Love of God...

Like the desert is not satiated with the rain...nor the hunger of the fire is ever quenched..
Like a King is never satiated by his dominion... and who has ever filled the oceans ?

Nanak says ..how much ever I dwell in the true name of the Lord, my hunger for it never appeases ...

[ Sri Guru Grath Sahib Ji..Page :495
Translated by : Manmohan Singh Ji]

Baba Fareed aur Namaaz ka Qissa

Kehate hain ke Baba Fareed jab ek chhote bachche they to Khel kood mein mashgool rehate thae.. MaaN ko laga ab baRe ho rahe hain to Khuda kii taraf dil judna chaahiye ... namaaz paRhni chaahiye unhe bhi .. Baba Fareed ko kaha ko samjhaaya ke din mein kam az kam do waqt ki namaaz paRhna shuru karien ... Fajr kii aur Isha Kii ..

Saat baras kii nanhi umar ..Bachpan ke bholepan mein Baba Fareed MaaN se poochhtey hain ke 'MaaN mein namaaz to paRh loon par badle mein Khuda mujhe kya dega .." MaaN ne bhi saadigi se jawaab de diya ke Khuda khush hokar KhajoorieN dega.. Mithaayi dega .. GuR(Jaggery) dega..

Sun kar chhote se Fareed khuch ho gaye .. namaaZ paRhne ka waqt aaya .. maaN ne namaaz ke pehale hii jai-namaaZ(mussallah) ke neeche khajoor rakh dien .. Fareed jii ne namaaz paRh kar musallah uthaaya to dekhte hain ke neeche KhajoorieN paRi hai.. bohot khush huye ke ye to naqad saudaa hai .. idher namaaz paRhi ..udher khajoorien(dates) mil gayien ..

Ab roz ka kaam ho gaya .. idher namaaz paRhne ka waqt hota udher maaN Fareed Ji ke musalle ke neeche kabhi mithaayi .. kabhi GuR .. kabhi khajoorien rakh detieN .. Fareed ji namaaz parhte ..musallah uthate aur koi na koi meethi saugaat unhe mil jaati .. din ba din unkaa khuda par aietbaar badtaa gaya ...

Ek din honi ko kuchh aur hii manzoor tha .. maaN Ghar ke kaamoN mein masroof Fareed Ji ke musalle ke neeche saugaat rakhna bhool gayi .. magar woh din alag hii tha.. uskii saugaat bhi alag hii thi...Fareed Ji ne namaaz khatam kii ... magar aaj unkii namaaz mein ras kuchh aur hi tha .. aaj unka dil us Allah se bandh gaya tha .. roz namaaz parhte they ... magar aaj Allah se milaap ka jo sukh unhe mila tha.. jo shiriniyat mili thi woh pehale kabhi nahi... Fareed Ji ka dil bhar aaya .. aankhon se aansoo behane lage ... ke itna sukh .. itni khushi .. jaane is chhotii sii umar mein Allah ne unhe kitni baRi saugaat se nawaaza tha ....

MaaN ko achanak khayaal aaya ke aaj to Fareed ke musaalle ke neeche mithaayi khujoor kuchh nahi rakhi .. daudi daudi aayien to dekha Fareed ji ki aankhon se paani beh raha hai ... unhe laga pata nahi ab Fareeda namaaz parhe ya na parhe .. kahiN iska aietbaar to nahi toot gaya .. jaldi jaldi rasoiighar(kitchen) ja kar ek tashtari(plate) mein mithaayi khajoor le aayien..aur Fareed ji ko behlaane lagien ke aaj Allah jaldi mein they .. to mujhe keh gaye they ke mein tumhe aaj kii saugaat de doon ...

Khushi kii aah nikaal gayi Fareed Ji ke mooNh se... ashkbaar aankhon se maaN ko kehate hain ke maaN aaj hii to Allah ne khud apne aap saugaat di hai mujhe.. aaj tak to woh tumhaare haathOn mithaayi kii saugaat bhejte they mujhe .. magar aaj to apne aap apne milan ke ras se nawaaza hai .. apni mohabbat kii saugaat di hai mujhe ...

-------------
Maskeen Ji ne ye qissa itni khoobsurati is bayaan kiya hai sun kar dil bhar aata hai..aankhien bhar aatien hain ..dua hai ke har insaan ko khuda is saugaat se nawaaze....

[Courtsey: Audio recording by Giani Sant Singh Maskeen]

Why do you roam the jungles?

Why do you roam the jungles?
Says Farid,
Why do you roam the jungles with thorns pricking your feet?
Your Lord dwells in your heart.
And you wander about in search of Him ....

[Baba Sheikh Fareed]

Baba Sheikh Farid ((1173 - 1266) was a Sufi saint who is considered by many to be the first major poet of the Punjabi language. He was born in the Multan district of what is today Pakistan.
Later, when the Sikh holy book the Adi Granth Sahib was compiled, many of Baba Sheikh Farid's poems and couplets were included, alongside the poetry of Kabir and Ravidas.

courtsey:http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com

ON FEAR

We live in fear, in fear of losing things which we think we own; our health, our youth, our life, our wife, children, money, job, etc. And indeed, most of our time and efforts are spent to secure these things. We take our bankers’ advice, our lawyers’ advice, our doctors’ advice. We economize, we are jealous of our legal rights, we diet, we take our pills. To somewhat appease our fears of losing our material well-being, we buy insurance, open savings accounts, have medical check-ups, swallow vitamins, jog in the streets. And to have people’s esteem, we appear not as we are, but the way they wish us to be.

Some also fear losing their good reputation, honor, respect, and love. of others. Fewer still are afraid of losing their minds, their faith, their hope for salvation in the hereafter and their religion. The very few who are afraid to lose their faith and their place in Paradise squeeze in a few minutes of prayer a day, a few days of fasting a year, and cheat on the alms which they pay, while they wouldn’t dare to cheat the IRS.

We complain of fatigue, stress, injustice, lack of good luck and of the tyranny of the government, society, economy, bosses, employees, neighbors, mothers, fathers, wives and husbands, our children; just about everything and everybody, and we rarely find fault with ourselves. In spite of all this effort, we cannot eliminate our fears. In fact, the more we try and fail, the corse we feel, and our fears increase. This is the state of the whole world.

