Why the dog could not drink | a sufi story

Sufi mystic Shibli was asked, "Who guided you in the Path?"

He said: "A dog. One day I saw him, almost dead with thirst, standing by the water's edge. Every time he looked at his reflection in the water he was frightened, and withdrew, because he thought it was another dog.

"Finally, such was his necessity, he cast away fear and leapt into the water; at which the 'other dog' vanished.

"The dog found that the obstacle, which was himself, the barrier between him and what he sought, melted away.

"In this same way my own obstacle vanished, when I knew that it was what I took to be my own self. And my Way was first shown to me by the behavior of a dog."

The significance of this story is that we should see things clearly and not through our egoism. We must distinguish between real thing and the mere reflection of self.

- Spirituality, Science and Psychology in the Sufi Way by Prof. Mohamed Yahia Haschmi, from the Book Sufi Studies: East and West.

. related post: 11 qualities of dog that can make you a friend of God

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the secret of divine unity | wisdom from Zohar

In love is found the secret of divine unity.

- Zohar, Exodus


. you may read an extensive translation of Zohar via Sacred text here. The Zohar is a Kabbalistic commentary on the Hebrew Bible.

. Reading the Zohar: The Sacred Text of the Kabbalah By Pinchas Giller Pin It Now!

the simplest New Years Resolution you can ever take

get thirsty and live every moment, live your life as much in the PRESENT moment as possible. remain thirsty with life and never stop exploring life's unending avenues.

Sufi mystical poet Rumi says:

Don't search for the water,
just get thirsty,
so that the water may arrive,

just as the cry of the
newborn babe
brings the mothers milk.

As Rumi also points out the fault of most of us who live life wasting much time and energy in looking here and there, hunting for some complex formula and long list we feel will buy us success; thus we delve into materialism to buy happiness and end up miserable.

These meaningless window-shoppers,
who idly ask, How much is that? Oh I’m just looking.
They handle a hundred items and put them down,
shadows with no capital.

But these walk into a shop,
and their whole lives pass suddenly in that moment,
in that shop.

Where did you go? Nowhere.
What did you take inside? Nothing much.

Instead of all nonsense meandering only if we could live more mindfully, moment by moment, most of our worries and sufferings would vanish like the clouds pass away against the constant flow of wind.

. Read an inspiring post by Wahiduddin on New Years Resolution on Loving Kindness.

. 2007's post on New Year's Resolution | Start a huge, foolish project like Noah

Wish you a very happy and blessed new year, 2008.

:: for those of us who might have a list of things we wish to achieve in this coming new year, in that case the following write ups, inspirations and advice may be useful:
. A New Year's Resolution List That Sticks!
. Creating New Year Resolutions that Work
. Green New Year’s Resolutions for 2008
. How To Make Your New Year’s Resolutions Work This Time
. New Year’s Resolutions – How to make them work
. New Year's Resolution List That Sticks!
. Creating New Year Resolutions that Work
. Green New Year’s Resolutions for 2008
. How To Make Your New Year’s Resolutions Work This Time
. New Year’s Resolutions – How to make them work Pin It Now!

What Jesus runs away from? | Rumi

The son of Mary, Jesus,

hurries up a slope
as though a wild animal
were chasing him.
Someone following him asks,
'Where are you going?
No one is after you.'
Jesus keeps on,
saying nothing,
across two more fields.

'Are you the one who says
words over a dead person,
so that he wakes up?’

"I am."

'Did you not make the clay birds fly?'

"Yes."

'Who then could possibly cause you to run like this?'
Jesus slows his pace.

"I say the Great Name over the deaf and the blind,
they are healed. Over a stony mountainside,
and it tears its mantle down to the navel.
Over non-existence, it comes into existence.

But when I speak lovingly for hours, for days,
with those who take human warmth
and mock it, when I say the Name to them, nothing
happens. They remain rock, or turn to sand,
where no plants can grow. Other diseases are ways
for mercy to enter, but this non-responding
breeds violence and coldness toward God.
I am fleeing from that."

As little by little air steals water, so praise
Is dried up and evaporates with foolish people
who refuse to change. Like cold stone you sit on,
a cynic steals body heat. He doesn't feel the sun.
Jesus wasn't running from actual people.

He was teaching in a new way.

- JELALUDDIN RUMI
(1207-1273)

. text credit | graphics Rumi prints by Michale Green
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the moon | sign and symbolism in Quran

Quran, the Final Testament revealed to mankind by the opening of the heart of the holy Prophet Muhammad is rich in mystical symbolism and metaphors that time and time call attention to different manifest signs present in nature. Signs in the external world are harbingers of the mysteries and realities of the spiritual world. The cosmos and our perceivable common realities are full of rich symbols and signs and the Quran use symbolism of our perceived physical world to draw attention to what is beyond and within.

The moon as a sign and meditative object can be found on number of places in the Quran. Among its many exoteric and esoteric significances, the metaphor draw attention to: man's journey in stages (whether it signifies also rebirth, evolution through reincarnation of soul - is another philosophical area and Quran do tell us that not all the mysteries of the soul is made explicit, only God has its fullest knowledge, which keeps the possibility of rebirth open); enlightenment of the soul; acknowledgment that moon has no light of its own, but sun is the lamp and to Divinely ordained celestial laws etc. Below are few of the selective verses of the Quran (beginning with the name of the chapters) that use metaphors using moon, often with the mentioning of sun with it.

Bismi Allah ir Rahman ir Rahim | Invoking the name of Divine, the Infinitely Merciful, the Infinitely Compassionate

Al-Inshiqaq | Splitting Open

So I do call to witness the ruddy glow of Sunset;
and the Night and all that it enshroud;
and the moon when it grows full.
you shall most certainly enter one state after another. (84:16-19)

Ash-Shams | The Sun

Witness the Sun and its brilliance; and the moon as it follows the sun. and the day when it reveals it. and the night when it draws a veil over it. And the cosmos and Him Who made it. And the earth and Him Who extended it.
And the soul and Him Who made it perfect, and its enlightenment as to its realization of right and wrong.
Truly the one will indeed be successful who purifies it,
and the one will fail who corrupts it! (91:1-10)

Al-Muddaththir | The cloaked one

Nay, verily: By the moon, and by the night as it withdraweth; and by the Dawn as it shineth forth. (74:32-35)

Nooh | Noah

And indeed God has created you through in diverse grades:
Do you not see how God has created the seven stations ~ one above another? And made the moon a light therein, and made the sun as a lamp? (71:14-16)

Ar-Rahman | The Boundlessly Merciful

The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) mapped out. (55:5)

Fussilat | Explained in detail

Among Divine Signs are the Night and the Day, and the Sun and the Moon. Do not prostrate to the sun and the moon, but prostrate to God, Who created them, if it is Him you wish to serve. (41:37)

