From tariqas-approval Mon Dec 12 18:16:18 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA10374; Mon, 12 Dec 1994 23:15:19 GMT Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA10352; Mon, 12 Dec 1994 18:15:18 -0500 Date: Mon, 12 Dec 1994 18:15:18 +0001 (EST) From: Steve H Rose Subject: "Cyberspace Sema" To: tariqas@world.std.com In-Reply-To: Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: Assalam alaikum. I think this is a great idea, myself, if noone would take offense. On Mon, 12 Dec 1994, Hugh Talat Halman wrote: > > Hu! As-salaam 'alaikum wa rahmatu 'llah wa barakataHU! > > Dear Friends, > > I salute N. Tsolak, al-Hamdu li-Llah for his beautiful, > meaningful, and informative presentation on Rumi. > > I propose that we who share hearts and minds in > Cyberspace and persue a Path of Sabr-space join our energies, voices, and > visions in an URS of Cyberspace on the day of the URS ("Spiritual > Wedding") of Mevlana Jalaladdin Rumi. We might share meditations, > reflections, prayers, poems, stories of either our own or those of Rumi > and the erenler (spiritual adepts) in his path and the Way of Allah. > > Let us celebrate in a whirling world of wonder with each other in > turns of endearment. > > Hu! Dostlar! > > H. Talat al-Zumurrudi > > From tariqas-approval Mon Dec 12 16:13:49 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA21530; Tue, 13 Dec 1994 02:14:45 GMT Received: from soc6.acpub.duke.edu by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA21390; Mon, 12 Dec 1994 21:14:17 -0500 Received: (from sos@localhost) by soc6.acpub.duke.edu (8.6.8.1/Duke-2.0) id VAA17572; Mon, 12 Dec 1994 21:13:52 -0500 Date: Mon, 12 Dec 1994 21:13:49 -0500 (EST) From: Omid Safi Subject: Respect to Mawlana: To: tariqas@world.std.com Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: To friends: As-Salamu Alaykum wa Rahmatu llahi wa Barakati HU I recently signed on to Tariqas, having heard about it from my friend Hugh Talat Halman (al-Zomorrodi). Imagine my excitement as I found out that the recent topic of sharing is hazrat-e Mawlana! My joy at having found this out is perhaps matched only by my hesitation to offer anything to this beautiful sohbat: hesitation because what is there to say first of all about hazrat mawlana? In the Divan-e Shams-e Tabrizi, Mawlana himself says: Deegar Nakhaham Zad Nafas Een bayt meegoyad ke bas! No more shall I belabor my breath (in speech) This very line (of poetry) is saying: Enough! How ironic then, that the most noble and beautiful of encounters with the One which transcend any expression have to be expressed in the prison of words; and at the same time, I offer my humble thanks to heavens that hazrat-e Mawlana did not stop uttering his words of love and wisdom, and I am grateful that you, my friends, are also speaking: speaking not for the sake of speech itself, but speech which comes from the hearts and can do no other than touch hearts. I am also hesitant to offer anything on Hazrat-e Mawlana because so much has been said by those wiser and more profound than us, many of whom in the present company of this most interesting sohbet in cyberspace. Truly, if God is not above using a gnat as a parable, insha'allah there can be spiritual blessing from a sohbat that takes place over cyberspace.... I was recently thinking about the magnitude of Mawlana's legacy. Often one finds saints who bless a small locality with their continious presence and are designated as the "patron saints" of the location. Sometime one finds saints whose influence seems to spread across a wider domain, such as Hazrat-e Nizam al-Din Awliya of the Chishti Tariqa whose legacy is felt in many parts of the subcontinent. And yet still, one finds every now and then, those who present such opening of the gates of mercy that the flow of Rahma as it were fills their earthly location and "spills over" to many other areas. No doubt this is not the case of a saint being "greater" or "more important" as is commonly believed in comparison to other saints. Rather, it seems to me that the very will of the Providence has been responsible for channeling the mercy through the life and legacy of the saints in question. For example, Hazrat-e Mawlana's earthly origins were in the khurasan region of Persia, but his family fled to Anatolia. After Mawlana's encounter with Shams-e Tabrizi, his spiritual apptitude, as it were, was exteriorized (as Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr has expressed it so eloquently). At this point, Mawlana's legacy spills over to a number of lands: His earthly remains and tomb adore the spiritual topography of Anatolia and today Turkey, so that insha'allah we may all have the benefit of offering our respects in person at Konya someday. No doubt the very presence of such a treasure in the heartland of Turkey opens a way to heaven even to those who may no longer be able to read Mawlana's poetry in the original Persian. Oh, and the poetry..... Somehow it seems ironic that the poetry of mawlana, perhaps the most spiritually elevated ever expressed in Persian, was influential amongst a people that were prevented from visiting Mawlana's tomb due to the Safavid-Ottoman conflicts. No matter. Persian speaking people in Persia, what is today Afghanistan, Pakistan, and North India, in fact even into China, are still moved by the mathnawi and Divan-e Shams. In some corners it might be considered blasphemous, but we still hold: Mathnawi-ye Ma'nawi-ye Mowlawi Hast Qur'an be Zaban-e Pahlavi Lastly, it seems to me that we stand at a particularly crucial time in the history of spread of spiritual ways and practices to lands which have previously and in the past benefited from other approaches. I am speaking here of the phenomenal increase of interest in Hazrat-e Mawlana in the West in the past couple of decades. No doubt the responsibility, linguistic and spiritual, is great... One can not and must not toy with such sublime treasures. But at the same time, the opportunity of presenting Mawlana's Path of Love to those hearts that thirst for this Water of Life is no doubt another stage in the "spill over" of the spiritual legacy of Hazrat-e Mawlana. May all be intoxicated in the love of God, on the Straight Path. I have spoken too much. Peace upon all the friends, Our respects to Hazrat-e Mawlana, The Blessings and Peace of God upon His Beloved Messenger And Praise to God for He alone IS. Omid Safi From tariqas-approval Mon Dec 12 18:01:40 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA08790; Tue, 13 Dec 1994 04:01:39 GMT Received: from mail02.mail.aol.com by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA08778; Mon, 12 Dec 1994 23:01:36 -0500 Received: by mail02.mail.aol.com (1.38.193.5/16.2) id AA14564; Mon, 12 Dec 1994 23:01:40 -0500 Date: Mon, 12 Dec 1994 23:01:40 -0500 From: Najat@aol.com Message-Id: <941212230140_4516519@aol.com> To: tariqas@world.std.com Subject: Re: "Cyberspace Sema" Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: 1) I must concur on the cybersema, especially for those of us who may not be able to attend a live sema; let us gather here on the 17th. 2) I must also contribute my affirmation that the virus good times is a hoax and a fraud; this has been reliably reported on the network at the very high tech institution where I am somewhat gainfully employed (my day job). Blessings, Najat Date: Tue, 13 Dec 94 20:53:55 EST From: Jim Henry in Chattanooga 615-755-4398 Subject: Re: "Cyberspace Sema" To: tariqas@world.std.com In-Reply-To: Message of Mon, 