Catch a Fire

Blog has moved to new domain

2012-01-03T11:23:00.001+07:00

Dear all,

This blog has been upgraded and has moved to www.uprisingspirit.com,

Please check it out on the new domain.

Love

Free!

2011-07-13T17:45:00.010+07:00

Lord I feel so free.
As free, as a man can be!

Whatever I say.
I try and I pray.
Nothing ever compares
To God's glorious way!

Seek and you shall find.
Knock and it shall open.
Ask and it is given.
Universe is simply Love!

Be who you want to be.
I promise you, you are free!
You don't need to see it to believe!
Believe it and you shall see!

Love you all!
:)

None but ourselves...

2011-04-19T16:48:00.006+07:00

There is a HUGE lesson I learned lately.

OK it's not new, it's been years that am realising that offcourse our outer world is only a reflection of our inner world, that our thoughts, believes and emotions shape our reality even more than our actions, that to change our life, we have to change our inner world. OK, all of that is great. Think of what you want, believe you can, feel good, take action and your objects of desire will manifest. It is true.

But now I realise something really very powerful as well, which complements the truth above. That we are absolutely free to choose any thoughts or believe or feeling that we want! That our thoughts or feelings need not be induced by our current reality, but are directly emanating from our Source. This is really huge, this is pure Creation! Let me explain.

In our lives, we usually look outside of ourselves. We pick up ideas from the outside world, those ideas become ours. We are told stories, they become the stories that circulate in our minds. We see things, and we take them as “reality”. When we experience pleasant things, we feel good. When we experience unpleasant things, we feel bad! In conclusion, what we think or feel is always shaped by outside reality.

But the Truth is it should and need not be this way!!! Reality that we experience is the result of what we have thought, felt and done in the past. It’s like a printout of our past inner life. A mirror. We are in the habit of watching “reality” and then thinking/feeling/believing based on this "reality". So we are always caught by our past creation of reality. But there is NO link between “reality” and our “inner world”!! Our "inner world" emanates from the Source, our "reality" emanates from our "inner world". Reality does NOT have power on our inner world, unless we do give it this power. But why should we? Let's claim our creative power back, and free our minds!

So, to illustrate in simple formulas:

Our habitual old pattern of thinking:

[Reality] ----> [ our thoughts/feelings/believes/actions] -----> [Reality]

In this pattern, Reality induces our thoughts/feelings/actions, and then these thoughts/feelings/actions will shape back Reality accordingly. As you see, we have no power here, it is Reality (our creation!!!) that has power on us!

The truth is:

[Source] -----> [ our thoughts/feelings/believes/actions] -----> [Reality]

In this pattern, our inner world emanates from the Source within ourselves and not from Reality. At any moment, we can go within, and CHOOSE what to think and feel so that we shape our life accordingly. Reality is just the manifestation, but the creative power is within!

Bottom line, we are absolutely FREE!

We are only caught in our minds because we link our mind to “reality”.

But if we understand that we are absolutely free to navigate in our minds in whichever way we like, that inner world emanates directly from the Source within us on which reality has no influence, then we can experience whatever we desire and shape our lives in whichever way we like.

Off course, what we want is to expand Life in ourselves. To feel the dance of life, to feel the love, to feel the peace, to feel the thrill of being alive. This need for life expansion gives birth to heart-felt desires within us and to soul longings. All we need to "do" is to surrender to Life's calling within us, our Source, and to Life's desires and longings that are born within us. Just allow them to be, and let our thoughts/feelings/actions be aligned with our Source, and "reality" will transform accordingly!

It's beautiful. This is pure freedom bestowed on us by our Creator. This is ultimate hope for ourselves and our race. This is indeed emancipation, redemption and salvation.

God I love You! :)

Being the Change!

2011-02-02T23:16:00.005+07:00

I finally get it.

In life, we don't get what we want, or what we work for, or what we simply intend, not even what we fight for! We get what WE ARE!

Before thinking, feeling and acting.. there is BEING!

A happy person for example will think, feel and act in a certain way, very different than an unhappy person. Correct? A secure person, a strong person, a trusting person, a wealthy person, will think act and feel very differently from an unsecure person, weak person, anxious person or poor person. Right?

Now please listen carefully: By BEING happy, we actually CREATE happiness. By BEING strong, we actually become strong. by BEING trusting, events of our lives will validate our trust, etc...

Please realise, if we want to get happy but we are regularly being grumpy, we will never succeed in creating happiness in our lives.
No matter how hard we try.
No matter how well intentioned we may be.
No matter how honest we are.

Whatever we want to be, we should STOP SEEKING it!

If we want to be strong, or happy, or wealthy, we SHOULD NOT seek strength, happiness, or wealth. Instead, we MUST BE strong, happy and wealthy.

We must BE in that state of being that we desire. Right NOW.

Being strong, happy or wealthy practically means thinking, feeling and acting strong, happy or wealthy.

How can we do that?
Hers is a clue. Ask yourself: If I was so happy now, how would I feel? What would I think about? How would I talk? How would I move? How would I respond to my day events?

Or ask: If I was completely trusting and sure that all my needs are being met, and all my dreams are coming true, how would my heart feel? How would my mood be? How would I talk? And sleep? And behave?

You'll get the answer. It's not a secret. We all know the answer very well. We all experienced happiness or trust at times, and we know how it feels like and how we behave when we feel it.

So now, observe yourself. Are you feeling that way? Are you behaving that way? If not, than please realise that you ARE NOT BEING the change you desire, and that simply you won't experience it, nor create it in your life. Even if you do your homework well, even if you finish all your job, even if you behave polite and you act responsible. You won't create what you desire unless you are who you desire!

DECLARE who you want to be, and forget about all circumstances of your life, and commit to being it!

Keep asking yourself, if I am who I truly want to be, how would I think, and feel and act? Can you see the difference between how you currently think feel and act, and how you would think feel and act if you were the person of your dreams?

Everytime you spot yourself for example thinking, feeling or acting weak, grumpy, or poor, STOP, remind yourself who you are, and start again, this time acting strong, happy and wealthy!

No it's not faking it! No it's not acting.
It's commitment to Be who WE WANT to Be!

It's understanding that Happiness, or Strength, or Wealth, or Love, or anything we might desire, come from WITHIN, and not from our outside CONDITIONS!

Choosing to be who we want to be is our ultimate FREEDOM! Freedom from the world conditions and events and from the past and from any circumstances!

Yes I know, many things will hold us back, old habits, blockages, memories, etc... but with consistent effort and intention, we can breaktrough them all.

Our work and focus and intentions must be to overcome the old habits and patterns in ourselves, rather than to fight the outside world! This is much more within our power anyway, and is infintely more rewarding as well. And believe it or not, change yourself, you change your world, and you change the whole world!

It is a facinating process. It might be challenging but it's possible. It can even be much easier than what we expect once we get momentum and understand the game. It can be fun as well.

So let's have fun. What are we waiting for? Let's just COMMIT, and

BE the CHANGE we WANT to SEE!

:)

Surrender

2011-01-20T13:03:00.001+07:00

Now that we've been so far
Now that we are so near
What more do you need to know?
What else is still not clear?

Who is breathing our lungs?
From where comes our desire?
What is this Love that we feel?
Who is burning our fire?

We might not know all the story!
Yet it is sure that we are here!
Can't you feel it? We are alive!
We can see! We can hear!!

So what more do you need to know?
And what else is still not clear?
You know we are meant to be!
So shake away all that fear!

There is nothing to be scared from!
Let the Truth unfold in you!
There are no stars outhere to reach!
Not even dreams to pursue!

For you are the Dream!
And it's you the Star!
So just surrender
To who You are!

Love - remixed

2011-01-05T17:01:00.005+07:00

What can I do?
I just feel it.
This thing called Love!

Shall I hide it?
Or maybe tone it down?
Shall I feel strange?
Or shall I deny?
Well even if I wanted to..
I can't!

...

What can I do?
It has taken me over.
This power of Love!

Shall I resist it?
Or try to understand?
Shall I explain?
Or maybe justify?
Well even if I wanted to..
I simply can't!

...

What can I do?
It's beating in my heart.
Its name is Love!

Shall I ask it to leave?
Or try to take it out?
Shall I get scared?
Or maybe freak out?
Well even if I wanted to..
I just can't!

...

