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| Articles about Sufi |
| Moth and Flame | a Sufi Metaphor | | 2008-07-21 23:51:46 | | 1.a candle has been litinside me,for whichthe sunis a moth.- Bahauddin Valad2.In sufi literature one of the most loved metaphor is moth and flame. The moth's annihilation into the flame has been drawn again and again as an analogy for the seeker in the sufi path who seeks annihilation into Divine Essence. The sufistic term for the annihilation or passing away into Divine is Fana.In the poem quote at the beginning of this post, from The Drowned Book, Maarif, the genius of Bahauddin Valad (father of Rumi) uses moth in a surprisingly beautiful metaphor. Here the analogy emphasizes the brightness of one's inner light that makes the sun look like a moth, apparently a small insect.3.Moth and Flame analogy is also used to symbolize self-transformation. In a sufi story by Fariduddin Attar (adopted from the book, Essential Sufism), its described in this following fashion:One night, the moths gathered together, tormented by their longing to unite themselves with the candle. They all said, 'we mu | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Sufi Path of Love - Fragrant and Fresh | Osho | | 2008-07-15 23:59:17 | | 1.Sufis tend to remain hidden in a mysterious world, revealing themselves only to chosen seekers of truth - who are receptive and devoted. This has been their way for thousands of years. They pray to God in the middle of night, in its deep silence when the world sleeps, as they don't want to make an exhibition of their prayer.Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita: "The meditator meditates alone in the deep night when everybody in the world is sleeping". And Sufis do the same.2.The story of Sufi Hakim Sanai, a Persian court poet, begins like a political thriller. He's moving with the Sultan of Persia and his military forces on an expedition to conquer India. But as they pass a certain walled garden they come across a drunken singer, who is really a great Sufi mystic, an enlightened man named Lai-Kur.Osho says: Not much is known about Lai-Kur as people like him don't leave many footprints behind them. Except for this story, nothing has survived. But Lai-Kur continues to live in Sufi memory. | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Call for Submission | Sufi Poetry Carnival | 2nd Edition: 'Knocking from Inside' | | 2008-07-15 10:57:13 | | 1. HistoryLast year end of May, Sadiq Alam and Tiel Aisha Ansari jointly hosted the 1st Edition of Online Sufi Poetry Carnival. The idea of a Blog Carnival is a collection of blog posts/ site links on a specific subject/ theme.We are happy to announce that the 2nd Online Sufi Poetry Carnival will be jointly hosted at Inspirations and Creative Thoughts, Courts of Lions and Abdur Rahman's Corner sites on August 7th, 2008.2. ThemeThe past round's theme was "Celebrating Divine Love" and this time around it is "Knocking from Inside".Sufi Dervishes are people who live at the threshold of this world and the next, between the visible world and the unseen realm. The truest and deepest expressions of sufi poetry arrive from lived experiences within and it's the ecstasy of soul that knocks from inside on the door of our external world. Daniel Abdal Hayy Moore once expressed: "the province of poetry is a private ecstasy made public."On the idea of "Knocking from Inside" Rumi says (translated by Co | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
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| Spiritual Healing in Islamic Sufi Tradition | | 2008-07-09 21:16:40 | | "Consciously or unconsciously every being is capable of healing himself or others. This instinct is inborn in insects, birds, and beasts, as well as in man. All these find their own medicine and heal themselves and each other in various ways. In ancient days the doctors and healers learned much from animals about the treatment of disease.This shows that natural intuition has manifested in the lower creation as well as in the higher." - Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan, Healing and the Mind World[] What is Spiritual Healing in Islamic Sufi Tradition?Islamic sufi tradition is rich in the practice of spiritual healing. From earlier Biblical and Quranic apostles to Muhammad, the last messenger of God and then later passed down to sufi masters - spiritual healing has always been part of golden heritage and lineage of the sufis.The Sufi healing method is an Islamic healing method using Divine spiritual power practiced exclusively by the Sufis for centuries. The basic principle in Sufi Hea | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Story of Wisdom from Sufi Master Bawa Muhaiyaddeen | Acknowledging the Real | | 2008-07-02 00:03:53 | | 1.There was a wise man, a great Sufi gnäni (gnostic) who had attained an exalted state. But one day the thought came to him, "Whatever may happen to anyone, I will protect them. I will help them."Now for many years satan had tried to trip him up but never succeeded. However, the day this thought entered the gnäni's mind, satan saw his opportunity and rejoiced, "Oh ho! Now I can finally get this man." So satan clapped his hands and called for his companions.All the satans gathered in readiness. "Why did you call us? What do you want us to do?""This is our chance to catch one of our enemies, a Sufi's gnäni named Ahamad. I want you to change into a snake with fangs containing a very potent poison made from all eight kinds of evil poisons from the eight directions. With this poison in your fangs you must go to the Sufi's gnäni and say, 'O Ahamad Kabïr, I am in danger. Protect me, take care of me.'"He will tell you, 'I will take care of you. I will protect you.'"Then say to him, 'Oh! M | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | on politeness | a sufi story | | 2008-06-12 16:06:24 | | This true story is from my guide Sidi mentioned in his eloquent book, Music of the Soul. Sidi's full name is Muhammad Sa'id al-Jamal ar-Rifai as-Shadhuli. He is the Head of the Higher Sufi Council in Jerusalem and the Holy Land. He is also teacher at the Holy mosques at al-Aqsa in Jerusalem.This story is from the time when he was with his own guide, Sidi ‘Abd ar-Rahman, may God be pleased with them both, in Damascus at zawiyya or sufi lodge. 1.There was a troublesome man there, everyday who would throw stones at the zawiyya. This was an old man and each time the incident of stone throwing happened, Sidi's guide would say, "Send him mercy. If he wants food, give him food. If he wants clothes, give him clothes. If he wants money, give him money. Give him what he wants."When Sidi according to the advice of his guide provided him, he would gather his sons and would throw more stones at the zawiyya.Sidi asked, "What is the wisdom?" Then he would further go to this old man and gave him som | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
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| The Hamadcha Sufi Brotherhood at the Fez Festival | | 2008-06-08 06:26:00 | | As one of the most important and popular Sufi Brotherhoods in Morocco the Hamadcha were rightly accorded the honour of opening the Sufi Nights series of late night concerts at the Fez Sacred Music festival. The Brotherhood was founded in the 17th century by the Holy Sidi Ali Ben Hamdouch.In fine form - Frederic Calmes (above) and with Abderrahim (below)Under the leadership of the charismatic moqaddem Abderrahim Amrani Marrakchi, known for his erudition and musicianship, we were delivered a night of great Sufi music. Although a "performance" rather than a lila with hadra (ecstatic dance), it was nevertheless a fine evening with a thoroughly engaged crowd staying until the early morning hours.Also taking part was Frederic Calmes who is well know for his work with the Hamadcha over a number of years. Calmes not only played and sung but also gave short explanations of the work of the Brotherhood. Over the last week he and Abderrahim have been training a small group of French students who, | | By: THE VIEW FROM FEZ | | |
| | the wasp that demonstrated what it means "to love thy neighbor" for real | a true sufi story | | 2008-05-29 19:36:35 | | 1.this story is about a wasp and a bird. my Shaykh Sa'id al-Jamal (Sidi), may Allah be pleased with him and sanctify his Sirr, told this story from his own life in one of his visit to US.Sidi was about thirteen years old and it was harvest time in the village where he went to visit his relatives. everywhere people were harvesting the grains, chafing the wheat etc.at one point a wasp came to his attention. it was picking up a single wheat grain each time in its mouth and flew back. after a while it came back again to pick another grain and flew. when Sidi saw it happening for the third time, it came to him, "there's a story behind what this wasp was doing". so he decided to catch this wasp without doing it any harm.with all the enthusiasms of a teenage boy, thanks to a little box and very thin thread he caught the wasp. then tied the thin thread to one of its leg and let it go.interestingly, without delay it came back and picked up another grain in its mouth and flew away. now following | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | a sufi tale | dhikr of la ilaha illa Allah | | 2008-04-28 04:53:00 | | 1.Once a Sheikh (sufi master) came to Istanbul and went to the governing authority to ask permission to open a tekke or sufi lodge. The Sheikh was asked how many dervish members he has and the reply was only one dervish, and the master himself.The authority found it odd, yet an old rundown building was available and given to them. The Sheikh with one dervish accepted it with open heart.Very soon there was enormous light coming from within the building, sound of dhikr could be heart every night and crowds would attend.The governing authorities wanted to know what this man was doing to draw so many people to him and what was this light that was reported coming from the old building. So the Sheikh was summoned.The officials said, "We are the educated ones and we want to question you to make sure you are doing things correctly."