Exorcism and Exorcists: Is It Real ?

The Demon's Trap.

Few days back I was watching the movie -" The Exorcism of Emily Rose" and "The Omen" . At the same time I've read Wanda Pratnicka's "Possessed by Ghosts - Exorcisms in the 21st Century and I agree with her findings of which she claimed that :

1. The sicknesses of the ghost pass over to the person possessed;
2. The presence of ghosts brings about powerful mood swings from strong negative emotional outbursts through to profound depression. Ghosts can provoke the possessed person to forms of behavior which are not in the person's character, e.g. aggression, violence etc. If a trait like that already exists in a person it will be intensified considerably by the ghost;
3. Ghosts frequently persuade the possessed to commit suicide or murder;
4. Ghosts have a powerful influence on the psyche, provoking mental illnesses. I dare say that the majority of mental illnesses is caused by the presence of ghosts in a person;
5. Ghosts can influence behavior and lead people to dependence on alcohol, drugs as well as to many other unwanted acts.

By the way, what is Exorcism ? According to Supernatural Wiki -Exorcism is the act of driving out or warding off demons from persons, places or things that are possessed or infested by them, or are liable to become victims or instruments of their malice. During the exorcism ritual, a solemn and authoritative adjuration of the demon is applied in the name of God or any of the higher powers to which the demon is subject.

But in Islam, exorcism is already part of Islamic beliefs since its beginning. Islamic clergy caution against the overuse of exorcism, citing that most cases are due to psychological and physical causes mistaken for possession. Real cases of possession are rare and the faithful are warned to watch out for exorcists who encourage a diagnosis of possession too quickly, as they may merely be seeking profit.

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There is a few tips offered before contacting an Exorcist:

It is better to make Ruqiah for yourself without contacting any exorcists however if you choose to contact an exorcist, please be advised that not everybody who claims to cure using the Quran is a righteous Sheikh, some are sorcerers who seek worldly benefits by their lies, here is how you could tell if they are sorcerers:

- If they ask for your mother's name, then definitely avoid them, only sorcerers ask for that

- If they say they have righteous Jinn helping them, then leave them, there is absolutely no way to know if a Jinn is righteous or devil, it would be a devil tricking the exorcists or more common he is a sorcerer seeking devils help

- If they write any symbols or unreadable text with or without some verses of the Quran, then leave them

- If they use sands in anyway (writing on it, hitting it, walking over it, etc.)

- If they ask you to do weird things like slaughtering a black animal or carrying some talismans with you all the time or hiding them in far places

- If they don't attend the regular prayers at the Masjid, usually sorcerers like to be alone, so please ask about them in the Masjid before contacting them.

- If they demand lots of money for their service, then leave them, usually righteous exorcists do this service for free and don't accept gifts in exchange, some of them however charge reasonable amount of money for their time to be able to help others   

Durian Perangin Waterfalls - Langkawi, Malaysia.

 The main attraction of Durian Perangin Waterfalls is the attractive 14-tier waterfall that cascades down from the slopes of nearby Gunung Raya. The unique rock formation found around this area makes the place suitable for picnics and relaxing dips in the cool, clear water. Every tier of the waterfall has its own natural attributes which makes these natural pools unique.

This waterfall is located on the northern slope of Gunung Raya, the highest mountain of Langkawi. Still, the water flow is seasonal and the fall can best be visited during the rainy season (September-October). Access is easy and clearly signposted.

  

The durians in "Durian Perangin" waterfalls are dropping at its peak. It will be all over in a week or so. I should camped overnight determined not to miss out...heheh! 

My Precious....Durian! 

The Durian Perangin Waterfall is one such natural geological beauty on this mystical .

This waterfall is considered a great picnic spot by the locals and is regarded as the “third easiest” waterfall on the island.

We spent for few hours there.We saw lots of durian tree and got it for free!

The Durian Perangin area houses a wide variety of flora and fauna such as this money plant creepers.

In Malaysia, the rambutan generally fruits twice a year, the first, main crop in June and a lesser one in December.You can bought it for only RM2 a kilo.

