posted October 11, 2012 03:36 PM            

quote:

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This one is dedicated to Lei_K

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hehe Cheers Juni

I like that one

posted October 12, 2012 09:09 AM            

And for Fundamentalist Christians/Muslems et al.

Seek God in all souls, good or bad, wise or foolish, attractive and unattractive; in the depths of each there is God.

Since God is the only being, God is the essence and life of all souls. To confuse the soul with the nafs/ego of personality is to draw confusion to one's own mind. If there were not some good in the personality, the mind and body could not function. Evil is weakness, and goodness is strength - even the strength that holds body together as a unit or mind together as a unit. The cause of suicide is weakness, and the murderer is often a suicide who objectifies his own weakness. Unable to dominate himself he desires to dominate others.

The way to overcome this weakness in others is to practice the spiritual breaths in their presence and so build up the atmosphere,. The more positive one is in the presence of such people, the more respect is gained and so everybody can be helped. It is not necessary to judge: the stone is a stone, the tree is a tree, the bird is a bird, but the life in all is God.

posted October 13, 2012 11:36 AM            

When in ourselves there is inharmony, how can we spread harmony?

For ALL

The best way to develop strength is to achieve unity. This comes out of the practice of concentration. Concentration need not be limited to a few minutes a day or week when one performs some exercise given in the instruction. Concentration may be practiced every hour, every minute, every breath -- especially through Darood. Then one does not have to seek unity, unity will seek one.

When added to that the Talib is given instruction in music or else in meditation, one acquires that unity of purpose, that unity of feeling and the more one adheres to that unity the better can one protect oneself and assist others. Never surrender to anything, to anyone, to any force except God or those who represent God in the Spiritual Hierarchy.

posted October 14, 2012 09:45 AM            

The inmost being of a human is the real being of God.

God is in the heart, but God is not the heart. Heart is an accommodation, an attunement through selection in the Supreme whereby out of a certain note a center of consciousness makes itself felt. This center comes out of love and knows nothing but love, and its love is its knowledge and its love commands all knowledge. It is not the same as other hearts, neither is it different. All hearts form God, yet God is not conditioned by them. The light is everywhere, yet by covering itself, so to speak, it forms innumerable lamps - the light of which resembles a tremendous, incomparable harmony.

posted October 17, 2012 09:06 AM            

Love itself is the healing power and the remedy for all pain.

Pain manifests through mind, and pain is only possible when nufs holds sway. When a hand is out, a unity has been broken; when the natural movements of the body have been obstructed, a unity is broken. Every pain shows absence of unity and love shows presence of unity. In unity is all strength.

Pain is only possible when breath does not reach a part. But breath cannot force itself to any area of the body or mind; it must be directed by will, which is nothing but heart.

posted October 17, 2012 09:08 AM            

By loving, forgiving and serving, it is possible for your whole life to become one single vision of the sublime beauty of God.

Because then there is no nafs/ego; no shadow. The absence of these processes causes shadow or is caused by shadow; their presence causes the shadows of life to vanish, all common pain and suffering to go. The supreme vision cannot be forced, but neither can it be kept away when one has laid aside all accumulation of selfhood. It becomes the most natural thing in life because it is life itself.

posted October 17, 2012 09:14 AM            

Mysticism to the mystic is both science and religion.

worth repeating

Mysticism to the mystic is both science and religion.

In Sufic terms, there is no difference between "Tassawuf" and "Ilm".

That is to say, metaphysics, knowledge, mysticism, science and religion are all one and the same thing to the inner man. The mind may give different names to its different processes, but in the sphere of the heart there is an eternal grasping which can be called love, will or intuition. These are but names of the same process according to the method by which it influences mind.

When one considers that all love springs from God, all knowledge springs from God, all being is God, how can there be any difference between science, religion and mysticism? In the realm of duality, in the region of universal becoming there seems to be differences, but in the sphere of principle, there is not. Real science is comprehension, which is only possible when the heart is awake; real religion is knowledge of God; mysticism is the philosophy that God can be known, discovered in the heart of man.

posted October 20, 2012 10:40 AM            

The principles of mysticism rise from the heart of the human; they are learnt by intuition and proved by reason.

The fundamentality of the heart is proved, proved by the direct experiences of the inner life. Once this is attained, the value of reason becomes evident. Although reason is of little value after the goal is achieved, there is nothing without value. We can argue for reason, we can argue against reason, we can argue with reason, we can argue in a most un-rational manner. All these mean little; but after one has the knowledge one can express it in a most reasonable manner. In other words, reason - which to the average person is a sword and not a shield - to the mystic is a shield first.

posted October 20, 2012 10:41 AM            

In other words, "Dharma". This is the purpose of every one's life, for which purpose they sojourn on the earth plane. To divide part of life - dedicating some to God, some to self, some to family or friends - is to misconstrue the purpose of life, which is to seek first that purpose and not to divide at all.

