Malaysia

Until recent times Malaysia was said by Europeans to be in the East Indies. Now that part of the world is called South East Asia, SEA.

I bet that the word 'Malay' is of ancient southern India origin. Although Malaysia may be best know for its seagoing and trading past,the origin of the word 'Malay' may mean something like 'mountainous' which much of the interior of Malaysia is.

To me much of the Malay language and people seem related to Polynesia people. The fact is that they are related to that great mixture of people making up the cultures of South East Asia. India has long been a strong influence there. China to has had long standing influence and that influence increased during the rise and fall of European empire building in the area. Many Chinese were brought to Malaysia as workers during that time.

I suspect that the Malay language is spoken as the first language of just over half the population. Chinese speakers are next in number. Several other languages are popular including English.

Sunni Islam is the largest religious group and includes over 60& of the population. Buddhism is next and is practiced by less than 20% of the population. There is religious freedom, but Islam is the state religion.

Education is good and is open to a wide portion of the population.

Malaysians can play a good game of soccer even though Americans may be the only people to call it soccer.

The title of the elected ruler is, I think, Yang de Pertuan Agong. You may call him Lord and, in the third person, refer to him as His Majesty. The UNMO rules.

Malysias neighbors include Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippians.

Islamic Ways

There is strength in our understanding of the past to help one from the present to a better future. There are Islamic men of the past pointing to an Islamic way to thrive in the present Islamic reality. There is Mohammed and the Qur'an. There is also much more.

Europeans stood on Islamic learning to get where they are. I have a Spanish friend who said that Europeans wouldn't have pants if it weren't for the Uma. The very word for word for pants may be of Islamic origin.

Learning is needed. Learning that enhances deep understanding is needed. It is needed by and for all equally. Equality of personal value is an important and a very Islamic concept. Am I wrong?

I'm just 'this guy.' I'm not Islamic. I look to be a secular person; yet I can say that God is everything to me. God is greater.

People of much of the world learned the value of the understanding of history from people of Islam.

Europeans' knowledge of trade, mathematics, medicine, chemistry, philosophy, geography, seamanship, navigation, politics, law, banking, agronomy and more began with people of Islam.

It is not wrong to feel pride in Islamic learning of yesterday and today. We know, of course, that learning is much more than memory.

Religion in Early South East Asia

I have posted on SEA religion before, but, as usual, their is more to say.


Of what we might call the world great religions, Brahmanism seems to have been the first to take hold in maritime South East Asia, as it was in much of the mainland realm. It was followed by Saivism and Mahayana Buddhism before the arrival of Islam.


Brahmanism, without much evidence of the caste system was evident in most of SEA before the 7th century AD, and was almost certainly there several centuries earlier.


These are my honest opinions and best guesses at the moment. I will be honored by and grateful for all the corrections or additions you may make. You will find me a willing leaner.

Some SEA Beliefs

In most of South East Asia Buddhism might be called he state Religion. However in Viet Nam the Chinese custom of state authority moderates this influence. Chinese tradition supplies an ideology that legitimized authority over many phases of life. That means that it is justified in regulating the affairs of Buddhist monks to a greater degree than is generally accepted elsewhere. The ideology I mention is, of course, Confucianism.

Of the great religions, Brahmanism seems to be the first o take hold in maritime SEA as it was in much of the mainland realms. I was followed by Saivism and Mahayana Buddhism before the arrival of Islam. Brahmanism, without much evidence of the cast system of Hinduism, was evident in most of SEA before the 7th century and was probably several centuries earlier.

Old Javanese sources from the 11th century on mention three religions under the supervision of the central government: Saivas(worshiper of Siva), Buddhists, and Reis(court Brahmins). Important Tantric rites were performed b Buddhist monks and the court Brahmin. In Java, then and now, there were other religions and sects at a greater distnce from the larger centers of power. Saints referred to bu Saias of the time were Kusika, Garga, Mairi Kurusya, and Patnjali. Also the teacher Agastya is mentioned.

Is good to keep in mind that from at least 400 BC to 1300 AD there is nearly constant commerce with India and intermediate commerce with China.

As we well know Islam became the main religion of  maritime SEA with the major exception of the Philippines. Theravada Buddhism became the main religion of mainland SEA. Islam took pervasive hold in the area more than six centuries after the foundation of Islam in the Middle East. Te first center of power of Islam was probably at Aceh of recent tsunami fame. Islam rose in Malaca and in ll directions including Patani in southern Thailand.

Pashtun of Old

What did a Pashtun people have to do with Alexander the Great?

If they are an Iranian people, what did they teach the Arabs?

Why did anyone associate them with the Biblical tribe of Dann?


Where the Pashtun nothing before Islam?


Please teach me before I get too old to understand.

Chiang Mai pleads for govt help for damaged tourism

Chiang Mai pleads for govt help for damaged tourism


Learn a bit about Thailand here.

I liked the north very much.

Still the people of the south are the ancestors of those who made world trade possible before the Roman Republic and through some of the great days of early Islam.

Moslem Garb?

What is Baptist garb?

What is Unitarian garb?

What is Buddhist garb?

What is a Moslem?

What is a Muslim?

What is a Jew?

What is a Catholic?

Are there Catholic Arabs?

Indonesia Is the largest Islamic country. How do people there dress?

Have some people thought that most people from the USA are cowboys? are mobsters?