Love’s Universe 13

Peace, one and all…

This week’s readings continue our exploration of adab.

Text 1:

‘Vain, boastful talk repels acts of kindness
and tears the branch of mercy from the trunk of the tree.
Speak honestly, or else be silent,
and then behold grace and delight in it’
(3.751-752)

Text 2:

‘Loving-kindness is drawn to the saint, as medicine goes
to the pain it must cure.
Where there is pain, the remedy follows:
wherever the lowlands are, the water goes.
If you want the water of mercy, make yourself low;
then drink the wine of mercy and be drunk.
Mercy upon mercy rises to your head like a flood.
Don’t settle on a single mercy, O son.
Bring the sky beneath your feet
and listen to celestial music everywhere’
(2.1938-1942)

You can also download this week’s readings: Love’s Universe 13

Love’s Universe 12

Peace, one and all…

This week’s readings explore the theme of adab.

Text 1:

‘Since in order to speak, one must first listen,
learn to speak by listening’
(1.1627

Text 2:

 The companion of the Prophet said,
“Whenever the Prophet recited verses of the Quran to us,
at the moment of abundance that chosen Messenger
would ask attentiveness and reverence”.
It’s as when a bird perches on your head,
and your soul trembles for fear of its flitting,
so you don’t dare to stir lest that beautiful bird take to the air;
You dare not breathe, you suppress a cough,
lest that huma should fly away;
and should anyone speak  sweet or sour words to you,
you lay a finger to your lips, meaning, “Hush!”
Bewilderment is like that bird: it makes you silent;
it puts the lid on the kettle and fills you with the boiling of love
(5. 3244-3250)

You can download this week’s readings: Love’s Universe 12

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Love’s Universe 11

Peace, one and all…

This week we consider two inter-connected themes: single-minded remembrance and adab.

Text 1: Single-Minded Remembrance

 Listen, open a window to God
and begin to delight yourself
by gazing upon Him through the opening.
The business of love is to make that window in the heart,
for the breast is illumined by the beauty of the Beloved.
Gaze incessantly on the face of the Beloved!
Listen, this is in your power, my friend!
(6. 3095-3097)

Text 2: Adab

Know, son, that everything in the universe
is a pitcher brimming with wisdom and beauty.
The universe is a drop of the Tigris of His Beauty,
this Beauty not contained by any skin.
His Beauty was a Hidden Treasure so full
it burst open and made the earth
more radiant than the heavens.
(1. 2860-2)

You can also download this week’s readings: Love’s Universe 11

Love’s Universe 10

Peace, one and all…

This week’s readings focus on single minded remembrance.

Text One

‘The real work belongs to someone who desires God
and has severed himself from every other work.
The rest are like children who play together until it gets dark
for these few short days.
Or like someone who awakes and springs up, still drowsy,
and then is lulled back to sleep by the suggestion of an evil nurse:
“Go to sleep, my darling, I won’t let anyone disturb your slumber.”
If you are wise, you, yourself, will tear up your slumber by the roots,
like the thirsty man who heard the noise of the water.
God says to you, “I am the noise of the water in the ears of the thirsty;
I am rain falling from heaven.
Spring up, lover, show some excitement!
How can you hear the sound of water and then fall back asleep!’
(Masnavi 1.586-592)

Text Two

‘By God, don’t linger
in any spiritual benefit you have gained,
but yearn for more—like one suffering from illness
whose thirst for water is never quenched.
This Divine Court is the Plane of the Infinite.
Leave the seat of honor behind;
let the Way be your seat of honor’
(Masnavi 3.1960-1961)

You can also download this week’s readings: Love’s Universe 10

Love’s Universe 9

Peace, one and all…

This week’s readings focus on single minded remembrance.

Text One

 If your thought is frozen practice remembrance of God.
Recollection of God brings thought into movement:
make remembrance the sun for this congealed thought.
(6.1475-1476)

Text Two

You who are kept in pawn to food,
you can be free if you suffer yourself to be weaned.
Truly in hunger there is abundant nourishment:
search after it diligently and cherish the hope of finding it.
Feed on the Light, be like the eye,
be in harmony with the angels, O best of humankind.
Like the Angel, make glorification of God your sustenance.
(5.295-298)

You can also download this week’s readings: Love’s Universe 9

Love’s Universe 8

Peace, one and all…

This week we turn to consider the concept of single-minded remembrance.

Text One

‘The Beloved is all, the lover just a veil
The Beloved is living, the lover with no life of its own.
If Love withholds its strengthening care,
The lover is left like a bird without wings.
How will I be awake and aware
If the light of the Beloved is absent?
Love wills that this Word be brought forth.
If you find the mirror of the heart is dull,
The rust has not been cleared from its face’
(1. 34)

Text Two

The Jesus of your spirit is within you:
ask his aid, for he is a good helper.
Don’t seek from your Jesus the comforts of the body.
Don’t ask from your Moses the wish of a Pharoah.
Don’t burden your heart with thoughts
of livelihood; livelihood will not fail.
Be constant in attendance at the Divine court
(2. 450; 453-1)

You can also download this week’s readings: Love’s Universe 8

Love’s Universe 7

Peace, one and all…

This week’s readings explore the notion of forbearance.

Text One

 Know that this troublesome body is like a coat of armor:
comfortable neither in winter nor in summer.
Yet still this bad associate is good for you
because of the patience you must show in overcoming its desires,
for the exercise of patience expands the heart with spiritual peace.
The patience shown by the moon to the dark night keeps it illumined;
the patience shown by the rose to the thorn keeps it fragrant.
(6.1406-1408)

 Text Two

How many victories are won
without spiritual struggle and patience?
To show patience for the sake of the cup of Divine Knowledge
is no hardship: show patience, for patience is the key to joy.
(3. 211-212)

This week’s readings are also available to download: Love’s Universe 7