- "All right", was the humble answer."What is the meaning of la ilaha illa Allah?" they asked.- "Do you want the meaning as you understand it, or do you want the me | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Sufi Qawwali at UCLA Royce Hall | Mehr Ali and Sher Ali | | 2008-04-26 19:26:00 | | Couple of nights back (24, April, 08) came an unanticipated opportunity to watch and listen to two of great contemporary pakistani sufi Qawwali singers at famous UCLA Royce Hall. The concert was titled, Qawwali Music of Pakistan: Sufi devotional music.Among the audience was both americans and sub-continental audience. What was striking, is Qawwali's ability to transcend language with its sheer power and captivating devotion. The nature of improvisation makes each Qawwali, even if its sung by the same group of singers, very unique and every new listening is a new experience.Sometime the depth of the verses, fused with the presentation takes audience to an otherly high which was felt last night too. At times there were goosebumps and surges with the strong emotion that is created in Qawwali performance. The Sufi Qawwalis are considered as zikr or Divine remembrance if listened with spiritual understanding and depth.:: What is Sufi Qawwali? | Qawwali is derived from the Arabic word qaul, | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | The Fes Festival of Sufi Culture - final night. | | 2008-04-24 03:39:00 | | Tonight is the final night of the Fes Sufi Festival and it should be a great one. Starting at nine in the Batha Museum the concert includes Mohammed Ba Jeddoub (pictured left) from Morocco and Musa Dieng Kala (below left) from Senegal .Despite some rain that caused the switching of venues, this year's festival has been a great success and congratulations go to the director Faouzi Skali and his wonderful team of workers. The staff at the venues have been a great help to us in covering the events. Lastly to the musicians and performers - thanks for your energy and inspirationTags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news | | By: THE VIEW FROM FEZ | | |
| | The Festival of Sufi Culture - Update | | 2008-04-23 04:13:00 | | Monday afternoon turned out to be one of the festival highlights with an amazing performance by the Hamadcha and Aissawa brotherhoods. Frédéric Calmès and Nathalie Château-Artaud introduced the different sections of the ceremony by reflecting on the place of music as therapy. The Aissawa Brotherhood, like the Hamadcha, uses trance as part of its musical ritual. In the case of the Aissawiyyia this practice is dedicated to their founding saint, the celebrated Cheikh El Kamel, ‘the Perfect Master’. In the case of the Hamadcha, their saint is Sidi Ali ben Hamdush. Both brotherhoods have long used music as a method of curing disorders. According to research done by anthropologists the cure rate in the area of mental health surpasses western psychiatry!The two brotherhoods performing together created an extraordinary atmosphere with great energy from Abderrahim Amarani Marrakchi, the leader of the Hamadcha and Mohssin Zemmouri at the head of the Aissawa.Abderrahim Amarani Marra | | By: THE VIEW FROM FEZ | | |
| | Fez Festival of Sufi Culture - opening night. | | 2008-04-18 05:00:00 | | Last night saw the opening concert of the second Fez Festival of Sufi Culture. The festival runs until April 24 and promises to surpass last year's event. The View from Fez attended and would like to congratulate Festival Director, Faouzi Skali on a wonderful evening.Jean Claude Carrière reading RumiFor the opening night of the Sufi Festival a large crowd were entertained by Nahal Tajadod (Iran) and Jean Claude Carrière (France) giving readings of Rumi « Sur les pas de Rûmi » in Persian and French to the accompaniment of a ney player.Nahal Tajadod (centre) in full flight!A small section of the international audienceThe setting for the concert at the Batha Museum was perfect and thankfully the rain which had been threatening stayed away. The night temperature was perfect and the Director, Faouzi Skali must have been very happy with the composition of the audience who covered the spectrum of Fez society as well as international guests from America, France, Australia, New Zealand, So | | By: THE VIEW FROM FEZ | | |
| | Sufi Tafsir of the Mystical Letters of Quran | | 2008-03-31 18:04:00 | | كهيعصKaf. Ha. Ya. ‘Ayn. Sad.Total of 29 chapters of the Quran starts with mystical letters. As an exmaple, the 19th chapter of the Quran, Surah Maryam starts with these five mystical letters: Kaf, Ha, Ya 'Ayn and Sad. Following is a sufi tafsir or exegesis which came to sufi Abu 'Abd Allah through a vision with Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace. Abu 'Abd Allah was a famous disciple of the Qutb of his time, Imam Shadhili, may their secrets be sanctified.Its recorded that Abu 'Abd Allah commented on the mystery of the letters as:: "I saw in a vision as if I were among a group of learned men who were engaged in an exegesis of God's saying, Kaf. Ha. Ya. 'Ain. Sad (Quran 19:1). One of them said something, and I made a remark about it, but they did not give it to me, and I did not yield to them. We walked away until we came to the Apostle of God. After greetings, we sat down before him and informed him of the matter that had arisen between us.He said, "Let each one of you make his o | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Zen Sufi Koans of Mystical Truth | | 2008-03-27 15:14:02 | | 1.Proclaims the sufi paradox:"If you seek Him,you will never find Him.But if you do not seek Him,He will not reveal Himself to you."the hidden keyto unlock this riddle,is surrender ...2.God speaks:"Man is My Secret, andI AM his Secret."Hu al-Alim -He alone is The All-Knowing ...3.God is man.Man is no other than God.But man is not God.la ilaha illa'Llah ...4.Don't say: "everything is God",say: "God is everything". wheresoever you turn ...- MysticSaintLos Angeles, CA| Previous | . zen sufi koan. time, space and zen | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Interfaith Sufi celebration at Musallah Tauhid, Los Angeles with Shaykh Hisham Kabbani | | 2008-03-23 00:33:00 | | Those that remember Me in their heart, I remember them in My heart; and those that remember Me in a gathering, I remember them in a gathering better than theirs. - Hadith QudsiMusallah Tauhid invites all to join for an inaugural public event:One Light, Different WindowsAn interfaith gathering for Dhikr (Remembrance of the One)with Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani of the Naqshbandi-Haqqani Sufi Order of America+ special performances by Yuval Ron & Jamie Papish,the Haqqani Naqshbandi Ensembleand a Scene from the Great Leap! production of “Leaps of Faith”with Ameena Mirza, Daniela Licht, and Shyamala Moorty.Time: Sunday, 30 March | at 3:30 p.m.Its a free event, but donations to help cover costs appreciated.Location: 343 S. Church Lane, Los Angeles, CA 90049 (google map)Contact Waliya Inayat at 310-575-1972 / waliyainayat@yahoo.comAbout Musallah Tauhid : Musallah means a place where prayer is performed; Tauhid means Unity. The musallah is located in the fellowship hall of Village Lu | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Reversing Space | a sufi meditation exercise | | 2008-03-09 18:22:47 | | Sitting very still, with all attention focused in the center of the chest, and slowly surrendering and realizing that:instead of looking, you are being observed;instead of hearing, you are being heard;instead of touching, you are being touched;instead of tasting, you are food for Godand are being tasted.So make yourself good tasting.Finally allow yourself to be breathed.Abandon yourself completely in trust, and in the realization that you are powerless in the face of God, the First Cause.- a sufi exercise taught to the author Reshad Feild of The Last Barrier: A Journey into the Essence of Sufi Teachings by his sufi master, simply introduced as Hamid in the book. May God be pleased with them both.currently reading this great book where Reshad Feild recorded his enthralling journey of body and spirit as well as his story of all struggles toward the spiritual light with a sufi master. its such a good read! the best part is that the book i am holding in my hand is the lived experience of | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Muraqaba | sufi meditation beyond time and space | | 2008-03-09 03:04:37 | | In sufi tradition, Muraqaba (Gnosis of Self) is the name of that contemplation through which man is able to gain the knowledge which is the primordial knowledge of his Ego, Self, or Soul.It appears that the person performing Muraqaba is simply sitting in a pose with his or her eyes closed. However, merely shutting the eyes and assuming a specific pose does not serve the purpose. Muraqaba is in fact an angle of perception through which the person doing the Muraqaba frees himself or herself from outward senses and begins their journey in the inward senses.Now we are going to look into whether or not the Muraqaba-like conditions or states exist in us, without adopting the specific pose of Muraqaba.Freedom from outward senses happens in our daily life, both involuntarily and voluntarily. For example, we go to sleep and while sleeping our brain disconnects from outward senses. It is true that this disconnection is temporary however; this condition could not be termed as anything but disconn | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Sufi Dance workshop in Fez? | | 2008-03-06 19:00:00 | | Amel Tafsout is coming to Fez and interested in holding a Sufi Dance workshop in conjunction with The View from Fez. We need an expression of interest from anyone who might like to take part. We are looking at May/June and if you are interested email us with your contact details. Email: fes.riad@gmail.comAmel Tafsout, meaning 'Hope of Spring', is among the most charismatic and acclaimed International Choreographer, performer and master dance instructor of North African Maghreb Dance of our time. She has mesmerized audiences in the Middle East and North Africa as well as in Europe, theU.S.A and New Zealand with her expressive and stunning stage presence.With an M.A. degree in sociolinguistics (she speaks fluently 4 languages), and a research in dance anthropology Tafsout is always aware of the impact that culture has in art and how that can be expressed in the dance. She has been distinguished by the International Dance Council CID as one of the leading dance professionals from around t | | By: THE VIEW FROM FEZ | | |