The solution which the rulers of this world (the politicians, the media, Wall Street) have found is to offer "circus and wine": amusement and fun. Their remedy is not to seek strength to face this situation, but to forget, to be. distracted. It does not work! The drunkard wakes up with a hangover after a momentary craze; he returns to his problems accompanied by a splitting headache!

In reality there is nothing to fear except ourselves, our ego and its insatiable appetite, which will always want more than it has, even if it had the whole world. What is one supposed to do to stop this insanity. How do we live this life in peace and with sanity? Indeed there is no comfort in this world. It is a hard test which lasts seventy to eighty years, through which we must pass to meet our Lord. It is a test which very few pass because they choose the world and the worldly as their teacher.

[Courtsey : http://www.jerrahi.org/writings_english/onfear.htm]

Words of Wisdom

The aspect of human beings that sets us off from all other creatures is that of imaginative wisdom. Animals see things as they are, but we see them as they can be. We have been given the Divine ability to transform. Nothing gives a person more energy as he or she is working to bring a vision into reality. People forsake their sleep, food, and comfort for the sake of a project that they love. There is something holy about a human being dedicated to a purpose, something more precious than I can attempt to put into words. It is the miracle of creation.

It is exactly this miracle which enables us to transcend circumstances. Any circumstance is a good starting point for God. The alchemical power to activate Divinity is always speaking to us, if we are but willing to listen and do. It is none other than the Voice of God, beckoning to us to acknowledge the Divine Spark and to draw it into expression, that it may be shared by all.

[Cohen, The Dragon Doesn't Live Here Anymore]
Courtsey : http://lessonsoftheday.blogspot.com/

Dreams..

Dreams...
those silent conversations
of my soul
that I never remember
when i wake up..
unless...
the mirror of slumber is shattered
by an unexpected rock
from the physical realm...

Today....
in one of those fleeting moments..
I captured
the colorful butterfly of dreams
one more time ..
on the fingertip of my conscious
and smiled.. to realize...
...that the colors of rainbow..
were no longer dull and gray
of love and lust of materailsm...

but....
hidden behind
the curtains of dreams..
my heart was rejoicing
in the teachings of ..
great masters, teachers, prophets..
I was admiring the
deep and vibrant colors
of their love..
for the light divine

And...
I felt a hope..and a longing..
may be one day...
when the veil of dreams is lifted
i will not find myself
only admiring their love
for the creator of the world..
may be I'll find myself
immersed in that
deep ocean of love too....

and may be one day..
I won't need a boat
constructed of dreams
to find myself
immersed in that deep ocean ...

...may be ...



Dipti,
Nov 12th 2007 4:10am CST
[Attributed to a broken dream]

Kindness

"Be kind to people whether they deserve your kindness or not. If your kindness reaches the deserving, good for you; if your kindness reaches the undeserving, take joy in your compassion."

[Hadiths of Prophet Mohammed]

Rumi... Again...

Since yesterday I am reading the translation of great Rumi's poetry at following website
http://www.rumi.org.uk/divan.htm

I shared couple of the pearls on my blogsite yesterday, but its such a lovely poetry and so beautifully translated.

http://www.rumi.org.uk/divan.htm

My heart, sit only with those
who know and understand you.
Sit only under a tree
that is full of blossoms.
In the bazaar of herbs and potions
don't wander aimlessly
find the shop with a potion that is sweet
If you don't have a measure
people will rob you in no time.
You will take counterfeit coins
thinking they are real.
Don't fill your bowl with food from
every boiling pot you see.
Not every joke is humorous, so don't search
for meaning where there isn't one.
Not every eye can see,
not every sea is full of pearls.
My hart, sing the song of longing
like nightingale.
The sound of your voice casts a spell
on every stone, on every thorn.
First, lay down your head
then one by one
let go of all distractions.
Embrace the light and let it guide you
beyond the winds of desire.
There you will find a spring and nourished by its see waters
like a tree you will bear fruit forever.

Rumi: The Hidden Music
by Maryam Mafi & Azima Melita Kolin

WHISPERS OF LOVE

Lover whispers to my ear,
"Better to be a prey than a hunter.
Make yourself My fool.
Stop trying to be the sun and become a speck!
Dwell at My door and be homeless.
Don't pretend to be a candle, be a moth,
so you may taste the savor of Life
and know the power hidden in serving."

Mathnawi V. 411-414 (translated by Kabir Helminski)
'The Rumi Collection', Edited by Kabir Helminski

Rumi's Poetry

Rumi's Poetry
Mathnawi VI: 255-260

Wealth has no permanence: it comes in the morning,
and at night it is scattered to the winds.
Physical beauty too has no importance,
for a rosy face is made pale by the scratch of a single thorn.
Noble birth also is of small account,
for many become fools of money and horses.
Many a nobleman's son has disgraced his father by his wicked deeds.
Don't court a person full of talent either,
even if he seems exquisite in that respect:
take warning from the example of Iblis1 Devil.
Iblis had knowledge, but since his love was not pure,
he saw in Adam nothing but a figure of clay.

Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
"Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance"
Threshold Books, 1996

Sparkling Quotes

"I searched for God and found only myself. I searched for myself and found only God".
Sufi Proverb

Outer calmness is the reflection of inner awareness.
Nader Angha

A man's behavior is the index of the man, and his speech is the index of his understanding. Ali ibn Abu Talib (raa)

Yetzer hara....

Excerpt from : Who is God to judge ?
http://www.aish.com/spirituality/philosophy/Who_is_God_to_Judge$_.asp
A wonderful article indeed ...jewish concept of yetzer hara seems to be same as concept of nafs in islam....

Does God have a yetzer hara, the force within that encourages us to do negative and destructive things, that He has to fight everyday? Does God live in this seedy world, where people will do the unthinkable to make money .."

No, God does not have a yetzer hara. It is only we who have to battle this powerful inner foe.

The yetzer hara is a profound Jewish concept. We all have an inner adversary that tries to keep us from doing the right thing. What's so conniving about this evil inclination is that we think it is really our true selves talking.

