'I' Remains...

Dear Friends

The mist clears

The music begins

Ney, drums, flutes

The light of truth pierces my soul

Yes! We all fall in love

Surrendering

Dying

Annihilating

Only 'I' remains…

Tera mera rishta purana...Our Relationship is Primordial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XKCNWNAk5E&feature=related

Faisal

Sufi Comics...

Dear Friends

Hats Off !!!! To my fellow Saliks Arif & Ali:

http://www.vakil.org/category/sufi-comics/

Who have used the creative genre of comics in service of the TRUTH!

As we say on the streets of Manchester - Nuff Respect / Respect is Due!   ; )

POWER TO THE DIL /  HEART…

Faisal

Diamonds are for ever...

Dear Friends

It is an interesting fact that the base element of diamond and coal is carbon. This has the potential to become a beautiful allegory. 

Do we transform into ‘diamond’ or ‘coal’? Are we destined for a life of utility or excellence?  Will we lead lives of mediocrity or greatness? Ultimately will we be slaves to our egos or taste freedom in surrender?

Certainly diamonds such as Mevlana Rumi are for ever...

Ciao

Faisal 

Zero...

Dear Friends

Accountants add and subtract

Economists multiply and divide

Financiers take powers

And Mystics are zero…


Faisal

Mopping the Soul...

Dear Friends

One of my favourite 'non-thinking' weekly activities is mopping my folk's big kitchen floor. I will blast the Bollywood and get stuck in. Over the years I have become a dab hand at cleaning and it is really great seeing the final product namely a shining floor and a big smile from my Mum.

For a long time I considered this activity as good exercise however, last weekend it occurred to me that there is a lot more going on that meets the eye. Over the years I have discovered tricks to cut the cleaning time without jeopardising the quality which is very satisfying. But why do I find this activity so fulfilling and actually look forward to doing it!?!

Upon reflection this small activity is deeply nourishing my soul as it is 'my' time, space, and I have total control. There are no targets or boss watching or monitoring me. I am not competing with anyone and remain highly motivated. I take the initiative and the pay-off is immeasurable so much so that I chastise my other siblings for not maintaining my high standards! : )

Can this humble mopping experience be transferring to my worldly and otherworldly work especially my research, teaching and consulting? YOU BET!

I am reminded of another beautiful metaphor…

Naiki kar aur Darya mein dhaal…Do good deeds and throw them into the river…

This is such a rich metaphor and I leave it to your imagination and soul to decipher…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYLseVbOHjk

Now we are free…

Faisal

Resurrection...

Dear Friends

Last week I attended a Muslim funeral which was a sombre yet moving event. I deeply love communal Islam especially during births, deaths, and marriages. Muslims will put aside their differences and celebrate or offer their unconditional support especially during a funeral. It is a great opportunity to reconnect with long lost friends and relatives.

As the body was being lowered I felt a chill in my soul. Is this it? I pondered. However I experienced a lovely epiphany. Yes this is it but the deceased will resurrect in the hearts of loved ones…Inshallah.

My late Murshid remarked during the end of his earthly career that after his death he would become closer to his students as the confines of the body would be obliterated and the soul is free to taste eternity…

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un…'Surely we belong to Allah and to Him shall we return'."

Salaam

Faisal

Clash of Civilisations?

Dear Friends

I have realised that one of my functions if not specialities and joys is 'Bridge Building'...
Consequently I deteste the 'Clash of civilisations' discourse which is really a clash of a
couple of deranged egos.

Why can there be not be a 'Clash of Ideas' or 'Clash of Love' ?

Yes there will be challenges and misunderstanding but let us remember that what is at stake is bigger than any religion namely HUMANITY.  And Allah operates via Human Beings not Angels!

As my Sufi Teacher counselled me brilliantly about a decade ago; practice of Shariah will make you into a Muslim but practice of Sufism / Taswuff / Ihsan will make you into an Insaan / HUMAN BEING...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU2xnJF3rBY

''O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female,
and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other
(not that ye may despise (each other).
Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is (he who is)
the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).''
(Surah 49:Verse 13)

Faisal

Light Houses...

Dear Friends

Begin the New Year as you intend to do so...For we are all Light Houses in the making...

