Oh Man! (Mian Muhammad Bakhsh_ the Sufi Poet)

Oh man!
Be not dismayed, stand firm and see,
Should many call you mad.
With firmness comes success at last,
Brave men are never sad!

With hope move on, don’t give up hope
‘Tis hope that leads your way
Never give up quest, the Quest’ll hold
It’s everlasting way!
Be not despaired for a moment, who knows,
When the times would change
The beggar’s bowl is always full on
Return from beggar's range.
If sorrow it be that joy gave
And sorrow were its need
Why men forget their sorrow past
When they at last succeed.
The heart which has a little spark
Of feeling in its soul
This tale by me, by the grace of God,
Will lead him to his goal!
(Mian Mohammed Bakhsh)

Seek Passion!

Passion makes the old medicine new:
Passion lops off the bough of weariness.
Passion is the elixir that renews:
How can there be weariness
When passion is present?
Oh, don't sigh heavily from fatigue:
Seek passion, seek passion, seek passion!
(Jelaluddin Rumi Mathnawi VI, 4302-4304)

When the rose is gone!

When the rose is gone and the garden faded

you will no longer hear the nightingale's song.

The Beloved is all; the lover just a veil.

The Beloved is living; the lover a dead thing.

If love withholds its strengthening care,

the lover is left like a bird without 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.
(Jelaluddin Rumi Mathnawi I, 23-31)

Fuel For Thought!

··

“No man was ever honored for what he received. Honor has always been a reward for what he gave.” (Calvin Coolidge)

Man’s mind stretched to a new idea never comes back to its original dimensions. (Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.)

Man is not imprisoned by habit. Great changes in him can be wrought by crisis once the crisis is understood and recognized. (Norman Cousins)

Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness. (James Thurber)

· “The future is not a place we are going to but one we are creating. The paths are not to be found, but made, and the activity of making them changes both the marker and the destination.” (John Schaar )

· “By building relations we create a source of love and personal pride and belonging that makes living in a chaotic world easier.” (Susan Lieberman)

· “Deep within man dwell those slumbering powers, the powers that would astonish him, that he never dreamed of possessing; force that would revolutionize his life if aroused and put into action.” (Orison Swett Marsden)

·

“The road to success is not crowded because while most are looking for ways to take, the truly successful people are finding ways to give. With a giving attitude, every situation is a opportunity for success.” (Unknown)

· “A dream is just a dream, but a goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline.” (Harvey Mackay)

KahaaniaN na suno aas paas LogoN ki... (Ahmad Faraz)

KahaaniaN na suno aas paas logoN ki
Ke mera shehr hai basti udaas logoN ki
Na koi simt, na manzil to qaafila kaisa?
Rawaan hai bheer faqat be-qayaas logoN ki
Kisi se pooch hi letay wafa ke baab mein hum
Kami nahiin thi zamana shanaas logoN ki
Muhabbaton ka safar khatm to nahiiN hoga
Baja ke dosti ai na raas logoN ki
Hamein bhi apnay kai dost yaad aatay hain
Kabhi jo baat chalay na sapaas logoN ki
Kero na apni bala noshiyoN ke yooN charchay
Ke is se aur bharakti hai piyaas logon ki
Mein Aanay waalay zamanoN se darr raha hooN FARAZ
Ke meinay dekhi haiN aakheiN udaas logoN ki

Our Deepest Fear!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually who are you not to be?
Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory. It is not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
(Marianne Williamson)

The PencilMaker!

A PencilMaker taught the pencils 5 important lessons...

1- Everything you do will always leave a mark!

2-You can always correct the mistakes you make!

3-What is important is what is inside you.

4-In life you will undergo painful sharpenings which will make you a better pencil.

5-To be the best pencil you must allow yourself to be held and guided by the hand that holds you!

The PENCILMAKER is Allah and we are the PENCILS!

ALLAH really loves and cares for you!

