come! let us fast today

come! let us fast today.

not fast from mere food i talk about,
real fasting be far removed from that.

in this world of ten thousand things, *
food is not at all what matters the most.
far more than that, you act as an host.

don't forget the noble eightfold path. **
your intention, speech
action and thought.

what you will be held accountable for
are far grave a disposition
than what (gross material)
make way in body alone.

o wayfarer! how long
will you live in ignorance?

let us fast in harmony
upon the real objects today,
unnecessity may give itself away.

(c) Sadiq M. Alam
28 Nov, 2007. LA, CA

. dedicated to my friend and dear bhai MURALIKRISHNAN

# note::
* "ten thousand things" is a metaphor used in ancient Chinese and Daoist tradition to symbolize the created world of multiplicity, everything in the universe. it is a term meaning all of phenomenal reality. in ancient age ten thousand was a sure enough huge number; just like what quadrillion or centillion mean to us today.

** the noble eightfold path described by the enlightened teacher of humanity, Siddhartha Gautama as: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration which summarizes as a practical guideline to ethical and mental development and tool to evolve towards a perfect human being.

# Related

. interesting read on ten thousand things and metaphysics.
. meaning of fast the inner heart blossoms

. inner dimensions of fasting

. fast and the unseen sweetness

. noble eightfold path

+ cross posted @ Poetry Chaikhana forum | Sacred Poetry
+ art collage: mysticsaint

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dream | remembrance of unconscious

Remember when Joseph said to his father: O my father! Verily, I dreamt eleven stars and the sun and the moon, I saw them prostrating themselves to me. He (the father) said: "O my son! Relate not your vision to your brothers, lest they arrange a plot against you. Verily! Satan is to man an open enemy! Thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of dreams and perfect His Favor on you ... Verily, in Joseph and his brethren, there were signs for those who seek. The Quran, Sura Joseph, 12:4, 5, 6, 7.

And Joseph raised his parents to the throne and they fell down before him prostrate. And he said: "O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream aforetime! My Lord has made it come true! ... "My Lord! You have indeed bestowed on me of the sovereignty, and taught me the interpretation of dreams;" ... The Quran, 12:100, 101

1.

Dream is such a mysterious phenomena! until recently in human history it has always been part of occult or esoteric spectrum of knowledge. Mystics, prophets, sages all told, so also agree modern day researchers that dream holds key 'to something'; this something depending on where you stand and how you look at the reality. Now modern neuroscience and consciousness research is focusing to unveil the mysteries of mind and its dreaming, but we are still in its infancy as far as understanding of consciousness and subconsciousness goes.

2.

The highly cultivated masters of humanity and the brotherhood and sisterhood of Light are blessed with the ability to appear over another persons dream. It is very often reported by many that sufi masters appear to their dreams, even many westerners who haven't heard about sufism whatsoever, are visited by sufi master which awakens them to another reality. Yogis of India have this ability, so do the Lama masters. In eastern tradition as well as western tradition, native american culture or shamanism and you name it; in virtually all traditions people appearing in dream can be traced. By appearing i mean not just appearing, but with esoteric significance.

One of the most interesting description of appearance in dream without any earlier encounter between the two is Sufi teacher Bawa Muhaiyaddeen's appearing to Coleman Barks' dream which opened the door of inspiration for Coleman's wondrous work on Rumi. Coleman Barks' fresh and original translations of Rumi's work are largely responsible for Rumi's becoming the best-selling poet in the west and specially in America. {>} Read in Coleman Barks' own words here.

Not only to Coleman, Bawa is reported to have appeared to many westerners who later became his disciples and embraced the path of sufi islam. And interestingly enough, Bawa is one of the most contemporary sufi master who left his body in 1986 only. In sufi literature of earlier times we find many accounts of sufi masters appearing to their devotees.

. Similar is the extra ordinary experience of Daniel Ladinsky and his vision of Hafiz. {>} read here.

Only few days back i met (in virtual world) sister Waliya Inayat, now an initiated sufi, who when asked about her last name, replying to my email wrote: "Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan, peace and blessings upon him, came to me in a dream before I had ever heard of sufism over 35 years ago."

This world and its apparent realities are really something!

3.

Apart from the event of sufi teachers appearing in people's dream, we ordinary people also appear in others dream. and strangely we have little mastery over it, the mystery behind it remain veiled. i am just an ordinary person, heavily ignorant one (astagfirullah) and not even initiated into sufi path so to speak (waiting for my teacher yet). so forgive me what i mentioned earlier as an intro to this post and what i'm gonna mention next.

What triggered the thought of this post is this morning's email from my good friend anise, mentioning that i was in her dream last night. i was surprised cause anise and i have never met physically and for sometime we were also out of communication even by email.

Anise's mail this morning reminds me about Marvin from Mexico, long long time back (7 or 8 yrs back, it was pre-blogging era, internet forum was the cool thing then) we exchanged our thoughts on religion etc. i remember him saying one day that he dreamt of me. and it was so strange that time cause we hardly knew each other!

Then sister SF from Texas (like anise we have't met yet in physical reality) mentioned her dreaming me in an email sometime end of last year. She wrote:

saw u in a dream ... a home, a cave ... a spiritual quest ... dont remember anything else ... Allah knows best!

This is what anise, may she always be blessed, mentioned about her dream just this morning:

I had a dream with you in it last nite. I don't remember most of it except that when I saw you I was surprised that you looked nothing like your pictures. Anyhow, I wanted you to know that my dreams are thinking of you loved one.
love love,
anise

4.
i know not dream interpretation. but i wished to tell anise that none of us, look true to what we truly are (be in photo or in flesh) :) our reflection, our image behold us not. as zen masters aptly remind us in the famous zen koan, "what is your original face before you were born?". indeed that real face is unseen, uncaptured and perhaps anise's dream allude to that.

It appears to me sometime that dreams are like remembrance of unconscious / unconscious mind that beckon us to the mysteries of beyond. coincidentally just today i picked up this book, The Book of Dreams by Brian Innes where it mentions a lovely passage from Upanishads on the subject of dream:

"A man has two conditions: in this world and in the world beyond. But there is also a twilight juncture: the condition of sleep. In the twilight juncture one sees both of the other conditions, this world and the other world. When someone falls asleep, he takes the stuff of the entire world, and he himself takes it apart, and he himself builds it up, and by his own bright light he dreams.

