Guest guest Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 dear Friends, I have just arrived in Tasmania to see my elder son and family who live there. I leave on Oct 30 to spend 4 weeks at Ramanasramam. I have looked through the interesting threads while away and hope to make some contribution tomorrow, after recovering from a 20 hr.flight. Meanwhile here is some beautiful `Poetry from our friend Ivan Granger. love to all Alan --- On Mon, 20/10/08, Poetry Chaikhana <ivan wrote: > Poetry Chaikhana <ivan > [Poetry Chaikhana] Farid ud-Din Attar - Mysticism > alanadamsjacobs > Monday, 20 October, 2008, 4:55 PM > Here's your Daily Poem from the Poetry Chaikhana -- > > > Mysticism > > By Farid ud-Din Attar > > > (1120? - 1220?) > > English version by Coleman Barks > > > > The sun can only be seen by the light > > of the sun. The more a man or woman knows, > > the greater the bewilderment, the closer > > to the sun the more dazzled, until a point > > is reached where one no longer is. > > > > A mystic knows without knowledge, without > > intuition or information, without contemplation > > or description or revelation. Mystics > > are not themselves. They do not exist > > in selves. They move as they are moved, > > talk as words come, see with sight > > that enters their eyes. I met a woman > > once and asked her where love had led her. > > " Fool, there's no destination to arrive at. > > Loved one and lover and love are infinite. " > > > > -- from The Hand of Poetry: Five Mystic Poets of > Persia, with Lectures by Inayat Khan, Translated by Coleman > Barks Amazon.com > > / Photo by Eyebags / > > > ============ > > Thought for the Day: > > Regardless of belief, > > everyone is an agnostic > > until gnosis. > ============ > > Here's your Daily Music selection -- > > > > Buddha's Last T-Party > > > Buddha's Last Tea Party > > > Listen - Purchase More Music Selections > > > > Hi Alan - > > > > The poetry of Attar has been in my thoughts again. His > masterpiece, The Conference of the Birds, is one of the most > delightful collections of sacred poetry, filled with > adventure, stories, humor, and deep wisdom. > > > > In this collection, he describes a group of birds > (individual human souls) under the leadership of a hoopoe > (spiritual master) who determine to search for the legendary > Simurgh bird (God). The birds must confront their own > individual limitations and fears while journeying through > seven valleys before they ultimately find the Simurgh and > complete their quest. The 30 birds who ultimately complete > the quest discover that they themselves are the Simurgh they > sought, playing on a pun in Persian (si and murgh can > translate as 30 birds) while giving us an esoteric teaching > on the presence of the Divine within us. > > > > Farid ud-Din Attar was born in Nishapur, in north-east > Iran. There is disagreement over the exact dates of his > birth and death but several sources confirm that he lived > about 100 years. He is traditionally said to have been > killed by Mongol invaders. His tomb can be seen today in > Nishapur. > > > > The name Attar means herbalist or druggist, which was his > profession. It is said that he saw as many as 500 patients > a day in his shop, prescribing herbal remedies which he > prepared himself, and he wrote his poetry while attending to > his patients. > > > > Attar's poetry inspired Rumi and many other Sufi poets. > It is said that Rumi actually met Attar when Attar was an > old man and Rumi was a boy, though some scholars dispute > this possibility. > > > > --- > > > > " The sun can only be seen by the light / of the > sun. " The sun here is, of course, a reference to God. > But then, what does it mean to say that God can only be seen > by the light of God? > > > > One doesn't perceive God as a separate, objectified > reality. There is no place 'outside' of God to > stand in order to observe God as something exterior. In > fact, there is no eye in the common sense that can view God. > > > > > The only way to see God is by the " light " of > God. That is, instead of looking, looking everywhere, we > must stop looking and notice the divine radiance already > present, right here, right now. We are drawn to that > radiant presence, growing closer to it until we are > " dazzled " -- confounded by the scintillating > wholeness that is beyond the mind's ability to > conceptualize. > > > > Entering the radiance more deeply, we are finally swallowed > by it " until a point / is reached where one no longer > is. " " Mystics / are not themselves. They do not > exist / in selves. " The little self that imagines > itself as a being separate from others and the world around > it no longer exists in the fluid unity of this radiance that > fills and connects everything. > > > > At that point there is only the " light of the > sun " , only divine radiance, within and without -- > everywhere! When the light is recognized as being > all-pervading, nothing separate or left out, that is when > the Divine is truly witnessed in wholeness and unity. > > > > But have we gotten anywhere? No, that implies we have left > one place or state of awareness and entered another, which > is still a sense of separation. Instead, we have recognized > the unlimited nature of Reality. And we are individual (but > not separate) points of awareness within that wholeness. > " There's no destination to arrive at. / Loved one > and lover and love are infinite. " > > > > Ivan > Share Your Thoughts on today's poem or my commentary... > > > > > New on the Poetry Chaikhana Blog > > > In addition to the daily poem, other recent > blog posts include: > > Stork Migrations and Reading a Poem - > Comments (2) I just returned from a walk along the shore of > a nearby lake. Eight majestic white wood storks were > drifting along the surface, then, at some mutually agreed > upon signal, they took off one after the other, reaching out > for full wingspan, and rising up in an ascending, orderly > line to the sky. > > Watching them, I thought, “Reading a poem is like > this.