From tariqas-digest-approval@europe.std.com Sun Jul 21 14:54:48 1996 Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 12:55:53 -0400 (EDT) From: tariqas-digest-approval@europe.std.com Reply-To: tariqas-digest@world.std.com To: tariqas-digest@world.std.com Subject: tariqas-digest V1 #74 tariqas-digest Saturday, 20 July 1996 Volume 01 : Number 074 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- From: frank gaude Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 15:30:02 -0700 Subject: THE SOUL'S THREE FACES Hello, folks! It is so slow around here thought I'd inject some juice: "The whole experiment of existence is to unite the various parts of the naphsha in willing cooperation with the source--Abwoon." Here, making the two one twice, per Jesus' advice in Gospel of Thomas. THE SOUL'S THREE FACES The human soul has three faces: nephesh, ruach, and neshemah. Nephesh is the animating and animal self--that within which scatters and gathers. Ruach is the breathing self, conscious in the present moment--a portion of the Breathig Life of All. Neshemah is the illuminating self--light of the light of guidance from the One. The three are contained, one inside the other, although each has its own neighborhood of activity... The animal self (nephesh) is intimate with the body: It nourishes and supports it. It is the "below"--the first instant of the arising of all sensation. Having fulfilled its purpose and conscious of itself, it becomes a throne, and accommodation for the breathing, conscious self--a place for ruach to rest--as Isaiah writes (32:15): "when the breath pours upon us from the first Source." When these two selves have fulfilled their purpose and prepared themselves, they are ready to receive the illuminating self (neshemah), which rests in the accommodation created by the breath. The illuminating self transcends the normal ways of sensing: it is the fulfillment of all sensation. Throne upon throne, vehicle within vehicle, one place to rest--one accommodation--rests upon another and again upon another. Studying and experiencing these faces of the soul leads to Hokhmah, Sacred Wisdom, Sacred Sense, and in this way the Source or Sacred Breath and Soul can bring together mysteries that seem separate and divisive. Nephesh is like the dark light at the bottom of a candle's flame, the part close to the wick that you can't see through but without which there would be no flame at all. When fully lit, the bottom of the flame provides a seat for the white light above it (ruach), the only one we usually see. And when these two are burning fully, the white light creates a foundation for another light--one not completely seen or sensed yet present as a mysterious essence--the illuminating atmosphere or aura of the light (neshemah). All three reach completeness in conscious relationship to and partnership with each other. This is the light of the All-embracing. --Saadi (Neil Douglas-Klotz), "Desert Wisdom" pp.153, Harper Collins, (1995) translation from "Zohar, Book of Radiant Life" GLOSSARY Nephesh -- vital soul, subconscious, instinct, naphsha, sufi nafs, low-self Ruach ---- spirit (breath), conscious, intellect, middle self Neshemah - inner or super soul, intuition, superconscious, High Self, Abwoon, source from Source, collectively makes up Spirit of Guidance Spirit of Guidance, Ruh-al-Quddus, personified as the Archangel Gabriel. "The Spirit of Guidance may be called the heart of God, a heart which is the accumulator of all feelings, impressions, thoughts, memories, and all knowledge and experience... The heart of God is the intelligence and the current of guidance in the heart of every person... In the Spirit of Guidance one finds a living God active in the heart of every person."--Hazrat Inayat Khan, from his "The Divine Breath" For information about Abwoon Study Circle and Neil's work and schedule, check: http://www.teleport.com/~indup/ or e-mail Selim Turnor at 73523.3177@compuserve.com and ask for information. tanzen ------------------------------ From: Gale Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 17:06:12 -0700 Subject: S.H. Nasr on PBS Here's a forward message that may be of interest to some. Nur ************************** Dear friends: Salam! I wanted to inform you that tonight on PBS there is a showing of an interview with the prominent Islamic scholar Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr. The interview is part of the series called "Searching for God in America." I believe that it is coming on (at least on the East Coast) at 10 p.m. Eastern Time. The previous scholars are members