12 Dec 1994 18:15:18 +0001 (EST) from Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: On Mon, 12 Dec 1994 18:15:18 +0001 (EST) Steve H Rose said: > >I think this is a great idea, myself, if noone would take offense. > >On Mon, 12 Dec 1994, Hugh Talat Halman wrote: >> >> I propose that we who share hearts and minds in >> Cyberspace and persue a Path of Sabr-space join our energies, voices, and >> visions in an URS of Cyberspace on the day of the URS ("Spiritual >> Wedding") of Mevlana Jalaladdin Rumi. We might share meditations, >> reflections, prayers, poems, stories of either our own or those of Rumi >> and the erenler (spiritual adepts) in his path and the Way of Allah. >> >> Let us celebrate in a whirling world of wonder with each other in >> turns of endearment. >> Is the date for this 17 December? I'm interested and have no idea what it would look like, either at my end or on the 'net. Peace of Allah be with you all. JIM Jim Henry U of Tennessee at Chattanooga 615-755-4398 From tariqas-approval Tue Dec 13 14:24:34 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA08300; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 02:27:42 GMT Received: from vm.cc.LaTech.edu by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA08286; Tue, 13 Dec 1994 21:27:41 -0500 Message-Id: <199412140227.AA08286@world.std.com> Received: from VM.CC.LATECH.EDU by VM.CC.LATECH.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 8844; Tue, 13 Dec 94 20:28:19 CST Received: from LATECH (NJE origin PBICKHAM@LATECH) by VM.CC.LATECH.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 8729; Tue, 13 Dec 1994 20:28:19 -0600 Date: Tue, 13 Dec 94 20:24:34 CST From: Nura Subject: Re: "Cyberspace Sema" To: tariqas@world.std.com In-Reply-To: Message of Tue, 13 Dec 94 20:53:55 EST from Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: Assalamu Alaikum, Dear Brothers and Sisters, I think the December 17th meeting has exciting possibilities. How does this happen? Do we all connect about the same time. . .or do we just "check in" and post during that day? Perhaps an appointed window of time (maybe an hour) could be agreed upon so that we could meet in common meditation? Ta barakalla alaik, Your sister in Louisiana, Nura From tariqas-approval Wed Dec 14 06:11:35 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA28419; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 16:12:01 GMT Received: from teer23.acpub.duke.edu by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA28378; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 11:11:59 -0500 Received: (from hthashq1@localhost) by teer23.acpub.duke.edu (8.6.8.1/Duke-2.0) id LAA28064; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 11:11:38 -0500 Date: Wed, 14 Dec 1994 11:11:35 -0500 (EST) From: Hugh Talat Halman Subject: Rumi: Date of Mercy To: tariqas@world.std.com Cc: tariqas@world.std.com In-Reply-To: <199412140227.AA08286@world.std.com> Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: On Tue, 13 Dec 1994, Nura wrote: > I think the December 17th meeting has exciting possibilities. How does this > happen? Do we all connect about the same time. . .or do we just "check in" > and post during that day? Perhaps an appointed window of time (maybe an hour) > could be agreed upon so that we could meet in common meditation? At least we can create a momentum of sharing Rumi and our experiences and reflections related to the love, knowledge, & understanding he conveys. Let his example of virtue be shared, posted, and contemplayted. Then, yes, if contemplation gives rise to con-temp-playing, then we can align our watches with watchfulness and create a *qibla* in time, a point of axis to access in Cyberspace. Personally I'm inclined to the Timeless. Anytime on this day and in these days leading up to it seems right. We ought to plant the seeds of love earlier so that the fruit can ripen on this date of mercy. Hu! As-salaam 'alaikum Talat From tariqas-approval Wed Dec 14 06:14:46 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA00780; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 16:15:33 GMT Received: from teer23.acpub.duke.edu by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA00732; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 11:15:30 -0500 Received: (from hthashq1@localhost) by teer23.acpub.duke.edu (8.6.8.1/Duke-2.0) id LAA28070; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 11:14:47 -0500 Date: Wed, 14 Dec 1994 11:14:46 -0500 (EST) From: Hugh Talat Halman Subject: URS of Rumi in Chapel Hill (fwd) To: Tariqas@world.std.com Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: Dear Tariqas friends, This is our posting for a local URS commemoration in Chapel NC. Read it for joy, inspiration, or for an excuse to travel our way. Hu! Talat ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Wed, 14 Dec 1994 09:13:31 -0500 (EST) From: Hugh Talat Halman To: Carl Ernst Cc: Stewart Tony , Kewing@acpub.duke.edu, barbara stenross , Lynn Schoenherr , james sanford , omid safi , Billy Rogers , Harry Partin , muhsin orsini , scott kugle , Vincent Cornell , Ayse Gul Karayazgan , "R.(tashi) Corless" Subject: URS of Rumi in Chapel Hill Dear Friends, The URS, or Spiritual Wedding of Mevlana Jalaladdin Rumi convenes on Saturday night December 17. Here in the Triangle we will gather on Saturday night (12/17) at 9 p.m. at Silk Road Tea House 456 W. Franklin St. to dwell in the heart of the love he proclaimed. O lovers, lovers it is time to set out from the world. I hear a drum in my soul's ear coming from the depths of the stars. Our camel driver is at work; the caravan is being readied. He asks that we forgive him for the disturbance he has caused us, He asks why we travelers are asleep. Everywhere the murmur of departure; the stars, like candles thrust at us from behind blue veils, and as if to make the invisible plain, a wondrous people have come forth. We welcome all you wondrous people to come forth on Saturday to honor the URS of Mevlana and set forth on the journey to wed ourselves to the heart and spirit of Mevlana's way, this Saturday at 9 at Silk Road. We expect to share Rumi's poetry, spiritual music, tea and refreshment, and each other's company in sohbet. (On a special note, we welcome those of you who can recite in Farsi to offer us a taste of the power and majesty of the sound, meter, and rhyme of the original reflection of the essence.) We hope you all can come, inshallah. On this path, Love is the emerald, the beautiful green that wards off dragons. Hu! In Love, Talat From tariqas-approval Wed Dec 14 06:46:32 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA22519; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 16:47:09 GMT Received: from teer23.acpub.duke.edu by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA22474; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 11:47:05 -0500 Received: (from hthashq1@localhost) by teer23.acpub.duke.edu (8.6.8.1/Duke-2.0) id LAA28236; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 11:46:40 -0500 Date: Wed, 14 Dec 1994 11:46:32 -0500 (EST) From: Hugh Talat Halman Subject: URS: Death & Marriage To: Tariqas@world.std.com Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: Dear Tariqas Friends, Since the URS is physically a death, and spiritually a wedding, I wanted to share these two poems of Rumi as an initiating *zawj* (coupling). The translations are those of Kabir Helminski and appear in his collection of Rumi, entitled *Love is a Stranger* (Putney, VT: Threshold Books, 1993, pp. 