Take dieting, for example. When most of us decide to start a diet, we hear a little voice that says, "Eat it, eat it -- just this one bite!" It certainly happens to me. And when I try to start a morning exercise regimen, that same voice says, "This morning you need to rest in order to exercise better tomorrow." Can you relate?

As soon as we decide to do something positive, the little voice tries to get us to do exactly the opposite of what we really want to do......

Courtsey:
http://www.aish.com/spirituality/philosophy/Who_is_God_to_Judge$_.asp

DEVOTIONAL ROOTS

Understanding the origin of a word can deepen our experience of its meaning. We begin our first issue by looking at the roots of the word 'devotion'.

Devotion comes from the Latin 'devovere' which contains the two Latin roots 'de' meaning down and 'votum' meaning vow. So 'devotion' means to lay down a vow and promise something. Someone who is devoted is said to be 'devout'.

'Votum' is the root of the word 'vote' meaning to make a conscious choice from a group of options. When you vote you are promising your support to the choice you made. Votum is also the root of 'votary' which is a term applied to someone who takes a vow to live a religious life of worship or service.

Therefore, when you are 'devoted' you consciously choose to promise your time, energy, thoughts and love to a person, a group, or a cause.

'Peace comes with ease when in true devotion the mind is dyed deep in the color of the Lord's Love.'
-Guru Amar Das, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Page 36

'By devotion one truly understands what and who I am in essence. Having known Me in essence, one immediately merges with Me.'
- Sri Krishna, Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 18, Verse 55

'Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God.'
- 1 Chronicles 22:19

Reference: www.etymonline.com, www.worldwidewords.com, http://dictionary.cambridge.org

Courtsey:http://yogaunlimited.com/newsletters/august_2006/august_2006.htm

Love

Love ...A four letter word that encompasses so much ...So many meaning ..so many emotions .. so many relationships..so many viewpoints..so many perspectives ...so much depth associated to a single word ...The way I think about it is that it is the most powerful 'medicine' in the world ..a cure for all the problems and all the hurt in the world ...

I had heard a beautiful quote when I was in college .... and had really liked it ...

"One who deserves to be loved the least, needs to be loved the most ..."

People who get unconditional love and support as kids grow up to be most confident and emotionally healthy adults ...

Talking about love ,reminded me of a wonderful excerpt that I had read long back ... I had just started college . It was Bsc First year ..there was a debate competetion . I am not much of a speaker . And had not voluntered to participate , but somehow one of the participants was sick on the day of debate and i found that i was "voluntered" to participate just 5 minute before round-one started . I dont even remember what the topic was .. the only thing i remember that i was tongue tied for most of the time ..... Apparently the other participants on my team were pretty good so we made it to second round ...It was scheduled for the next day .. We were given the topic at the end of the day so that participants could prepare overnight .. Again I dont remember the exact topic ... but it was somehow related to love ...

I still remember the beautiful excerpt that I had read in a "Readers Digest" special publication "How to live life"... -- the excerpt that got us the first prize in the debate ...

LOVE
by Emmet Fox

There is no difficulty that enough love will not conquer,
no disease that enough love will not heal,
no door that enough love will not bridge,
no wall that enough love will not throw down,
no sin that enough love will not redeem...

It makes no difference how deeply seated may be the trouble,
how hopeless the outlook,
how muddled the tangle,
how great the mistake...

A sufficient realization of love will dissolve it all.
If only you could love enough, you could be the happiest and most powerful being in the world...

Thoughts and Actions

Read a beautiful quotes from Veda Upnishads today ...I would like to take time out and read more ..Sometimes I feel there is so much beauty so much wisdom ..so much to learn in this world..and so little time .. The more you read the more you realize that how less you know ...

This quotes tells why it is so important to be aware of your each thought and each action ..why it is important to stop judging others and start judging our own actions ...

“As one acts and conducts himself, so does he become. The doer of good becomes good. The doer of evil becomes evil. One becomes virtuous by virtuous action, bad by bad action.”
[Veda Upnishads]

The secret of happiness

The key to happiness is to appreciate what you have. Sounds simple. So why are so many people unhappy?

"Happiness is not a happening. Happiness is a state of mind. You can have everything in the world and still be miserable. Or you can have relatively little and feel unbounded joy."

"Who is rich? The one who appreciates what he has." (Talmud - Pirkei Avot 4:1)

[Courtsey :http://www.aish.com/spirituality/foundations/The_Secret_of_Happiness.asp)
This website has many inspirational stories and articles...

Hunger

I ran into a wonderful blog today .. http://mysticsaint.blogspot.com/...
Read a beautiful thought there by Rumi. Felt like sharing here as it specially is so relevant because Ramzan is here ...

Two men see a loaf of bread. One hasn't eaten anything for ten days. The other has eaten five times a day, every day.

First sees the shape of the loaf.

The other man with his urgent need sees inside into the taste, and into the nourishment the bread could give.

Be that hungry, to see within all beings the Friend.

- JALALUDDIN RUMI
translated by Coleman Barks with A.J. Arberry

Beautiful character...

Somebody had sent this wonderful article and I had saved it on my computer .. while cleaning some old files, I found it again .. Following is a beautiful excerpt from that article ......defining what is a beautiful character.. seerah...

The essential idea of good moral character ( or tahazeebi akhlaaq )is to bring our natural faculties in a state of balance. The three basic faculties are anger, desires, and intelligence.

Anger: When in equilibrium it results in valor, forbearance, steadfastness, the ability to restrain anger, and dignity. Excess will result in rashness, boastfulness, pride, inability to restrain anger, and vanity. A deficiency will result in cowardice, disgrace, and feeling of inferiority.

Desires: Equilibrium here results in chastity, generosity, haya (decency), patience, and contentment. Its excess leads to greed and lust. The other extreme results in narrow-mindedness, and impotence, etc.

Intelligence: Equilibrium here makes man wise, sharp-witted and one with great insights. Excess here makes one deceptive, fraudulent and imposture. Its lack results in ignorance and stupidity with the consequence that such a person is quickly misled.

A person will be considered as having a beautiful seerah (character) only when these faculties are in the state of balance and equilibrium

Love of God...

A friend sent me this quote couple of days back ...

"God gives and forgives ... Man gets and forgets .."

I really liked the quote but somehow I kept thinking about how simple the words are and how deep is the meaning of the saying ...

