By Dr. T. Selva
For someone who travels as frequently as I do, airports are more than departure and arrival
points. They are gateways to countries, cultures and people.
And whenever I return to Malaysia, I always feel a special feeling when I board a Malaysia
Airlines flight.
The familiar welcome, Selamat Datang, food and warmth of the cabin crew somehow tell me,
even thousands of kilometres away, that I am already on my way home.
That is why my recent journey from Melbourne and Singapore to Kuala Lumpur felt
noticeably different.
It came shortly after the disturbing case involving a Malaysia Airlines pilot who was detained
at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport over an alleged attempt to smuggle a large
quantity of drugs into Indonesia.
The incident attracted international attention, particularly after footage surrounding the arrest
circulated widely online.
The consequences have inevitably travelled far beyond the individual involved.
During my flight home, I spoke with members of the cabin crew. What struck me was not
anger, but a sense of disappointment and uneasiness.
They spoke about how the incident had affected morale and how airline personnel were now
facing greater scrutiny.
Just a week ago, they were often greeted with a salute and allowed to pass through with ease,
reflecting a sense of trust and camaraderie. Now, however, everything has changed: they are
subjected to rigorous screening and intense scrutiny.
Malaysia Aviation Group has since introduced enhanced screening measures, including
mandatory drug testing for pilots.
I fully support stringent measures when safety is involved.
There can be absolutely no compromise when hundreds of lives are entrusted to aviation
professionals.
Pilots and crew members occupy positions of enormous responsibility, and passengers have
every right to expect the highest standards of discipline and integrity.
But there is another side to this episode that deserves reflection.
The wrongdoing of one person can cast a very long shadow.
Thousands of dedicated airline employees who have done nothing wrong can suddenly find
themselves working under an atmosphere of suspicion.
Pilots who have served honourably for decades, cabin crew who proudly represent Malaysia
around the world and ground personnel who work tirelessly behind the scenes can all feel the
repercussions of an individual’s alleged misconduct.
When I arrived in Kuala Lumpur, I sensed something else.
The airport atmosphere appeared different to me. The scrutiny felt greater and the experience
seemed less relaxed than what I had been accustomed to on previous journeys.
The green lane, nothing to declare, was closed, and everyone was forced to screen their bags.

Perhaps heightened vigilance is inevitable following such a serious incident. Customs and
security officers have an important responsibility, and we should respect them for carrying it
out.
However, security and hospitality do not have to be opposing values.
An airport is often the first impression a visitor receives of a country and the last impression
he or she carries away.
Malaysia has spent decades building an international reputation for warmth and hospitality.
We should never allow necessary vigilance to turn every traveller into a suspected offender.
Check us. Screen us. Question us when necessary. Strengthen procedures wherever
weaknesses have been exposed.
But let it be done professionally, respectfully and with dignity.
The same principle should apply to airline employees.
Those responsible for wrongdoing must face the full consequences of their actions, but the
innocent should not be made to feel guilty merely because they wear the same uniform.
For me, Malaysia Airlines remains my first choice whenever possible.
I have travelled extensively on different airlines around the world, but there is something
about Malaysia Airlines that cannot easily be measured by rankings, food, seat dimensions or
entertainment systems.
It is the feeling of being home before reaching home.
It is the familiar Malaysian warmth and smile when you step aboard. It is the affection in the
service, the little conversations with the crew and that distinctive Malaysian hospitality that is
difficult for another airline to reproduce.
That reputation has been built over generations by thousands of people, and it should not be
defined by the alleged actions of one individual.
This episode should instead become an opportunity.
If there were weaknesses in security procedures, strengthen them.
If employee screening needs improvement, improve it. If greater vigilance is necessary,
introduce it.
But after the immediate reaction comes the more difficult task of restoring confidence
without destroying trust.
Travel has already become increasingly stressful. We remove our belts and shoes, empty our
pockets, open our bags, pass through scanners and answer questions.
Most travellers accept these inconveniences because we understand that security is necessary.
What we should try to preserve, however, is the human element.
A smile costs nothing. Courtesy does not weaken security. Respect does not compromise
vigilance.
Malaysia’s airports and Malaysia Airlines are important windows to the world.
Every officer at an immigration counter, every customs officer, every ground employee and
every member of an airline crew contribute to the image visitors carry of our country.
One person’s actions may have caused enormous embarrassment.
But one person’s actions should never be allowed to define an airline, an airport or a nation.
Malaysia Airlines has carried our flag around the world for decades.
Its people have welcomed millions of travellers with a uniquely Malaysian kind-heartedness.

