Impermenance

Surah 16 verse96-100

96. What is with you must vanish: What is with Allah will endure. And we will certainly bestow, On those who patiently persevere, their reward according to the best of their actions.

97. Whoever works righteousness, Man or Woman, and has faith, surely to him will we give a life that is good and pure, and we will bestow on such their reward according to the their actions.

98. When you do read the Quran, seek Allahs protection from Satan the rejected one.

99. No authority has he over those who believe and put their trust in their Lord.

100. His authority is over those only, who take him as patron and who join partners with God.

Buddha's "Universal Law" says that ---all things change and are impermenant. The "reality we have is now", yesterday has passed and tomorrow is yet to be--we only have the present. But, this "present" will also pass away. Allah is the only reality that is permenant and will endure. This means that both happiness and suffering are impermenant, transient. We can only live now, in this moment---and it is in this moment that we have intentions that can be translated into actions---but this moment will pass. The Japanese have turned this philosophy into an art and celebrate its essence in everyday life as Wabi Sabi.---"It nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple (human)realities--that nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.

God is "the reality that is dependent on no other reality, but upon whom all other reality depends, through whose will all other realities have come into being, and who has, himself not come into being through any other principle." Mutahari.

It is when we contemplate the transient, that we begin to have an inkling of the enduring permenance of Allah.

Do you wabi sabi?

Surrender

Surah 37 verses 100-106

100 "O my Lord! grant me a rightous (son)!"
101 So we gave him the good news of a forbearing son.
102 Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) work with him, He said: "O my son! I have seen in a dream that I offer you in sacrifice: Now see what is your view!" (the son) said: "O my father! Do as you have been commanded: You will find me, if Allah so wills, one of the steadfast."
103. So when they had both submitted (to Allah), and he had laid his forehead
104. We called out to him, O Abraham!
105. "You have already fulfilled the dream!-thus indeed Do we reward those who do right.
106. For this was a clear trial---

For a long time, this story puzzled me. Prophet Abraham was a great man (and muslim) because through the use of his intellect, he arrived at an understanding of God, the most merciful, the most compassionate, the most supreme. Therefore, How could he, who understood God so well, think that a dream that called for the sacrifice of another human being could be from God? Then I realized---he did not---I was making an assumption!! re-read verse 102!!!
This story is not about "sacrifice" ---nor is it about a faith so strong that reason and belief are suspended---No! In my opinion----this is about Trust. It is through Trust in God that we attain "surrender". Prophet Abraham understood God so well, that through this knowledge he was certain that God, the most powerful, the supreme, would not let him go astray. He completely trusted God. And this trust was fulfilled---for God did not allow the son to be sacrificed. This story is about the ideal relationship between man and God.

How strong is your trust?

Is and Is not

Surah 59 (Al-Hashr) verses 21-24
21. Had we sent down this Quran on a mountain , Surely you would have seen it humble itself and cleave asunder in awe of Allah. Such are the similitudes which we give to men that they may reflect.
22. Allah is he than whom there is no other God; who knows (all things) both secret and open; He, most gracious, most merciful.
23. Allah is he than whom there is no other God---the sovereign. the holy One , the source of peace (and perfection),the gaurdian of faith, the perserver of safety, the exalted in might, the irrisistible, the justly proud, glory to Allah! (High is He) above the partners they attribute to him.
24. He is Allah, the creator, the originator, the fashioner, to him belong the most beautiful names. Whatever is in the heavens and earth does declare his praises and glory, and He is the exalted in might, the wise.

Language is limited and inadequate. It cannot explain the unexplainable. It cannot fathom the unfathomable. It cannot be used to create a picture or image of the uncreated.

Lao Tzu says it well....
Since before time and space were, Tao is
It is beyond "is" and "is not"
How do i know this is true?
I look inside myself and see.

We cannot use the limited and inadequate tool of language to understand God....we must use our hearts and our souls....

Mountains shall vanish

Surah 78 verses 1 - 20
In the name of God, the most compassionate, the most merciful.

1. Concerning what are they disputing?
2. Concerning the great news
3. About which they cannot agree
4. Surely they shall soon know
5. Surely, surely, they shall soon know
6. Have we not made the earth as a wide expanse
7. And the mountains as pegs?
8. And created you in pairs?
9. And made your sleep for rest,
10. And made the night as a covering
11. And made the day as a means of subsistance?
12. And built over you many firmaments
13. And placed (therein) a blazing lamp
14. And do we not send down from the clouds water in abundance
15. That we may produce threwith grain and vegetables
16. And gardens of luxurious growth?
17. Surely the day of sorting out is a thing appointed
18. The day that the trumpet shall be sounded, and you shall come forward in crowds
19. And the Heavens shall be opened as if there were doors
20. And the mountains shall vanish as if they were a mirage.

Science has advanced and with it our understanding of how our universe works. Knowledge has the potential of making us arrogant. Because we know how things work, we might presume that we can "control" everything around us. If things work according to "laws' such as the laws of physics for example---then if we understand these "laws" and learn to manipulate and control them, then we "master" our surroundings---or so we think.

