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My God and my Lord:

Eyes are at rest, the stars are setting. Hushed are the movements of birds in their nests, of monsters in the sea; and You are the Just Who knows no change; the Equity that does not swerve, the everlasting that never passes away. The doors of kings are locked now and guarded by their henchmen, but your door is open to all who call upon You. My Lord, each lover is now alone with his beloved. And I am alone with Thee.

--- Huston Smith ---

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Verses from Mevlana's Mathnawi

It was Mary's painful need that made the infant Jesus
begin to speak from the cradle.
Whatever grew has grown for the sake of those in need,
so that a seeker might find the thing he sought.
If God most High has created the Heavens,
He has created them for the purpose of satisfying needs.
Wherever a pain is, that's where the cure goes;
wherever the poverty is, that's where provisions goes.
Wherever a difficult question is,
That's where the answer goes;
wherever a ship is, water goes to it.
Don't seek the water; increase your thirst,
so water may gush forth from above and below.
Until the tender-throated babe is born,
how should the milk for it
flow from the mother's breast?

"Risking the Journey"

Your difficulties and discussions indicate that you want to learn by means of information, but one has to walk and struggle on the path. Let's say, for a hundred years you have talked about the way to Aleppo and Damascus, but you can never bring the goods of Aleppo here unless you endure the difficulty and dangers of the journey. You must undergo the concern and fear of having your property plundered by robbers;only then can you arrive.

Someone asked "Should the student prefer the way of discussion first, so that later walking on that path might be easier?"

He answered, "I have already told you the story of the way to Aksaray and given you information about the journey. You didn't go there; I am with you. And from now on, you yourself pay attention to see which way is safer--which way is most free of thieves, wolves and other dangers.""

And then, what about the path to Malatya or the path to Ilbistan?"

From the book "Teachings of Shams of Tabriz-Rumi's Sun"