| | sufi joke of Nasruddin | who is pious? | | 2008-03-03 13:27:00 | | who is pious? The Mullahs shouts: 'A pious man grows a beard!' and Nasruddin replies: 'Then my goat is the most pious of all'a sufi way of teaching | Once, Mulla Nasruddin went to a fair with his disciples, where people were shooting arrows. Mulla joined the sport and took the first shot, which fell short. The crowd started laughing and the Mulla said: ''This is what happens when you live with an inferiority complex. You cannot reach the target because your heart is not wholly in it.'' The next arrow surpassed the target but Mulla turned to say: ''This is what happens to a man who thinks very highly of himself. He runs so fast that he bypasses the goal.'' Now Mulla shot the third arrow, hitting the target accurately and he said: ''This is me!''if we leave God out of it | Our Mullah Nasruddin took all his savings and went to buy a shirt. All eyes and ears he entered a tailor's shop, was measured and told: "Will you be back in a week? God willing - your shirt will be finished." The week | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Sufi Shrines in America | | 2008-03-01 16:38:26 | | Shrines (also known as Dargah, Tomb, Mazar or Maqam) of highly evolved noble souls, spiritually enlightened ones and saints of God are place of Baraka or special spiritual blessings. They symbolize not only the memorializing of an insan kamil of past, but also become a sacred center of pious visitation or pilgrimage (ziyara). Such sacred space become, as reminds Osho the mystic: "... where the currents are flowing from the body towards the soul, where the whole atmosphere is charged; from where people have achieved samadhi (supra-conscious mystic state), from where people realized their enlightenment. Such places have become specially charged."Yousef W. Meri writes: "Historically, holy men and women - those revered for their exemplary piety or learning or both - have been memorialized in many forms throughout the Islamic world in North Africa and Andalusia to the sub-continent and Southeast Asia from the first century of Islam to today.Some examples of sacred centers of ziyara include | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | 1st Sufi Saint and Muslim Shrine of America | | 2008-03-01 03:48:13 | | "You must place your faith in the one indestructible, imperishable God. To do this, you must stop depending on the kings, forces, and armies within you. When you give up all this and stand defenseless and alone, saying, O God, it is all Your will! The sheikh (spiritual guide) will stand by your side. It is only when you surrender to God that the sheikh, who is the explaining wisdom of the Qutbiyyat (Divine Gnosis, Primordial Buddha nature) which guides you on the path of God, will come to stand by your side. 'Son' he will say, 'Now you are ready. Come, let us go'." - Bawa MuhaiyaddeenSome 40 miles from Philadelphia, among the rolling hills and tall trees of Chester County, is a Mazar (a shrine), the resting place of Muhammad Raheem Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, the Sufi saint and founder of the Bawa Muhaiyaddeen Fellowship, who left his physical body in 1986.This video is a 2 part series for Voice of America explores this Muslim shrine, the first in the United States. Since its dedication it has | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Sufi in the Greenhouse | | 2008-02-08 13:02:58 | | Last week (before I was trapped for an entire day in the Toronto airport - with the Spice Girls - while flying home from Edmonton) I shared a story related by John McKnight with a moral that posits ultimate wisdom is found in the local community rather than from an expert. This ... | | By: The Over-Educated Youth Pastor | | |
| | Fez Festival of Sufi Culture - 2008. | | 2008-02-07 17:24:00 | | The Fez Festival of Sufi Culture is coming back again this year. Although the sceptics doubted that it would survive, we are very pleased to announce that it will take place in Fez from the 17th to the 24th of April 2008, under the title “Orient Occident”. There are also training courses in Moroccan Sacred Music between the 17th of April and June 14thOnce again under the command of Faouzi Skali, the projected program is looking good!Jeudi 17 avril9h Accueil des participants10h Présentation, à la bibliothèque de la Qaraouiine, des principaux manuscrits sur le Soufisme à travers l’histoire des 12 derniers siècles du Maroc.16h Faouzi Skali : Conférence introductive« Soufisme et développement de civilisation : 1200 ans de quêtes spirituelles à travers l’histoire du Maroc » (Medersa Bouanania)21h Soirée d’ouverture (Musée Batha)Nahal Tajadod et Jean Claude Carrière (Iran/France)« Sur les pas de Rûmi »Vendredi 18 avril10h Conférence (Medersa Bouanania)Mustafa | | By: THE VIEW FROM FEZ | | |
| | Sufi Enneagram | Esoteric Psychology | | 2008-02-01 21:25:54 | | 'We shall show them Our Signs,upon the horizons and within themselves ...until it is clear to themthat it is the Real (the Truth) ...'- The Quran 41:53Sufi Enneagram is a sacred tool used for self-discovery and probing deep into esoteric psychology. Some scholars call it the Signs of the Presence of God.'... Everything in nature but the human 'self' perfects its own nature, to the extent that life allows, by unconsciously submitting to the Will of God... the area with which we are concerned is the completion of nature in its mode of operation...God breathed His Spirit into human forms so that they gained the powers of consciousness of 'self', which includes consciously following one's conscience and free will. The completion of the perfection of nature becomes a question of choice - to do or not to do...' - God's Will be Done, Dr. Laleh BakhtiarThe origins of the Enneagram symbol are traced from within the Sufi Tradition of Central Asia. The Islamic Sufi tradition incorporated wisdom f | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Healing with Divine Love | workshop of sufi healing | | 2008-01-30 01:24:04 | | Does Fear Anxiety, or Worry affect your life? For many people, it causes a level of distress that keeps them from feeling relaxed and having the peace and safety that allows them to enjoy their lives and relationships and achieve their dreams. If you have felt this way, know that relief and healing are possible and this workshop might be for you.This sufi healing workshop is designed to help:* Learn about causes of fear, anxiety, and worry* Assess and evaluate unique situation and level of discomfort* Using ancient sufi healing tools, one will learn to:- Open and deepen heart to Divine Love to receive healing- Release the causes and Remove the veils of separations between one and God- Begin to taste the safety, calmness, peace, and security, and well-being that is waiting to be uncovered in the heartHealing Fear, Anxiety, and Worry Through Divine LoveSaturday, Feb 2nd, 2008 | 10 am - 5 pmMt. Washington, Los Angeles, CATo Register: Call Barbara "A'amina" Arnoth at 323-223-8993 or email: | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Lesson from a Sufi | | 2008-01-29 09:09:38 | | On January 10, 2006 I joined staff members of World Vision at the home of John McKnight in Chicago for a consultation with this international expert. John is a community development guru and one of the founders of asset-based community development. We sat in his home for an amazing... | | By: The Over-Educated Youth Pastor | | |