There are no chariots there, no harnessings, no roads; but he emits chariots, harnessings, roads. There are no joys or delight there; but he emits joys and delights. There are no ponds, lotus pools and flowering streams, but he emits ponds, lotus pools and flowering streams. For he is the maker."

There is a beautiful saying of Prophet Muhammad, upon him be God's unbound love, "The world is like a dream that a sleeping man sees." (credit)

Auzubillah. To God is refuge.
Astaghfirullah. To Him is turning.

# Related
. thoughts on dream
. secret of true dreams
. dream yoga in sufism
. The Dream of the Sleeper | Dream Interpretation and Meaning in Sufism
. Dreamwork within a sufi group by Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee
. Light of Kirpal: on sleeping, dreams and visions
image credit

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Sufi Shaykh Sidi (ar-Rifai ash-Shadhuli)'s visit to San Diego, California

Sufi Master Sidi Muhammad, the head of the Shadhuliyya sufi order - God willing, will be visiting, giving teachings and leading sufi retreat (khalwa) in Southern California from Friday, November 30th to Monday, December 3rd 2007.

Shaykh Muhammad Said al-Jamal ar-Rifa'i ash-Shadhuli, affectionately called Sidi by his seven million students world-wide, is a prominent spiritual leader from Jerusalem. The blessed gathering circling around the presence of the sufi master will be held in beautiful Del Mar, CA, a short drive north of San Diego.

Come immerse yourself in the Ocean of Love & Mercy!

bismi‘llah ir-rahman ir-rahim
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
I am like the sea;
many ships sail across the sea,
but who knows the depth of the sea?
When I move through the streets,
I watch the sons of truth pass me by;
I do not say anything, but I open my heart,
and they enter.

What brings seven million students world-wide to seek the sacred teachings of peace, love, mercy, justice, and freedom?

Let it be known for those who seek it. Truth!

The undeniable truth that so many of us want to know deeply can only be heard from within our souls. There are few who have completely surrendered to the purest light of God and are able to speak divine truth to manifest peace, love, mercy, justice and freedom onto the entire planet.

This special event brings Shaykh Muhammad Said al-Jamal ar-Rafa’I ash-Shadhuli, a humble servant of God from Jerusalem to southern California to share such truth. Sidi, as he is affectionately called, brings compassion, kindness and profound divine knowledge that gives hope for real and lasting world peace.

Guidance is what Sidi offers to so many people with various religious and spiritual backgrounds; for truth does not discriminate.

# EVENT SCHEDULE

Friday November 30th 2007
5:30pm Registration / Program Check-In
6:00pm Introduction to Sidi & Event - Led by Ibrahim Jaffe
7:00pm Sidi Teaching

Saturday December 1st 2007
8:30am Registration / Program Check-In
9:00am Sidi Teaching
11:00am What is Sufism? - Led by Ibrahim Jaffe
2:30pm Registration / Program Check-In
3:00pm Sidi Teaching

Sunday December 2nd 2007
8:30am Registration / Program Check-In
9:00am Sidi Teaching
11:00am What is Khalwah & its Etiquette? - Led by Ryhana Rae
7:00pm Khalwah Registration
7:30pm Khalwah with Sidi * Khalwah is an all night prayer for washing the heart and opening the soul

Monday December 3rd 2007
5:20am Khalwah Ends

Location: Hilton Hotel Del mar, 15575 Jimmy Durante Blvd, Del Mar CA 92014. . check location on google map.

. see details and registration for the event.
. about Shaykh Sidi

[] Read Details from the visit itself

# about the Sadhili sufi path
. http://www.shazuli.com
. http://www.shadhilitariqa.info
. http://www.suficenter.org
. http://shadhilliya.wordpress.com
. teachings of Shaykh Sidi, Books

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Mystic Iran, The Unseen World | The Movie

"Modern man explores the universe from the outside,
the mystic explores the universe from inside; both in search of God."

- Mystic Iran, the Movie
an eye-opening pilgrimage to spiritual enlightenment.

"My spiritual journey had taken me from the land of Ahuramazda to the realm of Allah. I came to believe there is only One God, The God of light, goodness and joy. A God who abides not on the mountains or in the oceans, Nor the cities or the sanctuaries, But in the human souls who worship there." - Aryana Farshad, Writer/ Director / Producer

Mystic Iran is a modern woman's mystical journey deep into the heart of her native country Iran, in search of spiritual rites and rituals hidden for centuries.

From the women's chamber of the great mosque, opened for the first time to the outside world. To the rituals held in the remote caves, and to the sacred dance of the Dervishes, performed in secret in the remote mountains of Kurdistan - Aryana takes you on a mesmerizing and healing journey behind closed doors, and far beyond the ordinary world, exploring the mystic powers of this ancient land.

[>] click here to watch a short clip
[>] watch women dervish gathering and intense trance via Youtube from the movie.

When asked, how you ever got the dervishes to consent to being filmed? There must have been some very memorable experiences that you had while making this film. Can you tell us about some of them? Tell us about that lady dervish whom I consider the star of your film. You know the one who was baking bread. She was awesome. The filmaker answers:

. Yes, you mean Aisha. We gave her the code name Aisha. The most memorable experience I had was with Aisha.

In 2000, I had gone to Kurdistan and Sanandaj many times, location scouting for the film. The first trip, I interviewed only male dervishes. They were very kind. We smoked cigarettes together, which made our Kurdish guide very nervous. They promised to think it over about being filmed, but no answer.

One day, our Kurdish guide asked me if I wanted to meet women dervishes in Sanandaj. I ended up joining in their rituals. I am not a spectator but rather a participant in life. After my participation with them, the Khalife agreed to the filming at a later date. Some time later the Khalife invited me and my crew to join her group of women dervishes on a pilgrimage, which we did. We started out at 3 AM following behind them in a mini bus from Sanadaj to the village of Najar. We did not arrive there until 9 pm... it was a very long and mountainous drive.

When we got there, we saw a huge Sufi center. I went to the second floor, which was the women's center. It was a dorm style room, covered with kelims on the floor. The women dervishes started the sema. I decided to take a picture, forgetting that they were taking their scarves off. Most unfortunately my flash went off and all the women dervishes started shouting: "film, film" and covered over their heads with scarves. Khalife told me to sit quiet. I went to the corner and kept quiet. Everyone quietly went off to sleep. I realized that I had disrupted the ceremony.

