluded me. I did not know how to stop lying. Allah says in the glorious Qur’aan;
26-years
1995
Alhamdulillah, I was able to embrace Islam – peacefully submit to the Will of Allah – after Reverend Wimalajothy, helped me get to the font of truth and falsehood in my mind – through the teachings of the Gautama Buddha:
Aha, That Mystical Magical Natural World…
Buddhist Meditation. May Allah bless him!
30-years
Pre-Hajj
1999
I was 30-years-old when, post ‘enlightenment,’ I dragged the obstinate Devil by its sinful lying forelock, and made pilgrimage to Mecca to perform my Hajj in 1999, with the pilgrim’s declaration:
“Here I am at Your service O Lord, here I am.
Here I am at Your service and You have no partners.
To You alone is All Praise and All Bounty, and to You alone is The Sovereignty. Thou hast no partners.”
30-years
Post-Hajj
1999
The Devil shrieked and fled – causing a minor stampede, without casualties, alhamdulillah – during the Maghrib salaat (sunset prayers) at the Masjid Al Haram (sacred/forbidden place of worship. As used in Islamic urban planning, the word ḥaram (حرم) means ‘inviolate zone,’ an important aspect of urban planning in Muslim civilization. Such protected areas were sanctuaries, or places where contending parties could settle disputes peacefully).
Masjid-al-haram Mecca
Avatar Korra receiving the Blessing of Healing from Avatar Aang
Listen to the Joy Inside My Tears and read on:
24 March 2003 – Drawn on my father’s birth anniversary
I extol my ‘Heavenly Father,’ Allah Most High (as grandma used to call God), and thank my earthly father, Pater-boy. I could never have done it without you.
May Allah bless and reward three good friends for escorting me to the airport under high security and assisting me on my pilgrimage.
‘The rule of Three is a writing principle that suggests that things that come in threes are inherently funnier, more satisfying, or more effective than other numbers of things.’ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_three_(writing)
Of the ‘Unholy Trinity’ (as they called themselves with mocking pride) guilty of having indulged in black magic, comprising a father, son and an unholy ghost, only the son remains alive today.
I have no intention of taking my life and damning my soul. But I am now ready to die in the cause of Allah.
To my father, I say: You taught me excellence. My heart is broken; I’m so sorry you took your life at the rail track. You didn’t find God, but you made damn sure I did. If only, you’d chosen to believe … and made the right effort to look for God –instead of settling for the mediocre – to doubt – and drown in despair…
I forgive you Pater-boy – I couldn’t have had a better father. It’s a pity you didn’t have a better daughter. You told me ‘drive only the bad balls.’ I’m sorry I got my eye to the excellent googlie you delivered.
Please forgive me.
Ya Allah! I seek Your Mercy – please accept this from me.
First Rally for Peace, Sri Lanka
Hate Has No Place in Sri Lanka44-years May 2013
Please Watch:
Descriptions of Allah (Narrated by Yusuf Islam):
Islam Kills Racism – Malcolm X:
My Way Frank Sinatra:
Yes, it was My Way!
26-years 1995
I went through great pains to chase my devils away…
Will you join me chase the Devil of Racism away?
Hajiani Sara Sona (Brock) Barnes
43-years 2012
Islam Cures Racism
Muslim by the Noble Eightfold Path –
Hajiani Sara Sona (Brock) Barnes
So, why oh why, did Allah reveal this glorious Qur’an to such a … (nose wrinkled in genuine dismay) … barbaric people – the Arabs?
Answer: When the decedents of Prophet Ishaaq [Isaac] alaihissallaam (AS), failed to honour their covenant with Allah, Allah gave the task over to their lowly brethren – the people of Prophet Ishmaeel [Ismail] (AS).
It was a tight slap in the face – pat-taas!
Although the most barbaric people on the face of the earth, they were also the most capable folk to be entrusted with protecting the Speech of Allah (Qur’aan) – literally with their lives. So that goody-two-shoes types like you and me, could have access to the Noble Qur’aan – 1,400 years later – across the shores and far away in another land – in the comfort of our modern homes.
Yet another significance, in the glorious Qur’aan being revealed to the worst of people, is that in that alone is a sign – for those who think, ponder and reflect. If the Qur’aan can raise the ‘worst’ to the ‘best,’ then it IS the solution for you and me.
