Guided are the Hearts | meditative quranic verses

Maa-asaba mim museebatin illa bi-izni'Llah;
Wa man yu'min bi'Lllahi yahdi qalbah;
Wa Allahu bikulli shay-in AAaleem.

- The Quran, 64:11
Chapter of Mutual Disillusion


No affliction befalls except by the Permission of God;
And guided are the hearts (qalb) that have true conviction (iman) to Divine, And God is Cognizant of all things.

Talismanic Quality of the Verse (64:11):

When afflicted by trouble of the inner heart (and mind, body) and of the dunya (world of appearances) (which is a reflection of what is within), its recommended to recite the above verse (in originally revealed language of arabic to maximize the energy of invocation) with understanding of its meaning and to recite it 19 times in every sitting to seek deliverance from the affliction that one is in, and to invoke tranquility of heart. Its recommended to memorize the original verses in arabic so that the Words are impressed upon the heart and infuse us with its inherent Nur (light).

By the Permission of God the Most High, Who is above every association, the one who invokes with this verse, his or her trouble Will Be removed by God and peace Be restored. Amen.


Content of the Invocation:

The verse has three part of it that contain the gnosis and deeper wisdom of reality. First to understand that nothing comes without the Permission of The One Who is behind all reality, the Reality Itself as Sufis call the Divine, el-Haqq (The Absolute Reality, Truth). Everything comes from the Single Reality, whether it is our birthing into human existence in the wondrous womb of our mother, where spirit mingles with flesh or whether our trifling human condition of sorrow, toil, pain, joy and bliss. As Rumi puts it so eloquently when he compares this human existence as guest house where every human conditions are sent from beyond by the One.

The sacred recognition that no affliction befalls us (or joy that touches us, overwhelms us) except by the Permission of Allah is the first step towards a clear mind, a pure white mind to transcend suffering. Afflictions are afflictions only because of our lack of trust in this knowledge and our utter ignorance about the certainty that nothing happens except by the permission of One (the word permission also can be understood as the construction or matrix of reality). Even the pain caused by the beloved may taste sweet if the lover knows from who it comes. It Is about that love.

Second part is an affirmation that the real guidance comes from behind through the portal of our inner heart. The Quran calls to humanity to affirm this truth that O human being, you are not left alone, The One who sent you into this world of appearances (that often confuse you and delude you) also guides the inner heart that reach conviction, that which have faith and trust as an infant child trusts her mother. At this point it may remind us of Rumi's statement, Whoever brought me here, will take me Home - that is voice of conviction to truth.

The third part of this verse from Holy Quran seals it by offering us the truth that the Real One knows our human condition far better than what we believe we know. As sacred tradition goes, God knows your need better than 'you think' you know. So the seal of the verse, Wa Allahu bikulli shay-in AAaleem, that carries the Holy Name of God, al-Aleem (also written as al-Alim, The Absolute Knower, its numerical placement is 19) is the essence that carry the secret of absolute conviction and surrender to the One. And surrender is followed by trust on the All Knowing One Who's Knowledge Encompasses everything. That is the point of omega, the final point of surrender of all our troubles, whatever human condition we are in, be it hope, fear, worries, joy and bliss, we surrender to the All Knower (The Ultimate Bodhi, All Conscious One) so we may rise from our present state to an even higher one transcending our bond with (human) condition and be embraced in iman (true conviction) upon the Real, from the Real, by the Real, with the Real.

And God knows the Best.

# Further:
. What is Iman?
. Concept of Iman
. Three Levels of Faith: Islam, Iman, and Ihsan
. The Divine Attribute: al-Aleem - The Knower
. al-Alim
. Poetry by RUMI -Who Says Words with My Mouth

Sattyer Gahiney | A Glimpse into the Mystic, Folk Islam of Bangladesh

1.
Counterfeit gold exists
because there is such a thing
as real gold.
- Rumi

Contrary to popular misconception, Islam is not monolithic. In the traditional sense, Islam is not even a religion. Then what it is, you would ask? But wait a second before one even attempt to answer you because the conditioning of your mind and what you see and what distortions have been carried over from centuries after centuries, what was the essence of Islamic teachings and embodiment are rare to be visible in obvious visible spectrum.