†More > - More > - More > > Support the Poetry Chaikhana > > Donations to the Poetry Chaikhana in any amount are > always welcome. Thank you! > > > > Click here > > > > You > can also support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as > the authors and publishers > of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the > recommended books through > the links on this site. Thank you! > > Click here > > > A small amount each month makes a big difference. > Become a voluntary Subscriber for just $2/mo. > > > > > Click here > > > Help the Poetry Chaikhana reach more people. Become a > Supporter for just $10/mo. > > > > > Poetry Chaikhana Home > > > New | Books | Music | Teahouse > | About | Contact > > Poets > by: Name| Tradition > | Timeline > Poetry by: Theme | Commentary > > > > > > Blog | Forum | Video Channel > www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com > Poetry Chaikhana > > P.O. Box 2320 > > Boulder, CO 80306 > Ivan > M. Granger's original poetry, stories and > commentaries are Copyright > 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger. > > All other material is copyrighted by the respective > authors, translators and/or > publishers. > ============ > Plain Text: If you have any difficulty reading this HTML > formatted email, please let me know and I can send you plain > text emails instead. > Cancelling: If you wish to stop receiving this Daily Poem > email from the Poetry Chaikhana, simply reply to this email > and change the Subject to " Cancel " . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 Dear Alan, May you enjoy Tasmania and your son and family,and welcome to Australia. Blessings, Soul , Alan Jacobs <alanadamsjacobs wrote: > > dear Friends, > > I have just arrived in Tasmania to see my elder son and family who live there. I leave on Oct 30 to spend 4 weeks at Ramanasramam. I have looked through the interesting threads while away and hope to make some contribution tomorrow, after recovering from a 20 hr.flight. Meanwhile here is some beautiful `Poetry from our friend Ivan Granger. > > love to all > > Alan > > > --- On Mon, 20/10/08, Poetry Chaikhana <ivan wrote: > > > Poetry Chaikhana <ivan > > [Poetry Chaikhana] Farid ud-Din Attar - Mysticism > > alanadamsjacobs > > Monday, 20 October, 2008, 4:55 PM > > Here's your Daily Poem from the Poetry Chaikhana -- > > > > > > Mysticism > > > > By Farid ud-Din Attar > > > > > > (1120? - 1220?) > > > > English version by Coleman Barks > > > > > > > > The sun can only be seen by the light > > > > of the sun. The more a man or woman knows, > > > > the greater the bewilderment, the closer > > > > to the sun the more dazzled, until a point > > > > is reached where one no longer is. > > > > > > > > A mystic knows without knowledge, without > > > > intuition or information, without contemplation > > > > or description or revelation. Mystics > > > > are not themselves. They do not exist > > > > in selves. They move as they are moved, > > > > talk as words come, see with sight > > > > that enters their eyes. I met a woman > > > > once and asked her where love had led her. > > > > " Fool, there's no destination to arrive at. > > > > Loved one and lover and love are infinite. " > > > > > > > > -- from The Hand of Poetry: Five Mystic Poets of > > Persia, with Lectures by Inayat Khan, Translated by Coleman > > Barks Amazon.com > > > > / Photo by Eyebags / > > > > > > ============ > > > > Thought for the Day: > > > > Regardless of belief, > > > > everyone is an agnostic > > > > until gnosis. > > ============ > > > > Here's your Daily Music selection -- > > > > > > > > Buddha's Last T-Party > > > > > > Buddha's Last Tea Party > > > > > > Listen - Purchase More Music Selections > > > > > > > > Hi Alan - > > > > > > > > The poetry of Attar has been in my thoughts again. His > > masterpiece, The Conference of the Birds, is one of the most > > delightful collections of sacred poetry, filled with > > adventure, stories, humor, and deep wisdom. > > > > > > > > In this collection, he describes a group of birds > > (individual human souls) under the leadership of a hoopoe > > (spiritual master) who determine to search for the legendary > > Simurgh bird (God). The birds must confront their own > > individual limitations and fears while journeying through > > seven valleys before they ultimately find the Simurgh and > > complete their quest. The 30 birds who ultimately complete > > the quest discover that they themselves are the Simurgh they > > sought, playing on a pun in Persian (si and murgh can > > translate as 30 birds) while giving us an esoteric teaching > > on the presence of the Divine within us. > > > > > > > > Farid ud-Din Attar was born in Nishapur, in north-east > > Iran. There is disagreement over the exact dates of his > > birth and death but several sources confirm that he lived > > about 100 years. He is traditionally said to have been > > killed by Mongol invaders. His tomb can be seen today in > > Nishapur. > > > > > > > > The name Attar means herbalist or druggist, which was his > > profession. It is said that he saw as many as 500 patients > > a day in his shop, prescribing herbal remedies which he > > prepared himself, and he wrote his poetry while attending to > > his patients. > > > > > > > > Attar's poetry inspired Rumi and many other Sufi poets. > > It is said that Rumi actually met Attar when Attar was an > > old man and Rumi was a boy, though some scholars dispute > > this possibility. > > > > > > > > --- > > > > > > > > " The sun can only be seen by the light / of the > > sun. " The sun here is, of course, a reference to God. > > But then, what does it mean to say that God can only be seen > > by the light of God? > > > > > > > > One doesn't perceive God as a separate, objectified > > reality. There is no place 'outside' of God to > > stand in order to observe God as something exterior. In > > fact, there is no eye in the common sense that can view God. > > > > > > > > > > The only way to see God is by the " light " of > > God. That is, instead of looking, looking everywhere, we > > must stop looking and notice the divine radiance already > > present, right here, right now. We are drawn to that > > radiant presence, growing closer to it until we are > > " dazzled " -- confounded by the scintillating > > wholeness that is beyond the mind's ability to > > conceptualize. > > > > > > > > Entering the radiance more deeply, we are finally swallowed > > by it " until a point / is reached where one no longer > > is. " " Mystics / are not themselves. They do not > > exist / in selves. " The little self that imagines > > itself as a being separate from others and the world around > > it no longer exists in the fluid unity of this radiance that > > fills and connects everything. > > > > > > > > At that point