interviewed have represented a wonderful insight into the dilemma facing a quest for spirituality in America. Many of us are looking forward to the interview with Dr. Nasr as he is well-known as presenting a sophisticated, intellectually profound and spiritually insightful perspective on Islam. Hope you enjoy it. If you happen to miss it tonight, PBS usually re-broadcasts their shows at some point during the next week. I would love to see some feedback from the group on those who happen to see this presentation. love for all, walk in light. a friend, omid p.s. The next week should be also interesting as it contains an interview with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. ------------------------------ From: Steve Phillips Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 21:40:23 +0000 Subject: RUMI (Any Chance Meeting) Any Chance Meeting ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ In every gathering, in any chance meeting on the street, there is a shine, an elegance rising up. Today, I recognized that that jewel-like beauty is the presence, our loving confusion, the glow in which watery clay gets brighter than fire, the one we call the Friend. I begged, "Is there a way into you, a ladder? "Your head is the ladder. Bring it down under your feet." The mind, this globe of awareness, is a stary universe that when you push off from it with your foot, a thousand new roads come clear, as you youself do at dawn, sailing through the light. - -------------------------------------------------------------------- from "Say I Am You", translated by John Moyne and Coleman Barks ------------------------------ From: maarof@pc.jaring.my Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 09:54:04 +0800 Subject: Why Dear friends, I don't exactly know what is your reaction to the news of flight 800 crash, so there is apprehension in posting this. On tv, the most striking thing I watch is a priest's statement about some things we will never know the answer.In time of tragedy, disaster it seemed there's always tendency to blame someone, even God. My feeling is that a "terribly wrong" or "uexplainable events" that is happening all over the world is a "sign" of something is coming. I wonder if some members of this list, experience such "feeling" or "uneasiness". salam maarof ------------------------------ From: Michael Moore Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 21:08:42 -0700 Subject: Re: Why maarof@pc.jaring.my wrote: > > Dear friends, > > I don't exactly know what is your reaction to the news of flight 800 crash, > so there is apprehension in posting this. On tv, the most striking thing > I watch is a priest's statement about some things we will never know the > answer.In time of tragedy, disaster it seemed there's always tendency to > blame someone, even God. > > My feeling is that a "terribly wrong" or "uexplainable events" that is > happening all over the world is a "sign" of something is coming. I wonder > if some members of this list, experience such "feeling" or "uneasiness". > > salam > maarof Dear fellow travelers, What I am about to state as FACT is of course only my opinion. This simply is. All around us is birth and death. An equal number of people died in car accidents the same day and this happens every day. Thousands comming and thousands going every day. We must live with this perception every day. We cannot simply close our eyes except for the rare occasion when the press deems that now is the time to look at suffering. This world is suffering and bliss, two sides of the same coin. Balance is the answer, we must stay balanced by maintaining a constant awareness of this coin. When you are laughing and happy, think of incredible suffering. Do not stop being happy, but stay conscious. When you are in anguish, think of the joy of children playing. As for being a sign? Everything is a sign of everything. May they find peace in Allah - -Michael- ------------------------------ From: jabriel@peoples.net (Jabriel Hanafi) Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 00:01:23 -0500 Subject: al Muta Ali Al Muta Ali In an instant gates open outside of all human relation. The imagination and the image both blush and then bow. Nothing can contain the width, depth, the scope, no platform can reach, and the notion of height itself completely disappears This is the beginning of what is meant when it is said that Allah exists without a partner and one might pray for compassion for the fool who says to his brother and sisters that they are god claiming always the same and then even a slightly more elevated