Reminded me of a beautiful analogy that I have heard somewhere in past .. It is said that the love of God is like the love of your mother ..

As a spoiled kid we play in the mud of sins .. sometimes small mistakes ..little sins..sometimes big... a bad thought ...a little greed ... a harsh word .. speckles of dust when we start playing with the mud ... not knowing that this can take us down if dont constantly strive to cleanse ourselves...

And even if child is drenched with the mud of sins ...and when the child realizes he is all dirty ... One pleading look .. One true Ah! from the heart! and realization of mistakes ... And God comes and hugs you .. pardoning you of all your sins...like a mother who forgets the dirty muddy clothes of the beloved child and takes him into arms on a single plead.....So is the love of God ......

The Inner Consciousness

The inner consciousness

Of the saint

Is the true mosque

Where all should worship,

God lives there.


["Rumi Wisdom – Daily Teachings from the Great Sufi Master” by Timothy Freke; http://www.poetseers.org]

Destination

Ek bohot khoobsurat baat suni....that i would like to share ...

Ek din Prophet Mohammed ne zameen par apni lakdi se ek seedhi line banaayi aur kaha ke ye seedha raasta hai jo Khuda talak jaata hai... aur phir aarhi tirchi lakeerien iss line ko cross karti huvi banayien, aur kaha ke ye 'subul' (raastey hain) jo insaan ko mukhtalif simtoon (directions) mein le jaatey hain... aur iss mein se har raah par insaan ka shaitaani nafs khada hai, aur wo seedha raasta chalne waalon ko bhatka kar dosray raaston par daal deta hai...

jab ham car drive kar rahey hotay hain to bohot chaukanna (alert) aur hoshiyaar rehte hain ke kahin takkar na lag jaye, kahin kisi dosri vehicle se crash na ho jaye.. raaste ke poles, meridiens, waigerah se bach bach kar... aur apni manzil ki taraf barhte rehte hain... aisey hi aadmi apni zindagi raaste ke traps se, aur dangers se bachtey bachtey guzarta rehta hai.. yahi ravish (driving attitude) 'taqwa' kehlaati hai....a constant awareness of your actions .. and conciousness of God...

ek aur cute baat suni thi.. wo ye ke jo shakhs raaste mein hai aur usko apni manzil kii ..apne destination kii khabar nahin, he will eventually be lost? No, the fact is, he is already lost!....

Purification of heart

Everyone sees the unseen in proportion to the clarity of his heart, and that depends upon how much he has polished it. Whoever has polished it more sees more — more unseen forms become manifest to him.

If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?
[Jalal al-din Mohammed Rumi]

beautiful saying .. reminds me of sher from Alama Iqbal that i think i have already blogged before on this site ...

Tu bacha bacha ke na rakh isey
tera aaina hai woh aaina
jo shakista ho to aziz-tar hai
nigaah-e-aaina-saaz mein ...
[Dr Mohammed Iqbal ]

Fear and Love

Replace fear-motivated behavior with love-motivated behavior. Fear is the product of memory, which dwells in the past. Remembering what hurt us before, we direct our energies toward making certain that an old hurt will not repeat itself. But trying to impose the past on the present will never wipe out the threat of being hurt. That happens only when you find the security of your own being, which is love. Motivated by the truth inside you, you can face any threat because your inner strength is invulnerable to fear.

[Deepak Chopra]

Above extract is from Deepak Chopra's 10 keys to lasting happiness ...His writings are a brilliant example of amalgamation of science and spirituality

Brave

I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.
[Aristotle ]

Anger

The first quote that i heard about anger when I was a still a kid was probably....

Anger is only one letter short of danger

Today i was reading an article by Shaikh Tosun Bayrak al-Jerrahi
Adapted from the ‘Marifetname’ of Hd. Ibrahim Hakki Erzurumi (1703-1780) regarding seven stages of 'nafs' as mentioned in sufism('tasawwuff')...It is beautiful article .. the following lines caught my attention...

The negative emotion of anger, when it flares up, is faster than the rational effort to suppress it. Once anger has caught fire it is difficult to extinguish. Like fire, it burns all that is human in us; compassion, love, gentleness, generosity, the ability to communicate, to think of consequences, and intelligence are all reduced to ashes. All that remains is a dangerous wounded wild animal.

Ambrose Bierce tries to use reverse psychology when quoting

Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.

Another thought I like about anger is

He who angers you conquers you.
[Elizabeth Kenny]

basically anger is nothing but the reflection of the arrogance living within us... and it is said that the cure of this arrogance is the realization that all you have, including your body and your very life, is not yours, but lent to you and entrusted to you by your Creator. Your actions are also His if they are good, and when they are bad, it is you who are tyrannizing yourself. Offer thanks for everything, and feel shame your wrongdoings; then you will be humble.

The fall of the one who stands low is much less painful than the one who falls from high ...

Argument

Read this quote today:

I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.
[Unknown]

Such a beautiful thought.....

Reincarnation

In one of history's more absurd acts of totalitarianism, China has banned Buddhist monks in Tibet from reincarnating without government permission......

wow .. can you even comment on something like this except for .."What were they thinking ...? "

To Read full story go to
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20227400/site/newsweek/

Faith

On Some of the blogs I was reading in a last few days , I have seen discussions about existence of God Vs defining everything based on 'Science' , 'Philosophy' and 'Ethics'. Normally all discussions go round and round with no conclusions.. There cant be any conclusion that can be reached on this topic as existence and ways of God is beyond something we can comprehend ... Its not something on which people can be convinced either way ..beacuse this is 'music of the soul' that has to come from inside...its a leap of faith... Saw a beautiful quote that I feel sums it up...

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.
[ Saint Augustine ]

Gadgets and Technology

Normal people... believe that if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Engineers believe that if it ain't broke, it doesn't have enough features yet.

[Scott Adams ]

What is it with Engineers and Technology Gadgets ?
Have heard these lyrics somewhere ..

The only difference between men and boys
..............is the price of their toys

Thoughts and Words

You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts;

And when you can no longer dwell in the solitude of your heart you live in your lips, and sound is a diversion and a pastime.

For thought is a bird of space, that in a cage of words may indeed unfold its wings but cannot fly.

