MERCY OCEANS, Book 08 (The Heart, Shaykh Nazim, 43 pages, 1/4)
https://www.nvrislam.net/index.php?j=eng&post=5813
MERCY OCEANS OF THE HEART, Book 8
The Discourses of Our Master Sheikh Nazim. Al-Qubrusi (Imam wul-Haqqaniyyin)
Delivered with the Permission of his Grandsheikh Sheikh Abdullah Ad-Daghistani (May Allah Sanctify his Blessed Soul)!
Selected Lectures, Summer 1404 A\H. (1984 C.E.) Germany and Switzerland Winter 1405. ‘A\H. (1985 C.E.)
Copyright © 1985
TABLE OF CONTENTS
* The Absolute Love Oceans of our Lord
* The Power of Love ...
* Endless Longing ...
* The Cavemen ...
* Seek to make Things Easy for People, not Hard ...
* Three Essential Practices for Beginners ...
* Trying to fit Spiritual Realities into Block Heads ...
* Association ...
* The “Personality” of Allah ...
* Distinguishing inspirations from Delusions ...
* An Invitation to Address a Mass § Mecting ...
* one-hundred Years from now ...
* Depression — Fertile Medium for the Growth of Madness ...
* Depression and Sleep ...
* Advice on Childrearing ...
In The Name Of Allah The All- Beneficent, The All- Merciful
THE ABSOLUTE LOVE OCEANS OF OUR LORD
(Sheikh Nazim visited a Centre dedicated to spiritual endeavour, Two groups there were at odds, one claiming that the other was not behaving in a manner befitting a holy place).
* * *
The Sheikh said :
The Lord — our Lord, your Lord, their Lord — is One. He created them and planted His Divine Love in the very yeast of their being. You must know that, although that love may be temporarily cov- ered, it is running through their hearts as a river runs to an ocean. Along the course of that river love may manifest only as temporary human love, and that love current may even seem to disappear com- pletely, like a river that flows under a mountain,
=7=
only to re-emenge on the other side. But there can be no doubt that our Lord has placed in every heart a current that flows irresistably to His Love Oceans in the Divine Presence. Therefore, don’t imagine them to be cut off from Divine Love - it must be ‘with them, whether that is now apparent to you and to themselves, or not.
As our heart-current flows toward that ocean, the main difference we notice is that our love is not tied to physical beauty. Everyone loves nature, greenery, rushing waters, youthful forms, beautiful people - but what about the others? The Lord gave of His Love to people in general, not only to the young and beautiful. And the One who implanted His Love in our hearts says: “Oh My servant, as I have given you from My Divine Love, so have I giv- en it to all creation; so spread your love to everyone, that you may be in harmony with My Wil.”
In reality, everything that contains His Love is green and beautiful, but to perceive the beauty in all creation you must transcend outward forms and penetrate to the realm of Spiritual Reality Oceans. First of all, it is important to pass from forms to meanings, from fleeting shapes to eternal spiritual realities, as forms are limited and limiting, whereas spiritual realities are Oceans, Endless Oceans of Contentment. To arrive at those Oceans will bring you inner peace.
Therefore, I am trying to love everyone. It is easy to say to a person, “I love you” as long as that
— 10 —
person has never harmed. you, but according to our Grandsheikh such is not the measure of real love. He used to quote a famous Daghistani Sufi poet who said : “I don’t accept the love that you claim to hold for me to be real until I have tested you. What is my test? If I put you through a meatgrinder and you came out the other end as minced meat - but were still alive - and if then I returned you to your original form, would you still love me?”
What this poet meant was: If I cause you so much suffering, and harm you as no one has ever harmed you before, will you still love me despite all that I have done? That is true love. But if I am with you for forty years, and then, because of one hurtful word I may utter towards you in a moment of stress, you leave me and declare me to be your enemy, denying the love of forty years and saying, “I don’t love you anymore”, that is not the love we are referring to.
Therefore, as I have said, there are levels of love along the way, differing in quality according to their nearness to the goal, the Absolute Love Oceans of our Lord. When one has reached that goal he may take any amount of harm from others and still love. He may say: “I love you for the sake of my Lord, not for any other reason. That love will never change or diminish, as no matter what you do your Lord’s love is with you. You may be- have like a wild animal, you may wound me, but yet, for you to even exist, my Lord’s love must be with you, and therefore I am loving you, too.”
—~ 11 —
only to re-emerge on the other side. But there can be no doubt that our Lord has placed in every heart a current that flows irresistably to His Love Oceans in the Divine Presence. Therefore, don’t imagine them to be cut off from Divine Love - it must be ‘with them, whether that is now apparent to you and to themselves, or not.
As our heart-current flows toward that ocean, the main difference we notice is that our love is not tied to physical beauty. Everyone loves nature, greenery, rushing waters, youthful forms, beautiful people - but what about the others? The Lord gave of His Love to people in general, not only to the young and beautiful. And the One who implanted His Love in our hearts says: “Oh My servant, as I have given you from My Divine Love, so have I giv- en it to all creation; so spread your love to everyone, that you may be in harmony with My Will.”
