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[ Jum'at, 13 Maret 2009 ] Jawa Pos

Pengalaman Hidup Banker ”Tervonis Mati” Karmaka Surjaudaja (1)

Sesuai Doa, Donor Hati Datang pada Hari Ketiga

Kisah hidup Karmaka Surjaudaja, chairman emeritus Bank OCBC NISP, memang penuh liku. Lahir dari keluarga miskin asal Fujian, Tiongkok, kini dia memimpin bank dengan aset Rp 34 triliun. Maut seperti tak pernah berhenti mengintai kehidupannya.

IWAN UNGSI, Jakarta

TAMPIL dalam acara talk show di televisi swasta di Jakarta, Karmaka Surjaudaja yang mengenakan stelan jas warna hitam dipadu dasi keemasan masih tampak gagah pada usia 75 tahun. Gurat wajahnya menunjukkan dia telah melampaui banyak masa sulit. Mulai pengalaman beberapa kali mau dibunuh orang, percobaan bunuh diri, hingga menjalani operasi transplantasi liver dan ginjal sehingga harus mengalami koma beberapa kali.

Sejak 13 tahun lalu, Karmaka bahkan divonis mati oleh dokter. Namun, dia bersyukur Tuhan selalu menyayanginya sehingga setiap menghadapi cobaan besar bisa melampaui. Moto hidup Karmaka ”Tidak Ada Yang Tidak Bisa” akhirnya menjadi judul buku 279 halaman yang ditulis oleh CEO/Chairman Jawa Pos Dahlan Iskan.

Penulisan buku tersebut bermula ketika anak Karmaka, Pramukti Surjaudaja, menghubungi Dahlan yang pada 2007 sukses menjalani transplantasi hati. Lewat Pramukti, sang ayah menitipkan nasihat kepada Dahlan agar tak langsung bekerja keras setelah operasi. Sembari menasihati tersebut, Karmaka juga menceritakan kisah hidupnya. Kisah tersebut membuat Dahlan tergerak untuk menulis.

”Saya merasa bersalah kalau kisah Pak Karmaka ini tidak ditulis. Wong buku tentang pengalaman (ganti hati) saya tulis laris kok,” ujar Dahlan yang saat itu duduk di samping Pramukti Surjaudaja.

Karmaka memulai cerita hidup dengan mengenang saat dirinya diduga menderita penyakit kanker sirosis dan dibawa ke New York, Amerika Serikat. Setelah diperiksa, ternyata dia menderita PBC (primary biliary cirrhosis), penyakit hati yang disebabkan abnormalitas sistem imun tubuh.

Meski bukan kanker, penyakit yang dia derita tidak kalah gawat. Saat itu Prof Fenton Shaffner yang memeriksa Karmaka mengemukakan bahwa penyakit yang dia derita tidak ada obatnya. Pengidap penyakit itu biasanya akibat merokok dan minum-minuman alkohol.

”Padahal, saya tidak merokok dan minum alkohol. Kemungkinan karena saya sering berada dalam ruangan orang yang merokok untuk membicarakan bisnis,” kenang pria yang dipanggil Nyao oleh cucu-cucunya itu.

Setelah berkonsultasi, dokter menyimpulkan bahwa penyebab penyakit Karmaka adalah overstress yang berkelanjutan. Sejak muda Karmaka memang dikenal sebagi pekerja keras. Pagi dia mengajar sebagai guru, siang menjadi buruh pabrik tekstil, dan malam sebagai guru les privat. Aktivitas yang terakhir membuat dia bertemu dengan istri yang mendampinginya hingga kini.

Karena memang tak ada obatnya, dokter Amerika itu menyuruh Karmaka bersama istri pulang dan menikmati sisa hidup. Namun, Karmaka tak menyerah. ”Kami ke poliklinik di Jerman, kemudian ke Jepang. Semua dokter angkat tangan,” katanya.

Saat kembali ke tanah air, pikiran Karmaka lebih tertuju kepada buah hatinya. Anak-anaknya disuruh untuk menuntut ilmu ke Amerika Serikat. Pada 1997, kondisi dia terus memburuk. Itu ditandai dengan gejala-gejala seperti muntah darah maupun berak darah. Satu-satunya pengobatan saat itu adalah transplantasi hati. Karmaka menolak. Sebab, saat itu teknologi kedokteran belum semaju sekarang. Di antara tiga orang Indonesia yang transplantasi, tidak ada satu pun yang bisa bertahan hidup dalam setahun.

Suatu hari, masih pada 1997, Karmaka pingsan di kantor pusat Bank NISP di Bandung. Penyakit itu telah menyebabkan saluran pembuluh darahnya hampir pecah. Dia kemudian diterbangkan ke sebuah rumah sakit Mount Sinai di New York, Amerika. Di sana pihak RS justru memarahi keluarga Karmaka karena tidak ada lagi yang bisa dilakukan. ”Mencari donor (liver) di Amerika juga tidak mudah. Butuh waktu 1-2 tahun,” kata Karmaka, yang saat bayi 10 bulan harus dijamin 500 gulden untuk bisa masuk Indonesia dengan perahu.

Akibat berbagai problem yang mengimpit, Karmaka sempat hilang akal. Dia meminta seluruh keluarganya pulang ke Bandung. Kalau tidak, dia memilih untuk meninggal saja. Tidak mau berdebat dengan pasien yang sakit keras, dengan berat hati anggota keluarga Karmaka mengabulkan permintaan itu.

Pada saat itu, kata Karmaka, perutnya yang telah membesar menandakan penyakit liver yang dideritanya sudah gawat. Saat itulah muncul keinginan Karmaka untuk mengakhiri hidup. Sambil duduk dia mencopoti alat-alat bantu medis, kemudian menundukkan kepala untuk menekan hatinya. Saat itu dia merasa pembuluh darahnya serasa ada yang pecah. “Saat itu saya yakin akan mati. Saya kemudian berdoa kepada Tuhan,” kata pria bernama asli Kwee Tjie Hoei itu.

Menurut Karmaka, doa itu masih terkenang hingga kini. Ada dua hal yang dimintanya. Yang pertama, minta maaf kepada Tuhan yang ditinggalkannya sejak 1964. Yakni, ketika adiknya, Kwee Tjie Ong, meninggal dunia akibat kecelakaan beberapa hari sebelum diwisuda menjadi sarjana.

Hubungan emosional yang erat dengan sang adik membuat Karmaka “marah” besar kepada Tuhan. Sebab, demi adiknyalah Karmaka mengalah tidak masuk ITB jurusan elektro yang diidam-idamkan. Kondisi ekonomi keluarga yang pas-pasan membuat ayahnya hanya bisa membiayai pendidikan tinggi satu anak.

Karmaka bangga adiknya menunjukkan prestasi yang brilian di Fakultas Kedokteran (FK) Universitas Indonesia. Ketika mahasiswa lain harus ditempatkan PTT di pedesaan, adiknya justru langsung menjadi asisten dosen dan meraih beasiswa spesialis internist (penyakit dalam).

Setelah terjadi kecelakaan, Karmaka mempertanyakan keputusan Tuhan mengambil nyawa adiknya yang disayangi keluarga. “Padahal, kami sekeluarga rajin ke gereja tiap minggu,” kenangnya.

Doa kedua yang dipanjatkan Karmaka adalah agar Tuhan mengampuni dosa keduanya. Yakni, pada 1966, saat terjadi krisis ekonomi, kepala kantor Bank NISP sampai dicekik dan diculik oleh masyarakat. “Kami harus memberhentikan kurang lebih 3.000 karyawan NISP yang loyal dan setia,” lanjutnya.

Di antara dua doa meminta ampun tersebut, Karmaka juga masih sempat menantang Tuhan. “Kalau memang Tuhan ada, maka akan ada donor dalam tiga hari ini,” katanya.

Untung, upaya Karmaka mengakhiri hidup itu diketahui perawat yang kemudian menyelamatkannya. Setelah kejadian tersebut, dokter tidak lagi percaya kepadanya dan menugasi dua suster untuk menjaganya.

Hari pertama setelah kejadian itu, Karmaka melihat air seninya masih kuning. Tanda-tanda pembuluh darah yang pecah adalah air seni menjadi merah atau kehitaman. Demikian juga hari kedua. Lalu, pada hari ketiga terjadi kejutan. Seorang suster mengabarkan ada donor yang siap memberikan livernya untuk Karmaka.

“Kabar itu seperti jawaban dari Tuhan atas doa-doa saya,” kata Karmaka yang sukses menjalani operasi transplantasi hati itu.

[ Sabtu, 14 Maret 2009 ]

Pengalaman Hidup Banker ”Tervonis Mati” Karmaka Surjaudaja (2)

Hidup Lagi setelah Foto Peti Jenazah Siap Pasang

Karmaka Surjaudaja memang digerogoti penyakit. Tapi, dia punya semangat hidup luar biasa. Kalau ada kolega yang bertanya ”Sehat, Pak?”, dia selalu menjawab, ”Saya tidak sehat, tapi saya bertahan hidup.” Inilah sebagian episode hidupnya yang ditulis oleh DAHLAN ISKAN dalam buku Tidak Ada Yang Tidak Bisa.

