From tariqas-digest-approval@europe.std.com Fri Aug 9 06:21:39 1996 Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 18:52:05 -0400 (EDT) From: tariqas-digest-approval@europe.std.com Reply-To: tariqas-digest@world.std.com To: tariqas-digest@world.std.com Subject: tariqas-digest V1 #91 tariqas-digest Friday, 2 August 1996 Volume 01 : Number 091 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: frank gaude Date: Thu, 01 Aug 1996 17:53:33 -0700 Subject: The Story of The Three Fish The Story of The Three Fish Three fish once lived in a pool. They were: a clever fish, a half-clever fish, and a stupid fish. Life continued for them very much as it is for fish everywhere until one day came, a man. He was carrying a net, and the clever fish saw him through the water. Calling upon his experience, the stories he had heard, and his cleverness, he decided to take action. "There are few places to hide in this pool," he thought. "I shall therefore play dead." He summoned his strength and jumped out of the pool, landing at the feet of the fisherman, who was rather surprised. But as the clever fish was holding his breath, the fisherman supposed that he was dead, and threw him back This fish now glided into a small hole under the bank. Now the second fish, the half-clever one, did not quite understand what had happened. So he swam up to the clever fish and asked him all about it. "Simple," said the clever fish, "I played dead, so he threw me back." So the half-clever fish immediately leaped out of the water, at the fisherman's feet. "Strange," thought the fisherman, "they are leaping about all over the place!" And, because the half-clever fish had forgotten to hold his breath, the fisherman realized that he was alive and put him into his satchel. He turned back to peer into the water, and because he had been slightly confused by the fishes jumping on to dry land in front of him, he did not close the flap of his bag. The half-clever fish, realized this and was just able to ease himself out and, flipping over and over, got back into the water. He sought out the first fish and lay panting beside him. Now the third fish, the stupid one, was not able to make anything at all of this, even when he heard the first and second fishes' versions. So they went over every point with him, stressing the importance of not breathing, in order to play dead. "Thank you so much, now I understand," said the stupid fish. With these words he hurled himself out of the water, landing just beside the fisherman. Now the fisherman, having lost two fish already, put this one into his bag without bothering to look at whether it was breathing or not. He cast the net again and again into the pool, but the first two fish were crouched into the depression under the bank. And the flap on the fisherman's bag this time was fully closed. Finally, the fisherman gave up. He opened the bag, realized that the stupid fish was not breathing, and took him home for the cat! Note: It is related that Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, transmitted this story to the Khajagan Masters who in the 14th century changed their name to the Naqshbandi Order. This version is from Abdal Afifi who heard it from Sheikh Mohammed Asghar, who died in 1813. His shrine is in New Delhi. I took it from the book, "Tales of the Dervishes" translated by Idries Shah. tanzen ------------------------------ From: Well333@turbonet.com (Jacquie Weller) Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 17:58:08 +0100 Subject: in addition Tanzen when I wrote the poem about depression coming back, it was a fear that that might be happening. It was not happening. The shadow was sort of a flash back to the way i use to feel but this was just a temporary condition, and I am free of this condition, thank God. I was mostly worried that I was loosing ground but the reality was I just was down. I could see how you might have thought I was falling back to depression. If I was, it was so brief and more outside of me than inside of me if this makes any sense to you. Love Kaffea. ------------------------------ From: Well333@turbonet.com (Jacquie Weller) Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 18:40:07 +0100 Subject: Oops Sorry folks I sent a personal message to Tanzen, and by mistake it got on Tariqas. Kaffea Lalla ------------------------------ From: Steve Phillips Date: Thu, 1 Aug 1996 22:13:40 +0000 Subject: meditation sitting still, the universe encloses your awareness -- breathe the exhalations of everything, unruly, wild and extravagant, they are hurtling full speed into your will. the future, each eventful moment, is the sum of all wills being combined into being, in the midst of all these exhalations which you continue to inhale. think of your single will being added in like a drop of the ocean you are welcomed and mingled your "I-ness" is no more now all will is part of you now is your breathing being inhaled into the clod of mud on the floor that calls itself "I" returning, what now will you do with the precious breath, the exhalations of divine love which innundate your nostrils and depart, over and over, like waves on the shore? can you shape your will