In reality, everything that contains His Love is green and beautiful, but to perceive the beauty in all creation you must transcend outward forms and penetrate to the realm of Spiritual Reality Oceans. First of all, it is important to pass from forms to meanings, from fleeting shapes to eternal spiritual realities, as forms are limited and limiting, whereas spiritual realities are Oceans, Endless Oceans of Contentment. To arrive at those Oceans will bring you inner peace.
Therefore, I am trying to love everyone. It is easy to say to a person, “I love you” as long as that
— 10 —
person has never harmed. you, but according to our Grandsheikh such is not the measure of real love. He used to quote a famous Daghistani Sufi poet who said : “I don’t accept the love that you claim to hold for me to be real until I have tested you. What is my test? If I put you through a meatgrinder and you came out the other end as minced meat - but were still alive - and if then I returned you to your original form, would you still love me?”
What this poet meant was: If I cause you so much suffering, and harm you as no one has ever harmed you before, will you still love me despite all that I have done? That is true love. But if I am with you for forty years, and then, because of one hurtful word I may utter towards you in a moment of stress, you leave me and declare me to be your enemy, denying the love of forty years and saying, “T don’t love you anymore”, that is not the love we are referring to.
Therefore, as I have said, there are levels of love along the way, differing in quality according to their nearness to the goal, the Absolute Love Oceans of our Lord. When one has reached that goal he may take any amount of harm from others and still love. He may say: “I love you for the sake of my Lord, not for any other reason. That love will mever change or diminish, as no matter what you do your Lord’s love is with you. You may be- have like a wild animal, you may wound me, but yet, for you to even exist, my Lord’s love must be with you, and therefore I am loving you, too.”
— 11 —
Only the highest and most select of mankind are ever on such a level, and we are trying to reach that point - but it is so difficult. You must know that this is a test for you and an opportunity to gain spiritual ranks. Now you are in a situation where you must be patient with people who may not be upholding the same level of decorum that you are accustomed to. Here is an opportunity for you to advance, as Holy people have advised us: rather than avoiding all illmannered and badly educated people, we should mingle with them and establish contact with them, that they may benefit and that you may test yourself and gain thereby.
They are servants of the Almighty’s Will, and we are His servants too. Our Lord is their Lord and their Lord is our’s. We must be patient and we will gain, little by little. Cherry trees first yield bitter fruit, but you must wait - little by little, little by lit- tle, the tree starts to yield sweet and tasteful cher- ries. The Holy Masters have promised me that who- ever sits with us and listens with his heart full of love must come to the same level : their hearts must open to Divine Love, The Masters are not going to abandon us, and we are not going to turn from them, as our hearts have been bound with the strongest of bonds: the bond of Divine Love, that strongest of relationships of love that exists be- tween the Creator and His creatures. That relation- ship is the ultimate goal of existence, and we pray that it may grow stronger always.
— 12 —
Those with whom we sit and whose hearts are receptive to Divine Love will attain that love. This is a promise from the Masters, and therefore our meeting indicates that your time is approaching, the time when you will be able to break the bonds that make you slaves to your egos, Soon you will be free to approach your spiritual goals, and that is
why everyone here feels himself affected and moved to tears.
If the love that were with me were only tran- sitory love you wouldn’t even bother sitting with me for a moment. But the love that is with me is real, permanent and Divine; and I have extended a ray of it to your hearts to awaken permanent love in you.
My daughters and sons in attendance here to- day have never met me before, but our first meeting has ‘been enough to establish real love from my heart to theirs, This is a love they will never forget, a love that is blossoming in their hearts.
I ask my Lord for permission to spread His permanent love to the hearts of all people - and the time is approaching when 'we hope that permission will be granted.
** Wa min Allah at-Taufig **
— 13 —
THE POWER OF LOVE
(Sheikh Nazim led the assembly in calling upon the Holy Name of Allah : “Ya - Wadud”, a Divine Name signifying God’s all-embracing love). Then he spoke :
There is nothing in all creation that the Creator, Allah Almighty, hates. Indeed it is impossible to be hated by Allah and to be in existence : one abso- lutely precludes the other. All creation appeared through His Divine Love, He loved them and they appeared; therefore, everything in existence carries its share of Divine Love in it.
When I say “everything”, I mean everything, from atoms and their parts - the very building- ‘blocks of the Universe - up to mankind. Yes, every- thing, even the smallest particles of matter, carry that Divine Gift. As you know, the electrons of at- oms revolve around the nuclei, and at enormous ve- locity. Someone told me that the famous scientist Albert Einstein once declared: “I have come to understand so much, but what I have never been able to fathom is what power gives electrons the energy to orbit nuclei at such a speed. From where does such power come to them?”