Seseorang yang melakukan transplantasi liver seperti Karmaka harus terus-menerus meminum obat setiap hari. Sehari bisa lima kali. Obatnya berjenis-jenis hingga belasan jumlahnya dan semuanya punya dampak samping yang harus diatasi dengan meminum obat yang lain lagi.

Salah satunya adalah obat yang sangat keras berfungsi sebagai anti-rejection atau penolakan agar liver baru terus bisa diterima dan bekerja secara sinkron dengan organ tubuh yang lain.

Akibat terus-menerus meminum banyak obat yang sangat keras, ginjal Karmaka ”kalah”. Ginjal kanannya kehilangan fungsinya. Bahkan, ternyata di dalam ginjal kanan itu juga diketahui tumbuh kanker ganas. Maka pada 2002, lima tahun setelah Karmaka menjalani penggantian liver, dia harus menghadapi operasi ginjal. Apalagi kanker itu sudah pula menjalar ke bladder (kandung kemih), yang berfungsi menampung air kencing.

Karmaka pergi ke UCLA Medical Center di Los Angeles, Amerika, karena di sana ada dokter yang memahami operasi ginjal bagi pasien yang pernah transplantasi liver. Di situlah ginjal kanan Karmaka dipotong dan dibuang.

Sejak tahun itu, Karmaka harus hidup hanya dengan satu ginjal. Dan karena kankernya mulai menjalar, Karmaka harus beberapa kali ke Los Angeles untuk membersihkan sisa-sisa kanker tersebut.

Pembersihan tumor kanker itu dilakukan dengan cara memasukkan alat dari lubang kemaluan. Setelah itu, selama empat bulan setiap minggu harus ke Singapura untuk melakukan kemoterapi. Itu dimaksudkan agar sisa-sisa kanker yang mungkin masih ada di dalamnya bisa dibasmi secara sempurna.

Dalam keadaan seperti itu, Karmaka masih mengalami musibah tambahan. Waktu berada di Lombok, saat sedang berlibur bersama keluarga, Karmaka jatuh. Dia jatuh dari tempat tidur saat bangun pagi-pagi karena ingin buru-buru ke bandara. Tulang pahanya retak. Sakitnya bukan main. Karmaka tidak bisa berjalan. Pagi itu terpaksa dia dipapah sambil berjalan mengenakan kruk.

Setiba di Bandung, Karmaka ditangani dokter dan diharuskan istirahat di tempat tidur selama tiga bulan. Dia tidak boleh bergerak ke mana-mana. Itu tidak bisa diterima oleh Karmaka yang sangat aktif dan mobile itu. Maka, dia datang ke ahli akupunktur, dr Sim Kie Ie.

Dalam pengobatannya, dr Sim Kie Ie selalu menggunakan akupunktur dan obat gosok. Yakni, arak yang digosokkan setiap hari ke bagian pahanya. Selama pengobatan tersebut, Karmaka masih tetap masuk kantor, meski harus menggunakan kruk.

Minggu kedua dia mencoba melepas salah satu kruknya. Ternyata bisa. Minggu ketiga yang satu lagi dia lepas. Juga bisa. Maka, dalam tiga minggu Karmaka sudah kembali bisa berjalan normal. Tidak harus tiga bulan berbaring di tempat tidur seperti yang diperkirakan semula. Kembali itu membuktikan bahwa kemauan (mind power) sangat penting dan bisa meningkatkan hasil secara luar biasa.

Usaha melawan sisa-sisa kankernya masih terus dilakukan. Tapi, upaya itu juga mengakibatkan bagian-bagian lain organnya terganggu. Pada suatu pagi pada 2003, ketika Karmaka dalam perjalanan ke kantor NISP, tiba-tiba dia tidak bisa bernapas. Karmaka pingsan. Sama sekali tidak sadar.

Dia langsung dilarikan ke RS Boromeus dalam keadaan tidak sadar. Bahkan, sampai empat hari kemudian Karmaka masih tetap belum bisa siuman. Dari alat-alat monitor diketahui bahwa saraf otaknya sudah menunjukkan angka nol. Demikian juga jantungnya sudah hampir-hampir tidak berfungsi. Keluarga panik. Harapan sudah amat tipis.

Namun, pihak keluarga belum mau menyerah. Dengan pesawat carteran, Karmaka diterbangkan ke Mount Elizabeth, Singapura. Di sana dilakukanlah pertolongan darurat. Namun sia-sia. Akhirnya Karmaka hanya dimasukkan ICU untuk dimonitor setiap hari. Namun, hasil monitor itu tetap menunjukkan tidak ada perubahan. Karmaka masih dalam keadaan koma dan tidak ada tanda-tanda yang bisa memberikan harapan.

Setelah seminggu kemudian pun keadaan Karmaka tetap koma. Keluarga pun sudah siap dengan kenyataan terburuk. Maka, persiapan untuk menyambut kematian Karmaka mulai dilakukan. Foto Karmaka yang paling ganteng sudah disiapkan. Foto tersebut juga sudah diminta dikirim ke Singapura. Foto itulah yang akan dipasang di atas peti jenazahnya kelak kalau mayatnya dibawa pulang ke Bandung.

Pada hari ke-9, seorang perawat sedang menengok Karmaka yang masih koma itu. Tiba-tiba, dia melihat jari-jari tangan kanan Karmaka bergerak-gerak. Lalu, perawat tersebut berlari-lari sambil mengatakan kepada temannya bahwa pasien itu masih hidup!

Setelah adanya laporan suster tersebut, dokter dan perawat lain mendatangi Karmaka. Lalu memberikan pertolongan pernapasan dan pertolongan detak jantung. Terjadilah apa yang mestinya tidak terjadi: Karmaka siuman dan sadar kembali. Karmaka hidup lagi. Keluarganya yang sudah pasrah pun merasa amat bahagia.

Karmaka mendengarkan cerita apa saja yang dialaminya selama ”mati” hampir dua minggu lamanya. Karmaka juga merasa bahagia. Karmaka memang selalu menyatakan bahwa semangat dan keyakinan diri yang tinggi sering membuat hidupnya sungguh-sungguh hidup. Dan kebaikan semua karyawannya juga mendorong hidupnya menjadi lebih hidup. Lebih-lebih lagi cinta kasih sayang dari istri, anak-anak dan menantu-menantu, serta cucu-cucunya yang sangat membangkitkan semangat hidup!

[ Minggu, 15 Maret 2009 ]

Pengalaman Hidup Banker ”Tervonis Mati” Karmaka Surjaudaja (3-Habis)

Keluar Rumah Terpaksa Pakai Jaket Antipeluru

Karmaka Surjaudaja membesarkan Bank NISP dengan keringat dan air mata. Banyak suka duka yang dialami saat dia memimpin bank warisan mertuanya itu. Termasuk menjadi korban penculikan yang hingga kini tidak jelas motifnya.

IWAN UNGSI, Jakarta

PENGALAMAN berjibaku dengan maut memang menjadi salah satu kisah hidup Karmaka yang sulit dilupakan. Selain kondisi kesehatan yang membuatnya nyaris meninggal, ayah lima orang anak itu mengaku tiga kali mengalami percobaan pembunuhan.

Yang pertama pada 1962, saat dia mendapat tugas dari mertuanya, Lim Khe Tjie, pemilik Bank NISP, untuk mengambil alih manajemen bank yang berkantor pusat di Bandung itu.

Meski masih anggota keluarga (menantu) pemilik, itu bukan tugas yang gampang bagi Karmaka. Manajemen saat itu -yang oleh pemilik dan karyawan dianggap tidak beriktikad baik dalam mengelola perusahaan- menolak Karmaka masuk ke manajemen. Status Karmaka yang masih warga negara asing (WNA) dan hanya tamatan SMA menjadi alasan mereka tidak menerimanya.

Namun, berkat dukungan karyawan yang khawatir Bank NISP akan kolaps karena mismanajemen, Karmaka (dengan izin khusus dari otoritas moneter) akhirnya bisa menjadi direktur utama bank kebanggaan warga kota kembang itu. Meski demikian, pejabat lama saat itu tidak segera menyerahkan mobil dinas kepada Karmaka. Alsannya, mobil itu masih di bengkel. Baru tiga hari kemudian mobil tersebut diantarkan ke rumahnya.

Karmaka merasa ada yang tidak beres dengan mobil itu sehingga meminta seorang mekanik untuk memeriksa mobilnya. Benar dugaannya, sang mekanik itu mengatakan bahwa mobil tersebut akan mengalami kecelakaan jika dipacu dalam kecepatan tinggi karena remnya blong.

”Saya langsung datangi rumahnya (mantan pejabat Bank NISP) itu. Kamu mencoba membunuh saya. Kalau ada apa-apa dengan saya, semua orang menjadi saksi kamu pernah mencoba membunuh saya,” labrak Karmaka.

