An article written based on a true account of a strange happening that took place in a hotel room. Commonly regarded by many people as 'supernatural'. For Dhamma reflection.

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REFLECTIONS

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From time to time my friend Ho Kheng Kwai (not his
actual name) and I would go to Kuala Lumpur to attend a
motivational or educational talk. We would usually put up
for a night or two in a low budget hotel not far from the
location of the talk. If we had enough time during our
short stay in Kuala Lumpur we would usually browse
around in a couple of well-known bookshops.
A few years ago, we went to attend two talks that were
given for two nights consecutively in Kuala Lumpur. We
took the morning express bus and moved around in Kuala
Lumpur by public buses and the LRT. Upon reaching
Kuala Lumpur we visited some bookshops before
checking into a low budget hotel a walking distance away
from the venue of the talks.
After dinner we walked to the place where the talk was
held. The talk started at 8 pm and went on until about 10
pm after the last question was fielded and answered in
the Q & A session.
We had a light supper before going back to our hotel.
After taking our baths, Kheng Kwai and I chatted in our
twin room until near midnight before we retired to sleep. I
had a very good sleep and did not experience anything
unusual. As for Kheng Kwai, I did not know what
happened until the following morning when we got up
and he told me of the strange and scary happening that he
experienced. This was his account of the night
experience:

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‘I lay on my bed at around 12.30 am and after what must
have been 10 or 15 minutes later I fell asleep. After one
or two hours, I think, I woke up. As the room was
completely dark, I could not see anything. But I felt my
heart beating at a fast pace and I was feeling cold and
very scared. I knew I was awake and not dreaming.
Something or somebody was pressing on me. It felt very
heavy and I was virtually pinned down, unable to move at
all. I tried to scream but I just could not voice anything
out. It was as if I had lost my power to utter any sound.
My hands and legs also could not move. Only my mind
was racing with thoughts …Oh, what’s happening? Is it a
ghost? I need help! Oh God! Please help me.
I started to pray and did some chanting, marshalling all
that I knew of religious practices. Finally, the frightening
experience went away and I felt relieved. I returned to my
normal state. I could breathe in the usual way once again
and all my bodily functions could work as usual. I said
out a short prayer and I was glad that my speech was
alright.’
“Why didn’t you wake me up, Kheng Kwai?” I asked.
“You could get up from your bed, use your torchlight
beside you and go to switch on the room lights.”
“I did not want to disturb you in your sound sleep,”
Kheng Kwai told me. “So I just continued to lie on my
bed until I fell asleep again.”

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“The next time you experience anything uncanny, do
wake me up. It is perfectly alright. What are friends for?”
I told him.
“Was it a ghost that visited me?” Kheng Kwai asked me.
This was what I told him:
“Honestly, I do not know for sure but I believe it was not
any ghost or spirit or any other entity that pressed on you.
It is a case of a physiological happening. I have heard this
sort of experience happening to a number of people, the
young and old alike. I had asked some of my friends in
the medical line, doctors, hospital assistants and nurses.
One such friend told me that sometimes in our sleep as we
toss and change our lying down positions, we might
unknowingly press on certain nerves and muscles. This
could have some physiological effects, just as we could
experience numbness, heavy aching feelings , sensations
resembling ‘paralysis’ and so on when we sit cross-legged
or in lotus positions for a long period of time. And then
these sensations would go off especially after we change
our leg positions.”
“So after all, what I experienced could have a
physiological basis? No ghost visited me?” Kheng Kwai
said, sighing a sort of relief.
“Yes, precisely,” I assured him. “Ha, ha, ghosts don’t
simply visit people! You thought it was a lady ghost
trying to molest you?” I pulled his leg. Both of us had a
good laugh.

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“What should one do if one were to have such unpleasant
sensations?” Kheng Kwai asked. “Should we pray to a
god, or chant a mantra?”
“Well,” I said, “from what I learnt from a monk, one
should not panic but try to remain calm. There is no harm
in praying or chanting; it can do you good. It calms your
mind down and before long the unpleasant feelings or
sensations will disappear.”
“This makes sense to me,” Kheng Kwai said, quite happy
with the explanation.
The second night at the hotel passed without any incident.
Kheng Kwai slept peacefully.
Reflections
* Strange happenings or feelings and sensations have
a logical cause. Too often many people jump to
conclusions and attribute them to spirits, ghosts or other
paranormal things.
* When the mind is filled with superstition or deluded
beliefs, it can be overwhelmed by doubt, anxiety, worry
and fear.
* The mind that has been conditioned with false beliefs
weakens and can experience undesirable things.
* With understanding, wisdom and compassion, the
mind gains strength and can remain steady and not
fearful amidst any ‘strange’ happenings or experiences.
When the Dhamma is
practiced well, ( Dana, Sila
& Bhavana), no Ghosts,
Demons, Spirits or Charms
can harm you.