One of woman dervishes, Aisha, was still in trance and she was "speaking in tongues." I was alone with them as everyone else was asleep. I was worried about Aisha. She kept crying, lamenting and growling.

Presently as her friend came around, I asked her why Aisha was in that state. I found out that her Sema was interrupted and she was stuck in trance and needed to finish the cycle of sema. I went down stairs and asked Sheik Najar's daughter in law to join the circle and play the Daf. Aisha went through the trance and dancing. Gradually one by one the women dervishes sleeping next door awoke and joined the circle of Sama. We finished around 4:30 in the morning. I got close to Aisha and her friend after this episode. The scene of fire eating happened the next day, at 6am, while she was baking bread for the retreat. (full interview here)

. Mystic Iran official site.
. Aryana Production
. review of Mystic Iran, the Unseen World
. film review via Spirituality & Practice
. an interview with the film maker Aryana Farshad
. you may buy the movie via Best Prices, alternatively from here. Pin It Now!

Sufficiency | Meditative Quranic Verse

Ya ayyuha alnnabiyyu
hasbuka Allahu
wamani ittabaAAaka minaal mumineena. (credit)


O Prophet!
sufficient unto you is God,
and unto those who follow you among the believers. The Quran 8.64


+ a powerful tasbeeh or seed of remembrance, : "Hasbi Allah"
meaning: 'God (alone) is sufficient'.

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Find Sufis and Divine lovers near you | Sufism Meetup | 'where sufis meet?' - if you wonder

Meetup.com is an excellent website service to help you find virtually any interest group near your country, locality or city.

and guess what, now its super easy to search and know where those illusive and stealth Divine lovers gather and sing together. Surprise, surprise! they are nearer than you know.

[>] visit sufism.meetup.com to find and to meet local people interested in Sufism, the mystical tradition of Islam. The website is pretty neat with very useful features such as calendar to know exactly the events according to dates. For example: calendar for Los Angeles Beloved Sufis shows you all the events according to date. Different cities may have different sufi paths (tariqa) gathering, but hey! when it comes to Divine lovers, who cares the differences? Don't forget to signup for free to become member.

[>] click here to browse the cities or countries for Sufi meetup. May God connect your heart with blessed souls in this path of truth.

"And God has put affection and love between the believers hearts; Not if you had spent all that is in the earth could you have produced that affection, but God has done it, for He is Exalted in Might and Wise." The Qur'an 8:63

“My heart feel at HOME. My heart and the hearts of All, thrugh LOVE transformed to ONE BIG HEART. ” - Fatima, Nur Ashki Jerrahi Circle: The St. Louis Sufism Meetup Group

“A beautiful, unique experience and a rare chance to drink from the water of a true spiritual stream. ” - Member from The St. Louis Sufism Meetup Group

image credit: Sufi Master Sidi gives prayer beads to a new beloved after bayat / initiation to sufi path.

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purpose of dialogue between faiths | gandhian wisdom and Quranic appreciation for pluralism

"The purpose of dialogue between faiths is not to change the other, but rather to deepen the experience of one's own faith. Through greater understanding and appreciation of each other's faith, the Hindu becomes a better Hindu, the Muslim becomes a better Muslim, the Christian becomes a better Christian, the Jew a better Jew and the Buddhist a better Buddhist."

- Mahatma Gandhi (1829 - 1948)

O mankind! surely God created you of a male and a female, and made you into nations and races, that you may know each other. Verily the most honored of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you. And God is the Knower, Aware. The Quran 49.13

And to each is disposed a goal toward which one turns; then strive together towards all that is good. Wheresoever you are, God will bring you together. For God has power over all things. The Quran 2.148

Proclaim unto the mankind: Call upon as God or call upon as 'the Most Merciful': by whatever name ye call upon Him, it is the same: for to Him belong the Most Beautiful Attributes. The Quran 17.110

To every nation God has appointed acts of devotion which they observe, therefore let there be no dispute about the matter.
The Quran 22.67

+ related post: The Sabians | example of pluralism in Islam

. image credit: dialogue between the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Catholic Church Pin It Now!

time, space and zen

the young monk asks:
be kind o ancient zen master,
tell us what is space?
what about time?

lifting the corners of the mouth
towards heaven,
reply comes with a smile
so serene:

witness the infinitely present presence,
time has no meaning hence.

all moments are concealed inside Now.
this enlightenment is the Way, the Tao.

space is nothing

but illusionary forms.
lo, it's only emptiness

that revolves.

(c) MysticSaint

+ trivia on emptiness from quantum physics:

Did you know that there's so much empty space (emptiness) inside matter (atoms, molecules) that the entire human race could be squeezed into the volume of a sugar cube?
.......... yes the entire human race! its unbelievable, but true!

- fact inspired from Marcus Chown's book, The Quantum Zoo: A Tourist's Guide to the Neverending Universe

One of the towering achievement of modern physics is quantum theory which has enabled us to understand the physical reality in a remarkable and unprecedented manner. "If the empty space in atoms were removed, the entire human race would fit in the volume of a sugar cube" - this humorously presented fact points to the overwhelmingly integrated emptiness in our physical world from scientific point of view.

Emptiness embedded in this creation is something about which ancient mystics and sages talked about hundreds and thousands of years earlier in the language of metaphysics. Buddha talked about so much that Emptiness of Reality (empty of inherent existence) has become one of the central doctrine of Buddhism. Off course the mystics, sages and Buddha - all were addressing the emptiness of not only matter, but beyond as well.

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President Lincoln's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation

"The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften the heart which is habitually insensible to the everwatchful providence of almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and provoke their aggressions, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict; while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised, nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the most high God, who while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American people. I do, therefore, invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that, while offering up the ascriptions justly due to him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation, and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union."

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United Stated States to be affixed.

President Lincoln's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, October 3, 1863.


via Internationl Association of Sufism

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Happy Thanksgiving

American tradition of thanksgiving is here!
wish you all a very happy thanksgiving!

may you all have a wonderful and blessed time with your family, loved and near ones.

He is your field which you sow with love,
and reap with thanksgiving. - Khalil Gibran

The Holy Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said: "'Praise be to God (alhamdu lillah)' is the beginning of thanksgiving, for the man who does not praise God has not thanked Him". Alhamdu lillah is same in meaning and spirit as Hallelujah or Alleluia, which is: Praise ye Jehova or Praise be to God.