to be in harmony with your breath so that you will become a self aware of the needs of others, a self whose diamond nature reflects their light and fashions rainbows of their colors. all is well. be our guide, o holy one, our delight is to sense you beside us on the way. steve ------------------------------ From: frank gaude Date: Thu, 01 Aug 1996 20:13:51 -0700 Subject: Re: meditation Steve Phillips wrote: Your poem here, Steve, is one of most insightful ones I have read in all my ageless life... Thank you. How can we thank you enough? By being kind and helpful to our neighbors, by loving God with all our hearts, minds, and bodies, by actually loving those neighbors as ourselves (which they are). tanzen > sitting still, > the universe encloses your awareness -- > breathe the exhalations of everything, > unruly, wild and extravagant, > they are hurtling full speed into your will. > > the future, each eventful moment, > is the sum of all wills being combined > into being, in the midst of all these exhalations > which you continue to inhale. > > think of your single will being added in > like a drop of the ocean > you are welcomed and mingled > your "I-ness" is no more > > now all will is part of you > now is your breathing being > inhaled into the clod of mud on the floor > that calls itself "I" > > returning, > what now will you do with the precious breath, > the exhalations of divine love > which innundate your nostrils > and depart, over and over, > like waves on the shore? > > can you shape your will > to be in harmony with your breath > so that you will become a self > aware of the needs of others, a self > whose diamond nature > reflects their light and fashions rainbows > of their colors. > > all is well. > be our guide, o holy one, > our delight is to sense you beside us > on the way. ------------------------------ From: woodsong@juno.com (Carol Woodsong) Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 00:35:55 PST Subject: Jabriel's Love! Hello, beloved friends! I just spoke (on the phone) with our dear friend, Jabriel Hanafi. He asked me to send his love to all. He has moved, but has yet to get his computer connected, i guess. I suspect that he will be back here /soon/ to personally offer up his love... his heart, his poetry... just like always... :)(: 'till then, know that he is well... and as Beautiful as ever! love to all! woodsong ------------------------------ From: Nasihah Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 19:06:46 +0800 (SST) Subject: Pain etc Assalaamu 'alaikum Shaykh Rumi said: "Pain comes from seeing how arrogant you've been, and pain brings you out of that conceit." Abdullah Ansari said: " Know friend! Human sorrow springs from three things; To want before it is due; To want more than the destined share; And to want for oneself what belongs to others." And: Gai Eaton: Only in appearance is this a choice made by the individual; in truth the choice is made for him, the way indicated by unmistakeable signs and the matter concluded without too much fuss.[ King of the Castle.] Wasalaam. ------------------------------ From: smj Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 19:30:29 +0800 (SST) Subject: Pain etc (fwd) Assalaamu 'alaikum Shaykh Rumi said: "Pain comes from seeing how arrogant you've been, and pain brings you out of that conceit." Abdullah Ansari said: " Know friend! Human sorrow springs from three things; To want before it is due; To want more than the destined share; And to want for oneself what belongs to others." And: Gai Eaton: Only in appearance is this a choice made by the individual; in truth the choice is made for him, the way indicated by unmistakeable signs and the matter concluded without too much fuss.[ King of the Castle.] Wasalaam. ------------------------------ From: frank gaude Date: Fri, 02 Aug 1996 05:53:29 -0700 Subject: RUMI 1391 HOW LONG can i see myself chained in this prison chained in this world the time has come to take my good life in my hands and gallop to the sublime finally purified i'm no more polluted and from now on i'll take my quests directly to God Himself i was given at my birth all the estates and mansions it will be a heresy to accept only a doorkeeper's job once i alter this doorkeeper's attitude once i change the essence in my mind happiness will replace misery now my dear heart since you and i are all alone having your midnight message i'll do exactly that which you know once i grow wings in place of my slow feet all obstacles will vanish and i really can fly in time and space again ghazal number 1391, translated April 8, 1991, by Nader Khalili RUMI, "Fountain of Fire: A Celebration of Life and Love", translated from the original Persian (Diwan-i Shams-i Tabrizi, the Furuzanfar's 10th Persian edition), Burning Gate Press, 18401 Burbank Blvd., Suite 123, Tarzana, CA 91356, 1994 Nader Khalili, internationally renowned architect, artist, author and teacher, is the founder of California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture. He lives in Hesperia, California. tanzen ------------------------------ From: frank gaude Date: Fri, 02 Aug 1996 05:55:49 -0700 Subject: O FAITH Submission and