23, and 29). On the Deathbed Go, rest your head on a pillow, leave me alone; leave me ruined, exhausted from the journey of this night, writhing in a wave of passion till the dawn. Either stay and be forgiving, or, if you like, be cruel and leave. Flee from me, away from trouble; take the path of safety, far from this danger. We have crept into this corner of grief, turning the water wheel with a flow of tears. While a tyrant with a heart of flint slays, and no one says, "Prepare to pay the blood money." Faith in the king comes easily in lovely times, but be faithful now and endure, pale lover. No cure exists for this pain but to die, So why should I say, "Cure this pain"? In a dream last night I saw an ancient one in the garden of love, beckoning with his hand, saying, "Come here." On this path, Love is the emerald, the beautiful green that wards off dragons. Enough, I am losing myself. If you are a man of learning, read something classic, a history of the human struggle and don't settle for mediocre verse. Kulliyat-i-Shams 2039 This Marriage May these vows and this marriage be blessed. May it be sweet milk, this marriage, like wine and halvah. Msay this marriage offer fruit and shade like the date palm. May this marriage be full of laughter, our every day a day in paradise. May this marriage be a sign of compassion, a seal of happiness here and hereafter. May this marriage have a fair face and a good name, an omen as welcome as the moon in a clear blue sky. I am out of words to describe how spirit mingles in this marriage. *Kulliyat-i-Shams* 2667 "Reality is meeting." (Martin Buber) Though space is the "final frontier". Spacelessness is an unending sea. In the meeting of hearts, We explore without ceasing. Past the tree of the boundary Two seas flow unceasing. Their frontier a horizon Of distance releasing. We forgo the wine of the grapes of wrath For the taste of the dates of mercy. Hu! As-salaam 'alaikum, H. Talat Halman al-Zumurrudi From tariqas-approval Wed Dec 14 08:27:00 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA14840; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 18:26:39 GMT Received: from lcvax (lcvax.lehman.cuny.edu) by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA14735; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 13:26:33 -0500 Received: from lcvax.lehman.cuny.edu by lcvax.lehman.cuny.edu (PMDF #12809) id <01HKMVP1XXYO00072W@lcvax.lehman.cuny.edu>; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 13:27 EST Date: Wed, 14 Dec 1994 13:27 EST From: "A.E.K." Subject: Re: URS: Death & Marriage To: tariqas@world.std.com Message-Id: <01HKMVP1XXYO00072W@lcvax.lehman.cuny.edu> X-Vms-To: IN%"tariqas@world.std.com" Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: Salaam Talat, Can you post more? (poems, that is) Salaam, Ahmet From tariqas-approval Wed Dec 14 13:53:53 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA03958; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 23:54:11 GMT Received: from teer23.acpub.duke.edu by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA03935; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 18:54:08 -0500 Received: (from hthashq1@localhost) by teer23.acpub.duke.edu (8.6.8.1/Duke-2.0) id SAA29377; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 18:53:55 -0500 Date: Wed, 14 Dec 1994 18:53:53 -0500 (EST) From: Hugh Talat Halman Subject: Urs: Flight to Light To: Tariqas@world.std.com Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: Dear Friends of Tariqas: Returning to the theme of the Life of Light beyond the veil of death, we share more of Rumi's Insights: Our death is our wedding with eternity. What is the secret? "God is One." The sunlight splits when entering the windows of the house. This multiplicity exists in the cluster of grapes; It is not in the juice made from the grapes. For he who is living in the Light of God, The death of the carnal soul is a blessing. Regarding him, say neither bad nor good, For he is gone beyond the good and the bad. Fix your eyes on God and do not talk about what is invisible, So that he may place another look in your eyes. It is in the vision of the physical eyes That no invisible or secret thing exists. But when the eye is turned toward the Light of God What thing could remain hidden under such a Light? Although all lights emanate from the Divine Light Don't call all these lights "the Light of God"; It is the eternal light which is the Light of God, The ephemeral light is an attribute of the body and the flesh. ...Oh God who gives the grace of vision! The bird of vision is flying towards You with the wings of desire. (Mystic Odes 833) quoted in Eva de Vitray-Meyerovitch, *Rumi and Sufism* trans. Simone Fattal Sausalito, CA: The Post-Apollo Press, 1977, 1987 "NOONE" says it better: What is the *mi'raj* of the heavens? Nonexistence. The religion and creed of the lovers is non-existence. Mesnevi VI 233 Love is the Water of Life: Everything other than love for the most beautiful God is agony of the spirit, though it be sugar-eating. What is agony of the spirit? To advance toward death without seizing hold of the Water of Life. Mesnevi I 3686-87 A lifetime without Love is of no account. Love is the Water of Life-- Drink it down with heart and soul! Divan-i-Shams 11909 quoted in William C. Chittick, *The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi* (Albany: SUNY Press, 1983 p. 213) May your cups run over! ( paraphrasing the words of a *prophet* who composed poetry and music: Dawud an-Nabi [a.s.], transmitter of the Zabur.) May your hearts sing! Hu Talat From tariqas-approval Wed Dec 14 17:16:10 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA14840; Thu, 15 Dec 1994 03:16:11 GMT Received: from clark.net by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA14814; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 22:16:09 -0500 Received: from [168.143.2.233] (sarmad_ppp.clark.net [168.143.2.233]) by clark.net (8.6.9/8.6.5) with SMTP id WAA25496 for ; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 22:15:44 -0500 Message-Id: <199412150315.WAA25496@clark.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Date: Wed, 14 Dec 1994 22:16:10 -0500 To: tariqas@world.std.com From: sarmad@clark.net Subject: The time of hearing Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: For the time of Mevlana (our Master) as it is in this time: We are the flute, our music is all thine; We are the mountain echoing only thee; Pieces of chess Thou marshallest in line And movest to defeat or victory; Lions emblazoned high in flags unfurled-- Thy wind invisible sweeps us through the world. From Rumi--Poet and Mystic R.A. Nicholson, translator Allen and Unwin We are as the flute, and the music in us is from thee; we are as the mountain and the echo in us is from thee. We are as pieces of chess engaged in victory and defeat: our victory and defeat is from thee, O thou whose qualities are comely! Who are we, O Thou soul of our souls, that we should remain in being beside thee? We and our existences are really non-existence; thou art the absolute Being which manifests the perishable. We all are lions, but lions on a banner: because of the wind they are rushing onward from moment to moment. Their onward rush is visible, and the wind is unseen: may that which is unseen not fail from us! Our wind whereby we are moved and our being are of thy gift; our whole existence is from thy bringing into being. from the english translation by R.A. Nicholson of the Mathnawi, Book I, 