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"Accepting This"

Yes, it is true. I confess,
I have thought great thoughts,
and sung great songs—all of it
rehearsal for the majesty
of being held.

The dream is awakened
when thinking I love you
and life begins
when saying I love you
and joy moves like blood
when embracing others with love.

My efforts now turn
from trying to outrun suffering
to accepting love wherever
I can find it.

Stripped of causes and plans
and things to strive for,
I have discovered everything
I could need or ask for
is right here—
in flawed abundance.

We cannot eliminate hunger,
but we can feed each other.
We cannot eliminate loneliness,
but we can hold each other.
We cannot eliminate pain,
but we can live a life
of compassion.

Ultimately,
we are small living things
awakened in the stream,
not gods who carve out rivers.

Like human fish,
we are asked to experience
meaning in the life that moves
through the gill of our heart.

There is nothing to do
and nowhere to go.
Accepting this,
we can do everything
and go anywhere.

(M. Nepo)

DESCENT FROM THE IVORY TOWER

Refugee in a tower of agony
hungry for ceaseless beauty
In love with eternity
Refugee in a tower of agony

In an early, rainy morning
When the birds started singing
He woke into a vision crying
In an early, rainy morning

Stepping down the hill slowly
Pondering over his troubles calmly
He was seeking for a canopy
Stepping down the hill slowly

As the uncertain end nears
Rocks, trees, leaves, rivers...
None but One hears his fears
As the uncertain end nears

In need of fundamental change
Past life and fears scream with rage
Ivory tower is no different than a cage
In need of fundamental change

Not knowing the final destination
In the turbulent life-story ocean
Re-discovering a one-to-one relation
Descent from ivory tower becomes Ascension
(Sermed Ogretim)

The Prophet's Last Sermon

In the Name of Allah The Beneficient, The Merciful

This sermon was delivered on the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah 10 A.H. in the valley of Mount Arafat.

“O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether, after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.

O People, jut as you regard this month, this day, this city as Sacred, so regard the life and property of every Muslim as sacred trust. Return the goods entrusted to you to their rightful owners. Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you.

Remember that you will indeed meet your LORD, and that HE will indeed reckon your deeds. ALLAH has forbidden you to take usury (interest), therefore all interest obligation shall henceforth be waived.

Beware of Satan, for safety of your religion. He has lost all hope that he will ever be able to lead you astray in big things, so beware of following him in small things.

O People, it is true that you have certain rights regard to your women, but they also have rights over you. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers. And it is your right that they do not make friends with any one of whom you do not approve, as well as never to commit adultery.

O people, listen to me in earnest, worship ALLAH, say your five daily prayers (Salah), fast during the month of Ramadan, and give your wealth in Zakat. Perform Hajj if you can afford to. You know that every Muslim is the brother of another Muslim. You are all equal. Nobody has superiority over other except by piety and good action.

Remember, One day you will appear before ALLAH and answer for your deeds. So beware, do not stray from the path of righteousness after I am gone.

O people, no prophet or apostle will come after me and no new faith will be born. Reason well, therefore, O people, and understand my words I convey to you. I leave behind me two things, the Quran and my example the Sunnah and if you follow these you will never go astray.

All those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to others again; and may the last ones understand my words better than those who listen to me directly. Be my witness O ALLAH, that I have conveyed Your message to Your people.”

Allahuma Salli ala Sayidina, Wa Habibana Muhammed

Of Death

Gibran:

You would know the secret of death.
But how shall you find it unless you seek it in the heart of life?
The owl whose night-bound eyes are blind unto the day cannot unveil the mystery of light
if you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.
for life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.

in the depth of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond;
and like seeds dreaming beneath the snow your heart dreams of spring.
trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate of eternity.
your fear of death is but the trembling of the shepherd when he stands before the king whose hand is to be laid upon him in honor.
is the shepherd not joyful beneath his trembling, that he shall wear the mark of the king?
yet is he not more mindful of his trembling?

for what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
and what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that
it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?

only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
and when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
and when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

My take on it (Part 1)

“The whole consumer society would collapse if people became enlightened and no longer sought their identity through things. …Nothing out there will ever satisfy you, except temporarily and superficially, but you may need to experience disillusionment before you realize that truth.” (Beyond happiness, Echart Tolle). These sentences pretty much sums up the society today. It is either that you have to have things to make you feel worthy, happy and satisfied, or feel depressed and constantly seeking for a way out (and by the way, here is where all the drug, alcohol, and physical gratification comes in—as a way out of reality). The things here are usually what constitute as the building frame of globalization and capitalism. They aren’t only materials through which so much of the economy is based on, but also ideologies where much of the society is constructed. Almost everything today has to be validated through the system of worth and profit—the major cause of all social problems. The direct result of such systems is manifested in many ways, from poverty and homelessness to crime and violence. Yet, the indirect and subtle result of world systems today is a cost to humanness. That is where all today’s thriving business of eco-friendly and holistic living comes to play. Because, if everyone was to feel guilty about everything that goes around them, then perhaps they will come to realize that ‘hey, it is how we think that is the cause of these problems’ and change. But capitalism doesn’t work that way, on one hand it robs you of your essence and on the other, it sells you back your guilt. Don’t get me wrong here, I totally believe that global warming is an issue and holistic living a must, yet I don’t agree with how it is done—for profit. I’ll give a recent example. The ban of polyethylene (plastic containers) is a very interesting issue to me. While the government strongly felt that it is important that these compounds be taken out of the market, it does very little to prevent pervasive issues such as energy drinks and of course no one wants to talk about it, the tobacco industry. If things are interest related to the government or corporate, it better be left alone, but when it is time to build fences to prevent the homeless from camping at public places all sorts of legislations surface. Complete paradox, no? Recently, I was engaged in why humans would (unless bureaucrats are alien) ignore such pressing issues, such as the wellness of the society or war, I came to realize (of course they aren’t aliens) that it is but the system that dictate how one thinks and behaves. So anything that is made to govern our actions and the way we live, ought to be flexible, yet the world systems are dogmatic at best and instead of serving us, the ones who devised them, we serve them—they rule us. Here in lies a major setback to everything else we see as a problem today, be it personal, familial, societal or global. As flux beings, it is important that we constantly consider our stance and make new ones that best fit our current state. Yet, it is usually the case that rules would be made for centuries to come with few amendments made to them—usually not based on compassion, but interest—hence tying beautiful minds from making any viable progress in society. This is merely a call to awakening our spirit through common interest as humans, so that we may feel humbled to serve humanity for the better.

beautiful

It was written:

“In the Beginning was the Word.” &

Here am I balked: who, now can help afford?

The word—impossible so high to rate it;

And otherwise must I translate it,

If by the Spirit I am truly taught.

Then thus:

“In the Beginning was the Thought.”

This first line let me weigh completely,

Lest my impatient pen proceed too fleetly.

Is it the Thought which works, creates, indeed?

“In the Beginning was the Power,” I read.

Yet, as I write, a warning is suggested,

That I the sense may not have fairly tested.

The Spirit aids me: now I see the light!

“In the Beginning was the Act” I write.

--Goethe