Sufi Saying
To whomever has sense, a sign is enough.
For the heedless, a thousand expositions are not enough. -Haji Bektashi
Meaning
Sufi Materials, experiences, explanations may be registered in the mind on one level, and may have to wait or their full understanding until ‘heedlessness’ is removed. The main source of this is the ‘Commanding Self’. – Idries Shah Knowing How to Know
Here is a brief exchange that occurred after a piece Only Breath was read from Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks.
Not Christian or Jew or Muslim, not Hindu,
Buddhist, sufi, or zen. Not any religionor cultural system. I am not from the East
or the West, not out of the ocean or upfrom the ground, not natural or ethereal, not
composed of elements at all. I do not exist,am not an entity in this world or the next,
did not descend from Adam or Eve or anyorigin story. My place is placeless, a trace
of the traceless. Neither body or soul.I belong to the beloved, have seen the two
worlds as one and that one call to and know,first, last, outer, inner, only that
breath breathing human being.
Here is the exchange that ensued between three speakers ( Some things have been change for obvious reasons)
Speaker 1:
It is not to be understood with the intellect but with the heart …..the heart that beats in all humanity and that One conciousness and the Source of all beings. Awakening to this knowing no matter the differences of belief or culture ..they are only superficial learning with the mind the Truth of Life that cannot be Believed but experienced arises from the heart. Rumi s words belong to that which transcends the mind.
Speaker 2:
Of course. But to be awakened one needs to practice the disciplines put forth by the religions, like fasting, praying, charity, serving others, being silent etc. Or do you believe that one can be awakened by drinking alcohol and partying whole day? Or simply doing nothing? No my friend. Rumi is advocating the practices put forth by the Qur’an and Muhammad (pbuh). Awakening is a process btw, that doesn’t happen on a specific day (even though there are some cases), it never ends.
Speaker 1:
I don’t know what western propaganda you are referring to. Perhaps you have heard and believed that all westerners drink and party all day! just as there is other propaganda that is just as ridiculous that Muslims are terrorists! Love is my religion not anything that divides one from another. Only Love.
Speaker 3:
“When the school and the mosque and the minaret
get torn down, then the dervishes
can begin their community.”“Not until faithfulness turns into betrayal
and betrayal into faith
can any human being become part of the truth.”Speaker 2:
I’m sorry I fail to see what you are referring to, who you are quoting, and why you are sending that comment to me? Please explain what you mean with “when the school and the mosque get torn down”? Are you kidding me? Is that a joke? Which clown are you quoting mate? Rumi was a scholar, he was highly educated and highly religious, an imam. One third of his poetry is referencing The Glorious Qur’an. Why is that so hard for the “civilized” westerners to swallow?
Speaker 3
The Quote is from Mevlana (Rumi) from Rumi: The Book of Love translated by Coleman Barks & John Moyne page 134. Rumi was the ‘clown’ I was quoting. I’m a Muslim & a Westerner. I don’t understand the meanness in your comment. If you had wanted me to explain why then the insults? Aren’t the words of the Prophet (PBUH) “A man cannot be a Muslim till his heart and tongue are so. “