If the only prayer you say in your whole life is "thank you", that would suffice. - Meister Eckhart, the 14th-century mystic.

on this occasion of thanksgiving may we all remember to give thanks to the One Who deserves thanks the best. may we offer thanks from our inner heart to the Sustainer of all that is, Who is the Source of Nourishment for all. "Thank You for everything that you have given to us and thank You for everything that You kept away from us. indeed all are source of unending blessings from You."


[>] for this thanksgiving season here is my little gift for you: the Buddhist Metta (Loving Kindness) chanting with meaning (the audio should start automatically, wait for audio to load, click here). its a beautiful prayer and meditation chant. also separately you may download / listen to the audio here. / alternative link. may you and all sentient beings be in peace.

[>] Metta Chant via Youtube with English meaning subtitle.

# related
. prayer of thanksgiving
. on thanksgiving | message from Quran
. simple prayer of gratitude

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sufi haqqu | journeying towards perfection

who is perfect?

none but
God alone
is Perfection.

we all are from Him
and to Him is the journeying,
turning and evolving
into perfection.

be warned!
seeking heaven
is seeking creation.
cease!

. seek Him alone .

that my friend
is the real goal;
the blessed
endeavoring of all soul.

(c) MysticSaint / image

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not as i will, but as You will | INSHALLAH

Going a little farther, Jesus fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." - Gospel according to Matthew 26:39, describing prayer of Jesus, with him be God' peace, while he was prostrating or offering Sajdah. And he uttered this prayer ending with the most humblest expression of surrender that any prayer can incorporate. The cup here symbolized all the drama that followed concerning his arrest and crucifixion.

Language is a tricky thing, as one poetess says, "The language never flies straight to the meaning". As a practitioner of one language its often difficult to incorporate all the terminology and expression to its fullest meaning. Over the time as religion and spiritual practices crossed their borders, the language that the teachers spoke was no longer the language of the followers. And this gives rise to a very difficult and significant problem, which is the problem of "meaning incorporation".

I give an example of islamic tradition. The language of the Prophet Muhammad was Arabic and Quranic arabic is a classic edition. Muslims by tradition practice their religion in Arabic language. But being someone who doesn't know the language properly and often so remote from the own mother tongue can create a huge gap between the practice of religion and incorporating its meanings, significance and internalizing those.

Often practicing a religion in a language totally foreign is the most fundamental reason why religious experience fails to attain its purpose, which is to beautify the human experience and to give birth to perfect human being, 'insaan e kamil', as they say in the esoteric tradition of Islam.

We look at our world and can see one of the most horrible crime committers are none other than those who claim themselves "religious", "upholder and protector of religion". This is because the teachings never enters into their heart, because whatever sacred text they utter, they utter from sheer ignorance.

As religious teachings and the faith crossed borders, the teachings and everything came mostly in the language of a totally alien land. People were taught to pray in an alien language which often killed the spirit of the prayer. It was such an essential component that the language with which any one practice his or her religious practices, should better be made a language of heart. Otherwise how are you to communicate from the heart to Someone Who's Throne is Heart itself?

The non-arabic speaking muslims who have very little understanding of the language of Arabic suffer great deal of disconnection from the spirit of the religion. No wonder we don't see the Baraka, the blessings which are suppose to accompany the prayers. No longer the prayers bring the desired beautification since the prayer is not even understood by the one who utters it. Its a crisis in the faithful community of one of the largest religion on the face of earth, yet totally ignored.

I have seen and experienced people who would take out and recite a memorized dua or prayer in very religious manner but don't know the meaning. They disgrace not only their human intellect, but also disgrace the holy scripture, the message bearer and also God because they reduce themselves to nothing but a parrot who knows not what it utters. Thats not for what human being is honored as the best of creation, ashraful makhlukat.

The problem is equally present among hindus who will recite mantra of sanskrit language like parrot or christians reciting in latin. Sometime its the devotee who does it, sometime the priests become the parrot and does it for the devotees. Everywhere the same crisis of caught into language gap where spirit of prayer and mantra never catch up with its divine blessings in its understanding and recital from mind and heart.

Faith practitioners who's mother tongue is different than that of the religiously prescribed language its imperative that the person must first understand, realize the language and cross the barrier of language. Sometime its much more effective to convey the same meaning and spirit in own language close to mind and heart. Thus private prayers instead of saying in a memorized, not-understood language, its better be said in own language which is close to heart and culture to the land.

For example, the beautiful prayer of Christ, "Not as I will, but as You Will" is exactly the same in spirit what Muslims are taught by the Prophet and also in Quran to affirm, by saying "Inshallah". The arabic word Inshallah means, "As God wills". Thus those who speak in English or their mind works in English for them in the prayer, incorporating, "Not as i will but as You Will" is a beautiful way to internalize the spirit of Divine Surrender and Realize the place of Grand Divine Will above our limited will.

When repeating a mantra or seed of zikr or divine remembrance its also advisable that the one who repeat the mantra translate it in his or her own language so that it enters the mind and heart; and thus bring the Baraka or Berakhah, the blessings it contains.

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what man is all about | Cassidus wisdom

1.
This is what man is all about; this is the purpose of his creation and of the creation of all the worlds, sublime and lowly -- to make for God a dwelling in the physical world.

2.
"The soul of man is a lamp of God" (Proverbs 20:27). Just like the flame of the lamp strains upwards, seeking to tear free of the wick and rise heavenward - though this would spell its own demise - so, too, does the Godly soul in man constantly strive to tear free of the body and the material existence and be nullified within its source in God.

3.
There are two types of pleasure before God. The first is from the complete nullification of evil and its transformation from bitterness to sweetness and from darkness to light by the perfectly righteous. The second [pleasure] is when evil is repelled while it is still at its strongest and mightiest ... through the efforts of the "intermediate man" (beinoni).

4.
If the human eye were allowed to see the spiritual vitality flowing from the utterance of Gods mouth into every creation, we would not see the materiality, grossness and tangibility of the creation, for it would be utterly nullified in relation to this divine life-force.

5.
During the time that Rabbi Schneur Zalman was imprisoned in Petersburg, one of the czar's ministers asked him to explain the verse (Genesis 3:9) "And God called out to the man and said to him: Where are you?" Did God not know where Adam was?