But this feeling of superiority/control is only an illusion--everything around us works because of God. Even simple things such as growing a vegetable garden. We might think that because we water it everyday and take care of it---that the vegetables were grown by us---but this is an illusion. On the day of judgement--illusions will be washed away like a mirage and we will see reality.

Does this mean that we are powerless? Our free-will is a gift to be used wisely. If we recognize that all things are "submitting to God" ---be it a plant growing from the soil, or rain falling from the sky, Then perhaps we can learn to be more humble. When we give up our arrogance--we will better appreciate and respect all of God's gifts to us---and be grateful.

Some scientists are looking at nature with different eyes. They have begun to appreciate the awwsome efficiency and perfection of nature and are trying to copy it/use it for the benefit of humans and the environment. They call it biomimicry.

Ask not

Surah 2 verses 268-272

268-Satan threatens you with poverty and bids you conduct unseemly.

God promises you his forgiveness and bounties. And God cares for all and he knows all things.
269-He grants wisdom to whom he pleases, and to whom wisdom is granted, he recieves a benefit overflowing: but none will recieve admonition except men of understanding.

270-And whatever you spend in charity or whatever promises you make, be sure God knows it all. But the wrongdoers have no helpers.

271-If you disclose acts of charity, it is ok, but if you conceal them and make it reach those in need, that is best for you: It will remove some of your stains. And God is well aquainted with what you do.
272-It is not for you to guide them to the right path. But God guides whom he pleases. Whatever of good you give benefits your own soul and you shall do so seeking God's countenance. Whatever of good you give, shall be rendered back to you and you shall not be dealt with unjustly.

As the world grapples with the potential of a global financial crises, it is appropriate to reflect on President Kennedy's famous words--but with a twist---Ask not what God can do for you, but what you can do for God.----

And what we can do for God is to have the right intentions that create right actions for the benefit of all God's creations.

What we can do, is put morality and ethics in the forefront of our bussiness practices where the benefit to our fellow man is of paramount importance rather than the amount of money one can rip off in the short term.

What we can do, is remind our politicians that they serve the people---not corporations. Their responsibility is to their fellow citizens. And what is best for people, is a moral, ethical and responsible gevernment.

What we can do, is take care of our selves, our family, our relations, our neighbours, and those in need so that we can all hope for a better future.

But what we really should do is use our intelligence to find ways on how best we can serve God.

Power of Good

Surah 41 verse 34-36
34. Nor can Goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (evil) with what is better: then between whom was hatred, become as it were, friends and intimates.
35. And no one will be granted such goodness except those who exercise patience and self restraint--none but persons of the greatest good fortune.
36. And if (at any time) an incitement to discord is made to you by satan, seek refuge in God. He is the one who hears and knows all things.

Goodness is a powerful tool---powerful enough to melt away hate--but, to use it well, requires the strength of patience and self-restraint.

The Golden rule of Confucious--
" What one does not wish for oneself, one aught not to do to anyone else, what one recognizes as desirable for oneself, one aught to be willing to grant to others"
--- it is a wise rule to follow in our daily relations and the foundation on which courtesy and manners are built. But to take it a step further and be kind, courteous and good to those whom we dislike can be difficult. It can be done if we are able to develop in ourselves compassion and mercy for those whom we cannot like or understand.

In today's uncertain world, it is worthwile to have faith in the power of good--to have good intentions that create good actions for the benefit of God's creations.

Zoaraster
Every human being must strive to understand the eternal law of truth and righteousness (Asha vahista=Good mind) and must try to realize it in his daily life. In order to do this, he must cultivate love---universal love---(Vohu manu=ethical thought) and realize it deep within his inne self. This truth and love once realized, must be translated into acts of service (khshathra vairya=supreme power) All through, one must hold fast to firm unshaken faith (Spenta armati=Holy devotion) faith in the essential goodness and divinity of all creation, and thus one attains to perfection and immortality (Haurvatat and Ameretat) and becomes perfect as our Ahura mazda (divine) ....


What goodness shall we spread today?

life

Surah 102

1.The mutual rivalry for piling up things diverts you
2.Until you visit the graves
3. No, you shall soon know
4. Again, you shall know!
5. Nay, were you to know with certainty of mind
6. You shall certainly see hellfire!
7. Again, you shall see it with certainty of sight
8. Then shall you be questioned that day about the indulgence.

The approval of others, success, the desire for achievement, these become our goals so that we forget ourselves. We get caught up in accumulating approval, success, achievements etc and we can feel lost without these goals. But our life here on earth is short. Our fast paced life, from birth to death is like a falling raindrop. It is too late to realize what is important when it is almost over. "Things" can never satisfy our soul. Such hunger can only be satisfied by spirituality.

In order to live in such a way that regrets are minimal, it is important to create balance. We need to feed both our worldly needs and our spiritual needs.

Tao te ching
"The five colors blind the eye
The five tones deafen the ear
The five flavors overwhelm the palate

Fancy things get in the way of one's growth
Racing here and there,
hunting for this and that---
Good ways to madden your mind that's all

Relinquish what is without
Cultivate what is within
Live for your center, not your sences. "