The slaughter of the Arabs is a done deal: Ibraheem [Abraham] (AS) – ‘the friend of God (Kaleelullah) – made this covenant with Allah donkeys’ ears ago – when he agreed to sacrifice his eldest son, Ishmaeel (AS).
The Prophet, sallallaahu alaihi wassallaam (SAW), was explicit – once the sword was raised against the Arabs, it would not be put down.
What irony – the Arabs are dying today in fulfilment of a covenant with their Lord – to run the race and deliver the Qur’aan to the rest of the world – the very people who are killing them… so that they may receive guidance and restore balance to the world.
May Allah show mercy to the Arabs and Moors and reward them for their spectacular role and bless and raise the family of Ibraheem (AS) and Muhammad (SAW) to the promised ranks. And may revert Muslims fulfil their role – in taking the baton from them and sprinting the last lap to breast the tape and establish Islam (peace) on earth once again. Ameen.
In fulfilment of the covenant, it WILL be the progeny of Ibraheem (AS) – from BOTH his sons, Ishmaeel and Ishaaq (AS) who will restore balance to the world – Jesus [Isa] (AS) as king and Muhammad, the guide [Mahdi] (AS) as Imam.
Those who suffer from manic bipolar activity and take the Qur’aan 100% literally and those who swing to the other extreme and take it 100% metaphorically, are both offside – gona kanuway (bull in the drain).
Take the Middle Path and the broader view – perceive the metaphor in the literal and the literal in the metaphor… The various grey tones between black and white… It requires reading and meditating, reading and meditating… remember; read The Opening – Al Fatiha – for indeed, Allah says it opens up the passageway through the seven samavat (seven stratospheres) straight up to Allah’s Footstool [Arsh]…
As the last and final Revelation from Allah, Allah addresses Mankind and Jinn in one message for all. It embraces ALL the Prophets and Messengers and Revealed Scriptures (known and unknown) that came before it. It is the answer to unification and the cure to racism. Indeed, it is a merciful healing from the One God, besides Whom, none has the right to be worshipped.
Don’t take my word for it. Listen to what Allah has to say to you first, before going on a trip about what ‘they say’ ‘you say’ and ‘I say.’
Listen:
The End Times (Akhirus Zamaan) is the era of the battle between energies.
I anticipate the prophesied one-third of the army that proceeds to free the world from the clutches of tyranny will comprise those who migrate from the four corners of the earth – having mastered their respective disciplines and reached enlightenment. They will unite at the appointed location and when they set out to take the physical and spiritual battle to the Negative energy on earth, not a land in their path will be left oppressed. They will be ‘balanced’ people who’ve seen the light and will therefore be guided and energised by the light.
The real battleground is located in the combined realms of the spiritual and material worlds. That’s why; Jihad begins with the nafs (self).
Those who obey Allah have access to His Power.
It’s as simple as that.
But I say come Dajjal, come – come and get the butt whopped…
High drama becomes the order of these days.
Aren’t we just starved for some positive action-filled meaningful theatre?
Besides, I really do wanna see Jesus Christ Superstar – Isa alaihissallam, do his thang – like Aang in Avatar The Last Airbender!
WATCH:
Hajiani Sara Sona (Brock) Barnes
Allah says He will be to you as you perceive Him
The balanced way to perceive Allah is through Love, Hope and Fear.
The non-Muslim perceives Allah, azza wajal subahanallah (Most High, how perfect is He) as extremely fearsome… so that’s how He will be to them.
Manic bipolar activity is out of the question – extreme fear or extreme love or extreme hope. Stick to the MIDDLE PATH of moderation.
Make sure it’s balanced – through self examination… observing your thoughts, not guiding, but just observing… awareness… yes, meditation. Then make a conscious effort to update yourself on the required areas of knowledge and watch the changes take place … naturally… smoothly… harmoniously… peacefully.
Try balancing your perception
Learn about ALL of Allah’s beautiful attributes… let hope and love enter your heart…
Whether you want to accept it or not, He is YOUR Lord too.
You KNOW this – or else why do you fear Him so much?
So, let me introduce you to Allah – The Lord of all the Worlds
Listen:
ATTRIBUTES OF ALLAH
DESCRIPTION OF ALLAH (NARRATED BY YUSUF ISLAM)
Muslim by Right Mindfulness –
Hajiani Sara Sona (Brock) Barnes
Gil France’ comment provided the headline…
Yes, my name is Sona. Maha Sona (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Giant_Warriors).
