From tariqas-digest-approval@europe.std.com Fri Aug 9 06:21:03 1996 Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 14:16:18 -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 #89 tariqas-digest Wednesday, 31 July 1996 Volume 01 : Number 089 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: BRYAN CONN Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 11:21:43 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Re: The Will of Allah Asalaamu Alaikum Everyone! On Tue, 30 Jul 1996 ASHA101@aol.com wrote: > Many sufis have said that Allah created the universe in order that He > (probably ment He/She) might discover Himself. This leads me to think that > god is something like me, in that in my living i learn to discover myself. (...) > generally the sufis say that Allah discovers Himself through my discovering > of Him when I am not I but him. Allah says, "I was hidden treasure, which wished to be found" Perhaps He created us as the beginning of that finding... Allah says, "I did not create humans or the jinn but to worship Me" And perhaps the result of that worshipping is the realization of the treasure (in Paradise if not earth). Peace and Blessings to you all! bryan ------------------------------ From: Well333@turbonet.com (Jacquie Weller) Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 08:20:48 +0100 Subject: The Pits Dear friends, I am low the last couple of days, and my own thinking is tormenting me. I recognize that balance is not reality for me, or consistency. I am saying this so you will know just how human I am, and insecure at times. I love you and thankyou for bearing with me and supporting me. Love Kaffea Lalla ------------------------------ From: Salikun@vnet.net Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 12:51:39 -0400 Subject: Re: Tanzen Assalaamu alaikum, In response to my post, Tanzen wrote: >Sounds like the last words of a person and the first words of God... >just my opinion. > >Thanks, Muhsin, for being (and for posting, for if you didn't we would >know). > Tanzen, There is consistently a kindness, a compassion, a balance, in your words. It's as if thru your writing, I can hear your voice, and it is comforting. I hear no hidden agenda, rashness, sarcasim, egoism. Only your soothing voice, seeping with love. Thank You, I thank Allah for the pleasure of hearing your song, Sing on brother. Muhsin ------------------------------ From: Well333@turbonet.com (Jacquie Weller) Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 12:01:34 +0100 Subject: Mercy, a poem I looked at my reflection and saw a pretender. Oh God, what do I know; I want to surrender, but in my fist is me, my selfish deeds and crimes. What can I do but surrender to YOU. Only you can love me back to life. I looked at my reflection and saw only the things that separate me from You. Oh God, what can I do? My efforts have brought me simple despair, I have dressed up in costumes, like children play. You love me anyway! You bless me everyday with so many unexpected gifts. Thankyou God. I know you care about all of us. I give up my works and ambitions. Your mercy is all that matters. Kaffea Lalla ------------------------------ From: Thomas McElwain Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 22:45:25 +0300 (EET DST) Subject: re: dogs and goats Assalaamu Alaykum! What really gets my goat is people using the sexist expression he/she. It should be she/he. Dog is God spelt backwards, is it? I always wondered why dogs spend so much time looking in mirrors. Love from a flea-bitten cur, (next time around I'm going to be a flea), Ali Haydar ------------------------------ From: Thomas McElwain Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 22:48:04 +0300 (EET DST) Subject: re: Sayeed Siddiqui's questions Assalaamu Alaykum Rahmattullahi! I am honored beyond measure to receive these questions. I shall try to answer them to the best of my ability. The first relates to the distinction between Creator and created. At the gate of Shari'a there is an absolute distinction made between Creator and created. The Creator is unknowable and inconceivable to humans, not only because of grandeur, but because the Creator is absolutely one, without comparison and without parts. Because all knowledge and perception depend on a standard of comparison, that One is beyond human conception. The human response to this is to submit to the will of Allah as revealed in the revelations of the holy prophets (upon whom be peace) and by the living demonstration of the holy Imams (upon whom be peace). At the gate of Tariqa the relationship is no longer