Because it's LOVE my friends
And it's all there IS!
And how can I, a drop of water
Resist the Ocean of Love?!

What can I do?
I forgot my name!
It's ok, just call me Love!

:)

Rise Up

2011-01-05T10:26:00.011+07:00

Rise oh Mighty People
The time has come
Rise Up!

Poor People, Hurting People, Miserable People, Lonely People
Am calling you
Rise Up!

Sick People, Weak People, Defeated People, Wounded People
Am screaming at your face
Rise Up!

Rise Up, Rise Up, Rise Up!

Bring your swords oh Mighty People
It's time for the final party
Carry your hammers oh Mighty People
Celebration will soon be starting!

Bring your pains oh Mighty People
And all your wounds and sad stories
Don't forget your humilations
And your losses and miserable memories
Bring your diseases oh Mighty People
And your fears and your worries
Don't forget your guilts behind
And your shames and your sorries

Bring it all Oh Mighty People
And let the great party begin
Play the music Oh Mighty People
Feel the freedom beats within
Take out your swords Oh Mighty People
Rip off everything with your hands
Cut it in pieces oh Mighty People
Slice it and slash it in strands
Take out your hammers oh Mighty People
And smash it all to the sound of music
Wipe it out oh Mighty People
Crush it, demolish it, and destroy it
Scream it out oh Mighty People
Don't leave nothing in your heart
Jump and dance oh Mighty People
Tonight the redemption starts
We've had enough oh Mighty People
Tonight we declare the end
It's up to us oh Mighty People
Salvation is in our hand!

And while we party, oh Mighty People
Let's never forget who we are
It's Love forever oh Mighty People
Forgiveness will heal every scar
Open your hearts oh Mighty People
The nightmare is forever gone
Praise the Lord oh Mighty people
Tonight a New World is born!

...

Oh what a Joy, Oh what a Peace
Did you see what we could do?
Oh am so happy, oh am so proud
Mighty People, I love you.

Imagine

2011-01-04T17:09:00.012+07:00

Imagine you can write the story of your life the way you like.
Imagine there are no limitations. That you are free to choose to be anything you want. Anything you ever wish.
Imagine you can take a pen right now, and inscribe in your heart whichever life story you choose for yourself.
You just write. And so it will be.
Just imagine.

What story would you write?

Would you wander between rivers and mountains? Would you visit the cities and temples? Would you own palaces and jewelry? Would you have elephants dressed up with silk to carry you around? Would you fight if there were wars in your country?

Really, what life would you choose? Which story would you write?

As for me, I am holding my pen right now, and I start writing.
My heart is like a blank sheet of paper waiting for my beautiful story to be written.
I write with beautiful caligraphy.
The page is ornamented with beautiful motifs.
And as I write, the stories and the pictures and the images take life.
In vivid motions.
In full colors.

And I write.

I am on a magic carpet. It is sown with the threads of Faith, Love, Redemption, and Peace. It flies anywhere I wish. It doesn't even wait for my direction. It just listens to my heart. And it goes in whichever direction my heart goes.

I am dancing. I dance everywhere. I love dancing. Music accompanies my life. It is beating in my heart. It is playing everywhere I go. And it's beautiful. And I dance like a Bollywood star.

I am in Love. My most beautiful woman is with me. She is funny. She is loving. She is smart. She is caring. She is wise. She is in peace. She is just my most beautiful. And we dance together. And on the carpet, here we ride.

And we fly.
We meditate with the Buddhas.
We pray with our Prophets.
We whirl with the Derwishes.
We jump with the Shaolin Masters.
We flow with the Yogis.

And we love
We love the world. We love our families. We love our beloved.
We love the children. We love the old. We love God who created us.
We simply, love.

And we sing.
We sing the music that awakens the death.
We sing the music that heals the hearts.
We sing the music that redeems the soul.

For the happy children, we sing.
For the wounded men, we sing.
For the deperate and the poor, we sing.
For the loving and the caring, we sing.
For everyone, we sing.
We sing different melodies. Different tunes.
We sing in different languages. In different voices.
But our song is always One.

We fight.
We fight for the light.
We fight for the truth.
We fight for God who gave us the pen to write our own story.
We fight with our Love.
And our weapon is invincible.

And we win.
Peace and love pervades the world.
Songs of freedom are sang.
Redemption is earned.
Harmony reigns.
Hearts heal.
Tears of joy flow.
Man is reunited with God.
The world is resurrected in love.

And then we leave.
In love and gratitude, we leave.
We go back to where we came from.
We reunite with the Beloved.
And it's eternal Peace.

...

Beautiful story, isn't it?

But why not? Didn't I tell you to imagine we are given the pen, and the freedom to write any story we like without any limitation?

We must honor this marvelous gift.

And since we're writing anyway, then why not write the most beautiful story ever!

:)

Love

2011-01-01T14:00:00.027+07:00

It's one word, and it's all there is
Love

Years of my life, now I know!
Love

Wounds of my heart, yes you can heal
Love

Tears of my past, it's time to dry
Love

Ignorance and fear, gone is your power
Love

Deceptions and hurts, your days are over
Love

Turmoil and struggle, I need you no longer
Love

And to whatever may come, I have only one answer
Love

And for you, my most beautiful, it's always and forever
Love

Politics in the New World

2010-09-02T10:53:00.003+07:00

In year 2064, an election took place on Earth to elect the deputies of the United Earth Parliament. It is the beginning of a period in History the humans call the New World, which followed the period of the great Shift, or Resurrection.

The following text is taken from the political campaign of the New Earth Party, which ran and won in the election of year 2064.

“We in the New Earth Party observe a severe problem facing humanity right now. Though in the last years after the Shift, we have witnessed the peace and harmony spread among humans, and the borders of nations dissolve, we unfortunately cannot close our eyes anymore on the continuous problems of mistrust and violence that prevail between humans and some animal species.

This problem dates back to the dark ages of our consciousness, when we used to perceive some animals as a threat to us. In these times we did not realise that the danger was manifested from our own fear and from the projections of our fear. The result of our old consciousness has been endless wars between our specie, and several other animal species, especially snakes, wolves, tigers, and mosquitoes. These old conflicts between humans and these animal species have created an atmosphere of mistrust that perpetuates itself to our day. We can witness this in the continuous accidents that strike our villages and communities. Only last month, one child in the village of Zuku in Africa was attacked by a tiger. In Sumatera we all heard the devastating news of a man being bitten by a snake as he was harvesting the land. Our best men and women are still continuously bitten by mosquitoes even when they are peacefully lying down in the tropics. At the same time, relations between human and wolves have also deteriorated severely in the last years, with night accidents multiplying themselves in several areas of the world.

We in the New Earth Party believe that the time has come to put an end to this suffering. How many more mosquito itches should we suffer from? How many more times we will go to the jungles with fear in our hearts? How many more times we will see snakes with the eyes of panic and terror? It is time that we humans restore peace with the other animal species. We in the Earth Party believe that Peace cannot be conditional, or reserved to only human-human relations. Peace must be unconditional, and must be felt under all circumstances. We refuse that our children feel afraid from tigers or wolves or that snakes attack us in the fields and poison us.

People of the world, it is time we claim complete Peace into our lives and our world.

For this, we are happy to present ourselves to the upcoming election of the United Earth Parliament. With your support, we promise you to work relentlessly for our objectives. We promise to direct all our resources to solve this urgent issue, and to mobilise our highest spiritual capabilities. We will call upon the most enlightened among us to help us pave the way to negotiate with the animals using the Energy-Intention language. We believe that if enough of us direct our attention to this noble cause, we can open again the door of trust between us and the animal species. We will advocate for training thousands of enlightened ambassadors from the whole world to learn the Energy-Intention languages of the animals. We will send them to jungles and forests to spread the message of our intention for peace and harmony with the animals.

We know that the conservatives are still calling for the use of force against animals, still advocating the use of superior technology to deter them, and the use of chemicals to poison and neutralise the mosquitoes. But these methods will only increase the mistrust between humans and animals, and will never bring us lasting peace in the long run. We have to learn from our history. We cannot use old methodologies that are inherited from our old consciousness to deal with this challenge. It is time to put an end to these wars and to reach out to the animals.