Di bawah kepemimpinannya, Bank NISP yang dulu dibesarkan mertuanya bisa sehat kembali. Namun, pada September 1965, pemerintah melakukan sanering. Dengan kebijakan moneter itu , uang Rp 1.000 tinggal Rp 1. Akibatnya, banyak nasabah yang marah. Bank-bank mengalami kesulitan besar. Tak terkecuali Bank NISP.

Saat itu keluarganya sebagai pemilik Bank NISP terpaksa harus berbagi saham dengan seorang bos besar dari Jakarta. Investor itu membeli 43 persen saham NISP lewat lelang.

Saat bermitra dengan investor itulah, Karmaka merasa seperti keluar lubang buaya masuk ke kandang singa. Meski telah berhasil menyelamatkan NISP dengan lelang, sang pemenang ternyata menyimpan maksud ingin menguasai 100 persen saham NISP.

Suatu hari, setelah Lebaran, Karmaka mau keluar kota. Sesaat sebelum berangkat itulah, sopirnya melihat ada bekas lubang peluru di bumper kiri mobilnya. ”Kemarin belum ada lubang ini,” lapor sopir Karmaka.

Kakek dari lima orang cucu itu curiga. Dia langsung meminta orang kepolisian menyelidiknya. Ternyata benar, lubang itu merupakan lubang peluru yang sengaja ditembakkan dari jarak cukup dekat dari samping kiri-belakang. ”Sejak itu saya sangat berhati-hati,” katanya.

Upaya pembunuhan ketiga terhadap Karmaka terjadi saat anaknya yang keempat, Parwati Surjaudaja (kini menjabat Presdir Bank OCBC NISP), berusia 10 bulan. Ceritanya, pagi itu Karmaka sedang menggendong anak perempuannya itu. Tiba-tiba terdengar sebuah mobil direm mendadak. Dia melihat mobil jip berhenti di rumahnya. Beberapa petugas CPM (polisi militer) turun dan menanyakan tentang rumah Mr Tan. Karena memang tak kenal, Karmaka menjawab tidak tahu.

Kemudian, petugas tersebut kembali naik jip dan pergi begitu saja. Selang 30 menit kemudian, telepon rumah Karmaka berdering. Setelah itu, sang penelepon dengan kasar menyuruh Karmaka ke Restoran Sin A di Jalan Suniaraja, Bandung. Lokasi tersebut kini berubah menjadi gedung Bank Jasa Arta.

”Kalau dalam satu jam tidak juga datang, bom-bom granat di sekitar rumahmu akan meledak semua,” gertak si penelepon.

Melihat gelagat yang tidak baik, Karmaka langsung berganti baju yang lusuh dan naik becak menuju lokasi. Begitu tiba di lokasi, orang-orang yang sempat ke rumahnya tadi langsung mendatanginya dan mengatakan. ”Awas! Ini pistol. Pistol ini tidak menimbulkan bunyi. Segera naik jip,” perintah salah seorang.

Karmaka akhirnya dibawa berputar-putar dan akhirnya disekap ke pedesaan. Dia bingung dengan motif penyekapan tersebut. Apakah soal uang? Saham? Tidak jelas. Pada pukul 02.30, saat dua penjaganya tidur mengorok, Karmaka lalu menjebol jendela dan melarikan diri. Dia terus berlari bertelanjang kaki menyusuri pematang.

Di situ kemudian dia bertemu dengan petani yang menyebutkan bahwa nama desa tersebut adalah Gegerkalong. Sang petani kemudian menunjukkan jalan keluar dari desa itu. Tepat pukul 04.00 Subuh, Karmaka tiba di rumah di Jalan Hegarmanah nomor 10. Ini rumah Brigjen Sutoko. Salah seorang kolega ayah mertuanya. Dengan napas masih ngos-ngosan, Karmaka mengetuk pintu rumah itu keras-keras. ”Siapa?” terdengar suara dalam rumah.

”Saya Pak, menantu Lim Khe Tjie,” jawab Karmaka. ”Saya mohon pertolongan dan perlindungan,” tambahnya. ”Saya mau dibunuh orang,” ujarnya lagi.

”Lim Khe Tji Bank NISP?” tanya suara dari dalam. ”Ya Pak,” jawab Karmaka.

Jenderal Sutoko yang dikenal akrab oleh para aktivis mahasiswa ITB itu keluar rumah. ”Masuk, duduk sini,” kata Pak Sutoko. Dia lalu bertanya kepada Karmaka. ”Kamu tahu siapa itu mertuamu?” ”Tahu Pak, Lim Khe Tjie,” jawab Karmaka. ”Bukan itu, tahu nggak siapa dan bagaimana beliau itu,” lanjutnya.

”Tidak tahu,” jawab Karmaka. Pak Sutoko akhirnya menceritakan bahwa mertuanya adalah seorang berjasa dalam perjuangan kemerdekaan yang turut bahu-membahu dengan para pejuang di Bandung. Sutoko yang dikenal dekat dengan Jenderal Nasution itu menelepon seorang kolonel dan memerintahkan agar Karmaka mendapat pengawalan. Perwira itu lalu menerjunkan sepuluh prajurit untuk mengantarkan Karmaka pulang ke rumah.

Hingga dua tahun setelah peristiwa itu, Karmaka masih mendapat pengawalan dari prajurit (meski jumlahnya tinggal dua orang). Selain itu, dia mendapat jaket antipeluru yang dikenakan saat keluar rumah. Meski agak terganggu (karena memang berat), jaket itu tetap dipakai.

Kini pada usia 75 tahun, meski masih menderita sakit di kandung kemih, kehidupan Karmaka masih diwarnai tawa. Dia ditakdirkan untuk tetap bisa melihat perkembangan NISP. Terutama di bawah kepemimpinan anak-anaknya.

Dalam acara Kick Andy itu, lima cucu Karmaka (Tisya, Ringgo, Narendra, Sagara, dan Albert) yang lucu-lucu menyempatkan diri mengemukakan nasihat-nasihat yang sejak dulu diberikan Nyao -panggilan Karmaka.

Tisya, misalnya, mengingat nasihat sang kakek bahwa kesempatan baik tidak selalu ada. Kemudian, Ringgo mengingatkan nasihat pentingnya untuk menjadi mandiri. Narendra dengan bersemangat mengucapkan kalimat ”Harus Sekolah! Pantang Menyerah!

Sagara mengingatkan nasihat sekaligus pengalaman pribadi Nyao bahwa kakak harus mengalah kepada adik-adiknya. Tidak boleh selalu ingin menang sendiri. Sekaraya mengingat pesan sang aki bahwa badan harus sehat, makan sayur mayur dan makanan sehat, serta istirahat yang cukup. Albert, cucu yang paling besar, mengatakan bahwa kakeknya bukan sekadar memberikan nasihat kosong. ”Semua diambil dari pengalaman hidup yang luar biasa,” katanya. (el)

Hidup Lagi setelah Foto Peti Jenazah Siap Pasang

Karmaka Surjaudaja memang digerogoti penyakit. Tapi, dia punya semangat hidup luar biasa. Kalau ada kolega yang bertanya ”Sehat, Pak?”, dia selalu menjawab, ”Saya tidak sehat, tapi saya bertahan hidup.” Inilah sebagian episode hidupnya yang ditulis oleh DAHLAN ISKAN dalam buku Tidak Ada Yang Tidak Bisa.

—–

Seseorang yang melakukan transplantasi liver seperti Karmaka harus terus-menerus meminum obat setiap hari. Sehari bisa lima kali. Obatnya berjenis-jenis hingga belasan jumlahnya dan semuanya punya dampak samping yang harus diatasi dengan meminum obat yang lain lagi.

Salah satunya adalah obat yang sangat keras berfungsi sebagai anti-rejection atau penolakan agar liver baru terus bisa diterima dan bekerja secara sinkron dengan organ tubuh yang lain.

Akibat terus-menerus meminum banyak obat yang sangat keras, ginjal Karmaka ”kalah”. Ginjal kanannya kehilangan fungsinya. Bahkan, ternyata di dalam ginjal kanan itu juga diketahui tumbuh kanker ganas. Maka pada 2002, lima tahun setelah Karmaka menjalani penggantian liver, dia harus menghadapi operasi ginjal. Apalagi kanker itu sudah pula menjalar ke bladder (kandung kemih), yang berfungsi menampung air kencing.

Karmaka pergi ke UCLA Medical Center di Los Angeles, Amerika, karena di sana ada dokter yang memahami operasi ginjal bagi pasien yang pernah transplantasi liver. Di situlah ginjal kanan Karmaka dipotong dan dibuang.

Sejak tahun itu, Karmaka harus hidup hanya dengan satu ginjal. Dan karena kankernya mulai menjalar, Karmaka harus beberapa kali ke Los Angeles untuk membersihkan sisa-sisa kanker tersebut.

Pembersihan tumor kanker itu dilakukan dengan cara memasukkan alat dari lubang kemaluan. Setelah itu, selama empat bulan setiap minggu harus ke Singapura untuk melakukan kemoterapi. Itu dimaksudkan agar sisa-sisa kanker yang mungkin masih ada di dalamnya bisa dibasmi secara sempurna.