"Where are you?" said Rabbi Schneur Zalman to the minister, "is God's perpetual call to every man. Where are you in the world? You have been allotted a certain number of days, hours, and minutes in which to fulfill your mission in life. You have lived so many years and so many days - Where are you? What have you accomplished?"

credit: Twenty Eight Teachings from Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi via Chabad.org Pin It Now!

birthday is the sacred day when we were given access to the portal of our life

............."This is my delight, thus to wait and watch at the wayside where shadow chases light and the rain comes ... messengers, with tidings from unknown skies, greet me and speed along the road. My heart is glad within, and the breath of the passing breeze is sweet. From dawn till dusk I sit here before my door, and I know that of a sudden the happy moment will arrive when I shall see. In the meanwhile I smile and I sing all alone. In the meanwhile the air is filling with the perfume of promise." - Tagore, Gitanjali / original Bangla song is "Amar ei Path Chawatei Ananda".

1.

.....i am really bad at remembering people's birthday and i am sure if my friends and family don't remind me, i can go on without remembering my own birthday. But thanks God there are people around who will not let that happen and before you know they will start asking just before the day, 'say again, when is your birthday?'

Yes, totally without any conscious decision on my part, quite shamelessly naked, bewildered and hence crying, i was born on this day, 16th November. We all are born to breath in life, to be touched by its joy and its pain, its gifts and what not. Many say death is the most mysterious thing, beyond which you dont know what will happen. But i wonder, isn't even more mysterious and noble is our birth and coming into being which happens so much in front of our eyes? Just imagine there is a secret secret moment when we, from nothing, come into a being; from not belonging to this physical plane we suddenly appear amidst this whole drama. From nowhere, behold the magic! and we are now here. There is a tiny space between the words "nowhere" and "now here" and that tiny space is the birth of our soul.

Your God creates you in the wombs of your mothers - in stages after stages - in threefold darkness.; that is God your Lord, His is the Kingdom; there is no other true reality but He; whence are you then turned away? The Quran 39.6

Every year birthday comes to our life to remind us about the start of this wonderful mysterious phenomena we call life. Reluctantly and unwillingly i remember my birthday, but there is no denying everyone's birthday is a sacred day. There can be no other day in any single human beings life which can hold any more significance. Its a moment of inner celebration.

2.
.....On this day i deeply deeply express my gratitude to my parents, may God bless them here and in the hereafter. i pray to Supreme One, Mother-Father in Heaven that may i love them as they so dearly love me. May all children in this world love their parents as they deserve to be loved. Indeed the parents are like mythical gods from whom we are born and who are our guardian angels in this physical plane from our vulnerable moments until they depart from this world. Never we cease to be their children. So many qualities in so much proximity our parents share with God. The amount of love poured into the heart of a mother, a father is such an extra-ordinary living miracle we can witness in each individual mother father. May our heart-felt appreciation and gratitude be dedicated to their lotus feet.

O humanity! ... revere the sacredness of the womb that bore you.
The Quran 4:1

3.
.....As a human being, its interesting and a paradox that its so easy to see others but we with our eyes can never see ourself. Yes we can see our reflection on a mirror, but how honest is the mirror and that very reflection? And how much are we able to see really? We are by design made in such a way that we can never see our true self, the physical eyes are unable to turn inside but they are created to look outside.

From childhood i was so fascinated about studying people and one of the tool that i found interesting to read peoples characteristics, pattern is numerology and astrology. It turns out to be a quite interesting tool to know our own overall-selves as well. There are endless debate about how unscientific they could be, but there are also extra ordinary clairvoyant people such as Cheiro who was one of the most famous occult whose work on numerology i appreciate very much. Cheiro in his life time predicted many events and about persons (like exact day of their natural death) with unbelievable precision beyond scientific explanation.

Those who are born on 16th of any month are number 7 people, and i am a number 7 person. Generally they say, number 7 is a very spiritual number that is not limited by the constraints of the physical world. This is the number of mystics, visionaries, and seers. This particular number has been repeatedly used in many sacred texts.

i was just going through numerological readings according to Cheiro and what it speaks about my macro-characteristics. Off course each individual is an unique being, an unique manifestation of God and ancient art of numerology by no means do the best of justice to map out fully about a human being, who is an infinite mystery.

So here is briefly what Numerology closely predicts about me (and those who are born as number 7 people):

People born under the number 7 are independent, original, and have strongly marked individuality. They are good humored, generous and rather easy goings. Sensitive and emotional.

At heart they love change and travel, being restless in their natures. If they have the means of gratifying their desires they visit foreign countries and become keenly interested in the affairs of far-off lands. They devour books on travel and have a wide universal knowledge of the world at large. May easily get upset and are frequently indisposed. However do not like to express their emotions easily and take their own time to take a decision.

They often make extremely good writers, painters, or poets, but in everything they do, they sooner or later show a peculiar philosophical outlook on life that tinges all their work. They give new and updated meaning to age-old truths and values.

As a class they care little about the material things of life; they often become rich by their original ideas or methods of business ... Number 7 people have very peculiar ideas about religion. They dislike to follow the beaten track; they create a religion of their own (appreciate unorthodoxy and being against dogma), but one that appeals to the imagination and based on the mysterious.

These people usually have remarkable dreams and a great leaning to esoteric, occultism; they have the gift of intuition, clairvoyance, and a peculiar quieting magnetism of their own that has great influence over others. (credit)

According to astrological beliefs, celestial phenomena reflect or govern human activity on the principle of "as above, so below", so that the twelve signs at the same time are held to represent twelve basic personality types or characteristic modes of expression. From astrological point of view i am a Scorpio. This is what Astrology Online says about Scorpio:

Scorpios are the most intense, profound, powerful characters in the zodiac. Even when they appear self-controlled and calm there is a seething intensity of emotional energy under the placid exterior. Their inner intensity can express itself in the spiritual fervor of the mystic...

They are fortunate in that their strong reasoning powers are tempered with imagination and intuition, and these gifts, together with critical perception and analytical capacity, can enable the Scorpions to penetrate to profundities beyond the average.

Scorpios are passionate lovers. For them, union with the beloved is a sacrament, an "outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. Their overriding urge in loving is to use their power to penetrate beyond themselves and to lose themselves in their partners in an almost mystical ecstasy, thus discovering the meaning of that union which is greater than individuality, and is a marriage of the spirit as well as of flesh.

On negative side scorpions can be too demanding, too critical, jealous, rebelliousness, ultra sensitive, demanding absolute faith, find it difficult to express themselves, sometime could be aggressive and procrastinator.

