Monday, November 28, 2016

Sakina Shikari paints



"The abode of God is in the innermost heart
But God knows where the heart's abode is
I am an ecstatic Sufi
Who can trace the path of my inward journey... "

-- Sultan Bahoo

3 comments:

  1. Sultan Bahu was a 17th-century mystic, poet, and scholar active mostly in the Punjab province of Pakistan. He started a Sufi mystic tradition, Sarwari Qadiri, which emphasized thhe contemplation of belovedness towards God and, unlike the orthodox Qadiriyya approach, did not adhere to a specific dress code, seclusion, ascetic practices, breathing exercises, or other lengthy exercises. A 7th-generation descendant wrote "Manaqib-i Sultani," a hagiography that provided almost all we know about him. He authored more than 140 books, mostly in Persian, dealing with Islam, as well as the "Abyat-e-Bahoo" poetry in Punjabi, which is still sung in many genres of Sufi music including qawwali, a 13th-century fusion of Persian, Arabic, Turkish, and Indian musical traditions intended to induce hypnotic states among the musicians and audience, and kafi, a simpler genre credited to Rumi that emphasizes the words rather than the music.

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  2. Intellect and wisdom find no foothold
    Where the secrets of unity in God are revealed
    Priests are no help there
    Nor is any knowledge of the scriptures.
    You can only merge yourself in the Absolute
    When the Master reveals the divine secret.
    You can only acquire ultimate knowledge of God
    After you put away the scriptures.

    The abode of God is in the innermost heart
    But God knows where the heart’s abode is
    Become a lover
    and let your heart be like a rock.
    If people hurl abuse at you
    consider it as a blessing.
    Even Mansur, who knew all the secrets of God,
    Was sent to the gallows.
    Once you have bowed your head in prayer,
    Do not lift it again, O Bahu,
    Although the multitude may brand you an infidel.

    O Master
    There is no place for wisdom or thought there
    Where the Unity of the Divine is the secret - He!
    Grand professors, priests, and astrologers have no use there
    And bookish knowledge of scripture has no worth – He!
    With the veil of "m" removed, when "Ahmad" was revealed as "Ahad" (one with God)
    Then all creation merged with the Reality of Him – He!
    You've acquired all kinds of knowledge, Sultan Bahu
    Now shut the holy books and put them away
    I am an ecstatic mystic
    Who can trace the path of my inward journey?
    I am an ecstatic mystic
    Who can trace the path of my inward journey?
    I am an ecstatic mystic
    I am a mystic...

    Master
    When my own ego was there, then the awareness of God was not
    Now there's only God, no "me"
    No "me"
    When illumination of Knowledge chased away the darkness in me
    There was no need to light a lamp
    I am an ecstatic mystic
    Who can trace the path of my inward journey?
    I am an ecstatic mystic
    Ecstatic

    O Master
    My beloved Master!
    Love dealt me such a lethal wound
    That I wander indifferent to the world and its pleasures
    Then I found the Beloved I searched for right in my home
    The Beloved I searched for
    My Enchanter dwells in my very own heart
    I am an ecstatic mystic
    Who can trace the path of my inward journey?
    I am an ecstatic mystic
    Ecstatic

    The abode of God is in the innermost heart
    But God knows where the heart's abode is
    Where?
    Where is the heart's abode?
    I am an ecstatic mystic

    Become a true lover
    Become a true lover and thus gain love
    Keep your heart as staunch and unfaltering as a mountain – He
    The hundreds of cruelties, and thousands of insults you suffer at people's hands
    Consider these to be a joyous blessing – He!
    Even true devotees like Mansur Hallaj were hung at the gallows
    Who had known all His Secrets – He!
    We don't lift our bowed head from prayer, Sultan Bahu
    Even if crowds and crowds of people call us infidels – He!
    I am an ecstatic mystic
    Ecstatic

    My constant remembrance of Your name merged me into You
    All trace of me was erased until there was nothing left but You
    Wherever I turn, I can see only You
    I am an ecstatic mystic

    O Master!
    It’s just as well my clay-pot broke
    Now I'm free from having to fetch water!
    Now I'm free
    I am an ecstatic mystic

    The tremendous power of the words ‘Ali and Muhammad
    Is something the uninitiated just cannot fathom
    O Ali!
    The tremendous power of the words ‘Ali and Muhammad
    Is something the uninitiated just cannot fathom
    This enigma is one that only pure devotees comprehend
    That these names turn a verse into a fragrant bouquet
    I am an ecstatic mystic
    Who can trace the path of my inward journey?
    I am an ecstatic mystic
    Ecstatic

    Who can trace the path of my inward journey?

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