Dalam keadaan seperti itu, Karmaka masih mengalami musibah tambahan. Waktu berada di Lombok, saat sedang berlibur bersama keluarga, Karmaka jatuh. Dia jatuh dari tempat tidur saat bangun pagi-pagi karena ingin buru-buru ke bandara. Tulang pahanya retak. Sakitnya bukan main. Karmaka tidak bisa berjalan. Pagi itu terpaksa dia dipapah sambil berjalan mengenakan kruk.

Setiba di Bandung, Karmaka ditangani dokter dan diharuskan istirahat di tempat tidur selama tiga bulan. Dia tidak boleh bergerak ke mana-mana. Itu tidak bisa diterima oleh Karmaka yang sangat aktif dan mobile itu. Maka, dia datang ke ahli akupunktur, dr Sim Kie Ie.

Dalam pengobatannya, dr Sim Kie Ie selalu menggunakan akupunktur dan obat gosok. Yakni, arak yang digosokkan setiap hari ke bagian pahanya. Selama pengobatan tersebut, Karmaka masih tetap masuk kantor, meski harus menggunakan kruk.

Minggu kedua dia mencoba melepas salah satu kruknya. Ternyata bisa. Minggu ketiga yang satu lagi dia lepas. Juga bisa. Maka, dalam tiga minggu Karmaka sudah kembali bisa berjalan normal. Tidak harus tiga bulan berbaring di tempat tidur seperti yang diperkirakan semula. Kembali itu membuktikan bahwa kemauan (mind power) sangat penting dan bisa meningkatkan hasil secara luar biasa.

***

Usaha melawan sisa-sisa kankernya masih terus dilakukan. Tapi, upaya itu juga mengakibatkan bagian-bagian lain organnya terganggu. Pada suatu pagi pada 2003, ketika Karmaka dalam perjalanan ke kantor NISP, tiba-tiba dia tidak bisa bernapas. Karmaka pingsan. Sama sekali tidak sadar.

Dia langsung dilarikan ke RS Boromeus dalam keadaan tidak sadar. Bahkan, sampai empat hari kemudian Karmaka masih tetap belum bisa siuman. Dari alat-alat monitor diketahui bahwa saraf otaknya sudah menunjukkan angka nol. Demikian juga jantungnya sudah hampir-hampir tidak berfungsi. Keluarga panik. Harapan sudah amat tipis.

Namun, pihak keluarga belum mau menyerah. Dengan pesawat carteran, Karmaka diterbangkan ke Mount Elizabeth, Singapura. Di sana dilakukanlah pertolongan darurat. Namun sia-sia. Akhirnya Karmaka hanya dimasukkan ICU untuk dimonitor setiap hari. Namun, hasil monitor itu tetap menunjukkan tidak ada perubahan. Karmaka masih dalam keadaan koma dan tidak ada tanda-tanda yang bisa memberikan harapan.

Setelah seminggu kemudian pun keadaan Karmaka tetap koma. Keluarga pun sudah siap dengan kenyataan terburuk. Maka, persiapan untuk menyambut kematian Karmaka mulai dilakukan. Foto Karmaka yang paling ganteng sudah disiapkan. Foto tersebut juga sudah diminta dikirim ke Singapura. Foto itulah yang akan dipasang di atas peti jenazahnya kelak kalau mayatnya dibawa pulang ke Bandung.

Pada hari ke-9, seorang perawat sedang menengok Karmaka yang masih koma itu. Tiba-tiba, dia melihat jari-jari tangan kanan Karmaka bergerak-gerak. Lalu, perawat tersebut berlari-lari sambil mengatakan kepada temannya bahwa pasien itu masih hidup!

Setelah adanya laporan suster tersebut, dokter dan perawat lain mendatangi Karmaka. Lalu memberikan pertolongan pernapasan dan pertolongan detak jantung. Terjadilah apa yang mestinya tidak terjadi: Karmaka siuman dan sadar kembali. Karmaka hidup lagi. Keluarganya yang sudah pasrah pun merasa amat bahagia.

Karmaka mendengarkan cerita apa saja yang dialaminya selama ”mati” hampir dua minggu lamanya. Karmaka juga merasa bahagia. Karmaka memang selalu menyatakan bahwa semangat dan keyakinan diri yang tinggi sering membuat hidupnya sungguh-sungguh hidup. Dan kebaikan semua karyawannya juga mendorong hidupnya menjadi lebih hidup. Lebih-lebih lagi cinta kasih sayang dari istri, anak-anak dan menantu-menantu, serta cucu-cucunya yang sangat membangkitkan semangat hidup!

Keluar Rumah Terpaksa Pakai Jaket Antipeluru

Karmaka Surjaudaja membesarkan Bank NISP dengan keringat dan air mata. Banyak suka duka yang dialami saat dia memimpin bank warisan mertuanya itu. Termasuk menjadi korban penculikan yang hingga kini tidak jelas motifnya.

IWAN UNGSI, Jakarta

—–

PENGALAMAN berjibaku dengan maut memang menjadi salah satu kisah hidup Karmaka yang sulit dilupakan. Selain kondisi kesehatan yang membuatnya nyaris meninggal, ayah lima orang anak itu mengaku tiga kali mengalami percobaan pembunuhan.

Yang pertama pada 1962, saat dia mendapat tugas dari mertuanya, Lim Khe Tjie, pemilik Bank NISP, untuk mengambil alih manajemen bank yang berkantor pusat di Bandung itu.

Meski masih anggota keluarga (menantu) pemilik, itu bukan tugas yang gampang bagi Karmaka. Manajemen saat itu -yang oleh pemilik dan karyawan dianggap tidak beriktikad baik dalam mengelola perusahaan- menolak Karmaka masuk ke manajemen. Status Karmaka yang masih warga negara asing (WNA) dan hanya tamatan SMA menjadi alasan mereka tidak menerimanya.

Namun, berkat dukungan karyawan yang khawatir Bank NISP akan kolaps karena mismanajemen, Karmaka (dengan izin khusus dari otoritas moneter) akhirnya bisa menjadi direktur utama bank kebanggaan warga kota kembang itu. Meski demikian, pejabat lama saat itu tidak segera menyerahkan mobil dinas kepada Karmaka. Alsannya, mobil itu masih di bengkel. Baru tiga hari kemudian mobil tersebut diantarkan ke rumahnya.

Karmaka merasa ada yang tidak beres dengan mobil itu sehingga meminta seorang mekanik untuk memeriksa mobilnya. Benar dugaannya, sang mekanik itu mengatakan bahwa mobil tersebut akan mengalami kecelakaan jika dipacu dalam kecepatan tinggi karena remnya blong.

”Saya langsung datangi rumahnya (mantan pejabat Bank NISP) itu. Kamu mencoba membunuh saya. Kalau ada apa-apa dengan saya, semua orang menjadi saksi kamu pernah mencoba membunuh saya,” labrak Karmaka.

Di bawah kepemimpinannya, Bank NISP yang dulu dibesarkan mertuanya bisa sehat kembali. Namun, pada September 1965, pemerintah melakukan sanering. Dengan kebijakan moneter itu , uang Rp 1.000 tinggal Rp 1. Akibatnya, banyak nasabah yang marah. Bank-bank mengalami kesulitan besar. Tak terkecuali Bank NISP.

Saat itu keluarganya sebagai pemilik Bank NISP terpaksa harus berbagi saham dengan seorang bos besar dari Jakarta. Investor itu membeli 43 persen saham NISP lewat lelang.

Saat bermitra dengan investor itulah, Karmaka merasa seperti keluar lubang buaya masuk ke kandang singa. Meski telah berhasil menyelamatkan NISP dengan lelang, sang pemenang ternyata menyimpan maksud ingin menguasai 100 persen saham NISP.

Suatu hari, setelah Lebaran, Karmaka mau keluar kota. Sesaat sebelum berangkat itulah, sopirnya melihat ada bekas lubang peluru di bumper kiri mobilnya. ”Kemarin belum ada lubang ini,” lapor sopir Karmaka.

Kakek dari lima orang cucu itu curiga. Dia langsung meminta orang kepolisian menyelidiknya. Ternyata benar, lubang itu merupakan lubang peluru yang sengaja ditembakkan dari jarak cukup dekat dari samping kiri-belakang. ”Sejak itu saya sangat berhati-hati,” katanya.

Upaya pembunuhan ketiga terhadap Karmaka terjadi saat anaknya yang keempat, Parwati Surjaudaja (kini menjabat Presdir Bank OCBC NISP), berusia 10 bulan. Ceritanya, pagi itu Karmaka sedang menggendong anak perempuannya itu. Tiba-tiba terdengar sebuah mobil direm mendadak. Dia melihat mobil jip berhenti di rumahnya. Beberapa petugas CPM (polisi militer) turun dan menanyakan tentang rumah Mr Tan. Karena memang tak kenal, Karmaka menjawab tidak tahu.

