Miracles are possible

Miracles are possible. Miracles do happen. They are not 'interruptions' of the laws of physics. They are not 'violations' of the laws of Nature. They are confirmations of the laws of 'Meta-Physics' [beyond physics] and affirmations of the deeper depths of Nature's law. Only the Spirit, the Higher spirit of yourself, controls these deeper depths-which have not yet been discovered even by the most searching, seeking scientists. But this does not negate their existence, for they shall be discovered in the New Age!

Science is presently concerned only with the material forces, failing to recognize the Spiritual Forces. Yet, what is material force but the visible manifestation of the Spiritual Force behind it? To accept the material manifestation and deny the Spiritual Force that creates and controls it is to place yourself in the illogical position of accepting an effect-and denying its cause.

Once you have accepted the Spiritual Force cause and the material force effect as a perfect unity,then how can you dare presume to set a limit to the manifestations of either of these forces ... especially to the Power of the cause and the effect combined? You and your Supraconcious control your miracles. All that's needed to produce them is the marriage of Truth and Faith.

Pax Bonum=Verum et Unum 'Seek the Truth, and it shall set you free'

- from Linda Goodman's Love Signs

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." --Albert Einstein, Quoted in Des MacHale, Wisdom (London, 2002) Pin It Now!

Al-Bâri' | The Evolver | 99 Divinely Sublime Attributes of God

Al-Bâri'

. The Maker
. The Producer
. The Evolver
. The Maker from Nothing
. The One who sends new forms into existence
. The One who manifests that which is in perfect harmony and proportion, without blemish or fault

He is Allah, the Creator, the Shaper out of naught, the Fashioner. His are the most beautiful names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorifieth Him, and He is the Mighty, the Wise. (The Quran 59:24)

Such is Allah, your Lord. There is no God save Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him. And He taketh care of all things. (The Quran 6:102)

Say: Who is Lord of the heavens and the earth? Say: Allah. ... Say: Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Almighty. (The Quran 13:16)

Practice as Ya- Bariu (O, the Evolver)

graphics credit

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Death | a user-friendly guide

Few months back in Singapore while waiting for bus at the bus stop, few extra ordinary advertisements caught my attention. They were no ordinary advertisement. They made my eyes moist, they inspired me, they made me decide more to do something for the betterment of this world. Singapore Hospice Council was the host of those advertisement. Few days back visitor Ginger wanted me to write something on death and dying. Ginger has a family member who is terminally ill with cancer. This post is selection from one of the advert that i saw on the bus stop. I dedicate this to the dear one of Ginger with prayers and love.

Death :: a user-friendly guide

Why are we afraid of the dark? Why do snakes and spiders frighten us? If we were to trace all ourfears down to their very root, we would inevitably come face to face with the Spectre of Death. To be no longer numbered amongst the living haunts us like no other demon. The knowledge that one day we will all cease to be has turned some of us into philosophers and others into priests. Mostly, though, death has made cowards of us all. We pop vitamins, eat fibre, run three times a week: all the while looking warily over our shoulder to be sure that death’s long shadow isn’t gaining on us.

Our vigilance & all the advances in medical science make no difference. The statistics on death are still a hundred per cent, just as they used to be ten thousand years ago. Whoever is born, dies. A birth and a death, in fact, are the two only requirementsfor a life. Once we accept our demise as a certainty and a part of the cosmic deal; death becomes a friend who sits on our shoulder to remind us that, as we are only here for a short visit, shouldn’t we be smelling the flowers along the way?

At the Singapore Hospice Council, we believeit is neither morbid nor fatalistic to contemplateour own death. As Morrie so wisely puts it in Tuesdays with Morrie, ‘Once we learn how to die,we’ll learn how to live.’ So to help us mull over our mortality, we have assembled some useful information and friendly advice on the subject.

The best place to die. Given a choice, most of us would rather spend our final moments in the comfort of our own home, and certainly not in our least favourite place: the hospital. While we want to die at home, the fact is only one-quarter of us will end up doing so.

Quick exits. When asked how we’d like to go, most of us would hide behind dark humour. ‘I want to live to be a hundred and ten, and be shot in the back by a jealous husband.’ While sudden deaths might seem appealing, in reality they leave a great many things undone, and they are very often the hardest deaths for families to accept. In contrast to an abrupt, easy death; dying of a progressive illness offers time and opportunities to put ‘our house in order’, which includes the healing of strained or severed relationships, perhaps between previous spouses, or a parent and an estranged adult child. When two people end well, the story of their lives will be fondly remembered.

So long ‘I forgive you.’ ‘Forgive me.’ ‘Thankyou.’ ‘I love you.’ ‘Goodbye.’ Those are the five steps of relationship closure. Under hospice care, we are encouraged to mend our relationships with the most important people in our life. After we’ve resolved feelings of hatred or love with others, there is nothing left but peace. We may never be happy to move on, but at least we’ll be prepared.

Never walk alone. We all pass away alone. Unless we die in a car accident with others, we are the only one dying at that moment in time. Death is, by its very nature, the loneliest experience man was ordained to endure. It is a loneliness that’s compounded by the fact that we isolate the dying at this crucial time. We isolate the dying by no longer talking to them. We isolate them by no longer listening to them. Sometimes we’re not with them physically; but more often, we’re no longer with them emotionally. The widely held notion that the dying do not want to talk about death is a myth. Of course, they want to talk about it; they are about to enter the great unknown and talking can be therapeutic.

Listen to them. Love them. Care for them. Having a loved and near one sitting beside may give them comfort which are beyond words.

Reference:
Life Before Death
Campaign Adverts on Death and Dying

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Lost Memory

Please embrace our kids too,

before someone else does!
Originally uploaded by carf.

"We are sons of God
And must be even as he."

Quotes from Savitri
by Sri Aurobindo
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not a tourist but a traveler

Batasia loop
Originally uploaded by Java Cafe.

i am not a tourist
but a traveler.

i travel to see Your glory
wide and far,
everywhere.

hold back not
but give Your Vision,
to know Your secrets
in sweet union.

indeed Your secrets
are given access
to those who seek only You,
and no less.