there is only the " light of the > > sun " , only divine radiance, within and without -- > > everywhere! When the light is recognized as being > > all-pervading, nothing separate or left out, that is when > > the Divine is truly witnessed in wholeness and unity. > > > > > > > > But have we gotten anywhere? No, that implies we have left > > one place or state of awareness and entered another, which > > is still a sense of separation. Instead, we have recognized > > the unlimited nature of Reality. And we are individual (but > > not separate) points of awareness within that wholeness. > > " There's no destination to arrive at. / Loved one > > and lover and love are infinite. " > > > > > > > > Ivan > > Share Your Thoughts on today's poem or my commentary... > > > > > > > > > > New on the Poetry Chaikhana Blog > > > > > > In addition to the daily poem, other recent > > blog posts include: > > > > Stork Migrations and Reading a Poem - > > Comments (2) I just returned from a walk along the shore of > > a nearby lake. Eight majestic white wood storks were > > drifting along the surface, then, at some mutually agreed > > upon signal, they took off one after the other, reaching out > > for full wingspan, and rising up in an ascending, orderly > > line to the sky. > > > > Watching them, I thought, “Reading a poem is like > > this.†More > > - More > > - More > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Support the Poetry Chaikhana > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Donations to the Poetry Chaikhana in any amount are > > always welcome. Thank you! > > > > > > > > Click here > > > > > > > > You > > can also support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as > > the authors and publishers > > of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the > > recommended books through > > the links on this site. Thank you! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Click here > > > > > > A small amount each month makes a big difference. > > Become a voluntary Subscriber for just $2/mo. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Click here > > > > > > Help the Poetry Chaikhana reach more people. Become a > > Supporter for just $10/mo. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Poetry Chaikhana Home > > > > > > New | Books | Music | Teahouse > > | About | Contact > > > > Poets > > by: Name| Tradition > > | Timeline > > Poetry by: Theme | Commentary > > > > > > > > > > > > Blog | Forum | Video Channel > > www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com > > Poetry Chaikhana > > > > P.O. Box 2320 > > > > Boulder, CO 80306 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ivan > > M. Granger's original poetry, stories and > > commentaries are Copyright > > 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger. > > > > All other material is copyrighted by the respective > > authors, translators and/or > > publishers. > > ============ > > Plain Text: If you have any difficulty reading this HTML > > formatted email, please let me know and I can send you plain > > text emails instead. > > Cancelling: If you wish to stop receiving this Daily Poem > > email from the Poetry Chaikhana, simply reply to this email > > and change the Subject to " Cancel " . > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 Dear Soul, It's a pity Byron Bay is so far away from Hobart- we could have met up, but some day perhaps. All best wishes and warm regards, Alan --- On Tue, 21/10/08, Soul <soulyoginima wrote: > Soul <soulyoginima > Re: [Poetry Chaikhana] Farid ud-Din Attar - Mysticism > > Tuesday, 21 October, 2008, 6:38 AM > Dear Alan, > > May you enjoy Tasmania and your son and family,and welcome > to > Australia. > Blessings, > Soul > > , Alan Jacobs > <alanadamsjacobs wrote: > > > > dear Friends, > > > > I have just arrived in Tasmania to see my elder son > and family who > live there. I leave on Oct 30 to spend 4 weeks at > Ramanasramam. I > have looked through the interesting threads while away and > hope to > make some contribution tomorrow, after recovering from a 20 > > hr.flight. Meanwhile here is some beautiful `Poetry from > our friend > Ivan Granger. > > > > love to all > > > > Alan > > > > > > --- On Mon, 20/10/08, Poetry Chaikhana > <ivan wrote: > > > > > Poetry Chaikhana <ivan > > > [Poetry Chaikhana] Farid ud-Din Attar - > Mysticism > > > alanadamsjacobs > > > Monday, 20 October, 2008, 4:55 PM > > > Here's your Daily Poem from the Poetry > Chaikhana -- > > > > > > > > > Mysticism > > > > > > By Farid ud-Din Attar > > > > > > > > > (1120? - 1220?) > > > > > > English version by Coleman Barks > > > > > > > > > > > > The sun can only be seen by the light > > > > > > of the sun. The more a man or woman knows, > > > > > > the greater the bewilderment, the closer > > > > > > to the sun the more dazzled, until a point > > > > > > is reached where one no longer is. > > > > > > > > > > > > A mystic knows without knowledge, without > > > > > > intuition or information, without contemplation > > > > > > or description or revelation. Mystics > > > > > > are not themselves. They do not exist > > > > > > in selves. They move as they are moved, > > > > > > talk as words come, see with sight > > > > > > that enters their eyes. I met a woman > > > > > > once and asked her where love had led her. > > > > > > " Fool, there's no destination to arrive > at. > > > > > > Loved one and lover and love are infinite. " > > > > > > > > > > > > -- from The Hand of Poetry: Five Mystic > Poets of > > > Persia, with Lectures by Inayat Khan, Translated > by Coleman > > > Barks Amazon.com > > > > > > / Photo by Eyebags / > > > > > > > > > ============ > > > > > > Thought for the Day: > > > > > > Regardless of belief, > > > > > > everyone is an agnostic > > > > > > until gnosis. > > > ============ > > > > > > Here's your Daily Music selection -- > > > > > > > > > > > > Buddha's Last T-Party > > > > > > > > > Buddha's Last Tea Party > > > > > > > > > Listen - Purchase More Music > Selections > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Alan - > > > > > > > > > > > > The poetry of Attar has been in my thoughts > again. His > > > masterpiece, The Conference of the Birds, is one > of the most > > > delightful collections of sacred poetry, filled > with > > > adventure, stories, humor, and deep wisdom. > > > > > > > > > > > > In this collection, he describes a group of birds > > > (individual human souls) under