Az-Zumar | The troops

He created the heavens and the earth in true (proportions): He makes the Night overlap the Day, and the Day overlap the Night: He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His law): Each one follows a course for a time appointed. Is not He the Exalted in Power - He Who is ever forgiving? (39:5)

YA-SEEN | The mystical words Ya Seen

And a Sign for them is the Night: We withdraw therefrom the Day, and behold they are plunged in darkness; And the sun runs his course for a period determined for it; that is the decree of (Him), the Exalted in Might, the All-Knowing. And the moon, God ordained for it stages till it becomes again as an old dry palm branch. Neither is it permitted to the sun to catch up the moon, nor can the night outstrip the day: Each (just) float along in (its own) orbit (according to Law). (36:40)

Fatir | The Originator

He merges night into day, and day into night, and He has made subservient the sun and the moon to service; each one follows its course to a term appointed; such is God, your Lord, His is the kingdom; and those whom you may call upon besides Him do not control a straw. (35:13)

image credit: lunar eclipse

. Metaphors in Quran
. Symbolism and allegory in the Quran
. A cosmos full of signs and symbols
. Meditation on full moon and self-realization Pin It Now!

OneIndia and New4All feature Inspirations and Creative Thoughts

OneIndia, an integrated Internet portal from India has been featuring articles from Inspirations and Creative Thoughts posts. They are published under Yoga and Spirituality section.

. you may read the articles on Faith and Mysticism from here.

News4All is an 'internetpaper' by freelance journalists in The Netherlands has also featured Inspirations and Creative Thought articles. News4All aims to bring news for Dutch audience interested in religion and spirituality and to promote dialogue between religions and cultures by using the internet.

. you may read translated version from Dutch to English via google translate. Pin It Now!

Bittersweet | Madonna meets Rumi

In my hallucination
I saw my Beloved's flower garden
In my vertigo, in my dizziness
In my drunken haze
Whirling and dancing like a spinning wheel

I saw myself as the Source of Existence
I was there in the beginning
And I was the spirit of love
Now I am sober
There is only the hangover
And the memory of love
And only the sorrow

I yearn for happiness
I ask for help
I want mercy
And my Love says:

Look at me and hear me
Because I am here
Just for that

I am your moon and your moonlight too
I am your flower garden and your water too
I have come all this way, eager for you
Without shoes or shawl

I want you to laugh
To kill all your worries
To love you
To nourish you

Oh sweet bitterness
I will soothe you and heal you
I will bring you roses
I, too, have been covered with thorns

- original by Rumi, translated by Deepak Chopra.

[>] Watch and hear this beautifully done video of recitation by Madonna in A Gift of Love.
. another version is here.

The poem itself was written in the 13th century by Persian poet Rumi, who is now one of the most widely read poets in the world. Worded by renowned scholar, mystic and author Andrew Harvey: "Rumi is the slave and hero of love, who can help us find in our battered hearts passion and faith ..." In order to make everything a bit more catchy, Madonna added some new age kind of music to it. The song / poem will tell you to stop, sit back, and relax, at least for a couple of minutes. Just enough to let you meditatively reflect on the more important issues in life - love and happiness. (credit)

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meditation on full moon, symbolism and self-realization

1.

The moon represents our human self and the full moon in particular symbolizes the state of wholeness that human being attains at full self-realization. It is the state when our self-realization comes into full circle just as moon after going through its phases finally reach the all glowing full-moon stage.

By its very nature moon doesn't have its own light, thus have no ability to shine. Without the sun, it may remain oblivious forever in the night sky. In order for its illumination, it looks at the sun. Similar if the divine qualities in man is not awakened, if the divine qualities are not made to shine upon the inner heart, man is nothing. There is no difference between man and animal.

There surely came over man a period of time when he was not even a thing worth mentioning. The Quran, Al-Insan, 76:1

We human beings are like the moon. Just as the moon is there to reflect the light of the sun, so are human beings who are made to reflect the Light of the Divine Sun. Without the sun and its light shining upon the moon, there is no value of the moon. That is the significance of the statement full of esoteric implication, la haowla wa la quwwata illa biAllah, there is no power and transformation without that of God. Without God's illumination, human beings are of no value. Only by reflecting and illuminating the adamic form, man can claim its original state of creation in the image of God, in the reflection of God. And the reflection begin when we slowly start walking in the path of self-realization, which essentially is coming to understanding and realizing our innate divine nature.

"Whoso knoweth himself, knoweth his Lord" - saying of holy Prophet Muhammad, upon him be grace of God.

When self realization comes to full circle, to its perfection; like the moon which grows over time from total darkness and non-existence to full moon, so is the state of fully realized human being. This what Ibn Arabi (1165-1240), one of the greatest Muslim mystic and philosopher of all time called the universal or complete man (al-insan al-kamil). The full moon is the realizing of that potential and becoming the perfect or complete man. The moon and it's grows over time from total darkness and nothing visible in the sky, to splendid full moon is like a metaphor of the journey and states of fully realized human being.

As the full moon is, in a clear sky so is the perfected self-realized beings shine with magnificent light, and they become the receptive vessel where Divine Light, Light upon Light, descends.

And the light, in different faith traditions have been called by different names such as: in Hinduism this is Krishna Consciousness, in Buddhism this is Buddha nature, in Christianity this is Christ Consciousness and in Islam this is Nur Muhammad. All are talking about the primordial light that the Divine gifted to humanity from Its own Light. No matter what the name has been given based on the familiarity of its audience and recipient at different ages, this is the Light of the Great Sun, the Divine.

The earth which blocks the light of the Sun is the symbol of our ego, our gross self. Even though earth is much smaller compared to the Sun, yet it can totally overshadow the light and makes the moon completely dark. So is the role of ego and the extent to which it can cover our divine nature, it can prevent all light to be shined upon our inner heart. When the earth moves out from the path of the Sun, when the veil of ego is removed - only, and only then we can enjoy the beauty of the full moon, beauty of a realized human being gets manifested.

O, friend! Nobody veils you, but yourself.
In your path there is no thorn or weed, but yourself.
You asked: shall I reach the beloved or not?
Between you and the beloved there is nobody, but yourself.
- Awhadoddin Kermani

2.

Last evening, thanks to my dear friend Saranya, we have experienced a nice Christmas eve meditation at Self Realization Fellowship (SRF) temple at Encinitas. Encinitas in Southern California is the very city where great Yogi Paramahansa Yogananda in 1937 established ashram. Here, at the Hermitage he lived for many years and he wrote his Autobiography of a Yogi, widely regarded today as a modern spiritual classic.

While driving to the temple with Saranya and another friend, we enjoyed the beautifully glowing full moon on the clear southern California sky. Then Saranya asked in the car what does the full moon signifies, I was thinking of symbolism associated with it in terms of moon representing the Divine Feminine aspect, receptive nature etc. But later on during the meditation at the temple this little piece of thought / inspiration (as written above after adding flesh to the skeleton of thought) came even though i wasn't consciously thinking over it.