(c) MysticSaint
22 Feb, 2006
Train from Kolkata to New Jalpaiguri, India
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Al - Baqi | The Eternal | 99 Divinely Sublime Attributes of God

Al-Bâqî

. The Everlasting
. The Eternal
. The Ever-Enduring
. The Ever-Present
. The One who has always existed and who will never cease to be.
. The One whose existence has neither beginning nor end.
. The One whose existence is beyond the realm of time.

“Everyone that is thereon will pass away;
There remaineth but the Countenance of thy Lord of Might and Glory.” ( The Quran 55:26-27)

There is no god but He, the Living, the Everlasting. Slumber seizes Him not, neither sleep; to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. Who is there that shall intercede with Him save by His leave? He knows what lies before them and what is after them, and they comprehend not anything of His knowledge save such as He wills. His throne comprises the heavens and earth; the preserving of them oppresses Him not; He is the All-High, the All-Glorious." .” ( The Quran 2:255)

Practice Ya-Bâqîu (O, Everlasting One) Pin It Now!

Golden Sufi Event | Awakeing the World : A Global Dimensoin to Spiritual Practice

There will be an event, “Awakening the World: A Global Dimension to Spiritual Practice” with Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), San Francisco, California on March 3, 2007.

What is the relationship between our individual spiritual practice and global transformation? How can we use our spiritual awareness to help the world to evolve?

Open to seekers of any tradition, this workshop will address these vital questions, taking the participant into a global dimension of spirituality. It will explore the spiritual practices and attitudes we need to cultivate, opening us to the real purpose of spiritual transformation at this time of crisis and transition. As we step into a global era, do we need to realign our spiritual understanding, or is this dimension already present within most traditions? What are the dangers and difficulties as well as spiritual potential of this present time? What does it mean to participate fully in both individual and global spiritual life?

From 1:00pm – 5:00pm, $65. Advance registration requested, but it is also possible to register at the door. This event will take place at the Unitarian Church on Geary, San Francisco.

Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee is a teacher in the Naqshbandiyya- Mujadidiyya Sufi Order. His work addresses spiritual responsibility during present-day transitions and the emerging global consciousness of oneness. He also has specialized in the area of dream work, integrating the ancient Sufi approach to dreams with modern psychological insights. He also founded The Golden Sufi Center and has authored several books.

For further information on the event or to register, please contact CIIS Public Programs : website : tel: 415.575.6175 : email : register online :

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The Traveller

The traveller on the path,
’Tis he who knows from whence he cometh;
Then doth he journey hastily,
Becoming as pure from self as fire from smoke.
Unfolded to him are a series of revelations
From the beginning.

Till he is led away
From darkness and sin.

He now retraces stage by stage his steps
Till he reaches his goal the Perfect.

Thus is the perfect man evolved
From the time he first exists
As inorganic matter.


:: Mahmud Shabistari

thanks to dear dear shelby for sending me this beatutiful poem and the lpicture infused with her blessings and prayer. may Beloved bless her on the path.

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Meeting with like minded minds

one of the most wonderful thing about internet, and specially the blogging phenomena is the bringing together of like minded people and minds. recently i had the honor to meet brother abdul rahim. we had a wonderful time talking and discussing a few of the things close to our heart. i was truly happy to meet someone who reads this blog so regularly (believe me or not, everyday! via google page).

few days back we met in kolkata, india close to 10:30 pm at night and were chatting till 1 in the morning at a coffeeshop and also in car. thanks to his taking trouble finding me in busy kolkata city and warm hospitality. there were a few things that i would be more than happy to share with you all, which came up from our discussion. discussion with brother Rahim came up with a number of problems, issues which later helped me to ponder over. topics including spirituality, whether knowing a lot really helps or not when it comes to spirituality and religion, how to face the challenges of our personal crisis on faith, social problems, religious issues etc.

with time i wish to share my 2 cents on the issues here after i get some time and finish my travel. i am now in darjeeling, north-eastern part of india.

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Al-Bâ'ith | The Awakener | 99 Divinely Sublime Attributes of God

Al-Bâ'ith

. The Awakener
. The Resurrector
. The Arouser
. The One who sends Light into the worlds.
. The One who dispatches messengers into the world.

And because the Hour will come, there is no doubt thereof; and because Allah will raise those who are in the graves. ( The Quran 22:7)

Have they not then observed the sky above them, how We have constructed it and beautified it, and how there are no rifts therein ? And the earth have We spread out, and have flung firm hills therein, and have caused of every lovely kind to grow thereon, A vision and a reminder for every penitent slave. And We send down from the sky blessed water whereby We give growth unto gardens and the grain of crops, And lofty date-palms with ranged clusters, Provision (made) for men; and therewith We quicken a dead land. Even so will be the resurrection of the dead. ( The Quran 50:6-11)

Practice Ya-Bâ'ithu (O, Resurrector) Pin It Now!

Al - Badi | The Wonderful Originator | 99 Divinely Sublime Attributes of God

Al - Badi

. The Wonderful Originator
. The Unprecedented and Incomparable Inventor
. The Absolute Cause
. The marvelous One who originates, commences, invents and creates all that exists, without any model or material
. The One whose incomparable will-power first brings into existence all of the unique and amazing creation without any similarity to anything else that has ever existed
. The One who creates in wonderful, awesome, amazingly original ways that have no precedent whatsoever

He it is Who fashioneth you in the wombs as pleaseth Him. There is no God save Him, the Almighty, the Wise. (The Quran 3:6) transliteration

Say: "Go all over the earth and behold
how wondrously He has created man in the first instance:
and thus, too, will God bring into being your second life --
for, verily, God has the power to will anything! (The Quran 29:20) transliteration

Praise be to Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, Who appointeth the angels messengers having wings two, three and four. He multiplieth in creation what He will. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things. (The Quran 35:1) transliteration

Practice Repeat and behold this remembrance as Ya-Badiu.

introduction to the post series Sufism.org The Quran Pin It Now!

illusion

God made the illusion look real
and the real an illusion.