599-607, Published by rhe Gibb Memorial Trust Hu Dost Abraham Sarmad Brody From tariqas-approval Wed Dec 14 17:17:48 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA17407; Thu, 15 Dec 1994 03:20:59 GMT Received: from mail04.mail.aol.com by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA17340; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 22:20:58 -0500 Received: by mail04.mail.aol.com (1.38.193.5/16.2) id AA20274; Wed, 14 Dec 1994 22:17:48 -0500 Date: Wed, 14 Dec 1994 22:17:48 -0500 From: Najat@aol.com Message-Id: <941214221511_6329030@aol.com> To: tariqas@world.std.com Subject: Re: Rumi: Date of Mercy Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: Since our subject is timeless, let us not constrict ourselves artifically to a particular time window, brothers and sisters. We are from many time zones, and I look forward to checking in when I am enabled to do so for sharing with you all. Najat. From tariqas-approval Wed Dec 14 22:48:48 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA16554; Thu, 15 Dec 1994 08:49:03 GMT Received: from teer23.acpub.duke.edu by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA16546; Thu, 15 Dec 1994 03:49:02 -0500 Received: (from hthashq1@localhost) by teer23.acpub.duke.edu (8.6.8.1/Duke-2.0) id DAA00942; Thu, 15 Dec 1994 03:48:50 -0500 Date: Thu, 15 Dec 1994 03:48:48 -0500 (EST) From: Hugh Talat Halman Subject: Urs: Engravings To: Tariqas Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: Dear Tariqas Friends, This approaching urs brings before us Rumi's poems of death's transformation into the light of *'ashq* On His Sepulchre If wheat grows on my grave, cut it and bake it -- the bread will make you drunk; the dough and the baker himself will go mad and the oven fall to singing tavern ditties. If you make a pilgrimage to my grave you'll see my tombstone dancing by itself; don't come without a tambourine-- God's holidays should not be marred with gloom. Jaws clamped, sleeping in the grave, the mouth nibbles the beloved's opium and sweets; from every direction trumpets of war and drunkard's harps: action begets action and so forth and so on. God moulded me from the wine-lees of Love-- now death has effaced me I am Love itself; I am drunkenness, my root is the wine of love-- tell me, what comes of wine but intoxication? It will not stay an instant: my spirit flies to the tower of the love of Shamsoddin of Tabriz. translated by Peter Lamborn Wilson published in Peter Lamborn Wilson, *Sacred Drift: Essays on the Margins of Islam* San Francisco: City Lights, 1993, p. 121 This *urs* is the pilgrimage to the Turbe in time, the Mazar of meaning. Hu! Dost! Talat From tariqas-approval Thu Dec 15 13:32:52 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA12248; Thu, 15 Dec 1994 23:33:15 GMT Received: from teer23.acpub.duke.edu by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA12231; Thu, 15 Dec 1994 18:33:10 -0500 Received: (from hthashq1@localhost) by teer23.acpub.duke.edu (8.6.8.1/Duke-2.0) id SAA03618; Thu, 15 Dec 1994 18:32:55 -0500 Date: Thu, 15 Dec 1994 18:32:52 -0500 (EST) From: Hugh Talat Halman Subject: Urs-Sprache To: Tariqas Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: Dear Friends of the Tariqas: I call our attention to Rumi's vision which includes all humanity while nonetheless maintaining the distinctiveness of the spiritually accomplished. As another Gabriel says, "[It's] in your eyes...": "It is said that after Muhammad and the prophets revelation does not descend upon anyone else. Why not? In fact it does, but then it is not called 'revelation.' It is what the Prophet referred to when he said, 'The believer sees with the Light of God.' When the believeer looks with God's Light, he sees all things: the first and the last, the present and the absent. For how can anything be hidden from God's Light? And if something is hidden, then it is not the Light of God. Therefore the meaning of revelation exists, even if it is not called revelation." _Fihi ma fihi_ [Discourses of Rumi] p. 128 [Persian text] p. 139 [Arberry trans.] quoted from William C. Chittick, _The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual Teachings of Rumi_(Albany: SUNY, 1983) p. 120 Rumi sounds the call to returning, leaving no stone, and not the essential stone, unturned: The drum of the realization of the promise is beating, we are sweeping the road to the sky. Your joy is here today, what remains for tomorrow? The armies of the day have chased the army of the night, Heaven and earth are filled with purity and light. Oh! joy for he who has escaped from this world of perfumes and color! For beyond these colors and these perfumes, these are other colors in the heart and the soul. Oh! joy for this soul and this heart who have escaped the earth of water and clay, Although this water and this clay contain the hearth of the philosophical stone. (*Mystic Odes* 473) At every instant and from every side, resounds the call of Love: We are going to sky, who wants to come with us? We have gone to heaven, we have been the friends of the angels, And now we will go back there, for there is our country. We are higher than heaven, more noble than the angels: Why not go beyond them? Our goal is the Supreme Majesty. What has the fine pearl to do with the world of dust? Why have you come down here? Take your baggage back. What is this place? Luck is with us, to us is the sacrifice!... Like the birds of the sea, men come from the ocean--the ocean of the soul. How could this bird, born from that sea, make his dwelling here? No, we are the pearls from the bosom of the sea, it is there that we dwell: Otherwise how could the wave succeed to the wave that comes from the soul? The wave named 'Am I not your Lord' has come, it has broken the vessel of the body; And when the vessel is broken, the vision comes back, and the union with with Him. quoted from Eva de Vitray-Meyerovitch, _Rumi and Sufism_ trans. Simone Fattal Sausalito, CA: Post-Apollo Press, 1977, 1987. p. 104 Catch the Wave. Hu! H. Talat al-Zumurrudi From tariqas-approval Fri Dec 16 13:34:25 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA12180; Fri, 16 Dec 1994 23:34:46 GMT Received: from teer23.acpub.duke.edu by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA12144; Fri, 16 Dec 1994 18:34:41 -0500 Received: (from hthashq1@localhost) by teer23.acpub.duke.edu (8.6.8.1/Duke-2.0) id SAA07120; Fri, 16 Dec 1994 18:34:28 -0500 Date: Fri, 16 Dec 1994 18:34:25 -0500 (EST) From: Hugh Talat Halman Subject: Urs: Guide Dance To: Tariqas Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: Dear Friends in Tariqas: We are all invited to the wedding of Rumi. Here's my "dish" for the "feast": "Rumi's Returning" We celebrate the Great Journey, the Passage of passages the Text of the Next the Turn at the crossroads. No stone is unturned. Now hermetically learned Is the Sense of the Sent One's Ascent to the Guest. The Cane of the Calamus' Reed writes a Cannon: A Sentence of meaning The golden mean's sense of awakening dreaming. We carry the staff of life as we run. It heralds the dawn and its light that is sheening. Look: light that is glistening over waves of our listening: By this shore we dive into the waters of life. These meeting seas merging Are filled up by rain That is Mercy's immersion And Compassion's refrain. Flood us with sound, you emptied reed Flowing; now hollow You're open and freed. Melodies follow and our hearts are complete. By Your Wisdom, from its river the reed releases So the sound of its "Hu" song can