Rise heart; thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise,
Without delays…
-George Herbert, stanza from "Easter"
***
If your ship doesn’t come in, swim out to it.
-Jonathan Winters
***
As the rays of the sun,
When night comes, become all one in his disk
Until they spread out again at sunrise,
Even so the senses are gathered up
In the mind, which is master of them all.
Therefore when a person neither hears, sees, smells,
Tastes, touches, speaks, nor enjoys, we say he sleeps.
-Prashna Upanishad
***
When you resolve to become pious, the devil in your nature cries out at you, "Tread not those paths, O confused one; distress and poverty will overcome you. You will be despised, let down by friends, you will regret it." Dread of the devil has bound their souls; the cries of the devil are the drover of the damned; the call of the Lord is a guardian of the saints.
-Rumi, "Mathnawi"
***
In each generation, every person is obliged to feel as though he or she personally came out of Egypt.
- Mishna Pesachim
***
Compassion is the willingness to play in the field of dreams even though you are awake.
-Matthew Flickstein, "Swallowing the River Ganges"
Quote
-
Guest
There’s no human power that can replace the power of Spirit.
-Lewi Pethrus
***
Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you in trouble.
-Frank Tyger
***
My highest nature, the imperishable Brahman, gives every creature its existence and lives in every creature as the adhyatma. My action is creation and the bringing forth of creatures. The adhiyajna, the supreme sacrifice, is made to me as the Lord within you.
-Bhagavad Gita 8:3-4
***
Do not lose hope in Allah, for He is the Creator. He will create another way for you. Do not flee from your trials; patience in adversity is the foundation of all virtue, of compassion and sainthood. Patience is the foundation, and without a sound foundation you cannot build a monument.
-Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani, "Fayuz E Yazdani"
***
Israel's exodus from Egypt will remain forever the springtime of the entire world.
***
Awake and rejoice in watchfulness. Understand the wisdom of the enlightened.
By watching keenly and working hard, the wise one may build himself an island which no flood can sweep away.
The thoughtless man does not care, but the attentive man looks on wakefulness as his greatest treasure.
Meditate, and in your wisdom realize nirvana, the highest happiness.
-Dhammapada
***
-Lewi Pethrus
***
Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you in trouble.
-Frank Tyger
***
My highest nature, the imperishable Brahman, gives every creature its existence and lives in every creature as the adhyatma. My action is creation and the bringing forth of creatures. The adhiyajna, the supreme sacrifice, is made to me as the Lord within you.
-Bhagavad Gita 8:3-4
***
Do not lose hope in Allah, for He is the Creator. He will create another way for you. Do not flee from your trials; patience in adversity is the foundation of all virtue, of compassion and sainthood. Patience is the foundation, and without a sound foundation you cannot build a monument.
-Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani, "Fayuz E Yazdani"
***
Israel's exodus from Egypt will remain forever the springtime of the entire world.
***
Awake and rejoice in watchfulness. Understand the wisdom of the enlightened.
By watching keenly and working hard, the wise one may build himself an island which no flood can sweep away.
The thoughtless man does not care, but the attentive man looks on wakefulness as his greatest treasure.
Meditate, and in your wisdom realize nirvana, the highest happiness.
-Dhammapada
***
-
Guest
Do what good you can, and do it solely for God’s glory, as free from it yourself as though you did not exist. Ask nothing whatever in return. Done in this way, your works are spiritual and godly.
-Meister Eckhart
***
Love the moment, and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries.
-Corita Kent
***
Of all a man's blessings we know of none greater than
The begetting of children endowed with intelligence.
Those who bear children of blameless character
Will themselves be born seven times, untouched by evil.
It is said that children are a man's real wealth,
And that this wealth is determined by his deeds.
-Tirukkural 7:61-63
***
It was God who made the hearts of the faithful serene, so that their faith could grow stronger. To God belong the armies of both the heavens and the earth. God is wise, and knows all.
-Qur'an, Al-Fath, Surah 48:4
***
This day shall be to you one of remembrance: you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord throughout the ages; you shall celebrate it as an institution for all time.
- Exodus 12:14
***
Don't cling to anything and don't reject anything. Let come what comes, and accomodate yourself to that, whatever it is. If good mental images arise, that is fine. If bad mental images arise, that is fine, too. Look on all of it as equal, and make yourself comfortable with whatever happens. Don't fight with what you experience, just observe it all mindfully.
-Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, "Mindfulness in Plain English"
-Meister Eckhart
***
Love the moment, and the energy of that moment will spread beyond all boundaries.
-Corita Kent
***
Of all a man's blessings we know of none greater than
The begetting of children endowed with intelligence.
Those who bear children of blameless character
Will themselves be born seven times, untouched by evil.
It is said that children are a man's real wealth,
And that this wealth is determined by his deeds.
-Tirukkural 7:61-63
***
It was God who made the hearts of the faithful serene, so that their faith could grow stronger. To God belong the armies of both the heavens and the earth. God is wise, and knows all.
-Qur'an, Al-Fath, Surah 48:4
***
This day shall be to you one of remembrance: you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord throughout the ages; you shall celebrate it as an institution for all time.
- Exodus 12:14
***
Don't cling to anything and don't reject anything. Let come what comes, and accomodate yourself to that, whatever it is. If good mental images arise, that is fine. If bad mental images arise, that is fine, too. Look on all of it as equal, and make yourself comfortable with whatever happens. Don't fight with what you experience, just observe it all mindfully.
-Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, "Mindfulness in Plain English"
-
Guest
The words of the Qur'an have both an outer and an inner meaning, the latter overpowering. Do not regard the surface alone, for the devil never regarded Adam as mere clay. The surface meaning of the Qur'an is like a human torso, features visible, but the spirit hidden.
-Rumi, "Mathnawi"
***
God is not interested in our good works or our rules. There is nothing we can do, nothing we can offer Him as a Holy God that He can accept - except our faith in Jesus Christ...
-Jack Winter
***
Each of us is enslaved inwardly in some way or another, and Passover helps us break out of our personal slavery and become free.
- Matisyahu, Hasidic reggae singer
***
..Let me tell you what we teach. When a monk sees a form with the eye, usually a feeling of liking or disliking comes into being. The monk then understands that liking or disliking has arisen but that either one is not inevitable but is conditioned and dependent on causes. So he heads for a state in which there is equanimity and finds that in so doing the liking or disliking has vanished and he sees things as they are. That is how he controls his senses. That is what we teach.
-Majjhima Nikaya
Ultimately, it is through serving others that we become fully human.
-Marsha Sinetar
***
Having renounced every selfish desire,
He has found his rest in the Lord of Love.
Wisdom is the staff that supports him now.
Those who take a mendicant's staff while they
Are still at the mercy of their senses
Cannot escape enormous suffering.
The illuminated man knows this truth of life.
-Paramahamsa Upanishad
***
-Rumi, "Mathnawi"
***
God is not interested in our good works or our rules. There is nothing we can do, nothing we can offer Him as a Holy God that He can accept - except our faith in Jesus Christ...
-Jack Winter
***
Each of us is enslaved inwardly in some way or another, and Passover helps us break out of our personal slavery and become free.
- Matisyahu, Hasidic reggae singer
***
..Let me tell you what we teach. When a monk sees a form with the eye, usually a feeling of liking or disliking comes into being. The monk then understands that liking or disliking has arisen but that either one is not inevitable but is conditioned and dependent on causes. So he heads for a state in which there is equanimity and finds that in so doing the liking or disliking has vanished and he sees things as they are. That is how he controls his senses. That is what we teach.
-Majjhima Nikaya
Ultimately, it is through serving others that we become fully human.
-Marsha Sinetar
***
Having renounced every selfish desire,
He has found his rest in the Lord of Love.
Wisdom is the staff that supports him now.
Those who take a mendicant's staff while they
Are still at the mercy of their senses
Cannot escape enormous suffering.
The illuminated man knows this truth of life.
-Paramahamsa Upanishad
***
-
Guest
God loves us not because of who we are, but because of who He is.
-Unknown
***
When in doubt, tell the truth.
-Mark Twain
***
Of all duties, benevolence is unequaled in this world,
And even in celestial realms.
He who understands his duty to society truly lives.
All others shall be counted among the dead.
-Tirukkural 22: 213-214
***
Since the dawn of human consciousness, religion has been the mightiest force driving humankind toward an unknown goal. It has allowed the teeming millions to experience a greater joy and a creative fervor; it has furnished them with the strength and the courage to achieve imperishable cultural feats and enabled them to reach unimaginable spiritual heights.
-Muhammad Asad Loepold Weiss, "Islamic Sufism"
***
A good motivation is what is needed: compassion without dogmatism, without complicated philosophy; just understanding that others are human brothers and sisters and respecting their human rights and dignities. That we humans can help each other is one of our unique human capacities.
-His Holiness the Dalai Lama
-Unknown
***
When in doubt, tell the truth.
-Mark Twain
***
Of all duties, benevolence is unequaled in this world,
And even in celestial realms.
He who understands his duty to society truly lives.
All others shall be counted among the dead.
-Tirukkural 22: 213-214
***
Since the dawn of human consciousness, religion has been the mightiest force driving humankind toward an unknown goal. It has allowed the teeming millions to experience a greater joy and a creative fervor; it has furnished them with the strength and the courage to achieve imperishable cultural feats and enabled them to reach unimaginable spiritual heights.
-Muhammad Asad Loepold Weiss, "Islamic Sufism"
***
A good motivation is what is needed: compassion without dogmatism, without complicated philosophy; just understanding that others are human brothers and sisters and respecting their human rights and dignities. That we humans can help each other is one of our unique human capacities.
-His Holiness the Dalai Lama
-
Guest
One filled with joy preaches without preaching.
-Mother Teresa
***
I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones.
-John Cage
***
The Lord does not partake in the good and evil deeds of any person; judgment is clouded when wisdom is obscured by ignorance. But ignorance is destroyed by knowledge of the Self within. The light of this knowledge shines like the sun, revealing the supreme Brahman. Those who cast off sin through this knowledge, absorbed in the Lord and established in him as their one goal and refuge, are not reborn as separate creatures.
-Bhagavad Gita 5:15-17
***
The best charity is followed by contentment, so begin with those related to you.
-The Prophet Muhammed, as reported by Abu Hurairah
***
Ever since Rabbi Akiba used the Passover seder to plan a revolutionary struggle against the Roman occupiers, the Jews have used the seder to begin concrete work on tikkun (healing and transformation).
- Rabbi Michael Lerner, the Tikkun Magazine Passover supplement 2006
***
Although wishing to be rid of misery,
They run toward misery itself.
Although wishing to have happiness,
Like an enemy they ignorantly destroy it.
-Santideva, "Bodhicaryavatara"
From "365 Buddha
-Mother Teresa
***
I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones.
-John Cage
***
The Lord does not partake in the good and evil deeds of any person; judgment is clouded when wisdom is obscured by ignorance. But ignorance is destroyed by knowledge of the Self within. The light of this knowledge shines like the sun, revealing the supreme Brahman. Those who cast off sin through this knowledge, absorbed in the Lord and established in him as their one goal and refuge, are not reborn as separate creatures.
-Bhagavad Gita 5:15-17
***
The best charity is followed by contentment, so begin with those related to you.
-The Prophet Muhammed, as reported by Abu Hurairah
***
Ever since Rabbi Akiba used the Passover seder to plan a revolutionary struggle against the Roman occupiers, the Jews have used the seder to begin concrete work on tikkun (healing and transformation).
- Rabbi Michael Lerner, the Tikkun Magazine Passover supplement 2006
***
Although wishing to be rid of misery,
They run toward misery itself.
Although wishing to have happiness,
Like an enemy they ignorantly destroy it.
-Santideva, "Bodhicaryavatara"
From "365 Buddha
-
Guest
If you plant for a year, plant grain. If you plant for ten years, plant trees. If you plant for a 100 years, plant men. If you plant for eternity, plant the word.
-Unknown
***
Take a deep breath, count to ten, and tackle each task one step at a time.
-Linda Shalaway
***
He has no staff nor tuft nor sacred thread.
He faces heat and cold, pleasure and pain,
Honor and dishonor with equal calm.
He is not affected by calumny,
Pride, jealousy, status, joy or sorrow,
Greed, anger, or infatuation,
Excitement, egoism, or other goads;
For [the illuminated man] knows he is neither body nor mind.
-Paramahamsa Upanishad
***
When you worship, you are aware of your separateness from God; you are the subject and he is the object. The more you worship, the more you acquire this sense of separateness from God. Union with God comes when this sense of your separateness from God is stripped away.
-Qushayri, "Risalah"
***
Words are the guides to acts; the mouth makes the first move.
- Rabbi Leon da Modena, 17th cen., Venice
***
A monk can be very gentle, very peaceful, while there are no hard words to assail him. But when hard words are directed at him, it is then that he must be really gentle and peaceful.
-Majjhima Nikaya
-Unknown
***
Take a deep breath, count to ten, and tackle each task one step at a time.
-Linda Shalaway
***
He has no staff nor tuft nor sacred thread.
He faces heat and cold, pleasure and pain,
Honor and dishonor with equal calm.
He is not affected by calumny,
Pride, jealousy, status, joy or sorrow,
Greed, anger, or infatuation,
Excitement, egoism, or other goads;
For [the illuminated man] knows he is neither body nor mind.
-Paramahamsa Upanishad
***
When you worship, you are aware of your separateness from God; you are the subject and he is the object. The more you worship, the more you acquire this sense of separateness from God. Union with God comes when this sense of your separateness from God is stripped away.
-Qushayri, "Risalah"
***
Words are the guides to acts; the mouth makes the first move.
- Rabbi Leon da Modena, 17th cen., Venice
***
A monk can be very gentle, very peaceful, while there are no hard words to assail him. But when hard words are directed at him, it is then that he must be really gentle and peaceful.
-Majjhima Nikaya
-
Guest
Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat, nor about your body, what you shall put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
-Matthew 6:25 (Revised Standard Version)
***
No one grows old by living, only by losing interest in living.
-Marie Beynon Ray
***
There is no baser folly than the infatuation
That looks upon the transient as if it were everlasting.
-Tirukkural 34: 331
***
Worldly desires are like sunbeams in a dark room. They seem solid until you try to grasp one.
- Rebbe Nachman of Breslov
***
If you’d mold yourself
the way you teach others,
then, well-trained,
go ahead & tame--
for, as they say,
what’s hard to tame is you
yourself.
-Dhammapada, 9, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
-Matthew 6:25 (Revised Standard Version)
***
No one grows old by living, only by losing interest in living.