station for himself. You see there is no difference between red and color one is contained within the other. There are the elements and then there is ether the One is the One everyone shares something of Reality contained within the name Ahad within the perfect unity. But imagine for a moment an action of honor, a station as refined as human evolution can extract, the sublime, the sacred instant when everything is completely clear revealing a sense of the light behind the light and the soul of the soul knowing all there is to know. It is than when one might pray for a second shattering to bring this light back to humanity with some due respect to good humility. Don't compare yourself to el Halaj not many know the story well much less the political climate of the times and few think less of the purpose of what it meant for him to bow as he sat afterwards repeating the name Al Muta Ali. Jabriel - ----------------------------------------- Jabriel Hanafi Pivotal Point Dynamics ------------------------------ From: Hafizullah@aol.com Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 02:09:11 -0400 Subject: Re: A question about the harm or good of music In a message dated 96-07-19 13:32:55 EDT, you write: << I have heard warnings that listening to music outside the appropriate context can limit one's level of attainment. Can anyone elucidate why this is so? >> It's fairly simple: What you like is not necessarily what's good for your spiritual development. This is very individual, but in general, the music you like is stuff that appeals to and reinforces the personal ego. True 'wisdom music,' on the other hand, is often not interesting to the ego. It is not necessarily evocative of an emotion; its action may be elsewise. It takes either or both: A shaikh or a very finely-tuned discernment (usually only learned under a teacher) to know what music is good (and at what particular time and under what particular circumstances and how particularly to listen to it) for your spiritual unfoldment. Additionally, listening to genuine wisdom music without the proper attention will tend to immunize you to its effects. Again, this is not invariable, but it is a tendency, engendered by "elevator music" and the way people often play music to fill the space, as "junk food for their ears." That's basically the long and short of it as I understand it. If anyone else has something to add, I am interested in hearing it. hafizullah ------------------------------ From: James McCaig Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 08:06:27 -0400 Subject: Re: the Shaykh (fwd) My Sheikh is better than yours? Ali Haydar made the point beautifully, we need only realize we are all Sheiks and more! Warm regards, At 08:37 PM 7/15/96 -0700, you wrote: > >asalaam-u-aleikum > >What I understood was that we are each responsible for making this >judgement in choosing whether or not to follow a sheikh. > >Lily > >On Mon, 15 Jul 1996, James McCaig wrote: > >> At 09:12 AM 7/15/96 -0400, you wrote: >> >Date: Sun, 14 Jul 1996 11:42:21 -0500 >> >To: tariqas@world.std.com >> >From: gmtn@mail.comet.net (Green Mountain School) >> >Subject: the Shaykh >> >Message-Id: <19960714160201043.AAA176@[128.143.3.105]> >> > >> Dear Brother, >> >> Who will judge this sheikh candidate and determine if he meets the criteria. >> This doesn't sound like a job for any human I know (being the Judge). >> >> Warm regards, >> >> >having read the more heterodox explanations of the criteria of a shaykh let >> >me re-post a more traditional set of criteria which have been excepted for >> >the most part over the past 1400 years. >> > >> > >> >> >> Maharaj James McCaig | Sufi Center of Washington >> Brotherhood/Sisterhood Representative | Keepers of Sufi Center Bookstore >> United States | http://guess.worldweb.net/sufi >> >> jmccaig@worldweb.net >> >> > > Maharaj James McCaig | Sufi Center of Washington Brotherhood/Sisterhood Representative | Keepers of Sufi Center Bookstore United States | http://guess.worldweb.net/sufi jmccaig@worldweb.net ------------------------------ From: an525@lafn.org (Ivan Ickovits) Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 07:29:07 -0700 Subject: Re: THE SOUL'S THREE FACES Dear Tanzen: Found your quotation interesting, and thought I might expand a bit. In classical kabbalistic teachings there are two more levels of the soul above the three mentioned. Chayya is next going up. Then Yechidah. While the first three levels of nephesh, ruach, and neshamah are achievable by some human effort (always with the grace of the beloved), the experience of the last two are by