Faith The simple teaching of all religions during every age, the essence of religion and philosophy, is contained in these words: Go and stand before God in simple faith, as if a little child. At that moment you will say, "I know nothing, I have not learned anything, I am only an empty cup waiting to be filled. I have only love to offer You, and because my love is insufficient, I ask to be given more. I have only faith, and yet that too is insufficient; so I ask that it be strengthened and developed so that it will be strong enough to hold me before You. Purity I need, but I do not have it, or at least, if I have it, it is only Your own essence which is within my being, and I wish to keep it as clean as possible. With these three things I come, as a little child, with no knowledge of my own, leaving aside all doubts and questions or whatever else can come between us". Such is the essence of religion. It is so simple that even a child can have it. He does not need learning; once it is explained to him he, this child, will understand. We need not have learning or great intellectual understanding to be able to do it, to submit and have faith, at-one-ment. Just Faith Faith is a very big word...it is not blind! From my experience with the Sufis and with Jay Em, FAITH is little understood or used by many. Faith is like "knowing for sure", and it comes through demonstrations, showings, and each time results are achieved faith increases, power increases. There appears to come a time, and I am not there yet, that with sufficient faith one could say to this mountain, "move", and it would. Now to say such a thing, move, requires a certain knowing beyond what is normally called knowledge. Many call sure gnosis; I do. But it is not something one can intellectually talk about. One needs to be shown by a teacher, one who has been there. From such faith develops! Jesus is reported to have performed many healings in the Christian Gospels. Each healing, if you notice, was somewhat different. One was of the eyes, another the ears, one at a distance for the Centurion's servant (happening within the hour, not immediately), one raising the dead, one of walking, one by indirect touching, one that required praying on, etc. Why was these things done? To support belief, faith, in WHAT each of us are. We each can do the things Jesus did, and even greater things, because we have evolved even more from his times. Our level of consciousness is higher, a little higher. What he was demonstrated is that we each can heal ourselves through faith, through a knowledge of WHAT we are, what our inner parts are and from where they come. Every prophet seems to have said the same thing but the message always gets lost in the translation when it comes down through the organized religions. Guess this is just human nature for this to happen. Nothing is said to be made easy; we each have to desire the loss of our false egos before we can "ask and receive". Jeremiah 31:31-34 Behold... I will make a new covenant... I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God... And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them... and I will remember their sin no more. (Also see Ezekiel 36:26-28.) We have been under this covenant, with the law in our inward parts, for a long, long time now. Have we understood just what it means, this covenant? We lose that which we don't use... tanzen ------------------------------ From: frank gaude Date: Fri, 02 Aug 1996 08:49:58 -0700 Subject: Re: Woman Bismillah ar-Rahman ir-Rahim Lilyan Kay wrote: > > asalaam-u-aleikum > > This is a good question although I have to say as I get older it's easier > to accept that people can be only partial and not complete jerks. Yes, know your feelings... life has an infinite number of shades, from diamond white to coal black, with all the colors, vibrations inbetween. Many of us tend to think in black and white terms forgetting the "inbetweens". > After having spent time in places where I believe patterns of behavior are > somewhat similar to what they were in his times, I would attribute some of > it to this. If I were to view it out context I might come to the same > conclusions. Understand... but what was the fundamentals that would make a man write, believe in such terms? Do we get it from al-Qur'an? The Bible? The 'Gita? The Torah? The modern person sees men and women on equal footings, each with unique attributes, products of The Loving God, Allah. > That is, women tend to act evil - passive aggressive, Gosh, that is a curious express, "passive aggressive". Please elaborate. > manipulative, dishonest, lazy, etc. I find these same things in men, of all races and backgrounds. > That seems to be a standard human > response to having no power - kids who are treated this way do the same > things. Like begets like, one of the basic laws laid down by The Absolute. Plant corn, corn comes up; plant disrespect you get disrespect in return... > If I had never met any women except these and wasn't one myself, I > might come to the conclusion that this is the way women are. Particularly > if it reinforced my own right to privilege. Yes. But you and I know better. al-Hamdu'lillah