3.
side note | extra-ordinary phenomena of solar eclipse

There is something interesting to observe when total solar eclipse occurs. Even though sun and moon are of different size and are placed at a very different distance from earth, they totally match in size with each other. The Earth's distance from the Sun is about 400 times the Moon's distance from the Earth. The Sun's diameter is about 400 times the diameter of the Moon. Extra-ordinarily, because these ratios are approximately the same, the sizes of the Sun and the Moon as seen from Earth appear to be approximately the same. (credit)

The Moon has a diameter of 2160 miles, and a distance from us of 216,000 miles, a ratio of 1 to a 100 (approx). And by Divine's exact design, it appears the same size in the sky to us as the Sun, because the Sun’s diameter to distance ratio is the same 1 to 100. The Sun having a diameter of 864,000 miles while being 93,000,000 miles from us. This equality of divine ratio’s being seen visually when the Moon passes in front of the Sun in an eclipse. (details)

God created the heavens and the earth in true (proportions).
The Quran 39.5

. image credit

- Escondido, Southern California | Sadiq M. Alam
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Christmas Prayer | Paramahansa Yogananda

Heavenly Father, bless us this morning with the consciousness of Jesus, that we too might experience Thy Universal Presence as the Christ Consciousness inborn in every pore and atom of space.

O Father, we thank Thee for sending unto us Thy great son in the form of Jesus, a resplendent light, beacon to guide this world on the path of spirituality.

- Paramahansa Yogananda

. may God send His pure love and grace to the noble, realized souls of Jesus Christ and Yogananda. Pin It Now!

Imagine Peace this holiday season | Happy Christmas from John Lennon

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you."
- New Testament, John 14.27

Jesus said, "So peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the day that I shall be raised up to life (again)"!
- Qur'an, the Final Testament 19.33


+ Lamentation of John Lennon +

nobody wants to give peace a chance.
they crucified Christ for it, they shot Martin Luther King
and they shot Gandhi.

You know, give peace a chance,
not shoot people for peace.
All we need is love. I believe it.
It's damn hard, but I absolutely believe it.

[>] Visit Imagine PEACE
WAR IS OVER!: if you want it

. watch an interview of John Lennon on his vision of Peace. He was protesting Vietnam war and that protest speaks even our today's world and time, we still have wars going on not only in Iraq but often absurdly forgotten many countries in Africa. let all gunfires cease in the world, let all war-machine, guns manufacturing and hypocrisies of war-trade STOP.

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today ...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace ...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world ...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one.

. What is IMAGINE PEACE? | the biggest online peace event.
It began on October 9th 2007, John Lennon's 67th birthday.

we miss you John! we need a visionary, we need someone who care for peace! who care for the world.

Happy, Blessed & Peaceful Christmas to you all!
Imagine Peace in this Christmas and all year round. May Peace be with you all. God's love, peace and grace be upon Jesus, the Messiah, Word and Spirit of God.

# Resources
. give peace a chance!!!
. Imagine all People via Youtube
. about John Lennon
. Peace on the day Jesus was born | Merry Christmas
. image credit: John Lennon and Yoko Ono Pin It Now!

Lords Prayer in Aramaic | the langauge Jesus spoke

Lord's Prayer is the most famous prayer that Christ, upon him be peace, taught to humanity. The prayer is a beautiful teaching of welcoming God's Light into our inner space with submission and surrender to Divine will. In the book, Prayers of the Cosmos: Meditations on the Aramaic Words of Jesus, Neil Douglas-Klotz (Saadi Shakur Chisti) rendered the prayer into meditative interpretation. The one mentioned in the book can be read here.

The following is my rendition of the Lord's prayer drawing inspiration from Sufi Neil Douglas-Klotz and Nazarene's translation from Aramaic. Including a thematic intro of each line, it is done with a focus on the mystical inner resonance (not the literal word by word translation, so to speak).

1. Birth in Grand Oneness | Abwoon d'bwashmaya
. O Birther! Father-Mother of the Cosmos.

King James version: Our Father which art in Heaven

2. Acknowledging the Source of Light | Nethqadash shmakh
. Purify us with Your Hallowed Light of Being.

King James: Hallowed be Thy Name

3. Welcoming the Supreme into the inner Heart | Teytey malkuthakh
. May Your Abode be our inner-heart.

King James: Thy Kingdom comes

4. Merging in submission | Nehwey tzevyanach aykanna d'bwahmaya aph b'arha
. In Divine union, may our will merge into Your Will.

King James: Thy Will be done in earth, as it is in heaven

5. The Real Provider | Hawvlan lachma d'sunqanan yaomana
. O, The Real Provider, grant us our inner & outer nourishment.

King James: Give us this day our daily bread

6. Karma and Universal Compassion | Wahboqlan khaubayn (wakhtahayn) aykanna daph khnan shbwoqan l'khayyabayn
. In Your Mercy, detach the fetters of faults that bind us, as we (in universal compassion) may let go the guilt of others.

King James: And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors

7. Protection from duality and ego | Wela tahlan l'nesyuna, Ela patzan min bisha
. Let us not enter forgetfulness (of duality), But free us from ego.

King James: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

. amen | i confirm with my entire being

note: Popularly read another additional line, "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever." is not contained in Luke's version, nor is it present in the earliest manuscripts of Matthew. Most scholars do not consider it part of the original text of Matthew, and modern translations do not include it.

. listen to Lord's prayer via youtube
. also in Syrian Aramaic
. another beautiful video and another

+ related: What word Jesus used to address God in Aramic?
. Prayers of the Cosmos: Meditations on the Aramaic Words of Jesus by Neil Douglas-Klotz
. Lord's Prayer via Nazarene Way
. Different translation of Lord's prayer

+ valuable criticism and in depth analysis via the Aramaic Blog
. Prayers of the Cosmos Cover Art
. O Father-Mother Birther of the Cosmos?! Pin It Now!

Jesus is here, and he wants to resurrect somebody!

I called through your door,
"The mystics are gathering
in the street. Come out!"

"Leave me alone.
I'm sick."

"I don't care if you're dead!
Jesus is here, and he wants
to resurrect somebody!"

- Rumi

1.
in the eye of sufi mystics, Jesus is one of the highest mystic of elevated station, the seal of sainthood, embodiment that mirrors divine perfection in human manifestation. Jesus is the Qutub, the Pole that centers the divine attributes on earthly plane; the Murshid, the great teacher of humanity; the embodiment of universal man (Insan Kamil) beholding the Spirit of God or avatar of God, perfect khalifatullah (vicegerent of God on earth).

Muslims don't call Jesus "God" because it ascribe limitation and form upon Divinity and God is beyond forms and limitations, God is beyond the idea of beyond, Allahu Akbar. rather muslims prefer to call Jesus a blessed messenger, a profound sign of God's Majesty, Jesus is like Adam who was created without a father.