Sleepy Hollow Town. Gunung Raya views at the top are spectacular when it is not enveloped in clouds.By the way, you can actually drive to go up there.

*****

Getting There From Langkawi Itself And From Other Parts Of Malaysia

By Air:

There are daily direct flights from KL on Malaysia Airlines and the budget airline, AirAsia.

By Boat:

You can also take a boat from Kuala Kedah to Langkawi. The journey will take 1 hour and 15 minutes.

If you are starting your journey from Kuala Perlis, the journey will be around 45 minutes. Alternatively, if you are on Penang Island, you can also take the ferry from Pena to Langkawi. Take note, there are only two daily trips from Penang to Langkawi and both depart around 8am and 8.30am. The journey will take around 2 1/2 hours.

By Road:

From KL, take the North South Expressway and head north to Kedah. Then, take the Interchange 177 (Alor Setar Selatan exit) and proceed to Teluk Kechai and onwards to Kuala Kedah.

From Kuala Kedah, take the ferry to Langkawi island as mentioned above. On Langkawi, head towards Gunung Raya. Durian Perangin is located at the foot of Gunung Raya, just off the road (on the left as you head northward) to Kampung Air Hangat (Kampung is the Malay word for “village”).

By Rail:

There is a rail link that runs from KL to Alor Setar and Arau town in Kedah. From there, you can take a taxi or a bus to Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis and catch a ferry to the island.

Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are credited to http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you...

Beauty & The Beast

I think my wife loves my cat more than she loves me.I took this photo of her when Gonbei (my 8kg cat) was playing in the yard of my house.By the way, the community cat always preferred me to either of the girls of the house, despite the fact I didn't often do the feeding ...Heh :)

Gonbei with Naomi

Mikei Chan with Naomi

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Another Perfect Wedding Reception.

Check out the simply stylish decor Adrian and Joline incorporated into their wedding day at Berjaya Resort Langkawi, Malaysia. Can't think of any unique wedding decorations ideas? Then take a gander at some these and enjoy !

 Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 50mm 1.8G — ¹/800 sec, f/1.8, ISO 200

 Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 50mm 1.8G — ¹/1000 sec, f/8, ISO 200

 Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 50mm 1.8G — ¹/600 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200

 Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 50mm 1.8G — ¹/800 sec, f/1.8, ISO 200

Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 50mm 1.8G — ¹/800 sec, f/1.8, ISO 200

 Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 50mm 1.8G — ¹/1000 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200

 Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 50mm 1.8G — ¹/800 sec, f/4, ISO 200

Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 50mm 1.8G — ¹/1000 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200

Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are credited to http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.

Le Femme Fatale - Nikkor 50mm f1.8G

Roxanne Cabanero @  Nikkor 50mm  f1.8G  ISO 200 ,  1/200 sc

La Femme Fatale

My photography interest didnt begin with people as my main interest.
Waterfall ,insects,flowers,lighthouse,fruits,fishes and sunsets drew 95% of my attention. Spending countless days and months in nature or mountainous area making me lonely and suddenly I found myself making a slow but deliberate transitions.

I felt a new passion for potrait photography all because of the new arrival of Nikkor 50mm f1.4G! The new 50mm f/1.8G is a far better choice than any zoom for use in low light, and effectively quadruples your ISO, with no increase in noise, compared to any exotic f/2.8 zoom. The 50mm f/1.8 increases your ISO by 10 times compared to any f/4.5 zoom, again with no change in noise.

By the way, let me introduce you to "Le Femme Fatale" - Roxanne Adap Cabanero !
Sort of classic look, eh ?

Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are credited to http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.

Nishikigoi - The Dragon ?

According to Japanese myth & legend - if a Koi fish succeeded in climbing the falls at a point called "Dragon Gate" near the Yellow River, it would be transformed into a dragon. Based on that legend, it became a symbol of worldly aspiration and advancement.  There is a story that one fish, who lived in a Japanese monastery, where I guess they can keep track of this sort of thing, who was over 200 years old when she died! Some of the koi that were exhibited at the 1914 Tokyo Exhibition are still swimming around the Imperial Palace today.While its hard to think of a fish as having personalities, koi do. They're very curious and get into everything !