one of Creator and created, but one of Beloved. In the same way that Allah performs the miracle of revelation, He performs the miracle of communion. This drawing closer between the human and the divine is in preparation for the two inner gates to follow. At the gates of Ma'rifat and Haqiqat the human will has already submerged in the divine will, and the conscious I begins to realize that there is no reality outside God. Whatever is real in the consciousness is One, so that the consciousness of I in every individual is that same I. This realization is the result of the confession of the absolute unity of God and that God has no parts. It is also the foundation on which hostility, aggression, and violence may cease. This is the message of every true prophet. A famous prophet once said, "If ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." When I look and see "I" instead of you, I shall love my neighbor as myself. This is the teaching I received from my own predecessor in the Bektashi order, it was confirmed by the Bektashi mursheeds I met in Turkey, and never met with hostility, caution, or misunderstanding from the members of the Khalveti, Naqshbandi, or Chisti orders I have met in different parts of the Middle East. I find it disconcerting that it is met as something new, unrecognizable, and dangerous in this forum. As to the other remarks, I think I made my attitude clear in regard to various mental states including the idolatry of brain-wave counting. I enter the mosque to pray according to shari'a and have disturbed no one by doing so. Veils have nothing to do with Islam. I will add that my understanding is that both men and women, according to shari'a should be covered. I am only amazed that such time honored Sufi stories should still, after so many centuries, shock anyone. I am saddened that I am forced to write in this way, because to feed the intellectual understanding alone is likely only to confirm unbalance. My words were not meant as teaching, but expressions of praise to Allah. Fi amaanillaahi, Ali Haydar ------------------------------ From: barzakh@idola.net.id Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 08:30:15 +0700 Subject: Re: The Will of Allah Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Assalamu'alaykum, At 11:21 AM 7/30/96 -0400, Bryan wrote: > ......... > >Allah says, "I was hidden treasure, which wished to be found" >Perhaps He created us as the beginning of that finding... >Allah says, "I did not create humans or the jinn but to worship Me" >And perhaps the result of that worshipping is the realization of the >treasure (in Paradise if not earth). > Or perhaps the result is finding paradise ON earth. :-) >Peace and Blessings to you all! > And also to you, dear brother :-) Wassalamu'alaykum, your brother, Michael Roland ------------------------------ From: Simon Bryquer Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 21:46:44 -0700 Subject: Re: dogs and goats Thomas McElwain wrote: > > Assalaamu Alaykum! > What really gets my goat is people using the sexist expression > he/she. It should be she/he. > Dog is God spelt backwards, is it? I always wondered why dogs spend > so much time looking in mirrors. > Love from a flea-bitten cur, (next time around I'm going to be a flea), > Ali Haydarxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Your wish shall be granted. Best wishes, SCB ------------------------------ From: Simon Bryquer Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 21:46:44 -0700 Subject: Re: dogs and goats Thomas McElwain wrote: > > Assalaamu Alaykum! > What really gets my goat is people using the sexist expression > he/she. It should be she/he. > Dog is God spelt backwards, is it? I always wondered why dogs spend > so much time looking in mirrors. > Love from a flea-bitten cur, (next time around I'm going to be a flea), > Ali Haydarxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Your wish shall be granted. Best wishes, SCB ------------------------------ From: "Erik S. Ohlander" Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 21:02:48 Subject: Re: dogs and goats What really gets my goat - - You mean 'goad' (or is this another animal ref.?). Erik. ------------------------------ From: Well333@turbonet.com (Jacquie Weller) Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 19:33:13 +0100 Subject: Re: The will of Allah I think the middle way is Allah's will for me. I get to start over today and just be a human being. Thankyou God. Kaffea Lalla ------------------------------ From: barzakh@idola.net.id Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 