-Marie Beynon Ray
***
There is no baser folly than the infatuation
That looks upon the transient as if it were everlasting.
-Tirukkural 34: 331
***
Worldly desires are like sunbeams in a dark room. They seem solid until you try to grasp one.
- Rebbe Nachman of Breslov
***
If you’d mold yourself
the way you teach others,
then, well-trained,
go ahead & tame--
for, as they say,
what’s hard to tame is you
yourself.
-Dhammapada, 9, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
-
Guest
The Christian faith is meant to be lived moment by moment. It isn't some broad, general outline--it's a long walk with a real Person. Details count: passing thoughts, small sacrifices, a few encouraging words, little acts of kindness, brief victories over nagging sins.
-Joni Eareckson Tada
***
The future enters into us, in order to transform us, long before it happens.
-Rainer Maria Rilke
***
You seek knowledge from books, ridiculous!
You seek pleasure from sweets, ridiculous!
You are the sea of knowledge hidden in a dewdrop;
You are the universe hidden in a body three yards long.
-Mathnawi [V, 3578-3579]
***
You shall not render an unfair decision: do not favor the poor nor show deference to the rich; judge your kinsmen fairly.
- Leviticus 19:15
-Joni Eareckson Tada
***
The future enters into us, in order to transform us, long before it happens.
-Rainer Maria Rilke
***
You seek knowledge from books, ridiculous!
You seek pleasure from sweets, ridiculous!
You are the sea of knowledge hidden in a dewdrop;
You are the universe hidden in a body three yards long.
-Mathnawi [V, 3578-3579]
***
You shall not render an unfair decision: do not favor the poor nor show deference to the rich; judge your kinsmen fairly.
- Leviticus 19:15
-
Guest
Be absolutely determined to enjoy what you do.
-Gerry Sikorski
***
They are completely fulfilled by spiritual wisdom and Self-realization. Having conquered their senses, they have climbed to the summit of human consciousness. To such people a clod of dirt, a stone, and gold are the same. They are equally disposed to family, enemies, and friends, to those who support them and those who are hostile, to the good and the evil alike. Because they are impartial, they rise to great heights.
-Bhagavad Gita 6:8-9
***
Have faith in the Ever-Living, who dies not, and celebrate His praise. He is well aware of all His servants' sins.
-Qur'an, Al-Furqan, Surah 25:58
***
When a father gives to his son, both laugh. When a son gives to his father, both cry.
- Yiddish proverb
As cited in "Jewish Wisdom" by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin.
***
-Gerry Sikorski
***
They are completely fulfilled by spiritual wisdom and Self-realization. Having conquered their senses, they have climbed to the summit of human consciousness. To such people a clod of dirt, a stone, and gold are the same. They are equally disposed to family, enemies, and friends, to those who support them and those who are hostile, to the good and the evil alike. Because they are impartial, they rise to great heights.
-Bhagavad Gita 6:8-9
***
Have faith in the Ever-Living, who dies not, and celebrate His praise. He is well aware of all His servants' sins.
-Qur'an, Al-Furqan, Surah 25:58
***
When a father gives to his son, both laugh. When a son gives to his father, both cry.
- Yiddish proverb
As cited in "Jewish Wisdom" by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin.
***
-
maheroonPradhan
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:54 pm
connection
“Ultimately there are no dualities – neither black nor white, neither oppressor nor victim. We are all connected in a journey toward the happiness that is labeled enlightenment.”
-His Holiness the Dalai Lama
There are no dualities, there is nothing outside ourselves. We are all One. Our connection to each other is reflective of our connection with Spirit. There is no beginning, there is no end. It is ever-present and eternal. We are not alone in this life, ever. We are bound together, to learn and grow and help one another. It is our purpose, it is our privilege.
“Ultimately there are no dualities – neither black nor white, neither oppressor nor victim. We are all connected in a journey toward the happiness that is labeled enlightenment.”
-His Holiness the Dalai Lama
There are no dualities, there is nothing outside ourselves. We are all One. Our connection to each other is reflective of our connection with Spirit. There is no beginning, there is no end. It is ever-present and eternal. We are not alone in this life, ever. We are bound together, to learn and grow and help one another. It is our purpose, it is our privilege.
-
Guest
The cheerful giver does not count the cost of what he gives. His heart is set on pleasing and sharing Him to whom the gift is given.
-Julian of Norwich
***
We have a choice: to plow new ground or let the weeds grow.
-Jonathan Westover
***
As the web issues out of the spider
And is withdrawn, as plants sprout from the earth,
As hair grows from the body, even so,
The sages say, this universe springs from
The deathless Self, the source of life.
The deathless Self meditated upon
Himself and projected the universe
As evolutionary energy.
From this energy developed life, mind,
The elements, and the world of karma,
Which is enchained by cause and effect.
-Mundaka Upanishad
***
It is love that brings happiness to people.
It is love that gives joy to happiness.
My mother didn't give birth to me, that love did.
A hundred blessings and praises to that love.
-Rumi
***
The love of God is like the Amazon river flowing down to water one daisy.
-Unknown
***
Even a poor man who himself survives on charity should give charity.
- Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 7b
***
Ajita asked: "What is it that smothers the world and makes it so hard to see? What is it that pollutes the world and seems to threaten it?"
The Buddha answered: "It is ignorance that smothers, and it is carelessness and greed that make it invisible. The hunger of craving pollutes the world, and the pain of suffering causes the greatest fear."
-Sutta Nipata
-Julian of Norwich
***
We have a choice: to plow new ground or let the weeds grow.
-Jonathan Westover
***
As the web issues out of the spider
And is withdrawn, as plants sprout from the earth,
As hair grows from the body, even so,
The sages say, this universe springs from
The deathless Self, the source of life.
The deathless Self meditated upon
Himself and projected the universe
As evolutionary energy.
From this energy developed life, mind,
The elements, and the world of karma,
Which is enchained by cause and effect.
-Mundaka Upanishad
***
It is love that brings happiness to people.
It is love that gives joy to happiness.
My mother didn't give birth to me, that love did.
A hundred blessings and praises to that love.
-Rumi
***
The love of God is like the Amazon river flowing down to water one daisy.
-Unknown
***
Even a poor man who himself survives on charity should give charity.
- Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 7b
***
Ajita asked: "What is it that smothers the world and makes it so hard to see? What is it that pollutes the world and seems to threaten it?"
The Buddha answered: "It is ignorance that smothers, and it is carelessness and greed that make it invisible. The hunger of craving pollutes the world, and the pain of suffering causes the greatest fear."
-Sutta Nipata
-
Guest
Sermon by Imam Ali
This is that which Salmán[2] and 'Abú Dharr 3 related of the utterances of the Commander of the Faithful, 'Alí -- Peace be upon Him!
'Alí said:
He whose acceptance of my guardianship is based on external reality more than internal truth, he is that one "whose balance will be light" 4 Those whose scale will be light, their souls will be in perdition. 5 O Salmán! The faith of no believer will attain perfection unless and until he recognizeth Me with luminousness. If he attaineth unto this, then he hath truly attained faith; he is the one whose heart is tested with true faith, whose breast is dilated in true Islám and whose faith is based on discernment. He who is convicted of shortcoming in this cognition -- he will be a doubter, immersed in disbelief.
O Salmán! and O Jandáb! 6 In truth, recognition of Me in luminousness is the recognition of God, 7 and Recognition and knowledge of God is indeed knowledge of Me; this is what is meant by sincere devotion. 8 Mankind was not ordered by God to seek naught except to attain unto this unity. 9 They were commanded to worship but One God. 10 And they have been commanded no more than this: "To worship God, offering Him sincere devotion, being true (in faith), to establish regular prayer; and to practice regular charity; and that is the Religion Right and Straight." 11
"Worshipping God" is belief in Divine Unity. "Sincere devotion" and "being true in Faith" 12 is confession of the Prophethood of the Prophet. "Establishing Prayer" is my Guardianship and Friendship. 13 He who pledges fealty and friendship unto Me hath truly established the obligatory prayer. Yet, this matter is hard, exceedingly hard! "Regular charity" in the above verse is confession to the Imámate. All this is the true religion. 14
The Holy Qur'án hath testified that true Faith is recognition of divine unity and confession to both the Prophet and the Imámate. He who attaineth unto both hath fulfilled his faith. A true believer is the one who does not reject any matter pertaining to Us, for God Himself hath dilated His Breast such that He may accept all. He will not doubt or be mistrustful. He who cavileth why and wherefore becometh a disbeliever. We are, verily, the Cause of God! 15
O Salmán! O Jandáb! 16 Verily, God hath made me His Trustee over His creation and His Vicegerent on His earth, in His territories, and over His servants. He hath given Me what no artist can depict and no man of understanding can truly comprehend. If thou wert to know Me in this fashion, thou shalt attain unto true belief. 17
O Salmán! God, exalted be He saith: "Nay, seek God's help with patient perseverance and prayer: it is indeed hard except to those who bring a lowly spirit." 18 "Patient perseverance" is Muhammad and "Prayer" is my Wilayat. 19 Thus, that is why God hath declared it is hard. He doth not reveal the Two 20 are hard. In truth, My Guardianship is perplexing only to those who bring a lowly spirit. These latter are they who have sought discernment using the light of My guidance.
O Salmán! We are the Mystery of God 21 that shalt not remain hidden. We are His light that shalt never be extinguished, His Grace that is expected from none other save Him. Muhammad is our first, Muhammad our last, Muhammad our all! 22 Muhammad is our first, Muhammad our last, Muhammad our all. He who recognizeth Us in this regard hath, in truth, consummated his Faith.
O Salmán, and O Jandáb! Muhammad and I were the Light that was voicing forth the divine eulogy before any other reality started to praise Him. We were the cause of illumination unto all creation. This one Light was divided by God into two portions, the Chosen "Mustafa" 23, and His Vicegerent, "Murtada" 24, and vouchsafed unto creation. God, exalted be His Glory, said to each half, "Be Muhammad!", "Be 'Alí!" 25 It is thus that the Prophet said: "I am from 'Alí and 'Alí is from Me. None can give forth My Trust but Myself and 'Alí." 26 This refers to our unity in the worlds of Light and Spirit. Similar is this divine utterance: "and If He dieth or is slain." 27 "Dieth" refers to the passing away of the Prophet. "Slain" refers to the martyrdom of the Successor 28, for the Two are one Entity, one Signification and one Light. Their unity is in purpose and attributes. They are different in Their corporeal entity and their Names. But in the world of spirit, They are One Spirit. In Spirit, He said, "Thou art the Spirit within My Limbs." In the world of bodies, He saith: "Thou art of Me and I am of Thine. Thou shalt inherit after Me."
Again, there is the Divine Utterance: "Send ye blessings on Him and salute Him with all respect." 29 "Sending blessings on Him" refereth to Muhammad. "Salute Him" refers to the Successor. No benefit shall accrue unto thee if thou sendest blessings unto the Messenger and His Message if they are not coupled with saluting His Successor in His Wiláyat.
O Salmán! O Jandáb! Muhammad was the One speaking and I was the One silent. Inevitably, in every Dispensation, there is the One Who speaketh and the One Who is silent. 30 Muhammad is the Master of Ingathering 31 and I am the Master of Resurrection. 32 Muhammad is the Warner 33 and I am the "guide." 34 Muhammad is the Lord of Paradise and I am the Lord of the Return. Muhammad is the Lord of the Pool 35 and I am the One entrusted with the Banner. 36 Muhammad is the Lord of the Keys 37 and I am the Lord of Paradise and Fire. Muhammad is the Lord of Revelation and I am the Lord of Inspiration. Muhammad is the Lord of signs and I am Master of the miracles. Muhammad is the Seal of the Prophets 38 and I am the Seal of the Successors. 39 Muhammad is the Master Who raised the Call and I am the One entrusted with both the Sword 40 and Sovereignty. Muhammad is the Most Generous Prophet and I am the Straight Path. Muhammad is the One mentioned in the verse as "most kind and merciful" 41 and I am the One alluded to as "Most High, Most Great." 42
O Salmán! God, exalted be He, saith: "He causes the Spirit to descend upon any Servant He willeth." 43 This Spirit but descends unto the One entrusted with the Command and the Decree. I give life to the dead. I know what is in the heavens and what is on the earth. I am, in truth, the Perspicuous Book. 44 I give life unto the dead and with Me is the knowledge of all that is in the heavens and the earth. I am the Perspicuous Book. O Salmán! Muhammad is the Upraiser of the Proof, 45 and I am the Proof of the One True God unto His creatures. It is this Testimony that empowered the Spirit of God 46 to ascend unto heaven. I am the One who enabled Noah to sail his Ark. I was present with Jonah in the belly of the Whale. 47 I argued with Moses in the sea. 48 I caused earlier peoples to suffer loss; I bestowed the knowledge of the Prophets and Saints and Their Decisive Utterance unto them. With Me is the Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad completed. I caused rivers and oceans to flow and caused fountains to burst forth. I caused the world to be revolutionized and I bring about the Chastisement of the Day of Overshadowing Gloom. 49 I am Khidír Who taught Moses. 50 I taught David and Solomon. 51 I am Dhu'l Qarnayn. 52 I am the One who raised the Firmament 53 and flattened the Earth. 54 I am the Summoner from a near Place. 55 I am the Creature on the Earth. 56 The Prophet addressed Me saying: "O 'Alí! Thou art the One endowed with the Two stations. Thou art present both in the Beginning and the End." O Salmán! The One slain with Us will not die. The One Who is in Occultation from amongst Us is never absent. None can compare with Us. I am the One Who spoke through the Utterance of Jesus when He was still cradled. 57 I am Noah. I am Abraham. I am Sálih Who possessed the She-Camel as His Sign. 58 I am the One Who causeth the Commotion. 59 I am also the Trembling. 60 I am the Protected Tablet 61 and in My possession is all Its Knowledge. I appear in Appearances 62 as God willeth. He that seeth Them seeth Me. He that seeth Me seeth Them. In all truth, We are the Light of God that changeth not and His effulgence that is not extinguished. O Salmán! The honour of every Sent One is through Us, but do not call us Lords; praise Us as thou willeth. Salvation and Perdition both are effected through Us.
O Salmán! He that believeth in all truth as I have expounded it is truly a believer whose heart hath been tested and proven. He that doubteth and hesitateth, he hath reneged on the Faith, although outwardly he sayeth that he believes in the Wiláyat. 63 I, and the Guides of My Family, the Imáms, are the Hidden Mystery of God 64 and His Guardians. 65 Our Cause is One, Our Mystery is One and Our Unity is absolute. If thou maketh distinctions, thou wilt be among the ones lost. We appear and have Our Manifestation in every age as the All Merciful willeth. All woe betide the One Who denieth Us! None shall gainsay these except the one whose heart, eyes and hearing are sealed.
