Maneri : The love of God
This excerpt is taken from “The Mine of Meaning,” discourses of the 14th c. CE Shaikh Sharafuddin Maneri (‘the Revered Master’) compiled by his student Zain Badr Arabi (‘the ‘Helpless Continue Reading →
Category: English
Tales : What is real?
It happened long ago in Japan that a blind man went to visit a friend. They talked far into the evening, and when the blind man was taking his leave, Continue Reading →
Hazrat Inayat : Confessions pt X – My initiation in Sufism
After having encountered various types of real and false Murshids, Hazrat Inayat Khan now meets the Murshid destined to guide him. This experience of different Murshids prepared me for the Continue Reading →
Theophan : Images, however sacred
For more about the Orthodox Christian saint Theophan the recluse, (1815-1894 CE), see this post. Images, however sacredthey may be, retainthe attention outside,whereas at the time of prayerthe attention must Continue Reading →
Tales : The Happiness of Krishna
It is well known that when young Lord Krishna grew up, he danced with all the gopis or cow-herds in his village, and each one felt that he danced with Continue Reading →
Hazrat Inayat : Confessions pt IX – My initiation in Sufism
After describing his encounter with the dervishes, Hazrat Inayat Khan now begins to look for his own guide on the path of Sufism. ‘He breathes not the fragrance of divine Continue Reading →
Esoteric materialism
Anyone wanting to train their body has within reach an endless choice of different exercises and techniques. If one simply determines the desired result – better cardio-vascular health, for example, Continue Reading →
Shams-i-Tabrizi : Love unbinds
This subtle thought about self-awareness is taken from the Maqalat or Conversations of Shams of Tabriz, the spiritual catalyst of Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi. The mind constricts; love unbinds.The mind says, Continue Reading →
Tales : Who is the devotee?
It is said that Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna always greeted each other with the greatest respect, each declaring himself the devotee of the other and never omitting to call Continue Reading →
Lalleshwari : Drifter, on your feet, get moving!
Lalleshwari or Lal Ded was a 14th c. Kashmiri yogini in the Shaivite tradition. She is deeply loved in Kashmir, both by Hindus and Muslims, and it is said that Continue Reading →