the leadership of > a hoopoe > > > (spiritual master) who determine to search for > the legendary > > > Simurgh bird (God). The birds must confront > their own > > > individual limitations and fears while journeying > through > > > seven valleys before they ultimately find the > Simurgh and > > > complete their quest. The 30 birds who > ultimately complete > > > the quest discover that they themselves are the > Simurgh they > > > sought, playing on a pun in Persian (si and murgh > can > > > translate as 30 birds) while giving us an > esoteric teaching > > > on the presence of the Divine within us. > > > > > > > > > > > > Farid ud-Din Attar was born in Nishapur, in > north-east > > > Iran. There is disagreement over the exact dates > of his > > > birth and death but several sources confirm that > he lived > > > about 100 years. He is traditionally said to have > been > > > killed by Mongol invaders. His tomb can be seen > today in > > > Nishapur. > > > > > > > > > > > > The name Attar means herbalist or druggist, which > was his > > > profession. It is said that he saw as many as > 500 patients > > > a day in his shop, prescribing herbal remedies > which he > > > prepared himself, and he wrote his poetry while > attending to > > > his patients. > > > > > > > > > > > > Attar's poetry inspired Rumi and many other > Sufi poets. > > > It is said that Rumi actually met Attar when > Attar was an > > > old man and Rumi was a boy, though some scholars > dispute > > > this possibility. > > > > > > > > > > > > --- > > > > > > > > > > > > " The sun can only be seen by the light / of > the > > > sun. " The sun here is, of course, a > reference to God. > > > But then, what does it mean to say that God can > only be seen > > > by the light of God? > > > > > > > > > > > > One doesn't perceive God as a separate, > objectified > > > reality. There is no place 'outside' of > God to > > > stand in order to observe God as something > exterior. In > > > fact, there is no eye in the common sense that > can view God. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The only way to see God is by the > " light " of > > > God. That is, instead of looking, looking > everywhere, we > > > must stop looking and notice the divine radiance > already > > > present, right here, right now. We are drawn to > that > > > radiant presence, growing closer to it until we > are > > > " dazzled " -- confounded by the > scintillating > > > wholeness that is beyond the mind's ability > to > > > conceptualize. > > > > > > > > > > > > Entering the radiance more deeply, we are finally > swallowed > > > by it " until a point / is reached where one > no longer > > > is. " " Mystics / are not themselves. > They do not > > > exist / in selves. " The little self that > imagines > > > itself as a being separate from others and the > world around > > > it no longer exists in the fluid unity of this > radiance that > > > fills and connects everything. > > > > > > > > > > > > At that point there is only the " light of > the > > > sun " , only divine radiance, within and > without -- > > > everywhere! When the light is recognized as > being > > > all-pervading, nothing separate or left out, that > is when > > > the Divine is truly witnessed in wholeness and > unity. > > > > > > > > > > > > But have we gotten anywhere? No, that implies we > have left > > > one place or state of awareness and entered > another, which > > > is still a sense of separation. Instead, we have > recognized > > > the unlimited nature of Reality. And we are > individual (but > > > not separate) points of awareness within that > wholeness. > > > " There's no destination to arrive at. / > Loved one > > > and lover and love are infinite. " > > > > > > > > > > > > Ivan > > > Share Your Thoughts on today's poem or my > commentary... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > New on the Poetry Chaikhana Blog > > > > > > > > > In addition to the daily poem, other > recent > > > blog posts include: > > > > > > Stork Migrations and Reading a > Poem - > > > Comments (2) I just returned from a walk along > the shore of > > > a nearby lake. Eight majestic white wood storks > were > > > drifting along the surface, then, at some > mutually agreed > > > upon signal, they took off one after the other, > reaching out > > > for full wingspan, and rising up in an ascending, > orderly > > > line to the sky. > > > > > > Watching them, I thought, “Reading a poem is > like > > > this.†More > > > - More > > > - More > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Support the Poetry Chaikhana > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Donations to the Poetry Chaikhana in any > amount are > > > always welcome. Thank you! > > > > > > > > > > > > Click here > > > > > > > > > > > > You > > > can also support the Poetry Chaikhana, as > well as > > > the authors and publishers > > > of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of > the > > > recommended books through > > > the links on this site. Thank you! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Click here > > > > > > > > > A small amount each month makes a big > difference. > > > Become a voluntary Subscriber for just $2/mo. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Click here > > > > > > > > > Help the Poetry Chaikhana reach more people. > Become a > > > Supporter for just $10/mo. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Poetry Chaikhana Home > > > > > > > > > New | Books | Music | Teahouse > > > | About | Contact > > > > > > Poets > > > by: Name| Tradition > > > | Timeline > > > Poetry by: Theme | Commentary > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Blog | Forum | Video Channel > > > www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com > > > Poetry Chaikhana > > > > > > P.O. Box 2320 > > > > > > Boulder, CO 80306 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ivan > > > M. Granger's original poetry, stories and > > > commentaries are Copyright > > > 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger. > > > > > > All other material is copyrighted by the > respective > > > authors, translators and/or > > > publishers. > > > ============ > > > Plain Text: If you have any difficulty reading > this HTML > > > formatted email, please let me know and I can > send you plain > > > text emails instead. > > > Cancelling: If you wish to stop receiving this > Daily Poem > > > email from the Poetry