Forum for higher wisdom

  A BROAD OUTLINE OF HINDUISM By a lover of Ancient Wisdom Preliminary remarks The ancient system of thought and a way of life, popularly designated as Hinduism, is so vast, diverse and complex that any attempt to set forth a comprehensive view of the whole of it in writing would run into hundreds of volumes. Even the best of the academic scholars would not be able to do justice to it. This is because of mainly two reasons : firstly, what remains at the present time of the ancient so-called Hindu scriptures is only a fraction of what was there originally a few millenniums before. What the European scholars have obtained and translated into English and other European tongues pertain to the remnants which are extant. This is admitted by Orientalist scholars. Secondly, the ancient scriptures of India, just as the scriptures of any of the ancient peoples, such as the Books of Moses, the Hebrew Bible, Zoroastrianism, the ancient Egyptian scrolls and papyri, etc., etc., have t...

  The ‘Kesariya Daaman’ of Sufism-Part-2 by Ms. Kamar Sultana     A Palanquin, Love and Long Locks The Guru-Disciple equation in Sufism is one of the purest forms of love. A love so strong so enduring so as to endure the pain of long locks of hair that had got entangled in the Palanquin of the Shaykh (Hazrath Nasiruddin Chirag Delhi) as Hazrath Khwaja Bandenawaz lifted it on to his shoulders. Never wanting to place his Master’s palki down to unentangle his hair, he continued in this state until the destination was reached. When the Shaykh heard about this, he was so moved as to recite the following couplets: “Har ki murid Syed gesu daraaz shud Vallah khilaf-e-nest ki Uoo ishq baaz shud.” (“Syed Gesu Daraaz has pledged his obedience; there is nothing wrong in it because he has deeply fallen in love.”) And to confer upon his beloved disciple the title of ‘Gesu Daraz’, hence the name Hazrath Khwaja BandeNawaz Gesu Daraaz (R.A). Gulbarga Sharif. Do visit this wo...

  Chisti in Brief: An element that is very distinctly ‘Chistiya’ is the Sama, the ceremony of poetry, song and music used to enhance devotion and bring on a mystical experience for all present in the gathering. Moved by the music, the words, the trance-like state of the dervishes and the singers, the average devotee too gets a taste of the experience of the divine union. Another important practice is the ‘Zikr’Allah : the recitation of the names of the Almighty in the right way and at the right time. (These are specific as per the Spiritual Teacher, namely, Shaykh) Almost all Sufi orders prescribe a period of seclusion of ‘Chilla’ which is a period of forty days and yes, the Chisti Tariq follows the Chilla practice meticulously as a means of inner purification through reflective isolation. Simplicity of Devotion : Any kind of superiority complex due to possession of knowledge or attainment of spiritual standing is strictly frowned upon by the Order. Since the very early d...

  The ‘Kesariya Daaman’ of Sufism-Part-1 Ms Kamar Sultana It is Sufi Basant at Hazrath Nizamuddin Auliya (Rahmathullahi Alai). The day is Basant Panchami. It’s the only day Qawwali is allowed inside the tomb area at Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, rather than at the courtyard in the usual scenario. The flowers are yellow marigold. Yellow marks the singer’s and attendees’ attire as well. The language and imagery is so distinctly Indian. A classic example of Indian tradition being embraced by a Sufi Order, namely, the Chisti Order, whose most prominent Saint is Hazrat Khwaja Garib e Nawaz Moinuddin Chisti (Rahmathullahi Alai ), popularly known as ‘Hind-al-Wali, the Saint of India. The Sufi Basant began at Hazrath Nizamuddin Auliya in an attempt by his cherished disciple Amir Khusro to cheer him after the loss of his beloved nephew. Yellow attire, yellow flowers and a poem was what it took to bring a smile to the beloved face of Hazrath Nizamuddin. And we hope that every year it doe...

  “Nafs e Mutmaenna” – The surrendered blissful soul ‘Nafs e mutmaenna’ is the truly surrendered soul to the commands of Allah and His Prophet (SAS), ‘Nafs e mutmaenna’ has reached the stage of sublimity and tranquility. The storms of the mind have died down; the passions of the heart have been totally subdued and the heat of the body has cooled down. The mind and the heart is totally turned to the ways of Lord and is at complete peace with Him. There is no wavering and fickle-mindedness in the mind. The supreme light of the Lord has dawned on the mind and heart. There is glow of light on the face and a halo around the head. The nafs e ammara, the carnal soul is subdued and humbled. The ‘nafs e lawamma’ gives guidance to the heart and mind with moral precepts and ‘Nafs e mutmaenna’ is in total peace with the Lord by following the commands of the Lord and His Prophet (SAS). When the nafs or soul is surrendered to the Lord, then the Lord bestows his secrets in the heart and such pe...