lovingly seize us. H. Talat Halman al-Zumurrudi ******************************************************************* **************Turn to the words of Rumi: The presence of a friend of God is a book, and even more. The book of the sufi is not written with ink and letters, it is only a heart, white like the snow. The provision of the scientist consist of signs drawn by a pen. What are the provisions of sufi? Footprints. Like the hunter, the sufi chases game; he sees the tracks left by the musk deer and follows them. For awhile, it is the tracks which are his clues, but later it is the musk itself which guides him. (_Mathnawi_ II, 158 s.) There remains nothing else to say but it is the Spirit which will tell you the tale, without me, Or rather, its you yourself, who will say it to your own ear; Neither I nor anyone else, Oh you, who are myself. Therefore, when you fall asleep you go from the presence of yourself to the presence of yourself: You hear what is coming from yourself and you think that it has been told to you secretly in a dream. (_Mathnawi_III, 1298 s.) Rumi passages quoted from Eva de Vitray-Meyerovitch, _Rumi and Sufism_ trans. Simone Fattal Sausalito, CA: The Post-Apollo Press, 1977, 1987 From tariqas-approval Fri Dec 16 08:05:30 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA26776; Sat, 17 Dec 1994 00:06:52 GMT Received: from mail.crl.com by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA26753; Fri, 16 Dec 1994 19:06:50 -0500 Received: from crl2.crl.com by mail.crl.com with SMTP id AA10271 (5.65c/IDA-1.5 for ); Fri, 16 Dec 1994 16:05:36 -0800 Received: by crl2.crl.com id AA01960 (5.65c/IDA-1.5 for tariqas@world.std.com); Fri, 16 Dec 1994 16:05:30 -0800 Date: Fri, 16 Dec 1994 16:05:30 -0800 (PST) From: Michael Gest To: tariqas@world.std.com Cc: Tariqas@world.std.com Subject: Re: URS: Death & Marriage In-Reply-To: Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: what is the exact translation of Shebi Ars? aka URS. I believe that the Shebi must refer to seven and the Urs to lights? Does anyone have a more literal rather than the allegorical poetic translation of wedding night or union? I would also go for something that looks at Sheb as from the verb returning or salvation. Thanks Michael Gest From tariqas-approval Fri Dec 16 15:52:48 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA03199; Sat, 17 Dec 1994 01:53:08 GMT Received: from teer3.acpub.duke.edu by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA03188; Fri, 16 Dec 1994 20:53:06 -0500 Received: (from zik@localhost) by teer3.acpub.duke.edu (8.6.8.1/Duke-2.0) id UAA23671; Fri, 16 Dec 1994 20:52:49 -0500 Date: Fri, 16 Dec 1994 20:52:48 -0500 (EST) From: Zia Inayat Khan Subject: Re: URS: Death & Marriage To: tariqas@world.std.com In-Reply-To: Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: Hearty salaams sisters and brothers, Thank you Talat for serving as our wine-steward over these last couple days! Michael, "wedding night" really is the literal translation of shab-i 'urs. Ya Hazrat-i Maulana Rum! May I share the following translation by Shamsur Rahman Faruqi from his "Shadow of a Bird in Flight", p. 107: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Deep into the bush - tigers waiting for the command: Come! Out from the secret meadow they come those tigers; and God unveiled comes and goes freely among them. Man's essence overtakes land and sea and pied cattle are slaughtered on that day of Sacrifice ( Rumi ) From tariqas-approval Tue Jan 1 02:31:11 1980 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA28751; Sat, 17 Dec 1994 03:01:23 GMT Received: from uunet!fifthd by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA28742; Fri, 16 Dec 1994 22:01:22 -0500 Received: from espace.dcl.com by relay1.UU.NET with SMTP id QQxupo22189; Fri, 16 Dec 1994 22:00:26 -0500 Message-Id: Received: from forthd by espace.dcl.com (MX V3.1C) with UUCP; Fri, 16 Dec 1994 19:00:10 PST Received: by forthd.dcl.com (DECUS UUCP /2.0/2.0/2.0/); Fri, 16 Dec 94 18:34:33 PST Received: from fifthd by fifthd.uucp (UUPC/extended 1.12b) with UUCP; Tue, 01 Jan 1980 02:31:22 GMT From: Super User To: tariqas@world.std.com Date: Tue, 1 Jan 1980 02:31:11 GMT+6 Subject: Cyberspace sama' contribution Priority: normal X-Mailer: Pegasus Mail v3.1 (R1a) Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: As-salaam 'aleikum I have been following with great joy the postings about Mevlana Jelaleddin Rumi of Balkh this past week. I will not be able to participate in Cyberspace sama' on his Sheb-i Arus (Wedding Night) December 17th, as I will be participating in a Mevlevi muqabele sama' that evening. In fact, I met up with Sh Jelaleddin Loras of Konya Turkey and entourage in Eugene Oregon for a celebration 12/13, and we are sponsoring their visit to Portland 12/15. In Seattle on December 17th, over 70 samazanler will be Turning to music by over 20 musicians: participants are from Turkey, Iran, former Yugoslavia, Canada, and all over America. Following are translations of the hymn in praise of Mevlana (Shems-uddin, and Muhammad) that opens every sama', and some of the verses by Mevlana from the music that is sung and played while the samazanler Turn, and the closing prayer from the end of sama'. Space does not permit a full transcription of all the poetry and an explanation of the full traditional sama'. This is food for lovers... (Na'at) O Hazrat Mevlana, friend of Truth. O beloved of Allah, thou art a messenger of Allah. You are the pure and only-chosen by the Lord of Majesty, friend. O our king, beautiful presence of Truth, Light of our eyes and of the prophets' eyes, You are the torch of this world. O Mevlana, friend of Truth and our Lord. On the night of miraj Gabriel came to me in my sleep, friend Noah appeared beside my head Suddenly I was transported to the presences of all the prophets Mevlana, friend of Truth, my Lord, beloved friend O prophet of Allah, all knowledge is yours, even that which doesn't come through the senses You are the guide of the helpless, O friend of Truth, our Lord You are the tallest tree in the garden of prophecy and the fountain-spring of gnosis (marifat) You are the hyacinth and the rose-tree of the garden of divine guidance (shariat) You are the nightingale of that garden-meadow, O companion of Allah, friend Shens-uddin of Tabriz hymns praises of the Messenger: Mustafa is the chosen one, descended from Allah You are the pure of heart O companion of Allah, O friend of Truth! (First Turning) Thou art my Shah, Thy generous blessings the dervishes ask of Thee O our Sultan, for Thy sake we are heartsick I am not worthy of Thy love, but still Thou art everything to me Such a love is not found by looking to this one, look deep within yourself O my Sultan, for love of Thee I am heartsick All virtue is from Thee alone Thou art the calm at the center of my heart's confusion and distractions (Second Turning) Beloved, our Sultan, we are Thy faithful obedient creation Do not cast this love in the path of harm Beloved, a goblet of Thy friendship-wine suffices for the whole world Beloved, you are the blossom of truth and the flower of friendship Beloved, for love of Shems of Tabriz, share this intoxication! You opened the realm of God forever Whose grace helps us beyond questions of virtue and disbelief - O, such grace! (Third Turning) By these words a fresh new world is created. The fragrant breeze at dawn has become my heart-companion, Bearing scents of musk and saffron. The dawn Spring breeze is my heart-mate, friend. A rosebud