Love, harmony, and beauty, tanzen > On Thu, 1 Aug 1996, frank gaude wrote: > > > What you are saying is he has a "blind spot" when it comes to women? He > > loses sight, insight, when woman is the issue? > > > > Wonder why that would be? > > > > A sign of his times, his politics? > > > > Peace, love, > > > > tanzen ------------------------------ From: Hafizullah@aol.com Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 12:30:42 -0400 Subject: Re: Woman In a message dated 96-08-02 11:56:24 EDT, you write: << Gosh, that is a curious express, "passive aggressive". Please elaborate. >> A standard psycological term. You've seen it in action: You ask your kid to do a job; s/he does not really want to do it but feels coerced because the power balance is perceived as unequal; the job gets done half-assed or screwed up and the kid has lots of great reasons to be held blameless for the way it turned out. We will, almost ALL of us, fall back on this when pushed far enough and our basic integrity is threatened. ------------------------------ From: maarof@pc.jaring.my Date: Sat, 3 Aug 1996 00:59:48 +0800 Subject: Re: Woman >There is one hadith which goes something like this : > > Man possesses 99 aqal and 1 nafs whereas for the opposite sex > it is 1 a'qal and 99 nafs. > >I hope someone in the list could quote the source of this hadith. > >Salam >Noordin > Hello my brother Nordin, A wise man said: "When the sexual organ of any man stands erect, two-third of his intellect (aqal) goes away." And with woman having 99 nafs to entice the man, I don't think that poor man will last long :) maarof (pls let me know if you found the source that hadith?) ------------------------------ From: maarof@pc.jaring.my Date: Sat, 3 Aug 1996 01:46:55 +0800 Subject: Re: Woman >> Concerning Imam Al Ghazzali, although he has many wonderful and >> penetrating insights, I wouldn't count his views on women as among these. >> This shouldn't deter anyone from reading him, though, his work is >> among the clearest and most insightful I have read. >> I've read a number of Al-Ghazalli's books, and none so far, about his views on women. Much he wrote is about the path to God according to Ahli Sunnah wal Jamaah's belief. His greatest book "Ihya" in which he presented the Sharia from the sufi perspective, there was very few references on women (mostly in the chapter on marriage). Maybe I've a "blind spot". salam maarof ------------------------------ From: frank gaude Date: Fri, 02 Aug 1996 10:44:53 -0700 Subject: Re: Woman maarof@pc.jaring.my wrote: > > >There is one hadith which goes something like this : > > > > Man possesses 99 aqal and 1 nafs whereas for the opposite sex > > it is 1 a'qal and 99 nafs. > > > >I hope someone in the list could quote the source of this hadith. > > > >Salam > >Noordin Hello, dear sisters and brothers! > Hello my brother Noordin, > > A wise man said: "When the sexual organ of any man stands erect, > two-third of his intellect (aqal) goes away." That man was indeed wise: one-third remains for intellectual use, one-third for intuitive use, and one-third for instinctive use. Now this is balance! But how to achieve such? Aaaah... continous erection. > And with woman having 99 nafs to entice the man, I don't think > that poor man will last long :) I have found that the younger you are and the more spirit (will) you have: the longer you last. Glory BE! > maarof > (pls let me know if you found the source that hadith?) Yes, please, my brains frys as I wait, tanzen ------------------------------ From: Well333@turbonet.com (Jacquie Weller) Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 11:59:21 +0100 Subject: Olympic Trivia In case no one knows, Dan OBrian, the Decatholon Champion, lives here in my home town, Moscow, Idaho; trains at the University of Idaho. This is no small potato. Love Kaffea Lalla. ------------------------------ From: maarof@pc.jaring.my Date: Sat, 3 Aug 1996 05:44:47 +0800 Subject: 99 + 1 aql, nafs Noordin wrote: >> >There is one hadith which goes something like this : >> > >> > Man possesses 99 aqal and 1 nafs whereas for the opposite sex >> > it is 1 a'qal and 99 nafs. >> > >> >I hope someone in the list could quote the source of this hadith. >> > Maarof wrote: >> >> A wise man said: "When the sexual organ of any man stands erect, >> two-third of his intellect (aqal) goes away." Tanzen wrote: >That man was indeed wise: one-third remains for intellectual use, >one-third for intuitive use, and one-third for instinctive use. Now this >is balance! But how to achieve such? Aaaah... continous erection. laughter> Maarof wrote: >> And with woman having 99 nafs to entice the man, I don't think >> that poor man will last long :) Tanzen wrote: >I have found that the younger you are and the more spirit (will) you >have: the longer you last. Glory BE! > Whoaa... Tanzen, what a piece of insight! Sort of reminding me your Law of 3 in that 7 postings of Ray of Creation delight! Here's another clue that I'be been continuously thinking, and which might link to the number 99 and 1. 