Every Friday afternoon, after the Jumma prayers, the Imam and his eleven year old son would go out into their town and hand out "PATH TO PARADISE"and other Islamic literature.

This particular and fortunate Friday afternoon, as the time came for theImam and his son to go to the streets with their booklets, it was verycold outside, as well as pouring rain.

The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said, 'OK, dad, I'm ready!

'His dad asked, 'Ready for what'

'Dad, it's time we go out and distributethese Islamic books.'

Dad responds, 'Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring rain.'

The boy gives his dad a surprised look, asking, 'But Dad, aren't people still going to hell, even though it's raining?'

Dad answers, 'Son, I am not going out in this weather.'

Despondently, the boy asks, 'Dad, can I go Please'

His father hesitated for a moment then said, 'Son, you can go. Here are the booklets. Be careful son.''Thanks, Dad!'

And with that, he was off and out into the rain. This eleven year old boy walked the streets of the town going door to door and handing everybodyhe met in the street a pamphlet or a booklet.After two hours of walking in the rain, he was soaking, bone-chilled wet and down to his VERY LAST BOOKLET. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a booklet to, but the streets were totally deserted.Then he turned toward the first home he saw and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the door bell. He rang the bell, but nobody answered..He rang it again and again, but still no one answered. He waited no answer.Finally, he turned to leave, but something stopped him. Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly onthe door with his fist. He waited, something holding him there on the front porch!

He rang again and this time the door slowly opened.Standing in the doorway was a very sad-looking elderly lady. She softly asked, 'What can I do for you, son?'

With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said, 'Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that ALLAH REALLY LOVES AND CARES FOR YOU and I came to give you my very last booklet which will tell you all about God, the real purpose of creation, and how to achieve His pleasure.'With that, he handed her his last booklet and turned to leave.She called to him as he departed. 'Thank you, son! And God Bless You!'

Next week on Friday afternoon after Jumma prayers, the Imam was giving some lectures.. As he concludes the lectures, he asked, 'Does anybody have questions or want to say anything?'

Slowly, in the back row among the ladies, an elderly lady's voice washeard over the speaker.'No one in this gathering knows me. I've never been here before. You see, before last Friday I was not a Muslim, and thought I could be. My husband died few years ago, leaving me totally alone in this world.. Last Friday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, i was contemplating suicide as i had no hope left.So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home.. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my neck. Standing on that chair, so lonely and broken-hearted I was about to leap off, when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell downstairs startled me. I thought, I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away.I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent, and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly....I thought to myself again, 'Who on earth could this be? Nobody everrings my bell or comes to see me.' I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the bell rang louder and louder.When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes, forthere on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life. His SMILE, oh, I could never describe it to you! The words that came from his mouth caused my heart that had long been dead TO LEAP TO LIFE as he exclaimed with a cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that ALLAH REALLY LOVES AND CARES FOR YOU!'Then he gave me this booklet, Path To Paradise that I now hold in myhand.As the little angel disappeared back out into the cold and rain, Iclosed my door and read slowly every word of this book. Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them any more.You see? I am now a Happy Vicegerent of the One True God. Since the address of your congregation was stamped on the back of this booklet, I have come here to personally say THANK YOU to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time and by so doing, spared my soul from an eternity in hell.'There was not a dry eye in the mosque. The shouts of TAKBIR..ALLAHAKBAR.. rented the air.Imam-Dad descended from the pulpit to the front row where the littleangel was seated....He took his son in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably.Probably no jama'at has had a more glorious moment, and probably thisuniverse has never seen a father that was more filled with love andhonor for his son... Except for One. This very one...Blessed are your eyes for reading this message.Don't let this message die, read it again and pass it to others. Heavenis for His people! Remember, God's message CAN make the difference in the life of someone close to you.

Please share this wonderful message

Regards,

Moiz Hussain,

The Institute Of Mind Sciences. (TIMS).