[Kahlil Gibran]

Phi - The Divine Number

Last year I read "Da Vinci Code" by Dan Brown . The best thing I liked about the book was the captivating way he defined the Phi ..(Fibonacci Series..) also known as divine proportion ...This is not Dan Brown's description but gives some good information about phi and why it is called divine proportion..or golden number...

What is Phi?

Also known as the golden number, it the basis for the 'Golden Ratio'. This is a mathematical proportion that appears repeatedly in nature and has long been considered a especially pleasing to the eye. Look at a pine cone or a nautilus shell and you will see an obvious representation of Phi.

Phi Diagrammed

With a geometric overlay, it is easy to see how the shape of a nautilus shell conforms to the Golden Ratio. The ratio of each segment's size to that of the previous segment is roughly 1.6, which is approximately equal to Phi.(See Image above)

By the Numbers

Phi is approximated as 1.618 but is actuality a 'non-terminating decimal,' meaning that it is a never-ending number. A mathmetical definition of Phi is that Phi squared equals Phi plus one. There is only one other number that has that property. Phi has been calculated with extraordinary accuracy

Why is it Called Phi?

The symbol φ or "phi" (pronounced "fee") was first used at the beginning of the 20th century. It is the first Greek letter in the name of Greek sculptor Phidias who lived around 490 - 430 B.C. Phidias used the Golden Ratio in some of his most famous sculptures including this statue of Zeus in the temple of Olympia.

Who Figured it Out?

The first definition of the golden ratio was provided around 300 B.C. by Euclid, the founder of geometry. He explained the perfect proportion of a line cut into its "extreme and mean ratio." That line (A--------------C-------B) is proportioned such that the ratio of the length of AC to that of CB equals the ratio of AB to AC.

The Significance?

Phi and the golden ratio pop up everywhere. Humans seem to find it particularly appealing. You can find it in architecture (the Guggenheim Museum), in music (some say Stradivarius used it to construct his famous violins), in nature (flowers, ferns and more) and in art such as the Last Supper.

For more information check out the following websites:
http://goldennumber.net/classic/heartbeat.htm

Courtsey: http://reference.aol.com/movies/da-vinci-code/phi

Castles

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.

[Henry David Thoreau]

---------

Somebody has given me this Inspirational card when I was still in school . I loved the quote and remembered it since ...

Mom (Wax)

Aye Khuda !
is dil ko tu
yoon mom kar de
ke mein bhi kuchh
jeenay ka hunar
seekh paauN

ke mein kisi
mushqiloN ke
toofaN mein
sookhey pattoN
kii tarah toot ke
bikharne na paauN

zindagi kii
har tapish mein
bas mom kii tarah
pighal kar
haalaat ke saanche mein
dhal jaauN...

(c) Dipti written: 12th Aug 2007

Image Courtsey:http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu/News%olumns/BurningCandle.jpg

I believe that happiness of the person is
related to his inner feelings and attitude.
External forces and situations have less to
do with happiness.. The more adaptable a
person is to external situations more
stable and happier the person is...

Soul

Seven times have I despised my soul:

The first time when I saw her being meek that she might attain height.

The second time when I saw her limping before the crippled.

The third time when she was given to choose between the hard and the easy, and she chose the easy.

The fourth time when she committed a wrong, and comforted herself that others also commit wrong.

The fifth time when she forbore for weakness, and attributed her patience to strength.

The sixth time when she despised the ugliness of a face, and knew not that it was one of her own masks.

And the seventh time when she sang a song of praise, and deemed it a virtue.

Khalil Gibran - Sand and Foam

Religion

"I love you when you bow in your mosque, kneel in your temple, pray in your church. For you and I are sons of one religion, and it is the spirit."

[RabindraNath Tagore]

When a number of people from various angles and distances have a look at the sea, each man sees a portion of it according to his horizon. Though each man may say that what he sees is the real sea, all of them speak the truth, for all of them see portions of the same wide expanse. So the religious scriptures, though they seem to contain varying and conflicting statements, speak the truth, for they are all descriptions of that one infinite Reality.

[Vivekananda]

Dream

"Once upon a time, I, Lao'tse, dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of following my fancies as a butterfly, and was unconscious of my individuality as a man. Suddenly, I awoke, and there I lay, myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly dreaming that I am now a man."

Silence....

The reality of the other person is not in what he reveals to you, but in what he cannot reveal to you.Therefore, if you would understand him, listen not to what he says but rather to what he does not say.

[Khalil Gibran]

Reminds me of a Sheyr ..

jise bhi dekhiye vo apne aap mein gum hai
zubaaN mili hai magar hamzubaaN nahi milta ...

Dil Ki nazar se...

Somehow Something reminded me of a couple of lines of a Hindi movie song. I have always loved these lyrics since I was a kid ...

Aati rahengii baharien
Jaati rahengii baharien
Dil kii nazar se
Duniya ko dekho
Duniya sada hii haseeN hai ..

translated to..

Springs will come
and springs will go
look at the world
thru eyes of heart
you will always find it
evergreen and beautiful ....

I always feel that everything is in your attitude .. happiness is never going to come to you from outside ... its living inside you .. you have to find it deep down in your heart ...

If anything troubles you ... SMILE .. and say to yourself ..."So what!... world is still so very beautiful...." there is beauty and purity everywhere .. in the smile hidden behind the wrinkles of a old lady .. in the gait and chuckle of a small child .. in the colors and texture of sand .. in the hues and shades of evening sun...in the twinkling of stars....in the brightness of faith in your heart."

contentment is the source of happiness and worldy goods give you momentary happiness ..for 'bliss' one has to look inside the soul....One has to search inside instead of outside...

Faith

They say ..

Its so easy
to talk the talk
but so difficult
to walk the talk..

Knowledge
and practice
are two cities
miles apart ..

and only way to
cover the distance
is LITTLE FAITH
in the heart

((c) Dipti)-written : 7th Aug'07)

The Individual

As you are now you are just a liquid phenomenon, changing every moment, nothing stable. Really you cannot claim any "I" --- you don't have one. You are many "I"s just in a flow, a riverlike flow. You are a crowd, not an individual yet. But meditation can make you an individual.
This word 'individual' is beautiful; it means indivisible. Right now as you are, you are divided. You are only many fragments clinging together anyhow without any center being there, without any master in the house, with only servants. And for a moment any servant can become the master.
Every moment you are different because you are not--- and unless you are, the divine cannot happen to you. To whom can it happen? You are not there.