He concealed the sea
and made the foam visible,
the wind invisible,
and the dust manifest.

you see the dust whirling,
but how can the dust rise by itself?
you see the foam,
but not the ocean.

invoke Him with deeds, not words;
for deeds are real
and will save you in the infinite-life.

-Rumi, "Mathnawi" Pin It Now!

idol worshiping and collective human consciousness

India is a land of numerous idols. This land is refuge to one of the oldest human civilization and a number of religions, philosophy, radical thoughts. Not only India, but we find the tendency to give form to God as idols, to make God manifest in so many forms in all age-old civilizations across Central America, South America, Africa, Australia, China to where not.

Personally I see making and worshiping God in man made idols as an urge to bring god-consciousness in a visible form. Worshiping God in idol form was an easy way to express THAT, Which is incomprehensible. It is a very weak but significant effort to give an image or representation to God at a time when even human language was not developed enough.

Science talk about physical evolution, but there is a more important evolution for collective human race, which is our mental evolution. Evolution of our collective human consciousness. We see this evolution also in religious understanding. Perhaps the example of Prophet Abraham, the father of monotheism is best in understanding the evolution of our understanding of God. He saw Sun and took it as God and worshiped. At the set of the sun, he rejected sun as God and took moon as God. Then moon also passed by. Then he realized neither the sun, nor the moon is God. But rather it is the Creator of Sun and Moon, Who is the only worthy of worship. Its a simple but sure enough image to understand how humanity evolved in mental projection of the idea of God.

Our thoughts, expression, understanding and ability to grasp more - are all under this great evolution. What the pre-historic cave-men could understand is much different than a man of 21st century. It is as true for the ability to do maths, as for the ability to realize God idea. Thus men took the signs of God, such as a big tree, a big mountain and worshiped it. Even today in Africa people do worship big trees, in Australia the Aboriginal People worship big mountains.

Now one might think, wow! how come they worship a mountain and show devotion to it! We read in Quran where God speak that even mountains are signs of God: Surely the Safa and the Marwa are among the signs appointed by God; so whoever makes a pilgrimage to the House (Kaba) or pays a visit (to it), there is no sin for him if he goes round them both; and whoever does good spontaneously, then surely God is Grateful, Knowing. (The Quran 002.158)

Although Islam, as Judaism is very much against any kind of idol worshiping or adoration of icons; it does acknowledge the fact that devotion to signs of God are nothing but devotion to God Himself. Thus the worshiper of God in form - in the outer reality they worship a form, a sign; but in greater inner reality they all bow down to One God. It is the same for idol worship of ancient ages as well. The very idea of a transcendent God was beyond grasp at the earlier stages of human mental evolution. Thus it was an inner tendency for the ancient people to create a visible form so that mass can pray to that form, rather than an Invisible, Incomprehensible Transcendent Being. This visible form enabled people to express their devotion by offerings, to meditate and pray easily.

This human tendency to have a form even for God so that he or she can stand in front, can pray to - is a very ancient tendency. We find this evidence in Bible and Quran as well. The history of great Prophet Moses is one of such example. When Moses went to Mount Sinai to meditate on and pray to God (to speak with God, in another word), his own people grew impatient. And what did they wanted to do?

They wanted a visible form of God, Who in Reality is beyond form. People of Moses said, as we find in Quran: And remember ye said: "O Moses! We shall never believe in thee until we see God manifestly," but ye were dazed with thunder and lighting even as ye looked on. (The Quran, 002.055)

When Moses went for retreat, they wanted a visible God, so they made a idol that looked like something which they could comprehend. And that something was the form of a cow. There came to you Moses with clear (Signs); yet ye worshipped the calf (Even) after that, and ye did behave wrongfully. (The Quran 002.092)

Now when our collective human consciousness became mature enough to understand the message of God's transcendental Unity, it was proclaimed to turn back from all idols and turn to One and Only God. Then it became a wrongful behavior to neglect God's transcendental nature and to keep with the idol. Apart from theological implication, it also has social implication. Worshiping many form of gods (idols) in tribal culture proved to be dividing the humanity. And turning to One God universally was instrumental for many of men's achievement. Whole nation rose and changed themselves. Thus, proclaiming God's Oneness is a message to undivide, to bind humanity, which is more important than many other religious goals. Because when humanity realizes its unity, it realizes God's unity, the unity of one and only Reality.

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Al - 'Azîz | The Eminent | 99 Divinely Sublime Attributes of God

Al - 'Azîz

. The Mighty
. The Unconquerable
. The Strong, Dignified and Powerful
. The Eminent
. The victorious One whose strength, glory and power are overwhelming and cannot be overcome or resisted.
. The One whose dignity, majesty and power are unique, precious and unattainable by mankind
. The One who is the ultimate in honor and nobility
. The One who has complete mastery over all of creation
. The One who is incomparable and unparalleled
. The One who is the cherished source of all strength, power and potency

He it is Who fashioneth you in the wombs as pleaseth Him. There is no God save Him, the Almighty, the Wise. (The Quran 3:6) | transliteration

And the believers, men and women, are protecting friends one of another; they enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and they establish worship and they pay the poor-due, and they obey Allah and His messenger. As for these, Allah will have mercy on them. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise. (The Quran 9:71) | transliteration

Allah’s are the hosts of the heavens and the earth, and Allah is ever Mighty, Wise. (The Quran 48:7) | transliteration

He is Allah, than Whom there is no other God, the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One, Peace, the Keeper of Faith, the Guardian, the Majestic, the Compeller, the Superb. Glorified be Allah from all that they ascribe as partner (unto Him). (The Quran 59:23) | transliteration

All that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth glorifieth Allah, and He is the Mighty, the Wise. (The Quran 61:1) | transliteration

Practice | Repeat and behold this remembrance as Ya-Azîzu.

introduction to the post series | Sufism.org | The Quran | graphics credit Pin It Now!