Let us strengthen security. Let us demand accountability. Let us learn from what happened.
But let us also protect something equally precious – MH – the Malaysian Hospitality that
makes people feel welcome rather than watched, and makes Malaysians like me feel that we
have arrived home even before the aircraft touches the ground.
Award-winning writer Dr. T. Selva is the author of the bestsellers Vasthu Sastra Guide
and Secrets of Happy Living. To obtain a copy, WhatsApp 019-2728464. He can be
reached at drtselvas@gmail.com. Website: www.vasthuguide.com

By Dr. T. Selva
I was invited to visit the Rebel Heart: Love Letters and Other Declarations exhibition at the
State Library Victoria in Melbourne last week and I found myself deeply moved.
As someone who has spent decades studying the ancient science of Vasthu Sastra, I expected
to admire a historical collection of handwritten love letters, intimate diaries and rare
manuscripts.
Instead, I left reflecting on something far more reflective: the timeless power of love and the
environment in which it flourishes.
The exhibition beautifully demonstrates that love has never been confined by time, culture or
social expectations.
Across centuries, people have risked rejection, persecution and heartbreak simply to express
what their hearts could no longer keep hidden.
Their words continue to speak to us today with remarkable honesty and tenderness.
One of the first stories that caught my attention was that of the Roman poet Publius Ovidius
Naso, better known simply as Ovid.
Nearly two thousand years ago, his celebrated work The Art of Love offered practical advice
on courtship and romance.
His writings became immensely popular but also deeply controversial, eventually
contributing to his exile from Rome.
His story reminds us that love has often challenged society’s rules, proving that the human
heart cannot easily be controlled.
Equally fascinating was the story of Robert Burton, whose monumental work The Anatomy of
Melancholy explored the emotional complexities of love.
First published in 1621 and expanded over several editions, Burton described love as both an
inspiring force and a source of anguish, obsession and despair.
Reading his observations, I realised that although centuries separate us, the emotional journey
of love has remained remarkably unchanged.
Yet, among all the remarkable exhibits, one simple display touched me the most.
Hanging quietly on the gallery wall was an ordinary pink tote bag carrying an extraordinary
message:
“Have you ever wondered – perhaps I’ve been waiting for you for many years, and maybe
across many lifetimes?”
Those words stopped me in my tracks.
It was remarkable how an everyday shopping bag had been transformed into an insightful
declaration of love.
Without expensive materials or elaborate design, it conveyed hope, longing, patience and
steady faith.
It reminded me that love often reveals itself not through grand gestures but through the
simplest expressions that speak directly to the soul.