[OSHO ; From The Book of Secrets ]

---------------------------------

Somehow I can identify with this .. At times I do feel I am fickle ..Sometimes I try to see it in positive light .. I try to think that the 'liquid phenomenon' being able to mold yourself is a good thing ..I like to think that I am 'adaptable' ...
This quote intrigued me ... A different perspective ...

Nature Vs Habit

Isn't it so ironic that any bad habits we have we so conviniently defend them by saying 'Oh ! I can't help it , that's my nature ...'

What is Nature ..? The word "nature" is derived from the Latin word natura, or "the course of things, natural character..And when we are born.. we are not born with those bad habits .. We are pure.. unblemished ..as nature intended us to be ...

Over a period of time we acquire these 'habits' thru laziness, greediness , influence of external entities..Television , Society , Peers and then we conviniently put the blame on nature...

We need to learn the difference between nature and habit . It is said that it takes about 21 days of conscious effort to create change or replace a habit. Habit per se is not bad but we need to learn to differentiate between good habits and bad habits ..

There is a beautiful quote
"Habit is either the best of servants or the worst of masters." [ Nathaniel Emmons ]

Argument

Today I stumbled on a blog http://islamucation.blogspot.com/ and read a beautiful quote ..and felt like adding it in here so more people can read it ... It really makes you think ...

Never do I argue with a man with a desire to hear him say what is wrong, or to expose him and win victory over him. Whenever I face an opponent in debate I silently pray- O Lord, help him so that the truth may flow from his heart and on his tongue, and so that if the truth is on my side, he may follow me; and if the truth be on his side, I may follow him.

[Imam Ash-Shafi'i ]

Love of God

[Jalaluddin Rumi]

Every tree and plant in the meadow seemed to be dancing, those which average eyes would see as fixed and still.

[As quoted in Essential Sufism (1997) by James Fadiman and Robert Frager ]

If in thirst you drink water from a cup, you see God in it. Those who are not in love with God will see only their own faces in it.

[Khalil Gibran on Love of God:]

To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;

Dua

Ya Khuda !
Dua mein
uthe ye do haath
aur jhuka hua ek dil
teri rehmat ke
muntazir hain
..
ke kabhi
in aankhon mein bhi
woh sailaab de
jo yoon nam kar de
is dil ki
banjar zameen ko
..
ke mein bhi
phir uga sakun
is nam mitti mein
teri ibadat ke
kuchh phool..

[written : Jun'07
(c) Dipti]
Image Courtsey: http://mannachristianstore.com

Meher karo kii pyaar karien..

wrote it last year - 2006

Rachanhaar ne khel rachaaya
Is qaynaat ka roop sajaaya
har zarre par pyaar lutaaya
pyaar ka sabak hamein sikhaaya

waqt beeta aur insaan bhatka
duniyaa kii maaya mein atkaa
paap baRha is duniya mein phir
dukh kii badlii barsi ghir ghir

zindagi ke syaah falak par
insaniyat ka chaand tha khoya
Paap basa jab dil ke ander
beghar pyaar bohot tha roya

wo baRa rahim-o-karim hai
to ye dua bhi atta karey
jab dil nawaaza khud rab ne
Ye dil pyaar se saja rahey

andhiyaari shab ke aanchal par
pyaar ke chand sitaary jadien
uskii nawazishon ke sadke se
gham ke andheray door karien

pyaar ke deep jalaaney waaley
auron ko mehkaaney waaley
rab ke dil mein baste hain
pyaar ke nagme gaaney waaley

lafzon ke khwabon se jagkar
pyaar ka chaman aabaad karien
karo karo to bohot keh liya
meher karo kii pyaar karien

meher karo kii pyaar karien

-----------------------------------------------------

(c) Dipti 2006

Couplet of the day ..

Alama Iqbal sahab ka ek bohot hii khoobsurat sher hai ...

Tu bacha bacha ke na rakh issey
tera aaina hai wo aaina
ke shikasta ho to aziz tar hai
nigaah-e-aaina saaz mein

Its a beautiful expression , when a person walks on the true path ..walks on the path shown by the almighty .. he has to give up.. he learns to give up on his desires ...his wants ... the right path is not always the easy path ... but dont loose heart ... even though you have to give up desires at time .. even though you bow down for the happiness of others .... but the heart which derives pleasure from giving and not always wanting ... jo jhuknaa jaanta hai woh khuda ko zyaada pyaara hota hai .. and Iqbal has put this so beautifully in the above sher...

Gurbaani mein isi bhaav par ek khoobsurat panktii hai ...

"KarooN vinanti suno mere meeta
sant tehal kii vela
Ihan khat chalo har laha
aage basan suhela"

Amal aur Ilm (Action and Knowledge)

I have heard some beautiful thoughts on Amal and Ilm ..I fee that sharing this on a blog might help others to be aware of this differnce also

Alama Iqbal ka ek bohot khoobsurat sher hai ...

Amal se zindagi bantii hai jannat bhi jahannam bhi ,
Ye khaaki apni soorat mein na noori hai na naari hai ..

ke insaani zindagi kii behtari ke liye sirf ilm zaroori nahi .. ilm ho jaana aasaan hai , magar us par amal karna mushkil hai ...and most of the people including me have this big problem that we know but we dont implement ..Iska ek bohot achchha example jo ki society mein aam milta hai woh ye ke cigerette ke packets par surgeon general kii warning likhi hoti hai phir bhi ek baRi taadaad mein log cigerette smoking nahi chhoD paate ...

Agar ilm hai to amal kyun nahi hai ? Iskii bohot baRi wajah hai imaan.. faith .. insaani fitrat mein ekhlaas kii zarurat .. imaan kii ek khaasiyaat hoti hai ke isey banaane ke liye mehnat kii zarurat hoti hai .. kahin suna tha ke imaan kii mehnat ek uphill task hai ..

if you are not striving to go up ... gravity will pull you down

Infact amal ke bina ilm hona ek liability hai ...

sometimes ignorance is bliss

Agar kisi ko kisi baat ka ilm hi na ho to muafi maangi jaa sakti hai .. ilm ho , gyaan ho ... to insaan ke paas nafarmaani ka ... amal na karne ka excuse bhi nahi hota ....