Islam doesn't limit the divine attribute exclusively to Jesus Christ, but affirm that the potential of reflecting and perfecting divine attributes within, is open to all of mankind (similar what Buddha said, the potential to become a Buddha, enlightened one, awakened one is inside all). likewise "the only begotten son of God" is considered an erroneous doctrine (introduced much later by the doctors of religion / church) because according to the Old Testament and in the very words of Jesus Christ, all of humanity are children of God and thus all are God's mirror just as primordial human form, Adam was made in the image of God. Islam makes clear that there is no place of "only begotten" exclusiveness; and there are overwhelming evidences in the Bible that 'the only begotten son' doctrine indeed was NOT part of Christ's original teaching.

2.
Those who opposed Jesus argued with him in the Temple of Jerusalem as mentioned in John 10:33-34: "For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy; because thou, being a man, maketh thyself God."

Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, Ye are gods?"

and indeed in the Old Testament, it is written in number of places what Jesus was pointing to:
Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. (Psalms 82:6)
and the Scriptures titled son to many earlier enlightened beings, prophets and messengers, sonship is not literal or exclusive:
You are children of the Lord, your God. (Deuteronomy 14:1)

Jacob is called the first born Son of God. (Exodus 4:22)

Solomon is called the Son of God. (I Chronicles 22:10)
Ephraim is a Son of God. (Jeremiah 31:9)
also in New Testament:
Adam is called the Son of God. (Luke 3:38)
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the Sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)

3.
in sufi literature Jesus appears time and time again as inspiration and symbol of human journey to perfection. Jesus appear many times in Rumi and other celebrated sufi mystic's poetry. sufi mystics who derive their inspiration primarily from the Quran, the Divine Inspiration revealed to the heart of Muhammad, readily finds how God calls Jesus as a Messenger to mankind and a Divine Spirit.

. indeed the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, was a messenger of God, and His word which He conveyed unto Mary, and a Spirit from Him.
- Quran, the Final Testament 4:171

may God bless all the Avatars, Prophets and Messengers, the divine teachers sent to humanity.

# related and further reads:
. Jesus, the Murshid
. Jesus, the Sufi Master
. a sufi commentary on Beatitudes
. problem with 'only begotten son' doctrine
. The Threshold
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"I am in all My creation"

Moses walked alone into the desert and prayed, beseeching God. "O Lord, for many years I have been Thy faithful servant, yet Thou hast never entered my house, nor broken bread with me. Wilt Thou not come and sup in my house?"

And God was well pleased with the request, and answered him: "Yea, Verily! Truly thou hast been My faithful servant, and so I will come this very evening to thy dwelling and break bread with thee!"

Moses was delighted that he was to be granted this special grace, and made swiftly for home, ordering his household as to the preparations, and cooking with his own hands a great feast worthy of the Lord.

When all was in readiness and the supper hour drew near, Moses dressed in his finest robes and waited outside his house, pacing in his eagerness. Many of the people were about at this hour, returning home from their day's labors, and they bowed in greeting as they passed him.

He returned their greetings distractedly until an old man in the crowd, a beggar, came up to him and bowed low. He was clothed in rags and leaned heavily upon a staff of sandalwood. "Great sir," said the old man, " will thee not share some small portion of thy bounty with one of lesser fortune? By the adab, the tradition of courtesy, I ask it."

"Yea, yea..." answered Moses kindly, but impatiently. "You shall have your fill, and coins for your purse also. But you must come back later. I await an important guest now, and have no time for thee."

So the beggar walked on and Moses waited. Hour after hour all through the night he paced and waited, but the Lord did not come. Now Moses was greatly disconcerted. He wept exceedingly and slept not at all. The very thought that God had forgotten him struck him to the heart. At dawn he again walked into the desert. Weeping, he rent his garments and prostrated himself upon the ground.

"O Lord!" he cried, "How have I offended Thee, that Thou did not come to my house as Thou had promised?"

"O Moses," said the Lord, "I was the beggar who leaned upon his staff, whom thou bid depart. Know ye that I am in all My creation, and what thou apportion to the least of My servants, thou apportion to Me!"

- from excerpts (book 1, chapter 1) of the sufi novel Master of the Jinn by Irving Karchmar

. Master of the Jinn via GoogleBook
. Darvish - Irving's blog

Author's Gift: Read for Free | Master of the Jinn is one of my most enjoyed reading. you may get a copy from amazon if you prefer reading books as paper book (like old fashioned me). alternatively still you can read it as e-book for free if you wish. the author is giving FREE Master of the Jinn: A Sufi Novel EBOOKS as a Eid gift to all.
...... all you have to do is to email him at:

Irvingk57 @ aol dot com and put Gift Ebook in the subject line. Pin It Now!

Eid Mubarak from Shadhiliyya Hajj Retreat

Eid Mubarak! | Greetings of Eid to you all.
Eid is the day of celebration which marks the end of Hajj, the holy pilgrimage. May the day be blessed for you and your loved ones!

Today we celebrated Eid in the blessed presence of Sidi Shaykh Muhammad Sa‘id al-Jamal at the beautiful Sufi Center at scenic Pope Valley, Northern California. This was part of the Shadhiliyya Hajj retreat. we experienced a wonderful night of khalwa (spiritual seclusion) with meditation, zikr and prayers guided by our beloved master we call Sidi. During the khalwa we did special supplication such as Dua al Jawharah (the Jewel Supplication) and chanting Divine names. The purpose of it is to purify and open the heart to the Greater Beloved and polishing the mirror of the heart.

Descendant of the holy Prophet Muhammad, the guide Sidi Muhammad Sa‘id al-Jamal ar-Rifa‘i ash-Shadhuli is the Guide of the Shadhdhuliyyah Tariqah. The Hajj retreat was his last public event in 2007 here in USA before he leave for Mount of Olives in the Holy City of Jerusalem where he is living since 1959. He comes at least once in a year to give teachings and initiate new aspirant in the Sadhdhuliyyah path of Divine Love. May God continue to bless Sidi and may God open more hearts through his call to the pure Love and Gnosis of the Divine.

. The Sufi Center

- from Sufi Center, Pope Valley, Northern California. God willing more update later.

