posted December 01, 2012 10:39 AM            

It is according to the extent of our consciousness of prayer that our prayer reaches God.

The average person, dependent upon mind - even though he be a devotee - cannot pierce the mind- mesh. As soon as one views life from the aspect of the relative non-reality of personality, all life and love enter the prayer. Then prayer becomes Ishk and mounts to the throne of God.

posted December 01, 2012 10:40 AM            

The heart must be empty in order to receive the knowledge of God.

When personality is intrigued by the world it becomes intoxicated by name and form. This produces pleasure and pain. This produces rise and fall and all duality. God is beyond duality, therefore Scripture teaches that every valley must be exalted and every mountain brought low. To reach this state, Sufis cultivate indifference - which is really the highest kind of love. When love for one means not-love for another, then the first is passion, not love. The true love, even when thrown upon one (be that personality or God) will also shine upon others.

Man's love for man, no matter how great it is, is always marred by thoughts which cast shadows upon it. Man's love for God, which necessitates his ego-sacrifice, permits the light which has always been there to shine through the heart and flood the mind with all knowledge. While it may appear wrong to seek Allah for the sake of knowledge, it is actually impossible to do this, for if one loves knowledge the heart is not empty and so God cannot be the ideal. But when there is no other ideal or love than God, all knowledge and all other desires are attained.

posted December 01, 2012 10:41 AM            

As long as in love there is "you" and "me", love is not fully kindled.

The spreading of atoms and vibrations causes day; the collection of vibrations into bundles - the concentration or contraction of their activity - by drawing more of light into one locality produces shadow in another locality. When shadow is produced, there is no longer universal day. Likewise in man's conception of love, when he includes himself in the picture he turns love into "his love"; when he distinguishes even unconsciously and subtly "his love" from "his not-love" or from "love-other-than-his-love", there is division and any division betrays absence of love.

posted December 01, 2012 10:42 AM            

Once you have given up your limited self willingly to the unlimited, you will rejoice so much in that consciousness that you will not care to be small again.

When this is understood, really understood, all smallness will disappear; there will be no war nor pain nor suffering. It is idea of self - any idea which man attaches to his mind - which stabs the very essence of mind and begins that process from which all sorrow arises. Voluntary surrender of self does not destroy mind, does not harm body, does not annihilate self. Rather it annihilates that thought of self which is given erroneously the name of self.

No one can pretend to the cosmic state. Thought of Sufism or of being a Sufi - even of submitting to the disciplines and practices - does not make one a Sufi. Attainment and only attainment makes one a Sufi. It is wrong ever to call one a Sufi, but there are souls who have lost all consciousness and feeling of distinction and separation and through them the Spirit of Guidance pours blessings upon the world.

posted December 01, 2012 10:44 AM            

The deeper your prayers echo in your own consciousness, the more audible they are to God.

God is in the depths of consciousness. Now the Message of God, being the Message of God, has employed such prayers as would make each a reality. The idea of word not carrying life is foreign to Sufism. Sufism is the philosophy of life, so its words must be living words. While it is not wrong to petition God, the training in Sufism enables one to pray in a practical manner to attain to Success. Saum, Salat, Khatum and all prayers which have been included in any portion of the message are valuable beyond conception.

If it be supposed that one might petition God without these prayers, it is not wrong, but if one be a lover of another, the lover does not ask the beloved to assume tasks which the lover might do himself. Therefore, for the purpose of attainment it is preferable to practice meditation or concentration and not to petition God. Rather pray, "Use us for the purpose that Thy Wisdom chooseth," and "Give sustenance to our bodies, hearts and souls." Such a prayer, combined with Darood, Meditation and Concentration will serve every need of humanity.

posted December 01, 2012 10:45 AM            

It is the depth of thought that is powerful and sincerity of feeling, which creates atmosphere.

The judgment of the average man is based upon his own experience; the judgment of the wise man is based upon the universal experience of mankind. As one cannot tell what this universal experience is through the limited mind, he feels through impression by an inner attunement what this conclusion should be. So the heart tells him what the mind can never know off-hand, but which the mind may immediately grasp thereupon.

To keep the thought pure therefore, the heart must be kept pure. Through concentration and meditation on unity in love the heart is purified and radiates its condition to all the world.

posted December 01, 2012 10:46 AM            

Bowl of Saki for December 1 (336)

The higher you rise, the wider becomes the margin of your view.

Mind can only see what it has experienced, but the mind of an intelligent person will only consider what others have experienced. But all the experience and knowledge of all people is beyond the ken of any one; it is only possible to hold in the heart which may be attuned to the whole universe. When one has love for all mankind, one can feel - even as a mother or father - the condition of mankind, the need of mankind.