 

Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are credited to http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding. Thank you.

Somewhere Down the Crazy Sea - Obama City,Fukui Prefecture Japan

Planning for Fukui day trips will enable you to fit more memorable experiences into your trip to Japan. Whether during the season of spring-time's sublime cherry blossom, summer's camping and beach-side pursuits, or autumn's gradual turning to reds and golds, visitors will delight in the prized seasonal tastes of Fukui.In Wakasa Bay, there are many fishing points that impress fishing enthusiasts. Various kinds of fishing available, such as boat fishing, shore fishing, and raft fishing. Most of the inns in Fukui are run by fishermen, so many of them own their own fishing boats...

24 hours fishing kiosk in Obama City, Fukui Japan.Facing to Wakasa Bay, due north from Kyoto and Nara. The city is about 3 to 4 hours by train from Tokyo, and is served by the Obama Line of West Japan Railway (JR West).

Obama City at 0500hrs in the morning .In Obama, which incidentally also means “little sea” or something like that in Japanese. Since the presidency candidate shares the same name as this little town, the mayor of Obama has shown his full support on US Candidate Obama’s presidential run.(poor image from iphone!)

Deadly Bait ! We caught so many "Taie" fish or seabream with these baits.

My first catch of the day.

Erika & Nana with their first catch as well.

Monster mullet ! Catch & release for sure :) 

I almost break my father in law Seabream record of 52cm in size.These Seabream fish just 48cm ( Japs love measure by cm rather than KG!)

While we are busy with our things, Naomi caught this funny jellyfish !

Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are credited to http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.

Toei Uzumasa Eigamura - Kyoto Studio Park

Uzumasa used to be called the "Hollywood of Japan." Many movies were shot here. It gives you an opportunity to learn about the history of Japanese film culture, while also enjoying various attractions, including seeing "real" samurai,ninja and super hero. You can also turn into a samurai or a princess, not only by putting on the right costume but with real disguises, including wigs and makeup - then walk around the movie land and take pictures. You can also see historical movies and TV shows being shot. And don't miss the thrilling haunted house, which will make your spine tingle. This is certainly a tourist spot not to be missed by anyone interested in Japanese movies or samurai.

Kamen Rider

Are there any places in Kyoto or in the area that a Kamen Rider fan would want to see?

Yes ! Visit Toei Uzumasa.

Gigantic Hero

 30m stand tall Kamen Rider.Riderman also known as The Avenging Demon or Kamen Rider. He uses a regular Suzuki 250cc motorbike, dubbed the "Rider Machine".

Another Hero
New breed of Kamen Rider ?

 

More Superhero
The Japanese have one of the richest bases of superheroes around. Not withstanding their history and mythology, they also have the largest comic book and animation industries in the world.

Mega Poster

The movie that produced by the studio

The Last Samurai

Meet Sakamoto Ryoma- The leader of the movement that try to overthrow the Tokugawa shogunate during the Bakumatsu period in Japan.

Haunted House
The journey that will takes you on a trip through the scariest, creepiest, most blood-curdling attractions.

Decapitated Heads
Public display of the severed head .

Only In Japan

 Fans of anime and costume role-playing

Samurai Fury

An innovative blend of samurai and gangster .

Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are
credited to http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.

Ghost Of O-Sono : A Japanese Poignant Ghost Story.

Most of the Japanese folklore is influenced by both Shinto and Buddhism. From the valley of Nishizawa to the holy Mount Fuji – the list goes on and contains a wide variety of weird and bizarre monster. However, there is a wonderful heart warming story that I cannot forget about a ghost return to her home just because a piece of passionate love letter (some people claim that this story was of one mother’s aching love for her son, so strong it allows her to reject death) . I'm not a romantic person but I was “head over heel” with the myth and  legend of this beautiful story !                                                                   

   * * * * * *

A long time ago, in the province of Tamba in Japan, there lived a rich merchant named Inamuraya Gensuke. He had a daughter called O-Sono. As she was very clever and pretty, he thought it would be a pity to let her grow up with only such teaching as the country-teachers could give her. So he sent her in care of some trusty attendants to Kyoto, that she might be trained in the polite accomplishments taught to the ladies of the capital. After she had thus been educated, she was married to a friend of her father's family -- a merchant named Nagaraya and she lived happily with him for nearly four years. They had one child; a But O-Sono fell ill and died, in the fourth year after her marriage.

