Last night we read Masnavi to line 100 with Sabber and Maryam. The physician from the invisible has now arrived to help our king and who know maybe us.
All aboard please! Today, Friday the 4th of October, on this beautiful autumn morning we are going to continue the journey with Bahman and Fattemeh. Fattemeh is a very nice fellow traveller and shows intense enthusiasm for reading this book.
From beginning to the end, I don't think we will ever find anything but love in Masnavi. Our Masnavi starts with the wailful complaints of separation and then the next thing that happens in order to end or rather begin to end this separation is falling in love. Unlike almost all other stories, it is not enough to be a king to be happy. Here in Masnavi, you need to find a woman, a slave woman and sacrifice your crown to her in order to take your first step towards the Friend. As Rumi says later in his Masnavi: "Love whispered softly into my ears" It is much sweeter to be hunted than to be the hunter."
Yes, let us fall into the trap that Rumi has set up for us with his Masnavi. Let us all be his prey. And indeed what a wonderful predator is he.
T in rapture
Thursday, November 04, 2010
A question from Walden
Hi Sue,
At the end of chapter "Sounds" in Walden, paragraph 15, I have read this sentence: "They would begin to sing almost with as much precision as a clock, within five minutes of a particular time, referred to the setting of the sun, every evening." My understanding of the sentence is a bit dim and I will appreciate it if you could kindly help me understand it better. What I do not perfectly understand is the phrase "of a particular time". In fact, I don't find myself able to parse this part of the sentence : "within five minutes of a particular time, referred to the setting of the sun, every evening." Would it perhaps be possible for you to parse it or even paraphrase it for me?
Thanks in advance for your precious help.
T
At the end of chapter "Sounds" in Walden, paragraph 15, I have read this sentence: "They would begin to sing almost with as much precision as a clock, within five minutes of a particular time, referred to the setting of the sun, every evening." My understanding of the sentence is a bit dim and I will appreciate it if you could kindly help me understand it better. What I do not perfectly understand is the phrase "of a particular time". In fact, I don't find myself able to parse this part of the sentence : "within five minutes of a particular time, referred to the setting of the sun, every evening." Would it perhaps be possible for you to parse it or even paraphrase it for me?
Thanks in advance for your precious help.
T
Heavenly present
When the weather is dirty in Tehran, my heart is rainy, cloudy and sad and when the weather is clean and without pollution, my heart is sunny and happy.
I think that the weather is very important for working,teaching,living and even for our emotions.Unfortunately, these years the weather getting hot and hotter, bad and worst and it is not well, specially in Iran that it is hot and dry, for these when I see a drope of rain, I am impress and I will be happy.
Rain is a thing from God but sometimes we are sad when rain comes that it is not right.
poets always like rain and they use in their poem it, if you ask me why, I say because they see diffrence and with details.
In some countries, rain is important and they respect to it.
Anyway I think that it is heavenly present from God and I hope to see it again and again in Iran and my city meaning Tehran, of course if God willing.
BY HAMED
I think that the weather is very important for working,teaching,living and even for our emotions.Unfortunately, these years the weather getting hot and hotter, bad and worst and it is not well, specially in Iran that it is hot and dry, for these when I see a drope of rain, I am impress and I will be happy.
Rain is a thing from God but sometimes we are sad when rain comes that it is not right.
poets always like rain and they use in their poem it, if you ask me why, I say because they see diffrence and with details.
In some countries, rain is important and they respect to it.
Anyway I think that it is heavenly present from God and I hope to see it again and again in Iran and my city meaning Tehran, of course if God willing.
BY HAMED
My physics teacher
Dear Sue
My physics teacher is my favorite teacher. He is a experienced teacher. When our school opened to now he teaches physics to students in it. He learns us a lot of new things and I like to learn them too fast. Some times what he says is not enough for me and I like to learn another things. And also he is a strict teacher . He takes two quiz in a week.One of them is test quiz and one of them is
description quiz.
Your friend E.N
My physics teacher is my favorite teacher. He is a experienced teacher. When our school opened to now he teaches physics to students in it. He learns us a lot of new things and I like to learn them too fast. Some times what he says is not enough for me and I like to learn another things. And also he is a strict teacher . He takes two quiz in a week.One of them is test quiz and one of them is
description quiz.
Your friend E.N
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Sabber's letter to Sue
Hello Sue
These days I'm too busy because I want to go to a university 9 months later and I should read my school's books alot.
