Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh (1926-2008)

Salaam and Greetings of Peace:

Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh, Master of the Nimatullahi Sufi Order for over 50 years, joined the Beloved on Friday, October 10, 2008.  May God bless his soul and raise his rank to those of His true lovers. Amin.

Through Love, I have reached a place
Where no trace of Love remains,
Where “I” and “we” and the painting of existence
Have all been forgotten and left behind…
- Dr. Javad Nurbakhsh

Ya Haqq!

NOTE:  This blog will be silent for 40 days.

Brass Crescent Awards 2008

Salaam and Greetings of Peace:

Nominations are now open for the 2008 Brass Crescent Award. Go to their site HERE to nominate your favorite blogs and websites.

Nominations open October 1 to October 24, 2008.

Polls open November 7 to December 1, 2008

Winners will be announced on Eid al-Adha, around December 8, 2008.

Ya Haqq!

Generosity of Spirit

Salaam and Greetings of Peace:

In my younger years, whenever I walked down a street, beggars would let a hundred people pass and unerringly come right up to me, no matter how much I scowled or tried to look uninterested. What did they see in me, these ragged men and women who could read faces so well? Perhaps I looked like a soft touch, an easy mark, a sucker, a fool who was easily parted with his money. Invariably I would give them a few coins, resenting it all the while. Did they use it to buy alcohol, drugs, food? I was deeply suspicious of the cause of their poverty, and felt robbed of both money and pride.

What a fool I truly was, and feel rightly ashamed of such a miserly spirit, which made me the greater beggar. After many years on the Path of Love, I have learned this at least; the giving of zakat for Eid, or of charity in general, is either from generosity of spirit or it is nothing. God alone is the judge of another’s heart or intention.

As the Master says in the Sufi novel, Master of the Jinn:

“The generous heart always has enough to give. It is the miserly in spirit who believe they never have enough to be generous. It is not lack of possessions that leads to spiritual poverty, nor prayer and fasting by themselves. It is in the abandonment of self-absorption, and in constant remembrance and reflection that the heart becomes detached. Then the hands gladly open their grasp on worldly things and cleave to God.”

And the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed, an ignorant man who is generous is dearer to God than a worshipper who is miserly.” – (Al-Tirmidhi )

May Allah bless you all with generosity of spirit, whose foundation is Love, and whose Source is the Most Loving, the Most Generous. Amin.

Ya Haqq!

Eid Mubarak!!

Salaam And Greetings of Peace, Dear Brothers and Sisters:

May Allah bless you all this Eid with generosity of hand, sincerity of speech, kindness in action, and love and joy in remembrance of Him, who is the Source of all Generosity, Sincerity, Kindness, Joy and Love.

Ameen!

“O Lord! Let not our hearts deviate now after You have guided us, but grant us mercy from Your own Presence; for You are the Grantor of bounties without measure.” (Quran: 3:9)

Ya Haqq!