Prayer begins when it ends...

Dear Friends

Quaker meetings for worship are conducted in silence for 30 minutes, all are welcome and crucially anyone who is moved by the spirit can give a ministry.  I used to attend Quaker meetings very regularly in down town Manchester and some of my finest epiphanies were experienced with them. It was during one memorable session that an elderly Quaker got up and stated that meetings for worship begin when they end. I was stunned.

It was the first time that I appreciated what my current Sufi Teacher had taught me namely that prayer should transcend the prayer mat into our day to day lives otherwise it has become inverted if not a subtle show of ego / nafs. She later concluded that this is the Quranic ‘establishment of Prayer’. Also that orthopraxy / right conduct is superior to orthodoxy / right thought.

Prayer is a deeply private matter and its zenith is when it becomes a dialogue between wo(man) and God  just as Martin Buber brilliantly augured. Sometimes it appears and feels that God is not listening but unexpectedly something happens that knocks you for 6, in the cricketing sense! Other times the dialogue can be informal such as walking or whilst day dreaming but just as powerful and valid rather than in any ritualised form such as facing Mecca 5 times a day or in a Saturday night evening gathering in a Synagogue. Since God is closer than the jugular vein emphatically claims the Quran.

Prayer is petrol for the soul especially when it is hurting or broken and allows it to soar beyond the heavens into the loving and sweet embrace of the source...the soul emerges strengthened if not emboldened and above all revitalised...

Call out if not pine for Brahman / God and watch the magic unfold...

Alone to Alone...

Rishi Faisal

'Temenos'...

Dear Friends

I have long viewed ‘my’ classroom at the micro level as the Greek ‘temenos’ that is a space ‘cut-off’ and assigned a ‘special domain’ with the purpose of imparting knowledge and where the student emerges changed.

However, I am also beginning to appreciate the whole University if not society as ‘temenos’ and beginning to have an inkling of why Muhammed (pbuh) stated 14 centuries ago that the whole world is a ‘Mosque’. Consequently everything especially the environment and human relationships become sacred and reverential, thus exploitation of any type whether human or socio-economic becomes problematic if not sinful.

Has the continuous secularisation if not devaluation of the sacred caused more harm than good? Why do we find social networking pleasurable and communication with our neighbour or siblings / family / relatives so difficult? What is the solution to the post-modern malaise, namely that we have the power to obliterate the whole of life in a matter of hours?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_ALElMLpRA

Yes the return to the innocence...

‘’There is nothing higher than the truth’’...Plotinus

Rishi Faisal

The Journey...

Dear Friends

Several days ago I called a very close friend in the USA as I was waiting for my late evening train. He sounded rather bemused and enquired why I had called. I was a little taken aback.

Then he proceeded to inform me that his father had passed away in the early hours. I was shocked and became silent.

After what seemed a very long time I asked how he was doing and offered the traditional Universalist Muslim prayer:

Inna Lillaahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raaji'oon

'To God we belong and to Him is our return'.

We spoke briefly and I counselled as best as I could.

Its moments like these when one is forced to see the bigger picture.  I try to remind myself (and my students) that they should never confuse the trees for the forest…

"The unexamined life is not worth living."  Socrates

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO1pAOxWLWo&feature=related

Rishi Faisal

Honey for the soul...

Dear Friends

“You will never be alone with a poet in your pocket,” John Adams wrote to his son, John Quincy, in May of 1781.

So let Rumi sing...

Moving Water

When  you do things from your soul, you feel a river

moving in you, a joy.

When actions come from another section, the feeling

disappears.  Don't let

others lead you.  They may be blind or, worse, vultures.

Reach for the rope

of God.  And what is that?  Putting aside self-will.

Because of willfulness

people sit in jail, the trapped bird's wings are tied,

fish sizzle in the skillet.

The anger of police is willfulness.  You've seen a magistrate

inflict visible punishment.  Now

see the invisible.  If you could leave your selfishness, you

would see how you've

been torturing your soul.  We are born and live inside black water in a well.

How could we know what an open field of sunlight is? Don't

insist on going where

you think you want to go.  Ask the way to the spring.  Your

living pieces will form

a harmony.  There is a moving palace that floats in the air

with balconies and clear

water flowing through, infinity everywhere, yet contained

under a single tent.

From The Glance

by Coleman Barks

Rishi Faisal

STUDENT FIRST!

Dear Friends

When I began teaching I always put knowledge first, then the student and finally the institution.

HOWEVER, there has been a major change if not paradigm shift in my thinking now it is STUDENT FIRST…

Challenge, empower, and judiciously guide the student then the rest will follow…The knowledge will flow and the institution will grow and so will the educator i.e. a virtuous circle.

I now appreciate why the founder of Bose, Dr. Amar G. Bose, who was also a Professor of electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) used to mix his classes with all abilities and push them hard. Consequently all the class dramatically improved even the students who were perceived to be 'mediocre'. BOSE continue to give back…

http://www.bose.co.uk/GB/en/about-bose/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsHkGfHmoFE&feature=related

Enjoy! : )

Rishi Faisal

ROCKING STUDENTS!!!

Dear Friends

I just emerged from a class of first years shell shocked! Seriously! : )~

The students were expected to read some research papers and critically present their findings. And all four groups gave top notch Power Point presentations! This was above and beyond the call of duty…

Awesome!

Lazy students! Humbug!!!

This one is for them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVrbVMYKc94&feature=related

The road to success is always under construction…

Party On!

Rishi Faisal

Life Choices!