Chaikhana, simply reply to > this email > > > and change the Subject to " Cancel " . > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 Dear Alan, Awwww! I'd love to meet some day. For now ,we meet in This that is always here. I'm so greatful to meet people who are dedicated, or have a strong pull to truth, to Self. I find here, so many (as I have had too) have desires which veil the Bliss that they are. It has been seen here, so obviouslty, that desire keeps one from the bliss of who we are, and as I speak this seeing to people, they don't seem to be on the same wavelength. It was seen also here, that a desire arose, to wish they would understand this truth, and as this was seen to be yet another desire which was part of the ego/body/mind, it burnt out. It just gets more amazing as desires get disolved in This , Seeing, Awareness....with no teacher 'needed' anymore ...the same guru of Self being here within us all.... All the great sages, including Ramana and Papaji, all say desirelessness is Bliss... and it is seen here that this is so true. It's not that 'we' need to get rid of desire, for who is there to get rid of desire. It is not an action of ego/body/mind...the actor called 'Soul', but desire is seen as arising in Awareness(who i am) and it leaves on it's own , as it is seen and recognized for what it is. What beauty! Namaste, Soul , Alan Jacobs <alanadamsjacobs wrote: > > Dear Soul, > > It's a pity Byron Bay is so far away from Hobart- we could have met up, but some day perhaps. > > All best wishes and warm regards, > > Alan > > > --- On Tue, 21/10/08, Soul <soulyoginima wrote: > > > Soul <soulyoginima > > Re: [Poetry Chaikhana] Farid ud-Din Attar - Mysticism > > > > Tuesday, 21 October, 2008, 6:38 AM > > Dear Alan, > > > > May you enjoy Tasmania and your son and family,and welcome > > to > > Australia. > > Blessings, > > Soul > > > > , Alan Jacobs > > <alanadamsjacobs@> wrote: > > > > > > dear Friends, > > > > > > I have just arrived in Tasmania to see my elder son > > and family who > > live there. I leave on Oct 30 to spend 4 weeks at > > Ramanasramam. I > > have looked through the interesting threads while away and > > hope to > > make some contribution tomorrow, after recovering from a 20 > > > > hr.flight. Meanwhile here is some beautiful `Poetry from > > our friend > > Ivan Granger. > > > > > > love to all > > > > > > Alan > > > > > > > > > --- On Mon, 20/10/08, Poetry Chaikhana > > <ivan@> wrote: > > > > > > > Poetry Chaikhana <ivan@> > > > > [Poetry Chaikhana] Farid ud-Din Attar - > > Mysticism > > > > alanadamsjacobs@ > > > > Monday, 20 October, 2008, 4:55 PM > > > > Here's your Daily Poem from the Poetry > > Chaikhana -- > > > > > > > > > > > > Mysticism > > > > > > > > By Farid ud-Din Attar > > > > > > > > > > > > (1120? - 1220?) > > > > > > > > English version by Coleman Barks > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The sun can only be seen by the light > > > > > > > > of the sun. The more a man or woman knows, > > > > > > > > the greater the bewilderment, the closer > > > > > > > > to the sun the more dazzled, until a point > > > > > > > > is reached where one no longer is. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > A mystic knows without knowledge, without > > > > > > > > intuition or information, without contemplation > > > > > > > > or description or revelation. Mystics > > > > > > > > are not themselves. They do not exist > > > > > > > > in selves. They move as they are moved, > > > > > > > > talk as words come, see with sight > > > > > > > > that enters their eyes. I met a woman > > > > > > > > once and asked her where love had led her. > > > > > > > > " Fool, there's no destination to arrive > > at. > > > > > > > > Loved one and lover and love are infinite. " > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- from The Hand of Poetry: Five Mystic > > Poets of > > > > Persia, with Lectures by Inayat Khan, Translated > > by Coleman > > > > Barks Amazon.com > > > > > > > > / Photo by Eyebags / > > > > > > > > > > > > ============ > > > > > > > > Thought for the Day: > > > > > > > > Regardless of belief, > > > > > > > > everyone is an agnostic > > > > > > > > until gnosis. > > > > ============ > > > > > > > > Here's your Daily Music selection -- > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Buddha's Last T-Party > > > > > > > > > > > > Buddha's Last Tea Party > > > > > > > > > > > > Listen - Purchase More Music > > Selections > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Alan - > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The poetry of Attar has been in my thoughts > > again. His > > > > masterpiece, The Conference of the Birds, is one > > of the most > > > > delightful collections of sacred poetry, filled > > with > > > > adventure, stories, humor, and deep wisdom. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > In this collection, he describes a group of birds > > > > (individual human souls) under the leadership of > > a hoopoe > > > > (spiritual master) who determine to search for > > the legendary > > > > Simurgh bird (God). The birds must confront > > their own > > > > individual limitations and fears while journeying > > through > > > > seven valleys before they ultimately find the > > Simurgh and > > > > complete their quest. The 30 birds who > > ultimately complete > > > > the quest discover that they themselves are the > > Simurgh they > > > > sought, playing on a pun in Persian (si and murgh > > can > > > > translate as 30 birds) while giving us an > > esoteric teaching > > > > on the presence of the Divine within us. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Farid ud-Din Attar was born in Nishapur, in > > north-east > > > > Iran. There is disagreement over the exact dates > > of his > > > > birth and death but several sources confirm that > > he lived > > > > about 100 years. He is traditionally said to have > > been > > > > killed by Mongol invaders. His tomb can be seen > > today in > > > > Nishapur. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The name Attar means herbalist or druggist, which > > was his > > > > profession. It is said that he saw as many as > > 500 patients > > > > a day in his shop, prescribing herbal remedies > > which he > > > > prepared himself, and he wrote his poetry while > > attending to > > > > his patients. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Attar's poetry inspired Rumi and many other > > Sufi poets. > > > > It is said that Rumi actually met Attar when > > Attar was an > > > > old man and Rumi was a boy, though some scholars > > dispute > > > > this possibility. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > " The sun can only be seen by the light / of > > the > > > > sun. " The sun here is, of course, a > > reference to God. > > > > But then, what does it mean to say that God can > > only be seen > > > > by the light of God? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > One doesn't perceive God as a separate, > > objectified > > > > reality. There is no place 'outside' of > > God to > > > > stand in order to observe God as something > > exterior. In > > > > fact, there is no eye in the common sense that > > can view God. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The only way to see God is by the > > " light " of > > > > God. That is, instead of looking, looking > > everywhere, we > > > > must stop looking and notice the divine radiance > > already > > > > present, right here, right now. We are drawn to > > that > > > > radiant presence, growing closer to it until we > > are > > > > " dazzled " -- confounded by the > > scintillating > > > > wholeness that is beyond the mind's ability > > to > > > > conceptualize. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Entering the radiance more deeply, we are finally > > swallowed > > > > by it " until a point / is reached where one > > no longer > > > > is. " " Mystics / are not themselves. > > They do not > > > > exist / in selves. " The little self that > > imagines > > > > itself as a being separate from others and the > > world around > > > > it no longer exists in the fluid unity of this > > radiance that > > > > fills and connects everything. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > At that point there is only the " light of > > the > > > > sun " , only divine radiance, within and > > without -- > > > > everywhere! When the light is recognized as > > being > > > > all-pervading, nothing separate or left out, that > > is when > > > > the Divine is truly witnessed in wholeness and > > unity. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > But have we gotten anywhere? No, that implies we > > have left > > > > one place or state of awareness and entered > > another, which > > > > is still a sense of separation. Instead, we have > > recognized > > > > the unlimited nature of Reality. And we are > > individual (but > > > > not separate) points of awareness within that > > wholeness. > > > > " There's no destination to arrive at. / > > Loved one > > > > and lover and love are infinite. " > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ivan > > > > Share Your Thoughts on today's poem or my > > commentary... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > New on the Poetry Chaikhana Blog > > > > > > > > > > > > In addition to the daily poem, other > > recent > > > > blog posts include: > > > > > > > > Stork Migrations and Reading a > > Poem - > > > > Comments (2) I just returned from a walk along > > the shore of > > > > a nearby lake. Eight majestic white wood storks > > were > > > > drifting along the surface, then, at some > > mutually agreed > > > > upon signal, they took off one after the other, > > reaching out > > > > for full wingspan, and rising up in an ascending, > > orderly > > > > line to the sky. > > > > > > > > Watching them, I thought, “Reading a poem is > > like > > > > this.†More > > > > - More > > > > - More > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Support the Poetry Chaikhana > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Donations to the Poetry Chaikhana in any > > amount are > > > > always welcome. Thank you! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Click here > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > You > > > > can also support the Poetry Chaikhana, as > > well as > > > > the authors and publishers > > > > of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of > > the > > > > recommended books through > > > > the links on this site. Thank you! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Click here > > > > > > > > > > > > A small amount each month makes a big > > difference. > > > > Become a voluntary Subscriber for just $2/mo. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Click here > > > > > > > > > > > > Help the Poetry Chaikhana reach more people. > > Become a > > > > Supporter for just $10/mo. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Poetry Chaikhana Home > > > > > > > > > > > > New | Books | Music | Teahouse > > > > | About | Contact > > > > > > > > Poets > > > > by: Name| Tradition > > > > | Timeline > > > > Poetry by: Theme | Commentary > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Blog | Forum | Video Channel > > > > www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com > > > > Poetry Chaikhana > > > > > > > > P.O. Box 2320 > > > > > > > > Boulder, CO 80306 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ivan > > > > M. Granger's original poetry, stories and > > > > commentaries are Copyright > > > > 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger. > > > > > > > > All other material is copyrighted by the > > respective > > > > authors, translators and/or > > > > publishers. > > > > ============ > > > > Plain Text: If you have any difficulty reading > > this HTML > > > > formatted email, please let me know and I can > > send you plain > > > > text emails instead. > > > > Cancelling: If you wish to stop receiving this > > Daily Poem > > > > email from the Poetry Chaikhana, simply reply to > > this email > > > > and change the Subject to " Cancel " . > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 Dear Soul, Thanks so much for your reply and words of wisdom with which I heartily agree. Meanwhile evey best wish in all your endeavours, Arunachala Om! Alan --- On Tue, 21/10/08, Soul <soulyoginima wrote: > Soul <soulyoginima > Re: [Poetry Chaikhana] Farid ud-Din Attar - Mysticism > > Tuesday, 21 October, 2008, 11:41 PM > Dear Alan, > > Awwww! I'd love to meet some day. For now ,we meet in > This that is > always here. > I'm so greatful to meet people who are dedicated, or > have a strong > pull to truth, to Self. > I find here, so many (as I have had too) have desires which > veil the > Bliss that they are. > It has been seen here, so obviouslty, that desire keeps one > from