On the night after the funeral of O-Sono, her little son said that his mother had come back, and was in the room upstairs. She had smiled at him, but would not talk to him: so he became afraid, and ran away. Then some of the family went upstairs to the room which had been O-Sono's; and they were startled to see, by the light of a small lamp which had been kindled before a shrine in that room, the figure of the dead mother. She appeared as if standing in front of a tansu (or chest of drawers), that still contained her ornaments and her wearing-apparel. Her head and shoulders could be very distinctly seen; but from the waist downwards the figure thinned into invisibility; it was like an imperfect reflection of her, and transparent as a shadow on water.

Then the folk were afraid, and left the room. Below they consulted together; and the mother of O-Sono's husband said: "A woman is fond of her small things; and O-Sono was much attached to her belongings. Perhaps she has come back to look at them. Many dead persons will do that, unless the things be given to the parish-temple. If we present O-Sono's robes and girdles to the temple, her spirit will probably find rest."

I was agreed that this should be done as soon as possible. So on the following morning the drawers were emptied; and all of O-Sono's ornaments and dresses were taken to the temple. But she came back the next night, and looked at the tansu as before. And she came back also on the night following, and the night after that, and every night; and the house became a house of fear.

The mother of O-Sono's husband then went to the parish-temple, and told the chief priest all that had happened, and asked for ghostly counsel. The temple was a Zen temple; and the head-priest was a learned old man, known as Daigen Osho. He said: "There must be something about which she is anxious, in or near that tansu." -- "But we emptied all the drawers," replied the woman; -- "There is nothing in the tansu." -- "Well," said Daigen Osho, "Tonight I shall go to your house, and keep watch in that room, and see what can be done. You must give orders that no person shall enter the room while I am watching, unless I call."

After sundown, Daigen Osho went to the house, and found the room made ready for him. He remained there alone, reading the sutras; and nothing appeared until after the Hour of the Rat (Midnight) .Then the figure of O-Sono suddenly outlined itself in front of the tansu. Her face had a wistful look; and she kept her eyes fixed upon the tansu.

The priest uttered the holy formula prescribed in such cases, and then, addressing the figure by the Kaimyo of O-Sono, said: "I have come here in order to help you. Perhaps in that tansu there is something about which you have reason to feel anxious. Shall I try to find it for you?" The shadow appeared to give assent by a slight motion of the head; and the priest, rising, opened the top drawer. It was empty. Successively he opened the second, the third, and the fourth drawer; he searched carefully behind them and beneath them; he carefully examined the interior of the chest. He found nothing. But the figure remained gazing as wistfully as before. "What can she want?" thought the priest. Suddenly it occurred to him that there might be something hidden under the paper with which the drawers were lined. He removed the lining of the first drawer: nothing! He removed the lining of the second and third drawers: still nothing. But under the lining of the lowermost drawer he found a letter. "Is this the thing about which you have been troubled?" he asked. The shadow of the woman turned toward him, her faint gaze fixed upon the letter. "Shall I burn it for you?" he asked. She bowed before him. "It shall be burned in the temple this very morning," he promised; "and no one shall read it, except myself." The figure smiled and vanished.

Dawn was breaking as the priest descended the stairs, to find the family waiting anxiously below. "Do not be anxious," he said to them: "She will not appear again." And she never did.

The letter was burned. It was a love-letter written to O-Sono in the time of her studies at Kyoto. But the priest alone knew what was in it; and the secret died with him.

Bibliography: KWAIDAN: A Dead Secret: Stories and Studies of Strange Things 1904 version.
Images / http://opallynn.deviantart.com/art/The-Ghost-of-O-Sono-146156391?offset=10