Nearby were handwritten letters hidden for years before finally being discovered, revealing
the silent suffering, enduring hope and unwavering devotion of lovers separated by distance,
circumstance and time.
Reading those intimate words, I realised that while technology has transformed how we
communicate, it has not changed what we long for.
Every generation continues to seek acceptance, companionship, understanding and
unconditional love.
As I walked through the exhibition, one thought became increasingly clear.
Love may begin in the heart, but it flourishes—or slowly fades—within the environment that
surrounds it.
This timeless truth has been taught by Vasthu Sastra for thousands of years.
While modern society often views love purely as an emotional or psychological experience,
Vasthu reminds us that our homes continuously influence our thoughts, emotions and
relationships.
Every room, every direction and every flow of energy subtly affect the way family members
communicate, resolve conflicts and express affection.
A couple may genuinely love each other, but if they live in a home filled with energetic
imbalances —such as an afflicted south-west, a disturbed north-east, bedrooms placed in
unsuitable quadrants, or constant clutter and disharmony—the relationship may gradually
become burdened by misunderstandings, emotional distance, and unnecessary tension.
Conversely, a well-balanced home becomes a silent partner in the relationship.
It encourages calm conversations instead of arguments, understanding instead of resentment
and mutual respect instead of conflict.
The home itself quietly supports the love shared by those who live within it.
This does not mean that Vasthu creates love.
Rather, it creates an environment in which love can breathe, mature and endure.
Just as a beautiful flower requires fertile soil, adequate sunlight and sufficient water to
blossom, human relationships also need the right surroundings to reach their fullest potential.
Even the strongest love can struggle when constantly exposed to stress and imbalance, while
ordinary relationships often grow stronger in peaceful and harmonious surroundings.
Leaving the exhibition, which ends in January 2027, I carried with me far more than
admiration for its beautiful collection.
I accepted a renewed appreciation that throughout history, people have always searched for
lasting love.
They have written poems, hidden letters, composed songs and preserved treasured keepsakes
in the hope that love would survive the passage of time.
The ancient masters of Vasthu Sastra understood another equally important truth.
Love deserves not only to be expressed. It deserves to be protected.
Sometimes, the greatest love letter we can offer our spouse, our children and our family is not
written with ink on paper.
It is the thoughtful creation of a harmonious home where love is given every opportunity to
flourish, for this lifetime, and perhaps, as the pink tote bag so beautifully suggested, for many
lifetimes to come.

Award-winning writer Dr. T. Selva is the author of the bestsellers Vasthu Sastra Guide
and Secrets of Happy Living. To obtain a copy, WhatsApp 019-2728464. He can be
reached at drtselvas@gmail.com. Website: www.vasthuguide.com

By Dr. T. Selva
As a parent, few sounds are as piercing and emotionally draining as the persistent,
unexplained cries of a newborn.
You have checked everything: the diaper is dry, the baby has been fed, the room is
comfortable and there is no apparent sign of illness.
Yet the crying continues, sometimes throughout the day and night, leaving the parents
exhausted, anxious and helpless.
When a baby cries persistently, medical advice must always come first.
A pediatrician can assess possible causes such as colic, reflux, trapped wind, feeding
difficulties, infection or other health conditions.
Parents should seek prompt medical attention if the crying is accompanied by fever, breathing
difficulty, repeated vomiting, poor feeding, fewer wet diapers, unusual drowsiness, a weak or
high-pitched cry, or if the baby appears pale, floppy or unresponsive.
Once possible medical causes have been properly investigated, parents may also wish to
consider the traditional perspectives offered by Vedic astrology and Vasthu Sastra.
These ancient Indian sciences view a baby’s cry not merely as a demand but as an important
form of communication.
It can reflect the infant’s physical needs, emotional sensitivity and response to the
surrounding environment.
According to Vedic astrology, every newborn enters the world with a unique birth chart, a
cosmic representation of the planetary positions at the exact time and place of birth.
Within this traditional system, the chart provides insights into the child’s personality,
temperament and emotional constitution.
The Moon is the principal celestial body associated with the mind and emotions.
If the Moon is weak, unfavourably positioned or influenced by challenging planets such as
Saturn, Rahu (dragon head) or Ketu (dragon tail), astrologers believe the child may possess a
highly sensitive, anxious or restless nature.
This sensitivity may be expressed through disturbed sleep, difficulty settling down and
frequent crying.
It does not mean that anything is inherently wrong with the child.
Instead, it suggests that the baby may require a calmer environment, a more consistent routine
and additional emotional reassurance.
Other planetary influences may also be considered.
A strong or afflicted Mars is traditionally associated with heat, impatience and irritability,
while a challenging Saturn influence may contribute to uneasiness or difficulty adjusting to
unfamiliar surroundings.
These planetary conditions should never be interpreted as indications of a “bad” or difficult
baby.
They are simply part of the child’s individual cosmic pattern and may help parents understand
why one baby responds differently from another under similar circumstances.
The astrological connection also extends to the mother.
During the first few months of life, a baby remains deeply attuned to the mother’s physical
and emotional state.
If she is exhausted, anxious or overwhelmed, the baby may sense her tension and respond by
becoming unsettled.
Therefore, the well-being of the mother is equally important.