| | Being Muslim in America | Sufi Radio program today | | 2008-01-07 09:58:22 | | On the bi-weekly unique radio program, Sufism: The Heart of Islam host Wendy McLaughlin talk to Sufis from all walks of life in order to find out what it means to be a practicing Sufi in America.In today's (Monday, January 7th at 5:30pm PST) broadcast of Sufism: The Heart of Islam, the program will be discussing the enthusiasm and optimism about being Muslims in America. In the first half hour of the show the host will be joined by Kelly Wentworth and Melissa Robinson, co-founders of the American Islamic Fellowship in Atlanta. Both converts to Islam in their early 20's, these two women are vocal advocates for a practice of Islam that weds a very American style of tolerance with principles of the shari'ah.In the second half of the show, the guest will be Melody Moezzi, author of a new book called, War on Error - Stories of American Muslims, which portrays the everyday lives of a dozen young Muslims living in the United States.In Wendy's own word, "We hear so much about the difficulties of being Muslim in America these days but what these women (and I) all heartily agree upon is that being both Muslim and American holds unparalleled opportunities not only for us, but for our nation and even for the practice of Islam. In this show I hope to convey that contrary to what it might seem like, the United States is the best place in the world to practice Islam. I hope you can join us."And, January 21st, the program's guest will be Coleman Barks, renowned interpreter of Jalaluddin Rumi's poetry.[>] To tune in from anywhere in the world, please go to www.kwmr.org and click on the ON AIR sign under the cow (direct streaming link). The show airs live, so if you're listening from another time zone, please make sure to adjust accordingly.. About the Program: Wendy McLaughlin has been hosting the bi-weekly show, Sufism: The Heart of Islam, on KWMR: West Martin Community Radio, since September 2005. KMWR - can be heard on the radio in parts of the San Francisco | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Diary from Hajj Retreat | how does it feels to step into a sufi spiritual group? | | 2008-01-04 01:18:33 | | . the pilgrimage .Following some interesting "synchronicities" (on 18 dec 2007) when i finally found myself sitting at the car heading for the hajj retreat at Shadhiliyya Sufi Center in the heart of Napa Valley and spiraling our way to the hill top (where the sufi center is), everything including the narrow paths on the valley, the nature and the land was pregnant with symbolism of a pilgrimage. Interestingly it was the Hajj Retreat coinciding with Eid and Hajj is the sacred pilgrimage.The sister with me, who has been to the firm before already declared her feelings while we were entering the Napa Valley. "It feels coming back to home"; she was feeling her homecoming as she has also been attracted to be in the presence of the teacher. And when we reached Shadhiliyya land at the evening twilight, we saw our beloved teacher sitting there in his familiar appearance. It was such a blessing to see him again, to be near him.. meeting pure hearts .When i first saw the people from Shadhiliyya group at Del Mar, San Diego i was amazed and touched by the sheer purity of the hearts. Almost all of them are born americans and their sincere quest for truth led them to the path which is truly amazing to observe. The reason i particularly make note of born american is because its not easy to transcend the barriers, stereotypes, social and set religious-cultural barriers. This alone speak a lot about their level of sincerity as a seeker which touch me always. Shadhiliyya is not a easy going, new age kind of path. It is very much rooted to islamic tradition and sharia (islamic sacred laws) which makes coming and being in the path more special and challenging for people who are from different faith and cultural background. Their sincere diligence when it comes to learning arabic, saying prayer on appointed times, doing zikr and salawat are something which would even make our beloved Prophet so joyous. All praise belongs to the One Who pulls with the call of love towards Him.Being someo | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Why the dog could not drink | a sufi story | | 2007-12-30 02:45:22 | | 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 | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | A sufi and a dog story | | 2007-12-23 17:50:00 | | Photo source: Don't go-Stay there by Arun Kumar Sinha"Bayazid Bistami"Bayazid encountered a dog and started to pull his robe away from it, so that it should not defile him.The dog in a human voice, said :'If I had been dry, there would have been no purpose in avoiding me. If I had been wet, you could have washed your robe. But the hate which you have towards me can never be cleansed.'Bayazid said :'O enlightened dog, come and stay with me for a while.'The dog answered :'That is impossible, because the world uses me as an epithet, and you are regarded by the world as a paragon.'Bayazid exclaimed :'Alas! I am not fit to live with one whom the whole world regards as inferior: how can I therefore approach the Truth which all regard as the Highest of all?' ~ + ~Upon being asked: 'What is being a sufi?' Bayazid said :'Giving up comforts and trying to carry out efforts. That is the practice of the Sufi.' ~+~Text Source of this Post:THE WAY OF THE SUFI by Idries Shah , Arakana Penguin Books | | By: Sufism - Mysticism | | |
| | Quick Reminder about Sufi Radio show today | | 2007-12-10 20:40:53 | | Today is the broadcast of Sufism: The Heart of Islam radio program with special interview about Hajj experiences, stories and reminiscences.Don't forget @ PST 5:30 pm to tune in to KMWR at 90.5 or 89.3 FM. if you are happen to be near San Franciso Bay Area . Otherwise anywhere from the world you can listen online on KWMR Radio site.. compare your time with Pacific Standard Time via The World Clock Time Zones.[>] here are the direct links for internet streaming ...1. for hi speed internet > click here to listen online2. for low speed internet > click here to listen.in both cases wait for sometime for the audio to buffer and load.. read details about todays program here. | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Sufi Radio | Hajj stories and reminiscences | | 2007-12-07 16:53:52 | | On the bi-weekly unique radio program, Sufism: The Heart of Islam host Wendy McLaughlin talk to Sufis from all walks of life in order to find out what it means to be a practicing Sufi in America. She interviews all across from sufi teachers to lay practitioners to authors; as she says, in order to give her listeners “a more complete view of Islam than is shown in the conventional media.”In spirit of annual holy pilgrimage, Hajj season, on this week's show (Monday, December 10) Wendy will host a trio of interviews from people who have completed the Hajj. It will include fascinating stories and reminiscences of the Hajj by Shaykh Nooruddeen Durkee, who took more than half a month to go by Ship from Detroit to Jeddah so he could be in retreat for that time before his first Hajj; he describes being on Hajj in the early 70's as one part spiritual homecoming, one part feeling like he was caught in a Mad Max movie.Hajjah Noura Durkee tells of the thrill of accompanying her frien | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Sufi Shaykh Sidi (ar-Rifai ash-Shadhuli)'s visit to San Diego, California | | 2007-11-28 11:07:13 | | Sufi Master Sidi Muhammad, the head of the Shadhuliyya sufi order - God willing, will be visiting, giving teachings and leading sufi retreat (khalwa) in Southern California from Friday, November 30th to Monday, December 3rd 2007.Shaykh Muhammad Said al-Jamal ar-Rifa'i ash-Shadhuli, affectionately called Sidi by his seven million students world-wide, is a prominent spiritual leader from Jerusalem. The blessed gathering circling around the presence of the sufi master will be held in beautiful Del Mar, CA, a short drive north of San Diego.Come immerse yourself in the Ocean of Love & Mercy!bismi‘llah ir-rahman ir-rahimIn the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the CompassionateI am like the sea;many ships sail across the sea,but who knows the depth of the sea?When I move through the streets,I watch the sons of truth pass me by;I do not say anything, but I open my heart,and they enter.What brings seven million students world-wide to seek the sacred teachings of peace, love, mercy, justice, | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | sufi haqqu | journeying towards perfection | | 2007-11-19 15:36:25 | | who is perfect?none butGod aloneis Perfection.we all are from Himand to Him is the journeying,turning and evolvinginto perfection.be warned!seeking heavenis seeking creation.cease!. seek Him alone .that my friendis the real goal;the blessedendeavoring of all soul.(c) MysticSaint / image | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Sufi Murshid Samuel L. Lewis | | 2007-11-15 10:44:28 | | Walter H. Bowart writes, "I had heard of the Sufi Samuel L. Lewis a long while before I met him. He had been described to me by a not-so-reliable source as an old man who went after young chicks, and "got them all hooked on dervish dancing." I'd not passed judgment based on a rumor, but wondered how a man in America who called himself a Sufi, could actually be one. It would be like a man calling himself "pure"; a pure man probably would not do such a thing.More than a year later I met two disciples of "Sufi Sam"-otherwise known as Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti in Sufi circles of Pakistan, India, and Egypt, or as He Kwang in the circles of Zen Roshis. I was greatly impressed by their bearing and thus was led to a meeting with the man himself.The first thing that struck me about Samuel L. Lewis (called Murshid, or teacher, by his disciples) was his deep humanness. He had a gruff manner behind which shone a mischievous smile and quick wit. For all practical purposes, this was a man of the worl | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Sufi Reflection Podcast | episode 21 | | 2007-11-15 10:34:49 | | Hosted by Anab Whitehouse, Sufi Reflection Podcast has its latest edition up.[>] Click here to listen / download.credit: Sufi Amanesis | The Sufi Path is a process of amanesis (remembrance, realization). In pre-eternity, God asked the spirits: Alastu bi Rabikum (Am I not your Lord)? When we come into this material existence, we forget about pre-eternity and the task of life is to remember our way back to the truth concerning the nature of our essential relationship with God. This process of remembering or recollecting is known as amanesis. | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Discourse of Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, the Sufi Master | | 2007-11-12 06:04:29 | | “The things that change are not our real life. Within us there is another body, another beauty. It belongs to that Ray of Light which never changes.We must discover how to mingle with it and become one with that unchanging thing. We must realize and understand this treasure of truth. That is why we have come to the world." ~ M. R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen from his book Questions of Life, Answers of Wisdom Vol. 1the above quote reminded me Jesus Christ's saying from the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas where he utter from his blessed lips: "Anyone here with ears had better listen! There is light within a person of light, and it shines on the whole world. If it does not shine, his whole world is dark ... If they say to you, 'Where have you come from?' say to them, 'We have come from the Light, from the place where the Light came into being by Itself, established Itself, and appeared in their image.'