But this shouldn't dishearten anyone, even though this phenomena of 'seeing only the false and taking it for real' deceive us many. Rumi says, "Counterfeit gold exists because there is such a thing as real gold." Remember that, because its important that you remember this. Not only for this posts context, but for many things and many situations in life.

So first of all if we are interested to understand what Islam is for real, we have to de-condition and neutralize (empty) our mind from all the poisons of misconception, false propaganda and media biases which again and again feed on falsehood. And to remain open is the first pre-condition to begin with. Spiritually explaining, Muslim means one who surrenders to the Divine. The word Islam meaning to surrender to the Divine, is a state which unfolds moment by moment.

Islamic state is not a geographical location or political identity (as it might sound because of our conditioned mind) but it is a state which is better understood through a form when a person place his or her head on the floor, on the prayer carpet - in surrender to Divine. When one is in that state physically, it requires that the heart be above the head, which ever symbolizes that the real heart be above the mind because God can only be known through the real heart, not the mind; and surrender is a quality of the real heart, not a function of mind.

If one understand what an Islamic state is, one can get some hint what Islam embodies. To mention very briefly, Islam embodies every intention, thought and action to be for the Divine in humble submission to that Majestic Presence. When intentions and actions (both inside and outside) issues forth from surrender to the Divine, one enter into the sacred space of what it means to be a Muslim and from that emerges peace of the heart. When our whole humanness is soaked with ceaseless remembrance of the Divine, a silent revolution happens at the core of our being and this revolution brings us to our original nature of soul - which is to be at peaceful rest. 'Only in the remembrance of God the real heart finds rest' - affirms the sacred tradition.

Islam is not a new religion but a continuation of divine revelation of earlier age through great beings such as Abraham, Moses, David and Christ, upon them all be holy benediction. And Islam's universal spirit doesnt make any distinction between any of the Prophets because of all them were sent as divine guide to mankind. Yes Prophet Muhammad is the Seal of Prophet, but he is also the culmination of divine revelations and one of his major task was to revive the primordial way of divine submission. Hence Islam is not like Christianity, centered around devotion of Christ only or Buddhism, centered around a central figure of Buddha. Infact Quranic text re-introduce all major Biblical Prophets and their way of divine messengership. Islam is the same embodiment of great illuminated beings and their state of divine surrender coming in fruition through the Seal of Prophethood and Quran being the Seal of Scripture. After which no new way will be unfolded, no new messenger will be sent because the basic teachings are already been unfolded through Abraham, Moses, Christ and Muhammad already.

Going back to where the introduction of the post began, Islam is not monolithic - and for very good reason because the embodiment of divine submission has the capacity to be accommodated into an infinite spectrum of human diversity. A famous sufi saint said, "Islam is like clear water poured into different vessels. It takes the color and shape of each vessel."

And history testifies this very well because as Islam spread in East, West, North and South, those who came under the folds of Islam, that is, those who accepted a way of life where divine submission - is center of human universe - every culture brought its uniqueness into the same vessel of Islam and enriched it in many dimensions including development of school of thoughts (madhab), art, music etc.. That is why the mood of Islam in Turkey is uniquely Turkish, in Malay Peninsula (Malaysia, Indonesia) it is uniquely Malay, in the shores of Spain it is uniquely Spanish and so on and so forth. And this is very natural because embodiment of divine submission doesnt mean one has to discard their mother tongue, nor does it require one to develop a different kind of food habit or do away with the culture.