In India, in kolkata

i am currently on a short trip to Kolkata, India. about 5 generations back my forefathers came from Persia, settled in Murshidabad, a place in Eastern India (West Bengal) and contributed religious and spiritual wisdom to the people of India. one of them was a Dervish who spread the message of Islam to India.

during the India Pakistan partition, my grand father moved to East Pakistan (1947) which separated and became Bangladesh in 1971. interestingly the people of Bangladesh and West Bengal of India share the same language, almost the same culture. we people across the political boundary have warm bonds that run deep. Kolkata has been the center of undivided Bengal and one of a prime center of British ruled India. thus coming to Kolkata always gives me a sense of home coming. i love everything here. the flavor, the people, the food, the colors, the temples, the mosques, the lanes ... all.

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Dust return to dust, but ...

Dust return to dust.

Which is imperishable
dwells in love's heaven,
treasured by the Eternal.

- Rabindranath Tagore Pin It Now!

Al - 'Azîm | The Magnificent One | 99 Divinely Sublime Attributes of God

Al - 'Azîm

. The Supreme Glory
. The Magnificent One
. The Mighty Splendor
. The Most Grand
. The One who is Greatest, Mightiest, Grandest and above all
. The One who is magnificent, vast and most revered
. The One who is of perfect and absolute greatness

Allah! There is no god save Him, the Alive, the Eternal. Neither slumber nor sleep overtaketh Him. Unto Him belongeth whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that intercedeth with Him save by His leave? He knoweth that which is in front of them and that which is behind them, while they encompass nothing of His knowledge save what He will. His throne includeth the heavens and the earth, and He is never weary of preserving them. He is the Sublime, the Tremendous. (The Quran 2:255)


Unto Him belongeth all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, and He is the Sublime, the Tremendous. (The Quran 42:4)

Practice | Repeat and behold this remembrance as Ya-Azîmu (O, The Supremely Glorious One).

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Enlightenment | Mulla Nasruddin

Nasrudin, did any of your students ever became enlightened?"

"Sure. many of them"

"How can you tell?"

"Easy. They stopped following me or anyone else, do not talk ceaselessly about 'teachers', 'teachings', 'spirituality' and other such matters, and they go on with their lives free from fears and pretences.


Credit: Mulla Nasruddin Blog Pin It Now!

All That You Have is Your Soul | Tracy Chapman

Oh my mama told me
cause she say she learned the hard way
Say she wanna spare the children
She say dont give or sell your soul away
cause all that you have is your soul
Dont be tempted by the shiny apple
Dont you eat of a bitter fruit
Hunger only for a taste of justice
Hunger only for a world of truth
cause all that you have is your soul

I was a pretty young girl once
I had dreams I had high hopes
I married a man he stole my heart away
He gave his love but what a high price I paid
And all that you have is your soul

Why was I such a young fool
Thought I'd make history
Making babies was the best I could do
Thought Id made something that could be mine forever
Found out the hard way one cant possess another
And all that you have is your soul

I thought thought that I could find a way
To beat the system
To make a deal and have no debts to pay
I'd take it all take it all I'd run away
Me for myself first class and first rate
But all that you have is your soul

Here I am waiting for a better day
A second chance
A little luck to come my way
A hope to dream a hope that I can sleep again
And wake in the world with a clear conscience and clean hands
cause all that you have is your soul

All that you have
All that you have
All that you have
Is your soul

:: lyric credit: Tracy Chapman. lyrics freak Pin It Now!

Al-'Awwal | The First | 99 Divinely Sublime Attributes of God

Al - 'Awwal

. The First One
. The Alpha
. The Pre-Existing
. The One who is the first, the beginning, the foremost
. The Prior-Existing One who existed before all of creation
. The One who is the cause of all the worlds
. The One is the beginning of every action, command or thought.



He is the First and the Last, and the Outward and the Inward; and He is Knower of all things. (The Quran 57:3)

And thy Sustainer knows all that their hearts conceal as well as all that they bring into the open: for He is God, save whom there is no deity. Unto Him all praise is due, at the beginning and at the end of time; and with Him rests all judgment; and unto Him shall you all be brought back.
(The Quran 28:69-70)

Practice | Repeat and behold this remembrance as Ya-'Awwalu.

introduction to the post series | Sufism.org | graphics credit Pin It Now!

Sharing from Marven Gibson | Guest Blogger's Post

When it comes to prayer, twenty-odd years ago, my neighbor who was a very pious man said to me one day, "You are the only man I have ever met in my fifty year affiliation with the church who does what the bible says."

"What is that?" I asked.

"Pray without ceasing"

"I never pray," I said.

"Marven, praying is nothing more than talking to God."

"If that's the case, then I'm guilty as charged!"

When I went back in the house, I asked God if there were any existing prayers that I should be saying or repeating. The answer was a very definite NO! I was then sent to my dictionary and through a slow process I was directed to each word of the following prayer:

"God grant me the strength and the courage,
the wisdom and the knowledge,
the patience and the understanding,
and the direction to carry out your will on earth."

I have been ridiculed by many people, including clergymen, who have told me that I have abdicated the free will that God granted to me. My response to them is, although it might appear that way, I make a free will choice to ask God for an answer to every decision I have to make. That usually stops them.

I tell them that "Look to the Lord in all your ways" doesn't mean some of your ways, most of your ways, almost all of your ways, but ALL of your ways. If the world population realized that God was monitoring each and every one of each person's thoughts, it might be a very different place. Unfortunately, power, greed, and a few other evils seem to be the "gods of the day."

- Marven Gibson

... and may i add with Marven's beautiful thought, may we all turn away from 'the false gods', 'false illusions' to Real, to Lord alone. and may we realize the sacred formula, La ilaha ilaAllah.