# related post
. Eid ul Adha - Muslim Festival
. What is Eid and meaning
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Whirling Dervish nights

thanks to sister Waliya Inayat who enabled me to help out in the Shebi Arus event (though not much help was needed, everything was well arranged by people of the Mevlevi Order of America and other hard working organizers), i had a rare chance of having a glimpse of the careful preparation of the stage for the sema (the sufi whirling dance worship), the rehersal of the dervishes and the behind the scenes of a sema. it was beautiful to see Effendi Posteshin Jelaluddin Loras to not only orchestrating the precise movements of the sema to the dervishes but also reminding them the spiritual significance of them during the time of rehearsal.

i particularly remember as he was correcting the angle of bow of dervishes he was telling, when you bow, bow as if you are sacrificing your head. head and mind create confusion. you are replacing mind with heart by bowing down the head towards the heart. at the same time you are bowing to the highest of the other. you are bringing the hightest of other into your heart. it was really something to hear that from the effendi.

one of the most beautiful thing about the night's program was that of inter-faith recital of Rumi's poem. The poem was recited in original farsi, followed by different section recited by representative of native community, by christian father, rabbi, buddhist monk and muslim. it blended very well with the universal appeal of rumi's message that transcends the boundaries of religion and has always been such a powerful source of inspiration for inter-faith work and dialogue.

there was beautiful ilahis performed by musicians from turkey which was so sweet to hear. and finally was the sema performance which was enchanting. even those who didnt have much background about rumi or his thoughts could not help but immersed into the other-worldly beauty and charm of the whirling.

another beautiful aspect of last nights program was the opportunity of meeting so many beautiful hearts. apart from seeing my own friends i also came across people who live for the highest. i was surprised when found that fellow blogger, Freida could recognize me so easily among so many people. it was really joyful meeting and talking to her. wish we had more time!

finally a lot of credit goes to organizers who did put a lot of effort in co-ordinating it and sister Waliya did a marvelous job in the final production!

language barrier | although music and dance has its own superiority to dissolve the boundaries of language or culture, but when it comes to songs, recitation and the message of it; without the understanding of the language - majority of it remain untouched. during the main sema i felt it because if i had proficiency in turkish or persian, i am sure the inner experience would be much much richer. i wish there could be a giant screen which could project the meanings of the recitation which is said during the whirling. it surely could have a much wider effect on the level of hearts when it comes to connecting it to the meanings of the performance.

. Mevlevi Order of America

* will post more sharing, pictures behind the scene and also from the event later, inshallah. peace! Pin It Now!

Symbology of tawaf of Ka'aba | circumambulation, the other whirling

The winding upwards to the peak of full understanding is the seven-fold path of the Moslem round the Ka'aba, the goal of his pilgrimage to Mecca. The origin of the word, tafa (tawaf), the Arabic name for this circumambulation, means 'to attain the summit of a thing by spiraling around it'.

The center, the square stone of the Ka'aba, the 'Temple of the Heart' and the world axis. The windings are like the turning of the Buddhist Wheel of Dharma; the revolutions of the cosmos seen as the Immutable Divine Law.

Since the pilgrim spirals around the Ka'aba as the heart of the universe, it is also his own heart; and so the vortex being created is that of his own receptivity, which is matched by the descending vortex of Divine Revelation.

- Jill Purce, The Mystic Spiral: Journey of the Soul

. Hajj: The Pilgrimage
. more about Hajj via wikipedia Pin It Now!

Hajj Diary and Reports from Mecca, Arafat and Medina

# From Mecca this is how Ashraf Khalil has started his hajj blog, "I had hoped to kick off what will be several weeks of blog posts from the midst of the Hajj with something elegant about universal faith and the wonder of millions of pilgrims gathering for a common spiritual purpose." He is posting pretty much daily from Medina and now from Mecca with amateur videos, photos and interesting observations. [>] read L.A. Times Reporter Ashraf Khalil's Hajj Blog

# Guardian Interactive: one woman's Hajj experience | Riazat Butt in Mecca

# "Walking inside the Haram and outside is an education in flags, nationalities and cultures – many of us did not realise there were Muslims in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan or Myanmar. There are literally thousands of pilgrims from Africa, thousands upon thousands from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh. The biggest presence seems to be from Turkey and from Iran: we are surprised by the vast number of Shia pilgrims that are here.

It was heart-warming to feel connected and included with a part of a global community of Muslims and of Shias; all praying and worshipping in the same direction; and in a few days time, we will all be heading in the same direction: towards Arafat ... " [>] European Hajj Mission is also sharing a Live Diary during Hajj.

# The BBC's Imtiaz Tyab is performing the Hajj this year and writing a diary of his experience for the BBC News website. here is his initial reaction as he starts his pilgrimage journey.

Last year in 2006 it was Rabiya Parekh who wrote Hajj diary for the BBC News website. you may read it here.

# Channel 4 has an achieve of Live at Hajj reports from day to day at Hajj.

# Report from Asian Image: For those on the annual Hajj the journey can be one of great discovery and self-fulfillment. Before they set-off Asian Image caught up with a wide range of people making their first Hajj.

# Blogger at Al Miskeenah lives in Madina and writes lovingly about the two cities (Mecca being the other). you may want to check out her Hajj posts.

if you happen to know any other online Hajj report or Dairy, pls leave the web address, name in the comment section for inclusion. thanks! Pin It Now!

The Spiral Dance and Hymn of Jesus Christ | as recorded in The Apocryphal Acts of John

The spiral dance or turning or whirling dedicated to Divine Remembrance, can be traced back in many religious tradition including in ancient Jewish mystical traditions. What is fascinating to know is that Jesus Christ himself did perform such whirling dance with his twelve disciples as recorded in gnostic text. It does also affirm what many scholars have suggested that Christ born and raised in Jewish faith and tradition surely was exposed to its inner mystical traditions.

i am currently reading a fascinatingly beautiful book, The Mystic Spiral - Journey of the Soul by Jill Purce which turning out to be one of the best books on spiritual symbology i ever came across. The subject matter as the name suggest is the mystical spiral and its over whelming presence in different spiritual and religious tradition. hopefully i will come back again and again quoting from this book for its rich depth of wisdom. as i was posting on whirling dervishes, it was a wonderful synchronosity really to come across the mentioning of Jesus Christ doing the whirling, turning dance just at this moment!

i quote from the book:

We read in an early Christian Gnostic Text, the Apocryphal Acts of St. John, that Jesus led the Apostles in a hymn to the Father; its extraordinarily rhythm and hypnotic quality vibrates through the worlds of St. John:

And we all circled around him responded to him: Amen...
The twelfth of the numbers paces the round aloft, Amen ...
To each and all it is given to dance, Amen ...

That this was an initiatory spiral, a progressive attainment of the Knowledge, is clear in the words of Jesus, who says, "Even the passion that I revealed to thee and the others in the round dance (whirling), I would have called a mystery.'

From the Gnostic Society Library, here is pretext before the mentioning of the hymn, followed by a selection from the full hymn:

St. John records: Now before he was taken by the lawless, who also were governed by (had their law from) the lawless serpent, he gathered all of us together and said: Before I am delivered up unto them let us sing an hymn to the Father, and so go forth to that which lieth before us. He bade us therefore make as it were a ring, holding one another's hands, and himself standing in the midst (this is exactly how sufi dervishes still perform the whirling dance or sema!) he said: Answer Amen unto me. He began, then, to sing an hymn and to say:

Glory be to thee, Father.
And we, going about in a ring (encircling), answered him: Amen.

Glory be to thee, Word: Glory be to thee, Grace. Amen.
Glory be to thee, Spirit: Glory be to thee, Holy One:
Glory be to thy glory. Amen.