bursts into bloom when you sit by its place. When such a lover arrives, flowers explode into blossoms and hundreds of birds are spellbound by your singing. The flower-scented breeze is my beloved, friend. Shems of Tabriz came with that breeze, with tears of love, Sighing "Lovers are always like this - those who weep for love, their souls are of this dawn Spring breeze!" Whoever flees the company of lovers later regrets their wrongdoing: They will repent, and rue their rashness. Whoever seeks love finds it by pursuing its scent, and discovers the forbidden sanctuary of the Love-Sultan Sanctified be all the world for recognizing this light! Light is carried by your morning-star like wine by a saqi! Purified are those who seek your company, secluded in this vast Spring-meadow When I enter this field of flowers, I am beside myself at the sight of your face! (Fourth Turning) It is Thee, my only Sultan! Thou art my only Sultan! You alone, no other, in my heart and body, and in my faith, Your breath alone that renews my life! My heart is reborn only because you are the One in Whom I have faith. (Ilahi I) By the breath of the sun (shams) I am trapped like a butterfly. I burn embracing your heart-fire, oblivious to being ensnared. Now that my soul understands what has befallen it, it doesn't seek another such experience! If you love Mevlana, come join this great ship! (Ilahi II) If you are one of us, let's speak with one voice, I'll tell you how: To be a dervish, you must above all else be in love. A lover never forgets the Beloved at any time. A pure sama' heals the soul, and light comes in the body. (Gulbanc, closing prayer) By the Name of the Incomparably Magnificent, Allah, Allah! This is the auspicious moment for blessing, the moment for opening, when misfortune is dispelled. We look to Thee for fulfillment of our needs, with great thankfulness. Allah Most High, we invoke Thy name in the Light of Thy Essence, that we may be transformed by Thy Light. The hearts of Thy lovers find rest only in Thee. We pray that our efforts may bring us further purification, with prayers for Hazrat Mevlana, the secret of Shems and Walad (Rumi's father) in the Light of Muhammad, with compassion for the whole universe. Let us say HU! As-salaam 'aleikum Wa 'aleikum as-salaam, wa Rahmatu'Llah, wa barakati-Hu Peace be with you And peace be with you, and the Mercy of Allah, and the blessings of This Presence (Rumi's last instructions to his circle) I recommend to you awe of Allah, in private and in public, and I recommend little eating and sleeping, and that you avoid rebelliousness and wrongdoing, and I recommend to you continuous worship and abstinence from fleshly lusts, and be long-suffering under the ill-treatment of humankind. Shun the companionship of the careless-hearted and the common herd, and associate with the righteous and humans of worth. In truth, the best of humans are those who benefit others, and the best of speech is that which is short and to the purpose. (one of my favorite stories) A drunk was walking the streets of Baghdad late at night, and turning a corner collided with another drunk, and they both fell over in the dust. Wiping the dirt from his face, he peered at the other, and asked, "Say, didn't I meet you in Damascus a year ago?" "No" said the second drunk "I have never been to Damascus". "Well, me neither" said the first. "It must have been two other guys". We could be meeting now because of two humans who met long ago. We could be the two having a REAL meeting now, among all the other mere collisions humans commonly endure all their lives. (A commercial) Sh Jelaleddin requested compilation of a study-guide for those interested in the way of Mevlana. It is now complete. It contains: information about the five works of Rumi, recommended readings in Qur'an and the path of the Prophet, the most extensive English- language bibliography available anywhere of translations and commentaries etc, readings in Ibn al-'Arabi and Niffari and Persian poetry, recommended periodicals, extensive silsila studies, references about sama', general introductions to Sufism, a four-part discography (Persian, Turkish, American, spoken word), a list of resources, information about the origin of Four School Sufism, notes on Rumi and the Mevlevi tariqat in India, thorough description of Mevlevi muqabele sama' with descriptions of the movements and prayers, symbolism, etc, notes on traditional garb, adab and muridship etc, and an appendix on the travels of Rumi. Because Hazrat Inayat Khan first brought a message of Sufism to America, Russia, and Europe early in this century which has now become widespread...and because his favorite poet was Mevlana Rumi (mentioned over 60 times in his published works)...this work also contains an introduction to the Chistiyya lineage with which Inayat is usually associated. Notes contain information about: the founder of the tariqat, the Muslim missionary who brought it to India, their backgrounds and basic teachings, brief historical notes, a bibliography and discography, suggested readings in related studies, silsila studies, some terminology notes, introductory readings in Sufi psychology, two pertinent lettters, and a brief chronology of the Mughal dynasty. This educational resource and study guide is attractively printed on 77 full- size pages, spiral bound. $7 copy, $10 copy by mail, from: Daniel Muzaffer Donnell POB 1721 Portland OR 97207 Thanks, and peace be with you. (Muzaffer) -- Khadim Chishti khadim@forthd.dcl.com From tariqas-approval Fri Dec 16 20:05:59 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA13047; Sat, 17 Dec 1994 06:09:11 GMT Received: from mail04.mail.aol.com by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA13038; Sat, 17 Dec 1994 01:09:10 -0500 Received: by mail04.mail.aol.com (1.38.193.5/16.2) id AA17264; Sat, 17 Dec 1994 01:05:59 -0500 Date: Sat, 17 Dec 1994 01:05:59 -0500 From: Najat@aol.com Message-Id: <941217010553_148180@aol.com> To: tariqas@world.std.com Subject: Re: URS: Death & Marriage Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: As-salaam aleikhum! I believe the arabic word for salvation is najat. Regards, Najat From tariqas-approval Sat Dec 17 12:51:56 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA27365; Sat, 17 Dec 1994 22:52:12 GMT Received: from teer23.acpub.duke.edu by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA27350; Sat, 17 Dec 1994 17:52:11 -0500 Received: (from hthashq1@localhost) by teer23.acpub.duke.edu (8.6.8.1/Duke-2.0) id RAA10274; Sat, 17 Dec 1994 17:51:57 -0500 Date: Sat, 17 Dec 1994 17:51:56 -0500 (EST) From: Hugh Talat Halman Subject: Urs: Love in Dance To: Tariqas Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: Tariqas Friends and Lovers of Rumi: Today has taken me away from the Net but not from the Na't. Through a whirl-wind of activity I return at this maghrib of urs to present: In your light I learn how to love. In your beauty, how to make poems. You dance inside my chest, where no one sees you, but sometimes I do, and that sight becomes this art. ********* Love swells and surges the ocean and on your robe of stormcloud sews rain designs. Love is lightning, and also the *ahhh* we respond with. ********* You that come to birth and bring the mysteries, your voice-thunder makes us very happy. Roar, lion of the heart, and tear me open. selections from Coleman Barks, _Birdsong_ Athens, GA: Maypop, 1993, pp. 41, 40 Let's roar with love! And turn with Passion! Hu! Talat From tariqas-approval Sat Dec 17 12:57:39 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA29409; Sat, 17 Dec 1994 22:58:13 GMT Received: from UTCVM.UTC.EDU by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA29391; Sat, 17 Dec 1994 17:58:12 -0500 Message-Id: <199412172258.AA29391@world.std.com> Received: from UTCVM.UTC.EDU by UTCVM.UTC.EDU (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 0507; Sat, 17 Dec 94 17:57:59 EST Received: from UTCVM.UTC.EDU (NJE origin JHENRY@UTCVM) by UTCVM.UTC.