This last thing, the local culture of particular land, with time, greatly infused into the lifestyle of muslims and with time Islam of that land took a distinct shape. This shaping has given birth to followers of Islam of many diversity. And this is perfectly fine because the creation is inherently diverse and God created humanity with many diversity such as race, color and language. The vision of the Prophet was appreciative of this diversity because he spoke of his community saying, "the difference in my community is a blessing."

Also Quran celebrate the diversity and affirm that this differences must never be a point of dispute or argument but should be seen as divinely fashioned.

To every community have We appointed [different] ways of devotion, which they ought to observe. Hence, do not let those draw you into disputes on this score, but summon unto your Sustainer: for, behold, you are indeed on the right way. - The Quran 22:67

To every one of you have We appointed a [different] law and way of life. And if God had so willed, He could surely have made you all one single community: but [He willed it otherwise] in order to test you by means of what He has vouchsafed unto you ... - 5:48

For, every community, faces a direction of its own, of which God is the focal point. - 2:148

This all points to the reality of pluralism, diversity and acceptance of wide range of variation among human community. None is superior to other, but all belong to the family of children of Adam - belong to 'God's funny family' as one great sufi saint used to say.

2.
Sometime when we are too confined to our own limited world-view and make our own world too narrow without leaving any room for others, then as we encounter the others we seem to label and reject them or that as strange.

Interestingly this word, "strange" is not foreign to the mystics, specially for the Sufis for whom the esoteric dimensions make them friend with strange-ness and they themselves are often perceived as strangers. Infact all major mystical tradition and mystics are seen by the common people as 'strange' (one of the basic reason why there ar often misunderstood and even persecuted by the mass). Every Biblical Prophet appeared to his people as 'strange' and was rejected for that reason. Christ appeared to be strange and hence had to be crucified. Muhammad was openly called mad.

While the word strange carries negative tag for common people, but for the Sufis (and other mystics) strange is celebrated by terms such as madjhub (divine mad, synonym as holy man) and reserved for specially attained and absorbed ones who almost always appear to be strange to common people.

In this connection of "strange-ness" worth mentioning a much loved Prophetic tradition:

"Islam began as something strange,
and it shall return to being something strange,
so give glad tidings to the strangers."

3.
The reason for this preface is to introduce you to a documentary film that features the strange Islam, the Folk Islam that took root in Bengal, the land where I come from. Bengal or Bangla covers what is now independent nation of Bangladesh and also part of India (called West Bengal).

The title of this film is called "Sattyer Gahiney" or "Truth and Beyond". It is a documentary on Mysticism infused Islam of Bangladesh by Ahmed Muztaba Zamal. The land of Bengal is the land of one of the most tolerant streams of Islam. Its appropriate to call the expressions of indigenous Islamic religion 'streams' because Islam have taken many colors, trodden many paths and partook in many fragrance while mingling into this fertile delta.

Sattyer Gahiney (Truth and Beyond) / 2006 / 49 MIN / BENGALI

Narration: Ahmed Muztaba Zamal
Cinematography: T. W. Sainik
Editing: Fawzia Khan
Script: Saymon Zakaria
Producer: Faridur Reza Sagor
Directed by: Ahmed Muztaba Zamal

The mystics who came out of a background in textual Islam (literal Islam) made a communion between the orthodox Islam and less ritualistic bindings. This significant simplification won the hearts of the common people of Bangladesh, who might not have otherwise been influenced by a formal religion shackled in edicts. In the process, a new Islam, or a “popular Islam” was born. It comprises people who are dedicated Muslims, but don’t accept religion as dogmatic or fundamental. Rather, they use religion as a bridge of love between man and his Creator.

"The documentary features the essence of any religion. In fact, religions are meant for the welfare of man. In the documentary, I've focused on the diverse mystic sects in Bangladesh and their way of worshipping. Moreover, comments from the mystic gurus and experts on mysticism have been included in the documentary," said the film director Zamal.