We praise thee, O Father; we give thanks to thee, O Light,
wherein darkness dwelleth not. Amen.

Now whereas we give thanks, I say: I would be saved, and I would save. Amen.
...
Grace danceth. I would pipe; dance ye all. Amen.
I would mourn: lament ye all. Amen.
...
The number Twelve danceth on high. Amen.
The Whole on high hath part in our dancing. Amen.

Whoso danceth not, knoweth not what cometh to pass. Amen.
I would flee, and I would stay. Amen.
I would adorn, and I would be adorned. Amen.

I would be united, and I would unite. Amen.
A house I have not, and I have houses. Amen.
A place I have not, and I have places. Amen.
A temple I have not, and I have temples. Amen.
A lamp am I to thee that beholdest me. Amen.
A mirror am I to thee that perceivest me. Amen.
A door am I to thee that knockest at me. Amen.
A way am I to thee a wayfarer. [amen]

Thus, my beloved, having danced with us the Lord went forth. And we as men gone astray or dazed with sleep fled this way and that.

[> ] you may read the full text from here.

About the Acts of John | it is an early 2nd-century Christian collection of Johannine narratives and traditions, long known in fragmentary form. The traditional author was said to be one Leucius Charinus, a companion and disciple of John. The Acts of John is considered one of the most significant of the apocryphal apostolic Acts. It preserves strains of early oral traditions about the "beloved disciple" and sole apostolic author of a canonical gospel text.

The Gnostic text also contain two extraordinary mystical sections which are in character distinct from the rest of the document. The first recounts the sacred words and actions of the Lord on the night before his death. This is followed directly by the second, recounting the vision John received of the Lord at the moment of the crucifixion.

. Hymn of Jesus - an excellent document with commentary.

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Whirling of Abu Bakr | a true Dervish and beloved companion of Prophet Muhammad

'Umar ibn Khattab, the companion of Prophet and second caliph of muslim community reported: One day the Messenger of Allah asked us for donations (for the newly established community). The desire came to me to surpass Abu Bakr, who had always been ahead of me in every good deed, I brought a fortune representing half of all I possessed and came to the presence of the Prophet.

The Holy Prophet enquired of Umar as to what he had left behind for himself and his family. Umar stated that he had donated one half of his wealth in the name of Allah and had left one half for himself and his family. Then Abu Bakr came in with a large sack of gold and placed it at the feet of our Master. The Holy Prophet put him the same question. Abu Bakr answered that he has donated all his wealth. Then the Messenger of Allah, looking at me, asked Abu Bakr, "Why haven't you kept anything for your children?" Abu Bakr answered, "My family and children are in the care of Allah and His Messenger."

"For the moth the lamp
and for the nightingale the flower;

For Siddiq*, God and His Prophet alone suffice."

- Sir Muhammad Iqbal

After this incident Abu Bakr was not visible for a few days and did not appear at the mosque of the Prophet. Feeling a void in the absence of Abu Bakr, the Prophet asked his whereabouts. The companions answered that Abu Bakr had distributed all his possessions and that he had nothing to wear except a piece of cloth, which he shared with his wife, each of them using it alternatively to wrap themselves at the time of prayer.

At that time the Prophet asked Bilal al-Habashi to go to the house of Prophet's daughter, Fatimah and asked her if she had an extra piece of clothe that could be brought to Abu Bakr so that he could clothe himself and come to the mosque. All that the noble Fatimah had was one extra piece of woolen cloth made of goat hair. When Abu Bakr wrapped it around his waist, it was too short. So he sewed some date palm leaves to it so that he could cover himself decently, and took the road to the mosque.

Before he arrived, Archangel Gabriel appeared to our Master in the same unseemly outfit that Abu Bakr was wearing. When the Prophet said to Gabriel that he had never seen him in such strange clothes, Gabriel replied that today all the angels in the heaven were so dressed to honor Hazrat Abu Bakr, the loyal, generous and faithful.

Allah Most High was sending blessings and salutation to Abu Bakr. Gabriel said, "Tell him his Lord is pleased with Him if he is pleased with his Lord."

When Abu Bakr came into the presence of our Master and heard the good news from the lips of beloved Prophet, he got up, thanked Allah, said, "Indeed I am pleased with my Lord!" and in his joy whirled around three times.

- quoted from Ibn al-Husayn al-Sulami's Kitab al-Futuwwah (The Way of Sufi Chivalry). Ibn al-Husayan is a highly respected sufi saint and scholar of the 10th century and the book is founded on very strong isnad (chain of authorities).

* Prophet used to call Abu Bakr, by the title "Siddiq", meaning the truthful, righteous one. its the same as the Hebrew word Tzaddik (arabic Sadiq).

. image credit: Abu Bakr (second figure on left), miniature from an illuminated manuscript; in the British Library.

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Rumi's whirling dervishes are coming to dance in Divine Remembrance | UCLA - Royce Hall, Los Angeles, California

come, come, whoever you are
ours is not a caravan of despair.
come, come, whoever you are
this caravan has no despair.

even though you have broken your vow
perhaps ten thousand times
yet come again, come again,
whoever you are, come!
wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving, come!

. Rumi .

Rumi's call is timeless and the whirling dervishes still carry the singing the echo of that call which welcomes without discrimination the whole of humanity to Divine Remembrance, to invite God into the inner heart again and again.

Mevlana Jalauddin Rumi, probably the most loved poet of love in the east and west alike is coming here, in Los Angeles! Come next week, Southern Californians have a rare opportunity to enter this circle of love as the Mevlevi Order of America presents the prayer-dance (sema) of Rumi at UCLA’s Royce Hall. The timeless whirling dervishes and musicians are coming all the way from the magnificent land of Turkey, significantly the land where geographically east and west of the world unites.

. Sheb-i Arus | The Night of Divine Union
Sema, the Dance of Divine Remembrance and Sufi Music concert
. venue: at UCLA - Royce Hall, Los Angeles, California
. date: Monday, Dec. 17
. time: 8 pm (come early!)

. Tickets $45-35-25 from the UCLA box office, (310) 825-2101
. Buy tickets online from Ticketmaster.com (you can get ticket at the door as well)

The event by its original turkish name is called Shebi Arus (also popularly know as Uras, or Urs meaing the wedding night when soul of lover meets the great Beloved God; the passing away from this world to the realm of Unseen). read details here.

December 17 is the night of Union | On December 17, 1273, Rumi was called home by his Beloved God and laid to rest beside his father in Yesil Turbe or, “the green Tomb.” A calligraphy near his tomb reads: “After my death, don’t seek my tomb in the earth, for I rest in the hearts of the men of mystical knowledge.” May God bless His lover, the noble soul of Mevlana Rumi and sanctify his secrets.

Rumi wrote about Truth and Truth is timeless. about his work, sufi master Inayat Khan (1882-1927) commented, "The original words of Rumi are so deep, so perfect, so touching, that when one man repeats them hundreds and thousands of people are moved to tears. They cannot help penetrating the heart. This shows how much Rumi himself was moved to have been able to pour out such living words."