Enter Maha Sona the Punk 16-years
I am no ordinary gonibillah (sack ghost), so ghost busters beware! (lol)
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Beware the firasa of the Mu’meen (believer).” (A terribly loose translation of firasa, for the benefit of non-Muslims, would be – ‘sixth sense’ or ‘third eye;’ perception of the ghaib – the unseen world – with Allah’s leave.)
Laa hawla wala quuwatta illah billah (there is no strength or might except from Allah Most High).
‘To conquer death you only have to die…’ is a line from the song, Poor Jerusalem. Listen:
I have always loved Isa alaihissalaam (Jesus, peace be upon him). He also is my Prophet. I know his story not just from the Bible, but from the Qur’aan (http://www.islamicboard.com/comparative-religion/134284303-all-quranic-verses-about-jesus-pbuh.html) as well.
I kept my spiritual life private – because that is exactly how it should be.
However, circumstances are such; I now have to wear my heart on my sleeve. There are so many things that need to be said and so little time left…
To all my Christian brothers and sisters, I greet you:
Peace be upon those Rightly Guided!
I never left Christianity. Nor did I abandon you. I just expanded my consciousness when I embraced Islam. This effectively made me embrace Judaism and Christianity and all the Abrahamic faiths, and all the Messengers and Prophets of (God) Allah. It happens to be a requirement of the Six Pillars of Faith – Rukn al Iman (http://www.missionislam.com/knowledge/sixpillarsiman.htm ) of a Muslim (one who voluntarily submits to the will of Allah without rancour).
To all my Buddhist brothers and sisters, I greet you:
Peace be upon those Rightly Guided!
I love the Gautama Buddha and his teachings and I endeavour to follow him as best I can. He too is mentioned in Islamic scripture. I have employed the tools of the Buddha’s philosophy to get to the font of truth and falsehood in my mind – and to understand Islam and the times we live in.
Indeed, I embraced Buddhism too.
I have drawn assistance and moulded myself from other philosophies too – too many to mention, but I cannot leave out Bruce Lee, so I say ‘Os’ to my Senseis; Nanda Siriwardene (Masutatsu Oyama Kyokushin-Kai) included. I am beltless, but that’s not the point. When credit is due, it must be given.
To all Jewish, Hindu and ‘other’ religious friends, who believe in The Creator, I greet you:
Peace be upon those Rightly Guided!
I did not find anything to employ from Judaism, Hinduism or any ‘other’ religion, although I have perceived the clear thread of truth running through them.
In my humble view, the Buddha did an excellent job fixing Hinduism. Four-hundred thousand or so deities were reduced to ‘no deity’ needed to correct your life.
Way to go Siddhartha, O’ Gautama Buddha, is all I will say.
As for the rest – Atheist, Agnostic, and those who reject God, I greet you:
Peace be upon those Rightly Guided!
Don’t hate me and fault me if I have not employed your beliefs, values, methods, lifestyle, and so forth. It is not necessary to climb the mountain from every direction to perceive the view from the top. I found things that worked for me, as mentioned above.
I am just one human being with one life. I can only do so much. I cannot please everybody, and neither can you. Nor has it ever been my intention to do so, nor should it be anyone’s.
Almost 98% of you here on FB know me personally. You know I never gave a shit about popularity votes and the disgusting ‘what will people say’ lifestyle.
I am not a herd animal – never was and never will be.
To ALL of you:
Just accept me for who and what I am. I have accepted you with love.
If I err, and I surely do, please correct me with proofs and evidences that I may rectify and make amends and move on.
I am unorthodox, forthright to a fault, employ the use of profanity (bad language) under poet’s licence, and am short on diplomatic skills… among other things…
Like you, I am imperfect.
Humour is an aspect of my personality/character. Even in the darkest of times, I smile.
30-years
That’s me.
Ana Asifa (please forgive me).
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them.” [Matthew 5:17]
All that is right and correct is by the mercy of Allah. All errors are mine. Astaefirullah (I seek Allah’s forgiveness).
Muslim by Right Intention –
Hajiani Sara – Sona (Brock) Barnes
Reaching Out 