the > bliss of who we are, and as I speak this seeing to people, > they don't > seem to be on the same wavelength. It was seen also here, > that a > desire arose, to wish they would understand this truth, and > as this > was seen to be yet another desire which was part of the > ego/body/mind, it burnt out. > > It just gets more amazing as desires get disolved in This , > Seeing, > Awareness....with no teacher 'needed' anymore > ...the same guru of > Self being here within us all.... > All the great sages, including Ramana and Papaji, all say > desirelessness is Bliss... and it is seen here that this is > so true. > > It's not that 'we' need to get rid of desire, > for who is there to get > rid of desire. It is not an action of ego/body/mind...the > actor > called 'Soul', but desire is seen as arising in > Awareness(who i am) > and it leaves on it's own , as it is seen and > recognized for what it > is. > What beauty! > > Namaste, > Soul , Alan Jacobs > <alanadamsjacobs wrote: > > > > Dear Soul, > > > > It's a pity Byron Bay is so far away from Hobart- > we could have met > up, but some day perhaps. > > > > All best wishes and warm regards, > > > > Alan > > > > > > --- On Tue, 21/10/08, Soul <soulyoginima > wrote: > > > > > Soul <soulyoginima > > > Re: > [Poetry Chaikhana] > Farid ud-Din Attar - Mysticism > > > > > > Tuesday, 21 October, 2008, 6:38 AM > > > Dear Alan, > > > > > > May you enjoy Tasmania and your son and > family,and welcome > > > to > > > Australia. > > > Blessings, > > > Soul > > > > > > , Alan > Jacobs > > > <alanadamsjacobs@> wrote: > > > > > > > > dear Friends, > > > > > > > > I have just arrived in Tasmania to see my > elder son > > > and family who > > > live there. I leave on Oct 30 to spend 4 weeks at > > > Ramanasramam. I > > > have looked through the interesting threads while > away and > > > hope to > > > make some contribution tomorrow, after recovering > from a 20 > > > > > > hr.flight. Meanwhile here is some beautiful > `Poetry from > > > our friend > > > Ivan Granger. > > > > > > > > love to all > > > > > > > > Alan > > > > > > > > > > > > --- On Mon, 20/10/08, Poetry Chaikhana > > > <ivan@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > Poetry Chaikhana <ivan@> > > > > > [Poetry Chaikhana] Farid > ud-Din Attar - > > > Mysticism > > > > > alanadamsjacobs@ > > > > > Monday, 20 October, 2008, 4:55 PM > > > > > Here's your Daily Poem from the > Poetry > > > Chaikhana -- > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Mysticism > > > > > > > > > > By Farid ud-Din Attar > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > (1120? - 1220?) > > > > > > > > > > English version by Coleman Barks > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The sun can only be seen by the light > > > > > > > > > > of the sun. The more a man or woman > knows, > > > > > > > > > > the greater the bewilderment, the > closer > > > > > > > > > > to the sun the more dazzled, until a > point > > > > > > > > > > is reached where one no longer is. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > A mystic knows without knowledge, > without > > > > > > > > > > intuition or information, without > contemplation > > > > > > > > > > or description or revelation. Mystics > > > > > > > > > > are not themselves. They do not exist > > > > > > > > > > in selves. They move as they are > moved, > > > > > > > > > > talk as words come, see with sight > > > > > > > > > > that enters their eyes. I met a woman > > > > > > > > > > once and asked her where love had led > her. > > > > > > > > > > " Fool, there's no destination > to arrive > > > at. > > > > > > > > > > Loved one and lover and love are > infinite. " > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- from The Hand of Poetry: Five > Mystic > > > Poets of > > > > > Persia, with Lectures by Inayat Khan, > Translated > > > by Coleman > > > > > Barks Amazon.com > > > > > > > > > > > / Photo by Eyebags / > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ============ > > > > > > > > > > Thought for the Day: > > > > > > > > > > Regardless of belief, > > > > > > > > > > everyone is an agnostic > > > > > > > > > > until gnosis. > > > > > ============ > > > > > > > > > > Here's your Daily Music selection > -- > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Buddha's Last T-Party > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Buddha's Last Tea Party > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Listen - Purchase More > Music > > > Selections > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Alan - > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The poetry of Attar has been in my > thoughts > > > again. His > > > > > masterpiece, The Conference of the > Birds, is one > > > of the most > > > > > delightful collections of sacred > poetry, filled > > > with > > > > > adventure, stories, humor, and deep > wisdom. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > In this collection, he describes a > group of birds > > > > > (individual human souls) under the > leadership of > > > a hoopoe > > > > > (spiritual master) who determine to > search for > > > the legendary > > > > > Simurgh bird (God). The birds must > confront > > > their own > > > > > individual limitations and fears while > journeying > > > through > > > > > seven valleys before they ultimately > find the > > > Simurgh and > > > > > complete their quest. The 30 birds who > > > ultimately complete > > > > > the quest discover that they themselves > are the > > > Simurgh they > > > > > sought, playing on a pun in Persian (si > and murgh > > > can > > > > > translate as 30 birds) while giving us > an > > > esoteric teaching > > > > > on the presence of the Divine within > us. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Farid ud-Din Attar was born in > Nishapur, in > > > north-east > > > > > Iran. There is disagreement over the > exact dates > > > of his > > > > > birth and death but several sources > confirm that > > > he lived > > > > > about 100 years. He is traditionally > said to have > > > been > > > > > killed by Mongol invaders. His tomb > can be seen > > > today in > > > > > Nishapur. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The name Attar means herbalist or > druggist, which > > > was his > > > > > profession. It is said that he saw as > many as > > > 500 patients > > > > > a day in his shop, prescribing herbal > remedies > > > which he > > > > > prepared himself, and he wrote his > poetry while > > > attending to > > > > > his patients. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Attar's poetry inspired Rumi and > many other > > > Sufi poets. > > > > > It is said that Rumi actually met > Attar when > > > Attar was an > > > > > old man and Rumi was a boy, though some > scholars > > > dispute > > > > > this possibility. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > " The sun can only be seen by the > light / of > > > the > > > > > sun. " The sun here is, of course, > a > > > reference to God. > > > > > But then, what does it mean to say that > God can > > > only be seen > > > > > by the light of God? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > One doesn't perceive God as a > separate, > > > objectified > > > > > reality. There is no place > 'outside' of > > > God to > > > > > stand in order to observe God as > something > > > exterior. In > > > > > fact, there is no eye in the common > sense that > > > can view God. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The only way to see God is by the > > > " light " of > > > > > God. That is, instead of looking, > looking > > > everywhere, we > > > > > must stop looking and notice the divine > radiance > > > already > > > > > present, right here, right now. We are > drawn to > > > that > > > > > radiant presence, growing closer to it > until we > > > are > > > > > " dazzled " -- confounded by > the > > > scintillating > > > > > wholeness that is beyond the mind's > ability > > > to > > > > > conceptualize. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Entering the radiance more deeply, we > are finally > > > swallowed > > > > > by it " until a point / is reached > where one > > > no longer > > > > > is. " " Mystics / are not > themselves. > > > They do not > > > > > exist / in selves. " The little > self that > > > imagines > > > > > itself as a being separate from others > and the > > > world around > > > > > it no longer exists in the fluid unity > of this > > > radiance that > > > > > fills and connects everything. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > At that point there is only the > " light of > > > the > > > > > sun " , only divine radiance, within > and > > > without -- > > > > > everywhere! When the light is > recognized as > > > being > > > > > all-pervading, nothing separate or left > out, that > > > is when > > > > > the Divine is truly witnessed in > wholeness and > > > unity. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > But have we gotten anywhere? No, that > implies we > > > have left > > > > > one place or state of awareness and > entered > > > another, which > > > > > is still a sense of separation. > Instead, we have > > > recognized > > > > > the unlimited nature of Reality. And > we are > > > individual (but > > > > > not separate) points of awareness > within that > > > wholeness. > > > > > " There's no destination to > arrive at. / > > > Loved one > > > > > and lover and love are infinite. " > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ivan > > > > > Share Your Thoughts on today's poem > or my > > > commentary... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > New on the Poetry > Chaikhana Blog > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > In addition to the daily > poem, other > > > recent > > > > > blog posts include: > > > > > > > > > > Stork Migrations and > Reading a > > > Poem - > > > > > Comments (2) I just returned from a > walk along > > > the shore of > > > > > a nearby lake. Eight majestic white > wood storks > > > were > > > > > drifting along the surface, then, at > some > > > mutually agreed > > > > > upon signal, they took off one after > the other, > > > reaching out > > > > > for full wingspan, and rising up in an > ascending, > > > orderly > > > > > line to the sky. > > > > > > > > > > Watching them, I thought, “Reading a > poem is > > > like > > > > > this.†More > > > > > - More > > > > > - More > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Support the Poetry > Chaikhana > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Donations to the Poetry Chaikhana > in any > > > amount are > > > > > always welcome. Thank you! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Click here > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > You > > > > > can also support the Poetry > Chaikhana, as > > > well as > > > > > the authors and publishers > > > > > of sacred poetry, by purchasing > some of > > > the > > > > > recommended books through > > > > > the links on this site. Thank > you! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Click here > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > A small amount each month makes a > big > > > difference. > > > > > Become a voluntary Subscriber for just > $2/mo. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Click here > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Help the Poetry Chaikhana reach > more people. > > > Become a > > > > > Supporter for just $10/mo. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Poetry Chaikhana Home > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > New | Books | Music | Teahouse > > > > > | About | Contact > > > > > > > > > > Poets > > > > > by: Name| Tradition > > > > > | Timeline > > > > > Poetry by: Theme | Commentary > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Blog | Forum | Video Channel > > > > > www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com > > > > > Poetry Chaikhana > > > > > > > > > > P.O. Box 2320 > > > > > > > > > > Boulder, CO 80306 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ivan > > > > > M. Granger's original poetry, > stories and > > > > > commentaries are Copyright > > > > > 2002 - 2008 by Ivan M. Granger. > > > > > > > > > > All other material is copyrighted by > the > > > respective > > > > > authors, translators and/or > > > > > publishers. > > > > > ============ > > > > > Plain Text: If you have any difficulty > reading > > > this HTML > > > > > formatted email, please let me know and > I can > > > send you plain > > > > > text emails instead. > > > > > Cancelling: If you wish to stop > receiving this > > > Daily Poem > > > > > email from the Poetry Chaikhana, simply > reply to > > > this email > > > > > and change the Subject to > " Cancel " . > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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