About the people: The whirling prayer-dance will be led by Postneshin Jelaleddin Loras, who comes from Konya where Rumi lived, and who has followed in the footsteps of his visionary father, Hz. Haji Suleyman Hayati Dede, by teaching both men and women the traditional practices of the Mevlevi Sufis. Joining Mevlvei Order of America's musicians are master Turkish musicians Necati Celik (oud and middle eastern lute), Timucin Cevikoglu (vocalist), and Celaleddin Biçer (ney).

. UCLA campus calendar | UCLA Live presents Whirling Dervishes
. UCLALive

. Download the event flyer (pdf)
. Mevlevi Order of America
. watch a beautiful clip of the Mevlevi Order of America performing
. another clip of whirling dervishes and here via youtube

. What is the fundamental meaning of Sema?
. Symbology of Sema | human being in the universal movement

# related:
. Rumi, Shams e Tabriz and Whirling
. Sufi Sema - the whirling wind of God
. 800th anniversary of the birth of Rumi Pin It Now!

Hajj stories around the world | the spiritual journey of life time

Following the footstep of Abraham, the father of 3 major monotheistic faith, the sacred Pilgrimage, Hajj is now in the process of start. Muslims from all over the world are taking part in the largest religious and spiritual gathering on Earth, the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca. During these historic days, white, brown and black people, rich and poor, kings and peasants, men and women, old and young will all stand before God, all brothers and sisters, at the holiest of shrines in the center of the Muslim world, where all will call upon God to accept their good deeds. The Hajj resembles the re-enactment of the experiences of the Prophet Abraham, whose selfless sacrifice has no parallel in the history of humankind.

This great annual convention of faith demonstrates the concept of equality of mankind, the most profound message of Islam, which allows no superiority on the basis of race, gender or social status. The only preference in the eyes of God is piety as stated in the Quran: "The best amongst you in the eyes of God is most righteous."

While Malcolm X was in Mecca performing his pilgrimage, he wrote to his assistants: "They asked me what about the Hajj had impressed me the most. . . . I said, 'The brotherhood! The people of all races, colors, from all over the world coming together as one! It has proved to me the power of the One God.' ... All ate as one, and slept as one. Everything about the pilgrimage atmosphere accented the oneness of man under one God."

This is what the Hajj is all about. via the Sunday Times.

All three monotheistic faiths retain a secure place for the pilgrimage (Arabic-Hajj). In Judaism, the practice of pilgrimage goes back to the feast described in Deuteronomy 16:16 – the feast of Unleavened Bread (Passover), Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) and the feast of Booths (Succot), and in Christianity travel to the Holy Lands of Jerusalem is the place of pilgrimage. In Islam, the Hajj is virtually unique in its worldwide participation and sheer size. credit

Following are few of the stories about Muslims around the world who are joining this extra-ordinary experience of lifetime.

The hajj is often described as the world's biggest religious gathering, and men and women from more than 100 countries take part. Some of the largest contingents come from Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. "See how people come from all over the world - Chinese, Pakistani, Algerians, even Americans. It shows that we are all brothers," said an Algerian who gave his name as Ibrahim. via Reuters Africa.

. Saudi embassies and consulates around the world granted visas to 1,575,214 pilgrims this year. Indonesian pilgrims topped the list with 214,886 visas, while Argentina had the smallest number at 15. Notably, there was a considerable increase in Chinese pilgrims this year - their number exceeded 10,000 for the first time. via Greater Kashmir

. American Muslims Travel to Mecca for Annual Pilgrimage | More young professionals choose to perform the Hajj. In 2006, more than 15,000 Americans were among the 2.5 million people making the annual pilgrimage

. About 25,000 British Muslims will travel to Mecca this week to take part in the hajj. They will join almost 2 million Muslims, from around the world, including 214,000 from Indonesia and 15 from Argentina. via Guardian.co.uk

. India’s presence will definitely be felt because India is sending the second largest contingent of Hajjis (Haj pilgrims) after Indonesia. Around 152,000 pilgrims from India would be performing Haj pilgrimage this year.via ThaiIndian News

. A record number of Russian Muslims are expected to go to Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj. Around 26,000 from across the country are heading to Mecca, including at least 500 pilgrims from Moscow. via Russia Today

First group of Muslim pilgrims from Tatarstan to set off for Mecca. A total of 1,550 pilgrims from various parts of Russia will go on the hajj through the SDMT Idel-Hajj Fund, which is 1.3 times more than in 2006. via Interfax

This year, the Saudis increased the quota for Russian pilgrims to 26,000 people from 20,000, and despite estimated costs of $2,000 to $3,000 a person for the trip. Chechnya is sending about 3,000 pilgrims for the five-day pilgrimage via NY Times

. Aziz Rahimi, a 126-year-old man from Kordestan province, and Faraham Ahmadi from northwestern Ardebil province, a two-month-old baby are among the oldest and the youngest Iranians attending this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. 102,000 Iranians have been sent to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj ritual along with millions of other Muslims from various countries. via Tehran Times

. Palestanians begin Hajj pilgrimage | Hundreds of Palestinian pilgrims crossed into Egypt Monday on their way to Saudi Arabia. Israel has allowed small numbers of Gaza residents to pass through its territory and into neighboring Egypt for humanitarian reasons. But this was the first time Gazans have been allowed to pass directly into Egypt since the Hamas takeover. Up to 3,000 total Palestinian pilgrims were expected to pass the border this week, said the Egyptian officials.

. A record 10,700 Chinese Muslims are expected to make a pilgrimage.

. Austrian Muslims head to Makkah to perform Hajj. Austrian Muslims, from European, Turkish, Balkan, and Arab origins, are about 400,000 and Islam is the second wide spread religion here after Christianity.

. About 4,800 Filipino hajjis will join over 2.6 million people making the holy pilgrimage.

... continue to be update.

follow news of Hajj via google news Pin It Now!

Self-realization is the knowing

Self-realization is the knowing in all parts of body, mind, and soul that you are now in possession of the kingdom of God; that you do not have to pray that it come to you; that God's omnipresence is your omnipresence; and that all that you need to do is improve your knowing.

The true basis of religion is not belief, but intuitive experience. Intuition is the soul’s power of knowing God. To know what religion is really all about, one must know God.

Fearlessness means faith in God: faith in his protection, His justice, His wisdom, His mercy, His love, and His Omnipresence ... To be fit for Self-realization man must be fearless.

- Paramahansa Yogananda.
salutation of peace to the great yogi master, may God sanctify his station.

You cannot reason your way into Self-realization.
You cannot think your way into God-realization.
You can arrive at those exalted states
only by using the concentrated mind
in meditation, going beyond the intellect
to perceive through the
power of the soul’s sixth sense.

The freedom and joy and wisdom, the understanding, the love
- everything that your heart has ever craved
is waiting for you in God.