In every day, an average of my studing is about4 hours. I think reading about 4 hours in a day is not enough time for going to a good universityand that is a hard work but, I belive when you love a work, that work is easy for you .I think you belive my opinion too.Is it true?
In the Masnavi, we have read 52 lines. In fact reading the Masnavi is one of the best works that we can do it in my class with T.
Finally, although I am too busy, writing a letter to you makes me happy.
take care.
Sabber
These days I'm too busy because I want to go to a university 9 months later and I should read my school's books alot.
In every day, an average of my studing is about4 hours. I think reading about 4 hours in a day is not enough time for going to a good universityand that is a hard work but, I belive when you love a work, that work is easy for you .I think you belive my opinion too.Is it true?
In the Masnavi, we have read 52 lines. In fact reading the Masnavi is one of the best works that we can do it in my class with T.
Finally, although I am too busy, writing a letter to you makes me happy.
take care.
Sabber
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Dogs
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
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
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
Friday, October 29, 2010
Bahman's letter to Sue,
Dear Sue,
Yes, Esfahan is a beautiful city in Iran. Remembered Esfahan, Shiraz, Turk (they are a ethnic group in Iran), and Kord (they are another ethnic group in Iran) are some of Iran’s Keys. Each of them have special mood.
Tehran’s climate is rainy in these days. Semnan’s climate is rainy too. My library is near a beautiful park, leaves dance in the park. We have snow in the higher mountains too. I think in Tehran we have not snow until winter. I think we will have a cold winter.
We have a project about Friction Stir Welding. We are translating a book about our project. It is so hard because we haven’t any Persian article about our project. All of the articles are in English and it is a big problem for us.
Take care,
Bahman
Yes, Esfahan is a beautiful city in Iran. Remembered Esfahan, Shiraz, Turk (they are a ethnic group in Iran), and Kord (they are another ethnic group in Iran) are some of Iran’s Keys. Each of them have special mood.
Tehran’s climate is rainy in these days. Semnan’s climate is rainy too. My library is near a beautiful park, leaves dance in the park. We have snow in the higher mountains too. I think in Tehran we have not snow until winter. I think we will have a cold winter.
We have a project about Friction Stir Welding. We are translating a book about our project. It is so hard because we haven’t any Persian article about our project. All of the articles are in English and it is a big problem for us.
Take care,
Bahman
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Prelude, something for my very dear friend, Sue
Hi Sue,
I was totally but quite heartfully busy with the first story in Masnavi trying desperately to gather some thoughts that could reveal some of my deeper views regarding Rumi, his Masnavi and the Persian mysticism to you, my very dear friend. I seemed to be silent, but in every moment of all these past days I have been thinking and talking to you in my heart. I am very grateful to you to be reading this important mystical book with us. I am sure you will make countless discoveries in the Persian culture and mysticism through Masnavi for it has a huge, profound influence on my people and culture. Let me copy and paste my short essay here:
On our journey in Masnavi we have reached line 50 with Sabber and Maryam.
In the beginning of this huge reading, it is necessary to have at least a general outline of the book we have before us. Masnavi, which some scholars call the greatest book in the world of mysticism, is a mystical Odyssey in the Persian literature – the story of the restless soul seeking to return to his origin. But unlike Homer’s Odyssey, here the Penelope is God and the unruly suitors are the jealous angels and the Satan who did not agree to man’s creation in the first place and will definitely do anything to prevent him from his return.
In the context of Persian mysticism love is at the core of the creation. Persian mystics rely for their philosophy on a sentence God told Solomon in answer to his question about why He brought the creation into being. God’s answer was that “I was a hidden treasure. I loved to be revealed.” Therefore, God created everything out of love and in the eyes of our mystics, every being is a revelation of God’s enthusiasm and his love for revealing his hidden beauty. A beautiful poem says, “You revealed yourself in a hundred thousand beautiful displays so that I watch you with a hundred thousand eyes. (Ba sad hezar jelve boroon amadi ke man / Ba sad hezar dide tamasha konam tora.)” The problem with all the other beings before the creation of man was that they were only dutiful and glorified The King in awe and not in love. They were not aware of God’s beauty and only appreciated his innocence and power. Like earthly kings, God was obeyed dutifully by every part of his creation, but this same God had a daughter ( = his beauty ) whom He wanted to have her marry someone who knew love. That was why a fistful of dust was chosen for the creation of man and then raised to a rank that demanded the angels to bow before him. Satan openly refused, but even those who did, hid their hostility and jealousy inside them.