O Salmán! I am as the Father of every believer. I am the Catastrophe. 66 I am the Approaching Calamity. I am the Inevitable. I am the Impending One. 67 I am the Deafening Trumpet Blast. 68 I am the Supreme Test. We are the Signs, the Significances and the Countenance of God. 69 When My Name was written on the Throne, It attained Its Serenity. When It was inscribed on the firmaments, They were upraised. When written on the Earth, It was adorned. When It was inscribed on the Wind, It carried with It fruition. When written on the Lightning, It caused it to shine. When written on the Oasis, It brought nourishment. When inscribed on the Light, It caused it to be Luminous. When inscribed on the Clouds 70, It generated Their Outpouring Grace, and when inscribed on the Thunder 71, it made the Thunder quiescent. That Name caused the Night 72 to be deep in its darkness, and when inscribed on the Day 73, It made It luminous and radiant. 74
'Alí said:
He whose acceptance of my guardianship is based on external reality more than internal truth, he is that one "whose balance will be light" 4 Those whose scale will be light, their souls will be in perdition. 5 O Salmán! The faith of no believer will attain perfection unless and until he recognizeth Me with luminousness. If he attaineth unto this, then he hath truly attained faith; he is the one whose heart is tested with true faith, whose breast is dilated in true Islám and whose faith is based on discernment. He who is convicted of shortcoming in this cognition -- he will be a doubter, immersed in disbelief.
O Salmán! and O Jandáb! 6 In truth, recognition of Me in luminousness is the recognition of God, 7 and Recognition and knowledge of God is indeed knowledge of Me; this is what is meant by sincere devotion. 8 Mankind was not ordered by God to seek naught except to attain unto this unity. 9 They were commanded to worship but One God. 10 And they have been commanded no more than this: "To worship God, offering Him sincere devotion, being true (in faith), to establish regular prayer; and to practice regular charity; and that is the Religion Right and Straight." 11
"Worshipping God" is belief in Divine Unity. "Sincere devotion" and "being true in Faith" 12 is confession of the Prophethood of the Prophet. "Establishing Prayer" is my Guardianship and Friendship. 13 He who pledges fealty and friendship unto Me hath truly established the obligatory prayer. Yet, this matter is hard, exceedingly hard! "Regular charity" in the above verse is confession to the Imámate. All this is the true religion. 14
The Holy Qur'án hath testified that true Faith is recognition of divine unity and confession to both the Prophet and the Imámate. He who attaineth unto both hath fulfilled his faith. A true believer is the one who does not reject any matter pertaining to Us, for God Himself hath dilated His Breast such that He may accept all. He will not doubt or be mistrustful. He who cavileth why and wherefore becometh a disbeliever. We are, verily, the Cause of God! 15
O Salmán! O Jandáb! 16 Verily, God hath made me His Trustee over His creation and His Vicegerent on His earth, in His territories, and over His servants. He hath given Me what no artist can depict and no man of understanding can truly comprehend. If thou wert to know Me in this fashion, thou shalt attain unto true belief. 17
O Salmán! God, exalted be He saith: "Nay, seek God's help with patient perseverance and prayer: it is indeed hard except to those who bring a lowly spirit." 18 "Patient perseverance" is Muhammad and "Prayer" is my Wilayat. 19 Thus, that is why God hath declared it is hard. He doth not reveal the Two 20 are hard. In truth, My Guardianship is perplexing only to those who bring a lowly spirit. These latter are they who have sought discernment using the light of My guidance.
O Salmán! We are the Mystery of God 21 that shalt not remain hidden. We are His light that shalt never be extinguished, His Grace that is expected from none other save Him. Muhammad is our first, Muhammad our last, Muhammad our all! 22 Muhammad is our first, Muhammad our last, Muhammad our all. He who recognizeth Us in this regard hath, in truth, consummated his Faith.
O Salmán, and O Jandáb! Muhammad and I were the Light that was voicing forth the divine eulogy before any other reality started to praise Him. We were the cause of illumination unto all creation. This one Light was divided by God into two portions, the Chosen "Mustafa" 23, and His Vicegerent, "Murtada" 24, and vouchsafed unto creation. God, exalted be His Glory, said to each half, "Be Muhammad!", "Be 'Alí!" 25 It is thus that the Prophet said: "I am from 'Alí and 'Alí is from Me. None can give forth My Trust but Myself and 'Alí." 26 This refers to our unity in the worlds of Light and Spirit. Similar is this divine utterance: "and If He dieth or is slain." 27 "Dieth" refers to the passing away of the Prophet. "Slain" refers to the martyrdom of the Successor 28, for the Two are one Entity, one Signification and one Light. Their unity is in purpose and attributes. They are different in Their corporeal entity and their Names. But in the world of spirit, They are One Spirit. In Spirit, He said, "Thou art the Spirit within My Limbs." In the world of bodies, He saith: "Thou art of Me and I am of Thine. Thou shalt inherit after Me."
Again, there is the Divine Utterance: "Send ye blessings on Him and salute Him with all respect." 29 "Sending blessings on Him" refereth to Muhammad. "Salute Him" refers to the Successor. No benefit shall accrue unto thee if thou sendest blessings unto the Messenger and His Message if they are not coupled with saluting His Successor in His Wiláyat.
O Salmán! O Jandáb! Muhammad was the One speaking and I was the One silent. Inevitably, in every Dispensation, there is the One Who speaketh and the One Who is silent. 30 Muhammad is the Master of Ingathering 31 and I am the Master of Resurrection. 32 Muhammad is the Warner 33 and I am the "guide." 34 Muhammad is the Lord of Paradise and I am the Lord of the Return. Muhammad is the Lord of the Pool 35 and I am the One entrusted with the Banner. 36 Muhammad is the Lord of the Keys 37 and I am the Lord of Paradise and Fire. Muhammad is the Lord of Revelation and I am the Lord of Inspiration. Muhammad is the Lord of signs and I am Master of the miracles. Muhammad is the Seal of the Prophets 38 and I am the Seal of the Successors. 39 Muhammad is the Master Who raised the Call and I am the One entrusted with both the Sword 40 and Sovereignty. Muhammad is the Most Generous Prophet and I am the Straight Path. Muhammad is the One mentioned in the verse as "most kind and merciful" 41 and I am the One alluded to as "Most High, Most Great." 42
O Salmán! God, exalted be He, saith: "He causes the Spirit to descend upon any Servant He willeth." 43 This Spirit but descends unto the One entrusted with the Command and the Decree. I give life to the dead. I know what is in the heavens and what is on the earth. I am, in truth, the Perspicuous Book. 44 I give life unto the dead and with Me is the knowledge of all that is in the heavens and the earth. I am the Perspicuous Book. O Salmán! Muhammad is the Upraiser of the Proof, 45 and I am the Proof of the One True God unto His creatures. It is this Testimony that empowered the Spirit of God 46 to ascend unto heaven. I am the One who enabled Noah to sail his Ark. I was present with Jonah in the belly of the Whale. 47 I argued with Moses in the sea. 48 I caused earlier peoples to suffer loss; I bestowed the knowledge of the Prophets and Saints and Their Decisive Utterance unto them. With Me is the Prophethood of the Prophet Muhammad completed. I caused rivers and oceans to flow and caused fountains to burst forth. I caused the world to be revolutionized and I bring about the Chastisement of the Day of Overshadowing Gloom. 49 I am Khidír Who taught Moses. 50 I taught David and Solomon. 51 I am Dhu'l Qarnayn. 52 I am the One who raised the Firmament 53 and flattened the Earth. 54 I am the Summoner from a near Place. 55 I am the Creature on the Earth. 56 The Prophet addressed Me saying: "O 'Alí! Thou art the One endowed with the Two stations. Thou art present both in the Beginning and the End." O Salmán! The One slain with Us will not die. The One Who is in Occultation from amongst Us is never absent. None can compare with Us. I am the One Who spoke through the Utterance of Jesus when He was still cradled. 57 I am Noah. I am Abraham. I am Sálih Who possessed the She-Camel as His Sign. 58 I am the One Who causeth the Commotion. 59 I am also the Trembling. 60 I am the Protected Tablet 61 and in My possession is all Its Knowledge. I appear in Appearances 62 as God willeth. He that seeth Them seeth Me. He that seeth Me seeth Them. In all truth, We are the Light of God that changeth not and His effulgence that is not extinguished. O Salmán! The honour of every Sent One is through Us, but do not call us Lords; praise Us as thou willeth. Salvation and Perdition both are effected through Us.
O Salmán! He that believeth in all truth as I have expounded it is truly a believer whose heart hath been tested and proven. He that doubteth and hesitateth, he hath reneged on the Faith, although outwardly he sayeth that he believes in the Wiláyat. 63 I, and the Guides of My Family, the Imáms, are the Hidden Mystery of God 64 and His Guardians. 65 Our Cause is One, Our Mystery is One and Our Unity is absolute. If thou maketh distinctions, thou wilt be among the ones lost. We appear and have Our Manifestation in every age as the All Merciful willeth. All woe betide the One Who denieth Us! None shall gainsay these except the one whose heart, eyes and hearing are sealed.
O Salmán! I am as the Father of every believer. I am the Catastrophe. 66 I am the Approaching Calamity. I am the Inevitable. I am the Impending One. 67 I am the Deafening Trumpet Blast. 68 I am the Supreme Test. We are the Signs, the Significances and the Countenance of God. 69 When My Name was written on the Throne, It attained Its Serenity. When It was inscribed on the firmaments, They were upraised. When written on the Earth, It was adorned. When It was inscribed on the Wind, It carried with It fruition. When written on the Lightning, It caused it to shine. When written on the Oasis, It brought nourishment. When inscribed on the Light, It caused it to be Luminous. When inscribed on the Clouds 70, It generated Their Outpouring Grace, and when inscribed on the Thunder 71, it made the Thunder quiescent. That Name caused the Night 72 to be deep in its darkness, and when inscribed on the Day 73, It made It luminous and radiant. 74
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Guest
The weakness in our Christian life is that we do not take time to believe that this Divine Love really does delight in us. Love will awaken your faith and strengthen it. Occupy yourself with that love; worship it; wait for it.
-Andrew Murray
***
Other people’s faults are like bees—if we don't see them, they don't harm us.
-Luis Vigil
***
He who utters the Name of God while walking
gets the merit of a sacrifice at every step.
His body becomes a place of pilgrimage.
He who repeats God's Name while working
always finds perfect peace.
He who utters the Name of God while eating
gets the merit of a fast
even though he has taken his meals.
-Tukaram
***
When God fills an adept with the desire to comprehend His essence, knowledge becomes vision, vision revelation, revelation contemplation, and contemplation existence in God. Words are hushed to silence, life becomes death, explanations come to an end, signs are effaced, and disputes are cleared up.
-Junayd, in "Rabi'a the Mystic"
***
Every one entrusted with a mission is an angel...All forces that reside in the body are angels.
- Maimonides, "Guide for the Perplexed"
***
The defining characteristic of guarding alertness
In brief is only this:
To examine again and again
The condition of my body and mind.
Therefore I shall put this way of life into actual practice,
For what can be achieved by merely talking about it?
Will a sick man be benefited
Merely by reading the medical texts?
-Santideva, "Bodhicaryavatara"
-Andrew Murray
***
Other people’s faults are like bees—if we don't see them, they don't harm us.
-Luis Vigil
***
He who utters the Name of God while walking
gets the merit of a sacrifice at every step.
His body becomes a place of pilgrimage.
He who repeats God's Name while working
always finds perfect peace.
He who utters the Name of God while eating
gets the merit of a fast
even though he has taken his meals.
-Tukaram
***
When God fills an adept with the desire to comprehend His essence, knowledge becomes vision, vision revelation, revelation contemplation, and contemplation existence in God. Words are hushed to silence, life becomes death, explanations come to an end, signs are effaced, and disputes are cleared up.
-Junayd, in "Rabi'a the Mystic"
***
Every one entrusted with a mission is an angel...All forces that reside in the body are angels.
- Maimonides, "Guide for the Perplexed"
***
The defining characteristic of guarding alertness
In brief is only this:
To examine again and again
The condition of my body and mind.
Therefore I shall put this way of life into actual practice,
For what can be achieved by merely talking about it?
Will a sick man be benefited
Merely by reading the medical texts?
-Santideva, "Bodhicaryavatara"
Re: Sermon by Imam Ali
Wonderful quote! Thanks, can you provide the source.Anonymous wrote:This is that which Salmán[2] and 'Abú Dharr 3 related of the utterances of the Commander of the Faithful, 'Alí -- Peace be upon Him!
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Guest
hey kmaherali, the source is a sermon given by Imam Ali (a.s.), called marifat nooraniyat http://arthurwendover.com/arthurs/islam ... inous.html, Ive read like everything on this site, in a month, specially from yourself and star_munir and people like that, it was really educational for me.
But , say you firmly believe in Imam an stuff, why is there so much suffering in this world? like cancer, rape, murder etc?
But , say you firmly believe in Imam an stuff, why is there so much suffering in this world? like cancer, rape, murder etc?
If there was no suffering than no need for heaven...earth would be heaven.Anonymous wrote:hey kmaherali, the source is a sermon given by Imam Ali (a.s.), called marifat nooraniyat http://arthurwendover.com/arthurs/islam ... inous.html, Ive read like everything on this site, in a month, specially from yourself and star_munir and people like that, it was really educational for me.
But , say you firmly believe in Imam an stuff, why is there so much suffering in this world? like cancer, rape, murder etc?
also Karma.
Sayyad says in Ginan -
"Dosh Dayal Ji ko Kiyun Kardijiye...Karme Likhiya sohi paave"..
or as Christ says in the Bible.
Whatever you sow..you will reap....
S.
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Guest
Hey shams, thanks for reply. I read your comments, on doctrines and stuff also, thanks for the insight.
Have you read in bhagavad gita, the bit where krishna says, to Arjuna, I taught this yoga to the sun God millions of years ago, or something like that, how do you interpret that?
Also I read on anti ismaili site, about Sultan mohammed Shah, saying to the person that the congo would be the last to become independent, but it was in fact the first? Whats up with that.
Ne replies would be appreciated, thanks
Zahir
Have you read in bhagavad gita, the bit where krishna says, to Arjuna, I taught this yoga to the sun God millions of years ago, or something like that, how do you interpret that?
Also I read on anti ismaili site, about Sultan mohammed Shah, saying to the person that the congo would be the last to become independent, but it was in fact the first? Whats up with that.