10:03:24 +0700 Subject: Re: The Pits Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Assalamu'alaykum, Dear Lalla, At 08:20 AM 7/30/96 +0100, you wrote: > >Dear friends, I am low the last couple of days, and my own thinking is >tormenting me. I recognize that balance is not reality for me, or consistency. >I am saying this so you will know just how human I am, and insecure at times. >I love you and thankyou for bearing with me and supporting me. > > And God sometimes (or maybe always?) put a bunch of gold somewhere inside that dark Pit. :-) Wassalamu'alaykum, with love from your human brother, Michael Roland ===================== And if He closes before you all passes and all ways He'll show a hidden pathway which no one yet has known! Jalaluddin Rumi ====================== ------------------------------ From: Steve Phillips Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 23:09:40 +0000 Subject: clod of earth A clod of earth spoke to a bird saying, "Can you bring me a taste of the sky, I am of humble birth and cannot cavort with clouds like you." The bird replied, "All the colors of the dawn are strewn like flowers in your soul, all the wisdom of life burns like fire in your heart, when I return, I will bring you a taste of the sky." love, steve ------------------------------ From: frank gaude Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 20:49:16 -0700 Subject: Re: The will of Allah Jacquie Weller wrote: > > I think the middle way is Allah's will for me. I get to start over today > and just be a human being. Thankyou God. Kaffea Lalla Hello, Kaffea! Middle way, huh? To be human is very difficult, but I know you will be just fine as you are in the light, day and night! Love, harmony and beauty, down the middle track of the course, the one paved with gold bullion, melted down by the fire of love, tanzen ------------------------------ From: Well333@turbonet.com (Jacquie Weller) Date: Tue, 30 Jul 1996 22:01:19 +0100 Subject: Re: clod of earth > > >A clod of earth >spoke to a bird saying, >"Can you bring me a taste of the sky, >I am of humble birth and cannot cavort with clouds >like you." > >The bird replied, >"All the colors of the dawn >are strewn like flowers in your soul, >all the wisdom of life burns like fire in your heart, >when I return, I will bring you a taste of the sky." > >love, >steve >============ Dear steve this poem really touched me today and brought so much joy to me. Thankyou for sharing this. Love Kaffea Lalla ------------------------------ From: Steve H Rose Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 01:05:45 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan upcoming events On Mon, 29 Jul 1996, Gale wrote: > As brother Habib posted, if you have a chance to see Ali Khan, please treat > yourself to the occasion. He'll be performing at the Greek Theater on the > University of California campus at Berkeley on Sun. Aug. 11, I think at 4 pm. > > Blessings to all, > > Nur Jemal > Assalamu alaikum. He'll be performing on Sat. Aug 17 in Seattle at the Paramount Theater. Tickets available from Ticketmaster. Insh'Allah, if you know of other performances on this tour, please let us know! Yours, Habib ------------------------------ From: maarof@pc.jaring.my Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 15:23:28 +0800 Subject: Worship (Re: The Will of Allah) Bryan wrote: |Allah says, "I was hidden treasure, which wished to be found" |Perhaps He created us as the beginning of that finding... |Allah says, "I did not create humans or the jinn but to worship Me" |And perhaps the result of that worshipping is the realization of the |treasure (in Paradise if not earth). Michael Roland wrote: |Or perhaps the result is finding paradise ON earth. :-) A sufi said to worship Allah, one must also worship with knowledge. Knowledge is the candle that one can see whether one is playing chess with with dog or goat... (have to jump down from this soap-box before a bird drops "the taste of the sky"!) salam :) maarof ------------------------------ From: Thomas McElwain Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 11:44:48 +0300 (EET DST) Subject: sexist goodby Salaamun hiya hattaa matla'i l-fajri. Someone pointed out, quite correctly, that she/he is just as sexist as he/she, because it places the word she first. This could be remedied by using s/he instead. The object form could be herim or h/er/im, but for the unfortunate closeness to harem, which offends homosexuals and transvestites, and raises lustful heterosexual men to a pedestal where they are likely to lead lives of trapped