Once trust is restored, snakes will understand that we wish them no harm, and that we will allow them to be, and they will not threaten us anymore. Tigers and wolves will also understand that we are not afraid from them, that we love them for what they are, and that at the same time we do not wish to be eaten by them. We will stop our war against mosquitoes and stop massacring them with our chemicals. This habit of killing them mercilessly is incompatible with our new consciousness. We are confident that as a result, mosquitoes and bugs will stop bothering us.

It is of paramount importance that we act towards these animals with sincere intentions and compassion. We need to purify our hearts from hatred towards them, and practice complete acceptance and forgiveness. We in New Earth Party fully believe that the animals will sense our honesty and love, and will cooperate to bring about a lasting era of peace.

Think about the new generation of humans who will grow free from fear, in total peace with all of the earth animal kingdom. Think about our children who will enoy their time in the tropics without suffering from mosquito itches. Think about the games we could play with the tigers in the jungles, and the fun we can have doing acrobatic movements with snakes. Isn’t this a dream worth fighting for?

We acknowledge that the road ahead might be challenging. We will have to face some inherited patterns of behaviour and believes, inherited mistrusts and fears. We might even incur some casualties; endure some more bites or some inevitable clashes. Yet we are confident that Peace will be achieved, and that if we start now, we will pave the way to the new generation of humans and animals to be born in a new world of complete peace and harmony.

People of the Earth, we ask for your vote in the upcoming election, so that we can carry forward our ambitious plan. Humans, animals, snakes, insects, we are all the creation and manifestation of the One God, and we are bound eternally to live together in One Love.

Vote for the New Earth Party!

Thank you everyone. God bless you all, and God bless Peace on Earth. "

This Is It

2010-01-22T13:57:00.011+07:00

I love you?

It can't be true!

Cause who is me?

And who is you?

You love me?

I doubt it too!

Because then,

We will be two!

I am Love

And Love is you!

We are One,

Yes This Is True!

So let's just be

At last we're free!

And my love, you'll see

How much I love you!

One Love

2009-04-10T20:48:00.015+07:00

This blog is first and foremost, a testimony of Love.

Love to this Life, and Love the to all the great men and women who strive to make it better.

Yes this blog burns with Love.

And it will one day burn this world.

Watch out!

If you wonder why so many Bob music and lyrics figure on this blog, you have to know this:

This blog beats with the rasta heart, and burns with the rasta fire.

Can you hear the root bass and the drumbeat playing in the background?

Can you see the captives breaking the chains and rising up from the bottomless pit?

Yes you need to know this.

Because this blog is nothing but a Song of Freedom.

This blog chants the glory of the One.

If you read carefully, you will see the One in every post, and every word, and every song and every picture.

And if you can't see it yet, then feel it.

Just feel it!

This blog loves to Chant Down Babylone and to announce the dawn of the New World.

Yes

Just like the cock enjoys crowing before the break of the dawn

This blog rejoices in chanting down Babylone

This blog will live on forever.

It is a timeless reflection of our time of transformation

Witnessed by a soul that lives it, and sees it, and hears it, and feels it, and is aware of it.

And what more do you want?

This blog is not about Uprising Spirit, nor does it tell the story of Uprising Spirit, nor does it describe Uprising Spirit.

This blog is Uprising Spirit.

Because while writing this blog, the spirit rises up, and while the spirit is rising up, it writes this blog.

Yes, Uprising Spirit and this blog are ONE.

And in truth, there is no Uprising Spirit, and there is no blog.

There is nothing but the ONE.

Movement of Jah People

2009-03-30T22:40:00.003+07:00

The word "Exodus" is derived from greek, "exodos", meaning "departure".

To be on exodus is to leave a world in which you are familiar, and head toward the "new", the "unknown". It can be physical, geographical, mental, or spiritual.

Exodus is a difficult path. It is dangerous and scary, it often feels sad to leave, and many times bitter as well. But Exodus is also exciting, promising, liberating. This makes it an extremely alive and intense experience, encompassing extreme emotions, ranging from our highest hopes to our deepest fears.

But Exodus is also an essential process of life, by which we make our major leaps and breaktrhoughs.

For when you leave your old familiar world, and sail in the wild sea, in the unknown, you have no means to rely on any reflex or old pattern. And as you are continuously moving, you have no possibility to develop new systems, new habits. You have no option but to continuously create yourself, and the world around you.

"So we gonna walk, all right
through the road of creation
we the generation
trod through great tribulation"

Yes, Exodus is the Road of Creation.

...

In my own life, I started to understand what Exodus means when I left my own country and went to France to study. I was suddenly in a place where I was a stranger, where I knew very few people, and have no history. I needed legal stamped papers to be allowed to stay, papers that I would need to conitnuously renew with supporting justifications. I felt cold. I was lonely. It was expensive for me. Everything I took for granted in my life was suddenly missing. My mediterranean sun, my sea, my lovely friends and family. I was in a new world. With an uncertain unknown future, big dreams and few means. The land below me unstable. The way back was closed. The way forward was blur. Without realising it, I was too on my Exodus.

In these early days I would stay in my little student room in Cergy where my french university was located. Unable to focus on any of my studies, joints will be rolling in my lonely nights. From my first-floor window I could only see an un-inspring parking, between two lost buildings in a quiet french suburb where I had absolutely no connection. On my desk would be piled stacks of undone homeworks that were the last preocupation of my mind. And in my heart were sunny lovingful memories that were geting more and more far every day, seeming to fade away. In these lonely days, Bob would would be singing in my room, and for the first times his voice would strike deep into my heart.

"Open your eyes
And look within
Are you satisfied
With the life you're livin?

We know where we're going
We know where we're from
We're leaving Babylone
We're going to our Father land"

And I would dance. I would cry. I would jump. I would hope. I would want to believe. Until I get tired, I vanish on my lonely bed, to wake up and face another cold day.

...

In the years to come, I would try to understand. I would open my eyes, I would read, I would look around, I would look within.

And i would see the same old Exodus story repeating itself, each time in a different place, each time in a new way, and yet always the same. The story of people who were forced, or chose, to leave a familiar world, and to venture in the unknown, in search of a better future.

You find it in the Bible. The story of the captive jewish people, who escaped from slavery and ran away from Egypt, wandering 40 years in the desert, before reaching the promissed land. This story is still celebrated today in yearly passover ceremonies, where people still recall the bitter taste of slavery, and the sweetness of liberation.

And didn't Sidarta Gautama disguise himself and escape from his palace? He left his comfort and wealth, family and inheritance, to wander with asetics and homeless, searching for the Truth. One day under a tree, he awakened, and he became the Boudha, the enlightened one. Statues and temples still celebrate him until today. And people from east and west try to follow his steps towards higher consiousness.

And didn't our Prophet Mohammad leave Mekka? Persecuted and harassed with his early community, he not only left his home town, but left the whole tribal system of Arabia, and all the beliefs of his day. He had to escape, make his way in the night, with one companion, two camels, and a faithful heart. In the years to come, he will return to Mekka, this time in the middle of the day, with thousands of believers, and he will break forever the foundations of the old world. The day of Our Prophet departure from Mekka, the Higra, has been chosen to mark the beginning of the muslim era, and the first day of its calendar.

And what about the thousands of anonymous emigrants who leave their home countries each year, in search of a better future for their families? And the students who leave families and friends, seeking a better education in faraway and lonely lands? And the millions of refugees who flee wars and conflicts, famine and natural disasters?

In truth, the whole world today is moving. The old foundations have already broken, and are in the process of collapsing. The new foundations are being laid, but are still incomplete and fragile. We are caught in the middle of two worlds. Can you feel the shaking of the earth? Can you feel the change? the hopes? and the tribulations?

Yes we are now living in Exodus time.

...

Bob too had to run away from Jamaica.

While he was rehearsing peacefully in his new studio in Kingston in year 1976, he was attacked by gunmen who shot several bullets on him. His left hand was touched by a bullet, but he miraculously escaped the shooting. The assasination attempt on his life was politically motivated, and changed Bob life for ever. Bob too was about to be killed in his own country, by his own people. His life was no more safe, and he had to quickly pack his community, his instruments, his belongings and escape to London. Gone were the days where he could record in this own hometown and play football with his guetto friends. Gone were the days where he could visit his old rasta friends at the remote jamaican beaches, swim and eat fresh fish and energise himself. Gone were the days were he could pick a mango fruit from the tree of his own garden, in between happy worry-free rehearsal sessions.