But one can extend this feeling to animal, plant, rock and beyond space and time and sphere as the heart expands. Extension of view increases capacity of heart and increase of capacity of heart extends view. This is all caused by Ishk and is nothing but Ishk.

posted December 02, 2012 12:19 PM            

Justice can never be developed while we judge others. The only way is by constantly judging ourselves.

The reason is this: when one is called upon to be a judge, there should be no weights on either side of a balance. If two persons come to one for judgment, and there is a law book to be consulted, that law book would render judgment. But when man has no such reference or depends upon his judgment, there is ordinarily no way to keep clear of prejudices which impede true justice.

By man judging himself is meant not so much a struggle against passion and evil, as a struggle from all influences be they good or bad. When one responds readily to the call of God from within, the heart and mind become purified from the denseness of the earth. This is the real judging of self, not considering whether one's characteristics are good or bad or need to be removed or strengthened; rather it is the judging of the nafs/ego, the cause of all impurity. Judge that and not quality and one in time will be able to render justice to himself and another.

posted December 05, 2012 11:13 AM            

Joy and sorrow are the light and shade of life. Without light and shade no picture is clear.

Joy produces light and at the same time joy is the result of light. Nothing stands before joy except false conception of self. One can therefore escape joy by escaping conception and at the same time escape sorrow.

Pictures are caused by variations in light and darkness, also in color. In true love there are no such variations. Mind is created in order that the soul might see life on the surface, and it is mind which has capacity for all lights and shades and colors. Therefore joy and sorrow are essentially conditions of mind. Pure-essence of mind does not know sorrow, which is caused by thought of self. Neither does it know joy although its condition is not different from what humanity calls joy.

The reason that humanity experiences joy as joy is because it is a different condition from the other when one feels sorrow and pain and difficulty. The realized soul no longer feels sorrow and pain and difficulty; consequently when one enters the higher states of consciousness one is no longer intoxicated by them, but understands them to be more natural than the ordinary state of life.

posted December 05, 2012 06:04 PM            

The wise person submits to conditions when he is helpless, bowing to the will of God. But the evil that is avoidable he roots out without sparing one single moment or effort.

LJ. If you`re reading, this one is for you In light of your recent work w/negativity....

Wise control of breath keeps the mind from lingering upon destructive thought. All destruction in the world is not evil, for sometimes it is necessary for the sake of all mankind or for the sake of earth itself. That is why there may be floods and droughts and even famine and pestilence. These universal conditions are the results of universal corruption.

But when the wise person is called upon to oppose evil he does this immediately, with all heart and mind, calling forth the power of God to work righteousness.

posted December 05, 2012 06:05 PM            

Enviable is the one who loves and asks no return.

It is only heart which can heal heart. When heart depends upon other than heart, heart has still to learn. The Sufi system of spiritual dependence upon a teacher is founded upon this principle, that when one's heart is not open, it can be awakened either by complete attunement with one whose heart is already opened or who is attuning himself to one whose heart is opened.

There is no asking or seeking in love - or giving or taking. The natural condition of heart is this: that when it loves others it feeds itself and when it feeds itself it shares with all others. This explains the mysteries of the loaves and fishes of the Bible. Loaves are the Divine Knowledge and the fishes symbolize the breath. No matter how much the Divine Knowledge is given away, it is not diminished; rather the more one shares with another, the more one benefits there-from.

posted December 07, 2012 08:58 AM            

To deny the changeableness of life is like fancying a motionless sea, which can only exist in one's imagination.

Even the conception of Nirvana is not stillness. It is a ceaseless, rhythmical activity. Life is motion, love is motion, and light is motion. Stillness represents the condition of the cipher, Nirvana that of infinity. There can be no stillness because even conceiving stillness is an activity of mind. The control of mind activity through spiritual contemplation is an activity of heart and soul. The paralysis of mind through drugs or hypnotism is a chemical activity in the first place (dispossessing mind-activity) and the activity of another's mind in the second event. When the chemical forces abate or when the mind of another loses control, mind again functions.

The saying, "Nature abhors a vacuum," extends beyond the physical. It means, that whenever there is a withdrawal there is a compensation elsewhere, and it is only by force that force can be withdrawn. So even cessation of movement is dependent upon movement.

posted December 07, 2012 09:00 AM            

Learn to live a true life and you will know the truth.

Trueness comes from the attunement of heart, which is possible when the nafs/ego is quieted. That is to say, when negation is negated, when falsehood is refuted, Truth comes to manifestation.

posted December 09, 2012 10:12 AM            

Wisdom is attained in solitude

Wisdom is attained when the body is in solitude, which means that when the body is not overfed with earthly food, when it is not being used entirely for physical and mental labors, it becomes the temple of God. Wisdom is attained when the mind is in solitude; that is to say, when the thoughts are no longer permitted to run at random, the light of intelligence may illuminate it.