unhappiness. These reflections may again be limited in interest to members of the Bektashi order, which continues to attempt to induce and maintain equality among the sexes. In this regard I should like to express profound gratitude to Asha for drawing my attention to the difficulty of fostering literacy. Considering that God has other tasks as well, I shall have to take a break from Tariqas at least for a while. The raspberry season is beginning, among other things. Since having sent the final prophet over 1400 years ago, I have had no one to talk to. Thanks to our gracious host, Habib, this has been a reprieve. It has been pleasant. Only a few individuals have demanded that I shut up. The last time I spoke publicly there was a general clamor. Exodus 20:18,19. "And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die." If there are those who would at any time like to be in touch and for some reason or another the email address does not work, God can be reached= at: Universitetsgatan 7 D 35, 20100 =C5bo, Finland. Or: RR 1 Box 10E, Kerens, WV 26272, USA. I am only very rarely at Frescati. By the way, Martin, I am rotten at chess. After only one game, Amy the dog refused to play any more. I am indeed indebted to Kaffea Lalla for inspiring an improvement in Paradise. I plan to make the new smoking section especially beautiful in gratitude. I admire even an attempt at betterment, considering that I God have never even tried to change. I inspired Hajji Bektash to say "Be master of your hand, your stomach, and your tongue," but by my splendour, I only manage two of the three myself, and I am God. Again, Salaamun hiya hattaa matla'i l-fajri. In the meantime, remember to do salaat, saum, zakat, and if possible meet me at my place in Mecca. I would not have commanded those things if I had not meant them. By the way, I'm getting tired of always hearing Surata l-Qadr in prayers. Why doesn't someone use Surata l-Baqara just once? It's my favorite. Loving court chister and God, Ali Haydar Al-Kalbi =20 ------------------------------ From: frank gaude Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 06:02:55 -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 tanzen ------------------------------ From: frank gaude Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 08:19:07 -0700 Subject: Re: Sayeed Siddiqui's questions Hello, folks! Thomas McElwain wrote: [...] > When I look and see > "I" instead of you, I shall love my neighbor as myself. And when you can do that you will also love Allah with your whole heart (soul), mind, and body. > This is the teaching I received from my own predecessor in the > Bektashi order, it was confirmed by the Bektashi mursheeds I met in Turkey, > and never met with hostility, caution, or misunderstanding from the members > of the Khalveti, Naqshbandi, or Chisti orders I have met in different parts > of the Middle East. I find it disconcerting that it is met as something new, > unrecognizable, and dangerous in this forum. It is not new and otherwise... you get no disagreement regarding your accurate and beautiful "four-gates" description from this Chisti-lineage sufi. Peace be unto you, tanzen ------------------------------ From: "Michael J. Moore" Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 08:24:43 -0700 Subject: Re: Woman Michael J. Moore wrote: > >. Even Rumi, or was it Ibn Arabi who said > that there are 1,000 negative attributes, 1 is mans and 999 > are womens. I'll find the exact quote if anybody is interested. > Even though nobody responded to this, I'd like to make a correction because this does go into the archive. In his Book of Counsel for Kings, al_Ghazali is explaining all that a woman has to suffer because of Eve's misbehavior in the Garden of Eden: (he lists 18 punishments) this is number 15) - the fact that merit has one thousand components, only one of which is attributable to women, while 999 are attributable to men. - -- Michael Moore home page --> http://home.aol.com/michaeljm8 ------------------------------ From: woodsong@juno.com (Carol Woodsong) Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 11:09:32 PST Subject: Re: sexist goodby Aloha, dear Ali Haydar (aka God... :) enjoy the berries! all my love, yondanoota ------------------------------ From: Well333@turbonet.com (Jacquie Weller) Date: Wed, 31 Jul 1996 11:14:05 +0100 Subject: Re: sexist goodby How can we say goodby...when you pick raspberries, I will be there carrying the bucket. We are connected everywhere. Your friend Kaffea Lalla. ------------------------------ End of tariqas-digest V1 #89 ****************************