Now he was a fugitive, with a whole community running away with him, and living under his responsibility in exile. His Exodus would give birth to some of the most intense music ever made, and his Exodus album made during these times would immortalise forever the fears, the hopes, the turmoils, the fighting spirit and the love of this man on his way to "his Father land"

Watch carefully and listen, this is the sound of Exodus, its Bob singing live in Germany in his Uprising tour, few months before he collapsed from exhaustion in Central Park in New York.

"Jah come to break downpression
Rule equality yeah
Wipe away transgression
Set the captives free"

Love Day

2009-02-14T08:10:00.003+07:00

One of the blessings of my life is to have been in Beirut on that unforgettable day, 14 February 2005. This Love Day that opened my heart, and made me realise the true meaning of love, the meaning of sacrifice, and regain faith in myself and in my country.

I had just finished my first humanitarian mission in Iraq with my French NGO. After 6 months of hard work living between Baghdad in Iraq and Amman in Jordan, I decided to take a break and go to my home city for some rest and good time. On 15 January 2005, I took a car from Amman to Beirut, crossed Syria, crossed the mountains of Lebanon, and arrived to my city, at our home where my mother lives. My plan was to spend the winter quietly before leaving to another mission. Little did I know that my winter would be the most intense and agitated of my whole life.

I still remember that Monday 14 February 2005, and how can I ever forget. I was alone in my home in Beirut in Verdun area, my mother was teaching in school. It was a bright winter day, with a beautiful blue sky. At nearly lunch time, I was sitting quietly in our living room, when I heard and felt a huge explosion. A huge explosion that shaked the whole house, and left me astonished and shocked, not understanding what had happened.

Not that I never heard explosions before. I am a war child, and I experienced the civil war of my country Lebanon. The sound of bombs and explosions is a familiar noise to my ears, and has always been a normal part of our lives in Lebanon. I have had to witness street-to-street fights with kalashnikov bullets and RPG rockets, area-to-area bombings with the 240 rockets launched by far away heavy artillery, car bombs from detonatated explosive TNT material, and aerial bombing from airplanes during Israel wars... and i was just coming from Baghdad anyway where I had some nice reminder of how wars sound and feel.

But this 14 February explosion was different. It was huge, like nothing I heard before, but also it came on a normal day, where there is no war, and no military conflict.

What the hell is going on?

I opened the TV, and I saw a scene of huge destruction on the St-Georges area of Beirut, just next to the sea, few kilometers from our house. An area too familiar to me as I spend most of my time at the Kornishe, the sea side of our city Beirut.

Cars burning, people burning, a huge whole in the ground, whole buildings destroyed, desperate screams, total horror.

And I was looking at the scene with shocked opened eyes, amazed, incredilous, unbelieving: is this happening in my city? now? why? what's wrong?

At that moment my mother entered the house. When she saw me she was so relieved, as she was scared that I would be on the sea shore, close to the explosion. One of the tyranny of wars is that even if you survive yourself, you still worry for those whom you love.

She entered, and I asked her about what is happening. She did not know, and she was shocked too.

So we went together to the TV, and suddenly a Breaking News head line aapreared on the screen:

"The American University Hospital of Beirut announces the death of former Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri"

My mother had a not-want-to-believe exclamation, and looked suddenly pale and grave, but could'nt say anything. My heart sank, I couldn't speek too. I did not know what to make of this event, or how to explain this news, as I was not following any politics at that time. But still I could feel that something extremely bad had just happened, from a pure human perspective.

Yes it was in one blink, one glimpse, and without understanding much what is happening, I could feel very clearly that something huge had taken place, and that my life and my country would never be the same again.

...

This afternoon, I could not stay at home, I had to walk in my city, see what is happening.

And so I went out, and I saw my city Beirut for the first time of my life so sad, so solemnly sad, in such a grave mood, in total grief.

Evrything was closed. People were torn between extreme sadness, unbelief, and anger.

Some were crying silently, in their corners.

Some were just walking aimlessly in the streets, as if they were drunk, with eyes wide open, unable to speek or to say anything, still refusing to believe the news.

Some were spontaneouly exploding with emotions, and screaming out loud: "La Ilaha Illa Allah, el Shahid Habib Allah" which translates "There is no god but God, the Martyr is the beloved of God"

My city was humiliated, burned, stabbed from the back.

Its beloved leader was assassinated.

Beirut heart was broken.

...

But something very powerful was happening at the same time. A magic uplifting feeling was floating in the air.

I felt for the first time of my life that this time, this assasination had crossed the line.

That even though we might have suffered tens of years of wars, and thousands of deaths and wounded, there was something about this killing that was different, unjustifiable.

That throughout our history we had to accept silently lots of losses, and grief, but this particular grief was not acceptable, not possible to swallow, and to live with.

I felt as if the deads and the spirit are awakening. A sleeping power was rising. A wind of change blowing in the veins of everyone.

Khalas. I heard the soul of my city scream.

We will not accept to be killed anymore. I heard the heart of my city shout.

No we will not die. I felt the spirit of my city rise.

...

And so it was, the Cedar Revolution of Lebanon.

I am always grateful to life for having lived the spirit of this Revolution, for having felt these magical moments, for having witnessed that when men and women refuse injustice and humiliation and take a stand, nothing can ever stand on their way.

And today, 4 years after the assassination, few weeks before the start of the International Tribunal, few months before we win the elections, Lebanon gathers again, in the heart of Beirut, around Rafik grave, in the Martyr Square, to renew with one voice and one spirit, our commitment to Justice, to Independance, and to Freedom.

And from my far away island, me too I pray, and to Rafik I say, on this Love day:

"
Thank you Rafik
We Promise you that we will realise your dream
Your blood will not go in vain
Your death will always light our way
We Love you
May you rest in Peace
"

Therefore Rise, O son of Kunti, and Fight.

2009-02-01T20:58:00.006+07:00

In the midst of the armies, Arjuna sank on the seat of the chariot, casting away his bow and arrow, heart-broken with grief.

Arjuna spoke: 'My Lord! How can I, when the battle rages, send an arrow through Beeshma and Drona, who should receive my reverence?

'Rather would I content myself with a beggar's crust than kill these teachers of mine, these precious noble souls!

'Nor can I say whether it were better that they concquer me or for me to concquer them, since I would no longer care to live if I killed these sons of Dhritarashtra, now preparing for fight.

'My heart is oppressed with pity; and my mind confused as to what my duty is. Therefore, my Lord! tell me what is best for my spiritual welfare; for I am Your diciple. Please direct me, I pray.

And then, Arjuna, the concqueror of all enemies, told the Lord of All-Hearts that he would not fight, and became silent.

Thereupon, the Lord, with a gracious smile, addressed him who was so much depressed in the midst between two armies.

Lord Shri Krishna said: 'Why grieve for those for whom no grief is due, and yet profess wisdom? The wise grieve neither for the dead nor for the living.

'There was never a time when I was not, nor You, nor these princes were not; there will never be a time when we shall cease to be.

'That which is not, shall never be; that which is, shall never cease to be. To the wise, these truths are self-evident.

'The Spirit, which prevades all that we see, is imperishable. Nothing can destroy the Spirit.

'Therefore fight, O Valiant Man!

'He who thinks that the Spirit kills, and he who thinks of It as killed, are both ignorant. The Spirit kills not, nor is It killed.

'It was not born; it will never die: nor once having been, can It ever cease to be: Unborn, Eternal, Ever Enduring, yet Most Ancient, the Spirit dies not when the body is dead.

'Be not anxious about these armies. The Spirit in man is imperishable.

'You must look at your duty. Nothing can be more welcome to a soldier than a righteous war. Therefore to waver in your resolve is unworthy, O Arjuna!

'Blessed are soldiers who find their opporunity. This opportunity has opened for them gates of heaven.

'Refuse to fight in this righteous cause, and you will be a traitor, lost to fame, incurring only sin.

'Men will talk forever of your disgrace; and to the noble, dishonour is worse than death.

'If killed, you shall attain Heaven; if victorious, enjoy the kingdom of earth.

'Therefore Rise, O Son of Kunti, and Fight.

...