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 2519; Sat, 17 Dec 1994 17:57:59 -0500 Date: Sat, 17 Dec 94 17:57:39 EST From: Jim Henry in Chattanooga 615-755-4398 Subject: Stories for celebrating To: tariqas@world.std.com Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: Greetings on this day of celebration. In preparation of today, I've been thinking about the impact of Mevlana Rumi in my life. I have a few stories to share with you that I received from one of my teachers, Hassan Hussein, who lives in Konya, Turkey, Where Rumi lived and is buried. I asked Hassan why the people of Konya were so happy. In response, he told me about-- THE RICH MAN A man can be a billionaire and pay the debts of his parents, grandparents, and back 7 generations. He can also leave money for his children and grandchildren to be well off for seven generations. The same is true of spiritual billionaires. I asked Hassan if there were any spiritual billionaires. He said, "Mevlana, Yunnus and some today." Hassan said that a billionaire might hide his wealth so that thieves wouldn't get it. Similarly, a spiritual billionaire might try to hide it for similar reasons. --- THE TWO SONS A man had two sons, one who was spiritual and kept the prayers; the other enjoyed the world's physical pleasures. In the world, there was a society of 40 highly spiritual people. As one passed to the other side, another person could join the society. The spiritual brother was told if you can jump from this high place, you can join the society of 40. He said, "There's no way I can do that. I can't." The other brother was told that and said, "I'll try." And he did, and joined the society. --- DEALING WITH THE GUILTY MAN A shopkeeper slapped a man on the street and the man fell dead. A crowd gathered, for the death must be avenged before the sun sets. The shopkeeper appealed to the judge, "I am the caretaker for two orphans. Let me go and arrange for their care before I am executed. I will return." The judge said, "No." The shopkeeper said, "If I can find someone in the crowd to stand for me while I'm gone, may I?" The judge said, "Yes." The shopkeeper looked through the crowd anxiously. His eyes fell on a man; he asked, "Will you stand for me?" The man said, "Yes." The shopkeeper left. The shopkeeper was gone a long time. The crowd was getting anxious. The man was getting anxious. Finally the shopkeeper came back, saying that it took longer than he expected to make the arrangements. The crowd was touched by his honesty and by the man's willingness to stand for his friend. The man said, "But, I do not know this man. We are not friends." The crowd asked why did he stand for him? The man said, "He asked me. He had no one else to ask. He needed me." The crowd was so impressed by all this, they called the family of the dead man and asked if, under these circumstances, the man could remain alive. The family agreed and the shopkeeper was released, freed. --- Those are some of the stories Hassan shared with me. I've been looking at a journal I wrote when I was fortunate enough to be in Turkey. When I think about the path I've taken, I am struck by the impact of seemingly small events on the direction of my life. Quite obviously, I am not the one in charge, not the one in control. Somehow, the Source of the universe, the Source of Love, the Universal Principle, my Higher Power, my God, Allah is Ar-Rasheed, the guide to my Right Path. Some bits of the story of my path may be interesting to you. If so, I'm glad. HOW I MET HASSAN As a part of my personal path, I was on a pilgrimage a few years ago. I was in Turkey as a result of reading Reshad Feilds' book, The Last Barrier. The book had been given to me by a friend because of my interest in Sufism. I arrived in Istanbul, much like Mark Twain, an "innocent abroad," and had few definite plans other than to visit Konya, Side and Ephesus. One Monday, I found myself in line in a money-changer's shop in Istanbul and I overheard a woman in front of me talking with another customer about Sufism. I joined the conversation and ended up meeting and spending some time with Sylvia and Alan Godlas. Alan's name may be familiar to you as a frequent and wise contributor to this list. Alan gave me the names of some people and places to look up in Konya, most memorably, the Dervish Brothers Carpet Shop, just about a block from the Mevlana Turbesi (tomb). Necati Chanak and Ahmad Bugukzeytinci were the shopkeepers at the carpet shop. When I got to Konya, I did meet Necati and Ahmad, two of the most hospitable and friendly and kind men I met in Turkey. Two of many people I had encountered in Turkey with those characteristics. I spent three days absorbing the energies, gifts and blessings of Konya. One of the blessings was to meet Hassan Hussein, a wise teacher, a mystic and also a shopkeeper near Rumi's tomb. Mas'Allah, praise be to Allah. JIM Jim Henry U of Tennessee at Chattanooga 615-755-4398 From tariqas-approval Sat Dec 17 19:29:24 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA28513; Sun, 18 Dec 1994 00:28:25 GMT Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA28503; Sat, 17 Dec 1994 19:28:24 -0500 Date: Sat, 17 Dec 1994 19:28:24 +0001 (EST) From: Steve H Rose Subject: Off to a Sema... To: tariqas@world.std.com Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: Assalamu alaikum, dear friends, and many blessings on this special day (and on every other day for that matter -- I guess they're all equally special -- in their own way). One of the wonderful things about the Internet is how it can help us to share regardless of space and time. Insh'Allah, our planet may someday learn another way to do the same thing -- love! I will keep you in my hearts tonight at the Seattle Sema, and, Insh'Allah, look forward to catching up with all of my email some time soon :-) yours, habibullah From tariqas-approval Wed Dec 17 17:23:27 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA05066; Sun, 18 Dec 1994 09:23:40 GMT Received: from netcom17.netcom.com by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA05059; Sun, 18 Dec 1994 04:23:39 -0500 Received: by netcom17.netcom.com (8.6.9/Netcom) id BAA13676; Sun, 18 Dec 1994 01:23:27 -0800 Date: Sun, 18 Dec 1994 01:23:27 -0800 (PST) From: Steven Finkelman Subject: tonight's sharing To: tariqas@world.std.com Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: Peace be with you all, I thank you all for the beautiful contributions to this list tonight. Today and tonight I am witnessing my failure to stand. That ground is not firm I stood confident in a temporal knowing Illusion of form. And realize that failure is necessary. I pulled out a book and this poen is what presented itself to me. I thought I'd share it. "Desire and the Importance of Failing" A selection from: FEELING THE SHOULDER OF THE LION Poetry and Teaching Stories of RUMI, translated by Coleman Barks A window opens A curtain pulls back. The lamps of lovers connect, not at their ceramic bases, but in their lightedness. No lover wants union with the Beloved