divine grace directly and are outside the scope of human effort. It is a redo of the statement I will favor whom I will favor, even though the person is not worthy. That is to say, Divine action is directed according to a set of rules and values that are not apparent or graspable by human intellect or heart. Chayah is in the domain of direct experience and its isness is non-verbal, When we go beyond reason to the essential longing and yearning of the spark for the flame, where living is its own truth, that is Chayah. Chayah as the name implies (from Chay - life), is the life element - the will to live. Yechidah is in the realm of intuition, It is essentially identical with th Divine. As the name implies It is the Monad -- undifferentiated unity -- a singularly unique holographic particle of God. There is no distance, no abyss separating the divine spark Yechida from the One infinite being. >From some obscure writings of kabbalah -- like Cordevero or Luria as presented by R' Zalman Schacter. Raqib in Santa Monica > >Hello, folks! > >It is so slow around here thought I'd inject some juice: > >"The whole experiment of existence is to unite the various parts of the > naphsha in willing cooperation with the source--Abwoon." Here, making > the two one twice, per Jesus' advice in Gospel of Thomas. > >THE SOUL'S THREE FACES > >The human soul has three faces: nephesh, ruach, and neshemah. >Nephesh is the animating and animal self--that within which >scatters and gathers. Ruach is the breathing self, conscious >in the present moment--a portion of the Breathig Life of All. >Neshemah is the illuminating self--light of the light of >guidance from the One. The three are contained, one inside >the other, although each has its own neighborhood of activity... > >The animal self (nephesh) is intimate with the body: It >nourishes and supports it. It is the "below"--the first >instant of the arising of all sensation. Having fulfilled its >purpose and conscious of itself, it becomes a throne, and >accommodation for the breathing, conscious self--a place for >ruach to rest--as Isaiah writes (32:15): "when the breath >pours upon us from the first Source." > >When these two selves have fulfilled their purpose and >prepared themselves, they are ready to receive the >illuminating self (neshemah), which rests in the >accommodation created by the breath. The illuminating self >transcends the normal ways of sensing: it is the fulfillment >of all sensation. Throne upon throne, vehicle within vehicle, >one place to rest--one accommodation--rests upon another >and again upon another. > >Studying and experiencing these faces of the soul leads to >Hokhmah, Sacred Wisdom, Sacred Sense, and in this way the >Source or Sacred Breath and Soul can bring together >mysteries that seem separate and divisive. > >Nephesh is like the dark light at the bottom of a candle's >flame, the part close to the wick that you can't see through >but without which there would be no flame at all. When fully >lit, the bottom of the flame provides a seat for the white >light above it (ruach), the only one we usually see. And >when these two are burning fully, the white light creates a >foundation for another light--one not completely seen or >sensed yet present as a mysterious essence--the illuminating >atmosphere or aura of the light (neshemah). All three reach >completeness in conscious relationship to and partnership >with each other. This is the light of the All-embracing. > > --Saadi (Neil Douglas-Klotz), "Desert Wisdom" > pp.153, Harper Collins, (1995) translation > from "Zohar, Book of Radiant Life" > >GLOSSARY > >Nephesh -- vital soul, subconscious, instinct, naphsha, > sufi nafs, low-self > >Ruach ---- spirit (breath), conscious, intellect, middle self > >Neshemah - inner or super soul, intuition, superconscious, > High Self, Abwoon, source from Source, collectively > makes up Spirit of Guidance > >Spirit of Guidance, Ruh-al-Quddus, personified as the Archangel >Gabriel. > >"The Spirit of Guidance may be called the heart of God, a heart > which is the accumulator of all feelings, impressions, thoughts, > memories, and all knowledge and experience... The heart of God > is the intelligence and the current of guidance in the heart of > every person... In the Spirit of Guidance one finds a living > God active in the heart of every person."