. Video Discourses of BawaMuhammad Raheem Bawa Muhaiyaddeen was a revered Sufi mystic and saint fr | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | The Sufi's Religion | Inayat Khan | | 2007-10-24 17:57:33 | | Religion in the ordinary sense of the word, as known by the world, is the creeds. There are not many religions in the world, but there are many creeds. And what does creed mean? Creed means a cover over the religion. There is one religion and there are many covers. Each of these covers is called 'Christianity,' 'Buddhism,' 'Judaism / Hebrew Religion,' 'Islam / Muslim Religion,' etc., and when you take off these covers, you will find that there is one religion, and it is that religion which is the religion of the Sufi (or you can keep it nameless if you dare or if you can comprehend what is nameless). And at the same time a Sufi does not condemn a church or creed or a certain form of worship. He says it is the world of variety.Everyone must have his choice of food, his choice of dress, his choice of expression. Why must the followers of one faith think that the others are heathens or pagans? The Sufi thinks that we all follow one religion, only in different names and different forms; but behind names and forms there is one and the same spirit and there is one and the same truth.And now coming to the idea of what religion consists of. The first thing in the religion is the idea of God. What is God? Some say that 'my idea of God is that He is in the highest Heaven, that He is the Creator, that He is the Judge of the Last Day, that He is the Forgiver.' And there is another one who says: 'My idea is that God is all, God is abstract, all is God, and if anyone believes in a personal God, I do not believe it.' Both are right and yet both are wrong. They are right if they see the other point of view and they are wrong if they see their own point of view. Both see the God-ideal with one eye. One sees it with the right eye and the other with the left eye. If they see with both eyes, then the vision is complete.It is indeed an error on the part of man to limit God in the idea of a Personal Being, and it is wrong in the person who believes in the Absolute God, to efface the Being of god from his conception of it. As they say: 'To explain God is to dethrone God.' To say that God is abstract is like saying: 'God is the space, God is the time.' Can you love the space? Can you love time? There is nothing there to love. A beautiful flower would attract you more than the space. And nice music will attract you more than time. Therefore the believer in the abstract God has only his belief, but he is not benefited by it. He may just as well believe in no God as in an abstract God. Yet he is not wrong. He is uselessly right.The most advisable thing for the believer of God is to first make his own conception of God. Naturally man cannot make a conception which he does not know, of something he does not know. For instance, if I told you to imagine a bird that you have never seen, which is unlike any bird you have ever seen, you will first attach the bird to wings, then you will see the head of the cow, and then perhaps you will imagine the feet of the horse, the peacock's tail. But you cannot imagine any form which you have not seen, which you have not known. You have to embody from your mind a form which you already know. You cannot make a conception which you have never seen or known before. Besides, it is the easiest thing and it is the most natural thing for man to conceive of any being in his own form. When man thinks of fairies or angels he sees them in human form, and therefore it a person conceives of the God-ideal, even the highest and best way of conceiving will be in the highest and best human personality. There is nothing wrong about it. That is all that man can do.God is greater than man's conception, but man cannot conceive Him higher than he can. Therefore any man's God is in his own conception. It is useless, therefore, to argue and to discuss and to urge one's own conception upon another. For the best way a person can think of God is in the way he is capable of thinking of God.And then the next aspect of religion is the ideal of the Teacher. One says that: 'My Teacher is the Savior of the world, the Savior of humanity. My Teacher is Divine, My teacher is God Himself.' And there is another who is ready to oppose it, saying that it is not true, no man can be called divine and now one can save the world, each one has to save himself. But if you look at it from the Sufi's point of view, the Sufi says: What does it matter if a man sees in someone he adores and worships and idealizes, God himself? After all, this whole manifestation is God's manifestation. If he says that in that particular Teacher he sees the Divine, there is nothing wrong about it. Let him call his Teacher Divinity. I am sorry for the one who does not call his Teacher the Savior.' Besides that, we each have an effect of our deeds on the whole cosmos and if a high soul was called by someone' the Savior of the World,' it is not an exaggeration. One wicked soul can cause such harm to the whole cosmos, and one holy soul by his life on earth can do so much good, directly and indirectly, to each being in the world, because each soul is connected with the whole cosmos. But for the Sufi there is no dispute about it.If a Buddhist says: 'Buddha is my Savior, if a Christian says 'Christ is divine,' if a Muslim says ' Muhammad was the seal of the Prophets,' if a Hindu says ' Krishna was the expression of God,' the Sufi says: 'You are all justified; you each have your name, individually or collectively. You are calling my Ideal. All these names are the name of my Ideal. You each have your own ideals. I have all these names as the name of my Ideal. I call my Beloved: Krishna, Buddha, Christ, Muhammad. Therefore all your ideals I love, because my ideal is one and the same.'And now comes the third idea in religion, and that is the idea of the form of worship. Perhaps in one religion there are candles lighted and there is a form of worship. And there is another religion, even a song is not allowed to be sung in the church. In another religion they call out the name of God and pray to the Lord with movements. In another religion they have put a statue of Buddha on the altar as the sign of peace. These are different expressions of devotion. Just as in the Western countries by nodding and in the Eastern countries by raising their hands, they salute one another. It is the same feeling, but the action is different. What does it matter if one greets in this way or in that way, is it not all a greeting? The Sufi says, so long as there is real devotion, it does not matter in what way it is expressed. For Him it is the same.. from Religious Gatheka #66, by Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882 - 1927), may God bless his noble soul. // text credit via wahiduddin.netAl-Haqqu min Rabbika; fala takoonanna mina almumtareena.The Truth is from thy Lord; so be not of the doubters.- The Quran 2:147 # Resources and Reading. The Sufi Message of Hazrat Inayat Khan. Hazrat Inayat Khan. The Spiritual Message of Inayat Khan | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Paulo Coelho -Un Tradicional Cuento Sufi- | | 2007-10-23 07:22:00 | | Otra Excelente historia de el escritor brasileño Paulo Coelho, publicada en la revista "Todo en Domingo" en Marzo de 2001.Hace muchos años, en una pobre aldea china, vivía un labrador con su hijo. Su único bien material, aparte de la tierra y de la pequeña casa de paja, era un caballo que había heredado de su padre. Un buen día el caballo se escapó, dejando al hombre sin animal para labrar la tierra. Sus vecinos, que lo respetaban mucho por su honestidad y diligencia, acudieron a su casa para decirle lo mucho que lamentaban lo ocurrido. El les agradeció la visita, pero preguntó: -¿Cómo podéis saber que lo que ocurrió ha sido una desgracia en mi vida? Alguien comentó en voz baja con un amigo: "El no quiere aceptar la realidad, dejemos que piense lo que quiera, con tal de que no se entristezca por lo ocurrido". Y los vecinos se marcharon, fingiendo estar de acuerdo con lo que habían escuchado. Una semana después, el caballo retornó al establo, pero no venía solo: traía una hermosa yegua como compañía. Al saber eso, los habitantes de la aldea, alborozados porque só | | By: Sancocho de Letras | | |