:: Recently Marven Gibson (who call himself as truth seeker) wrote me about himself and shared few very wonderful resources. How he found me was pretty interesting. He googled the Bible verse, "And you shall know the truth" and of the 2,500 potential sites to look at, Inspirations and Creative Thoughts was the one he was directed to. Marven comments, 'It is one of the most powerful and thought provoking sites I have ever visited'. I am grateful for his contact and sharing. Blessings and prayer for Marven.

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mysterious quality

Keep the sensitive soul and the animal body in one compartment so that they cannot be separated. Control the vital force, so that you will be transformed again into a newborn child.

When you banish mysterious visions from your imagination you may, then, become unblemished.

Purify yourself and don’t look for intellectual answers for the Mystery.

When discernment penetrates the four regions, perhaps you will not recognize what gives life and sustains it.

That which gives life does not claim any possession. It benefits, but does not demand gratitude. It commands, but does not exercise authority. That is what is called “mysterious quality”.

(Tao Te King)

- Credit: Seven deadly sin on Warrior of Light Online by Paulo Coelho

Also visit Warrior of Light Blog by phenomenal author, Paulo Coelho.

Commentry: To my understanding, here vital force refers to sexual energy. Keeping "the sensitive soul and the animal body in one compartment" means balance between our spirit and physical drive. the substance of our sexual energy is 'that which gives life'. Pin It Now!

Al-'Alim | The Omniscient | 99 Divinely Sublime Attributes of God

Al - 'Alim

. The All-Knowing
. The Omniscient
. The One who comprehends everything
. The One who is intuitively aware of all things, even before they happen
. The One who knows with certainty
. The One whose knowledge of past, present and future is deeply rooted and complete in all respects
. One from whom no knowledge is concealed
. The One who is aware of the complete details of all matters.

Surely thy Lord, He is the All-creator, the All-knowing. (The Quran 15:86)

Surely God - He has knowledge of the Hour; He sends down the rain; He knows what is in the wombs. No soul knows what it shall earn tomorrow, and no soul knows in what land it shall die. Surely God is All-knowing, All-aware. (31:34)

With Him are the keys of the Unseen; none knows them but He.
He knows what is in land and sea; not a leaf falls, but He knows it.
Not a grain in the earth’s shadows, not a thing,
fresh or withered, but it is in a Book Manifest. (6:59)

Such is He who knows all that is beyond the reach
of a created being's perception,
as well as all that can be witnessed by a creature's senses or mind;
the Almighty, the Dispenser of Grace,
who makes most excellent everything that He creates. (32:6-7)

Practice | Repeat and behold this remembrance as Ya-'Alimu.

introduction to the post series | Sufism.org | graphics credit Pin It Now!

Manifestation of Love | from the Bowl of Saki

Love manifests towards those whom we like - as love; towards those whom we do not like - as forgiveness.

:: Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan

In the East, when we speak of saints or sages, it is not because of their miracles, it is because of their presence and their countenance which radiate vibrations of love. How does this love express itself? In tolerance, in forgiveness, in respect, in overlooking the faults of others. Their sympathy covers the defects of others as if they were their own; they forget their own interest in the interest of others. They do not mind what conditions they are in; be they high or humble, their foreheads are smiling. To their eyes everyone is the expression of the Beloved, whose name they repeat. They see the divine in all forms and in all beings.

from http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/XIV/XIV_1.htm

Think of the life of the great Master Jesus... one sees that from beginning to end there was nothing but love and forgiveness. The best expression of love is that love which is expressed in forgiveness. Those who came with their wrongs, errors, imperfections, before the love, that was all forgiven; there was always a stream of love which always purified.

~ "Religious Gatheka #44", by Hazrat Inayat Khan (unpublished)

We may make an ideal in our imagination, and, whenever we see that goodness is lacking, we may add to it from our own heart and so complete the nobility of human nature. This is done by patience, tolerance, kindness, forgiveness. The lover of goodness loves every little sign of goodness. He overlooks the faults and fills up the gaps by pouring out love and supplying that which is lacking. This is real nobility of soul. Religion, prayer, and worship, are all intended to ennoble the soul, not to make it narrow, sectarian or bigoted. One cannot arrive at true nobility of spirit if one is not prepared to forgive the imperfections of human nature. For all men, whether worthy or unworthy, require forgiveness, and only in this way can one rise above the lack of harmony and beauty.

from http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/IX/IX_9.htm

.. Bowl of Saki .. Pin It Now!

on being mindful of God

Whatever stage you've reached,
to spend one breath
unmindful of your God
is worse than death.

- The Conference of the Birds
Farid ud-Din Attar Pin It Now!

Al-'Ali | The Most High| 99 Divinely Sublime Attributes of God

Al - 'Ali

. The Exalted
. The Sublime
. The Most High
. The One Who is above and exceeds all others. The Most High, above whom there is nothing higher.
. The One whose rank and station are the Most High.
. The One who is above and surpasses all that has ever been, all that there now is, and all that shall ever be.


And thus have We inspired in thee (Muhammad) a Spirit of Our command. Thou knewest not what the Scripture was, nor what the Faith. But We have made it a light whereby We guide whom We will of Our bondmen. And lo! thou verily dost guide unto a right path. (The Quran 42:51)

Praise the name of thy Lord the Most High, (87:1)

His is all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth;
and most exalted, tremendous is He. (42:2)

Glorified be the Lord of the heavens and the earth, the Lord of the Throne, apart from that which they ascribe (unto Him)! (43:82)

Practice | Repeat and behold this remembrance as Ya-'Ali.

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Tears by Kenza Saadi | a poem from Iraq

Now that I am leaving the desert, the bright blue skies,
And the hovering helicopters that churn dust like You turn the wheel of time.

Now that I am surrounded by silence,
And come out with friends, images of sadness reflected in my eyes.
Now that I see the beauty that You created,
Nature so sublime amidst desperation, knocking at my soul like a falling petal.

Oh God! Please allow me to cry,
As I suffocate from grief.

All I can offer is a broken jar that does not dare leak.
My shattered heart that screams the desolation of what I am leaving behind.