Kemudian, petugas tersebut kembali naik jip dan pergi begitu saja. Selang 30 menit kemudian, telepon rumah Karmaka berdering. Setelah itu, sang penelepon dengan kasar menyuruh Karmaka ke Restoran Sin A di Jalan Suniaraja, Bandung. Lokasi tersebut kini berubah menjadi gedung Bank Jasa Arta.

”Kalau dalam satu jam tidak juga datang, bom-bom granat di sekitar rumahmu akan meledak semua,” gertak si penelepon.

Melihat gelagat yang tidak baik, Karmaka langsung berganti baju yang lusuh dan naik becak menuju lokasi. Begitu tiba di lokasi, orang-orang yang sempat ke rumahnya tadi langsung mendatanginya dan mengatakan. ”Awas! Ini pistol. Pistol ini tidak menimbulkan bunyi. Segera naik jip,” perintah salah seorang.

Karmaka akhirnya dibawa berputar-putar dan akhirnya disekap ke pedesaan. Dia bingung dengan motif penyekapan tersebut. Apakah soal uang? Saham? Tidak jelas. Pada pukul 02.30, saat dua penjaganya tidur mengorok, Karmaka lalu menjebol jendela dan melarikan diri. Dia terus berlari bertelanjang kaki menyusuri pematang.

Di situ kemudian dia bertemu dengan petani yang menyebutkan bahwa nama desa tersebut adalah Gegerkalong. Sang petani kemudian menunjukkan jalan keluar dari desa itu. Tepat pukul 04.00 Subuh, Karmaka tiba di rumah di Jalan Hegarmanah nomor 10. Ini rumah Brigjen Sutoko. Salah seorang kolega ayah mertuanya. Dengan napas masih ngos-ngosan, Karmaka mengetuk pintu rumah itu keras-keras. ”Siapa?” terdengar suara dalam rumah.

”Saya Pak, menantu Lim Khe Tjie,” jawab Karmaka. ”Saya mohon pertolongan dan perlindungan,” tambahnya. ”Saya mau dibunuh orang,” ujarnya lagi.

”Lim Khe Tji Bank NISP?” tanya suara dari dalam. ”Ya Pak,” jawab Karmaka.

Jenderal Sutoko yang dikenal akrab oleh para aktivis mahasiswa ITB itu keluar rumah. ”Masuk, duduk sini,” kata Pak Sutoko. Dia lalu bertanya kepada Karmaka. ”Kamu tahu siapa itu mertuamu?” ”Tahu Pak, Lim Khe Tjie,” jawab Karmaka. ”Bukan itu, tahu nggak siapa dan bagaimana beliau itu,” lanjutnya.

”Tidak tahu,” jawab Karmaka. Pak Sutoko akhirnya menceritakan bahwa mertuanya adalah seorang berjasa dalam perjuangan kemerdekaan yang turut bahu-membahu dengan para pejuang di Bandung. Sutoko yang dikenal dekat dengan Jenderal Nasution itu menelepon seorang kolonel dan memerintahkan agar Karmaka mendapat pengawalan. Perwira itu lalu menerjunkan sepuluh prajurit untuk mengantarkan Karmaka pulang ke rumah.

Hingga dua tahun setelah peristiwa itu, Karmaka masih mendapat pengawalan dari prajurit (meski jumlahnya tinggal dua orang). Selain itu, dia mendapat jaket antipeluru yang dikenakan saat keluar rumah. Meski agak terganggu (karena memang berat), jaket itu tetap dipakai.

Kini pada usia 75 tahun, meski masih menderita sakit di kandung kemih, kehidupan Karmaka masih diwarnai tawa. Dia ditakdirkan untuk tetap bisa melihat perkembangan NISP. Terutama di bawah kepemimpinan anak-anaknya.

Dalam acara Kick Andy itu, lima cucu Karmaka (Tisya, Ringgo, Narendra, Sagara, dan Albert) yang lucu-lucu menyempatkan diri mengemukakan nasihat-nasihat yang sejak dulu diberikan Nyao -panggilan Karmaka.

Tisya, misalnya, mengingat nasihat sang kakek bahwa kesempatan baik tidak selalu ada. Kemudian, Ringgo mengingatkan nasihat pentingnya untuk menjadi mandiri. Narendra dengan bersemangat mengucapkan kalimat ”Harus Sekolah! Pantang Menyerah!

Sagara mengingatkan nasihat sekaligus pengalaman pribadi Nyao bahwa kakak harus mengalah kepada adik-adiknya. Tidak boleh selalu ingin menang sendiri. Sekaraya mengingat pesan sang aki bahwa badan harus sehat, makan sayur mayur dan makanan sehat, serta istirahat yang cukup. Albert, cucu yang paling besar, mengatakan bahwa kakeknya bukan sekadar memberikan nasihat kosong. ”Semua diambil dari pengalaman hidup yang luar biasa,” katanya. (el)

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

Praise the Lord a motivational book entitled FIGHT LIKE A TIGER AND WIN LIKE A CHAMPION has been printed and published in English and now it is being displayed at Gramedia bookstores throughout Indonesia.

James Rudy | Create Your Badge

Download e-book at lower size here: Download without Cover Artwork (212 KB instead of 2 MB)

This eNewsletter is to a select group, a few key partners, which gratefully includes you. Take a look at the book available for download. I wanted you to see it for yourself.

“Salvation, God’s Gift To You” has been given to 14 million new believers… and you made it possible. Think of this book as “spiritual milk.” God’s Word is clear, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” (1 Peter 2:2-3).

People who receive Christ get a “taste” that “the Lord is gracious.” Do you remember when you first tasted God’s grace? Maybe you sang, “‘tis so sweet to trust in Jesus”, Jesus became precious, and there was a hunger inside to know Him better.

Once we discover God’s love there is an automatic desire for the “milk of the Word”! The Bible is clear – “newborn babes desire… milk.”

You may have heard me tell the heart-wrenching story about a newborn abandoned in the cold. It made me think of newborns in the body of Christ. We never want to abandon a spiritual baby. It wouldn’t be right to send new believers away to fend for themselves without this “milk of the word.”

Friend, as you receive this eNewsletter, I have just concluded the campaign in Kenya and now another huge outreach in Pakistan is before us. We are in the middle of a spiritual mega-harvest. Will you help give “spiritual milk?”

Each book costs only 23¢. This include printing, preparation work, translation and shipping to the Gospel Festival site. Often books are passed from one person to another, read again and again until the cover is frayed at the edges. How can we do this at a cost of only 23¢? There are two reasons: because we print large numbers, and we stretch every dollar for maximum use.

I need everyone, if at all possible, to invest $69. That will pay for 300 books to bless 300 new believers. Can you do it? Will you? I sincerely pray for God to speak to your heart. Your help is critically needed.

Maybe some can give more than $69; maybe $345 or $690 and others can maybe share $30 or $50, but I need everyone to do something.

If you respond and if everyone responds then we will be able to cover the cost of the printing in Africa and the printing for new believers in Pakistan. Every soul is important. Thank you for responding today!

For the sake of Jesus,

Peter Youngren

Dear Taipan Daily reader, China and Russia, acting together, are calling for a new world reserve currency. As President Obama cranks up the printing press to enact his stimulus plan and bring down the deficit, both countries fear the U.S. dollar will be worthless. What’s odd about this situation is that China and Russia aren’t necessarily “friendly nations” to one another. In fact, unknown to most Americans, an energy battle is brewing between the two nations. China’s oil demands are growing and it’s buying up oil exploration companies as quickly as it can. And it has set its sights on one company that Russia is desperate to own. While you won’t see this show up in newspapers, both countries are fighting tooth and nail to own this company. Whoever wins, this company’s share price is going to skyrocket. This means you have an opportunity to make a lot of money. That’s why I’m sending you this report. It explains exactly what is happening, and how you can benefit from the situation. I guarantee you’ll find this report compelling reading. Sincerely, Sandy Franks, Executive Publisher, Taipan Daily Sandy Franks Executive Publisher, Taipan Daily

VOTE EARTH

YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm.

Nurfika Osman

German-Born Woman Makes History With Election Run
A German-born woman said she believes she will be the first Westerner ever to run for election in Indonesia when she competes for a seat on the Bali Legislative Council on April 9.

Forty-two-year-old Petra Odebrecht, who was born in Hamburg, Germany, said on Thursday she decided to run because she felt she could do much to improve the situation in Indonesia.

Odebrecht said she had found many Indonesians were ignored by their own leaders and politicians who were supposed to represent them.

“I know it is going to be a hard job for me because Indonesia is still learning about democracy,” she said.

“But I feel this is my country so that I have to do something to improve the situation.”

Odebrecht said she had become friends with a member of the Democratic Renewal Party, or PDP, and she ended up becoming a member.

“I chose PDP because it is run by a council of members rather than one leader,” she said.

Another attraction was that the party was ethnically and religiously diverse.

Odebrecht came to Indonesia in 1989 and lived for four years in Bandung, West Java Province, where she married an Indonesian. She was granted Indonesian citizenship in 1992.

The marriage was later dissolved and the couple did not have children together.