At the Twilight... (Jelaluddin Rumi)

At the twilight a moon appeared in the sky,
Then it landed on the Earth to look at me!
Like a hawk stealing a bird at the time of prey,
That moon stole me and rushed back to the sky.
I looked at myself, I didn’t see “ME” anymore!
for in that moon my body turned as fine as soul.
The nine spheres disappeared in that moon;
The ship of my existence, drowned in that see.

AankhoN se meri kon meray Khawaab le gaya! (Parveen Shakir)

AankhoN se meri kon meray khawab le gaya
Chashm-e-Sadaf se gauhar-e-Nayaab le gaya
Is shehr-e-Khush Jamal ko kis ki lagi hai Aah
Kis Gham zada ka Girya-e-Khoon-aab le gaya
Kuch Nakhuda ke Faiz se Saahil bhi door tha
Kuch QisamatoN ke khel mein Gardaab le gaya
waaN Shehr doobtay haiN yahaN Behes ke unheiN
Kham le gaya hai ya kham-e-Mehraab le gaya
Kuch Khoi khoi aankheiN bhi mojoN ke saath theeN
Shayad unheiN baha k Koi Khawaab le gaya
Toofan-e-Abr-o-baad meiN sub geet kho gaye
Jhonka hawa ka haath se mizraab le gaya
GhairoN ki dushmani ne na mara magar hameiN
ApnoN ke iltefaat ka zehraab le gaya
Aay Aankh ab to Khawaab ki dunya se lot aa
Mizhgaan to khol! Shehr ko sailaab le gaya!

Fuel For Thought!

“The greatest use of life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.” (William James)

“To one who is afraid, all seems dim.” (Unknown)

“The universe is full of magical things potentially waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” (Eden Philpotts)

“The words we attach with our experiences, become our experience.” (Unknown)

“Love cures people__ both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it.” (Dr. Karl Menninger)

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” (Marcel Pronot)

“Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom.” (Theodore Isaac Rubin)

“Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on it’s own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believe all things, hopes all things.” (Paul Corinthians)

“When you come to the edge of all light and you know and are about to set off into the darkness of the unknown, Faith is knowing one of the two things will happen ; there will be something to stand on or you will be taught to fly.” (Anonymous)

“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird, that cannot fly.” (Langston Hughes)

Ab to itna bhi ho nahi paaey (Ahmad Faraz)

Ab to itna bhi ho nahi paaey,
Rona chaha to ro nahi paaey
Hum se ta’abeer-e-Khawab Poochtay ho
Zindagi bhar jo so nahi paaey
MuddatoN Gham ki Parwarish ki hai
Yeh Silay aaj to nahi paaey
Justajoo RaaigaaN nahi thi magar
Jin ko Chaha tha woh nahi paaey
Kyun gila hum se ho kisi ko FARAZ
Hum to apnay bhi ho nahi paaey!

Fringe (Jelaluddin Rumi)

You wreck my shop and my house and now my heart,
But how can I run from what gives me life?
I am weary of personal worrying, in love with the cut of madness!
Tear open my shame and show the mystery.
How much longer do I have to fret with self-restraint and fear?
Friends, this is how it is: we are fringe sewn inside the lining of a robe.
Soon we will be loosened, the binding thread torn out.
The Beloved is a lion.
We are the lame deer in his paws. Consider
what choices we have! (Rumi)

Sky Circles (Jelaluddin Rumi)

The way of love isn’t a subtle argument.
The door there is devastation!
Birds make great sky-circles of their freedom-
How do they learn that?
They fall, and falling they are given wings!

No man is an Island!

No man is an Island,
Entire of itself.
Each is the piece of the continent
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manner of thine own
or of thine friends were.
Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind
Therefore send not to know for whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for you!
(John Donne)

Aqwaal-e Mola Ali (R.A)

• Apnay Bachon ko woh taaleem na do jo tumharay walidein ne tum ko di hai, kyunke un ka zamana tumharaya zamanay se mukhtalif hai.