Dear Friends

Sometimes I wish my life was a neat equation like E=MC² where I know all the inputs and can successfully predict all the outputs.

I vividly remember the day when I graduated, 15^th July 1997, I was suited and gowned and my beaming mum watched me collect my degree. I had my whole life planned out. 16^th July onwards my life has been one big roller coaster. Or has it? Am I not the master of my destiny? And what about that wonderful Universal law entitled Karma i.e. what you sow is what you reap.

I have had a rather unorthodox career, managed to pack in some serious air miles and met many weird and wonderful people. Ultimately everyone has to take responsibility for their life choices and I really impinge this upon my students especially the first years.

I would not change anything to date.

A toast to the next 50 years!!!

Rishi Faisal

Sufi Bollywood!

Dear Friends

This is an example of what I call pure Sufi Bolllywood namely drama, hope, pain, a dream and finally a victory…and so much wisdom! Not forgetting the tears…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTUjZ7d0mf0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhIsbzANfj4&feature=related

Apologies the songs are in Hindi but any one with a heart will get them!  : )

Keep jamming & dreaming!

Rishi Faisal

Getting Drunk - the Sufi Way!

Dear Friends

A Sufi once remarked that not until you become drunk over a glass of water you have 'tasted' / actualised nothing and should re-consider your spiritual modus-operandi…

Rather harsh. However there is much merit in the above. Take a glass of water. Ponder over the literally billions of processes to get the water to you. The river, the ocean, the rain clouds, the droplets, the rain showers, the complex chemical processes, the water company…It is humbling to say the least!

No water. No life.

My hearing, sight, my tongue and hand: all He.
Then I am not, for all that is, is He.
I think I am, and thought is but a dream.
When I awake, all that remains is He.
- Baba Afzal Kashini

For me the glass in always half full…

Rishi Faisal

Humility...

Dear Friends

I feel the crown of the educator / teacher is humility. This is best demonstrated by the timeless Sufi / Vedantic symbol of the heavily laden fruit tree in contradistinction to the proud pine tree. The former is malleable and flexible if not worshipful and during times of crisis will go with the flow.

What ensures humility is constructive feedback especially complaints which can be demoralising but are excellent manure for the soul yielding much insight and self-knowledge.

Discere Docendo...To learn through teaching!

Rishi Faisal

''Student as CUSTOMER''...

Dear Friends

Since the introduction of tuition fees in English Higher Education the concept of ‘student as customer’ has become very popular.

Personally I absolutely detest this concept as it implies the customer namely the student is always right. How can that be? Education is not some commodity that can be bought and sold. Students cannot expect a certain grade after investing x amount of pounds! Surely educators should not pander to their students egos? Educators are not customer service agents.

I currently have 2 student constituencies namely undergraduate and professional. I feel my relationship with both should be one of mutually earned respect and admiration. Thus I see my undergraduate students as ‘partners’ where we are both on a journey of collective and individual discovery. I will endeavour to challenge them and guide them to make good choices.

I view my professional students as ‘colleagues’ as they are preparing for tough exams which I too have obtained. I will do my utmost to ‘sweat’ with them and hold their hands and assure them that they can and will pass.

"Meliora Cogito"... (I strive for the best)

Rishi Faisal

German Inspiration!

Dear Friends

This morning whilst on the train I read the obituary of the pioneering German mountaineer - Kurt Albert. The late Kurt Albert dispensed with protection to free-climb the world's most difficult routes.

I was deeply impressed and inspired. It is these unsung heroes that make this life so interesting and rewarding. These inspirational folks prove what focus, determination, guts and sheer 'bloody mindedness' can actualise.

Kurt died doing what he loved…God Bless Him!

Rishi Faisal

Confucius says...

Dear Friends

I adore the following adage by Confucius:

"Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself."

This is true empathy and compassion without jeopardising individuality or self worth. It is also great for team building and cross-departmental working as everyone is viewed as a HUMAN BEING not human doing.

"Where so ever you go, go with all your heart."

Rishi Faisal

'Un Learning'...

Dear Friends

The key to any authentic spiritual path such as Buddhism is the wonderful concept of 'Un Learning' which is deeply paradoxical in nature. The following Zen story illustrates the latter and this is part of the reason why I love working with freshers / freshman's and undergraduates / seniors:

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.

Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor’s cup full, and then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. "It is overfull. No more will go in!"

"Like this cup," Nan-in said, "you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?"

I have already identified some future stars and pray that these students and the others cut the mustard!

A toast to Beginners Mind!

Rishi Faisal

COST REDUCTION v cost cutting...

Dear Friends

Tomorrow the coalition government will announce sweeping cuts to the Public Sector and Higher Education is set to experience savage cut backs.

I wish the politicians would emphasise cost reduction rather than cost cuts. Since in the former costs are reduced while attempting to protect if not enhance quality. This is a continuous process and should be part of the fabric of any organisation especially in the public sector regardless of whether there is an economic downturn or not. Cost reduction has its roots in my favourite Japanese business philosophy namely KAIZEN.

The following joke illustrates the aforementioned concepts.

''President Clinton ordered a cost saving program to the U.S. Army commander. "Cut anywhere, but you must cut in any way possible."

OK said the commander and looked around at some way to cut spending. Perhaps if he could get rid of some old records, that may please the President. So he went to the storage depot and discovered that the Army still had menus and supply orders of food from the Civil War. Very pleased showed the President, and asked if he might destroy all the documents.

      

 "Why, yes," said Clinton.  "But be sure to make two copies of each before you do."

Rishi Faisal