“I know that I am the first bule [white person] to go into politics in this country and sometimes people look down on me because they still see me as a foreigner,” she said. “But I will not give up easily.”

Odebrecht said she wanted to help improve conditions for Indonesian women, particularly in Bali where she lives.

“I feel the country does not really respect women as it is still run with strong patriarchal values and a non-dynamic culture,” she said. “Many women are forced to stay at home and do not obtain enough knowledge.”

She said 42 percent of PDP members are women. Of the PDP’s eight candidates running for the Bali legislature, four are women.

Odebrecht said she had become concerned by the poor level of democracy she had encountered while campaigning, with many people asking for money to vote for her.

“This is an example that demonstrates there is much work to do here.”

She wants to help Bali develop into an eco-friendly tourist destination. “Bali is getting dirtier now and I am afraid that this island will lose its beauty.”

She previously worked at a travel agency for 10 years and now works as a yoga instructor.

She said that if she did not win a seat on April 9, she would continue to work with the party to build democracy and to improve conditions.

Claudia Sardi, The Jakarta Post, Seminyak

For Petra Odebrecht — who will be the first foreign-born Indonesian national to contest a legislative election in the country — the question is simple: Will Balinese voters be prepared to look beyond her Western features when they open their ballots in April next year.

Oderbrech, a former German national and a candidate of the Reform Democratic Party (PDP) who is touting herself as an “ex-foreigner”, became an Indonesian citizen in 1992 after marrying her Indonesian ex-husband and leaving her home country. She has been living in Indonesia since.

“It’s a time of big change in Indonesia, and by staying seated nothing will change, that’s why I decided to get politically active,” Oderbrech said.

The PDP was created in December 2005 when senior leaders of the nationalist Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) split off after a group led by Laksamana Sukardi lost a bitter fight to reform the party at its national congress.

The PDP, which operates under a leadership council rather than a single leader, is the 14th new party to register since the 2004 election.

“I joined the PDP because of its collective system, everyone there has an equal voice. Plus 42 percent of the members are women. In Bali, even with the official requirement of 30 percent quota for women, we have four women as legislative candidates and four men,” Oderbrech said.

Oderbrech has already experienced the darker side of Indonesian politics. While visiting a factory to gain local support, she was asked by workers what amount of money she would pay for them to vote for her.

“This showed me once more that I want to try to wake up especially young people to engage themselves in politics, because I believe that a nation rises and falls with its politics,” she said.

She was asked a year ago by Rusty Ambo Dalle, one of the PDP’s national leaders, to run for the party.

She said that at the time she had not had faith in the people’s desire for change and reform.

It was not until just three months ago that she compiled the necessary documents and officially nominated herself as a legislative candidate.

“The strong pluralistic direction of our party made me ask Oderbrech to join our party. As an Indonesian citizen with foreign roots she fits well into our party,” Ambo Dalle said.

“I’m well aware that my skin color and my origin are used as a marketing instrument, but I want to transform this energy into power to contribute to a democracy where everybody, regardless of his financial background, has access, too,” Odebrecht said.

The 41-year old, who has no former political background, sits in fifth place on the PDP’s eight-man cadre list to contest the Bali Provincial Legislative Council.

“I don’t know about my chances for the legislative elections but if I don’t get directly elected I will try to work as a background assistant for one of my fellow party colleagues,” she said.

Her campaign will run from March 16 to April 5, 2009.

Petra Odebrecht, Caleg PDP eks Kebangsaan Jerman

Hillary Clinton supports Obama

Forgive
“That slight misdeed of yesterday,
why should it mar today?
The thing he said, the thing you did,
have long since passed away;
For yesterday was but a trial;
today you will succeed,
And from mistakes of yesterday
will come some noble deed.
Forgive yourself for thoughtlessness,
do not condemn the past;
For it is gone with its mistakes;
their mem’ry cannot last;
Forget the failures and misdeed,
from such experience rise,
Why should you let your head be bowed?
Lift up your heart and eyes!”
Selected

DON’T THINK IN REVERSE
“Let us not look back in anger
nor forward in fear
but around us in awareness.”
Leland Val Van De Wall
You will never obtain any substantial measure
of material wealth if you insist upon living your life as if you were looking back through the rearview mirror of your automobile. Nevertheless, this seems to be a very common error which many people have turned into a pernicious habit. That is to say, many of us spend most of our present moments,
“floundering mentally,” in the time zone of the dead and should-be-forgotten past.

Let The Dead Bury The Dead
Remember the old adage which says, “Let the
dead bury the dead.” In other words, what you want to do is to stop looking back in your life and worrying about things which have already occurred and which you can no longer alter. For pursuing that kind of mental activity will never lead to any worthwhile accomplishments in your life. You should understand, moreover, that all of the great achievers of the past have been visionary figures; they were men and women who projected into the future and did not belabor over things which had already past. They thought of what could be, rather than what already was, and then they moved themselves into action to bring these things into
fruition.

Think of the magnificent legacy which these
forward-thinking individuals have left for us living today. Due to their formidable efforts, we are now able to enjoy breakfast in Paris, lunch in New York and dinner in Toronto. We are now able to live our lives in brightness and light (twenty-four hours a day if we so desire). We can hear the voice of a loved one on the other side of the ocean, merely by pressing some buttons on a telephone. All of these miraculous possibilities, and so much more, are available to us, simply because ordinary human beings—like you and me—have built extraordinary images on the screen of their minds, of things which
had never been before.
The pioneering spirit of men and women of all
faiths, creeds, and color has been put to great use.
Those praiseworthy individuals were able to look
into the future, to see what could be rather than what already was, and then they ignored those who scoffed and said, “It couldn’t be done.” Also
understand that all great achievers always expect to do great things and then they turn around and do them! Do not be misled by your sensory factors—we are endowed with the same, basic mental tools which the Wright’s, the Edison’s and the Bell’s possessed, and we all have the God-given ability to employ those tools, just as they did. All of us have been blessed with the mental capacity to gaze into the future and to see our lives in a richer and much more satisfying state. Therefore, regardless of the present circumstances in which you find yourself, clearly understand that if you can build the image of something new in your mind, something that far surpasses anything that has occurred up until now, you have the ability to realize that result in the physical world. It could not be more clear, that all of us have been “Born Rich”, in the sense of having a magnificent God-given potential, which we owe ourselves to nurture.
Just how great is this human potential?
Let’s check with the experts. Dr. Alexander Rich,
Professor of Biophysics at M.I.T., has estimated our central nervous system contains from 10 to 100 million cells, each one of which has a storage capacity equal to that of a large computer. If his estimates are even close to being correct, it would imply that the human mind has the capacity to store all of the known information in the world—with room to spare!
Other specialists in the field of human creativity
are similarly convinced that all people have
uncharted reservoirs of untapped potential, locked up within the confines of their incredible minds. For example, Dr.W. Ross Addey, of the Space Biology Laboratory of the Brain Research Institute at U.C.L.A., has said that, “The ultimate creative capacity of your brain may be, for all practical purposes, infinite.” One must conclude, therefore, the more a person delves into the potential of the human being, the more that person will become aware of how great he or she truly is; and the more that person becomes aware of his or her own potential, the easier it will be to build images of ideas or things which have never even been contemplated up until the present time.