| | We called on You only out of love for You | Sufi Story | | 2007-10-21 03:12:21 | | The Master told this story: "It has been reported in the tradition of the Prophet that there is a group of people who will be dragged into heaven in chains!"... then the Masters eyes began to fill with tears. He related, One of the interpretations about the identify of this group are those who tomorrow on the Day of resurrection testify, 'We have believed; we have been sincere.'They are a group of the lovers of God whom He has directed to enter Paradise. Yet they protest: 'We did not beseech You for the sake of Heaven or for fear of Hell. We called on You only out of love for You." The Command resounds, "So you did, but the promise of seeing Me and being united with Me is fulfilled in Heaven. Enter there that you may obtain what you were promised.'Still, they do not budge. Then the nearby angels are commanded to bind their necks with chains of light and drag them into heaven! Praise be to God, the Lord of the universe!"- adopted from Nizam ad-Din Awliya - Morals for the Heart | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Tamarkoz | sufi meditation beyond concentration | | 2007-10-03 08:17:38 | | Last weekend i had the blessed opportunity to participate in the Tamarkoz meditation class organized by UCLA (university of california, los angeles) MTO sufi association. The class was instructed by experienced Tamarkoz practitioner and instructors. The experience was really energyzing and rejuvenating. Following the meditations there was zikr session and breaking of fast as well. As i observed it, Tamarkoz feels like it has incorporated fusion elements from ancient yoga of indian tradition and chinese tai-chi such as harmonious body movement and postures. :: What is TamarkozTamarkoz is a Persian term that means concentration, referring to the concentration of abilities. Consequently, the term concentration is synonymous with close attention, convergence, gathering, condensing, and consolidation. Moreover, Tamarkoz is the 1,400 year-old Sufi practice of concentration and meditation, allowing the seeker to connect with the reality within.Tamarkoz facilitates the journey of self knowledge, as it enables the individual to connect to one's inner source of energy by accessing the energy centers of the body. It guides the student through harmony and submission in order to achieve unity.Unlike simple concentration methods taught in classes bearing the title “meditation,” Tamarkoz goes beyond concentration, which is limited to the mind, and moves to the heart - enabling deeper meditation. The practice is built on a series of 5 different exercise groups which use posture, breathing, movement, relaxation, visualization, and energy work. The exercises include: Mental RelaxationMovazeneh – Energizing Physical Movements, Breathing Exercises – using rhythm, duration and depth, Deep Relaxation and Visualization – Achieving Total Relaxation Tamarkoz - Exploring the function of the body's energy centers:: Electromagnetic Centers of Energy The human body has a built-in electromagnetic system consisting of 13 main centers. The inherent functions of these centers are vital to the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of the human being. The most important of these centers resides in the heart. According to the teachings of Professor Sadegh Angha, the 41st master of the MTO Shahmaghsoudi School of Islamic Sufism, the Source of Life in the heart is the primary energy source of the body."In Tamarkoz, the magnetic centers are in a progressive process of activating, balancing, and unifying our energy fields. Through awareness of these centers we are guided toward fulfilling our inherent potentials. With Tamarkoz, the energies are aligned, balanced, and unified so that the mind, heart, and magnetic fields all work together." - From Hidden Angles of Life By Professor Sadegh Angha Pir Oveyssi.For Techniques, Benefits and Relazation exercises read more here:: Refences:. Tamarkoz. Learn More about Tamarkoz classes and events. Maktab Tarighat Oveyssi Shahmaghsoudi (MTO) Sufi AssociationTrue Meditation is achieved only through the heart. - Nader Angha, 'Pir Oveyssi' - | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Faqr: The Sufi Path | | 2007-10-01 06:13:00 | | Photo Source: flickr (Originally uploaded by helpcraft)What is being a dervish (darvishi or faqr or spiritual poverty, namely the Sufi path)?"It is an ocean that derives from three springs: the first, abstenance; the second, generosity; and the third, being independent of people."- Abu al-Hasan KharaqaniSource:(From Nur al-'ulum, ed. by 'Abd al-Rafi' Haqiqat.)Also thanks to http://www.uga.edu/islam/sufismearly.html for the text. | | By: Sufism - Mysticism | | |
| | What is Fana? What is Baqa? | Sufi Wisdom | | 2007-09-19 16:30:29 | | Remembrance of the saints causes God’s mercy to descend.:: The Funeral of Khwaja BaqibillahOne of the mureeds (disciples) of Khwaja Baqibillah, may God sanctify his secrets, asked him the meanings of the Sufi terms ‘fana’ [annihilation in God] and ‘baqa’ [Everlasting subsistence in God]. The Shaykh said, "When I die, ask this question to the person who reads my funeral prayer." The Shaykh had left a condition that only a person who has never missed a single tahajjud prayer (a superogatory prayer in the middle of the night in addition to the five canonical prayers a Muslim must perform in a day) in his life should read my funeral prayer (namaz-e-janazah) and when this condition was read out during his funeral everyone present lowered their heads and no one dared to come forward to read his namaz-e-janazah.Finally a man, his face veiled, came forward and read the funeral prayer. After the prayer as the veiled man walked off the mureed remembered his Shaykh's answer and ran to t | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Gifts - A Sufi Perspective | Anab Whitehouse | | 2007-08-27 06:28:12 | | Mysticism concerning the issue of spiritual gifts | loans from GodA person who truly is in love does not spend time wondering what gifts the beloved will bring. All thoughts and anticipations concern only the presence of the beloved. To long for anything other than the beloved, is to bring into question the sincerity of one's love.Spiritual gifts from God to the Sufs are in the form of various extraordinary powers. For example, among these powers are: healing; seeing the future; witnessing events hundreds and thousands of miles away; reading the Tablet of Fate, as well as writing new entries into that Tablet; breaking the norms or laws which usually govern nature; and telepathic communication (both sending and receiving).There are certain people who hear about these sort of powers, and they begin to drool with desire to possess such abilities. They want to know where they can sign up. What these people do not understand is the Sufi path, ultimately, is no more about powers than it is | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | A Moroccan Sufi Brotherhood in Fez | | 2007-08-24 15:24:00 | | Along with the Gnawa and the Aïssawa, the Hamadcha are one of the three most important so-called ‘popular’ Sufi brotherhoods in Morocco. The Hamadcha brotherhood was founded by Saint Sidi Ali Ben Hamdouch in the seventeenth century, and has become famous through the originality of its repertoire, its spellbinding dances, and the trance-therapy skills of its members.We have recently had a flurry of emails asking about the on-line presence of the Hamadcha and although we have published it before, here is a reminder.The link THE HAMADCHA SUFIS - will take you to the site authored by Frédéric Calmès, a musician specializing in Arabic music as well as a student and a researcher in anthropology at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in Paris. He has lived in Fez for about six years and studied with the Hamadcha Sufi brotherhood led by the moqaddem (leader) Abderrahim Amrani Marrakchi. Frédéric Calmès (photo Sandy McCutcheon)A video of the Ha | | By: THE VIEW FROM FEZ | | |
| | Secret of True Dreams | The Taste of Hidden Things: Images on the Sufi Path | | 2007-08-22 06:55:15 | | A God who cannot be imagined does manifest Himself in visible symbols, and the visible symbols are real manifestations of God, and to grasp them one must have imagination.- Thomas MertonDreams, Sufis say, speaking of "true dreams" (ar-ru'yâ as-sâliha), are symbolic messages which arise from the knowledge hidden in the center of being. In the wilderness of unknowing through which the seeker travels, these encoded messages give a forecast and a foretaste of things to come. They are often the only indication which points in the direction the seeker needs to proceed. Not all dreams are "true dreams"; most dreams are spun, Sufis say, by the needs of the lower self, or by the mind churning the events of the day. Such dreams are usually confused and fragmented, and are characteristically called "dreams in confusion" (adghâth al-ahlâm).But occasionally there appears a dream, or a series of dreams, which bears the hallmark of a true knowledge, a knowledge which, though concealed from mind | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa, the Sufi and Islamic Mysticism | | 2007-08-16 08:13:58 | | It was in the course of his practice of Islam that the 19th Century contemplative Ramakrishna Paramahansa (1836-1886) had one of his remarkable visions: “I was meditating under the banyan tree when I was shown a Mussalman (a Muslim). He came to me with rice in an earthen plate. The Mother (Kali) showed me that there exists only One and not two. It is Satchidananda (Truth - Knowledge - Bliss - Absolute, Brahman) alone that has taken various forms; He alone has become the world and its living beings.”Ramakrishna was initiative into Islamic practice by a devout Sufi Govinda Rai. He repeated the holy name of Allah and recited the namaz (the formal prayer of Islam); the Hindu mode of though vanished from his mind during this period, which culminated in his vision. As his disciple Mahendra observed: “The mighty river of Islam also led him back to the Ocean of the Absolute.”Ramakrishna’s life is unique in the annals of religious experience. Although born to an orthodox Hindu Brahmin | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Sufi Graciousness: Sincerity & Love | | 2007-08-04 19:17:00 | | Moulana Rumi's Ruba'i:The sufi opens his hands to the universeand gives away each instant, free.Unlike someone who begs on the street for money to survive,a dervish begs to give you his life.http://www.rumi.org.uk/rubaiyat.htm | | By: Sufism - Mysticism | | |