- Sri Daya Mata

. Self Realization Fellowship: the official site of Sri Yogananda
. about Yogi Paramahansa Yogananda
# related:
. Self-Inquiry | Ramana Maharshi
. Self-knowledge | Ramakrishna Paramhansa Pin It Now!

I saw you dancing last night | Hafez

........I saw you dancing last night
on the roof of your house
..............................all alone.

I felt your heart longing for the Friend.
............I saw you whirling
beneath the soft bright rose
that hung from an invisible stem in the sky.

So I began to change into my best clothes
in hopes of joining you,
even though I live a thousand miles away.

And if you had spun like an immaculate sphere
..............................just two more times,
then bowed again so sweetly to the east,
you would have found God and me
.....................standing so near
.....................and lifting you into our arms.

- Hafez, persian sufi poet and mystic

+ to you Ira, the dear one
may you always be under Great Beloved's protection and grace.

. image credit

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Record number of Chinese Muslims attending Hajj this year

With 20 million Muslims around China, it is only in recent years that they have been able to go on the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, Islam's holiest city, in substantial numbers. Thanks to rising affluence, growing numbers of Chinese Muslims are now able to fulfill their spiritual obligations of performing the Hajj, and this year, a record 10,700 of them are expected to do so. via Shangaiist

A record 10,700 Chinese Muslims are expected to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, according to the Islamic Association of China (IAC). China has more than 20 million Muslims, mainly living in Xinjiang, Qinghai, Ganshu, Ningxia, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Inner Mongolia and Henan. Starting in 1985, nearly 100,000 Muslims have fulfilled their pilgrimages. Briefly during the Cultural Revolution, Chinese Muslims were not allowed to attend the Hajj, but this policy was reversed in 1979. Chinese Muslims now attend the Hajj in large numbers, typically in organized groups.

. Brief History of Islam in China

Many don't realize, but China has one of the largest Muslim population among nations. China has some of the oldest Muslim history as well, dating back to as early as 650. Throughout the history of Islam in China, Chinese Muslims have influenced the course of Chinese history.

Islam was first brought to China by an envoy sent by Uthman, the third Caliph, in 651, less than twenty years after the death of the Prophet Muhammad. The envoy was led by Sa`d ibn Abī Waqqās, the maternal uncle of the Prophet himself. Yung Wei, the Tang emperor who received the envoy then ordered the construction of the Memorial mosque in Canton, the first mosque in the country. It was during the Tang Dynasty that China had its golden day of cosmopolitan culture which helped the introduction of Islam. In the region, the Hui Chi tribe accepted Islam, and the name was the beginnings of the reference to the huihui or the Hui as they are know today. details via wikipedia

. picture credit 1, 2 Pin It Now!

La ilaha illa-Allah | God alone is

the message of Infinite Consciousness, of Supreme Oneness:

La ilaha illa-Allah

. God alone Is .

.. "and there is no veil between la ilaha illa-Allah and Allah Himself, it reaches to Him directly" - saying of the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be grace of God. (cited by Tirmidhi).

The Prophet said: "Whoever says (from realizing sincerely and with certainty): there is no god but Allah will abide in the blissful station." (cited in multiple hadith collections)

Allah's Messenger said: "Verily, I know a phrase which no servant utters truthfully from his heart except the fire is made unlawful for him." (cited by 'Uthman ibn 'Affan), 'Umar ibn al-Khattab said: "I shall tell you what that phrase is. It is the kalima (words) of sincerity with which Allah has empowered Muhammad and his Companions."

"Everything has its key, and the key to the Blissful Station in the Ever Abiding Presence of God (Paradise) is the witnessing: la ilaha illa-Allah"

"By Him in Whose hand is my soul, if the heavens and the earth and all that are in them and everything that is in between were brought and placed in one side of the Divine Balance, and the witnessing that la ilaha illa-Allah were placed in the other, the latter would outweigh the former." - sacred saying of Prophet Muhammad.

la ilaha illa-Allah, which outwardly means, There no other god but One God; and esoterically means, God alone is - is considered the central doctrine of Universal Religion of Divine Submission and Realization of Supreme Oneness. In islamic tradition the statement is known as Kalima Tawhid / Tayyab, the word of Divine Oneness. It is followed by the affirmation, Muhammad rasulullah, Muhammad is God's message bearer.

"Infinite consciousness can never lessen at any point in time or space. Infinite consciousness includes every aspect of consciousness. Unconsciousness (also) is one of the aspects of infinite consciousness. Thus infinite consciousness includes unconsciousness. It sustains, covers, pierces through, and provides an end to, unconsciousness - which flows from and is consumed by infinite consciousness". - Meher Baba

. image credit via flickr: arabic script that reads Allahu la ilaha illa huwa, meaning: God, The One alone is.

. forty hadiths on the merit of saying la ilaha illa-Allah
. La ilaha illa-Allah and Advaita | Supreme Oneness
. a Sufi tale on La ilaha illa Allah Pin It Now!

Kamal Posh, the blanket wearers | history of sufism

Sufism is a path of love. The Sufi is a traveler on the path of love, a wayfarer journeying back to God through the mysteries of the heart. For the Sufi the relationship to God is that of lover and Beloved, and Sufis are also known as lovers of God. The journey to God takes place within the heart, and for centuries Sufis have been traveling deep within themselves, into the secret chamber of the heart where lover and Beloved share the ecstasy of union.

Sufism is the ancient wisdom of the heart. It is not limited by time or place or form. It always was and it always will be. There have always been lovers of God, long before they were known as Sufis.

There is a story about a group of mystics, a band of lovers of God, who were called the Kamal Posh. Kamal Posh means blanket wearers, for their only possession was a blanket which they wore as a covering during the day and used as a blanket at night. As the story goes they traveled throughout the ancient world from prophet to prophet but no one could satisfy them. Every prophet told them to do this or to do that, and this did not satisfy them.

Then one day, at the time of Muhammad, the Prophet was seated together with his companions when he said that in a certain number of days the men of the Kamal Posh would be coming. So it happened that in that number of days this group of Kamal Posh came to the prophet Muhammad. And when they were with him, he said nothing, but the Kamal Posh were completely satisfied.

Why were they satisfied? Because he created love in their hearts, and when love is created, what dissatisfaction can there be? The Kamal Posh recognized that Muhammad knew the mysteries of the heart. They stayed with the Prophet and were assimilated into Islam. According to this story the Kamal Posh became the mystical element of Islam. And later these wayfarers became known as Sufis, perhaps in reference to the white woolen blanket, sûf, which they wore, or as an indication of their purity of heart, safâ, for they were also known as the pure of heart.

True knowledge of God is gained when
the lover comes in contact with the Beloved
through secret communion with Him.
- Traditional Sufi saying

. from the article by Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee. The Sufi Meditation of the Heart
. related: Pir Zia's audio discourse: What is Sufism? Pin It Now!