--Hazrat Inayat Khan, > from his "The Divine Breath" > >For information about Abwoon Study Circle and Neil's work and >schedule, check: > > http://www.teleport.com/~indup/ > >or e-mail Selim Turnor at 73523.3177@compuserve.com > >and ask for information. > >tanzen > > > - -- <<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>> ------------------------------ From: Steve H Rose Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 11:07:27 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Sufi gathering in Carmel, California (fwd) Date: Fri, 19 Jul 96 13:40:35 PDT From: kaye@usace.mil (Kaye McGee) Message-Id: <9607192040.AA21356@longbow.usace.mil> To: tariqas@world.std.com Subject: Sufi Gathering in Carmel, CA Join us for an afternoon of Traditional Sufi Wisdom Continuing a series of gatherings in Carmel area * Techniques of Sufi meditation for peace and tranquility * The Beauty of the Divine, expressed in Sufi poetry * Principles and practices for living in the presence of heart * Zekr: Inspirational Sufi music and chanting Sunday, July 21, 1996 2:00 - 4:00 The Unitarian Universalist Church of the Monterey Peninsula 490 Aguajito Road Carmel (Hwy. 68 exit, off Hwy. 1) $5.00 donation presented by: International Association of Sufism 25 Mitchell Blvd., Suite 2 San Rafael, CA 94903 (415) 472-6959 * fax: (415) 472-6221 email: ias@ias.org ------------------------------ From: Steve H Rose Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 11:15:29 -0400 (EDT) Subject: Sufi scholar on PBS! (fwd) Assalamu alaikum. My apologies that this is being sent to the list late. I just found out that the original message from Omid had bounced. Please let the list know if this program will be rebroadcast! Yours, Habib Date: Fri, 19 Jul 1996 20:03:23 -0400 (EDT) From: Omid Safi To: frank gaude Cc: Winged Heart Mail List , Tariqas Mail List Subject: Sufi scholar on PBS! In-Reply-To: <31EF8893.2485633E@sierra.net> Message-Id: Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Dear friends: Salam! I wanted to inform you that tonight on PBS there is a showing of an interview with the prominent Islamic scholar Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr. The interview is part of the series called "Searching for God in America." I believe that it is coming on (at least on the East Coast) at 10 p.m. Eastern Time. The previous scholars are members interviewed have represented a wonderful insight into the dilemma facing a quest for spirituality in America. Many of us are looking forward to the interview with Dr. Nasr as he is well-known as presenting a sophisticated, intellectually profound and spiritually insightful perspective on Islam. Hope you enjoy it. If you happen to miss it tonight, PBS usually re-broadcasts their shows at some point during the next week. I would love to see some feedback from the group on those who happen to see this presentation. love for all, walk in light. a friend, omid p.s. The next week should be also interesting as it contains an interview with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. ------------------------------ From: Well333@turbonet.com (Jacquie Weller) Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 09:10:42 +0100 Subject: [none] What do you mean I have to defrost the refridgerator! I want to know about levels and names of levels! And all this interesting spiritual stuff! Ok. I will defrost the dumb icebox. Kaffea Lalla ------------------------------ From: gberlind@crl.com (Gary Berlind) Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 09:16:48 -0800 Subject: Re: Why - my $0.02 >Dear friends, > >I don't exactly know what is your reaction to the news of flight 800 crash, >so there is apprehension in posting this. On tv, the most striking thing >I watch is a priest's statement about some things we will never know the >answer.In time of tragedy, disaster it seemed there's always tendency to >blame someone, even God. > >My feeling is that a "terribly wrong" or "uexplainable events" that is >happening all over the world is a "sign" of something is coming. I wonder >if some members of this list, experience such "feeling" or "uneasiness". > >salam >maarof Unexplainable? I think, unfortunately, it's all too explainable. While I certainly am greatly saddened by the news of the crash, and the lives lost, the fact that such violent acts happen around us is to me anything but unexplainable. IMHO, there are so, so many existing injustices in the world today. Tons of them. The way so many many indigenous peoples (American Indians, Eskimos, rain-forest dwellers, etc.) have (and are!) being treated by those folks in the world who are aggressive (or passive) oppressors - including even some of us, including even me. The way the have-nots in most societies are treated by the haves. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. Big mess out there today, some of which has been existing for centuries, maybe milennia, no? IMHO it's naive to ignore these realities, which many of us, myself included, tend to ignore every day. It sees to me that pressure just naturally builds up when there are these kinds of injustices and inequities all over. Is an act of violence against the innocent passengers on an airline worse than the acts of cruelty, oppression and abuse that may have historically preceded (and not too indirectly led to) that event? IMHO they both are nasties. Nasty seems to breed nasty, except when exceptional things occur. I think it's always been that way, at least during most of recorded history. Again, I'm not justifying anything about this awful bombing, or whatever it was. Just trying to perhaps provide a different perspective. Anybody who wants to flame me on this, please do so with love and consideration - I hurt real easily... Gary Abdul Matin Berlind ------------------------------ From: Michael Moore Date: Sat, 20 Jul 1996 09:56:07 -0700 Subject: New Koran Translation Dear Tariqas, I thought that you might find this interesting. I myself have been looking for a more 'readable' translation. (There is absolutely no reason that a Koran should be translated into King James English IMHO). Are there any comments about this new translation either pro or con? - -Michael- PS, the following quotations are in reverse cronoligical order. Ahmed Darwish wrote: > > Bismillah > Salaams > > Muslims & Guests: > Welcome; and peace upon those who follow guidance. > > Thank you for your inquiry concerning the Koran and the Concordance > The reply to your email is below: > > We have produced two translations of the Koran:- > > (1) One is classic, an example of its style is found in the Cow > chapter which is posted in the Mosque under: > The largest chapter in Koran explained. This edition > is schedule to be printed sometime in 1997 after we finalize > its concordance. > > (2) The second is contemporary which is the subject of > this paper back announcement. > > It is very clear, simple and very accurate, for example many > translations rendered the Arabic word 'Abd' as slave or servant > while the Mosque corrected the translation to be worshipper i.e. > Abdullah = worshipper of Allah, since Adam was Abdullah, and > there were no slaves in his time, not to mention that Islam freed > the slaves, this an example of about 20% corrections to older > translations. > > Another example is their translation of the Arabic word > 'sibghatu Allahi' > as being 'the baptism of Allah' which we corrected to be > 'the indelible marking of Allah' > > Many translated the name of the first chapter incorrectly > 'the Opening' rather it is 'the Opener' > > Koran paper back contains a nice intro about Islam and topics in a > nutshell which is far greater than any glossary found in any other > printed copy. > > An additional advantage is that for first time a dual mother > tongued family conducted the translation, one born in Cairo > and trained in Azhar (headquarters of Islamic studies) and > other is a poet, born in England from an established English > family. > > Work was supervised by Professor Dr. Hasan Qaribullah > the former Dean of Um Durman Islamic University and former > Edinburgh Doctorate (over 40 years ago) the spiritual leader > of over 5000 Mosques worldwide. > > The Concordace covers over 9,000 words. > > The text about to go to print, the concordance and the Koran > both will be about $15.00 plus S&H. (1500 pages in two books) > > We will add your name to the mailing list and forward it > to Hajj Khalfan. > > Once it is ready for shiping you will get an email > > Soon we will download a sample of each: > > SAMPLES:- > > CONCORDANCE: > > KORAN: > > Thank you for your interest. > > Till next time ...Peace > > Shaykh Ahmad Darwish > > On Fri, 19 Jul 1996, Michael Moore wrote: > > > Hello, > > Could you please send me information on this Koran. For > > example, how much does it cost? Could I see a sample? > > A couple of suras maybe? > > Thanks, > > Michael J. Moore > > > > > > > > If you would like to buy a copy of the Mosque of Internet's > > > official translation of the meaning of the Koran which is > > > the most authentic translation in modern English and its > > > invaluable "Concordance (word per line/verse index) > > > > > > Please contact > > > Hajj Khalfan of Koranic Society of America > > > P.O. Box 731115, Elmhurst, NY 11373-0115 U S A > > > (718)446-6472 > > > (718) 779-6532 > > > > > ------------------------------ End of tariqas-digest V1 #74 ****************************