Zamal further said, "The aim of the documentary is to present a realistic image of religions in Bangladesh, though there is a propaganda that Bangladesh is full of fundamentalists at present. However, the fact is that Islam was preached by the mystic Sufis in this part of the world, and not through any jihad. The simple ways of the Sufis won the hearts of the common people who later converted to Islam."

Besides the touching, subtle and humane nature of conventional Islam (Islam of Shari'at) or classical Islam, the practice of other sects of Islam through songs and other non-fundamental popular way have also been addressed in the documentary, informed Zamal. The documentary was filmed at districts where the mystic sects live such as Kushtia, Chittagong, Sylhet, Manikganj and Tangail.

[>] Click here to Watch the Movie

The documentary film opens up the viewer to a portal of strangeness which find its place within the folds of Islam and offers an insight of folk islam that combines the indigenous culture with Islamic embodiment. This particular brand of Islam is heavily influenced by the indigenous way of living and also that of universalism of mystics of different faith traditions that this land continued to host for thousands of years. One can not ignore the fact that the fertile land of Bengal was the seat of rich Buddhist tradition, its mystical tradition such as Tantra; it was the land of deep devotional Hindu movement, the Vaishnava and many other spiritual path.

The document was for myself an intimate opening to the sentiment of ecstatic devotion which I was also unaware. During the viewing I noticed that the sub-titles text in English are not necessarily very well done, but apart from that the documentary offers much food for thoughts. The folk songs captured in the film are excellent and ecstatic.

# Further:
. Sattyer Gahine Participates at Brazilian Film Festival from Daily Star
. 6th Kara Film Festival
. Interview with Film maker and Director of Sattyer Gahine
. Qadiriyya,Chishtiya,Soharwardiya & Naqshbandiya in Bangladesh
. Sufism in Bangladesh
. Islam in Bangladesh
. Sufi Saint of Bangladesh via Facebook Group
. FoKiir Lalon Shah and His Prophecy, another movie via youtube that introduces mystic influence and the Bauls of Bangladesh, on the life of famous Baul Lalon Shah and his legacy

Update from 'Spreading the Warmth' Project

1.

Charity is a virtue of the heart, and not of the hands.
- Joseph Addison

Thanks to your generous support, ball is rolling at the Spreading the Warmth Project. My heartfelt appreciation for your open-handed and timely contribution to "Spreading the Warmth Project". As of 8th December, we've raised 1000 USD, which is 100% of our target 1000 USD, that will enable us to reach 500 people or more. Alhamdulillah, we give praise to God, the All Provider and Guardian of Affairs. We are pushing further to help out some schools that give education to poor kids and donating a portion of your money to them for their warm clothing, this winter.

We have received the warmth of your generous heart virtually from almost all corners of the globe and donations came from many states of USA, Australia, Europe, Bangladesh, India. I am also delighted to tell you that with this small effort of us, the ripple effect has crossed boundaries and already people have been inspired in India and Pakistan (two land covering some of the poorest people on earth) to do the same. Some of my friends have come forward to donate used clothes and cash. Masha'Allah, as God wishes.

We have been on the streets and lanes in the town in the last few days and nights to seek the most impoverished, so that your gift can respond to the most urgent need among those who have so little. Also sourced the warm clothes and blankets in order to get the best wholesale price so that we can maximize the quantity of clothes to buy and give. During the search for best price, something interesting unfolded which is worth sharing here.

As I was checking price from shop to shop that only sale bulk quantities (hence in lesser price), I came across this couple of person who's heart responded beautifully to the cause. As I was explaining to this couple of whole-seller that these will be purchased to distribute as free-gifts among the poor, they extended beautiful co-operation totally unexpected of them. All praise is to God Who is an-Nasir, the Helper and sends help from wondrous sources - as these businessmen are providing out of the way assistance in terms of price and delivery which I am very grateful to have and making things much easy.

By the way, wish you were here when we are distributing the clothes at night cause the smile upon their innocent faces and the joy that glitters on the eyes of these street kids are priceless. No wonder their beings are so close to the kingdom. May God bless and reward you all deeply for your generosity.

