On my 21st birthday last February, my friends from LTA gave me a golden necklace and Ms.5th Dan blackbelt gave me a pendant(?); two "miniature" golden keys, one was bigger than the other. They told me that gold brings good luck, symbol of prosperity and the keys reprsent the complete freedom and success in the future. What does it mean by COMPLETE freedom? Unlimited freedom? No boundaries, nobody has the rights to question and stop you from doing anything that you like? How do you define freedom? Being free to decide and act according to what you think is right?
When they mentioned complete freedom, the picture of an arrogant and selfish person came across my mind. Man is in need of a superior being who has the power and authority beyond the humanly capabilities, and that is the nature of man. I believe that behind the creation of man, there's a supreme and powerful Creator. The Creator - creation relationship in Islam is also viewed as Master - slave relationship. We are indebted to God for what He has given to us, life: physical body and rational mind and spiritual soul, health, wealth, countless blessings, rewards, love, tears, joys, emotions, senses etc. So, how can a person says that he has attained full, complete freedom when he himself is still indebted to another being. Freedom is something subjective, hard to explain, but like our intelligence and abilities, it is also limited within a certain boundary. The correct description of freedom (methinks), is to act according to one's TRUE nature, and if you go against it, you could be considered as being unjust to your TRUE self. The toughest part is perhaps to discover and understand your TRUE nature. People get confused easily most of the time especially when they don't know how to differentiate between nature, desires and lusts.

The small key is the portrayal of individual success while the big key symbolizes success in the future that will also benefit others. I really have to push myself to think and think and think again. In the past 21 years, I've been walking on this great earth of God, taking shelter under His cooling clouds, bathing in His precious drops of rain, and enjoying the heat from His sun to make me warm, what have I actually achieved that has also benefited others? What is my contribution in this 21 years of life to my family, my friends and to the society? Mmm...I have to think very hard...and I'm quite sleepy rite now, when I've found the answers, will post it on the blog. As for now, I seriously need some sleep, o_@.