| | illuminated souls | sufi masters of indian subcontinent in the 19th century | | 2007-08-04 14:11:57 | | In the 19th century many great Sufi masters have enriched the Indian Subcontinent. This article gives a brief glimpse of the 3 such venerable masters. (i) Shirdi Sai Baba of Shirdi (ii) Syed Mohammad Tajuddin Aulia of Nagpur and (iii) Hazrati Babajan of Pune.While it is impossible for a layman to describe a perfect saint, the author seeking aid of Almighty Allah to do justice to the task.. Shirdi Sai Baba (? - 1918)Shirdi Sai Baba was a Unique Sufi Saint who lived in the Indian state of Maharashtra. He is also known as an Aulia to some, Qutub-e-Irshad and Ghous to others during his physical lifetime.Even today he has about 150 million Hindu followers who consider him a great saint and some even as manifestation of God. Many muslims also go to his Dargah to pay respect to the Master. A PhD thesis is reportedly has been written at University of Toronto detailing his life.He was Master who was always God Intoxicated 24X7. He constantly uttered “ALLAH MALIK” (literally meaning, God i | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Meaning of Tasawouf | Sufism and making of Sufi | | 2007-07-30 19:39:45 | | It is narrated by Amir al-Moumenin (Leader of the faithful ones) Ali (as well as Imam Sadiq, his grandson), who said that "Tasawouf is an acronym of four letters". Tasawouf is the original arabic term to mean Sufism, although this translation is a misnomer, containing an -ism which doesn't do justice to this inner dimension of spirituality that transcend any ism or boundary or dogma.Tasawouf is a four letter word: TSVF and each letter holds a secret representing one stage or quality of a Sufi. Together the word TSVF makes the twelve principles; one who perfect these principles is a Sufi.T, the first letter stands for three practices of Tark or Abandonment; Tubeh or Repentance and Tugha or Virtue.S, the second letter of the word, stands for another three qualities to be perfected by a salek (a traveler on the spiritual journey); Sabr or Patience; Sedgh or Truthfulness and Honesty and Safa or Purity.V, the third letter stands for Vud or Love; Verd or Wird meaning Remembrance; and Vafaa | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Death and the Dervish | tale from a Bosnian Sufi | | 2007-07-14 08:13:00 | | Bismilâhir-Rahmanir-Rahim!I call to witness the ink,the quill, and the script,which flows from the quillI call to witness the faltering shadows of the sinking evening,the night and all she enlivens;I call to witness the moon when she waxes, and the sunrisewhen it dawnsI call to witness the Resurrection day and the soulthat accuses itself;I call to witness time, the beginning and endof all things - to witness that every man always suffers loss.I BEGIN MY STORY FOR NOTHING, WITHOUT BENEFIT FOR myself or anyone else, from a need stronger than benefit or reason. I must leave a record of myself, the chronicled anguish of my inner conversations, in the vague hope that a solution will be found when all accounts have been settled (if they may ever be), when I have left my trail of ink on this paper, which lies in front of me like a challenge. I do not yet know what will be written here. But in the strokes of these letters at least some of what was in me will remain, no longer to perish in edd | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | On Remembrance of the Divine | Sufi Wisdom | | 2007-07-11 11:44:00 | | . If the name of the Divine is uttered even once with the tongue, it is the remembrance of the tongue; if the Divine is remembered once with the heart, then that is equal to thirty five million utterances (dhikr, remembrance) of the tongue. Such is the dhikr of the heart. There are 35 million blood vessels in the body, and all are connected to the heart. If the Divine’s name is uttered even once (with the heart) then all the vessels utter it too.. In a river, a boat travels on the water and the greater the amount of water, the more at ease the boat will be. However if that very water enters the boat, it will capsize. The heart is as the boat and the sorrows and heartaches of the world are the water; everyone’s boat has sunk except that of the people of God - those who keep the remembrance - which always stays afloat.. God the Most High has created the heart for His remembrance, and has not created it for worries.. The body has been given to use, and not to nourish and make fat: You | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | The Whirling Wind of God | Sufi Sema | | 2007-06-30 09:48:00 | | Dervishes and Sufi singers have long been revered in the West, even as their practices have come under threat across the Islamic world. Peter Culshaw reports on a series of revelatory encounters with different mystics / published in 2005 / guardian unlimited It had taken me a week to track down the underground dervish scene in Istanbul - the only dervish contact I had in the city was a carpet-seller called Abdullah deep in the bazaar. As with all quests, the difficulty only added to the sense of occasion when I did manage to locate them. Finally I found myself at a zikr (a remembrance) among 80 or so dervishes in a hidden tekke (religious house), and they began to chant, rhythmically, the name of Allah. It was one of the most powerful sounds I have ever heard. In addition to a weaving violin and a zither that sends chills down your spine, there is a solo voice - similar to the muezzin's call from the minarets - that is full of heartbreaking longing. This is serious blues music, I tho | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Important Sufi meeting in Fez | | 2007-06-24 01:39:00 | | From June 27 - 30 the Moroccan ministry of Habous (endowments) and Islamic Affairs will organize, a meeting in Fez of the followers of the Tijania Sufi Brotherhood.The event, to take place in the mausoleum of its founder Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Attijani, will bring together Sufi scholars and disciples of the Tijania Order from some forty countries.A variety of themes will be tackled during this event including: "the personality of Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Attijani", "the Tijania Order, Characteristics and specificities", "the Socio-economic Role of the Tijania Order in Africa", "the Role of the Tijania Order in Promoting Relations Between Morocco and Sub-Saharian countries" and "the Tijania Order and its Role in Disseminating the Culture of Peace". The Tijania Sufi Order, called after the name of its founder Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Attijani, is one of the most radiant pathways. It flourished throughout Morocco late 18th century. During the nineteenth century, the Tijania way spread throughout Africa a | | By: THE VIEW FROM FEZ | | |
| | Sufi Story | from the life of Hafiz of Shiraz | | 2007-06-13 19:12:00 | | Earlier in his life, Hafiz was a drunkard having little to do with religion. One day, he was staggering across the street, he saw a piece of paper in the gutter among the filth. Curious, he picked it up. The name of God was written on on it."Woe that I should see Your name fallen into such places!" Hafiz cried, brushed it off, and handled the paper with reverence. That night he had a dream.In the dream, a voice told him: "Hafiz, you have raised my name from where it was, and I shall elevate your name among human beings." This is how Hafiz began his career as a sufi (mystic) saint and still today he is one of the greatest poet of all time.- Quoted from the book, The Black Pearl by Henry Bayman.This story touches upon the sufi concept of courtesy or adab. Courtesy contains: harmony/ gentleness (hilm), reverence (burmah), purity (safiyah), tranquility (sukuun), sincerity (ikhlas), modesty (tawazu), solitude (halwat) and spiritual poverty (faqr). Sometime courtesy in the path is also refe | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Sufi Song | Abida Parveen sings Bulleh Shah | | 2007-06-07 13:08:00 | | Abida's singing of Sade Vere Aay Kare, adopted from the lyrics of legendary sufi poet Bulleh Shah, is one of my most favorite sufi song.Caution: prepare for an emotional roller-coaster ride o wanderers in the path! >> Watch the song via youtube HERE, which comes with english translation inside the video. grateful to RazaRumi for giving a better version of the song's rendition.~O beloved one:If God were to be found by bathing and washing,then God would be found by fish and frogs.If God were to be found by roaming in jungle,then God would be found by cows and buffaloes.O Mian BullehGod is found by hearts righteous and pure.You have read a thousand booksbut have you read your 'self'?You rush to mosques and templesin indecent haste,have you tried to enter your 'self'?You are enagged inneedless battle with Shaitanhave you ever fought with your 'nafs'?You have reached the skyBut have failed to reachwhat's in your heart!Come to my abode, My friendmorning, noon and night!Destroy the m | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Love me | Sufi Haqqu | | 2007-06-01 09:52:00 | | i wanted to say 'i love You',but instead i choseto say'love me'it's i who is the fakirin need of Your love,while You aloneis the Real Sultan.(c) MysticSaint / May 2007 / SingaporeGraphics Collage: Sadiq M. Alamnote: fakir = poor, mendicant, who possesses nothing.sultan = sovereign, king. | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | what it is like | sufi haqqu | | 2007-05-30 12:03:00 | | asks the lover:'what it is like to remember HisMagnificient Unseen Face?'if i ask,the lover remain silentgives me a smile, onlypointing to the mirror.whispers within:'you are thatMagnificent Unseen Faceand i am the onelooking into the mirror.'