2.
If anyone has wealth and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. - Sacred Tradition

One of our friend from India shared his share of joining in spreading the warmth inspired by the project. Sharing this from the friend in India with the intention that this might inspire others, God willing, to come forward and participate as well.

"taking cue from the initiative by dear sadiq, i thought even if i can do my 2 cent taking in to view my circumstances and constraints i felt it would be a little worthwhile... i decided that in my locality there were some poor people who were too poor and quite old that i could start thinking that they have to do some or other work so i thought its better i help them say even a little...

i brought 6 warm blankets which were thick enough to protect from the wintery nights which are going to come by this month end and i gave to 2 old women , 3 to an family consisting of a mother and her say 10 year old son and an old lady in that family and one i gave to an young man but he was handicapped and the the other thing i did was i went to the local grocery store and packed 25 packets of 35oz ( 1 kg ) each of rice and i distributed to 25 poor and really needy...

so even though i did not spend so much, i wished i could have done more . the main thing is i got immense blessings whether directly or indirectly.. and even if these poor people they bless with their heart.. such blessings are immediately heard by Allah, Blessed and Glorious is He.

so even if we do a bit or even if we feed or help an needy.. say like a drop in the vast ocean of work many are doing at least these small drops would create an vast ocean of resources for the downtrodden and needy.."

We are grateful to Beloved for keeping us in company of such generous hearts.

3.
He who refreshes others
will himself be refreshed.
- Proverbs

Last night me and my friend Subir went out at night to distribute clothing among the people living on the temporary housing beside roads, on pedestrians and abandoned land. I talked to all of them to know their personal stories, ask about their family, how many kids and elderly they have in the same shelter, and what they mostly need in this winter (we also gave sweater to adults as well whoever requested and was found not to have warm clothing). Apart from sweater or jacket, some of them requested for blanket and one lady who was preparing her bed on roadside requested for a pair of shoes. So I included plans to buy blankets as well.

Also our intention is to widen the coverage circle so that at least we can roughly be assured that within this particular area none are left out to suffer in this winter. So help us God.

If you know anyone who, if the word reaches to them might come forward to contribute, it would be awesome if you could be the messenger to spread the words.

How to contribute: Its fairly easy. All you have to do is click on [ChipIn!] button below, which takes you to a PayPal page where you can use any credit card / bank card to donate securely.

4.
Freely you have received, freely give.
- New Testament

Project: Spreading the Warmth

Where: Dhaka, Capital of Bangladesh (a country in South Asia, beside India), exact location where this project sets as beginning target can be viewed on google map here. The locality that we intend to cover are Palashi (Buet adjacent), Dhaka Medical College adjacent, near High coart area, Nimtali, Sobhanbag of Dhaka etc.

What: Buying winter clothing for those who live on the street, priority given to children and elderly

Execution and Contact: Sadiq Alam, mysticsaint@gmail.com, +880-1924572887, +434-563-7532

Target: To reach 500 persons (in reality, even to alleviate the suffering of one and spread warmth to just one other person is worth the call and effort), Fund raising original target was 1000 USD which God blessed to fulfill on 8th Dec. (target updated to 1500 USD).

When the real heart breaks open | “How can one serve the One?”

1.
The revelation of Oneness brings a great peace and rest at the center of our being. But it also opens up an opportunity and an impulse to live and express that revelation in the world of duality. To transcend the world of time and space is not the end of spirituality but rather the beginning.To express the timeless within the world of time is to fulfill our true potential.

Only in our love of Truth does the heart break open, and we finally stop asking, “How can I hold onto this Truth? How can I maintain this realization?” We don’t look at it that way anymore. We only look at it as “How can I serve this realization?” There’s no more interest in holding on, finding safety or satisfaction.