:: Likes: * Truth * Hidden Causes * Mystery and Secrets * Being involved * Work That is Meaningful * Being Persuasive
:: Dislikes: * Being Given Only Surface data * Taken Advantage of
* Shallow Relationships * Passivity * Materialism .. credit

My best wishes for all who chance upon here. May blessings surround you and may the inner peace of heart never leaves you.

- totally unworthy Sadiq, who has been blessed immensely from Above for some totally unknown mysterious reasons. Born 16 November, 1979 at southern city of Pirojpur, Bangladesh and God willing still breathing right now in 2007 somewhere in a city they call City of Angels. He just somehow, though he doesn't know exactly how, turned 28. Some of his special friends commented on other occasions that he is an old soul recycled back.

poor Sadiq loves this quote by Tagore, "God has made us infinite, such is His pleasure." So true! All is His cosmic play and His pleasure, Glory be unto Him.

. last year's post: on this day i was given the grace
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Sufi Reflection Podcast | episode 21

Hosted by Anab Whitehouse, Sufi Reflection Podcast has its latest edition up.

[>] Click here to listen / download.

credit: Sufi Amanesis | The Sufi Path is a process of amanesis (remembrance, realization). In pre-eternity, God asked the spirits: Alastu bi Rabikum (Am I not your Lord)? When we come into this material existence, we forget about pre-eternity and the task of life is to remember our way back to the truth concerning the nature of our essential relationship with God. This process of remembering or recollecting is known as amanesis.

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Sufi Murshid Samuel L. Lewis

Walter H. Bowart writes, "I had heard of the Sufi Samuel L. Lewis a long while before I met him. He had been described to me by a not-so-reliable source as an old man who went after young chicks, and "got them all hooked on dervish dancing." I'd not passed judgment based on a rumor, but wondered how a man in America who called himself a Sufi, could actually be one. It would be like a man calling himself "pure"; a pure man probably would not do such a thing.

More than a year later I met two disciples of "Sufi Sam"-otherwise known as Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti in Sufi circles of Pakistan, India, and Egypt, or as He Kwang in the circles of Zen Roshis. I was greatly impressed by their bearing and thus was led to a meeting with the man himself.

The first thing that struck me about Samuel L. Lewis (called Murshid, or teacher, by his disciples) was his deep humanness. He had a gruff manner behind which shone a mischievous smile and quick wit. For all practical purposes, this was a man of the world, yet somehow a man of deep religious experience.

His rhythm was that of a man who'd started falling forward and had to run to keep from landing on his face. He would get wound up in the morning after certain spiritual exercises and virtually fly through his days.

His personality, his voice, every aspect of his being, constantly radiated positive magnetism, a sun-like energy that the Sufis call Baraka. He was an energy-transformer capable of bringing other transformers to life through a harmonizing of their energies with his, and his with the highest.

No other man I have ever met so fit the Sufi saying: "Sufism adapts itself to time and space." For Murshid was a spontaneous presence in himself, a perfect Taoist actor, "in the world, but not of it."

- from the Forward written in the book, This is the New Age in Person (1972) by Samuel L. Lewis.

[>] Read the whole book here via Gnostic.Org

May Beloved send His infinite divine love to Murshid Sam's soul. May Murshid's mystic smile behind the curtain bless us all who chance upon here.

:: A Sketch of the Life of Murshid Samuel Lewis (Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti; Sufi SAM) 1896 - 1971.
. You may watch a short video clip of Murshid Sam dancing his dervish dancing. This is a man who with sacred dance and sufi zikr beckoned young people (hippies) from ecstasy of drugs to ecstasy of divine remembrance in the turbulent time of sixties.
. Dances of Universal Peace

# previous posts on Murshid Sam:
. Samuel L. Lewis :: An illuminated soul and inspiration
. freeing from wants and how joy enters into heart Pin It Now!

Wish You Were Here

................................There is a ground between loving and being pleased. See, it is a city unto itself. Assess the points of entry, encampment, and escape. Level your eyes on the jagged horizon before your thoughts begin to scale. The mythological expressions that you feel coming on are merely exquisite irritations, curling routes that overrun the cityscape. The language never flies straight to the meaning, but in the meantime the sunsets here are resplendent.

. sandra lim . Loveliest Grotesque

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Prayer beyond prayer | nearness to God

Someone asked: Is there any way nearer to God than prayer?

The master replied: also prayer, but prayer which is not merely this outward form. This is the 'body' of prayer, since formal prayer has a beginning and end; and everything which has a beginning and an end is a 'body'. The words Allahu Akbar (God is The Greatest beyond our idea of beyond) is the beginning of formal prayer, and its end is the salutation, 'Peace'.

Similarly the profession of faith is not merely the formula uttered on the tongue, for that formula has a beginning and an end. Every thing which is expressed in words and sounds and has a beginning and an end is 'form' and 'body'; its 'soul' is unconditioned and infinite, has neither beginning nor end.

Moreover this formal prayer was brought forth by the Prophets. Now Prophet Muhammad, upon him be God's love, who embodied the Muslim prayer, spoke as follows, 'I have a time with God when I am not contained by any prophet sent by God, neither by any angel set near to God.' Hence we realize that 'the soul' of prayer is not this form alone. Rather it is a complete absorption, a state of unconsciousness excluding, and not finding room for all these outward forms.

It is related of the master, the sultan of the learned, pole of the world, Baha al-Haqq wa-Din, may God sanctify his soul, that one day his companions found him in a state of complete absorption. The hour of prayer arriving, some of his disciples called out to the master, 'Its time for prayer'. The master did not heed their words, so they rose up and occupied themselves with the prayer.

Two disciples, however, bore the shaikh company and did not stand to pray. Now one of the disciples who was praying was named Khvajagi. It was shown to him clearly in his inward heart that all those companions who were at prayer were standing behind the imam with their backs turned on Mecca, whereas the two disciples who had borne with shaikh company had their faces turned towards Mecca. Inasmuch as the shaikh has passed away from the sense of personality so that his self no longer remained, having been consumed in the Light of God. the inward voice explained, 'Die before you die', the master has become (part of) the light of God.

Whosover turns his back on the Light of God and faces the wall of prayer-niche has assuredly turned his back on Mecca. For God's Light is the soul of the Mecca-ward direction.