Now, pause for just a moment and reflect upon
the degree to which you have been utilizing this
incredible power to improve the quality of your own life, and the lives of those people who surround you.
If you know, for a fact, that you have not been
tapping into these great reservoirs of talent and
ability, then you should ask yourself very candidly why you have not been. For if you do this, you might just discover you have been “telling yourself” for such a long period of time that you can’t do certain things, that you have actually manufactured a genuine “mental block” in your own conscious mind.
But, you should remove these mental blocks by
putting yourself into a very relaxed state and by then becoming consciously aware that you can do the things you want to do—you probably just don’t know how to go about doing them. If this is the position which you currently find yourself in, then you should start getting excited; for the ideas which are being brought to you in the pages of this book will show you exactly how to go about doing the things you most wish to do.
Also, please be advised you need not feel regret
because you have not fully utilized this great power in the past. For the truth is, there are few people anywhere who understand the real truth concerning their own “hidden resources.” That is the very reason why so few people live dynamic exciting lives and so many people live confused, unproductive lives.
Moreover, just on the basis of what you have read up to this point, you have already far surpassed most other people with respect to your understanding of this important potential.
It would appear to be the case, that the masses
of people have always lived their lives in the past tense. That is to say, by virtue of holding onto old images, they have limited themselves to only “half
a life.” Indeed, even as far back as the turn of the century, William James (1842-1910)—one of the world’s most distinguished early psychologists—reached the conclusion, the average individual was using only a small portion of his or her real potential (perhaps as little as 10%). He considered this to be one of his most important psychological discoveries and, in this connection, he wrote, “Most people live, whether physically, intellectually, or morally, in a very restricted circle of their potential being. They make use of a very small portion of their possible consciousness, and of their soul’s resources in general, much like a person who, out of their whole bodily organism, gets into the habit of using and moving only their little finger.”
One might have expected, that in this modern
age in which we now live, James’ findings would
have become anachronistic. But unfortunately, this is just not true. For the sad reality is, that most of us are continuing to live our lives in much the same manner as our grandparents did. The reason we do this, you will be interested to know, is that most of us have never been trained to measure our “true abilities” correctly.
Indeed, during the formative years of our lives,
we have been inculcated with the belief that our
results in school would be the factor determining
whether we would win or lose in life. This notion
has been “fired” at us from virtually every
conceivable angle, until eventually, most of us have not only come to accept it intellectually, but we have actually become emotionally involved with the idea as well. The result is: the lives of untold numbers of individuals have been needlessly sacrificed, “on the altar of failure.”
I feel time has come for us to free ourselves from these mental shackles of the past. Let us, therefore, begin this “healing process,” by getting in touch with the wide variety of beautiful images which we have the ability to form on the screen of our own minds. Then, let us begin to actually expect to receive the physical manifestation of each one of
these images, in our own lives.
Remember, if we are able to see ourselves doing, being or having something, on the screen of our conscious minds, then we are able to do, be, or have it, on the physical plane of life as well. You see, the adage is true: “What you see, is what you get.”
Therefore, always look forward into the bright future which lies just ahead of where you currently are situated.
Let me make it clear that I am not referring, in
this context, to the things which you can actually “see,” with your physical sense of “sight” (that is looking at what was or what is). Rather, I am referring to your creative inner eye which enables you to see what can be. The creative inner eye is that magnificent part of your personality which permits you to see into the vast reaches of the “creative, nonphysical world.” (This is the area where all life begins, or originates.)
The past, conversely, is the place where all life
ends. But unfortunately, it is also the place where 95% of the people spend 95% of their time (which is, sadly, also their life). For example, it is an accepted ritual in our culture, for old friends to spend hours upon hours reminiscing or harping back on, “the good old days” of yesteryear. Hours upon wasted hours, of precious present “living time” is squandered, discussing people who are dead and gone, or reflecting upon things which used to be,
but are no more. In fact, there are actually numerous individuals who spend their days collecting “things from the past”—or antiques, as they are sometimes called. These people collect everything from old match boxes to antique furniture.
Then, there is another large category of people,
who consume the majority of their waking hours,
reliving in their minds, past negative events which have occurred in their lives. They either spend valuable hours thinking of some past injustice which someone has done to them, or possibly about some unkind remark which someone had once directed in their direction. They bemoan and agonize over past failures, or missed opportunities which they somehow “let slip through their fingers.”
Unfortunately for them, these individuals maintain such a negative vibration, that there is not even the most remote possibility of a positive thought entering their level of consciousness.

Indeed, the only thing this type of thinking will
ever create is resentment and/or guilt—both deadly and emotional states. But until these poor souls come to terms with the fact that it is they themselves who have been the authors of their own misfortune, and until they realize it is up to them to alter the course of their own lives, they are doomed to repeat their past failures over and over again. As long as they persist in believing that others are the cause of their
problem, they cannot be successful (because, of
course, you can never successfully change anyone but yourself). Therefore, to the extent that these people hold onto their false beliefs, they will continue to “Think in Reverse;” and it goes without saying, you cannot move ahead while your mind is traveling in the opposite direction.
Take a good look at yourself. Could you be one
of the individuals whom I have just portrayed?
If you are, I would strongly suggest that you
bring your mind to a “screeching halt.” Then
reevaluate your present position and reexamine your future goal. Look straight ahead and fill your consciousness with great and grand thoughts of what you ultimately could do and what you eventually can be. Become acutely aware of the direction your mind is traveling, because ultimately, that is the way your life is going to unfold.

Polaroid Camera Analogy
I have often likened the human mind and the
material world to a polaroid camera and a
photograph. For once you have “snapped” a picture, the course for that photograph has been
incontrovertibly set. There is a short gestation period which must elapse, but then the photograph must begin to appear; and it will do so, exactly as it had originally been “shot.”
To carry our analogy one step further, I would
suggest that the shutter of the camera is quite like the conscious mind, in that it is responsible for “snapping” the picture. Similarly, the camera itself may be likened to the subconscious mind, because it is responsible for “doing the work.” Finally, the photograph is analogous to your results, as it merely shows the world the physical replica of the picture which you have already taken, “with your mind.”
Clearly, if you were to take a picture of the same
object—over and over again—you would do nothing more than reproduce the same photograph, over and over again. Yet this is precisely the course, which many people set, for their own lives. Therefore, you must constantly be reminding yourself, that if you persist in “thinking in reverse,” you will only
reproduce the same results in your life, over and over again. If you wish to change this pattern, on the other hand, you must look bravely into the bright future, which lies ahead, and see yourself already doing what you now only dream about doing, “someday.”

