Mayor of Kota Kinabalu Address first ‘Pause for Peace’ Event in Malaysia

Kota Kinabalu: The world is gradually losing the peace, and it is crucial for each individual to advocate and understand what peace is all about, said Brahma Kumaris (Malaysia) head Datuk Letchumanan Ramatha. “We do not wait to ensure the society to adhere to certain ‘rules’ or guidelines in order to work towards peace. It is from our innate self that peace can be obtained.  We have the power to own it as it is our choice to want peace. If you are looking for peace outside, you won’t find it.  It has to come from within oneself,” he said at a recent “Pause For Peace” event at the Zara Boutique Hotel. Much was discussed on how, what and why peace is needed to exist in the current challenging world.

According to Dr. Muralindran Mariappan, Coordinator for Peace House in Kota Kinabalu, the project was conceived in Kenya, Africa, in 1936 when the country was facing a political, economic and harmony crisis. “This project creates greater awareness realising how important peace is to mankind.  In fact we obtain peace within us, not from outside or anywhere. Peace is our personal choice regardless of any circumstances or situations, and it can be experienced anytime, anywhere and by anyone,” said Muralindran. The Peace House that he heads provides services, and one of them is meditation for anyone who is interested to know in-depth. “The meditation taught is simple and very practical.  Participants will learn how to consciously focus on positive thoughts and gain the production of positive experience. He said many activities were held involving the State Government and private organisations in Sabah since 1999.”

Guest of Honour, Mayor of Kota Kinabalu (DBKK), Datuk Hj Nordin Siman, said the Brahma Kumaris have been working closely with DBKK for a long time in organizing talks and sessions on inner peace. His speech was read by Lifred Wong.

“This project will greatly benefit society in this current time. Its initiative is to provide a platform for the residents of Sabah to create a peaceful and positive change.  It creates much awareness to all individuals that peace is our innate quality and each one is responsible to contribute peace to their self, family, work, nature, society and the world,” said Nordin.

It was from there that Nordin’s expertise in medicine, incorporated with spiritual benefits, are eventually being carried out in serving the urban community in Mumbai. She experimented with medication in her treatment of patients. “The aim of my medical studies was to help people.  I could see that with medicine I could help to cure sickness, but in a limited way, and for a short time only.  The patients would come back after some time with the same problem.  Medicine could help, but it seemed that the main cause was psychosomatic,” she said.  She ceased her medical practice, and later dedicated her energy to spiritual services and has since spread to many countries worldwide.

Zara Managing Director Eliza Goh, co-host for this “Pause for Peace” event, said that cultivating an attitude of peace and gratitude can have major benefits for mental and physical health.  “Having a calm mind will enable us to make empowering choices for ourselves and others.  I can relate with this subject as running the daily operations in the service and hospitality industry comes with dealing with multiple challenges and handling of emotions,” she said at her welcoming speech.

The Brahma Kumaris is an organisation working towards world peace through personal change.  Since its commencement in 1936, many of its network centers were created.  To date, centers are in more than 110 countries worldwide.  This “Pause for Peace” project was the first to be introduced in Malaysia and organised for the first time in Sabah.

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