- Discourses of Rumi / Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi

It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces to the East and the West; but righteous is the one who believeth in God ... The Quran 2:177

To God belong the east and the west: Whithersoever ye turn, there is the presence of God. For God is all-Pervading, all-Knowing. 2:115


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"Do you believe in God?" - when Einstein was asked

[?] Do you believe in God?

Einstein - “I’m not an atheist. I don’t think I can call myself a pantheist. The problem involved is too vast for our limited minds.

We are in the position of a little child entering a huge library filled with books in many languages. The child knows someone must have written those books. It does not know how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. The child dimly suspects a mysterious order in the arrangement of the books but doesn’t know what it is.

That, it seems to me, is the attitude of even the most intelligent human being toward God. We see the universe marvelously arranged and obeying certain laws but only dimly understand these laws.”

[?] Is this a Jewish concept of God?

- “I am a determinist. I do not believe in free will. Jews believe in free will. They believe that man shapes his own life. I reject that doctrine. In that respect I am not a Jew.”

[?] Is this Spinoza’s God?

- “I am fascinated by Spinoza’s pantheism, but I admire even more his contribution to modern thought because he is the first philosopher to deal with the soul and body as one, and not two separate things.”

[?] To what extent are you influenced by Christianity?

- “As a child I received instruction both in the Bible and in the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene.”

[?] You accept the historical existence of Jesus?

- “Unquestionably! No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life.”

[?] Do you believe in immortality?

- “No. And one life is enough for me.”

.: Quoted from a remarkable interview that Einstein gave shortly after his fiftieth birthday, in which he was more revealing than he had ever been about his religious sensibility. George Sylvester Viereck was the person who took the interview.

. credit Einstein and the Mind of God via On Faith, Washington Post / posted by Walter Isaacson, the CEO of the Aspen Institute, has been chairman of CNN and the managing editor of Time magazine. His new book, "Einstein: His Life and Universe," was published last month.

. [>] also a good read An Ideal of Service to Our Fellow Man by Albert Einstein via NPR.

.: Related previous posts on Einstein's view on God, Life and Spirituality:
. Wisdom from Mystic Einstein
. Thoughts of Einstein
. On Reality: Rumi, Einstein and Zukav
. Albert Einstein on God
. The World As I See It : Albert Einstein

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Discourse of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, the Sufi Master

“The things that change are not our real life. Within us there is another body, another beauty. It belongs to that Ray of Light which never changes.

We must discover how to mingle with it and become one with that unchanging thing. We must realize and understand this treasure of truth. That is why we have come to the world."

~ M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen from his book Questions of Life, Answers of Wisdom Vol. 1

the above quote reminded me Jesus Christ's saying from the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas where he utter from his blessed lips: "Anyone here with ears had better listen! There is light within a person of light, and it shines on the whole world. If it does not shine, his whole world is dark ... If they say to you, 'Where have you come from?' say to them, 'We have come from the Light, from the place where the Light came into being by Itself, established Itself, and appeared in their image.'

. Video Discourses of Bawa

Muhammad Raheem Bawa Muhaiyaddeen was a revered Sufi mystic and saint from the island of Sri Lanka who shared his knowledge and experience with people of every race and religion and from all parts of the world. He belonged to the Qadri order of sufism. He first came to the United States in 1971 and established The Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship of North America in Philadelphia.

The name Muhaiyaddeen literally means 'the giver of life to the true belief.' And indeed Bawa Muhaiyaddeen did spend his life awakening and strengthening faith in God within people's hearts. Though he was an unlettered man, he was able to guide and inspire people from all walks of life. He departed from his physical body on December 8th, 1986. (credit) May God bless and sanctify his noble soul.

[>] Come, sit, and listen to the words of a humble man, a saint of high status who lived in our very time. Here are 3 rare video discourses of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen via Google Video.
#1. The learning of an Ant Man, 1 hr 23 min
#2. We Need The Qualities Of God, 26 min
#3. Practicing the Constant Remembrance of God, 58 min
Lex Hixon, who later became a sufi shaikh, interviewed (1980) M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen. Lex questioned Bawa Muhaiyaddeen about the practice of the constant remembrance of God.

:: Reference
.: Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship

.: related previous posts
. Coleman Barks | Vision of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen and Rumi
. Bawa's ingredients of Love

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stop the discrimination against the Egyptian Christians, the Copts | a reminder from Prophet Muhammad's charter of privileges to Christians

Few days back i received an email from the Arab Writers Group Syndicate calling attention to the discrimination and violation of human rights by the Egyptian officials against the native Egyptian Christian community, also known as the Copts. Its totally unacceptable and also against the ethics of Islam. It must be noted that this problem is from corrupted political system, degradation of moral ethics and human value which we find so often in our troubled time.

. Egyptian Christians: Strangers in their Native Land!
The Copts, Egypt’s indigenous, pre-Arab, pre-Islamic Christians, are a native ethno-religious group of Egypt. Egyptian Christians trace their ancestry to the indigenous Pharaonic-era population of Egypt, converted to Christianity by St. Mark, one of Christ’s earliest disciples. Today Copts number approximately seven to twelve million people and constitute between 10% and 15% of the Egyptian population, making them the largest indigenous Christian community in both Africa and the Middle East.

The issue of the Christians of Egypt has gained international media coverage in the last decades. Reports of persecution and discrimination against them in their native country of Egypt have made headlines around the world. [>] Credit and read the whole article here. (more examples and here).

Any conscious human being and specially any Muslim will condemn such behavior against other religious minority. Minority religious groups in Muslim majority society is considered sacred responsibility (God's covenant) to protect their rights as that is the teaching of Prophet Muhammad. It's time to remind about the letter of the Prophet which was written specifically for the protection to the monks of St. Catherine and which stands as a hallmark of Islam's attitude of allowing religious freedom which unfortunately we have seen been abused and violated against the very teaching of Islam.

. Brief History of St Catherine's Monastery
St. Catherine Monastery is the iconic site representing Egypt's rich Christian heritage. It is one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world, St. Catherine's incorporates the burning bush seen by Moses and contains many valuable icons, ancient religious texts. Above the monastery is Mount Sinai (or Jebel Musa, Mount Moses), where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. This area is thus sacred to three world religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

The monastery is Greek Orthodox and currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was founded in the 6th century by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian (527-565AD). The Monastery is connected with the history of Islam's broad minded approach and relation with Christian world.