Patti’s Cruise
Patti Moir first came to my seminar, with her
parents, when she was only eleven years old. By the age of fifteen she was already speaking in the seminars and sharing with the audience the manner in which a concept in the seminar had moved her from failing miserably in French—at school—to honor’s grades (and in a relatively short period of time, to boot!)
Five years later she was working with me in the
seminar business. One day I noticed her attitude
seemed to be slipping badly and it appeared to me that she was not enjoying herself (note that
these are the first telltale symptoms of an individual who is without a goal). So I asked her what it was she really wanted and her immediate response was,
“What do you mean by that?” I explained to her,
that since she wasn’t working toward anything, she didn’t have anything to look forward to, and this made life extremely difficult, to say the least. Then she said, “But I don’t have any money, so I can’t do anything.” I reminded her, however, that it doesn’t cost even one penny to want or to dream. A radiant smile suddenly came across Patti’s face, and she told me that what she wanted, more than anything else,
was to go on a south sea cruise. I said to her, “That would probably be a lot of fun.” I told her I had done it a number of times myself, and I described to her how beautiful it was. I also expressed my expectation, that she would have a truly marvelous time. I pointed out, moreover, that she would retain the memories from the trip for the rest of her life and she could then relive them, over and over again, whenever she desired it. At this juncture, I asked her what was holding
her back. Again, the same response was forthcoming from Patti, “I don’t have any money.” This type of negative thinking had been crippling her, by preventing her from undertaking something in her life which she felt was very important.
But the real reason I bring this story up here, is
to illustrate that even though Patti was mature, had no ties and had no real reason not to go on the trip, her own thinking was holding her back from doing so. Clearly, she was a young lady who was “thinking in reverse.” She had thoroughly convinced herself it was a lack of finances which thwarted her desire,
but of course, that just wasn’t the case. Nevertheless, whatever the source of her real frustration may have been, it was certainly holding her back from realizing her dream.
Understand, that untold numbers of people are
making the same error Patti made—daily—and it is a great tragedy. Perhaps you have been making this same error in your own life. If you have, I hope “Patti’s story” will be the inspiration you need to get you moving in the direction you wish to go.
In any case, one day Patti and I went to lunch
together and we had a very serious discussion. I said, “Listen Patti, if you really want to go on a cruise, you must quit looking back or looking at “what is,” because looking at present results is a very common form of thinking in reverse. You must commence to look ahead and you must start applying what we profess in the seminars. So go ahead and book your trip—make definite plans—and don’t give one
thought to anything going wrong. Know that
whatever you need for your goal to materialize, will begin to be attracted to you, as soon as you accept the idea that you are going, and make definite plans to do so. If it is money that you need, you will have it. It might not all be in place until the very last moment; but if you see it, and you believe it, and you expect it, you most certainly will receive it.”
I won’t bore you with the details of how things
all came together, but I will tell you they came
together in wondrous and unexpected ways.
Eventually, Patti actually attracted more money than she required for her trip. I was at the airport at approximately 6 a.m. with Patti’s parents—on the morning that she left, and it was a tremendously gratifying experience for me, to see her face aglow with nervous excitement. Suffice it to say, she went on her cruise. She had enough courage to travel alone and she enjoyed a trip which she will surely remember all the days of her life. But what is even more important than the trip itself is the awareness Patti gained from the experience. For she now knows, through her own personal experience, that
if you think in reverse, you will only see reasons
why you can’t. However, if you will but look into
the future with a positive, even expectant attitude, you will see that you “can do.” Patti will be able to apply this awareness toward the achievement of all of her future wishes.
Have you been dreaming of a trip? If you have,
go out and book your reservations. It doesn’t matter if the reservations are for six months or a year from now; make them immediately and then enjoy the anticipation which precedes the actual event. I honestly believe that in Patti’s particular case, the excitement leading up to her trip was equally as enjoyable and exciting as the actual trip itself (notto mention the enjoyment which she will derive from the memories of her trip, which she will carry with her for the rest of her life).
The probable reason that so few people make
plans or set goals, similar to the one discussed
above, is that most people are unable—in their own mind—to figure out how everything necessary will come together. But you must understand, you need not know how everything will come together. All you have to understand is the underlying principle, by which your good comes; namely, everything which you receive in life comes by virtue of the “Law of Attraction.”
The Paul Hutsey story—in chapter three—is an
excellent example of a conscientious, intelligent, hardworking person, who was attempting to do something which was tantamount to a person jumping off the front porch of his home, and then expecting, somehow, to land on the roof—you know
that this is never going to happen. Yet Paul had spent twenty years:
1) letting the sales sheets in his office
control the image that he held of his
operation, and
2) attempting to improve the results he was
getting through sheer force of will,
dogged determination and long hard
hours of agonizing toil.
Everybody—by doing all of these things—
certainly will improve their results to some degree; but they will never witness a dramatic improvement in their results, until they have first altered the image, which they are holding in their mind’s eye.
Paul Hutsey is a prime illustration of a person who fully believed he was looking ahead, when in actual fact, he was guilty of “thinking almost completely in reverse.” For he spent the vast majority of his time consciously focusing on present results, present thoughts and present images.
If you have been guilty of allowing your sales sheets, your bank account, or the x-rays the doctor takes of your body, control the way you feel, think, or view your sales, financial position or health, I can assure you that—just as certain as it’s going to get dark tonight—there will not be any marked improvement in your life in any of these areas. On the other hand, if you will let the present, physical results serve only as an indication of the images which you have been holding in the past, and then you proceed—by virtue of your own higher mental faculties—to look into the bright future and to build
an image of the good that you desire (just as Patti and Paul did), you will see your image materialize.
But again, as long as you continue to let your present or past results control your thinking process, you will never live to see your dreams come true.
Therefore, look up, look ahead and form the
image of the life you choose to live, then everything you touch or come in contact with will grow and expand and express itself in a greater and greater way.
Individuals who are thinking in reverse, very
rarely, if ever, originate ideas which lead them to
providing meaningful service to others. The reason for this is that they are only able to see what someone else has already done. As a result of their limited mind-set, the rewards which they will ultimately receive in life are destined to be equally limited.
The 333 Story
I was doing a seminar, which ran from Thursday
night to Sunday, at the Deerhurst Lodge, which is a resort approximately 100 miles north of Toronto. On the Friday night, a tornado swept through Barrie, Ontario, a town about 40 miles south of Deerhurst.
The tornado killed a dozen people and did millions of dollars worth of damage. On the Sunday night,
as I was coming home, I stopped the car when I got to Barrie. I got out on the side of the highway and looked around. It was a mess. Everywhere I looked, there were smashed houses and cars turned upside down.
That same night, another gentleman, Bob
Templeton, was driving down the same highway. He and I had never met, however, an idea from my seminar was about to bring us together in a lasting friendship. He stopped to look at the disaster, just as I had, only his thoughts were different than my own. Bob was the Vice-President of Telemedia Communications, a company which owns a string of radio stations in Ontario and Quebec. As he stood there viewing the disaster, he thought there must be
something he could do for these people (with the
radio stations he had). That thought kept returning to his mind that night and all the next day.
The following night, I was doing another seminar
in Toronto. Bob Templeton and Bob Johnson,
another vice-president from Telemedia, came in and stood at the back of the room. They were evaluating my seminar, trying to decide if I could help their company reach its goals, which I ultimately did.
Because of Bob Templeton’s influence, I
subsequently worked for the entire Canadian
broadcasting industry. He loved what I was doing in my seminars because it was in harmony with his way of thinking. Bob Templeton became fascinated with the laws of the universe, particularly The Law of Polarity or as it is often referred to, The Law of Opposites. This law clearly states everything has an opposite. You cannot have an up without a down,
hot without cold or in without out. By the same
token, if you can figure out why something you want to do cannot be done, by law, you must be able to figure out how it can be done. People who accomplish great things are aware of the negative, however, they give all of their mental energy to the positive. After the seminar, Bob Templeton went back to his office. He told me it was late but this one idea he picked up had him excited. It also had him committed to the idea of raising millions of dollars and giving it to the people who had been caught in the tornado, and he was going to raise the money immediately! Furthermore, he was not remotely interested in why he couldn’t.
The following Friday he called all of his
executives at Telemedia into his office. At the top of a flip chart in bold letters, he wrote three 3’s. He said to his executives “How would you like to raise 3 million dollars, 3 days from now, in just 3 hours and give the money to the people in Barrie?” There was nothing but silence in the room.
Finally someone said, “Templeton, you’re crazy.
There is absolutely no way we could raise 3 million dollars, in 3 hours, 3 days from now!”
Bob said, “Wait a minute. I didn’t ask you if we
could or even if we should. I just asked you if you would like to.” Bob Templeton was wise; he was appealing to the charitable side of their nature. It was important for those present to openly admit that this was something they wanted to do. Bob Templeton knew that his new idea could show anyone how to accomplish anything they wanted by working with the law.
They all said, “Sure, we’d like to.” He then drew
a large T underneath the 333. On one side he wrote,
‘Why We Can’t.’ On the other side he wrote, ‘How
We Can.’ Under the words, ‘Why We Can’t,’ Bob
Templeton drew a large X. As he placed the X on
the flip chart, he said, “Now there is no place to
record the ideas we think of which explain why we can’t raise 3 million dollars, in 3 hours, 3 days from now, regardless of how valid they might be.” He continued by explaining, “When anyone calls out an idea which suggests why we can’t, everyone else must yell out as loud as they can, NEXT. That will be our command to go to the next idea. Ideas are like the cars on a train, one always follows the other.
We will keep saying Next until a positive idea
arrives.”

Bob smiled and continued to explain that,
“Opposite the X on the other side of the flipchart, directly under the words, ‘How We Can,’ I will write down every idea that we can come up with on how we can raise 3 million dollars, in 3 hours, 3 days from now.” He also suggested in a very serious tone of voice, that everyone will remain in the room until
we figure it out. “We are not only going to think of how we can raise 3 million dollars immediately,
after we originate the ideas we are going to execute them!” There was silence again.
Finally, someone said, “We could do a radio
show across Canada.”
Bob said, “That’s a great idea,” and wrote it
down under, ‘How We Can.’
Before he had it written on the right hand side
of the flipchart, someone said, “You can’t do a radio show across Canada. We don’t have radio stations across Canada!” Since Telemedia only had stations in Ontario and Quebec, you must admit that was a pretty valid objection. However, someone in the back of the room, in a rather soft tone said, “Next.”
Bob Templeton replied, “Doing a radio show is
how we can. That idea stays.” But this truly did
sound like a ridiculous idea, because radio stations are very competitive. They usually don’t work together and to get them to do so would be virtually impossible according to the standard way of hinking.
All of a sudden someone suggested, “You could
get Harvey Kirk and Lloyd Robertson, the biggest
names in Canadian broadcasting, to anchor the
show.” These gentlemen are anchors of national
stature in the Canadian television industry. Someone learly spoke out saying, “They’re not going to go n radio.” But, at that point the group yelled,
“NEXT.” Bob said, that was when the energy
shifted; everyone got involved and it was absolutely mazing how fast and furious the creative ideas egan to flow.
That was on a Friday. The following Tuesday
they had a radiothon, where 50 radio stations, from ll across the country, agreed to work in harmony or such a good cause. They felt it didn’t matter who ot the credit, as long as the people in Barrie got he money. Harvey Kirk and Lloyd Robertson nchored the show and they succeeded in raising 3 illion dollars, in 3 hours, within 3 business days!
You see, you can have whatever you want; all
things are possible when you put your focus on how you can and “Next” every idea telling you why you can’t.
This may be a difficult exercise in the beginning,
however, when you persist “Next-ing” any and all
negative concepts, the flow of positive ideas will
roar into your marvelous mind.
Alfred Adler, the renowned psychologist, coined
the extraordinary phrase “I am grateful to the idea that has used me.” There can be no doubt that creative, forward-thinking ideas literally breathe new life into every fibre of your being. They awaken a part of you that you never even knew was sleeping.
Bob Templeton never received five cents for the
leadership role he played, in marshalling 50 radio
stations from right across Canada, to raise the three million dollars for the people of Barrie, Ontario in Canada. However, you must remember that this is truly an orderly universe; God’s way of running this show is exact—when you put good out, it must come back.
I shared this story, when it happened, with two
good friends of mine, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. They were so intrigued by the story, they published it in their book Chicken Soup for the Soul.
I was recently doing a satellite television
broadcast for RE/MAX Real Estate with Mark Victor Hansen and he was telling me that, at last count, they had sold six million copies of their book. He also told me they are constantly receiving letters from people who read the ‘333 story’ and use it to perform similar mental magic in their lives.
Think of it, millions upon millions of people are
making positive things happen in their lives because Bob Templeton would not listen to the reasons why he and his staff could not raise 3 million dollars, in 3 hours, just 3 days after they began to brainstorm the idea. By the way, Bob Templeton has told me he and his staff have formed the habit of ‘333-ing’ their wants and, as a result, he has gone on to become the President of NewCap Broadcasting company, a
highly profitable corporation, with stations right
across Canada. It is my opinion that Bob Templeton has set up a force for good that will follow him wherever he goes. Profit has become his second name. Begin at once to ‘333’ all of your wants and profit will follow you as well.