There is a great deal of difference between piety and real religion. Piety considers self and God. True religion does not consider self, and even the unbeliever who is free from heedlessness and thoughtlessness is on the way to the goal, though he walk backwards or with his eyes closed. By the practice of Darood one practices religion at all times.

posted October 20, 2012 10:42 AM            

Joy of body comes chiefly from purely physical pleasures, yet in them there is almost always satisfaction of mind. Satisfaction of mind is dependent upon time and space and is not separate from dissatisfaction of mind. That is to say, there are moments when one condition predominates; there are other moments when there is the other condition. Besides that, satisfaction of mind and body depend considerably upon what is outside of body and mind.

Inner satisfaction is not based upon any such flimsy foundation. Soul is either awake or asleep, and its wakefulness is joy and nothing but joy. The states of the heart wherein it feels presence or absence affect the whole personality. Sufis practice Zikar and contemplation whereby consciousness enters into union with the Supreme. This is the joy, the intoxication of soul, the drinking of the Divine Wine.

posted October 25, 2012 08:46 AM            

Beyond the narrow barriers of race and creed we can all unite, because we all belong to one God.

Race, creed and all barriers are productions of one's mind. While it is true historically that there are divisions of humanity, and it is true that geographically all people cannot be in the same place, yet the real bar is mental, which says, "I am different and you are different." What is this difference? It is those differences perceived or conceived. Beyond conception and perception where there is love, there are no such distinctions. All people were born in a similar manner; the bodies and minds of humanity have the same composition; emotions are caused according to the same principles and all are subject to the same laws. Wherefrom then do these lines of demarcation arise? It is from lack of knowledge and selfishness on one's part; they do not belong to reality.

posted October 25, 2012 08:48 AM            

All forms of worship or prayer draw one closer to God.

Because they lead away from self-ness; they proclaim some ideal, and no matter what that state or condition, no matter what the form, meekness always removes obstacles from one's path. Thus prayer gives one strength by removing the weakness in one's own nature, which is the greatest bar to one's success.

posted October 25, 2012 08:49 AM            

Bowl of Saki for October 23 (297)

When one is separated from God in thought, belief is of no use, worship is of little use.

Just as in electricity there must be a circuit that current may flow, so in the divine life on a much greater scale must there be a circuit. By cutting God asunder, by making God in one's mind as something different, something apart, there can be no worship; there can be no love. Love unites, and the worship of a tree or flower may contain more of divinity than the prayer wherein God is placed far away. If God is love, if God is like Father or Mother, how can God be far away?

posted October 25, 2012 08:51 AM            

The source of the realization of truth is within the person; that person's self is the object of his or her realization.

Otherness and ignorance are one. Sight is in the eye, thought is in the mind, feeling is in the heart. Without sight one could not perceive, without mind one could not conceive, without heart one could not achieve. Success consists of finding the true purpose of body, mind and heart; it does not consist in dominating anything outside ourselves, although this may naturally follow because of the laws of attunement and correspondences. But the supreme satisfaction, the supreme success, the only lasting victory is to find what we are, to know what we are.

posted October 25, 2012 08:53 AM            

True self-denial is losing one's self in God.

This is not to say "I am" or "I am not", it is to give no thoughts to self but all to God. Let one say, "What would God have me say, what would God have me think, what would God have me do?" But even this is unnecessary for there is always a feeling of ease if not of joy, when one practices Darood - to harmonize all action, speech and thought with the breath. This is easy, simple and sufficient, and for it no knowledge of metaphysics is necessary.

posted October 25, 2012 04:06 PM            

*Hint*
And if you do decide to dedicate one to me (like you did for Lei_Kui), could you choose one that you think I could best learn from? I'm assuming here that others can see parts of me better than I can myself?

Thanks!!

posted October 25, 2012 08:53 PM            

quote:

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Originally posted by juniperb:
Bowl of Saki for October 25 (299)

[b]
True self-denial is losing one's self in God.

This is not to say "I am" or "I am not", it is to give no thoughts to self but all to God. Let one say, "What would God have me say, what would God have me think, what would God have me do?" But even this is unnecessary for there is always a feeling of ease if not of joy, when one practices Darood - to harmonize all action, speech and thought with the breath. This is easy, simple and sufficient, and for it no knowledge of metaphysics is necessary.

[/B]

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Timely, for me, since I just felt like quitting all my metaphysical type reading today...giving up for the sake of simplification.

posted October 25, 2012 09:27 PM            

Faith, wonderful. The bowl is inspiring !

posted October 26, 2012 08:16 AM            

It is more important to find out the truth about one's self than to find out the truth of heaven and hell.

What are Heaven and Hell? They are the results of action, speech and thought - they are "results" and not self-dependent. Every Hell and Heaven may be different, and the same condition can be Hell to one and Heaven to another. Therefore we cannot understand them until we understand self - and not nafs/ego but the innermost being.