When the real heart breaks open, the question becomes, “How can one serve the One?” How can one be this Truth?” And there’s no final answer to that kind of question. It’s always in the moment, at every moment, to be it now - not “How can I be it?” in some image, but just to be it now. We discover that we’re no longer a gatherer of beauty, a gatherer of bliss, a gatherer of peace. We’re not a hoarder. We’re its servant, you and I.

You can’t lose what you serve. That’s the secret. What you serve, you can’t lose. What you don’t serve and what you try to hold onto, you can’t hold onto. It’s always slipping out of your fingers.

That’s why you can never separate wisdom or insight or realization from love or devotion. One has to find in their heart the devotion to serve the Truth that’s found, moment to moment. That’s an act of love, to serve. It gets us out of the last vestige of self-centered relationship with our experience.

When you touch into real love, the farthest thing from your mind is “How can you serve me?” It’s just not there anymore, not in the true spiritual heart. It’s not there in the heart that’s broken open by realization. Then we’re not looking at that Truth for what it can do for me, even though it does for you and for me, over and over, constantly giving itself.

This is an open secret, an obvious secret to living in Oneness: you have to serve it - not because anybody said so, because you don’t have to serve it if you don’t want to. But you don’t get to live it all the time unless you serve it all the time.

When I say serve it, I don’t mean anything that might even be really obvious. I don’t mean serve it in a way that might even be noticeable. It doesn’t have to be served with career, life meaning, goals, and all that. That’s not what it’s about.

It’s about each moment,
each moment,
each moment.

Is Oneness being served, or is it not?
Is it being embodied, or is it not?

- Serving the One by contemporary zen teacher Adyashanti via Working with Oneness website

2.
Says the Divine Beloved, "I Am with those whose hearts are broken for My sake." - Islamic Sacred Tradition

Every single one in the heavens and the earth comes to the Most Gracious One as one who serves. Hu has encompassed them (all)...
- The Quran, Chapter of Mother Mary, 19:93-94

The Necessity and Function of the Shaykh | Sohbet from 5 Sundays on Tasawwuf

Bismillahir
Rahmanir
Rahim


Ya Ayyuhalladheen Aamanu Ittaqullaha Wa Kunu Ma'a As-Saadiqeen

O you who believe, be conscious of Allah and keep company with those who are true to their word.
- The Quran, 9:119

Beginning November 8, and continuing through Dec, Jan, Feb and March Islamic Sufi Study Center of Charlottesville is Organizing a Program titled, 5 Sundays of Tasawwuf. This monthly program address the elements of Tasawwuf, spiritual Islamic practice.

Themes selected for 5 Sundays are:
1) The necessity and function of the Shaykh
2) Sohbet or the oral tradition
3) Ikhlas or sincerity
4) Tarbiyya or the training of the mureed
5) Dhaahir & baatin - balancing the inner and the outer

The program includes speakers: Shaykh Ahmed Abdur-Rasheed, mainly of the Naqshabandi tradition; Shaykh Nooruddeen Durkee, mainly of the Shadhdhuli tradition; and for the first Sunday it was Dr. Sulayman Nyang, distinguished professor from Howard University who delivered the talks.

In the first series, the speakers touched upon a main characteristic of Sufi path, that is, "The Necessity and Function of the Shaykh". Its highly recommended for anyone even modestly interested to understand the Path of Sufism from those who walk the Path - to listen to these talks. These talks come from those who have spent their lifetime in this rich and living tradition and few of the most rare individuals of our time who literally have crossed the earth, traveled to the farthest of geographical boundaries to find their path, their Murshid (spiritual guide) and to find truth. May Allah continue to bless Shaykh Nooruddeen Durkee and Shaykh Abdur-Rasheed and all guest speakers in this event for their pure dedication and service to the path and have mercy upon those who come in their presence.