Adequate rest, practical help from family members and a peaceful home environment can
benefit both mother and child.
One gentle traditional remedy involves sound vibration.
Softly chanting a calming mantra such as “Aum Shanti” or an appropriate mantra dedicated
to the Moon can help create a serene atmosphere.
The baby may not understand the words, but the gentle rhythm of the chanting, combined
with the reassuring presence of a parent, may provide comfort.
Soft devotional music, lullabies or quiet instrumental music may have a similarly soothing
effect.
Having considered the cosmic influences, we should also examine the baby’s immediate
physical environment.
According to Vasthu Sastra, a home is not merely a physical structure.
It is regarded as a living field of subtle energy.
A newborn, whose senses are still developing, may be especially receptive to the atmosphere,
sounds, lighting and energetic flow within the home.
In Vasthu, the location of the baby’s bedroom is important.
The north-west is often recommended for a young child because it is associated with the air
element and movement.
When properly balanced, it is believed to support healthy development and a peaceful mental
state.
A bedroom in the south-east—the fire-element quadrant—may sometimes feel overly active
or stimulating for an infant.
The south-west, although favourable for the head of the household, carries a heavier and
more grounded energy that may not always be suitable for a newborn.
The other locations that are considered acceptable are north, east, north-east and west.
However, each property is different, and the entire floor plan should be assessed before
reaching a conclusion.
The direction of the main entrance, room arrangement, missing corners and surrounding
environment can all influence the overall Vasthu interpretation.
The position of the cradle or crib is equally important.
It may be aligned along the north-south axis, with the baby’s head pointing towards the south
and legs towards the north.
This sleeping orientation is traditionally believed to encourage stability and more restful
sleep.
Regardless of direction, the baby should always be placed on their back on a firm, flat and
safe sleeping surface.
The crib should be kept free of pillows, loose blankets, toys, cot bumpers and other soft
objects that could obstruct the baby’s breathing.
Avoid positioning the crib directly beneath an exposed structural beam, as beams are believed
to create a sense of downward pressure.
It is also preferable not to place the crib directly in line with the bedroom door, where
movement, light and noise may repeatedly disturb the child.
Sharp furniture corners pointing towards the crib, mirrors reflecting the sleeping baby and
excessive clutter around the sleeping area should also be avoided.
Keeping the room clean, orderly and well ventilated encourages a calmer and more
comforting atmosphere.
Colours can also influence the mood of the room.
Instead of harsh, aggressive or excessively bright shades, choose soft pastel tones such as
beige, cream, gentle pink, light blue or pale green.

These colours create a peaceful visual environment and are less likely to overstimulate the
baby.
Avoid black, dark blue, yellow and grey.
Many Vasthu concerns can be addressed without making major structural alterations.
Repositioning the crib, clearing unnecessary clutter, improving ventilation and using a soft,
warm nightlight may make the room feel more settled.
A small bowl of sea salt is also traditionally used to absorb undesirable energy.
If used, it should be placed securely and completely out of the reach of children and pets, and
the salt should be replaced regularly.
Parents should remember that every baby cries. Crying is the newborn’s natural way of
communicating hunger, discomfort, tiredness, loneliness or the need to be held.
There may not always be a single explanation.
Medical care, parental patience, emotional reassurance and a harmonious home environment
should work together.
Astrology and Vasthu can offer additional traditional insights, but they should be approached
with balance, compassion and common sense.
When parents remain calm and create a secure, peaceful atmosphere, the baby is more likely
to feel safe.
Sometimes the most powerful remedy is simply the loving voice, gentle touch and reassuring
presence of a parent.
Award-winning writer Dr. T. Selva is the author of the bestsellers Vasthu Sastra Guide
and Secrets of Happy Living. To obtain a copy, WhatsApp 019-2728464. He can be
reached at drtselvas@gmail.com. Website: www.vasthuguide.com