Wisdom is attained in the solitude of heart; that is to say, when there is no love but God, when there is full dependence upon God and devotion to God, Wisdom is the natural result.

At the same time, Wisdom gives more scope to heart, mind and body; this permits love for everybody or for anything, this inspires every type of mental and moral aspiration, this gives the body such an education and stimulation that it may have a maximum of health and pleasure. In this there is no separation, it is the fulfillment of unity even in the outer life. By solitude, living in oneness is meant - whether alone or in the crowd, whether in the desert or forest or city.

Mystics do leave inhabited places when the influences are too strong - and rightly. The need is to find God, and when anything interferes with this it is proper to withdraw from society.

posted December 09, 2012 10:16 AM            

The seeming death of the body is the real birth of the soul.

Unencumbered by worn out clothes, leave them behind and dive deeply into the ocean; fly freely in the sun; like the blossoms released from the flower, soar high.

Untrapped within the filters of perception, change and see direct, as the prism is lifted from the eyes, and color distinct is seen once more.

Blessed heart, you do so good, yet keep me from my goal. The journey of love is in the merging, not only perception afar. Yet there is work to do, do I leave, but stay, infusing light and life within to raise my all to me.

Die now before the death so small. Fly free within the being of life, and attachment is no longer and no restraint binds the heart or breath. Work through these clothes, and see the glory of being true. No more distinction, for the earth is of the body formed, as the stars, heaven, and light itself. Be - free.

posted December 15, 2012 01:33 PM            

As the rose blooms amidst thorns, so great souls shine out through all opposition.

There are two attitudes to take in the face of opposition: one is to oppose the enemy with all the power at one's command. If by the use of force one is unable to win, force should not be used. The reason is not only because of success or failure, although this also is important. The reason is that one must change one's own nufs and also the nufs of another. If in strife one breaks down the nufs of another, and if - when by the power of God vouchsafed to one - this can be done, it is not wrong to use force, and it never has been wrong to use such force. Every prophet has followed this path, and no one can become a prophet unless he or she will do so.

But there are subtler souls and also sometimes gentle people who cannot be reached this way. Conniving persons who use no force but depend upon cleverness must be combated in another way. It is not wrong to say in this that loving one's enemies and opposing them are necessarily different in action. In such cases, it is often wise to offer no resistance to evil. Then the enemy is like one rushing forward, not seeing the precipice over which they will fall.

There is another attitude to consider in offering no resistance to evil. This means to refuse to accept the opposition of another, to consider them not at all. This was the position of the Buddha, who overcame his enemies by refusing to recognize them physically, mentally or spiritually. The result was that their thought could not cast any shadow over his mind. By this the Mahatma (that is to say, Buddha) shone through all the opposition. A shade may block sunlight from a room but it cannot stop the sunlight.

posted December 15, 2012 01:34 PM            

When the artist loses himself in his art, then the art comes to life.

By this means God created the world, and partly in imitation of Allah it is wise to follow such a course. Metaphysically speaking there is another explanation. Energy and magnetism are imparted to us with breath. When the breath is used to praise God or is returned to God with fervor and remembrance, this increases the capacity for inspiration. In every form of inspiration - whether one understands it spiritually or not - all interest is focused in one's work. Then the divine breath touches every portion of man's being and this passes into the form which the artist is shaping - be he musician, poet, architect, artisan or any other molder of beauty.

posted December 15, 2012 01:35 PM            

Do not anything with fear; and fear not whatever you do.

Fear is the time for inaction, for sedation, for meditation. This is true physically as well as spiritually. Fear interferes with breath and at the same time fear is the result of a defect in breath. To guard against fear, Sufis are trained in self-protection, first through Darood, then in Occultism, which enables one to overcome all fear and to face all conditions.

Likewise, all acts should be done without questioning their outcome - with full faith. Otherwise, it is better to abstain from action. For this also, one gains through Darood, which makes God the actor. Standing by one's actions, one brings moral magnetism into them and gives them life and power; at the same time this helps the devotee.

posted December 15, 2012 01:36 PM            

Love develops into harmony, and of harmony is born beauty.

If there were an opposite condition to Love, it would not be hate, but chaos. Hate is a force derived from love, concentrated through nufs. Chaos, on the other hand, is the opposite of all love. Allah, through Ishk, destroyed and destroys chaos, and the first sign of the absence of chaos is the music of life expressed in rhythms and harmonies. This is the cause of all vibrations, out of which all worlds were made.

Beauty is the natural result of harmony in that it uplifts the soul. The harmonies, melodies and rhythms of vibrations and forms are intoxicating. One can see in an instant the inspiration of an artist - that one picture does not inspire and another does inspire the witness. Beauty in form, be it in nature or from the hands of man, is always compelling and uplifting.

posted December 15, 2012 01:37 PM            

He who keeps no secrets has no depth in his heart.