The above text is an extract from the Baghavad Geeta, the Gospel of the Lord Shri Krishna, translated by Shri Purohit Swami, the most beautiful translation I found so far. It is one of the most sacred hindu texts, if not the most sacred, and is part of the Mahabarata, an old and very long epic hindu poem.

In this gospel, Arjuna, a prince and a mighty warrior, is caught in between two armies, one of them is his own family and tribe, which is described in the Mahabarata as the righteous party, the second army is his cousins family and tribe, depicted as the corrupt party. Arjuna is confused and distressed, his heart feels ill for that battle that he did not choose nor desire, he is hesistating, depressed and troubled. He doesn't want to fight, his senses are paralysed, and he seeks guidance from the Lords of All-Hearts.

And so to Arjuna, the Lord Shri Krishna spoke. And His guidance was clear.

"Rise", the Lord said, "and Fight!"

...

And so to myself, in this turning point in my life, me too I speak:

'Are you confused? distressed? anxious too?

'Reluctant to be who you are? Who else can you ever be?

'A new door is opened for you, are you hesitating to go through?

'Is it doubt that is parlayising you?

'Or grief from past losses? Sadness from days that were?

'Fear, from future losses, or days that might be?

'Is it pain that is holding you?

'Or non-acceptance to a life that you think you did not choose?

'Whatever it is, my habibi, remember, we are together.

'So let us accept, wholeheartedly, let us surrender.

'What is, is. But what will be, is yet to be.

'Rejoice, be happy. Did you ever intend anything wrong, to ever feel bad?

'Why keep in your heart a guilt that is not yours?

'Why pay for mistakes that you did not commit?

'And who told you that you should carry more than your burden?

'Cast away all these shadows, throw away all your doubts.

'Don't you believe in our love?

'To doubt your faith now, is to loose everything.

'Therefore Rise, O habibi Jiji, and Be!

...

Dedicated to all those who ever felt confused, anxious, doubtful or scared, in this Life, O sweet Life.

The Light of the World

2009-01-29T12:05:00.001+07:00

Usually people identify themselves by their name, title, nationality, gender, religion, family, tribe, etc...

To the question “who are you?”, you will probably hear answers like this: I am Bill, I am Indian, I am muslim, I am the Program Manager, I am a single guy, I am an actress, etc...

Two thousands years ago, in a fertile land on the shore of the mediterrranean sea, a man was asked: “who are you?”.

His answer was:

“I am the Light of the World”

...

Wow.

What an extraordinary and formidable answer.

But what is more extraordinary and formidable is that this man was not joking at all, and he would pay his life for what he believed.

The man name is Jesus. After his death, temples will be built for him across the four corners of the planet. Magnificient churches and humble huts still celebrate his name to this very day. And more than half of humanity, people from both christian and muslim faith, believe in his triumphant return.

...

What an incredible story.

And yet it is here, it is there, it is everywhere. In the scriptures, in churches, in prayers, in paintings hanged on walls, in necklesses and tatoos, on t-shirts and scarfs, in cities and in villages, in xmas gifts and eastern eggs, in the memories of previous wars, in current wars as well, and in the sound of ringing bells...

Something must have surely happened two thousands years ago, in this fertile land, on the shores of the mediterranean sea!

...

The picture above is taken by Asri in Manusak Village, a community of ex-refugees, in West Timor, Indonesia. As part of my work with Austcare, we were implementing a support program in the community, and we made a visit from Aceh to Timor in order to launch the support program.

The community consists of refugees who had to flee the violence in East Timor and take refuge in West Timor. They were given a land to settle, but the land is dry, and they lack everything: food, hygiene, water, and sanitation.

In this dry land where everything is missing, the community built itself a humble church, so humble that without the hanging wooden cross you would never guess its actually a church. In this simple hut, there are no ornaments, no golden altars, no fancy priests clothes and jewel crowns. And yet in this desolate place, this chapel stands more magnificient in its poverty than any other.

I can imagine how one day someone from this refugee community gathered two tree troncs from the surrounding fields and shaped a cross with them. He planted the cross in front of the wooden hut, to remember and to remind himslef and everyone around him, that one day a man once claimed: "I am the Light of the World", and paid his life for it.

...

And so, now I will ask you again the same old question. But before you rush and answer, please take a pause, and think again.

Your answer will determine everyhing in your life.

For this question is the most important of all.

“Who are You?”

Master Danzel and the Mighty Warrior

2009-01-28T11:16:00.007+07:00

The Mighty Warrior was sick.

He was a big hero, having fought bravely countless wars. Oh he remembered how he slained the dragons in the Sea of Shadows, how he fought the giants in the Land of the Titans, how he broke the City of the Thousands Walls.

But now he was sick. His heart was ill.

He traveled accross the counties looking for a remedy to his ill heart. Countless sages he consulted, countless treatements he tried, all in vain. And the more time passed, the more his heart was getting ill.

But then he heard of Danzel, the Master who holds the Secret of Secrets of the Hearts, the magic Three-Word Spell.

“If you apply the Three-Word Spell, you will be surely cured”. He was told by wise men and princes of great reputation and honor.

The Mighty Warrior tried evreything to discover the magic Three Word Spell. He questioned all the sages of his time and consulted all the scriptures, but to his great despair, he found no indication of the magic spell.

“You have to find and meet Master Danzel’, he was told. “Only He holds the Secret of the Secrets of the Hearts.”

And so the Mighty Warrior set up for a great journey to find the revered Master who lives on the Mountain of Bulu, in a land where few have dared to venture before. On his way, he had to slain the Monster of the land of Zuchi, defeat the great army of Herodos, and cross the wild sea of Zantu.

Finally, he arrived to the Mountain of Bulu, the great land of Master Zandel. He indeed was a Mighty Warrior, for nothing could stop him on his way.

On top of the Mountain of Bulu, stood a great temple, like nothing he ever seen before.

He walked in the temple, and there he was, face to face with the great Master, the mighty Danzel in flesh and blood.

The moment was dazzling. Master Danzel was surrounded by a flashy red background, wearing a red leather jacket, and a trendy blue sun glasses, and had funky spiky hair.

“Oh Master”, the Mighty Warrior said while kneeling in respect, “Teach me the Secret of the Secrets of the Hearts, Speak to me the magic Three-Word Spell, Cure my ailing heart.”

From underneath his funky blue sunglasses, Master Danzel threw a fiery look at the Mighty Warrior.

And thus the Master spoke:

“Don’t you know .... .... .... , you’ve got to .... .... ....”

At hearing the magic Three-Word Spell, the Mighty Warrior Heart was instantly cured, and thunders stroke over the Mountains of Bulu at this great moment.

The Mighty Warrior went on to live a long and happy life. In his long prosperous life to come, he continued to slain monsters, defeat armies and cross wild seas, but now he also learned how to joyfuly dance his way, happily sing his life, and tenderly share his love.

For his heart was now cured! He learned the Secret of the Secrets of the Hearts!

...

Do you like this hopeful story?

I am sure you are wondering what the magic Three-Word Spell is? And who is the great Master Danzel?

I have good news for you!

No need to go to the Mountain of Bulu, where few have dared to venture before.

Just put your earphones, put on maximum the sound volume on your computer, and..

click here!

...

Don’t forget to apply the three-word Magic Spell to your heart anytime you feel ill. That’s the Secret of the Secrets, for a happy and long life!

May all our hearts be cured!

New Era

2009-01-24T12:08:00.003+07:00

Last week I finished my job! I was working with Austcare, an Australian NGO in Banda Aceh, as Program Development Manager for the last 16 months. My work was to develop new programs, which means finding out humanitarian needs in communities and writing proposals to donors and funding institutions. The part I loved in the work is traveling to new areas and meeting local partners and communities, understanding needs and problems, and discovering new cultures. The part I least enjoyed is sitting down and writing lengthy technical proposals in neutral technical english, with no poetry, no exclamation points, and definitely no reference to rasta songs!

My last day of work was Friday the 17 of January, which was perfect as it gave me 3 full days to prepare for the Obama Inauguration! And so from my living room in the little house where I live in Banda Aceh, I had ready all what I need: a TV with sattelite connection, my labtop, my djembe, nicely cooked food and freshly prepared coffee, and most importantly, a free heart willing to celebrate the New Era, and to believe!

And so for more than 3 days, from a little anonymous house in Banda Aceh, you could here frenetic djembe jamming, songs of freedom mixed with liberation speeches, and tears of emotions and joy.