without the Beloved also wanting the lover. Love makes the lover weak, while the Beloved gets strong. Lightning from here strikes there. When you begin to love God, God is loving you. A clapping sound does not come from one hand. A thirsty man calls out, "Delicious water, where are you?" while the water moans, "Where is the water drinker?" The thirst in our souls is the attraction put out by the Water itself. We belong to it, and it to us. God's wisdom made us lovers of one another. In fact, all the particles in the world are in love and looking for lovers. Pieces of straw tremble in the presence of amber. We tremble like iron filings welcoming the magnet. Whatever that Presence gives us we take in. Earth signs feed. Water signs wash and freshen. Air signs clear the atmosphere. Fire signs clear the skillet, so we cook without getting burnt. And the Holy Spirit helps with everything, like a young man trying to support a family. We, like the man's young wife, stay home, taking care of the house, nursing the children. Spirit and matter work together like this, in a division of labor. Sweethearts kiss and taste the delight before they get into bed and mate. The desire of each lover is that the work of the other be perfected. By this man-and-woman cooperation, the world gets preserved. Generation occurs. Rosed and blue arghawan flowers flower. Night and day meet in a mutual hug. So different, but they do love each other, the day and the night, like family. And without their mutual alternation we would have no energy. Every part of the cosmos draws towards its mate. The ground keeps talking to the body, saying, "Come back! Its better for you down here where you came from." The streamwater calls to the moisture in the body. The fiery aether whispers to the body's heat, "I'm your origin. Come with me." Seventy-two diseases are caused by the various elements pulling inside the body. Disease comes, and the organs fall out of harmony. We're like the four different birds, that each had one leg tied in with the other birds. A flopping bouquet of birds! death releases the binding, and they fly off, but before that, their pulling is our pain. Consider how the soul must be, in the midst of these tensions, feeling its own exhaulted pull. My longing is more profound. These birds want the sweet green herbs and the water running by. I want the infinite! I want wisdom These birds want orchards and meadows and vines with fruit on them. I want a vast expansion. They want profit and the security of having enough food. Remember what the soul wants, because in that, eternity is wanting our souls! Which is the meaning of the text, They love That, and That loves them. If I keep on explaining this, The _Mathnawi_ will run to eighty volumes! The gist is: whatever anyone seeks, that is seeking the seeker. No matter if its animal, or vegetable or mineral. Every bit of the universe is filled with wanting, and whatever any bit wants, wants the wanter! This subject must dissolve again. Back to Sadri Jahan an uneducated peasant who loved him so that gradually Sadri Jahan loved the lowly man. But who really attracted who, whoom, Huuuu? Don't be presumptuous and say one or the other. Close your lips. The mystery of loving is God's sweetest secret. Keep it. Bury it. Leave it here where I leave it, drawn as I am by the pull of the Puller to something else. You know how it is. Sometimes we plan a trip to one place, but something takes us to another. When a horse is being broken, the trainer pulls it in many different directions. So the horse will come to know what it is to be ridden. The most beautiful and alert horse is one completely attuned to the rider. God fixes a passionate desire in you, and then disappoints you. God does that a hundred times. God breaks the wings of one intention and then gives you another, cuts the rope of contriving, so you'll remember your dependence. But sometimes, your plans work out! You feel fulfilled and in control. That's because if you were always failing, you might give up. But remember, it is by failures that lovers stay aware of how theiy're loved. Failure is the key to the kingdom within. Your prayer should be,"Break the legs of what I want to happen. Humilliate my desire. Eat me like candy. It's spring and finially I have no will." In clear light. Steven Finkelman DATA/Massage slfink@netcom.com From tariqas-approval Sun Dec 18 06:01:11 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA18585; Sun, 18 Dec 1994 16:01:22 GMT Received: from r-node.io.org by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA18564; Sun, 18 Dec 1994 11:01:20 -0500 Received: (from walrus@localhost) by r-node.io.org (8.6.9/8.6.9) id LAA24540 for tariqas@world.std.com; Sun, 18 Dec 1994 11:01:11 -0500 Date: Sun, 18 Dec 1994 11:01:11 -0500 From: Walter Eisenbeis Message-Id: <199412181601.LAA24540@r-node.io.org> To: tariqas@world.std.com Subject: Re: URS: Death & Marriage Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: I believe the word "urs" is Arabic for marriage. "Shebi" may have different meanings depending on which language it is from. Essentially the term, as far as I know, means the "marriage night". "Shab" is Persian for night. The "i" indicates the word modified "urs". Here it is used to indicate the mystical marriage of a saint who leaves the physical world and goes to his beloved, Allah. Khoda hafiz --- ~ KWQ/2 1.2g ~ In love there is no superiority From tariqas-approval Fri Dec 16 00:11:50 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA05789; Sun, 18 Dec 1994 22:01:11 GMT Received: from uunet!fifthd by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA05782; Sun, 18 Dec 1994 17:01:10 -0500 Received: from espace.dcl.com by relay4.UU.NET with SMTP id QQxuwe01507; Sun, 18 Dec 1994 17:00:20 -0500 Message-Id: Received: from forthd by espace.dcl.com (MX V3.1C) with UUCP; Sun, 18 Dec 1994 13:59:52 PST Received: by forthd.dcl.com (DECUS UUCP /2.0/2.0/2.0/); Sun, 18 Dec 94 13:34:45 PST Received: from fifthd by fifthd.uucp (UUPC/extended 1.12b) with UUCP; Fri, 16 Dec 1994 00:11:57 GMT From: Super User To: tariqas@world.std.com Date: Fri, 16 Dec 1994 00:11:50 GMT+6 Subject: M Gest inquiry Priority: normal X-Mailer: Pegasus Mail v3.1 (R1a) Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: Sheb-i Arus means literally "night of the bride/wedding". Urs and Arus are the same thing, pronounced differently according to linguistic variations. Peace be with you. (Muzaffer) -- Khadim Chishti khadim@forthd.dcl.com From tariqas-approval Sun Dec 18 13:10:14 1994 Received: by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA11554; Sun, 18 Dec 1994 23:14:45 GMT Received: from uga.cc.uga.edu by world.std.com (5.65c/Spike-2.0) id AA11543; Sun, 18 Dec 1994 18:14:44 -0500 Received: from UGA.CC.UGA.EDU by uga.cc.uga.edu (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 4138; Sun, 18 Dec 94 18:14:04 EST Received: from UGA.CC.UGA.EDU (NJE origin CBBARKS@UGA) by UGA.CC.UGA.EDU (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 1657; Sun, 18 Dec 1994 18:14:04 -0500 Date: Sun, 18 Dec 94 18:10:14 EST From: coleman Subject: Rumi To: Whoever Message-Id: <941218.181403.EST.CBBARKS@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU> Sender: tariqas-approval@world.std.com Precedence: bulk Reply-To: tariqas@world.std.com Status: RO X-Status: A I don't know who I'm writing to. I was given this e-mail address and told there was a lot of trading of Rumi poems here at this address. My kind of thing. Who'e there? Love, Coleman Barks