Ne replies would be appreciated, thanks
Zahir
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Guest
The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts.
-A.W. Tozer
***
Heroism consists in hanging on one minute longer.
-Norwegian proverb
***
I am the infinite ocean.
When thoughts spring up,
The wind freshens, and like waves
A thousand worlds arise.
But when the wind falls,
The trader sinks with his ship.
On the boundless ocean of my being
Her founders,
And all the worlds with him.
-Ashtavakra Gita 2:23-24
***
Be wary of malice, for malice consumes virtues, just as fire consumes fuel.
-The Prophet Muhammad, as reported by Abu Hurairah
***
Every thought of God is prayer. Holy, true and honest purposes are prayer. Earnest thought, search without vanity is prayer.
- Rahel Levin Varnhagen, letter to Count Custine, 1817
***
As a cowherd with a rod
drives cows to the field,
so aging and death
drive the life
of living beings.
-Dhammapada, 135, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
-A.W. Tozer
***
Heroism consists in hanging on one minute longer.
-Norwegian proverb
***
I am the infinite ocean.
When thoughts spring up,
The wind freshens, and like waves
A thousand worlds arise.
But when the wind falls,
The trader sinks with his ship.
On the boundless ocean of my being
Her founders,
And all the worlds with him.
-Ashtavakra Gita 2:23-24
***
Be wary of malice, for malice consumes virtues, just as fire consumes fuel.
-The Prophet Muhammad, as reported by Abu Hurairah
***
Every thought of God is prayer. Holy, true and honest purposes are prayer. Earnest thought, search without vanity is prayer.
- Rahel Levin Varnhagen, letter to Count Custine, 1817
***
As a cowherd with a rod
drives cows to the field,
so aging and death
drive the life
of living beings.
-Dhammapada, 135, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
-
maheroonPradhan
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:54 pm
dreams
Dreams
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.”
-Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1845)
What is real? It has been said that the first three states of consciousness (sleeping, dreaming and waking) are just an illusion. That “reality” comes with higher states of consciousness, when we can see God in all things, and when we can see the Oneness of all creation. When we “wake up” to reality, we will see the beauty of life all around us at all times.
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.”
-Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1845)
What is real? It has been said that the first three states of consciousness (sleeping, dreaming and waking) are just an illusion. That “reality” comes with higher states of consciousness, when we can see God in all things, and when we can see the Oneness of all creation. When we “wake up” to reality, we will see the beauty of life all around us at all times.
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Guest
Imam Jafir as-said (a.s.) has a talk with an idolater
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (a. s.) and abu Shakir
Jafar as-Sadiq (A. S.) was one of the most patient and tolerant teachers of his time. He used to take his classes every day. After his lectures he would listen and reply to the objections of his critics. He had asked his critics, who attended his classes, not to interrupt him during his lectures. They were quite free to ask him any question or raise any objection after the classes were over.
Once Abu Shakir, one of his opponents, said to him: "Would you allow me to say something and ask some questions?"
"Yes, you can", replied Imam Jafar as-Sadiq.
Said Abu Shakir: "Is it not a myth that there is Allah? You want people to believe in a thing which does not exist. If there was Allah, we could have felt his existence through our senses. You may say that we can feel His presence by the help of our inner senses, but our inner senses also depend upon our five outer senses. We cannot conjure up an image of anything in which some of our senses were not involved. We cannot conjure up the picture of a person whom we have not met; recall to our memory his voice if we have not heard him and feel the touch of his hand by our inner senses if we have never taken his hand in our hand."
"You may say that we can perceive the presence of Allah by our intelligence and not through our inner or outer senses. But our intelligence also needs the assistance of our five outer senses, without which it cannot function. We cannot make any reasoning or come to any conclusion without the help of our senses.
By your imagination you have created a being, which is of your own image. Since you see, talk, hear, work and rest, He also does exactly what you do."
"You do not show Him to anyone. To maintain your hold on the people you say that He cannot be seen. You also say that He was not born from the womb of a woman. He does not procreate and that He would not die. I have heard that there is an idol in India, which is hidden behind a curtain and is not allowed to be seen by the Hindu devotees. The custodians of the idol say that it is out of mercy that their god does not appear before them, because whoever casts his eyes on it, would instantly die."
"Your Allah is also like the veiled god of the Hindus. It is out of His mercy that He does not appear before us. If he does, we shall surely die. You say that the universe was created by Allah, who did not talk to anyone, except to the Prophet of Islam. As a matter of fact the universe came by itself. Does anyone create the grass, which grows in the field? Does it not grow and get green by itself? Does anyone create the ants and the mosquitoes? Do they not come out by themselves?"
"I must tell you, who claims to be a scholar and the successor of the Prophet, that among all the stories, which circulate among the people, none is more absurd and baseless than the story of Allah, who cannot be seen. There are many baseless stories, but they, at least, depict real life and present before us the people and personalities, who may themselves be fictitious, but their acts and deeds are like those of real human beings. We can see them. They eat, they drink, they talk, they sleep and they love. When we read these fictitious stories, we enjoy them. We know that they are false, but we see in them the faces of men and women, who are like us. The people mentioned in the stories might not have existed, but our common sense accepts existence of such people in the world. However, when we cannot see, feel or touch your Allah, our logic and reasoning, which depend upon our senses, do not accept his existence."
"l know that some people, who have been deceived by you, believe in your invisible Allah, but you cannot deceive me and make me believe in Him. I worship God, who is made of wood and stone. Although my God does not talk, but I can see him with my eyes and touch him with my hands."
"You say that the God whom I have made from my own hands is not worthy of being worshipped, while you ask the people to worship Allah, you have created by your imagination. You deceive innocent people by saying that your imaginary Allah has created the universe, but I do not deceive anyone. No one created the universe. There was no need of any god to create it. It came by itself. God cannot create anything. He is himself our creation. I created him by my hand and you by your imagination."
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (A. S.) did not say a word during the long tirade of Abu Shakir. Sometimes his students, who were present, wanted to intervene but he asked them to remain quiet. When Abu Shakir stopped his lengthy discourse, the Imam asked him, if he had anything more to say.
Retorted Abu Shakir: "By introducing your invisible Allah to the people, you want to acquire wealth and position and have a respectable, comfortable and luxurious life. These are my last words. I do not want to say anything more."
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (A. S.) said: "l would like to start with the last part of your speech. Your accusations that I want money, position and a comfortable life would have been justified if I was living like a caliph. You have seen today that I have eaten a few morsels of bread only and nothing else. I invite you to my house to see for yourself what I will have for dinner and how I live."
"Abu Shakir, if I wanted to acquire wealth and have a good life, as you say, I was not obliged to teach and preach to get rich. I would have earned money and got rich by my knowledge of chemistry. Another way to get rich was to do business. I have more knowledge' about foreign markets than any merchant in Medina. I know what goods are produced in different countries and where to sell them for profit. I also know how to bring them here to reduce the cost of transport. Our merchants import goods only from Syria, Iraq, Egypt and some other Arab countries. They do not know what goods are available in Isphahan, Rasht and Rome, otherwise they would have imported them and sold them with profit."
"Abu Shakir, you have said that I ask the people to worship Allah to deceive them and to get rich. I must tell you that I have never taken anything from anyone, except some fruits as presents. One of my friends sends to me every year fresh dates from his garden and another some pomegranates from Taif. I accept these presents so that they may not get offended."
"I have heard, O Abu Shakir, that your father was a pearl merchant. Perhaps you may have some knowledge about pearls. But I know all about pearls and precious stones. I can also appraise their market value. If I wanted to get rich I would have worked as a jeweller. Can you test and recognise a precious stone? Do you know how many kinds of rubies and emeralds there are in the world?"
"I know nothing about them", replied Abu Shakir.
"Do you know how many kinds of diamonds there are and what colours they have?" asked Imam Jafar as-Sadiq.
"I do not know", replied Abu Shakir.
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq said: "I am not a jeweller, but I know all about the pearls and precious stones. I also know where they come from. All jewellers must know about gems, what I know, but few of them know their sources."
"Do you know what makes a diamond shine?"
"I never was a diamond merchant, nor was my father. How can I know why diamonds shine?; replied Abu Shakir.
Said the Imam: "Diamonds are obtained from the beds of rivers and streams. Rough diamonds are cut by experts. This is the cut of a diamond, which gives it its brilliance. Those who are experts in cutting diamonds are trained from the childhood in the profession of their fathers and forefathers. Cutting a diamond is a very delicate and difficult art. A diamond is cut only by a diamond."
"Abu Shakir, I have said all this simply to show to you that if I wanted to accumulate wealth, I could have done so by making use of my knowledge about jewels. I have replied to your accusations and now I shall deal with your objections."
"Abu Shakir, you have said that I have fabricated stories and ask the people to worship Allah, who cannot be seen. You refuse to acknowledge existence of Allah, because He cannot be seen. Can you see inside your own body?"
Replied Abu Shakir: "No, I cannot."
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq said: "If you could have seen what is inside you, you would not have said that you do not believe in Allah, who cannot be seen."
Abu Shakir asked: "What is the relationship between seeing within one's own body and the existence of your unseen Allah?"
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (A. S.) replied: "You have said just now that a thing, which cannot be seen, touched, tasted or heard, does not exist."
Abu Shakir said: "Yes, I have said that and I believe it is true."
Jafar as-Sadiq asked: "Do you hear the sound of the movement of blood in your body?"
Said Abu Shakir: "No, I do not. But does blood move in the body?
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (A. S.) said: "Yes, it does. It makes a full circuit of your body. If the circulation of blood stops for a few minutes you will die."
Abu Shakir said: "I cannot believe that blood circulates in the body."
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq said: "It is your ignorance, which does not let you believe that your blood circulates in your body, and the same ignorance does not let you believe in the existence of Allah, Who cannot be seen."
Then the Imam asked Abu Shakir whether he has seen the tiny living beings, which Allah has created in his body.
Jafar as-Sadiq continued: "It is because of these small creatures and their wonderful work that you are kept alive. They are so small that you cannot see them. Since you are a slave of your senses, you do not know about their existence. If you increase your knowledge and decrease your ignorance, you will come to know that these small beings in your body are as large in number as the particles of sand in the desert. These small creatures are born in your body, multiply in your body, work in your body and die in your body. But you never see them, touch them, taste them or hear them in your life time."
"It is true that one who knows himself knows his Allah. If you had known yourself and had the knowledge of what is going on inside your body, you would not have said that you do not believe in Allah, without seeing Him."
Pointing his finger to a huge stone he said: "Abu Shakir, do you see the stone, which is in the foot of that portico? To you it seems lifeless and motionless, because you do not see the brisk motion, which is inside the stone. Again it is lack of knowledge or your ignorance, which would not let you believe that there is motion inside the stone. The time will come when the learned people would see the motion which is in the stone."
Continued the Imam: "Abu Shakir, you have said that everything in the universe came by itself and has no Creator. You think that the grass in the field grows and gets green by itself. You must know that the grass cannot grow without seeds and seeds would not germinate without moisture in the soil and there would be no moisture if no rain falls. The rain does not fall by itself. First the water vapours rise and gather above in the atmosphere in the form of clouds. The winds bring the clouds. Then the water vapours condense and fall down as rain drops. The rain must also fall at the right time, otherwise no grass will grow and become green. Take the seeds of ten kinds of herbs and put them in a closed jar, which has sufficient water, but no air. Would they germinate? No, in addition to water, seeds need air also. It is possible to grow grass, herbs and fruits in hot houses, when it is very cold, provided there is sufficient air. Without the presence of air no grass will gr! ow in the fields and get green. If there is no air, all plants and animals, including human beings, would die."
"Abu Shakir, do you see the air, on which your very existence depends. You only feel it when it moves. Can you refuse to believe in the existence of air? Can you deny that to grow and get green the grass needs many things like seeds, soil, water, air, a suitable climate and above all a strong managing power, which may co-ordinate the action of these different elements. That Managing and Co-ordinating Power is Allah."
"You say that everything comes by itself because you are not a scientist. No scientist would ever say that. All scientists and all scholars believe in the existence of a creator, albeit, they may call Him by different names. Even those, who do not believe in Allah, believe in a Creative Force."
"Abu Shakir, it is not because of one's knowledge, but it is due to his ignorance that he does not believe in Allah. When a wise man thinks of himself, he finds that his own body needs a controller so that all its organs and systems may function properly. He then realises that this vast universe also needs a controller or supervisor so that it may run smoothly."
"You said just now that both of us create our own gods - you by your hands and I by my imagination. But there is a big difference between your god and my Allah. Your god did not exist before you made him out of wood or stone, but my Allah was there before I could think about Him. I do not create my Allah by my hands or by my brain. What I do is to know Him better and think of His Greatness. When you see a mountain you try to know more about it. It is not creating the mountain by imagination. That mountain was there before you saw it and it would be there when you are gone."
'You cannot know much about the mountain because of your limited knowledge. The more your knowledge grows, the more you will learn about it. It is impossible for you to find out when and how that mountain came into being and when it would disappear. You cannot find out what minerals are there inside or underneath the mountain and what is their benefit to mankind."
"Do you know that the stones, out of which you make your idols came into being thousands of years ago and shall exist for thousands of years more. These stones have come here from a distant place. They could travel that long journey because different parts of the earth are always moving, but this movement is so slow that you do not feel it. There is nothing in the universe, which is not in motion. Rest or motionlessness is meaningless. We are not at rest even when we are sleeping. We are in motion because the earth is in motion. Besides, we have a motion inside our own bodies."
"Abu Shakir, if you had any knowledge about the piece of stone, out of which you carve an idol, you would not have denied the existence of Allah and said that I have created Him by my imagination. You do not know what a stone is and how it came into being. Today you can handle it as you like and cut it into any shape or form, but there was a time when it was in liquid state. Gradually it cooled down and Allah solidified it. In the beginning it was quite brittle and would have broken into pieces in your hand like a piece of glass."
Asked Abu Shakir: "Was it in a liquid condition before?"
"Yes, it was", replied Jafar asSadiq (A. S.)
Abu Shakir burst into a peal of laughter. One of the students of Jafar as-Sadiq got angry and was about to say something when he was stopped by his teacher.
Abu Shakir said: "I am laughing because you say that the stones are made of water."
Jafar as-Sadiq (A. S.) replied: "I did not say that the stones are made of water. What I had said was that in the beginning they were in a liquid state."
Abu Shakir said: "What difference does it make. The liquid and water are the same things."
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq replied: "There are many liquids which are not water. Milk and vinegar are liquids, but they are not water, although they have a water content in them. In the beginning the stones were liquid like water and they flowed like water. Gradually they cooled down and became hard so that you could cut them and make them into idols. The same hard stones will turn into liquid, if they are heated."