And so it was. Obama is now President, and I am a free man!

...

More than 3,5 years have passed since I arrived to Aceh after the Tsunami. When i came here for the first time, i had in my mind to work for 6 months, or maximum one year, and then to move on.

But I fell in love. With Aceh, with Indonesia, with the tropics, the jungles, the rivers, the stars, the oceans, the green mountains, and the warm friendly people.

Each day when I drive my way to work, passing rivers and trees, little kids playing in the sun and men siting by their coffee shops reading newspapers in peace.. i wonder..

And each evening driving back to my house.. watching the colors of the sky change with the sunset, feeling the fresh evening breeze on my face .. i wonder..

And each night while taking a peaceful walk next to my house, under the stars and the bright moon.. i wonder too..

I wonder.. is this real? can life be so good, so peaceful and so beautiful? how do all these wonderful things happen every day, without a single human effort? and i wonder.. what else do we really need? what are we, humans, looking for?

And I feel grateful to life for having shown me a glimpse of this paradise, for I know that wherever I would go and whatever I would do, my heart will be always filled with pictures of sunny landscapes, bright skies and warm smiles.

...

And the story goes on.

For now I saved enough money to allow myself few months of rest in my beautiful Aceh. I don't know yet what I will be doing next, but I am not worried. I know that right now I am where I should be, and I accept my life as it is, and myself as I am. One thing I learned in this life is to surrender to what Is, and to trust and follow the guidance of life. I know what to do today, and even tomorow, and after tomorow will bring its answers.

Amen

Rastaman Chant

2009-01-23T11:05:00.003+07:00

Barack Obama has been sworn in President of the United States of America.

The New Era has just begun.

What hymn can better express this historic moment, than the beautiful ...

Rastaman Chant!

...

Bob sings:

And I hear the Word of the Higher Man say
Babylone, your Throne has gone down
Gone down
Oh Babylone, your Throne gone down

And I hear the Word of the Rastaman say
Babylone your Throne has gone down
Gone down
Oh Babylone, your Throne gone down

I say Fly
Away Home
To Zion
Fly
Away Home

One bright morning
When Man Work is over
Man will Fly
Away Home

...

The vision of a New World is present in most religions and philosophies.

While each tradition has a different story and name for the New World, they all have striking similarities. In brief, the New World is envisioned as the world of peace, love and salvation, while the current world is the world of wars, pain and suffering.

For christians for example, the New World is called the Kingdom of Heaven, for muslims, it is Al Jannah, or the Paradise, for the new spiritual trends, they refer to it as the New Age.

As for the Rastas, the New World is called Zion, and the world of today is Babylone.

And so Bob heard, and he announced:

Babylone, your Throne Gone Down, Gone Down
Oh Babylone, your Throne Gone Down.

...

Listen to this touching version of the Rastaman Chant. Here you can see Bob for the first time playing on percussion, not on guitare, he is in deep trance, and just as Barack annouced to America, that Change Has Come, Bob is announcing to the world, the fall of Babylone.

If you like the Rastaman Chant, more versions will be coming later. Stay updated!

Pact of Love

2009-01-21T09:11:00.024+07:00

Thank you Barack.

Thank you for standing up for what you believe.

Thank you for inspiring us with your courage and hard work.

Thank you for sharing with us the beauty in your soul, and the kindness in your heart.

Thank you for proving to us that Yes We Can.

Thank you for ushering to us a new era of peace.

Thank you for giving us hope again, and unity of purpose.

We love you Barack. I love you.

And today I want to tell you, it doesn't matter anymore whether you make it in your presidency or not, whether your dreams and ambitions become true in one month or one year or ten years. Yes, it does not make a difference anymore.

You already made it, and the seed is planted, and the change has happened, and the chains are broken, and liberation is earned, and no one can ever undo this anymore, or stop the flow of history.

So relax Barack, and rejoice.

And know that whatever happens, we love you.

If you succeed, we love you.

And if you fail, we love you more.

For we see, and we are not ungrateful, how hard you are trying.

Let this be our Pact of Love

...

Yesterday on your historic Inauguration Day, you spoke to us:

"To all people who are watching today, from the grandest capital to the smallest village, know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more. "

I believe you.

And as a man who seeks a future of peace and dignity too, I accept your friendship.

And as a Citizen of the World, I am happy that you lead us.

Go Barack go!

We are all with you and with all our hearts.

We are together, whether we make it or not.

And in this World where Change is what we seek, let our Pact of Love remain always the same.

Amen.

...

Dedicated to all those who strive for a better world.

and the Dream comes true

2009-01-20T08:55:00.004+07:00

On 28 August 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. stood in front of Lincloln Memorial in Washington, and shared his dream.

I have a dream, he said, that one day this nation will Rise Up to live out the true meaning of its creed.

I have a dream, he declared, that one day, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream, he shared, that one day my four little children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

Let freedom ring, he cried, from every state and every city, from every hill and every moutainside.

And when we let freedom ring, he promised, all men will be united to sing:

"Free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty, we are free at last"

...

On 28 August 2008, on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. visionary speech, Barack Obama stood in Denver, in the Democratic Covention, and accepted his nomination as the democratic candidate for the president of USA.

In that historic day, in front of 80,000 people gathered from all over the state, and tens of millions following from across the US and the world, Obama announced: Enough! And he remembered the young preacher from Georgia, who stood before the Loncoln's Memorial in Wahshington the same day 45 years ago, and spoke of his dream.

He remembered how the young preacher reminded us all that our destiny is inextricably linked, that together our dream can be one, that we cannot walk alone, and that as we walk, we must not turn back, and must make the the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

And Barack promissed, from Denver: No we won't turn back, no we won't walk alone, and we pledge once more, to march into the future.

...

On 19 January 2009, in the federal holiday commemorating the birth of Martin Luther King, hundreds of thousands are gathering in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, to celebrate the King Day, and the King Dream.

And today, 20 January 2009, in front of millions and millions watching from across the four corners of the globe, from the Washington Capitol, overlooking the Lincoln Memorial, swearing on the Lincoln Bible, Obama will be sworn in as the President of the United States of America.

And the Dream comes true.

...

What a beautiful story.

Let's go back to 1963, and get a glimpse of Martin Luter King speech, "I have a dream".

Inauguration Day

2009-01-19T12:44:00.006+07:00

How I wish to be in Washington right now!

My heart is beating so strong, watching all these beautiful images coming from the Obama Inauguration day.

Hope, Joy, Colors, Dancing, Singing, Cheering, Tears, Celebrations, Emancipations, Emotions, History

Wow. Wow. Wow.

Oh I really wish to be there.

Dance with Shakira and Stevie Wonder, sing with Bono
Wear an American hat and paint my face in blue and red
Put a New-Year trumpet in my mouth and peep peep peep
Jump and scream, and cry from emotions and joy

Ohhh its really wonderful!

I am grateful to witness this day in my own life, and to feel the hope, to feel the change, and to believe again in salvation.

Wanna hear my Heart Beat?

Just watch! And dance to the rythims of freedom!

Thank you Barack!

With Love and Gratitude.

:)

American Idol

2009-01-16T09:10:00.011+07:00

Believe it or not, it’s only recently that I am discovering TV and reconnecting with the world! In my last few years of traveling i had no access to TV, so it’s only now that i am catching up, and discovering some simple pleasures of life. Friends, BBC news, Larry King Live, the Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer and the best CNN Political Team, and offcourse the one and only E-Channel!

I found so much nice information and inspiration in these shows, and I enjoyed so much too the American Campaign coverage, and watching all the inspiring Obama speeches and stories. I like it, i feel connected to the world and I am no more left out in the dark. At least now I know that Rachel ended up with Joey, and that Oprah has gained back weight again!

But yesterday, I had a new huge discovery: the American Idol! I watched a long episode of it for the first time of my life. And from that moment my life would never be the same again!

I admit that I am facinated by the American freedom and creativity, and find them very inspiring and alive people, and funny too! In American Idol, everything is creative and fun, the judges are fun, the contestants are fun, the scenes are fun and the way they make up and present stories out of everything is just so funny! I love how each character jumps into the scene and doesn’t mind being totaly gorgeous, or totally jerk!

And so.. i got inspired.. and i decided to participate too.. why not?
Jihad the next American Idol. Yes We Can! :)

And so I went to the audition.