Shine good will to all especially your adversaries...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-LPkPkdZVY

Allah Dil meraye ander...Allah is in my heart...

Yaa Haq!

Faisal

Baby Logic!

Dear Friends

As 2010 draws to a close, and the Islamic New Year has begun, I am deeply reflecting about the last 12 months of my life.

There have been many momentous changes but the greatest was when I became a Dad. Zahra is the love of my life and it is such a joy to see this angelic flower unfold before my eyes. She is such a bundle of magic and laughter and has permanently scented mine and Robina’s lives. Mashallah.

Zahra if not every baby’s greatest asset is their innate motivation which knows no bounds. It is amazing that tears and tumbles do not stop her from moving forward. Whether it is learning to talk or sit she never gives up. Amazing!

So why does this innate motivation wither away as we grow older? Is it social conditioning? Or is it self-doubt? Whatever it is I augur that one of the functions of any authentic spiritual path is to take the aspirant back to that pure innate motivation. Inshallah.

Now I appreciate one of my all time favourite Sufi metaphors – The never giving up Salik / Spiritual Traveller. He or she falls down but gets up and keeps going...

Keep walking...

Faisal

Genius...Who!

Dear Friends

Today I attended a stunning workshop  that discussed various topics in Higher Education. One of the presentations began with a power point slide with pictures of the following giants:

Albert Einstein

Leonardo Divinci

Helen Keller

Thomas Edison

and Stephen Hawking.

And the following question was posed.

What do these people have in common?

Answer - All have or had some form of mental or physical disability.

With the exception of Stephen Hawking I was amazed about the others…

Moral of the story…Never underestimate anyone…

Faisal

Ps - Just imagine what cloth the great mystics and prophets were cut from!!!

An Idea...

Dear Friends

''What's the most resilient parasite?

AN IDEA…

A single idea from the Human Mind can

Build cities.

An idea can transform the world

And rewrite all the rules….''

Inception - The Movie.

Thats why scientists, poets, mystics, prophets, artists always turn this world upside down...And consequently the pen is always mightier then the sword or a B52 bomber or any suicide bomber...

Faisal

When the chips are down...

Dear Friends

We have a great English phrase when one is facing challenges - when the chips are down...

What to do?

Well dial up a Zen Roshi...Or a Sufi Master...or better still:

When your bow is broken
And your last arrow spent
Then shoot
SHOOT WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART!

Faisal

What is a dream?

Dear Friends

I deeply love the following Zen Experience by Chuang-Tse:

“I dreamed I was a butterfly, flitting around in the sky; then I awoke. Now I wonder: Am I a man who dreamt of being a butterfly, or am I a butterfly dreaming that I am a man?”

Perhaps the solution is:

“You will always find an answer in the sound of water''.
Chuang-Tse”

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2EuihbnhYA&feature=related

 

Faisal

 

Ps - Have a great weekend...

True Islam...

Dear Friends

A living Sufi Master residing in Sweden has elegantly said that:

''I am nothing but a little particle of the cosmos, a dust in the eyes of the eternal. I am a plant. I am you''.

The above is a mode of being which the true Islam is not something constricted by time or place or culture.

Unfortunately very few Muslims (as is the case in other religious traditions) will achieve this however these highly evolved folk  are the equivalent of millions if not billions who ensure the merciful flow of divine love / light…

Faisal

Human Capital...

Dear Friends

I just spent a wonderful train journey accompanied by one of my students. He was very candid and was sharing his hopes and dreams which took on a higher poignancy as his grandmother had just passed away last weekend.

I was deeply struck by his urgency to make sense of his existence and become 'someone' considering he is only a tender 18 year old. I assured him that he had a challenging journey ahead of him and ultimately it was a great attitude rather than a stunning aptitude that was the key to worldly and otherworldly success regardless of the state of the global / national economy or inequality. Since everything in life is about communication and dealing with people.

Upon further reflection it occurred to me that great Prophets and Mystics, perhaps even business leaders, were and remain excellent 'people persons' if not 'people-olics'. Since it is people who carry the message or brand forward not spreadsheets or titles…Human Capital is the real strength if not critical success factor of any organisation…

 I am reminded of the Buddhist sage Ryunsoke satarop who beautifully stated:

'Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”

Faisal