My soul bares the marks of war.
Yet I come out, not in triumph, but in sadness - humbled by it all.

I learned that the world is dark, yet immensely harmonious,
And that the desperation of mothers will not change the glory of it all.
I learned that we are but simple specks,
Yet we can light up the nights of war like fire flies on a summer’s night.

I also learned that as the wind moves the clouds, the wounded weep;
But that unlike melting snow, the missing are not forgotten.

Omniscient, You observe this world held together but by unmarked graves,
Where suffering never walks alone and smiles linger on.

Like a stone thrown into a vast lake, my prayers dissipate.
Only You can hear my thanks and my angst.

I was born with a knife in my heart destined to bleed for the hurt of others.
From this clear view, I can see the majestic in the most humble.

Wars are waged and people die. So simply, so powerfully so.
I am privileged to see it thus.

In solitude now, I think of what I am leaving and how it could be.
Silence You impose. Yet, You speak through glory.

You make Your presence known, through the tattered clothes and the rings formed in water,
And the yellow flowers I saw blooming in the desert impervious to it all.

As ephemeral as I am,
My heart is truthful as I come to pray.

Consider please, that I have fought against desperation and rage,
Yet scored only insignificant victories.
Consider also, that I have tried to leave anger aside, and remain as patient as can be,
But that my only success was to silence my sadness.

Yes, I have laughed and smiled. I have comforted also.
But I have not cried.

Oh God! Please let me cry
So that I may shed the sorrow that my heart contains.

Oh God! Please let me cry
So that my tears may heal the land between rivers.

- Kenza
Iraq, May 2006

Note: This is a poem shared by Kenza Saadi who is a visitor of this blog. She left Iraq in 2006. She was there since 2005 with a humanitarian organization and wrote something upon leaving. Kenza writes about herself, "I am a Muslim (even if putting me in a box with a label has never really been possible, Mexican of Moroccan origin, raised between Paris and New York), and I have read and tried to understand many spiritual/religious writings and thoughts from Islam to Buddhism to Kashmiri Shaivism to many others. At the end, we all seek the same. A path of humility and hope, towards the One."

A personality like Kenza who puts own precious life in total risk and uncertainty for the love of humanity, to me is like a Prophet of our age. This is pure sacrifice. May God bless her and accept her dedication for the humanity. May God raise her status among the blessed ones. With deep respect and appreciation to Kenza i am sharing this beautiful work of poetry with you.

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Vivekananda on Love

I once had a friend who grew to be very close to me. Once when we were sitting at the edge of a swimming pool, she filled the palm of her hand with some water and held it before me, and said this: "You see this water carefully contained on my hand? It symbolizes Love.

This was how I saw it: As long as you keep your hand caringly open and allow it to remain there, it will always be there. However, if you attempt to close your fingers round it and try to posses it, it will spill through the first cracks it finds.

This is the greatest mistake that people do when they meet love ... they try to posses it, they demand, they expect ... and just like the water spilling out of your hand, love will retrieve from you. For love is meant to be free, you can not change its nature.

If there are people you love, allow them to be free beings.

Give and don't expect.
Advise, but don't order.
Ask, but never demand.

It might sound simple, but it is a lesson that may take a lifetime to truly practice. It is the secret to true love.To truly practice it, you must sincerely feel no expectations from those who you love, and yet an unconditional caring.

- Swami Vivekananda Pin It Now!

Al-Akhir | The Ultimate | 99 Divinely Sublime Attributes of God

Al - Akhir

. The Infinite
. The Last One
. The End and The Ultimate
. The One who shall survive all the perishables.
. The One who is the last, the conclusion, the ultimate.
. The One who is behind all of creation. The One beyond whom there is nothing


He is the First and the Last, and the Outward and the Inward; and He is Knower of all things. (The Quran 57:3)

But when sight is confounded
And the moon is eclipsed
And sun and moon are united,
On that day man will cry: Whither to flee!
Alas! No refuge!
Unto thy Lord is the recourse that day. (The Quran 75:7-12)

Practice | Repeat and behold this remembrance as Ya-Akhiru (meaning, O the Ultimate One).

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Al-Ahad | The One | 99 Divinely Sublime Attributes of God

Al - Ahad

. The One
. His Oneness is undoubtedly and universally acknowledged.
. The One who is the Essence of Unity.
. The One who depends upon no other, and to Whom there is no likeness. The One in whom all names, attributes and relationships are united.


Say: He is Allah, the One.
He is Allah, the Eternal. (The Quran 112:1,2)

There is nothing like Him (42:11)

What does it mean to learn the knowledge of God's Unity?
To consume yourself in the presence of the One.
If you wish to shine like day,
burn up the night of self-existence.
Dissolve in the Being who is everything.
you grabbed hold of "I" and "we,"
and this dualism is your ruin.
- Rumi, Mathnawi I:3009-3012, tr. Helminski

Practice | Repeat and behold this remembrance as Ya-Ahadu.

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Prophetic Wisdom

The Prophet said:
Remembrance of God is my friend;
Reason is the root of my faith;
Love is my foundation;
Enthusiasm is my horse;
Knowledge of God is my capital;
Firmness is my treasure;
Sorrow is my companion;
Science is my weapon;
Patience is my mantle;
Contentment is my reward;
Poverty is my pride;
Devotion is my art;
Conviction is my power;
Truth is my redeemer;
Obedience is my sufficiency;
Struggle is my manner
and my pleasure is in my prayer.

text credit | graphics credit
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Manifestation of Divine Attributes | on seeing and realizing

The vision of Allah is of two kinds: one is seeing the manifestation of Allah’s attribute of Perfect Beauty directly in the hereafter, and the other is seeing the manifestation of the divine attributes reflected upon the clear mirror of the pure heart, in this life, in this world. In such a case the vision appears as the manifestation of light emanating from the Perfect Beauty of Allah and is seen by the eye of the essence of the heart.