(c) MysticSoul | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Sufi Poetry Carnival | Serving Love of the Beloved | | 2007-05-28 16:00:00 | | In Sacred Remembrance of Divine Sadiq Alam and Tiel Aisha Ansari presenting the first ever Sufi Poetry Carnival in the cyber-space. We are grateful to be able to share and to serve Love, in sweet remebrance of the Beloved.God hath treasures beneath the Throne, the keys whereof are the tongues of poets - Saying of the Prophet, may indescribable peace be upon himAs a classical rule, Sufi Poetry has always been the expression of Divine Love, which is exactly the theme of the first edition of Sufi Poetry Carnival.We are happy to have among us some of the eminent contemporary sufi poets, dervishes, translators and authors to grace the carnival with their kind participation. Notable are Coleman Barks, Daniel Abdal Hayy Moore, Kabir Helminski, David Fideler, Irving Karchmar, Sabrineh Fideler, Aida Toure and Wahiduddin Richard Shelquist. Also there are participations by many blessed hearts across the globe and each of their poems testifies the outpourings of Love for the Divine.The poem below | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Sufi Poets and Poetry | The Classical Masters | | 2007-05-26 08:20:00 | | The Esoteric dimension of Islam which often termed as the way of the Sufi and the encounters that Sufism facilitates - encounters with God, love, and the deepest aspects of human consciousness. Sufism is like a holy well of sacred experience and has inspired some of the finest mystical poetry given to the world.Here is a list and links of some of the most prominent and classical Sufi Poets. Poetry Chaikhana that brings Sacred Poetry from Around the World has a comprehensive list of classical sufi poets, their brief biographical sketch and selected poems. The following list is adopted from Poetry Chaikhana.Abu-Said Abil-Kheir (967 - 1049)born in Mayhana, modern day Turkmenistan. lived more than two centuries before Rumi yet, like Rumi, much of his mysticism follows a similar path of annihilation in divine Love.Ahmad al-Alawi (1869 - 1934)an Algerian saint considered by many to be one of the greatest Sufi Masters of the 20th century.Abu 'l-Husayn al-Nuri (? - 908)was a native of Baghdad | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Best Place to Find Your Inner Sufi | Time's Best of Asia | | 2007-05-26 05:22:00 | | As part of TIME's annual look at the region's most remarkable places and experiences, it recently published a special issue on Best of Asia. Under the catogory by the name Best for the soul they recommended Tomb of Baba Shah Jamal, Lahore, Pakistan as the best place to find Your Inner Sufi. I quote from the article:A grave may seem an unlikely setting for a celebration, but every Thursday night the derelict tomb of Baba Shah Jamal in Lahore, Pakistan, attracts those seeking spiritual ecstasy through dancing, drumming and-in some cases-hashish. Shah Jamal, a 16th century Sufi saint, used drums and ecstatic dancing to spread his faith throughout Pakistan (he would have deemed the drugs unnecessary) and devotees have been upholding the tradition for more than 300 years. Today, the ministry is carried on by Pappu Sain and his two students, Gonga and Mithu Sain—resident holy men at Shah Jamal's tomb, which is also a shrine.Pappu Sain is a virtuoso of the dhol, the traditional Punjabi d | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Divine Love | Sufi Essence: Stages of Love | | 2007-05-17 07:17:00 | | The pen faces difficulties or even fails when trying to describe love. As you know steps can be seen leading up to the ocean, but what happens then? The well-known Chishti Sufi Khwaja Nasiruddin Cheragh (the “lamp”) of Delhi, who was the successor of Nizamuddin Awliya has described the indescribable. He not only described ten stages and fifty phases of love, but he also experienced them.i am only taking the essence of 10 stages, each of which has 5 phases so to speak. for elaboration pls read the from the original link at the end of this post.According to the Chishtiyya Sufis the first stage of love is olfat (friendship, attachment, familiarity, companionship, intimacy). It is another name for the inclination of the heart towards the object of loveThe second stage of love is sadaaqat (true friendship, sincerity, candour, loyalty, fidelity). In this stage the heart remains unaffected by the Beloved’s fidelity or infidelity, disregards and denials, and by bestowal of favours.The t | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | 5 Sufi Haqqu | Hamza Peter Weismiller | | 2007-05-13 07:28:00 | | Originally uploaded by Lilbenne. 1Just as we smile withThe child drumming out of time,Angels smile with us 2Beloved, once IGet past posing as lover,Help me live our Love 3Better a speck onAllah’s robe than a flowerOn Shaitan’s lapel 4Beautiful tasbih:Pray humbly; humble tasbih:Pray beautifully5Bowing my head downBelow my heart, I acceptThis world as Allah’s(c) Hamza Peter Weismiller, 2007www.sherifbaba.com/haiku.htm | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Sufi Haiku | Coleman Barks speaks | | 2007-05-09 07:34:00 | | . return journeyi didn’t come hereof my own accord.The One whobrought me herewill have totake me home.. prayer & longingwhen you prayyour own longingis the reply.. a good storyit’s said thatGod created the worldbecause He love stories.Make your lifea good storyso God doesn’tget bored.. secret wayany religion,any group,any person,each has a secret wayto be with the Mystery,none to be judged.. matterswhat mattersis how quickly you dowhat your soul directs.:: R e f e r e n c e [] Coleman Barks speaking @ spring Writers Festival - a performance of 800 year old poetry of Rumi[] Coleman Barks - official site[] The Voice of Longing, Coleman Barks CD of Rumi[] image credit: Michael Green | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | A rare Sufi artifact found in Fez | | 2007-05-08 20:03:00 | | Frederic Calmes brings his find into the View from FezRegular readers of this blog will remember our reports on the Hamadcha Sufi Brotherhood. In those reports we mentioned the ritual head-slashing that some followers engage in while in a state of trance. One of the implements used in this practice is an axe and until today all we had ever seen were photographs from the 1950s and sixties.However, today our music reporter, Frederic Calmes walked into the office and banged an axe down on the table! It was the genuine article and unlike anything we have seen before.Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news | | By: THE VIEW FROM FEZ | | |
| | Sufi Poetry Carnival | updates and call for submission | | 2007-05-06 18:41:00 | | Sufi Poetry Carnival will be held for the first time in the cyberspace on 28th May 2007, God willing. The very first edition will be hosted jointly by Inspirations and Creative Thoughts and Knocking from Inside. As a classical rule, Sufi Poetry has always been the expression of Love for the Divine. The theme of the carnival is Divine Love.We are happy to say that few of the most respected contemporary sufi poets, Dervishes, translators of sufi poetry and authors will grace the carnival with their kind participation.Notable among them will be, Kabir Helminski, Coleman Barks, David Fideler, Daniel Abdal Hayy Moore, Irving Karchmar, Sabrineh Fideler and Aida Toure. Also there will be participations by many blessed hearts across the globe and each of their poems will testify the outpourings of Love for the Divine, no doubt.Sufi Poetry Carnival @ a glanceHost: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts & Knocking from InsideDate of Publication: 28th May, 2007Last Date of Submission: 15th May, 2007 | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Sufi Love | understanding from master | | 2007-05-06 09:43:00 | | In the spirit of the Sufi Poetry Carnival, the theme being Divine Love here is a post that focuses on the theme, borrowing understandings of Sufi (Mystic) Love.Sufi Master Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh eloquently puts "Sufi Love" in contast to ordinary love in a profound way. I am quoting from Sufism.ru.All human beings during their lives tend to experience love and friendship. Human love can be classified into three basic categories according to its intensity, quality and limitations.The first form of love is the friendship that is based on social conventions where two people behave in accordance with the following principle: "I for myself, you for yourself; we love each other, and we have no expectations of each other." This form of love is that of ordinary people, whose love relationships tend to be of this nature.The second form of love is based on a more solid foundation and those who live together usually experience this kind of love: "I for you, you for me; we love each other, having mutu | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
| | Mystics without Border | International Mystic Sufi Festival 2007 | | 2007-05-06 07:26:00 | | The Indian sub-continent, especially the provinces of Punjab and Sindh, are rich in Sufi heritage and tradition. Sufi shrines honoring the spirit, poetry, dance and music of great Sufi saints are found in abundance in these areas. Sufi mystics have made rich contributions to the arts rendering some of the most beautiful poetry and music known to mankind, its philosophy being the driving force behind many lives, irrespective of race, religion and gender.Hazrat Moinudin Chishti, Hazrat Khwaja Bakhtiar Khaki, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, Baba Farid and Amir Khusrau are all great Sufi poets who spread their message through hymns and qawwalis (sufi music). Their work is venerated as the greatest example of religious tolerance and universal brotherhood and is the inspiration for the Sufi musicians of today.With the aim of elevating this divine art form to the status it deserves the 4th International Mystic Sufi Festival is currently being held in Karachi, Pakistan (3-7 May, 2007).The festival w | | By: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts | | |
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