Said Abu Shakir: "When I go home I will check the truth of your statement. I will put the stone in the fireplace and see if it turns into liquid or not."
Said the Imam: "You cannot liquefy stone in your fireplace. Can you liquefy a piece of iron at home? A very high temperature is required to turn solid stone into liquid."
"Do you realise how you could make the idols out of stones? It was Allah, who made the stones. It was He Who created you and gave you the hands with the unique fingers, which enabled you to handle tools and chisel out the idols from the stones. Again it was He who gave you power and intelligence, which you used in making the idols."
"Abu Shakir, do you think that the mountains are only heaps of stones? The Great Allah has created them to serve some very useful purpose. They were not created so that you may take stones and turn them into idols. Wherever there is a mountain there is flowing water. Rain and snow which fall on the mountain tops produce streams of fresh water. These streams combine together to form big rivers, which irrigate farms and fields. The people who live in the valleys, through which the rivers flow, are assured of constant supply of water. People who can afford it, go to the mountains during the summer season to escape the heat of the plains."
"The mountains work as a great bulwark and protect towns and villages, which are in their valleys from the devastation and destruction of hurricanes. Green mountains provide good grazing grounds for sheep. When scorching heat burns the pastures down in the plains and no fodder is left, the shepherds take their flocks of sheep to the mountains and stay there till the end of summer. Mountains are also habitats of birds and animals, some of which are a good source of food for those, who live there. Even the mountains, which are not green, are not without some use. If the people try, they may discover in them mines of metals and minerals which are useful for mankind."
"Abu Shakir, I am too small and too weak to create Allah with my brain. It is He, who has created my brain, so that I may think of Him and know Him - my Creator. He was there before I came into being and He would be there when I am no more. I do not mean that I would be totally destroyed. Nothing in the universe is totally destroyed. Everything is subject to change. It is only Allah, Who does not change."
"Abu Shakir, please tell me sincerely to whom will you turn for help when you are in trouble? Do you hope that the idol you carve out of stone can come to your succour? Can it cure you when you are sick; save you from mishaps and calamities; save you from starvation and help you pay your debts?"
Abu Shakir replied: "I have no such expectations from the stone, but, I think there is something inside the stone, which will help me. Moreover, I cannot help worshipping it."
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq enquired: "What is inside the stone? Is it also stone?"
"I do not know what it is. But it cannot help me if it is also stone," replied Abu Shakir.
Said Imam Jafar as-Sadiq: "Abu Shakir, what is inside the stone and is not stone and can help when you are in trouble is, Allah."
Abu Shakir pondered over the subject for a while and then said: "Is Allah, who cannot be seen, inside the stone?"
The Imam replied: "He is everywhere."
Abu Shakir said: "I cannot believe that a thing may be everywhere but remain unseen."
The Imam said: "Do you know that the air is everywhere but cannot be seen?"
Said Abu Shakir: "Although I cannot see the air, I can, at least, feel it when it moves. But I can neither see your Allah nor feel his presence."
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq said: "You do not feel the presence of air when it is not moving. The air is only a creation of Allah. He is everywhere, but you cannot see Him or feel His presence by your senses. You have admitted just now that although you do not see it, but your instinct or your soul tells you that there is something inside the stone, and is not the stone, which can help you. That something is Allah. Your instinct also tells you that you cannot live without Allah and without worshipping Him."
Abu Shakir said: "It is true. I cannot live without worshipping idols."
Said Imam Jafar as-Sadiq: "Do not say idols. Say Allah. It is He, Who is worthy of worship. just like you everyone is obliged to worship Him. One, who does not worship Allah has no guide and no guardian. He is just like one, who cannot see, cannot hear, cannot feel and cannot think. He does not know where to go and on whom to depend when in trouble. Worshipping Allah is a part of living. Every living being worships Him instinctively. Even the animals cannot live without worshipping Him. We cannot ask them and they cannot tell us that they worship Allah, but their well regulated and orderly life is sufficient proof that they worship Him.
"I do not say that the animals believe in Allah and worship Him just as we do. But there is no doubt that they obey the laws made by their Creator faithfully, which means they worship Him. If they were not obedient to their Creator, they could not have such an orderly and regulated life."
"We see that just before the advent of spring the titmouse (a kind of small bird) always comes at the same time and sings, as if to give us the tiding of the new season. The itinerary of these migratory birds is so regulated and their schedule so fixed that even if the last days of winter are still cold, their arrival is not delayed for more than a few days. When Chilchila (a migratory bird) returns after covering a distance of thousands of miles, it builds its nest at the same place, where it had built it last spring. Was it possible for these small birds to have such a well organised life if they did not obey the laws of Allah and worship Him?"
"Abu Shakir, even the plants obey the laws made by Allah faithfully and worship Him. Out of 150 species of plants, which are further divided into hundreds of sub-species you will not find even one plant, which has a disorganised and disorderly life."
"Abu Shakir, just like us the plants also do not see their Creator, but they worship Him by obeying His laws instinctively."
"I know that you will not accept, or perhaps you do not understand, what I say. A man must have sufficient knowledge to understand complicated problems."
"Abu Shakir, not only animals by their animal instinct and plants by their plant instinct obey Allah and worship Him, the lifeless and inanimate objects also, with whatever instinct they have, obey Allah and worship Him. If they did not worship Him, they would not have followed the laws made by Him. As a result, their atoms would have broken apart and they would have been destroyed."
"The light which comes from the sun also worships Allah by obeying his laws, which are very stringent and exact. It comes into being by the combination of two opposite forces. These forces also obey the laws of Allah and worship Him, otherwise they cannot produce light."
"Abu Shakir, if there was no Allah there would have been no universe and no you and me. The sentence, "There is no Allah', is meaningless. The existence of Allah is a must. If attention of Allah is diverted, even for a moment from the affairs of the universe to something else, it would break up. Everything in the universe obeys His laws, which are permanent and eternal. Because of His absolute wisdom and knowledge, He could make such wonderful laws, which will last for ever. Each and every law, made by Him serves some special and useful purpose."
When the Imam concluded his discourse, Abu Shakir fell into a deep reverie as if he was greatly inspired.
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq asked: "Do you now believe that Allah, who cannot be seen, does exist and what you worship is the unseen Allah?"
Abu Shakir replied: "I am not yet convinced. I am in a quandary. I am full of doubts and misgivings about my faith and my convictions."
Jafar as-Sadiq remarked: "The doubt about idol worship is the beginning of the worship of Allah."
Jafar as-Sadiq (A. S.) was one of the most patient and tolerant teachers of his time. He used to take his classes every day. After his lectures he would listen and reply to the objections of his critics. He had asked his critics, who attended his classes, not to interrupt him during his lectures. They were quite free to ask him any question or raise any objection after the classes were over.
Once Abu Shakir, one of his opponents, said to him: "Would you allow me to say something and ask some questions?"
"Yes, you can", replied Imam Jafar as-Sadiq.
Said Abu Shakir: "Is it not a myth that there is Allah? You want people to believe in a thing which does not exist. If there was Allah, we could have felt his existence through our senses. You may say that we can feel His presence by the help of our inner senses, but our inner senses also depend upon our five outer senses. We cannot conjure up an image of anything in which some of our senses were not involved. We cannot conjure up the picture of a person whom we have not met; recall to our memory his voice if we have not heard him and feel the touch of his hand by our inner senses if we have never taken his hand in our hand."
"You may say that we can perceive the presence of Allah by our intelligence and not through our inner or outer senses. But our intelligence also needs the assistance of our five outer senses, without which it cannot function. We cannot make any reasoning or come to any conclusion without the help of our senses.
By your imagination you have created a being, which is of your own image. Since you see, talk, hear, work and rest, He also does exactly what you do."
"You do not show Him to anyone. To maintain your hold on the people you say that He cannot be seen. You also say that He was not born from the womb of a woman. He does not procreate and that He would not die. I have heard that there is an idol in India, which is hidden behind a curtain and is not allowed to be seen by the Hindu devotees. The custodians of the idol say that it is out of mercy that their god does not appear before them, because whoever casts his eyes on it, would instantly die."
"Your Allah is also like the veiled god of the Hindus. It is out of His mercy that He does not appear before us. If he does, we shall surely die. You say that the universe was created by Allah, who did not talk to anyone, except to the Prophet of Islam. As a matter of fact the universe came by itself. Does anyone create the grass, which grows in the field? Does it not grow and get green by itself? Does anyone create the ants and the mosquitoes? Do they not come out by themselves?"
"I must tell you, who claims to be a scholar and the successor of the Prophet, that among all the stories, which circulate among the people, none is more absurd and baseless than the story of Allah, who cannot be seen. There are many baseless stories, but they, at least, depict real life and present before us the people and personalities, who may themselves be fictitious, but their acts and deeds are like those of real human beings. We can see them. They eat, they drink, they talk, they sleep and they love. When we read these fictitious stories, we enjoy them. We know that they are false, but we see in them the faces of men and women, who are like us. The people mentioned in the stories might not have existed, but our common sense accepts existence of such people in the world. However, when we cannot see, feel or touch your Allah, our logic and reasoning, which depend upon our senses, do not accept his existence."
"l know that some people, who have been deceived by you, believe in your invisible Allah, but you cannot deceive me and make me believe in Him. I worship God, who is made of wood and stone. Although my God does not talk, but I can see him with my eyes and touch him with my hands."
"You say that the God whom I have made from my own hands is not worthy of being worshipped, while you ask the people to worship Allah, you have created by your imagination. You deceive innocent people by saying that your imaginary Allah has created the universe, but I do not deceive anyone. No one created the universe. There was no need of any god to create it. It came by itself. God cannot create anything. He is himself our creation. I created him by my hand and you by your imagination."
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (A. S.) did not say a word during the long tirade of Abu Shakir. Sometimes his students, who were present, wanted to intervene but he asked them to remain quiet. When Abu Shakir stopped his lengthy discourse, the Imam asked him, if he had anything more to say.
Retorted Abu Shakir: "By introducing your invisible Allah to the people, you want to acquire wealth and position and have a respectable, comfortable and luxurious life. These are my last words. I do not want to say anything more."
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (A. S.) said: "l would like to start with the last part of your speech. Your accusations that I want money, position and a comfortable life would have been justified if I was living like a caliph. You have seen today that I have eaten a few morsels of bread only and nothing else. I invite you to my house to see for yourself what I will have for dinner and how I live."
"Abu Shakir, if I wanted to acquire wealth and have a good life, as you say, I was not obliged to teach and preach to get rich. I would have earned money and got rich by my knowledge of chemistry. Another way to get rich was to do business. I have more knowledge' about foreign markets than any merchant in Medina. I know what goods are produced in different countries and where to sell them for profit. I also know how to bring them here to reduce the cost of transport. Our merchants import goods only from Syria, Iraq, Egypt and some other Arab countries. They do not know what goods are available in Isphahan, Rasht and Rome, otherwise they would have imported them and sold them with profit."
"Abu Shakir, you have said that I ask the people to worship Allah to deceive them and to get rich. I must tell you that I have never taken anything from anyone, except some fruits as presents. One of my friends sends to me every year fresh dates from his garden and another some pomegranates from Taif. I accept these presents so that they may not get offended."
"I have heard, O Abu Shakir, that your father was a pearl merchant. Perhaps you may have some knowledge about pearls. But I know all about pearls and precious stones. I can also appraise their market value. If I wanted to get rich I would have worked as a jeweller. Can you test and recognise a precious stone? Do you know how many kinds of rubies and emeralds there are in the world?"
"I know nothing about them", replied Abu Shakir.
"Do you know how many kinds of diamonds there are and what colours they have?" asked Imam Jafar as-Sadiq.
"I do not know", replied Abu Shakir.
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq said: "I am not a jeweller, but I know all about the pearls and precious stones. I also know where they come from. All jewellers must know about gems, what I know, but few of them know their sources."
"Do you know what makes a diamond shine?"
"I never was a diamond merchant, nor was my father. How can I know why diamonds shine?; replied Abu Shakir.
Said the Imam: "Diamonds are obtained from the beds of rivers and streams. Rough diamonds are cut by experts. This is the cut of a diamond, which gives it its brilliance. Those who are experts in cutting diamonds are trained from the childhood in the profession of their fathers and forefathers. Cutting a diamond is a very delicate and difficult art. A diamond is cut only by a diamond."
"Abu Shakir, I have said all this simply to show to you that if I wanted to accumulate wealth, I could have done so by making use of my knowledge about jewels. I have replied to your accusations and now I shall deal with your objections."
"Abu Shakir, you have said that I have fabricated stories and ask the people to worship Allah, who cannot be seen. You refuse to acknowledge existence of Allah, because He cannot be seen. Can you see inside your own body?"
Replied Abu Shakir: "No, I cannot."
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq said: "If you could have seen what is inside you, you would not have said that you do not believe in Allah, who cannot be seen."
Abu Shakir asked: "What is the relationship between seeing within one's own body and the existence of your unseen Allah?"
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (A. S.) replied: "You have said just now that a thing, which cannot be seen, touched, tasted or heard, does not exist."
Abu Shakir said: "Yes, I have said that and I believe it is true."
Jafar as-Sadiq asked: "Do you hear the sound of the movement of blood in your body?"
Said Abu Shakir: "No, I do not. But does blood move in the body?
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq (A. S.) said: "Yes, it does. It makes a full circuit of your body. If the circulation of blood stops for a few minutes you will die."
Abu Shakir said: "I cannot believe that blood circulates in the body."
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq said: "It is your ignorance, which does not let you believe that your blood circulates in your body, and the same ignorance does not let you believe in the existence of Allah, Who cannot be seen."
Then the Imam asked Abu Shakir whether he has seen the tiny living beings, which Allah has created in his body.
Jafar as-Sadiq continued: "It is because of these small creatures and their wonderful work that you are kept alive. They are so small that you cannot see them. Since you are a slave of your senses, you do not know about their existence. If you increase your knowledge and decrease your ignorance, you will come to know that these small beings in your body are as large in number as the particles of sand in the desert. These small creatures are born in your body, multiply in your body, work in your body and die in your body. But you never see them, touch them, taste them or hear them in your life time."
"It is true that one who knows himself knows his Allah. If you had known yourself and had the knowledge of what is going on inside your body, you would not have said that you do not believe in Allah, without seeing Him."
Pointing his finger to a huge stone he said: "Abu Shakir, do you see the stone, which is in the foot of that portico? To you it seems lifeless and motionless, because you do not see the brisk motion, which is inside the stone. Again it is lack of knowledge or your ignorance, which would not let you believe that there is motion inside the stone. The time will come when the learned people would see the motion which is in the stone."