Where music became a gentle healing
By Dr. T. Selva
Some concerts entertain. Others linger in the heart long after the final applause.
Lisa Ono’s maiden performance of the Love to Love Asia Tour in Malaysia at Zepp Kuala
Lumpur on July 3rd was undoubtedly the latter.
It was an unforgettable evening as the internationally acclaimed Bossa Nova Queen
transported the audience across continents and cultures with songs in English, Latin, French,
Japanese and Chinese.
Each melody evoked moments of warmth, beauty, cherished memories and quiet happiness,
reminding me that music truly speaks a universal language.
She opened the evening with a delightful selection under the theme Wave Medley, Where the
Music Begins, performing classics such as Don't Know Why, I Wish You Love and The Music
to Watch Girls By.
As the concert unfolded, she continued to enchant the audience with timeless favourites
including Smile, Moon River, I'll Be There, Venus, Cuba Isla Bella, and several beautifully
interpreted Japanese and Chinese songs.
Every piece carried its own unique mood, yet together they formed a seamless musical
journey that gently carried the audience from one emotion to another.
The second half of the concert was even more captivating. The audience rose to their feet
when she sang Rock and Roll, clapping, singing along and swaying to songs that had become
part of their own life’s soundtrack.
It was a beautiful sight to witness people of different generations and backgrounds united
through music.
Among the many highlights, I was particularly moved by her soulful rendition of Ye Lai
Xiang and the vibrant Latin Medley.
Both performances showcased not only her remarkable versatility but also her extraordinary
ability to bridge musical traditions and cultures with effortless grace.
Professionally known as Lisa Ono, she is a celebrated Japanese-Brazilian Bossa Nova singer
and guitarist.
Born in Sao Paulo in 1962, she spent her early childhood in Brazil before moving to Tokyo at
the age of ten.
Since releasing her debut album in 1989, she has recorded more than 40 albums, becoming
one of the world’s foremost ambassadors of Bossa Nova.
For her Malaysian debut, she was accompanied by an outstanding five-member ensemble
comprising musicians from Cuba, Brazil, New York and Tokyo, whose superb artistry
perfectly complemented her understated elegance.
Listening to Lisa Ono perform live was like stepping into another world—one where time
slowed, worries dissolved and every note carried the gentle fragrance of a Brazilian breeze.
Her effortless vocals blended seamlessly with the soothing rhythms of Bossa Nova, the
beautiful marriage of Brazilian samba and jazz.

Every song felt less like a performance and more like a heartfelt conversation between artist
and audience.
What made the evening truly remarkable was its simplicity. There were no dazzling visual
effects or elaborate stage productions.
Lisa Ono demonstrated that genuine artistry requires little embellishment.
With her warm smile, graceful stage presence and exquisite guitar playing, she held the
audience spellbound for more than two hours.
As her fingers danced across the strings, the music painted vivid images of sunlit beaches,
swaying coconut palms, charming cafes and leisurely afternoons by the sea.
Even those unfamiliar with Portuguese or Japanese could feel every emotion woven into the
melodies. Her music transcended language, reaching directly into the heart.
More than anything, she created a rare sense of serenity.
Lisa Ono reminded me of the forgotten art of slowing down, listening deeply and simply
being present.
For those precious two hours, the outside world seemed to disappear, replaced by peace,
nostalgia and quiet joy.
Award-winning writer Dr. T. Selva is the author of the bestsellers Vasthu Sastra Guide
and Secrets of Happy Living. To get a copy, WhatsApp 019-2728464. He can be reached
at drtselvas@gmail.com. Website: www.vasthuguide.com

