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Archive for the ‘Sufism and Sufi poetry’ Category
But if you are happy…
When you whirl, your eye sees the room whirling, too.
If you sail in a ship over the sea,
it seems the seashore is running past.
If your heart is oppressed with struggle,
the whole atmosphere of the world feels tight;
but if you are happy as your friends would wish,
this world seems to be a garden of roses.
Rumi
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
“Rumi: Jewels of Remembrance”
Threshold Books, 1996
Choosing sweetness or vinegar
Poem by Rumi translated by Nader Khalili. Read it here >>
Ever drunk with love
Poetic version by Jonathan Star and Shahram Shiva
“A Garden Beyond Paradise - The Mystical Poetry of Rumi” Bantam Books, 1992
On Rumi, Iqbal and ‘Dynamic Sufism’
Pakistan celeberates Allama Iqbal’s death anniversary on April 21 with the usual lip-service. The key messages of Iqbal seem to have been lost in the maze of officialdom.
Open the Door
Rumi again, translated by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi. Read poem here >>
“Give yourself a kiss” - Rumi
What can I write more about these lyrical lines and a thought process immersed in love.
Version by Coleman Barks
“Like This”
Maypop, 1990
Once you conquer your selfish self - Rumi
Sain Zahoor singing
Watch this video by a Pakistani folk artist!
The Source of Joy - Rumi
Poem by Rumi click here >>Â
Version by Coleman Barks
“Say I am You”
Maypop, 1994
On infinite love - from Kashul Mahjub
Kashful Mahjub is one of the early treatises on Sufism and has shown light to many Sufis world-wide. Full entry here >>
“Other wakefulness”
The more awake one is to the material world,
the more one is asleep to spirit.
When our soul is asleep to God,
other wakefulness closes the door of Divine grace.
Rumi
Version by Camille and Kabir Helminski
The Cow - a parable
Amardeep has posted the following Sufi parable related by Idries Shah with a request to respond to his humorous interpretation. Full entry here >>
I can’t be without you (Rumi)
From Rumi: Hidden Music, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, 2001
Translated by Azima Melita Kolin and Maryam Mafi
Mian Mir
Yesterday, devotees were lighting lamps at the shrine of Mian Mir in Lahore to commemorate the saint’s 383rd Urs (death anniversary). Full article here >>
Remembering Bedil
For Indians unfamiliar with Urdu or Persian literature Bedil presents a bit of a paradox: he was born in Patna (died in Delhi) but he is among the world’s greatest Persian poets, and the most loved poet of Afghanistan and Tajikistan—but unknown in India.
Women Sufis of Delhi
One of my favourite verses of the Quran is Surah Al Azhab which makes it clear that spiritual blessings are intended for both righteous men and women who are equal in the eyes of God.
In every breath
Translation by Nader Khalili
“Rumi, Fountain of Fire”
Cal-Earth Press, 1994