Continued the Imam: "Abu Shakir, you have said that everything in the universe came by itself and has no Creator. You think that the grass in the field grows and gets green by itself. You must know that the grass cannot grow without seeds and seeds would not germinate without moisture in the soil and there would be no moisture if no rain falls. The rain does not fall by itself. First the water vapours rise and gather above in the atmosphere in the form of clouds. The winds bring the clouds. Then the water vapours condense and fall down as rain drops. The rain must also fall at the right time, otherwise no grass will grow and become green. Take the seeds of ten kinds of herbs and put them in a closed jar, which has sufficient water, but no air. Would they germinate? No, in addition to water, seeds need air also. It is possible to grow grass, herbs and fruits in hot houses, when it is very cold, provided there is sufficient air. Without the presence of air no grass will gr! ow in the fields and get green. If there is no air, all plants and animals, including human beings, would die."
"Abu Shakir, do you see the air, on which your very existence depends. You only feel it when it moves. Can you refuse to believe in the existence of air? Can you deny that to grow and get green the grass needs many things like seeds, soil, water, air, a suitable climate and above all a strong managing power, which may co-ordinate the action of these different elements. That Managing and Co-ordinating Power is Allah."
"You say that everything comes by itself because you are not a scientist. No scientist would ever say that. All scientists and all scholars believe in the existence of a creator, albeit, they may call Him by different names. Even those, who do not believe in Allah, believe in a Creative Force."
"Abu Shakir, it is not because of one's knowledge, but it is due to his ignorance that he does not believe in Allah. When a wise man thinks of himself, he finds that his own body needs a controller so that all its organs and systems may function properly. He then realises that this vast universe also needs a controller or supervisor so that it may run smoothly."
"You said just now that both of us create our own gods - you by your hands and I by my imagination. But there is a big difference between your god and my Allah. Your god did not exist before you made him out of wood or stone, but my Allah was there before I could think about Him. I do not create my Allah by my hands or by my brain. What I do is to know Him better and think of His Greatness. When you see a mountain you try to know more about it. It is not creating the mountain by imagination. That mountain was there before you saw it and it would be there when you are gone."
'You cannot know much about the mountain because of your limited knowledge. The more your knowledge grows, the more you will learn about it. It is impossible for you to find out when and how that mountain came into being and when it would disappear. You cannot find out what minerals are there inside or underneath the mountain and what is their benefit to mankind."
"Do you know that the stones, out of which you make your idols came into being thousands of years ago and shall exist for thousands of years more. These stones have come here from a distant place. They could travel that long journey because different parts of the earth are always moving, but this movement is so slow that you do not feel it. There is nothing in the universe, which is not in motion. Rest or motionlessness is meaningless. We are not at rest even when we are sleeping. We are in motion because the earth is in motion. Besides, we have a motion inside our own bodies."
"Abu Shakir, if you had any knowledge about the piece of stone, out of which you carve an idol, you would not have denied the existence of Allah and said that I have created Him by my imagination. You do not know what a stone is and how it came into being. Today you can handle it as you like and cut it into any shape or form, but there was a time when it was in liquid state. Gradually it cooled down and Allah solidified it. In the beginning it was quite brittle and would have broken into pieces in your hand like a piece of glass."
Asked Abu Shakir: "Was it in a liquid condition before?"
"Yes, it was", replied Jafar asSadiq (A. S.)
Abu Shakir burst into a peal of laughter. One of the students of Jafar as-Sadiq got angry and was about to say something when he was stopped by his teacher.
Abu Shakir said: "I am laughing because you say that the stones are made of water."
Jafar as-Sadiq (A. S.) replied: "I did not say that the stones are made of water. What I had said was that in the beginning they were in a liquid state."
Abu Shakir said: "What difference does it make. The liquid and water are the same things."
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq replied: "There are many liquids which are not water. Milk and vinegar are liquids, but they are not water, although they have a water content in them. In the beginning the stones were liquid like water and they flowed like water. Gradually they cooled down and became hard so that you could cut them and make them into idols. The same hard stones will turn into liquid, if they are heated."
Said Abu Shakir: "When I go home I will check the truth of your statement. I will put the stone in the fireplace and see if it turns into liquid or not."
Said the Imam: "You cannot liquefy stone in your fireplace. Can you liquefy a piece of iron at home? A very high temperature is required to turn solid stone into liquid."
"Do you realise how you could make the idols out of stones? It was Allah, who made the stones. It was He Who created you and gave you the hands with the unique fingers, which enabled you to handle tools and chisel out the idols from the stones. Again it was He who gave you power and intelligence, which you used in making the idols."
"Abu Shakir, do you think that the mountains are only heaps of stones? The Great Allah has created them to serve some very useful purpose. They were not created so that you may take stones and turn them into idols. Wherever there is a mountain there is flowing water. Rain and snow which fall on the mountain tops produce streams of fresh water. These streams combine together to form big rivers, which irrigate farms and fields. The people who live in the valleys, through which the rivers flow, are assured of constant supply of water. People who can afford it, go to the mountains during the summer season to escape the heat of the plains."
"The mountains work as a great bulwark and protect towns and villages, which are in their valleys from the devastation and destruction of hurricanes. Green mountains provide good grazing grounds for sheep. When scorching heat burns the pastures down in the plains and no fodder is left, the shepherds take their flocks of sheep to the mountains and stay there till the end of summer. Mountains are also habitats of birds and animals, some of which are a good source of food for those, who live there. Even the mountains, which are not green, are not without some use. If the people try, they may discover in them mines of metals and minerals which are useful for mankind."
"Abu Shakir, I am too small and too weak to create Allah with my brain. It is He, who has created my brain, so that I may think of Him and know Him - my Creator. He was there before I came into being and He would be there when I am no more. I do not mean that I would be totally destroyed. Nothing in the universe is totally destroyed. Everything is subject to change. It is only Allah, Who does not change."
"Abu Shakir, please tell me sincerely to whom will you turn for help when you are in trouble? Do you hope that the idol you carve out of stone can come to your succour? Can it cure you when you are sick; save you from mishaps and calamities; save you from starvation and help you pay your debts?"
Abu Shakir replied: "I have no such expectations from the stone, but, I think there is something inside the stone, which will help me. Moreover, I cannot help worshipping it."
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq enquired: "What is inside the stone? Is it also stone?"
"I do not know what it is. But it cannot help me if it is also stone," replied Abu Shakir.
Said Imam Jafar as-Sadiq: "Abu Shakir, what is inside the stone and is not stone and can help when you are in trouble is, Allah."
Abu Shakir pondered over the subject for a while and then said: "Is Allah, who cannot be seen, inside the stone?"
The Imam replied: "He is everywhere."
Abu Shakir said: "I cannot believe that a thing may be everywhere but remain unseen."
The Imam said: "Do you know that the air is everywhere but cannot be seen?"
Said Abu Shakir: "Although I cannot see the air, I can, at least, feel it when it moves. But I can neither see your Allah nor feel his presence."
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq said: "You do not feel the presence of air when it is not moving. The air is only a creation of Allah. He is everywhere, but you cannot see Him or feel His presence by your senses. You have admitted just now that although you do not see it, but your instinct or your soul tells you that there is something inside the stone, and is not the stone, which can help you. That something is Allah. Your instinct also tells you that you cannot live without Allah and without worshipping Him."
Abu Shakir said: "It is true. I cannot live without worshipping idols."
Said Imam Jafar as-Sadiq: "Do not say idols. Say Allah. It is He, Who is worthy of worship. just like you everyone is obliged to worship Him. One, who does not worship Allah has no guide and no guardian. He is just like one, who cannot see, cannot hear, cannot feel and cannot think. He does not know where to go and on whom to depend when in trouble. Worshipping Allah is a part of living. Every living being worships Him instinctively. Even the animals cannot live without worshipping Him. We cannot ask them and they cannot tell us that they worship Allah, but their well regulated and orderly life is sufficient proof that they worship Him.
"I do not say that the animals believe in Allah and worship Him just as we do. But there is no doubt that they obey the laws made by their Creator faithfully, which means they worship Him. If they were not obedient to their Creator, they could not have such an orderly and regulated life."
"We see that just before the advent of spring the titmouse (a kind of small bird) always comes at the same time and sings, as if to give us the tiding of the new season. The itinerary of these migratory birds is so regulated and their schedule so fixed that even if the last days of winter are still cold, their arrival is not delayed for more than a few days. When Chilchila (a migratory bird) returns after covering a distance of thousands of miles, it builds its nest at the same place, where it had built it last spring. Was it possible for these small birds to have such a well organised life if they did not obey the laws of Allah and worship Him?"
"Abu Shakir, even the plants obey the laws made by Allah faithfully and worship Him. Out of 150 species of plants, which are further divided into hundreds of sub-species you will not find even one plant, which has a disorganised and disorderly life."
"Abu Shakir, just like us the plants also do not see their Creator, but they worship Him by obeying His laws instinctively."
"I know that you will not accept, or perhaps you do not understand, what I say. A man must have sufficient knowledge to understand complicated problems."
"Abu Shakir, not only animals by their animal instinct and plants by their plant instinct obey Allah and worship Him, the lifeless and inanimate objects also, with whatever instinct they have, obey Allah and worship Him. If they did not worship Him, they would not have followed the laws made by Him. As a result, their atoms would have broken apart and they would have been destroyed."
"The light which comes from the sun also worships Allah by obeying his laws, which are very stringent and exact. It comes into being by the combination of two opposite forces. These forces also obey the laws of Allah and worship Him, otherwise they cannot produce light."
"Abu Shakir, if there was no Allah there would have been no universe and no you and me. The sentence, "There is no Allah', is meaningless. The existence of Allah is a must. If attention of Allah is diverted, even for a moment from the affairs of the universe to something else, it would break up. Everything in the universe obeys His laws, which are permanent and eternal. Because of His absolute wisdom and knowledge, He could make such wonderful laws, which will last for ever. Each and every law, made by Him serves some special and useful purpose."
When the Imam concluded his discourse, Abu Shakir fell into a deep reverie as if he was greatly inspired.
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq asked: "Do you now believe that Allah, who cannot be seen, does exist and what you worship is the unseen Allah?"
Abu Shakir replied: "I am not yet convinced. I am in a quandary. I am full of doubts and misgivings about my faith and my convictions."
Jafar as-Sadiq remarked: "The doubt about idol worship is the beginning of the worship of Allah."
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Guest
Inside the will of God there is no failure. Outside the will of God there is no success.
-Bernard Edinger
***
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
-Thomas A. Edison
***
His divine power creates this magic show of name and form and you and me; casting a spell of pleasure and pain.
-Shvetashvatara Upanishad
***
Believers, remain mindful of Allah and always tell the truth. He will bless you with forthrightness and absolve you of your sins. Those who adhere to Allah and His messenger shall indeed have achieved a signal victory.
-Qur'an, Al-Ahzab, Surah 33:70-71
***
Fortune has rarely condescended to be the companion of genius.
- Isaac D'Israeli (father of the British prime minister, Benjamin Disraeli)
***
Subhuti, do not think that when one gives rise to the highest, most fulfilled, awakened mind one needs to see all objects of mind as nonexistent, cut off from life. Please do not think in that way. One who gives rise to the awakened mind does not deny objects or say that they are nonexistent.
One who gives rise to the awakened mind should know that what is called a self or a person, a living being or a life span, is not so in essence but only in concept. The names self, person, living being, or life span are names only. Subhuti, you should know that all the things of the world are like this, and you should have confidence in their essence without names.
-Diamond Sutra
-Bernard Edinger
***
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
-Thomas A. Edison
***
His divine power creates this magic show of name and form and you and me; casting a spell of pleasure and pain.
-Shvetashvatara Upanishad
***
Believers, remain mindful of Allah and always tell the truth. He will bless you with forthrightness and absolve you of your sins. Those who adhere to Allah and His messenger shall indeed have achieved a signal victory.
-Qur'an, Al-Ahzab, Surah 33:70-71
***
Fortune has rarely condescended to be the companion of genius.
- Isaac D'Israeli (father of the British prime minister, Benjamin Disraeli)
***
Subhuti, do not think that when one gives rise to the highest, most fulfilled, awakened mind one needs to see all objects of mind as nonexistent, cut off from life. Please do not think in that way. One who gives rise to the awakened mind does not deny objects or say that they are nonexistent.
One who gives rise to the awakened mind should know that what is called a self or a person, a living being or a life span, is not so in essence but only in concept. The names self, person, living being, or life span are names only. Subhuti, you should know that all the things of the world are like this, and you should have confidence in their essence without names.
-Diamond Sutra
-
Guest
Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?
-Mark 4:40 (Revised Standard Version)
***
There is nothing better than the encouragement of a good friend.
-Katharine Butler Hathaway
***
Silent about virtue and swift to act wrongly,
one who does not slander others may still be called good.
More vile than violating virtue and committing crime
is slandering a man, then smiling to his face.
-Tirukkural 19: 181-182
***
What is Faith? When your good deed pleases you and your evil deed grieves you, you are a believer. What is Sin? When a thing disturbs (the peace of) your heart, give it up.
-Prophet Muhammad, from Sayings of Muhammad by Prof. Ghazi Ahmad
***
Hatred makes the straight crooked.
- Hebrew proverb
***
Try to be reasonable in the way you grow, and don't ever think it is too late. It is never too late. Even if you are going to die tomorrow, keep yourself straight and clear and be a happy human being today. If you keep your situation happy day by day, you will eventually reach the greatest happiness of enlightenment.
-Lama Thubten Yeshe, The Bliss of Inner Fire
-Mark 4:40 (Revised Standard Version)
***
There is nothing better than the encouragement of a good friend.
-Katharine Butler Hathaway
***
Silent about virtue and swift to act wrongly,
one who does not slander others may still be called good.
More vile than violating virtue and committing crime
is slandering a man, then smiling to his face.
-Tirukkural 19: 181-182
***
What is Faith? When your good deed pleases you and your evil deed grieves you, you are a believer. What is Sin? When a thing disturbs (the peace of) your heart, give it up.
-Prophet Muhammad, from Sayings of Muhammad by Prof. Ghazi Ahmad
***
Hatred makes the straight crooked.
- Hebrew proverb
***
Try to be reasonable in the way you grow, and don't ever think it is too late. It is never too late. Even if you are going to die tomorrow, keep yourself straight and clear and be a happy human being today. If you keep your situation happy day by day, you will eventually reach the greatest happiness of enlightenment.