The tongue brings all life to the surface and keeps life on the surface. When one is silent, particularly in Darood, the life force touches the deepest parts of one's being. When one has something to say and does not say it except to whisper it (so to speak) to God, that thing is endowed with life and blessing, and if it is a wish, verily will it be fulfilled. If it is a danger to another, verily another will be protected when one keeps the secret in silence, whispering only to God.

posted December 15, 2012 01:38 PM            

Bowl of Saki for December 15 (350)

Behind us all is one spirit and one life; how then can we be happy if our neighbor is not also happy?

Happiness is the condition of the heart. Heart touches every other heart. What is wished in the heart is wished for all persons or is not wished. That is the test of wish in the head or in the heart. Bodhisattva does not cease wishing; rather Bodhisattva is for all humanity. This shows the nature of heart, which cannot and does not discriminate.

Can the unhappiness of another dull one's spirit? No, sympathy is not to let the shadow of another fall upon one's being, it is to let one's light bring life to another. Spiritual gifts must be shared or they will be taken away from one, for they are for all of God's children and not for a favored few.

posted December 15, 2012 01:40 PM            

The sea of life is in constant motion, no one can stop its ever-moving waves. The master walks over the waves, the wise man swims in the water, but the ignorant man is drowned in his effort to cross.

Here we have three degrees of evolution. The ignorant man does not use his mind, although sometimes he may let his mind use him. He does not think steadily or regularly and is like a straw blown in the wind. He is more affected by opinion than by thought and wants to go with the majority. He does not and cannot comprehend his own duties in life and is bound to failure.

To help such a person, one must treat him as a child even when offering respect due to age or position. Nevertheless, he must be considered inwardly as a child and not treated too harshly when he would not understand, neither treated too lightly when no impression would be made. He may be permitted to feel that he has his own way, yet he is to be controlled at all times. The spiritual person becoming negative to such a one is in grave danger.

The wiser person is one who uses his mind, who controls his mind. For this, will-power is necessary. Such a person may not be endowed with great insight, but will be strong enough to battle his way in life. There are sometimes mental and moral giants who have enough capabilities to withstand the struggles of life without being overcome by them, yet are quite unable to lead others out of the morass.

It is such souls who are ready for the Message, but also such souls may not see the need of the Message. When they are intuitive they escape much of the turmoil of life and by leading themselves are often able to lead others.

Master is one whose heart does control mind and body, who entertains no diversity of opinions and who does not depend upon others for his thoughts unless he recognizes their authority. He does not claim to be all-wise for he is just as cognizant of his limitations as he is aware of God's all-embracing power. Such a one may not be controller of men or affairs, but he will be able to stand where he wants to stand. He will be able to cover his course in life and he will not be deterred by earthly conditions for he has arisen above the state where he would be affected by them.

posted December 17, 2012 07:08 PM            

[b]
The wise person submits to conditions when he is helpless, bowing to the will of God. But the evil that is avoidable he roots out without sparing one single moment or effort.

LJ. If you`re reading, this one is for you In light of your recent work w/negativity....

Wise control of breath keeps the mind from lingering upon destructive thought. All destruction in the world is not evil, for sometimes it is necessary for the sake of all mankind or for the sake of earth itself. That is why there may be floods and droughts and even famine and pestilence. These universal conditions are the results of universal corruption.

But when the wise person is called upon to oppose evil he does this immediately, with all heart and mind, calling forth the power of God to work righteousness. [/B]/QUOTE]

*****

Thank you, Juni. It's been some time (maybe 3 weeks) since I came here. It's amazing that you even remembered my request from so long ago!!

Today I was pulled back to this thread to catch up on the ones I'd missed. Each one such a nugget of gold!

And then this ... your reminder above, when I so, so sorely needed it.

What can I say? It's unbelievably healing!! Thank you, not only for choosing it for me, but also for lovingly providing me with much needed guidance.

I won't be able to forget this even in a hurry.

.

.

.

------------------
~ I have a DO NOT DISTURB sign on my imagination ... because I want to frustrate the twins ... Convention and Dogma

~ The moment I cease to seek the truth, or settle for the truth in the moment ... that is the moment I cease to be a seeker, and become a fundamentalist instead.

~ The truest acts of charity are never disclosed ... they remain a secret between Man, the doer and God.
Because Man knows that each charitable act is an opportunity for him to revel in God just as God avails of His chance to revel in Man through every act of charity.
For them both to continue to rejoice in each other, Man knows he cannot allow worldly accolades to distract him. So he continues to act in kindness ... secretly.