I walked in, I admit I was a bit nervous. After all it’s the first time I sing.
The judges (Randy, Paula, Kara and Simon) looked at me strange.

Simon asked me: so whats your name?
Me: Jihad
Simon: Jihad, like.. djihad?
Me: euhhh.. yes
Simon: hmm.. so what will you sing today Jihad?
Me: Redemption song, from Bob Marley
Kara: Ok, nice song, go ahead
Me: Old Pirates yes they rob I...
Simon: Thank you, please stop. That was absolutely terrible.
Randy: Yes, I am affraid it’s a big No
Kara: you know Jihad, you’re a nice guy, but the voice, the voice. Its just not working.
Paula: It's a defnite No! Nice to meet you.

And so I walked out from the audition room, broken heart. I couldnt make it to Hollywood!

But I didnt give up. I asked the Force of the Spirit to help me and to undo my first audition. And so I had another chance. Youppii.

I walked in again to the audition room, this time I was a bit more sure of myself.

Simon: so your name is Jihad.. what do you work Jihad?
Me: oh I do relief work with NGOs
Kara: nice work Jihad. So what will you sing today?
Me: Imagine, from John Lennon.
Kara: good song, go ahead.
Me: Imagine there is no heaven, its easy if you try...
Simon: well its easier if you stop trying to sing!
Randy: I am sorry but i’ll have to agree with Simon.
Kara: you know you’re a nice guy, but the voice, the voice, its just not working!
Paula: Am sorry Jihad. We can't let you in!

I cant believe it. I failed again to make it to Hollywood. I was so broken heart. My life seemed meaningless.

But I couldnt give up. And i kept singing to myself : “Get up stand up, dont give up the fight!” And so I asked the Force of the Spirit to help me again and undo my last audition. “Please Holy Spirit Please, please help me I am your servant”. The Spirit finally had pity on me and agreed, but made it clear that it was my last chance.

Ahh.. i have to make it this time!

And so I walked to the audition again. This time i had nothing to loose. I was just myself, wearing my rasta scarf, even my old sandals.
The judges smiled to me.

Simon: So Jihad.. do you think you can be the next American Idol?
Me: Yes We Can!
Kara: thats the spirit! So what will you sing to us today?
Me: I Can See Clearly Now from Jimmy Cliff.
Kara: great, I love this song.
Me: I can see clearly now, the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that made me blind
Its gonna be a bright, bright sunshinin’ day
Simon: You know what? I like you! I think you have style.
Randy: That was absolutely fantastic.
Kara: Oh I love your spirit. And your voice, your voice, it is just so good!
Paula: I would say absolutely Yes!
Randy: Yes, 100%
Kara: Big Yes
Simon: you’ve got 4 yes!

Ahhhhhhhhhh..

I made it to Hollywood! I am so happy. I am the next American Idol.
Yes We Can!

:)

....

May all your dreams come true!

Play Real

2009-01-15T10:53:00.008+07:00

Do you like the video clips on this blog?

I have an advise for you: you can download and save the clips on your computer, and so you won't need to wait each time you want to watch any of these clips.

In this way, you would download each clip only once, and enjoy it as much as you like. With good internet connection, and only few minutes, all video clips will be yours, and you can live again those timeless moments anytime you wish, without being online!

It's easy! Even me i could do it. Let me tell you how:

If you have Real Player on you computer:

Wait few seconds until the youtube clip is recognised by your computer, then:

Go with the mouse to the top right side of the youtube screen, a blue window should appear with the following sign: "Download this Video". Click on it, and the download will start.
Or, just right clik on the youtube screen, and you can choose the option "Download this Video to Real Player", and the clip will automatically download.

The download will only take few minutes on average, and your clip will be stored in your Real Player Library.

If you have Real Player, but the "Download This Video" Option does not appear on your screen:

Open the Real Player, go to the Real Player Menu at the top of the screen, and click Tools, then click Preferences. When you click Preferences, a window will appear, on the left side of the window, under the title Category, go to the top down and click on "Download and Recording", on the right side of your window, Enable the Option "Enable Web Dowloading and Recording"

If you don't have Real Player on your computer:

You can download it online from internet for free in only ten minutes. Go to http://www.real.com/realplayer.html and choose the basic free option, and it will automatically install Real Player on your computer.

That's it!

I told you it's easy. From now on you can download all the Youtube clips on your computer in few minutes.

Please don't think I am the IT hacker who figured this out on my own! thanks to Asri again for teaching me this!

Oh yes, one last advise: Some of the Youtube clips have low resolutions or are taken from bad rehearsal recording, so the sound is sometimes low or not clear. You can best listen to them with earphones instead of normal computer speaker.

Now you are ready to Play Real.

Enjoy :)

Redemption Song

2009-01-14T15:43:00.012+07:00

We will talk a lot about Bob and the Redemption Song in this blog.

But for now, and to start with, I propose to give you a small feel of the song, just to warm up the mood.

How many times have we heard people playing this song on guitare? Everywhere I traveled, and anywhere I saw people play music, whether in the Pont des Arts in Paris, or in remote beaches of Indonesia, I heard this song play. For wherever there is a guitare, and a singing heart, there is the Redemption Song!

Most of us download the chords from the internet, memorize the lyrics, and play the song. G C Am F, thats how we know it. First we play the Sol, then the Do, then La mineur, and then Fa, and we repeat! The good players among us can even play the introduction notes. And those who have good voice, can sing it in tune.

But for Bob, it is different.

He havent heard it on the radio, nor in the Legend CD. He heard it in his own heart.
No one taught him the chords, no one showed him the notes. The chords and the notes are the sound of his own feelings.
It is him who the pirates rob, and sell from the bottomless pit.
And yes it is his own hand that was made strong, by the hand of the Almighty.

And he addresses us, he urges us, he screams to us: liberate yourselves from mental slavery, have no fear..
And he shouts out his pain: how long would the good people be killed, our prophets, himself..
And with resignation he surrenders to his destiny: we have to fulfill the book..

And finally, he asks us one thing, one last thing, for this song is his last song, on his last album. He asks us to help him sing, the songs of freedom.

Because all he ever had, is Redemption Songs.

Let us watch, let us hear, let us feel... this Song of Freedom.

Yes We Can

2009-01-13T16:20:00.007+07:00

Once upon a time, in a country called America, there were elections to choose the President of the country. A young man from African orogins presented himself, against all odds. Very few people took him seriously.

He started well his campaign, but then his opponent, a prominent figure in the democratic party, took the lead. He appeared to have lost all chances. He was told to forget about it, to renounce his ambition, and to leave the floor to more serious candidates.

This is how he responded.

Thanks to my friend Arif who passed me this clip a year ago. When I watched it, I felt a ray of sun going into my heart.

Madness

2009-01-06T11:16:00.016+07:00

I watched the news today on TV, after several days without having access to TV. And oh my God, i saw a glimpse, only a glimpse, of what is happening in Gaza.

A whole area packed with civilians besieged, trapped, and pounded with explosives. Blood spilling. Screams. Horror. Broken lives, broken dreams. Pure madness.

It is really unbelievable that we human beings can do this to eachother. But let’s wake up. This is real, and it is happening.

I dont want to talk politics here, or try to analyse why this is happening, and for what, and who is to blame. I will just focus on the human side of this carnage, the human spirit.

Two enemies beating each other to death. One of them with superior weaponry and arm force, pounding ruthlessly a whole population, not minding if its bombs break one life or one thousand lives. Not minding if those who die are innocent or not. Anger and hatred in full display. Violence in its full spectrum. The human in its ugliest manifestation.

Though amazed by the arrogance and mercilessness of the attackers, it is really their complete ignorance and total blindness that is shocking to me.

Oh so ignorant are those who think they can elimintate an enemy in this way.
So shortsigned are those who can claim victory after this carnage.
So blind are those who believe they are achieving self defense and peace like this.

Little do they know that the scream of a an innocent soul dying is a million time more poweful then the most powerful bomb. For if the bomb tears down buildings and bodies, an innocent soul scream tears down the heavens and the heart of the earth.

Little do they know that the innocent soul that is killed prematurely, in horror, dies not, disappears nowhere, but remains alive to haunt its killer. Yes alive it remains, in the wounds of the broken families, in the tears of the mothers, and in the prayers of the believers.