-Lama Thubten Yeshe, The Bliss of Inner Fire
-
Guest
I found this work, on prophet mohammed (a.s.) as the predicted the kalki avatar in hindu texts:
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him in "non-idol worshiping" Hindu Religion Books:
The following article was sent to me by brother Hassan Malick; may Allah Almighty always be pleased with him.
One Hindu research professor, in his stunning book, claims that the description of Avatar found in the holy books of Hindu religion is in fact that of the Prophet, Muhammad (S.A.S). A little while ago, in India a fact revealing book has been published, which has been the topic of discussions and gossip all over the country.
If the author of this book were a Muslim, he would have been arrested or he could have been murdered and all the copies this book would have been confiscated. Even a ban would have been extended on its further Publications, A riot and violence would have I broken out against innocent Muslims and their blood would have been shed.
Amazingly the author of this book is a fair-minded famous professor, who happens to be a Hindu. His name is Pundit Vedaprakash Upadhai and the name of his fact revealing book is Kalki Avatar. The author is a Hindu Brahmin by caste of Bengali origin. He is a research scholar a seeker of the Truth and a Well known Pundit in Allahabad University.
After years of research work, he published this book, and other eight pundits have endorsed and certified his points of argument as authentic.
According to Hindu belief and their holy books, the description of the guide and the leader, named Kalki Avatar, fits only to the Prophet Muhammad of Arabia (S.A.S). So the Hindus of the whole world should not wait any longer for the arrival of Kalki Avatar (the spirit) and should readily accept Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S) as Kalki Avatar. The facts verified and supported by the eight eminent pundits.
What the author and the eight other eminent pundits say is that the Hindus who are still anxiously awaiting the arrival of Kalki Avatar are simply subjecting themselves to a never ending pain. Because such a great messenger has come and departed from this world fourteen centuries ago.
The author produces following sound evidences from the Vedas and other holy books of Hindu religion in support of his claim:-
1. In Purana (a holy book of Hindus) it is stated that Kalki Avatar would be the last messenger (prophet) of God in this world for the Guidance of the whole world and all human beings.
2. According to a Hindu religion prediction, the birth of Kalki Avatar, would take place in an isle which again according to Hindu religion is Arab Region.
3. In books of Hindus, the names of the father and the mother of Kalki Avatar are given as VISHNUBHAGAT and SUMAANI respectively. If we examine the meanings of these names we shall come to a very interesting conclusion: Take VISHNUBHAGAT. VISHNU (meaning God) + BHAGAT( meaning Slave) ALLAH + ABD (in Arabic) Slave of God = ABDULLAH (in Arabic) name of Muhammad's Father. SUMAANI =Peace or Calmness = Aamenah (in Arabic) Name of Muhammad's mother.
4. In religious books of Hindus, it is mentioned that the staple food of Kalki Avatar would be dates and olives and he would be the most honest and truthful person in the region. Without any doubt the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S) is acclaimed to possess these qualities.
5. It is stated in Vedas (holy book of Hindu Religion) that the birth of Kalki Avatar would take place in an honorable clan. This perfectly fits the Quraysh where the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S) belonged to.
6. God would teach Kalki Avatar through His messenger (angel) in a cave. Allah taught Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S), through is messenger Jibraeel (Gabreal) in a cave known as Gaar-e-Hiraa.
7. God would avail Kalki Avatar with a very speedy horse to ride and travel the whole world and the seven skies. Indication of Buraaque (horse) and Me'raaj (the night when prophet traveled the seven skies).
8. God would also avail Kalki Avatar with divine help. This was particularly proved in the Battle of Uhud.
9. Another dazzling account given about Kalki Avatar was that he would be born on the 12th of a month. Whereas the Prophet Muhammad(S.A.S) was born on the 12th of the Rabiul Awwal (Islamic Calendar).
10. Kalki Avatar would be an excellent horse rider and a swordsman. The author here draws the attention of Hindus that the real days of horses and swords have gone and the present time is of guns and missiles. So it would be foolish on the part of those who still expect Kalki Avatar, who should be an excellent rider and swordsman to come.
In fact, the divine book, Holy Qur'aan contains qualities and signs attributed to Kalki Avatar reflecting on the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S).
The author has given numerous arguments in favor of his claim that Kalki Avatar is in fact Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S) and those who still await the arrival of Kalki Avatar should think again.
But how comes,we're taught that Imam Ali was the kalki avatar?
Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him in "non-idol worshiping" Hindu Religion Books:
The following article was sent to me by brother Hassan Malick; may Allah Almighty always be pleased with him.
One Hindu research professor, in his stunning book, claims that the description of Avatar found in the holy books of Hindu religion is in fact that of the Prophet, Muhammad (S.A.S). A little while ago, in India a fact revealing book has been published, which has been the topic of discussions and gossip all over the country.
If the author of this book were a Muslim, he would have been arrested or he could have been murdered and all the copies this book would have been confiscated. Even a ban would have been extended on its further Publications, A riot and violence would have I broken out against innocent Muslims and their blood would have been shed.
Amazingly the author of this book is a fair-minded famous professor, who happens to be a Hindu. His name is Pundit Vedaprakash Upadhai and the name of his fact revealing book is Kalki Avatar. The author is a Hindu Brahmin by caste of Bengali origin. He is a research scholar a seeker of the Truth and a Well known Pundit in Allahabad University.
After years of research work, he published this book, and other eight pundits have endorsed and certified his points of argument as authentic.
According to Hindu belief and their holy books, the description of the guide and the leader, named Kalki Avatar, fits only to the Prophet Muhammad of Arabia (S.A.S). So the Hindus of the whole world should not wait any longer for the arrival of Kalki Avatar (the spirit) and should readily accept Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S) as Kalki Avatar. The facts verified and supported by the eight eminent pundits.
What the author and the eight other eminent pundits say is that the Hindus who are still anxiously awaiting the arrival of Kalki Avatar are simply subjecting themselves to a never ending pain. Because such a great messenger has come and departed from this world fourteen centuries ago.
The author produces following sound evidences from the Vedas and other holy books of Hindu religion in support of his claim:-
1. In Purana (a holy book of Hindus) it is stated that Kalki Avatar would be the last messenger (prophet) of God in this world for the Guidance of the whole world and all human beings.
2. According to a Hindu religion prediction, the birth of Kalki Avatar, would take place in an isle which again according to Hindu religion is Arab Region.
3. In books of Hindus, the names of the father and the mother of Kalki Avatar are given as VISHNUBHAGAT and SUMAANI respectively. If we examine the meanings of these names we shall come to a very interesting conclusion: Take VISHNUBHAGAT. VISHNU (meaning God) + BHAGAT( meaning Slave) ALLAH + ABD (in Arabic) Slave of God = ABDULLAH (in Arabic) name of Muhammad's Father. SUMAANI =Peace or Calmness = Aamenah (in Arabic) Name of Muhammad's mother.
4. In religious books of Hindus, it is mentioned that the staple food of Kalki Avatar would be dates and olives and he would be the most honest and truthful person in the region. Without any doubt the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S) is acclaimed to possess these qualities.
5. It is stated in Vedas (holy book of Hindu Religion) that the birth of Kalki Avatar would take place in an honorable clan. This perfectly fits the Quraysh where the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S) belonged to.
6. God would teach Kalki Avatar through His messenger (angel) in a cave. Allah taught Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S), through is messenger Jibraeel (Gabreal) in a cave known as Gaar-e-Hiraa.
7. God would avail Kalki Avatar with a very speedy horse to ride and travel the whole world and the seven skies. Indication of Buraaque (horse) and Me'raaj (the night when prophet traveled the seven skies).
8. God would also avail Kalki Avatar with divine help. This was particularly proved in the Battle of Uhud.
9. Another dazzling account given about Kalki Avatar was that he would be born on the 12th of a month. Whereas the Prophet Muhammad(S.A.S) was born on the 12th of the Rabiul Awwal (Islamic Calendar).
10. Kalki Avatar would be an excellent horse rider and a swordsman. The author here draws the attention of Hindus that the real days of horses and swords have gone and the present time is of guns and missiles. So it would be foolish on the part of those who still expect Kalki Avatar, who should be an excellent rider and swordsman to come.
In fact, the divine book, Holy Qur'aan contains qualities and signs attributed to Kalki Avatar reflecting on the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S).
The author has given numerous arguments in favor of his claim that Kalki Avatar is in fact Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S) and those who still await the arrival of Kalki Avatar should think again.
But how comes,we're taught that Imam Ali was the kalki avatar?
-
Guest
Why should I grieve because of a thorn? Once it had made laughter known to me. Whatever you lost through the stroke of destiny, know it was to save you from adversity. One small affliction keeps off greater afflictions; one small loss prevents greater losses.
-Rumi, "Mathnawi"
***
Learn to humble yourself, you are but earth and clay.
-Thomas à Kempis
***
The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work.
-Richard Bach
***
If the body lasted till the end of time,
Or vanished today,
What would you win or lose?
You are pure awareness.
-Ashtavakra Gita 15:11
***
Surely there must be a king who rules over the orbs of heaven and orders them!
- Zohar, Genesis, 86a
***
The charity which unstores wealth leads to returns of well-stored fruit. Giving away our food we get more strength, giving away our clothes we get more beauty.
-Fo-Sho-Hing-Tsan-King
-Rumi, "Mathnawi"
***
Learn to humble yourself, you are but earth and clay.
-Thomas à Kempis
***
The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work.
-Richard Bach
***
If the body lasted till the end of time,
Or vanished today,
What would you win or lose?
You are pure awareness.
-Ashtavakra Gita 15:11
***
Surely there must be a king who rules over the orbs of heaven and orders them!
- Zohar, Genesis, 86a
***
The charity which unstores wealth leads to returns of well-stored fruit. Giving away our food we get more strength, giving away our clothes we get more beauty.
-Fo-Sho-Hing-Tsan-King
-
maheroonPradhan
- Posts: 75
- Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2005 2:54 pm
-
Guest
Sin is like quicksand: Your own efforts only make you sink deeper. Only an outside hand can pull you out.
-Unknown
***
The true measure of an individual is how he treats a person who can do him absolutely no good.
-Ann Landers
***
Under my watchful eye the laws of nature take their course. Thus is the world set in motion; thus the animate and the inanimate are created.
-Bhagavad Gita 9:10
***
Each person will be given a book. Those who are given their books in their right hands will be judged leniently; and they will return to their people joyfully. But those who are given their books in their left hands will call down destruction on themselves, and burn in the fire of hell. They are the people who have never cared for their neighbors; they thought they would never return to God. Their Lord watches all that people do.
-Qur'an, Al-Inshiqaq, Surah 84:7-15
***
The mind's highest good is the knowledge of God, and the mind's highest virtue is to know God.
- Spinoza, "Ethics"
***
By telling the truth;
by not growing angry;
by giving, when asked,
no matter how little you have:
by these three things
you enter the presence of devas.
-Dhammapada, 17, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
***
-Unknown
***
The true measure of an individual is how he treats a person who can do him absolutely no good.
-Ann Landers
***
Under my watchful eye the laws of nature take their course. Thus is the world set in motion; thus the animate and the inanimate are created.
-Bhagavad Gita 9:10
***
Each person will be given a book. Those who are given their books in their right hands will be judged leniently; and they will return to their people joyfully. But those who are given their books in their left hands will call down destruction on themselves, and burn in the fire of hell. They are the people who have never cared for their neighbors; they thought they would never return to God. Their Lord watches all that people do.
-Qur'an, Al-Inshiqaq, Surah 84:7-15
***
The mind's highest good is the knowledge of God, and the mind's highest virtue is to know God.
- Spinoza, "Ethics"
***
By telling the truth;
by not growing angry;
by giving, when asked,
no matter how little you have:
by these three things
you enter the presence of devas.
-Dhammapada, 17, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
***
-
Guest
Allah married Mohammed to his adopted son Zaid's beautiful wife Zainab by this revelation:
Q 33.37 Mohammed we have married Zaid's ( Mohammed's adopted son) wife ( breautiful Zainab) to you so that in future there is no problem for men to marry their adopted son's wives
-Allah asked Mohammed to go and enjoy sex with his slave girl Maria (his wife Habsa's maid) and break his promise not to touch her ( made to his wife Habsa)
Q66.1 Why are you denying yourself (sex with slave girl Maria) what we have made halal for you ( sex with slave girls 33.50)
Above incidences have been discussed in much details in Bukhari and Tabari.
Q 33.37 Mohammed we have married Zaid's ( Mohammed's adopted son) wife ( breautiful Zainab) to you so that in future there is no problem for men to marry their adopted son's wives
-Allah asked Mohammed to go and enjoy sex with his slave girl Maria (his wife Habsa's maid) and break his promise not to touch her ( made to his wife Habsa)
Q66.1 Why are you denying yourself (sex with slave girl Maria) what we have made halal for you ( sex with slave girls 33.50)
Above incidences have been discussed in much details in Bukhari and Tabari.
-
Guest
The prophet surrounded himself mostly, though there were a few notable exceptions, with young male converts. Indeed, most of them were much younger than him; men in their teens and early twenties. This is intriguing. More mature men would have given his movement much greater respect by virtue of their seniority. But by courting almost exclusively the companionship of younger men Muhammad deepened the suspicions of their parents and elder kinsmen. He also embarrassed and alienated the city elders and even many of his own companions in both Mecca and Yathrib [ Medina ].
For instance, late in his life, Muhammad was often seen in the company of Usama ibn Zaid, his former servant's son. Sometimes they even shared a camel together, Usama mounted behind. But Muhammad's companions were astonished when he appointed this teenager ( he was then just eighteen years old ) to head an expedition against Syria in 10AH ( 632AD ). The planned campaign was considered so difficult that only the original muhajirin and ansar were employed and these veteran soldiers were severely critical of the Prophet for placing them under the command of an inexperienced and beardless youth. Muhammad responded that
"Your criticism of his leadership is just like your earlier criticism of his father's appointment to command. Yet it was God who gave his father all the qualities necessary to command and he was one of my dearest and closest companions. His son is also someone I love dearly." [ Ibn Kathir ]
Not surprisingly little is written about what happened to the expedition beyond the claim that it returned with a few prisoners taken from a Red Sea port.
There are also many examples from more everyday events. In one instance ten years before, when the fifty two year old Messenger of God first arrived in Yathrib, after his narrow and arduous escape from his assassins in Mecca, he chose to place both himself and his baggage in the care of a young man - Khalid ibn Zaid. This seems to have frustrated many of his older followers who insisted he stay with them. Muhammad struggled a little to justify his decision, responding somewhat feebly that "A man should never be separated from his baggage."