When the unseen heals

By Dr. T. Selva
The Mor Lam Phil ceremony, conducted by spirit healers from Thailand, unfolded not as a
cultural performance but as a powerful spiritual invocation.
What began as a public ritual soon became an intense encounter with the unseen, drawing
those present into an ancient tradition where healing, ancestral spirits, and sacred chants
converged.
It was a rare privilege to witness this extraordinary ceremony in the open courtyard of
Esplanade, Theatres on the Bay in Singapore recently, where, beneath the soft glow of city
lights and amid the gentle hum of an urban evening, the modern cityscape gave way to an
atmosphere of deep spiritual reverence.
The music began gently: the hypnotic rhythm of traditional instruments, the repetitive chants,
the slow, deliberate movements of the healers.
There was an unmistakable shift in the atmosphere. It felt as if the space itself was being
prepared, cleansed, opened, consecrated.
And then, something happened that transformed the evening entirely.
A man in the audience suddenly began to convulse.
At first, there was confusion. His body shook uncontrollably, his movements erratic, as if
seized by forces beyond his control. The crowd parted instinctively. What I witnessed next
was not panic, but purpose.
He was gently but firmly brought before the healers.
What followed was a moment that I can only describe as deeply unsettling, yet deeply
revealing.
The healers did not react with alarm. Instead, they moved with quiet authority, as if they had
seen this many times before.
The chants intensified. The rhythm of the music grew stronger, more insistent, not chaotic,
but directed.
The man continued to wriggle, his body resisting, almost as if something within him was
being confronted.
Then came the ritual.
The healer circled him, invoking what I could only interpret as ancestral or spiritual forces.
The chants were no longer background noise; they became the centrepiece, penetrating the air
with an almost tangible force.
The entire courtyard seemed to hold its breath.
Gradually, and this is what left me in awe, the man began to calm.
His movements slowed. The violent tremors subsided. What was moments ago a scene of
distress transformed into one of stillness.
Within minutes, he sat upright, composed, as if something had been lifted from him.
I stood there, trying to reconcile what I had just witnessed.
In an environment where we instinctively turn to hospitals, medication, and diagnosis, this
moment challenged my understanding of healing.
What happens when medicine has no explanation?
What happens when the disturbance is not of the body alone, but of something deeper, the
spirit, the energy, the unseen layers of our existence?
The Mor Lam Phil ceremony operates precisely in that realm.
Originating in Northeast Thailand and Laos, this ancient tradition teaches that people do not
suffer alone; they turn to the Phii Fa for healing and guidance.

Far from being mere ghosts, the Phii Fa are revered as primordial creator spirits or heavenly
beings who shaped the world and bestowed upon humanity the sacred gifts of medicine,
healing, and spiritual wisdom.
In many traditional belief systems, illness is not always physical.
It can arise from imbalance, emotional, spiritual, or even environmental.
When such imbalance reaches a tipping point, it manifests in ways that defy conventional
logic.
And it is here that spirit healers step in, not as replacements for doctors, but as custodians of
an ancient knowledge that addresses what science cannot yet measure.
What struck me most was the unwavering certainty of the healers. There was no hesitation,
no doubt.
Only a deep, rooted knowing, a confidence born not from textbooks, but from lineage,
practice, and faith.
And perhaps equally striking was the surrender of the man himself.
Healing, I realised in that moment, is not always about intervention. Sometimes, it is about
release, allowing what is trapped within to surface, be confronted, and be let go of.
As the ceremony continued, the music returning to a gentler rhythm, I found myself reflecting
on how much of modern life is lived on the surface.
We treat symptoms, we manage conditions, but we rarely pause to ask what lies beneath.
That night at the Esplanade was a powerful reminder that healing is multidimensional.
There are forces we understand, and there are forces we do not. Yet, across cultures and
centuries, humanity has always found ways to engage with both.
I walked away not with answers, but with a deeper awareness that beyond the visible world
lies another layer of reality, one that continues to heal, guide, and restore in ways that remain,
even today, beyond our full comprehension.
And sometimes, all it takes is witnessing it, believing that such healing is possible.
Award-winning writer Dr. T. Selva is the author of the bestsellers Vasthu Sastra Guide
and Secrets of Happy Living. To get a copy, WhatsApp 019-2728464. He can be reached
at drtselvas@gmail.com. Website: www.vasthuguide.com