Allah describes the vision seen by the eye of the heart: The heart did not deny what it saw. (Sura Najm, 11)

On seeing the manifestation of the divine through an intermediary the Prophet says, ‘The faithful is the mirror of the faithful’. What is meant by the first ‘faithful’, the mirror in this phrase, is the pure heart of the believer, while the second ‘faithful’ Who sees His reflection in that mirror is Allah Most High. Whoever arrives at the level of seeing the manifestations of Allah’s attributes in the world will certainly see the Essence of Allah in the hereafter without shape or form.

The reality of this has been confirmed by many of the beloved and the lovers of Allah. Hadrat Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, ‘My heart saw my Lord by the light of my Lord’. And Hadrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said, ‘I will not pray to Allah unless I see Him’. They both must have seen the manifestation of divine attributes. If someone sees sunlight coming through the windows and says, ‘I see the sun!’ he is telling the truth.

The purpose of the creation of this universe is to discover, to see that hidden treasure. Allah says through His Prophet, ‘I was a hidden treasure, I willed to be known. I created the creation so that I would be known.’ That is to say, that He would be known in this material world through His attributes manifested in His creation. But to see His very Essence is left to the hereafter. There, the vision of Allah will be direct, as He wills, and it will be the eye of the child of the heart that sees Him.

On that day some faces will beam (with joy and beauty), looking at their Lord. (Sura Qiyama, 223)

Our Master the Prophet says, ‘I have seen my Lord in the shape of a beautiful youth.’ Perhaps this is the manifestation of the child of the heart. The image is the mirror. It becomes a means, rendering visible that which is invisible. The truth of Allah Most High is exempt from and free of any kind of description or any kind of image or form. The image is the mirror, though what is seen is neither the mirror nor the one who is looking into the mirror. Ponder on that and try to understand, because that is the essence of the realm of secrets.

Yet all this is happening in this world of attributes. In the realm of the Essence all means disappear, burn into thin air. The ones in that realm of Essence themselves do not exist, but they feel the Essence and nothing else. How well the Prophet explains this when he says, ‘I knew my Lord by my Lord’. In His Light, by His Light! The truth of man is the secret of that light, as Allah says through His Prophet: ‘Man is My secret and I am his secret’.

- Quoted from the book Secret of Secrets by Abdul Qadir al Jilani Pin It Now!

Fixed hour prayers in Judaism and Christianity | the Divine Hours

Fixed hour prayers are prescribed religious obligation for all adult faithful Muslims. it is perhaps surprising to many that the same principle of fixed hour prayers exist in Bible as well and were part of Judio-Christian practice. The Divine Hours: a brief history of fixed-hour prayer is a resourceful article by Phyllis Tickle which explores this subject. Quoted from Explore Faith website.

The Age of the Apostles | Fixed-hour prayer, while it is with the Eucharist the oldest surviving form of Christian spirituality, actually had its origins in the Judaism out of which Christianity came. Centuries before the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the Hebrew psalmist wrote that “Seven times a day do I praise you” (Ps. 119:164). Scholars differs on the hours of early Judaism’s set prayers (they were probably adjusted and readjusted many times).

By the beginning of the common era, Judaism and its adherents, already thoroughly accustomed to fixed hours for prayer, were scattered across the Roman Empire. ... The first detailed miracle of the apostolic Church, the healing of the lame man on the Temple steps by Sts. Peter and John (Acts 3:1), occurred when and where it did because two devout Jews (who did not yet know they were Christians as such) were on their way to ninth-hour (three o’clock) prayers. Not many years later, one of the great defining events of Christianity - St. Peter’s vision of the descending sheet filled with both clean and unclean animals - was to occur at noon on a rooftop because he had gone there to observe the sixth-hour prayers.

The directive Peter received during his noon devotion-i.e., to accept all that God had created as clean-was pivotal because it became the basis of the ecumenism that rapidly thereafter expanded Church fellowship beyond Jewry. Peter was on the roof, however, not by some accident of having been in that spot when the noon bell caught him, but by his own intention. In Joppa and far from Jerusalem and the Temple, Peter had sought out the solitude of his host’s rooftop as a substitute site for keeping the appointed time of prayer.

From the Apostles to the Early Fathers | As Christianity grew and, thanks to Peter’s rooftop vision, as it spread, so too did the practice of formalized daily prayer. The process by which the fixed-hour prayers of the first century slowly recast themselves as the Divine Hours or Daily Offices of later Christians is blurred in some of its particulars, though we can attest to the approximate date and agency of many of them.

We know from their writings that by the second and third centuries the great Fathers of the Church- Clement (c. 150–215 a.d.), Origen (c. 185–254 a.d.), Tertullian (c. 160–225 a.d.), etc. - assumed as normative the observance of prayers in the morning and at night as well as the so-called “little hours” of terce, sext, and none...or in modern parlance, nine a.m., noon, and three p.m. These daily prayers were often said or observed alone, though they could be offered by families or in small groups.

From St. Benedict to the Middle Ages | Once the notion of unbroken and uninterrupted prayer had entered monastic practice, so too, almost by default, did much longer prayers enter there. Yet for all their lengthiness and growing complexity and cumbersomeness, the monks’ fixed-hour prayers became normative for the religious in both the Eastern and the Western branches of the Church. By the fourth century, certainly, the principal characteristics of the daily offices as we know them today were plainly in place, and their organization would be more or less recognizable as such to us today.

From the Middle Ages to Us | As the keeping of the hours grew in importance to become the organizing principle of both Christian spirituality and the Christian day, so too did the elaboration of the offices. By the eleventh century, saying an office required a veritable stack of books ... a Psalter from which to sing the Psalms appointed for that day and hour, a lectionary from which to ascertain the appointed scripture reading, a sacred text from which to read the scripture thus discovered, a hymnal for singing, etc.

Despite all the diversity that centuries and evolving doctrine have laid upon them, the Divine Hours have none the less remained absolute in their adherence to certain principles that have become their definition.

... partly quoted. read the full article here. Pin It Now!