In fact ilm ekattha karna .. ekhlaas kii baatien parhna .. samajhna .. us par discussions karnaa aasaan hota hai .. un par amal karna mushkil .. magar amal ke bina ye baatien sirf lafaazi hoti hain ... zehani aaiyaashi ...

Is baar Atlanta ke samagam mein Babaji ne bhi is mauju par ek line quote kari thi ke ..

boloN ke nakshoN mein amaloN ke rang bhar de

English mein is baat par ek famous muhawara hai ke ...

"Dont only talk your talk but Walk your talk" ...

Khalil Gibran- The Prophet

Khalil Gibran was a Lebanese-Americal artist poet and writer , born in Lebnon in 1883 . I stumbled upon one of his books online today -"The Prophet" It is said that it was his best work The book is composed of 26 poetic essays. All of them were small about one page each .... Somebody has said about this book that "He that has read this book and understood it should read no other."...
In the book, the prophet Almustafa, who has lived in the foreign city of Orphalese for 12 years, is about to board a ship which will carry him home. He is stopped by a group of people, with whom he discusses many issues of life and the human condition

For your reading pleasure , I am attaching three random chapters/poems from that book that I specifically enjoyed ... If you like these then you can click the URL at the end of the mail and read the complete book...

CHAPTER #26 Religion

And an old priest said, "Speak to us of Religion."
And he said:
Have I spoken this day of aught else?
Is not religion all deeds and all reflection,
And that which is neither deed nor reflection, but a wonder and a surprise ever springing in the soul, even while the hands hew the stone or tend the loom?
Who can separate his faith from his actions, or his belief from his occupations?
Who can spread his hours before him, saying, "This for God and this for myself; This for my soul, and this other for my body?"
All your hours are wings that beat through space from self to self.
He who wears his morality but as his best garment were better naked.
The wind and the sun will tear no holes in his skin.
And he who defines his conduct by ethics imprisons his song-bird in a cage.
The freest song comes not through bars and wires.
And he to whom worshipping is a window, to open but also to shut, has not yet visited the house of his soul whose windows are from dawn to dawn.
Your daily life is your temple and your religion.
Whenever you enter into it take with you your all.
Take the plough and the forge and the mallet and the lute,
The things you have fashioned in necessity or for delight.
For in revery you cannot rise above your achievements nor fall lower than your failures.
And take with you all men:
For in adoration you cannot fly higher than their hopes nor humble yourself lower than their despair.
And if you would know God be not therefore a solver of riddles.
Rather look about you and you shall see Him playing with your children.
And look into space; you shall see Him walking in the cloud, outstretching His arms in the lightning and descending in rain.
You shall see Him smiling in flowers, then rising and waving His hands in trees.

CHAPTER#3 MARRIAGE
Then Almitra spoke again and said, "And what of Marriage, master?"
And he answered saying:
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

CHAPTER #4 CHILDRENAnd a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, "Speak to us of Children."
And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Attached is the URL if you want to read more ..
http://www.geocitie s.com/Athens/ 5484/Gib03. htm

Consciousness of God

Is it true that we normally remember God only in time of problems and worries ?

Kabir Ji have so rightly said ..

Dukh Mein Simran Sab Kare, Sukh Mein Kare Na Koye
Jo Sukh Mein Simran Kare, Tau Dukh Kahe Ko Hoye

translated to:
(In anguish everyone prays to Him, in joy does none
To One who prays in happiness, how sorrow can come

On the similar thoughts, there is a beautiful couplet by Mughal emperor Baadshah Bahadur Shah zafar

"Zafar aadmi usko na jaaneya ga
Ho voh kaisa bhee sahib-e-fahm-o-Zakaa
Jisey Aish mein yaad-e-Khuda na rahaa
Jisey taish mein kaauf-e-Khuda-na-rahaa.."

kisi ne iska english mein bohot hii khoobsurat rhyming tarjuma kiya hai ...
"Zafar, know him not as man
However, wise, sage or benign
Who in his pleasures forgets his God
And in his anger, wrath divine."

Does it makes us wonder why remembering God brings happiness in lives ?.. He does not need any endorsements ..then does our remembering him makes him happy ? and in turn he bestows happiness on us ??

My thinking is that we need to remember God not because he wants us to remember him but because of our own happiness. Remembering God means believing in his existence .. having faith .. when you believe in that supreme power you know that things in the universe are not chaotic ..your life and its events are not just a big sequence of mere coincidences . That there is a master plan behind the events .. we might not have the long term vision or the wisdom to comprehend it ..but having faith in God gives us power to accept the events in our life .. Good or bad ...

And 'Acceptance' is the key to 'happiness' in life . Flowing with the flow is so much easier than trying to swim against the river current. Granted, that it is probably easier to accept the Good things than bad episodes... In the begining a person has to practice this 'acceptance' by remembering God and bowing down to supreme will .. with constant reminders it becomes part of your nature .

In Gurmukhi this state is called 'sehaj bhaav' .. In Islaam its called 'Taqwaa' .. Or you can just call it 'Consiousness of God'

.It is to be constantly aware of God's omnipresence and a reminder of our relationship and responsibility to God as his creation.

Writing this just reminded me of a beautiful serenity prayer from Niebuhr that most of us have heard at one point or other in our lives...but which so beautifully wraps up this thought

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference

Generosity

A friend sent me these wonderful words of wisdom.....

Generosity is not confined to monetory giving
Every act of kindness and goodness is counted as charity
A Simple smile is included..Lending ear to a grievance
Walking a blind person. Guiding a lost person

Genorosity is a selfless act of giving without expecting any recompense

"You will not achieve any tru goodness, untill you give from what you love"

Mantra's for a happy life ....