Like Homer’s Odysseus, man / Adam had their own Troy war to be defeated in. Satan finally managed to tempt Adam to eat the forbidden fruit and be banished from paradise to earth. Mowlana’s Masnavi is the story of this return journey.
In this new reading of Masnavi, I have noticed something very beautiful which in my view is a unique interpretation of Masnavi’s first story. We all know that Eve and hence women in general are blamed for man’s banishment to earth. But here, right in Masnavi’s first story, we immediately notice two things: first, we must fall in love in order to take the first step in our long Odyssey, and second, it is the love for a woman that helps us take our first step on the return journey. Has Rumi forgiven Eve? Possibly. And perhaps in his own way, Rumi is telling us that women were worth being banished from the Paradise. Once someone asked a mystic, “Where was man’s situation better? In Paradise or on earth?” And the mystic answered, “On earth because in Paradise he was in the prison of his own desires and on earth he was in the prison of love.”
See how interesting Masnavi is because unlike all the stories of kings and their glories in other stories, the kingdom of our king in Masnavi lasts only two lines before he immediately falls in love with a slave woman. And then all that exists is a king who is a slave and a handmaiden who holds the king’s life in her hand.
Let’s love to continue this extremely lovable book then!
Ali, at almost 2 am
I was totally but quite heartfully busy with the first story in Masnavi trying desperately to gather some thoughts that could reveal some of my deeper views regarding Rumi, his Masnavi and the Persian mysticism to you, my very dear friend. I seemed to be silent, but in every moment of all these past days I have been thinking and talking to you in my heart. I am very grateful to you to be reading this important mystical book with us. I am sure you will make countless discoveries in the Persian culture and mysticism through Masnavi for it has a huge, profound influence on my people and culture. Let me copy and paste my short essay here:
On our journey in Masnavi we have reached line 50 with Sabber and Maryam.
In the beginning of this huge reading, it is necessary to have at least a general outline of the book we have before us. Masnavi, which some scholars call the greatest book in the world of mysticism, is a mystical Odyssey in the Persian literature – the story of the restless soul seeking to return to his origin. But unlike Homer’s Odyssey, here the Penelope is God and the unruly suitors are the jealous angels and the Satan who did not agree to man’s creation in the first place and will definitely do anything to prevent him from his return.
In the context of Persian mysticism love is at the core of the creation. Persian mystics rely for their philosophy on a sentence God told Solomon in answer to his question about why He brought the creation into being. God’s answer was that “I was a hidden treasure. I loved to be revealed.” Therefore, God created everything out of love and in the eyes of our mystics, every being is a revelation of God’s enthusiasm and his love for revealing his hidden beauty. A beautiful poem says, “You revealed yourself in a hundred thousand beautiful displays so that I watch you with a hundred thousand eyes. (Ba sad hezar jelve boroon amadi ke man / Ba sad hezar dide tamasha konam tora.)” The problem with all the other beings before the creation of man was that they were only dutiful and glorified The King in awe and not in love. They were not aware of God’s beauty and only appreciated his innocence and power. Like earthly kings, God was obeyed dutifully by every part of his creation, but this same God had a daughter ( = his beauty ) whom He wanted to have her marry someone who knew love. That was why a fistful of dust was chosen for the creation of man and then raised to a rank that demanded the angels to bow before him. Satan openly refused, but even those who did, hid their hostility and jealousy inside them.
Like Homer’s Odysseus, man / Adam had their own Troy war to be defeated in. Satan finally managed to tempt Adam to eat the forbidden fruit and be banished from paradise to earth. Mowlana’s Masnavi is the story of this return journey.
In this new reading of Masnavi, I have noticed something very beautiful which in my view is a unique interpretation of Masnavi’s first story. We all know that Eve and hence women in general are blamed for man’s banishment to earth. But here, right in Masnavi’s first story, we immediately notice two things: first, we must fall in love in order to take the first step in our long Odyssey, and second, it is the love for a woman that helps us take our first step on the return journey. Has Rumi forgiven Eve? Possibly. And perhaps in his own way, Rumi is telling us that women were worth being banished from the Paradise. Once someone asked a mystic, “Where was man’s situation better? In Paradise or on earth?” And the mystic answered, “On earth because in Paradise he was in the prison of his own desires and on earth he was in the prison of love.”
See how interesting Masnavi is because unlike all the stories of kings and their glories in other stories, the kingdom of our king in Masnavi lasts only two lines before he immediately falls in love with a slave woman. And then all that exists is a king who is a slave and a handmaiden who holds the king’s life in her hand.
Let’s love to continue this extremely lovable book then!
Ali, at almost 2 am
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