Zohar | a powerful spiritual tool

The Zohar is the most secret and central of Jewish mystical texts. According to tradition, a person must be 40 years of age and married before studying this mysterious commentary on the Bible.

Traditionally, the Zohar is studied by those who are older and married because the text is very serious and uses strong sexual imagery, said David Blumenthal, professor of Judaic studies. "The concept of God in the Zohar is a very personal and interactive understanding of the relationship that we have with God, and you have to have a certain kind of maturity to grasp that," he said.

Although the authorship of the Zohar is still hotly disputed by some Jewish scholars, it's generally believed to have been written around 1293 by a man named Moses de Leon, who lived in the city of Leon in Northern Spain. The text, which was originally written in Aramaic, is a commentary to the Torah-the first five books of the Bible.

The Zohar represents one of four or five cycles of Jewish mysticism known as "Kabbalah," which means "tradition." In a legal sense, the word also means "receipt," said Blumenthal, explaining that "a tradition is something that you receive and pass on." (credit)

Here are some of the top resources:
:: Kabbalah and Zohar
:: Kabbalah Blog by Michael Berg
:: Kabbalah Blog by Yehuda Berg

Search GoogleBook for Books on Zohar | Youtube video search on Zohar Pin It Now!

Al-'Afûw | The Forgiver | 99 Divinely Sublime Attributes of God

Al - 'Afûw

. The Forgiver
. The Supreme Pardoner
. The Most Forgiving
. He Who pardons all who repent sincerely as if they had no previous sin.
. The One who removes and obliterates all traces of wrong actions.


And He it is Who accepteth repentance from His bondmen, and pardoneth the evil deeds, and knoweth what ye do (The Quran, 42:25)

Or He causeth them to perish on account of that which they have earned - And He forgiveth much (The Quran, 42:34)

As for those who avoid the truly grave sins and shameful deeds -
even though they may sometimes stumble -
behold, thy Sustainer is abounding in forgiveness. (The Quran, 53:32)

Be cheerful, call for help
to the One who comes at the call;
saying, "Forgive us, You who love to forgive."
- Rumi, Mathnawi 1:3252-3, tr. Helminski

Practice | Repeat and behold this remembrance (Dhikr) as Ya-'Afûwu.

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Reading Now | Autobiography of a Yogi

right now i am reading 3 books. One of the most remarkable one is Autobiography of a Yogi (1946) by Paramhansa Yogananda. this is a great book where a great hindu yogi has written detailed account of his life and his association with many of india's God realized masters. Yogananda is one of the preeminent spiritual figure of modern age.

first time the life of yogi Paramhansa Yogananda captured my attention when i read about his death. it was a living testimony of his saintly status when weeks after his death, his unchanged face and body shone with divine luster of incorruptibility. he died in LA, USA in a state of mahasamadhi (a yogis final conscious exit from the body) on 7 march, 1952 after concluding a speech. The great world teacher demonstrated the value of yoga (scientific technique for God-realization) not only in life but in death and beyond.

i quote from the book, Mr. Harry T. Rowe, Mortuary Director of Forest Lawn Memorial-Park, LA, writes, "The absence of any visual signs of decay in the dead body of Paramhansa Yogananda offers the most extra ordinary experience ... no physical disintegration was visible in his body even after twenty days after death ... no indication of mold was visible on his skin, and no visible dessication took place in bodily tissue. This state of perfection preservation of a body, so far as we know from mortuary annals, an unparalleled one ..."

the bodies of saints and prophet are known not to get decayed after death. its a sign of God. Yogi Paramhansa Yogananda is one of such friend of God whose life is so fascinating that it continues to declare the glory of God even after death. May God send his blessings, peace and love to the great saint.

its interesting to note that Paramhansa Yogananda was the first great master of india to live in the west for more than thirty years. his realization of God was truly remarkable. Such a great soul comes on earth only rarely, when there is a real need among men. in this book, he described his meetings with other great saints, yogis and personalities. meeting with the catholic mystic, Therese Neumann was an incredible description of miracle to read.

:: you may read the full book online from here.

Quotes | "Self Realization is the knowing - in body, mind and soul - that we are one with the omnipresence of God; that we do not have to pray that it come to us, that we are not merely near it at all times, but that God's omnipresence is our omnipresence; that we are just as much a part of Him now as we ever will be. All we have to do is improve our knowing"

"In waking, eating, working, dreaming, sleeping,
Serving, meditating, chanting, divinely loving,
My soul constantly hums, unheard by any;
God, God, God!"
- Sri Sri Paramhansa Yogananda

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Kahlil Gibran's Koan

A pearl is a temple built
by pain around
a grain of sand.

What longing built our bodies
and around what grains?


- Kahlil Gibran
Sand and Foam Pin It Now!

Al-‘Adl | The Just | 99 Divinely Sublime Attributes of God

Al-‘Adl

. The Just
. The Embodiment of Justice
. The One whose wisdom of justice is based upon complete knowledge of past, present and future.
. The One Who imparts justice to all.

Behold, God enjoins justice, and the doing of good,
and generosity towards one's fellow-men;
and He forbids all that is shameful
and all that runs counter to reason, as well as envy;
and He exhorts you repeatedly so that you might bear all this in mind. (The Quran 16:90)

And We set a just balance for the Day of Resurrection so that no soul is wronged in aught. Though it be of the weight of a grain of mustard seed, We bring it. And We suffice for reckoner. (The Quran, 21:47)

Lo! Allah wrongeth not even of the weight of an ant; and if there is a good deed, He will double it and will give (the doer) from His presence an immense reward. (The Quran, 4:40)

O God, help me against this self of mine
that is seeking help from You;
I seek justice from no one but from
this justice-seeking self.
I shall not get justice from any one except from
Him who is nearer to me than myself;
For this i-ness comes moment by moment from Him.
- Rumi, Mathnawi I:2195-2198, tr. Helminski

Practice | Repeat and behold this remembrance (Dhikr) as Ya-‘Adlu.

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