Read this somewhere on the net and really liked it ..Adding it to blog as i think we all need constant reminders to keep on track .. Have fun..Happy Reading

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. Buy a Tivo (DVR), tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, "My purpose is to ____ today."
5. Live with the 3 E's - Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy.
6. Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did in 2006.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, taichi, qigong and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend more time with people over 70 and under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that are manufactured in plants.
11. Drink green tea and planty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
12. Try to make at least 3 people smile each day.
13. Clear your clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest you enery in the positive present moment.
15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that apprear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
16. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
17. Smile and laugh more.
18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
19. Life is too short to wate time hating anyone.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idead what their journey is all about.
24. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, and wear the fancy linderie (not you guys). Don't save it for a special occassion. Today is special.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In 5 years, will this matter?"
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. What other people think of you is none of your business.
29. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your family & friends will. Stay in touch.
32. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
33. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
34. The best is yet to come.
35. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
36. Do the right thing!
37. Call your family often.
38. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: "I am thankful for ____." Today I accomplished _____.
39. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
40. Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so mate the most of it and enjoy the ride

.

Image : California Trip 2006

Two Days

Somebody forwarded these Inspirational lines . I really liked it . It was sitting in my saved mails for a long time now.. thought blog is the best platform to share it with all ...

Two Days
( Author : Unknown .. Came as a fwded email)

There are two days in every week we should never worry about,
two days that should be kept free from fear and apprehension.

One is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its aches and pains, its faults and blunders.
Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control.

All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday.
We cannot undo a single act we performed, nor erase a single word we've said. Yesterday is gone.

The other day we should not worry about is tomorrow, with its impossible adversaries,
its burden, its hopeful promise and unknown performance.
Tomorrow is beyond our control.

Tomorrow's sun will rise either in splendor or behind a mask of clouds ...
but it will rise ... and until it does.
We have no stake in tomorrow, for it is as yet unborn.

This leaves only one day: TODAY!
Anyone can fight the battles of just one day.
It is only when we add the burdens of yesterday and tomorrow that we break down.

It is not the experience of today that drives people mad.

It is the remorse of bitterness for something that happened
yesterday, and the dread of what tomorrow may bring.

Make TODAY the best day it can be,
and live one day at a time!

Image : California Trip 2006

Naveed

NAVEED (khush-khabri)
by Parveen Shakir ( Taken from "Khushboo" published in 1976)

samaa'atoon ko naveed ho....
ke hawayien khushboo ke geet le kar
dareecha-e-gul se aa rahi hain!

Image : California Trip ' 2006

Uljhan

Uljhan ....
by Parveen Shakir ( Taken from "Khushboo" published in 1976)

Raat abhi tanhaayi ki pehle dehleez pe hai
aur meri jaanib apne haath badhaati hai
sooch rahi hoon
unko thaamoo.n
zeena zeena sannaaToon ke teh-khaanon mein utroon
ya apne kamrey mein Thehroo.n
chaand meri khidki par dastak deta hai!

(Image courtsey: www12.ocn.ne.jp)

Khushboo

Parveen Shakir is now one of my favoraite shaiyraa .. although my introduction to her has not been very long .. I was introduced to her kalaam's last year and got hooked .. She was a legend in a very young age..Her poetry was a breath of fresh air in Urdu poetry...

She worked as a teacher for 9 years before joining the Pakistan Civil Service

I remember hearing a story about her, that when she sat down to take civil service exam one of the question was related to her own poem ...

Her first book, Khushboo, won the Adamjee Award. She was also awarded the Pride of Performance.

She also taught at Trinity College, Connecticut, USA, and then did her masters in public administration at Harvard University in 1991.

I will try to add some of her composition in this blog in coming days ....

Religion and Philosophy

A thought provoding excerpt taken from "The Reconstruction of Religious thought in Islam" by Dr Mohammed Iqbal

"The spirit of philosophy is one of free inquiry. It suspects all authority. Its function is to trace the uncritical assumptions of human thought to their hiding places, and in this pursuit it may finally end in denial or a frank admission of the incapacity of pure reason to reach the Ultimate Reality. The essence of religion, on the other hand, is faith; and faith, like the bird, sees its ‘trackless way’ unattended by intellect which, in the words of the great mystic poet of Islam, ‘only waylays the living heart of man and robs it of the invisible wealth of life that lies within’. Yet it cannot be denied that faith is more than mere feeling. It has something like a cognitive content, and the existence of rival parties— scholastics and mystics— in the history of religion shows that idea is a vital element in religion. Apart from this, religion on its doctrinal side, as defined by Professor Whitehead, is ‘a system of general truths which have the effect of transforming character when they are sincerely held and vividly apprehended’. Now, since the transformation and guidance of man’s inner and outer life is the essential aim of religion, it is obvious that the general truths which it embodies must not remain unsettled. No one would hazard action on the basis of a doubtful principle of conduct. Indeed, in view of its function, religion stands in greater need of a rational foundation of its ultimate principles than even the dogmas of science. Science may ignore a rational metaphysics; indeed, it has ignored it so far. Religion can hardly afford to ignore the search for a reconciliation of the oppositions of experience and a justification of the environment in which humanity finds itself. That is why Professor Whitehead has acutely remarked that ‘the ages of faith are the ages of rationalism’. But to rationalize faith is not to admit the superiority of philosophy over religion. Philosophy, no doubt, has jurisdiction to judge religion, but what is to be judged is of such a nature that it will not submit to the jurisdiction of philosophy except on its own terms. While sitting in judgement on religion, philosophy cannot give religion an inferior place among its data. Religion is not a departmental affair; it is neither mere thought, nor mere feeling, nor mere action; it is an expression of the whole man. Thus, in the evaluation of religion, philosophy must recognize the central position of religion and has no other alternative but to admit it as something focal in the process of reflective synthesis. Nor is there any reason to suppose that thought and intuition are essentially opposed to each other. They spring up from the same root and complement each other. The one grasps Reality piecemeal, the other grasps it in its wholeness. The one fixes its gaze on the eternal, the other on the temporal aspect of Reality. The one is present enjoyment of the whole of Reality; the other aims at traversing the whole by slowly specifying and closing up the various regions of the whole for exclusive observation. Both are in need of each other for mutual rejuvenation. Both seek visions of the same Reality which reveals itself to them in accordance with their function in life. In fact, intuition, as Bergson rightly says, is only a higher kind of intellect."