Friends, One things which I have found to be almost a constant in Sufi Poetry, if there can be said to be such thing as a constant, is this open arm welcome despite all our inconsistencies, shortcomings, and idiosyncrasies. It took me along time to experience in my own limited way that what we really…
Monthly Archives: July 2010
Chapter 3: Crossing Tremont from Adventures in Sufism: Stories from a Bronx Childhood by Michael Greenstein
Dream I am walking on the street near my old elementary school. Perhaps I am walking home after school. It is the end of day and the sun is going down fast. A group of boys appear out from the shadows of a building and encircle me. The leader of the group, a big strong…
The Need for aTeacher, The Need for a System. (II) – Two Comments
Hello Friends, I got two interesting responses to the previous post one from Dr Stewart Bitkoff and another from our friend Rizal at the Soul Sanctuary http://thesoulsanctuary.us/ First Responce Let’s put this question in another context. Suppose you wanted to become a doctor and wanted to teach yourself all the skills necessary to become one,…
The Need for aTeacher, The Need for a System.
Friends, The other day I had the pleasure of meeting someone who told me that he doesn’t work with any system, that he teaches himself. That raised my eyebrow and it made me ask sincerely Can You be your own Guru? When I woke up today I was shocked but not really, to see that…
Spiritual Learning Outcomes by Dr. Stewart Bitkoff
One of the many things the western spiritual seeker has to face is that within the context of our culture there is limited discussion and awareness concerning the outcome of spiritual learning. Also, western spiritual travelers may have romantic ideas about what they will look like after they have reached ‘spiritual completion,’ i.e., added a…
Just Wondering Outloud
Once a young woman asked me, “How does it feel to be a man?” And I replied, “My dear, I am not so sure.” Then she said, “Well, aren’t you a man?” And this time I replied, “I view gender As a beautiful animal That people often take for a walk on a leash And…