'Wa hadaina humma siratal mustaqim' Allah says, "And We guided them to the Straight Way." After the seed of blessing has fallen on the fertile soil of the heart by the grace of Allah Subhanuwatala one must not let it wither. Rather one must place that seed in the grace, in the care, that is to say of a farmer who will protect it from the many ways that it can be destroyed. In the care of that farmer, the seed will mature and bear fruit and accord with its true being. This verse that I recited in the beginning refers to that type of care, "And We guided them to the Straight Way."

Rumi says, "In the Ocean of the Soul it is impossible to swim and you may drown. The only solution is to get on the Ship of Safety." So the Seal of the Prophet, sallalahu 'alaihi wa sallam declared, "I am that Arc in the Infinite Ocean, as are those who are my successors who share my vision. We are the Ship of Safety in this Ocean. Do not try to swim away."

And Hafiz says, "In the Domain of Love do not take even a step without a guide. For on this road, he who has no guide will lose the way for sure."

.. To take guidance there are 3 steps which a person must undertake: The first which Sayyidina Musa (Prophet Moses) took which is to put everything else behind you with the intention to find the truth, knowing you don't know the truth. Because if you know the truth, why would you be seeking it?

The second is to go where ever you have to go. And do whatever you have to do and where ever you have to go to find the truth.

And the third step we call sohbet, which means to enter into the company of someone who for whatever reason that you can imagine or think, might be, might be, in touch with the truth that you are seeking.

Another poem from Rumi from Mathnawi, Inshallah, the translation,

Those spiritual window shoppers who idly ask
'How much is that?'
And then when you ask them they say, 'Oh I'm just looking.'
They handle a hundred items and put them all down.
They are shadows, with no capital.

What is spent is Love
and two eyes that are wet with weeping.

But these they walk into the shop
and their whole life pass in that moment in that shop"

- from the Dars (teaching) of 5 Sundays of Tasawwuf by Shaykh Abdullah Nooruddeen Durkee, Director of Green Mountain Branch of the Shadhdhuli School, Khalifah of Shadhduli Sufi Way

[>] Click here to download and listen to Shaykh Nooruddeen Durkee's talk infused with deep wisdom and practical advice on The Necessity and Function of Shaykh.

[>] Click here to listen to the audio version of the talk by Shaykh Rasheed on The Necessity and Function of the Shaykh.

. Video of the talk by Shaykh Rasheed via Youtube are also available. Click here.

".. likely in America we have radical individualism. Many of us are so radically individual, - "Me too ism" as well call in America. .. so if you have that attitude, you will not have a Shaykh, because you have this "Me too ism", 'Ya I'm educated, So I can think for myself' - if you do that you make a big mistake. "

- Dr. Sulayman Nyang, distinguished professor from Howard University, Talk from 5 Sundays on Tasawwuf

[>] Click here to download and listen to Dr. Sulayman Nyang's heartly talk.

[>] Visit the 5 Sundays on Tasawwuf page for archived audio and more

The second of these series are coming on 6th December 2009. This will focus on the 2nd theme, Sohbet or the oral tradition: discourses on the value of spending time with a living teacher – sharing life, food, companionship with the Shaykh and other students - learning directly from the tongue of the Shaykh rather than from books or CDs – discourse and storytelling as media of teaching. Along with Shaykh Nooruddeen and Shaykh Rasheed, guest speaker will be Dr. Mustafa Drame, professor of French Language and African Oral Traditions at the University of Virginia.

If you are around the East Coast or even in USA, you are recommended to be blessed to be among these Shuyukh from sufi traditions and listen directly from them in the coming Sundays. For details of the program, location and direction, visit Green Mountain School website: the shadhdhuli school for tranquility of being and illumination of hearts

Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing
that we see too late the one that is open.
- Alexandar Graham Bell

In your own land seek the hidden flame.
It is unworthy of man to borrow light from elsewhere.
- Mansur al-Hallaj

# Reference
. Shaykh Abdullah Nooruddeen Durkee
. Circle Group
. Shaykh Ahmed Abdur Rasheed