How long will you hide
your beautiful
festive smile

Teach your laughter
to a flower
manifest an eternity

Why do you think
the door to the sky
is closed on your face

It allures and invites
your magical touch
to open and arrive

An entire caravan
is waiting in ecstasy
for your coming and leading

Come on my friend
use your talisman and
harness all their souls

Today is the day to unite
with your longing beloved
wait no more
for an unknown tomorrow

A tambourine is in a corner
begging your playing hands
a flute is sitting dormant
begging your happy lips

— Ode (Ghazal) 253
Translation by Nader Khalili
“Rumi, Fountain of Fire”
Burning Gate Press
Los Angeles, 1994

Traveler: There is only one Creator, or Light, yet there are many religions, paths, and ways of worship: why is this so?

Master: According to Design, each person finds the Creator in a different way. One may seek salvation as a loving husband or wife and another may find the Infinite on a distant shore helping to ease suffering. Each person is a universe and in this vast expanse it is easy to go astray. Only the Creator’s Kindness leads the traveler home.

Religion may be likened to a great river that feeds the land. The river winds its way as a mighty force and smaller tributaries are formed to serve the distant regions. Some people are satisfied to drink of the smaller stream and forget they must travel the river to its Source. Beyond the river’s gate the Ocean is waiting.

Traveler: Where is the boat to journey the river for I am ready to depart?

Master: O little one- you are so eager. Yet, you are already assail and your soul is the vessel. Your heart is the compass and the Creator’s Mercy is the breeze at your back. If you bow in prayer, the Creator will provide all that you need and guide you to the Ocean.

[Source: Inspirations and Creative Thoughts http://tinyurl.com/yjqtoqt]

-Dr. Chandra Muzaffar, President of the International Movement for a Just World

Interview: http://d.hatena.ne.jp/itunalily2/20091022

Prayer

[November 2006]

The reference photo was from Peter Sander’s collection. I was drawn to the deep sincerity and intense emotion apparent in this man’s humble prayer to God..

Toward the gardens,
Toward the orchards,
I am going.
If you want to stay here,
Stay here -
I am going!
My day is dark without His Face,
Toward that bright flame
I am going.

My soul is racing ahead of me.
It says, The body is too slow for me -
I am going.

The smell of apples arises
from the orchard of my soul.
One whiff and I am gone -
Toward a feast of apples
I am going.

A sudden wind won’t blow me over.
Toward Him, like a mountain of iron,
I am going.

My shirt is ripped open
with the pain of loss.
Searching for a new life,
with my head held high,
I am going.

I am fire, though I seem like oil -
Seeking to be the fuel of His fire,
I am going.

I appear as a steady mountain
Yet bit by bit,
Toward that tiny opening
I am going.

— Ode 1668
Version by Jonathan Star from a translation by Shahram Shiva
“A Garden Beyond Paradise: The Mystical Poetry of Rumi”
Bantam Books, 1992

“When twilight merges into darkness, when the light of the sun is buried in the bosom of night, I see not. I see only in light. Thou alone that art light thyself, dost see eve through the thickest darkness. Thou dost fill my soul with sunshine, when all around darkness shadows my path. Where can I turn for light in my dark hour, but to thee. Darkness flees before thy word, for thy words are light…

Enchanting is the smile of the spring. It charms away the memory of cold and fog. Dark is my flesh and I cannot see thee with my eyes of flesh. When thy light shines on me, I see thee with my soul in my eyes. Let thy light sublime flow from above and suffuse my soul. Bathed in thy celestial light, I see thee, wheresoever I turn.

The light of the countenance shines upon me. There is sunshine in my heart. Ever will I keep the light bright that thou hast kindled in my heart. It fills my whole being with thy splendor. Devoutly will I give this light to those who grope in darkness. It will enable them to see thy light and walk by it. Girt with the armour of light, I will fight mental and moral darkness all around.

Thou, yea, thou alone, art light. Thou, invisible, dost become visible to me in the light. My soul, ever yearning to greet thee, now greets thee in thy light that radiates around me, Ahura Mazda.”

-Dastur Dr. M. N. Dhalla

Hadith Qudsi:

“And when I love My servant I become his hearing with which he hears, his eyes with which he sees, his hands with which he touches and his feet with which he walks.”

“I am as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an assembly, I make mention of him in an assembly better than it. And if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw near to him a fathom’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.”

-Hadith Qudsi