Sue,
Bahman says that dogs are unclean in Islam. I really don't know where this verdict has sprung from. I remember, however, a story from one of the most famous books in our mystical literature. One day Junaid who is one of our greatest mystics was passing by when he saw a shaggy, hungry dog whose teeth had been broken. Junaid stopped by the poor dog and began to give him his own food. All the while, he shed tears, caressed the dog and said, "who knows which of us is really better? A dog's name may be ugly, but no dog is destined to go to hell after death. I however am walking on a tight rope tied and stretched over hell and heaven. If I do not slip I will put the crown of God's forgiveness on my head one day, but if I slip and fall into the hell I am many times worse than this dog."
You once said that you did not know Saadi very well. This is one of the stories I read in Saadi's Boostan. Golistan is in prose. Boostan is in verse.
T
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Bahman's letter to Sue,
Dear Sue,
Thank you, yes, Iranians have ability to speak poetically. I think it is for our culture. We have many poets. When Iranians are child his family read poem and it is for our rich culture. I love all kind of Iranians poems. I usually read classic poem. Classic literature is so beautiful. I love classic literature more than modern literature. For example Hafez, Sa’adi, Molavi and Ferdosi are classic poems. Modern poet (that it called free verse) is beautiful. I read usually Forogh’s poet in modern poet. It is very interesting that classic literature’s books are until now. We have many wars and captures. Now, we have many books that they wrote about 800 years ago.
God tell:
‘I keep from all things that are godly’.Those books are godly.
I was sleeping when a wise man said:
Why do you choose to imitate the dead?
Since happiness for none unfolds in sleep
Drink now, the dust is your eternal bed.
Khayam…….From T’s book.
Yes, dogs are very much in Iran. I don’t like to keep animals in my home, because they are free. We should not take them. Dogs in Islam are unclean and we shouldn’t take them in our home. If a Muslim touches a dog he became unlike. We use dogs in a flock of goats or sheep for example a sheep dog. Now, people have dogs and keep them in their homes. Peoples play with them. Much kind of dogs live in Iran. Bulldogs are very popular and expensive.
Thank you, yes, Iranians have ability to speak poetically. I think it is for our culture. We have many poets. When Iranians are child his family read poem and it is for our rich culture. I love all kind of Iranians poems. I usually read classic poem. Classic literature is so beautiful. I love classic literature more than modern literature. For example Hafez, Sa’adi, Molavi and Ferdosi are classic poems. Modern poet (that it called free verse) is beautiful. I read usually Forogh’s poet in modern poet. It is very interesting that classic literature’s books are until now. We have many wars and captures. Now, we have many books that they wrote about 800 years ago.
God tell:
‘I keep from all things that are godly’.Those books are godly.
I was sleeping when a wise man said:
Why do you choose to imitate the dead?
Since happiness for none unfolds in sleep
Drink now, the dust is your eternal bed.
Khayam…….From T’s book.
Yes, dogs are very much in Iran. I don’t like to keep animals in my home, because they are free. We should not take them. Dogs in Islam are unclean and we shouldn’t take them in our home. If a Muslim touches a dog he became unlike. We use dogs in a flock of goats or sheep for example a sheep dog. Now, people have dogs and keep them in their homes. Peoples play with them. Much kind of dogs live in Iran. Bulldogs are very popular and expensive.
A Hopi Elder Speaks
The Hopi are a tribe of American Indians living in Arizona, which is considered part of the American West. They live on high mesas and,like so many other Indian tribes, great wisdom is theirs. Here is a piece sent to me by my friend, and Ali's friend, Carmen.
Sue
A Hopi Elder Speaks
"You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered . . .
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader."
Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said, "This could be a good time!"
"There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are torn apart and will suffer greatly.
"Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above water. And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, Least of all ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
"The time for the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
"We are the ones we've been waiting for."
-- attributed to an unnamed Hopi elder
Hopi Nation
Oraibi, Arizona
Sue
A Hopi Elder Speaks
"You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered . . .
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader."
Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said, "This could be a good time!"
"There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are torn apart and will suffer greatly.
"Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above water. And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, Least of all ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
"The time for the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
"We are the ones we've been waiting for."
-- attributed to an unnamed Hopi elder
Hopi Nation
Oraibi, Arizona
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