It might appear today that one party is effectively killing its enemy. In reality, this party is digging its own moral grave with the same force with which it is launching its missiles.

It might seem today that the civilians trapped under the bombs are the ones hopelessly asking for mercy. But the truth is that the cold-blooded killers in their jet planes and safe homes are the ones in most need of mercy.

Any person with a human heart watching, would be hurt, sad and angry. But the wise man will also laugh mockingly in his heart, for he knows that the ones claiming victory have just incurred their biggest human defeat, and that the enemy they are trying to kill so ruthlessly, is nowhere else but in their own hearts.

For when you have horror in your heart, horrible becomes your life and your acts.

And when you have hatred in your own soul, hateful will be your existence and your relations with your neighbours.

Oh dont they know, that what you feel in your heart, you attract to your life? That what a man saw, he shall reap?

For this is the Law of Life, the Ultimate Justice.

...

Jesus once said, in the same land, to the same people : "Oh in truth I tell you, you should love your own enemy"

Little do they recognise, that this man was the Savior, their own savior.

He was exectuted ruthlessly, too.

...

And from my faraway island, I watch, and I surrender to these scenes of horror to which I can do nothing.

And I continue watching, but from now on I decide not to talk about it anymore.

But before I leave this subject, I want to share one song, the “One Love” song, from Bob the Rastaman who could feel it all.

"
Let us get together, to fight this holy Armaggedon
For when the Man come, there will be, no more doom
Is there a place, for the hopeless sinner?
Who has hurt all mankind, just to save his own
Believe me

One love
One heart
Lets get together
And feel allright

"

Song to my habibi

2009-01-02T11:31:00.008+07:00

He came to me, he was crying
Just seeing him, melted my heart

And i asked him
Oh dear, love of my love
Are you wounded?
Is the World making you cry?

Come to me
Rest in my arms
Forget yourself
Just you and I

For you are my love
Heart of my heart
Your pain is my pain
When you cry, I cry

Close your eyes
And rest, oh dear
Sleep, dont worry
Trust me, I am here

And he fell on my knees
He vanished in my arms

...

Oh wind blow in my veins
Oh fire burn in my heart
For my habibi is hurting
My love is about to die

And so with one hand I took the World
And I shaked it up for my habibi

Oh magma boil the earth
Oh thunders strike the skies
Oh waves crush the shores
Oh rain flood the lands

And i wispered to the World
Oh World,
Do you think I created you..
to make my habibi cry?

And with my second hand
I was caressing my habibi’s hair

...

And when the winds calmed down
And the waves retreated
When the heavens appeased
And the land returned dry

The sun shone back again
And my habibi woke up
He opened his eyes gently
And rainbows filled the sky

He smiled to me
Oh he was bright
His eyes filled with light
He had wings to fly

He jumped back to the World
How he missed his beloved ones
I watched him shine
I watched him love
I saw him happy

And when my habibi is happy
So am I

...

Dedicated to all those who ever fell on their knees, to cry

Catch a Fire

2009-01-01T08:42:00.008+07:00

Recently I opened my blog again. I realised that the last article i wrote on March 25 is already 9 months old. Not a single update since then.

I was motivated back then. My blog had a big vision, I had so much to say, I called it Uprising Spirit, to celebrate the spirit that never gives up, that fights for what it believes. The spirit that even when it incurs losses, always comes back. And even when it dies, it resurrects, and rises up from the ashes even stronger.

But then again I get caught with my life. My daily struggle. And so I forgot my blog. And never sat to write again.

And now I look at my own blog again, and I am caught by its opening. “when you’re feeling cold, and your heart is beating slow, or when you wake up sleepy, and your energy is running low.. join me, and catch a fire!”

Yes, that’s me the blog is talking to. It’s me who is feeling cold. And its my heart beating slow. Oh i wake up sleepy, and my energy is running low.

So I decided to join myself again, and catch a fire!

From Concrete Jungle to One Love

2008-03-25T09:50:00.015+07:00

No sun will shine in my day today
The bright yellow moon won't come out to play
Darkness has covered my light
And has made my day into night
Where is the love, to be found?
In this concrete jungle!
Where the living is hardest

These are the words of Bob, in Trenchtown, in year 1971, many years before he became a superstar. The song is called Concrete Jungle.

Trenchtown is the suburb of Kingstom, the capital city of Jamaica. It is a poor guetto consisting of adjacent concrete blocks where people live packed in poverty. This is where Bob comes from. Originally Bob was born in St. Ann, a beautiful mountain village in the hills of Jamaica, but he had to move with his mother to Trenchotown when he was ten years old. Bob was abandoned by his father who was a white English man, and at age 13 his mother left him too and went to America to look for a job and a future. Bob grew alone, in Trenchtown, in the middle of the guetto violence and the rude boys. It is there when they used to sit, in the government yard in Trenchtown, and then Georgie would make a fire light, and it would be burning through the night... Who could have guessed that few years later the whole world would be singing these Trenchtown memories with Bob? Who would have believed that this man, coming from the harsh and violent guetto, would one day carry the message of "One Love" to the whole world? This is but a small testimony to Bob the musician, Bob the man, and Bob the spririt..

Back to the Concrete Jungle.

No chain around my feet, but i am not free
I know i am bound, in captivity
Never know what happiness is
Never know what sweet caress is
But i'll be always smiling, like a clown
Love, sweet love, must be found somewhere
In this concrete jungle!
Where the living is hardest.

Did you grow up too in a Concrete Jungle? Did you wake up to life surrounded by buildings from all sides, rarely feeling the sun, rarely seeing the moon? Did you grew up between people killing and shooting each other? Did your home town look like Trenchtown? Or Beirut during the civil war?

Then Bob is also singing for you!

But you know what? This is not the end! Cause Bob made it out of the captivity of his ghetto. In the years to come, not only he would sing for his own liberation, but also for that of his country and for his people. He will sing for the poor, he will sing for the enslaved, he will sing for the colonised, and he will continue to inspire millions around the world. Yes Bob did break out from the Concrete Jungle and he reached the four corners of the earth. In his brief life, he would tour the world from US to Europe, from Scandinavia to Japan, from Africa to New Zealand, and people from all races and religions would gather to dance to his music and sing with him:

"One love, one heart, let's get together and feel alright!"

From Concrete Jungle to One Love.. That's the Uprising Spirit!

...

Listen to this live beautiful version of Concrete Jungle and go back to Trenchtown where it all started!

14 March 2005 - 14 March 2008

2008-03-24T14:38:00.000+07:00

Today is the 14 March 2008!
Three years already since the start of our revolution.
Revolution?
Is it revolutionary in this millennium to want to be free and independent?
Is it revolutionary to want to decide our own destiny? To choose the way we want to live?
Is it revolutionary to refuse that our people, journalists and intellectuals be killed on their way back home?
There is nothing revolutionary about wanting our basic human rights.
But it is a huge revolution to want to be free in the middle of totalitarian and military regimes, to want to be prosperous in the middle of poverty, to want to feel the joy of life in the middle of terrors and horrors, to want to be a mixed and tolerant society in the middle of extremism and fanaticism, and to want to have peace in the middle of wars.
Yes this is our Revolution that we started.
14 March 2005 was and will remain the expression of our Uprising for Life.
The uprising of our free will against the power of oppression.
The uprising of justice against impunity.
The uprising of our faith in ourselves against our fears and our doubts.
Yes, that is what it was.
A Lebanese Uprising in its context. But oh so Universal in its appeal.
How many people and nations have had to go through their own uprising too?
And how many are still oppressed and enslaved? Having not yet started to stand up!
Three years have passed, and our struggle is still ongoing.
Three years have passed, and our freedom is still not earned.
Three years have passed, and our blood is still spilling.
But in this day we feel blessed and grateful because we are still alive and free in our hearts.
And in this day we feel happy because we know, and we believe, that the rainbow is yet to come.
And in this day we remember our martyrs one by one. And we promise them not just a victory, but a Beautiful Victory.
A victory that will make them smile in their graves, and cry from happiness, and dance from joy.
Yes this is what we feel today.
And this is what we promise.
And this is how we continue, today, and always.
Hasta la Victoria, Siempre
…
To all of us who are fighting their way through life, and rising up for what we love and for what we believe.
Jihad
With love
:)