Sufis willingly surrender Heaven and Hell to God, considering it a joy when Allah is present even in the midst of Hell and a loss when Allah is absent even in the bosom of Paradise.

posted October 27, 2012 06:43 PM            

According to one's evolution, one knows the truth; and the more one knows, the more one finds there is to know.

Truth stands above and beyond all facts. Truth is the comprehension of life itself, of God. There is no end to such knowledge, which is called the Supreme Knowledge. Therefore it cannot be explained in words or thoughts. Only the illuminated mind can sense it and mind cannot illuminate itself; as the light of the moon is drawn from the sun, reflected in the moon, so the light of the mind is drawn from the heart, reflected in mind. Sufis cultivate heart, which means to live by feeling, keeping in harmony with God, and this is possible according to the prescriptions given to each one by Murshid/a, or his or her representative

posted October 28, 2012 09:10 AM            

The person filled with the knowledge of names and forms has no capacity for the knowledge of truth.

Mind is Heaven and Hell. The akasha or accommodation is not so different from the sky. Sky we see at day or night: in the day there is a single torch yet all illumination; in the night there are many lamps, yet darkness. Sky at night is like the mind replete with knowledge of names and forms - it is still in darkness - while sky at day is like illuminated mind.

These two aspects have been called astral and buddhic, which are not so much conditions of mind but conditions related to mind. Astral world is the result of mind divided, and it is impossible for Sufis to contact who practice Darood and thus escape all delusion and all snares. Buddhic condition indicates heart and mind coordinated making truth possible. Therefore Buddha has sometimes been regarded as a solar deity. This is true insofar as mind is concerned, but it is also true with respect to everyone of the rank of Rassoul.

Higher than this is the condition where there is neither day nor night.

posted October 30, 2012 10:22 AM            

One mistakes when one begins to cultivate the heart by wanting to sow the seed oneself instead of leaving the sowing to God.

Every form of attachment to self tends to keep the heart closed no matter how great the desire. Even attachment to heart cannot open heart; no desire, no ambition, no hope can do it. This comes from surrender of self and then heart opens almost automatically. Either we are at the helm or the Spirit of Guidance leads us on.

posted October 30, 2012 10:24 AM            

We start our lives as teachers, and it is very hard for us to learn to become pupils. There are many whose only difficulty in life is that they are teachers already. What we have to learn is pupilship. There is but one teacher, God.

Teacher gives, pupil takes. Many want to take and also want to teach; this is impossible and leads to much misery. One is not a teacher who seeks followers, one is a seeker of followers. One is only a teacher who teaches others something, who gives others something. It is not necessary to teach, it is not necessary to give. This condition is associated with "Nuzul".

Nuzul has its purpose, Uruj has its purpose: there must be balance and order in the Universe. No doubt Uruj leads to selfishness but Uruj also leads to growth; merely to give away for the sake of giving is of no great advantage. This assumes that self has the capacity of endless evolution. Such self has not the capacity.

It is God Who is, and our evolution is God's evolution; God's opportunity is our opportunity. Therefore Uruj and Nuzul balance, and when we are willing to learn, God is there to teach us.

posted November 04, 2012 10:34 AM            

Earthly knowledge is as clouds dimming the sight, and it is the breaking of these clouds - in other words, purity of heart - that gives the capacity for the knowledge of God to rise.

"Sight" is more powerful than the sight, more subtle than mind. This is insight, which is to say, the sight of the soul independent of its vehicles. In the sphere of matter, it is necessary to become accustomed to a light more dim, the very dimness of which beclouds the mind and keeps it in a sort of haze.

It is oneness of purpose, oneness of character and the freeing of mind from its subserviency to matter which take it from this condition. Purity of body means body as body, purity of mind means mind as mind. Purity of heart means heart as heart. The body has its music and its laws, the mind has its music and its laws and while heart is greater than any law, it still has its music. Therefore spiritual development is an attunement; yet strange and marvelous to tell, this attunement brings with it all knowledge of all planes.

posted November 04, 2012 10:36 AM            

Self stands as a wall between man and God.

To use the expressions "greater self" and "lesser self" is unfair unless one has a clear conception of these terms. Nafs/ego is not self but is thought of self. Try to locate nafs/ego, concentrate on nafs and often it will be found in a particular part of mind. This shows that nufs is a production of mind, not its controller. Then try to locate true self through concentration, and while the force of feeling will be strongest in the heart, centered in the heart, it will touch every portion of one's being, This shows that what humanity ordinarily considers as "I" is not the true "I" and that perhaps there is no true "I". Yes, there is no true "I" except God, of whom the Hebrews said: "I am that I am".

Realizing that the nafs/ego is a limitation and not a completeness, one finds the means of circumventing its power - by prayer, meditation, concentration and all spiritual devotions.