According to tradition, during the time of the Prophet Muhammad and due to growing influence of Islam in the region led the monks to send a delegation to Medina in 625 / 628 AD in order to secure protection. The Prophet agreed and signed a document of protection, a copy of which still resides in the monastery and bears the outline of his handprint. It was this document that allowed the monastery's monks to travel freely throughout Muslim lands from the time of the Muslim conquests onwards, without fear of harassment.

. The Letter of Prophet Muhammad
Below is the English translation of the extra-ordinary letter by Prophet Muhammad as a Charter of Privileges to Christians monks of St. Catherine Monastery at Mt. Sinai. It consisted of several clauses covering all aspects of human rights including such topics as the protection of Christians, freedom of worship and movement, freedom to appoint their own judges and to own and maintain their property, exemption from military service, and the right to protection in war. It bears the hallmark of Islam and Prophet's attitude about the right of other religious practitioners.

* This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.

* Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.

* No compulsion is to be on them.

* Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.

* No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims' houses.

* Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God's covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.

* No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight.

* The Muslims are to fight for them.

* If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.

* Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants.

* No one of the nation (Ummah, the Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).

The letter stands out as a beacon of extra ordinary pluralism and how deep the attitude of respect for another religious group can be extended. The letter is a very good reminder even in today's context when sadly we have forgotten inter religious tolerance and mutual respect. Also can be cited the letter of Prophet to Assyrian Christians.

May we all join in the call to stop discrimination and violation of human rights against the Christian brother and sisters in Egypt and those actions should be condemned and stopped immediately.

# References:
. St. Catherine's Monastery at Mount Sinai, Egypt

. Relation with Chrsitians according to Prophet Muhammad
. Sacred destinations St. Catherines

. The importance of the written word / St Catherine's Monastery in Sinai is famed for its unique collection of manuscripts.
. A lily in the wilderness / St Catherine's monastery in the Sinai, one of the most important centres of Orthodox monasticism.
. The Copts
. US Copts Association
. Free Copts
. Coptic History
. Christmas with the Copts
. In ancient monastery, a stunning library
. Coptic Orthodox Church
. Copts abroad, begging for understanding

. Pictures via flickr> the burning bush, early morning, mount sinai, mosque and church, cave of Elijah, the codex sinaticus

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so shall you return | meditative Quranic verses

kama badaakum, taAAoodoona.

just as He brought you forth into being, so shall you return. The Quran 7:29

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Meditation and Inspiration of Diwali

God!
Ekam-eva-dvitiyam.
Only the One, without a second.

The Light of lights,
the self-luminous inner light of the Self is ever shining steadily in the chamber of your heart.

God is the Light of Heaven and Earth, affirms the Quran (Sura 24:35), signifying, God is the Real Illuminator of both the Inner Unmanifest and the Outer Manifest Realms. The Torah says, within our world of illusions and darkness, only in God’s light do we see light (Psalm 36:9). The New Testament testifies, God is the light of the world, whoever follows will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12).

Sit quietly. Close your eyes. Withdraw the senses. Fix the mind on this Supreme Light and enjoy the real Diwali, by attaining illumination of the soul.

He who Himself sees all but whom no one beholds, Who illumines the intellect, the sun, the moon and the stars and the whole universe but whom they cannot illumine, He indeed is Brahman, He is the inner Self.

Celebrate the real Deepavali by living in Brahman, and enjoy the eternal bliss of the soul. The sun does not shine there, nor do the moon and the stars, nor do lightnings shine and much less fire. All the lights of the world cannot be compared even to a ray of the inner light of the Self. Merge yourself in this light of lights and enjoy the supreme Deepavali.

Many Deepavali festivals have come and gone. Yet the hearts of the vast majority are as dark as the night of no moon. The house is lit with lamps, but the heart is full of the darkness of ignorance. O man! Wake up from the slumber of ignorance. Realise the constant and eternal light of the Soul, which neither rises nor sets, through meditation and deep enquiry.

inspired via hinduism.about

. Further good reads:
. God, the Light from Hindu Spiritual perspective
. the Light of God Almighty within
. the Hindu Path to Light and Bliss
. God is Light - a collection of scriptures Pin It Now!

Happy Deepavali / Diwali | The Festival of Light

Deepavali 07
Originally uploaded by TrIXInc.

Today Diwali, Divali, or Deepavali is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs across the globe as the "Festival of Light," where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being.

. Esoteric Significance:
While Deepavali is popularly known as the "festival of lights", the most significant esoteric meaning is "the awareness of the inner light".

Central to Hindu philosophy, is the assertion that beyond the physical body and mind is pure, infinite, and eternal, called the Atman, the Supreme Self. Just as we celebrate the birth of our physical being, Deepavali is the celebration of this Inner Light, in particular the knowing of which outshines all darkness (removes all obstacles and dispels all ignorance), awakening the individual to one's true nature, not as the body, but as the unchanging, infinite, imminent and transcendent reality. With the realization of the Atman, comes universal compassion, love, and the awareness of the oneness of all things (higher knowledge). This brings Ananda (Inner Joy or Peace and Bliss).

Deepawali celebrates this through festive fireworks, lights, flowers, sharing sweets, and worship. While the story behind Deepavali varies from region to region, the essence is the same - to rejoice in the Inner Light, Atman or the underlying Reality of all things (Brahman). credit

. Diwali @ UCLA: At UCLA campus we also had Diwali celebration by Indian Community. unfortunately i couldn't join due to exam preparation etc, but just read about it in the Daily Bruin. you can also watch a short video from the event inside the featured news.

# Diwali celebration and reads across the blogshpere:
. the story of Diwali
. diwali - meaning and significance
. a diwali poem
. what's cooking for diwali
. prosperity through divine symbols
. story of Ramayana - principles of life
. sweeet recipie for diwali and another Really yummy one!


Wishing you a very happy and blessed Deepavali. May we all be touched and awakened by our Inner Light. Pin It Now!

be transformed by the renewing of your mind

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

- Romans 12:2 , inspired via inspire, move and touch

"Stay hungry, stay foolish" - Steve Jobs, CEO, Apple Inc.

[>] did you listen to Steve Job's inspiring speech at Stanford Commencement 2005? It is where he tell you 3 touching stories with beautiful insight from his own life; the central message is about staying hungry and staying foolish. click here to watch and be inspired. Pin It Now!