99 is the sum of 33 Subhanallah 33 Alhamdulillah 33 Allahuakbar and 1 La hawla walla quwata illa billah (nothing in my power except Allah) (These are the common wirid (dhikr) after performing the 5 daily prayers.) Another is the term "pair" and the "opposite". The opposites (male/female man/woman, aql/nafs), i think create the "balance". BTW, the quote about "erect sexual organ" is from Ihya by Ghazzali. It is actually an advice to unmaried young man to go find a wife, so that the intuitive and instinctive needs are taken care off :) salam maarof ------------------------------ From: frank gaude Date: Fri, 02 Aug 1996 15:06:25 -0700 Subject: Re: Woman Hello, folks! Hafizullah@aol.com wrote: > > In a message dated 96-08-02 11:56:24 EDT, you write: > > << Gosh, that is a curious expression, "passive aggressive". Please > >> elaborate. > > A standard psycological term. You've seen it in action: You ask your kid to > do a job; s/he does not really want to do it but feels coerced because the > power balance is perceived as unequal; the job gets done half-assed or > screwed up and the kid has lots of great reasons to be held blameless for the > way it turned out. Another way to describe the situation would likely be "perceived injustice" leading to unthoughtful action. > We will, almost ALL of us, fall back on this when pushed far enough and our > basic integrity is threatened. If such happens it just means that our "integrity" is not based upon "stone" but upon "brick". One cannot labor over, lift brick and produce "water" that becomes Wine. Thanks for getting me on track, Hafizullah. Peace and love, tanzen ------------------------------ From: frank gaude Date: Fri, 02 Aug 1996 15:49:09 -0700 Subject: Re: 99 + 1 aql, nafs maarof@pc.jaring.my wrote: > > Noordin wrote: > >> >There is one hadith which goes something like this : > >> > > >> > Man possesses 99 aqal and 1 nafs whereas for the opposite sex > >> > it is 1 a'qal and 99 nafs. > >> > > >> >I hope someone in the list could quote the source of this hadith. > >> > > > Maarof wrote: > >> > >> A wise man said: "When the sexual organ of any man stands erect, > >> two-third of his intellect (aqal) goes away." > > Tanzen wrote: > > >That man was indeed wise: one-third remains for intellectual use, > >one-third for intuitive use, and one-third for instinctive use. Now this > >is balance! But how to achieve such? Aaaah... continous erection. >laughter> > > Maarof wrote: > > >> And with woman having 99 nafs to entice the man, I don't think > >> that poor man will last long :) > > Tanzen wrote: > > >I have found that the younger you are and the more spirit (will) you > >have: the longer you last. Glory BE! Maarof wrote: > Whoaa... Tanzen, what a piece of insight! Sort of reminding me > your Law of 3 in that 7 postings of Ray of Creation delight! Yes, nonetheless, never forget the presentation of Ray is intellectual, and just that. On the other hand, there is a chance your intuition might nudge you here and there and cause a willful jump to another level or station, just might happen. Mysterious are the ways of the inner plane beings... Maarof wrote: > Here's another clue "clue" to what? Maarof wrote: > that I've been continuously thinking, and which > might link to the number 99 and 1. > 99 is the sum of 33 Subhanallah > 33 Alhamdulillah > 33 Allahuakbar Yes, and 3 + 3 equals 6 (Soloman's Seal) and such is the number pointing to "as above, so below". Thus we conclude that heaven is spread out all over earth, and vice versa. Jesus is reported to have said such! Maarof wrote: > and 1 La hawla walla quwata illa billah (nothing in my power except Allah) > (These are the common wirid (dhikr) after performing the 5 daily prayers.) The number 3 used for counting, not the for measurement, desolves to 1, it's home, The One. Maarof wrote: > Another is the term "pair" and the "opposite". The opposites (male/female > man/woman, aql/nafs), i think create the "balance". Takes "third force" to "create", i.e., transform stillness, non-movement, to something manifest. That 3rd force for the Christians would be Holy Ghost (Spirit), for us sufis it is likely called the "work", the practice, wazifa (full prayer, contemplation, with zikr), or perhaps "The Tradition". It's the force that could be labeled "evolutionary" force, i.e., the "quality" of infinity actually changes in eternity. God, words suck when it comes to the "unseen". On the other hand (I love this expression, OTOH, the favorite of the Jewish scholars), Allah gave us speak and it is expected that we use it with all our forces. Maarof wrote: > BTW, the quote about "erect sexual organ" is from Ihya by Ghazzali. It > is actually an advice to unmaried young man to go find a wife, > so that the intuitive and instinctive needs are taken care of :) A woman, being the harbor of intuition, can teach a man much, and the instinct to plant seed by him is great, so Ghazzali is one wise person. Did he state that, in general, a man can teach a woman much when it comes to intellection? Of course he did! that's the 99 and 1. I be so dense at times... O Lord, send Thy peace that we may understand more fully Thy ways and not continue to live in so much darkness. Amin. tanzen ------------------------------ End of tariqas-digest V1 #91 ****************************