• Apni Qismat per wohi rotay hain jin ko sajdon mein rona nahi aata.


• Insaan kailiye doosron ki muhabbat teen cheezon se barhti hai; Salaam kernay se, doosron ko jaga denay se, aur sahi naam se pukaaranay se.


• Aay Khuda jab mein ne tujh se nahi manga to tu ne mujhay ataa kiya to yeh kaisay ho sakta hai k mein tujh se magoon aur tu mujhay ataa na keray


• Ziada nafa pohunchanay wala ilm woh hai jis per amal kiya jaey. Sub se fazeelat wala amal woh hai jis mein ikhlaas ho. Aur sub se behtar Ma’arifat yeh hai ke insaan apnay nafs ko pehchaanay.


• Sub se buri sachchai chughal khori hai, sub se bura keena deen ke imamon ke saath keena hai, aur sub se bari khiyaanat ummat ke saath khiyaanat hai.

Fuel For Thought!

• There are two ways of spreading light____To be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.(Edith Warton)


• Concerning all acts of initiative and creation, there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans. The moment one definitely commits oneself, the Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help that would never have otherwise occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, which no one could have dreamed would come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do. Begin it! Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. (Goethe)


• Our deeds follow us, and what we have been makes us what we are. (John Dykes)


• I still feel I got to prove something. There are a lot of people hoping I fail! But I like that. I need to be hated. (Howard Stein)


• Sometimes life’s shadows are caused by our standing in our own sunlight. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)


• The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today; let us move forward with strong and active faith. (Franklin D. Roosevelt)


• Desire is the standing point of all achievements, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything. (Napoleon Hill)


• There is no happiness if the things we believe are different from the things we do! (Freya Stark)


• Nothing is as real as a dream. The world can change around you, but your dream will not. Responsibilities need not erase it. Duties need not obscure it. Because the dream is within you, no one can take it away! (Unknown)

Hamein Khud apnay tajassus se hain Gilay kiya kiya.. (Amjad Islam Amjad)

Hamein khud apnay tajassus se hain gilay kiya kiya

Woh baat us mein nahi thi jo us ke naam mein thi

tujhay talashna goya ufaq ko choona tha

wohi safar mein thi haalat ke jo qayaam mein thi

Nigah-e-Khaas jo hoti to dekhta koi

woh aik baat jo teri nigaah-e-Aam mein thi

Chamak raha tha hawaaon ki aasteen mein lahu

idhar zameen bahaaron ke ahtamaam mein thi

Yeh kis ne loot liye qaaflay sitaaron ke

sahar ki tegh to Amjad abhi niyaam mein thi!

The Soul of Prayer (Rumi)

Jelaluddin Rumi was once asked “Is there any way to God nearer than the ritual prayer?” “No” He replied. “But prayer doesn’t consist in forms alone. Formal prayer has a beginning and an end, like all forms and bodies and everything partakes of speech and sound; but the soul is unconditional and infinite. It has neither beginning nor end. The Prophets have shown the true nature of prayers. Prayer is the drowning and unconsciousness of the soul, so that all these forms remain without. At that time there is no room for even Gabriel, who is Pure spirit. One may say that the man who prays in this fashion is exempt from all religious obligations, since he is deprived of his reason. Absorption in Divine Unity is the soul of prayer.

Quotations

• “If a man hasn’t discovered something that he would die for, he isn’t fit to live.” (Martin Luther King)


• “How a minority, Reaching majority, Seizing authority, hates a minority” (Leonard H. Hobbins)


• “Almost always it is the fear of being ourselves that brings us to the mirror” (Antonio Porchio)


• “The best mirror is an old friend” (German Proverb)


• “Immature artists imitate, mature artists steal.” (Lionel Trilling)


• “Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man doesn’t know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind.” (Seneca)


• “It is the heart that experiences God, not the reason!”


• “Other people are quite dreadful. The only possible society is one’s self.” (Oscar Wilde)