A few weeks earlier, it was a group of Meccan elders who had plotted Muhammad's murder. Not only had Muhammad been denouncing their gods but several of them had "lost" younger members of their families to Muhammad's new faith.
The sheiks hired cutthroats to burst into Muhammad's appartment late one night. The assassins discovered his twenty three year old beloved cousin, Ali, lying on the prophet's bed. Muhammad himself had disappeared just a few hours earlier.
Historians claim that Ali was sleeping in the Prophet's bed as part of a deliberate ploy to buy time. Muhammad's enemies, who were known to be observing the house, would be deceived. They would, it was hoped, peer in through a window and see Ali and assume, naturally enough, that it was Muhammad asleep.
Though this could be an explanation, it is surprising that Muhammad should have chosen a man less than half his age to play his double, especially as it would have put his nephew at risk. As a relative and as Muhammad's most trusted follower, Ali might easily have been killed by less discriminating assassins. Especially since his father, Muhammad's uncle Abu Talib, had recently died and therefore any threat of retribution would have been greatly reduced.
As a decoy Abu Talib's youngest son was also a poor choice. Ali was a strikingly handsome youth who would not easily have been mistaken for the middle aged prophet. He was muscular and broad shouldered with a straight nose and a beautifully formed mouth. The prophet himself confessed that
"Looking upon Ali is worship," [ Ibn Asakir on the authority of Caliph Abubakr ] and that "Ali would appear [even] to the dwellers of paradise as a morning star." [Sawai'q muhari'qa.]
But let us return to the scene which greeted the assassins. The idea that Ali was lying in Muhammad's bed as a "decoy" seems a little far fetched. Moreover it ignores the fact that Muhammad frequently shared a bed with Ali. As one historian wrote -
"He [Muhammad] often made [Ali] sleep by his side, and Ali enjoyed the warmth of Muhammad's body and inhaled the holy fragrance of his breath."
Indeed, there is not one of Muhammad's ten wives who continuously shared the same living quarters with the prophet for as long as Ali. From his youth, until the prophet's death, Ali was always living either in the prophet's home or in an adjacent apartment.
Enjoying such a close and continuous proximity to the Prophet and quickly aquiring an authority above those much older than himself, Ali soon provoked jealousy and anger among some of the Prophet's companions. On several ocassions Muhammad had to warn his followers against any inclination to conspire against the young man.
Just after completing what was to be his final pilgrimmage in 632, at a place called Ghadir Khumm on the road between Mecca and Medina, Muhammad addressed an assembled crowd of many thousands. Holding Ali's hand and raising it high, he declared that "Anyone whose Guardian I have been has Ali as his Guardian. Oh God protect anyone who protects him and opose anyone who opposes him. Ali is of me and I am of him," and according to one source [ Ibn Abu Bukayr ] even told his listeners that "No one settles debts on my behalf except myself or Ali." Clearly the Prophet wanted to make everyone aware not only that there was no one he trusted as much as Ali, but that he and Ali were so close spiritually that he thought of Ali and himself as a single spirit occupying two bodies.
When, only a few months later, Muhammad died, it was in the arms of Ali. It was Ali who emerged from under a blanket, which covered them both, to announce that the Prophet was dead.
It is not surprising that some of Muhammad's followers suspected that there was more to this relationship than mere bonds of friendship and cousinly kinship. One such instance occurred during the siege of Tayef which occupied a strategic position some sixty miles to the south east of Mecca.
Ali was returning from an expedition into the surrounding countryside. Muhammad greeted him effusively and they both dissappeared into Muhammad's quarters. The prophet didn't allow anyone to enter and as hour succeeded hour, those outside began to wonder what was happening and murmur among themselves. When Muhammad finally emerged they challenged him, but the prophet explained to his somewhat incredulous listeners that
"God himself had inspired Ali with Divine Secrets, and that it was for this reason that he was engaged in confidential discourse so long."
Muhammad managed a more convincing eloquence when he confessed his love for his younger cousin.
"Ali and I, fourteen thousand years before the creation of mankind, were one light. When Allah created Adam, he split this light into two, one of which I am and the other is Ali." [Salman]
This romantic vision of the past and present is fascinatingly similar to that described a thousand years earlier by Plato when he attempted to explain the origin of homosexuality. In Plato's Symposium the reason for the power of all love, heterosexual and homosexual, is the need to be reunited with one's "other half." At the beginning of mankind each person was composed of two halfs - either male-male, female-female or male-female - until the gods cut them all into two; thereby creating the powerful desire to be reunited, manifesting itself in either heterosexual or homoerotic desire.
Though Muhammad adored Ali as his "other half," he did not try to stop his beloved when Ali asked his permission to marry a woman. It's not clear, however, whether Ali's desire to tie the knot was motivated more by his love for his bride to be or his love for Muhammad, for when he finally married, of all the possible partners he might have chosen, he chose Fatima, the Prophet's daughter. The balance of probability is that the marriage was born out of formality rather than infatuation, and was designed as a ritualistic cement for Muhammad's and Ali's long-standing, but still passionate, partnership.
The marriage, though it involved close relatives, did not offend Quraishi values and similarly the discreet homoerotic union between Muhammad and his beloved cousin Ali did not bring either the Prophet or Ali [who later became Caliph] into any disrepute.
For instance, late in his life, Muhammad was often seen in the company of Usama ibn Zaid, his former servant's son. Sometimes they even shared a camel together, Usama mounted behind. But Muhammad's companions were astonished when he appointed this teenager ( he was then just eighteen years old ) to head an expedition against Syria in 10AH ( 632AD ). The planned campaign was considered so difficult that only the original muhajirin and ansar were employed and these veteran soldiers were severely critical of the Prophet for placing them under the command of an inexperienced and beardless youth. Muhammad responded that
"Your criticism of his leadership is just like your earlier criticism of his father's appointment to command. Yet it was God who gave his father all the qualities necessary to command and he was one of my dearest and closest companions. His son is also someone I love dearly." [ Ibn Kathir ]
Not surprisingly little is written about what happened to the expedition beyond the claim that it returned with a few prisoners taken from a Red Sea port.
There are also many examples from more everyday events. In one instance ten years before, when the fifty two year old Messenger of God first arrived in Yathrib, after his narrow and arduous escape from his assassins in Mecca, he chose to place both himself and his baggage in the care of a young man - Khalid ibn Zaid. This seems to have frustrated many of his older followers who insisted he stay with them. Muhammad struggled a little to justify his decision, responding somewhat feebly that "A man should never be separated from his baggage."
A few weeks earlier, it was a group of Meccan elders who had plotted Muhammad's murder. Not only had Muhammad been denouncing their gods but several of them had "lost" younger members of their families to Muhammad's new faith.
The sheiks hired cutthroats to burst into Muhammad's appartment late one night. The assassins discovered his twenty three year old beloved cousin, Ali, lying on the prophet's bed. Muhammad himself had disappeared just a few hours earlier.
Historians claim that Ali was sleeping in the Prophet's bed as part of a deliberate ploy to buy time. Muhammad's enemies, who were known to be observing the house, would be deceived. They would, it was hoped, peer in through a window and see Ali and assume, naturally enough, that it was Muhammad asleep.
Though this could be an explanation, it is surprising that Muhammad should have chosen a man less than half his age to play his double, especially as it would have put his nephew at risk. As a relative and as Muhammad's most trusted follower, Ali might easily have been killed by less discriminating assassins. Especially since his father, Muhammad's uncle Abu Talib, had recently died and therefore any threat of retribution would have been greatly reduced.
As a decoy Abu Talib's youngest son was also a poor choice. Ali was a strikingly handsome youth who would not easily have been mistaken for the middle aged prophet. He was muscular and broad shouldered with a straight nose and a beautifully formed mouth. The prophet himself confessed that
"Looking upon Ali is worship," [ Ibn Asakir on the authority of Caliph Abubakr ] and that "Ali would appear [even] to the dwellers of paradise as a morning star." [Sawai'q muhari'qa.]
But let us return to the scene which greeted the assassins. The idea that Ali was lying in Muhammad's bed as a "decoy" seems a little far fetched. Moreover it ignores the fact that Muhammad frequently shared a bed with Ali. As one historian wrote -
"He [Muhammad] often made [Ali] sleep by his side, and Ali enjoyed the warmth of Muhammad's body and inhaled the holy fragrance of his breath."
Indeed, there is not one of Muhammad's ten wives who continuously shared the same living quarters with the prophet for as long as Ali. From his youth, until the prophet's death, Ali was always living either in the prophet's home or in an adjacent apartment.
Enjoying such a close and continuous proximity to the Prophet and quickly aquiring an authority above those much older than himself, Ali soon provoked jealousy and anger among some of the Prophet's companions. On several ocassions Muhammad had to warn his followers against any inclination to conspire against the young man.
Just after completing what was to be his final pilgrimmage in 632, at a place called Ghadir Khumm on the road between Mecca and Medina, Muhammad addressed an assembled crowd of many thousands. Holding Ali's hand and raising it high, he declared that "Anyone whose Guardian I have been has Ali as his Guardian. Oh God protect anyone who protects him and opose anyone who opposes him. Ali is of me and I am of him," and according to one source [ Ibn Abu Bukayr ] even told his listeners that "No one settles debts on my behalf except myself or Ali." Clearly the Prophet wanted to make everyone aware not only that there was no one he trusted as much as Ali, but that he and Ali were so close spiritually that he thought of Ali and himself as a single spirit occupying two bodies.
When, only a few months later, Muhammad died, it was in the arms of Ali. It was Ali who emerged from under a blanket, which covered them both, to announce that the Prophet was dead.
It is not surprising that some of Muhammad's followers suspected that there was more to this relationship than mere bonds of friendship and cousinly kinship. One such instance occurred during the siege of Tayef which occupied a strategic position some sixty miles to the south east of Mecca.
Ali was returning from an expedition into the surrounding countryside. Muhammad greeted him effusively and they both dissappeared into Muhammad's quarters. The prophet didn't allow anyone to enter and as hour succeeded hour, those outside began to wonder what was happening and murmur among themselves. When Muhammad finally emerged they challenged him, but the prophet explained to his somewhat incredulous listeners that
"God himself had inspired Ali with Divine Secrets, and that it was for this reason that he was engaged in confidential discourse so long."
Muhammad managed a more convincing eloquence when he confessed his love for his younger cousin.
"Ali and I, fourteen thousand years before the creation of mankind, were one light. When Allah created Adam, he split this light into two, one of which I am and the other is Ali." [Salman]
This romantic vision of the past and present is fascinatingly similar to that described a thousand years earlier by Plato when he attempted to explain the origin of homosexuality. In Plato's Symposium the reason for the power of all love, heterosexual and homosexual, is the need to be reunited with one's "other half." At the beginning of mankind each person was composed of two halfs - either male-male, female-female or male-female - until the gods cut them all into two; thereby creating the powerful desire to be reunited, manifesting itself in either heterosexual or homoerotic desire.
Though Muhammad adored Ali as his "other half," he did not try to stop his beloved when Ali asked his permission to marry a woman. It's not clear, however, whether Ali's desire to tie the knot was motivated more by his love for his bride to be or his love for Muhammad, for when he finally married, of all the possible partners he might have chosen, he chose Fatima, the Prophet's daughter. The balance of probability is that the marriage was born out of formality rather than infatuation, and was designed as a ritualistic cement for Muhammad's and Ali's long-standing, but still passionate, partnership.
The marriage, though it involved close relatives, did not offend Quraishi values and similarly the discreet homoerotic union between Muhammad and his beloved cousin Ali did not bring either the Prophet or Ali [who later became Caliph] into any disrepute.
-
Guest
Our mind is where our pleasure is, our heart is where our treasure is, our love is where our life is, but all these, our pleasure, treasure, and life, are reposed in Jesus Christ.
-Thomas Adams
***
One must care about a world one will never see.
-Bertrand Russell
***
[The Master] is blessed.
He understands the nature of the Self.
His mind is no longer thirsty.
He is the same under all conditions,
Whatever he sees or hears,
Or smells or touches or tastes.
-Ashtavakra Gita 18:65
***
You must turn your intelligence into ignorance; you must become mad. Whenever you see something that may yield material profit, flee from it. Curse anyone who praises you. Lend your wealth to the poor and the feckless. Abandon the security of your home, and live in places of danger. Throw away your reputation, and embrace dishonor and disgrace. I shall test my intellect to the limit; and then I shall make myself mad.
-Rumi, "Mathnawi"
***
A person is always liable for his actions, whether awake or asleep.
- Babylonian Talmud, "Bava Kamma 3b"
***
Monks, how does a practitioner remain established in the observation of the feelings in the feelings?
Whenever the practitioner has a pleasant feeling, one is aware, 'I am experiencing a pleasant feeling.' Whenever one has a painful feeling, one is aware, 'I am experiencing a painful feeling.' Whenever one experiences a feeling which is neither pleasant nor painful, one is aware, 'I am experiencing a neutral feeling.' When one experiences a feeling based in the body, one is aware, 'I am experiencing a feeling based in the body.' When one experiences a feeling based in the mind, one is aware, 'I am experiencing a feeling based in the mind.'
-Adapted from Satipatthana-sutta, translated by Thich Nhat Hanh and Annabel Laity
-Thomas Adams
***
One must care about a world one will never see.
-Bertrand Russell
***
[The Master] is blessed.
He understands the nature of the Self.
His mind is no longer thirsty.
He is the same under all conditions,
Whatever he sees or hears,
Or smells or touches or tastes.
-Ashtavakra Gita 18:65
***
You must turn your intelligence into ignorance; you must become mad. Whenever you see something that may yield material profit, flee from it. Curse anyone who praises you. Lend your wealth to the poor and the feckless. Abandon the security of your home, and live in places of danger. Throw away your reputation, and embrace dishonor and disgrace. I shall test my intellect to the limit; and then I shall make myself mad.
-Rumi, "Mathnawi"
***
A person is always liable for his actions, whether awake or asleep.
- Babylonian Talmud, "Bava Kamma 3b"
***
Monks, how does a practitioner remain established in the observation of the feelings in the feelings?
Whenever the practitioner has a pleasant feeling, one is aware, 'I am experiencing a pleasant feeling.' Whenever one has a painful feeling, one is aware, 'I am experiencing a painful feeling.' Whenever one experiences a feeling which is neither pleasant nor painful, one is aware, 'I am experiencing a neutral feeling.' When one experiences a feeling based in the body, one is aware, 'I am experiencing a feeling based in the body.' When one experiences a feeling based in the mind, one is aware, 'I am experiencing a feeling based in the mind.'
-Adapted from Satipatthana-sutta, translated by Thich Nhat Hanh and Annabel Laity