We believe, and furthermore, have been granted
—14—
certainty in our belief, that everything in existence has life, is living. For the sake of everyday reckon- ing we classify certain things, such as rocks, as in- animate objects, and recognize life only in plants, animals and human beings, But we believe that be- yond these outward distinctions everything has life. Therefore, atoms, and their electrons that turn around the nuclei with such speed as to baffle even the renowned Mr. Einstein, are, in reality, alive. They are alive with the Divine Love Power that their Lord has granted them: That’s what makes them spin at the speed of light.
Science may make penetrating and wonderful discoveries. Scientists’ knowledge may advance and climb to unimagined heights in the realm of. the ob- servable and what may be proven through experi- ments. But even such a ‘great realm, the realm of observation and experimentation, is finite, has its limits, and only within these limits can it draw au- thoritative conclusions, Therefore, scientists who re- cognize their limitations and are not blinded by pride may admit, that some occurences are not ex- plicable by science.
It is for those who have access to a realm of knowledge beyond science to say with certainty, that it is Allah Almighty, the Lord of the Universe, who through His Holy Name “Al-Wadud” (The All-Lov- ing) gives His Divine Love to everything in the Uni- verse. Those electrons, drunken with Divine Love, spin at such velocity around the nuclei. That is how the influence of Divine Love is manifested by them.
— 15 —
Science can neither prove nor deny this expla- nation, as this phenomenon is beyond their realm, and they cannot as much as offer a theory. ‘But our hearts may be content with this explanation, as each and every one of us may try it himself with- in himself; for we all have the Power of that Divine Love in our hearts ready to be contacted.
There is no one word in western languages that gives the full meaning of “Al-Wadud”, and even explanations don’t do it justice, even though the West claims its knowledge to be superior and looks down disdainfully on every religious experience, And this Holy Name, the meaning of which cannot even be adequately expressed in advanced western languages, is the most suitable “Dhikr’, the most suitable of all the Divine Names to repeat and med- itate upon for people who see themselves as supe- rior beings and as being above normal standards.
“Love” it is certainly not a concept that west- ern culture is unfamiliar with, and undoubtedly most people lay claim to loving and being loved, to knowing the meaning of love, and to it being an important aspect of their lives, indeed the most important. But the love we refer to in connection with the Divine Name “Al-Wadud” is not the physical transitory love that is rapidly becoming the only meaning of love applicable to modern man : the love that one may find in the zoo. If you can’t imag- ine a love other than what is on the level of animals, then you belong in the zoo.
— 16 —
There is a real love, never changing, never dy- ing love; and then there is temporary animal love. Both are in man through tthe wisdom of the Creator, but the permanent love is the love given to man through the Divine Name “Al-Wadud”. To realize that love is the challenge and fulfillment of human existence - to come in contact with those Love Oceans, for He has given His Divine Love most abundantly to His most honoured representatives jin creation, mankind.
You may love a young lady for her youth, and when that youth departs you love her no more. That is false love. Sometimes we may have both kinds of love simultaneously, but usually the phys- ical overpowers the spiritual, so ‘that it is never allowed to appear. But to reach the ultimate goal of human life we are in need of permanent love, and it is only the Lord of the Universe who can grant it.
Therefore, when we say “Ya-Wadud” we are opening ourselves up to that Divine Love, asking our Lord to awaken that love that knows no limi- tation, that is eternal and extends to all creation. I have been ordered to teach and advise people to call on our Lord, saying: “Ya-Wadud”, as this will en- able the sincere to attain real love of their Lord Almighty and to love everything around them- selves. We must learn to love everything for the sake of the love the Creator has for all His cre- ation. And we are in utmost need to pray for such
—17 —
love, as, although it is the essence of all success in the way of spiritual purification, it has become almost extinct in our times, Therefore, suffering,
disturbances, struggle, crises and chaos are contin- ually on the rise.
What passes for human love nowadays is in deed a very far cry from real human love, Mostly, people cling to it for two or three months then throw it away. You are saying: “Oh my goddess”, and she is saying: “Oh my god”, but look in again ion them two or three months later and see what is left of that “true devotion” and “deep emotion”, That is the greatest cause of wretchedness in our times. For this reason I don’t refer to. this century as a civilized one, Rather, the twentieth century is Witnessing the destruction of civilization, and every minute violence and misery are increasing.
A society may be termed “civilized” when it provides the surrounding in which people may easily reach to the point of extending their perma- nent love to everyone. One shouldn't be so proud
of being a part of “Twentieth Century Civilization”,
for I really don’t consider such a violent and sick society to ‘be civilized, and when I come here I feel my lhair standing on end from what I see. Such wildness! No familiarity! Everyone looking so sus- Piciously to each other!
When I say this, people may be offended and put on the defensive, and may ask: “If you feel such feelings here then why do you come? Why do you
— 18 —
come if you don’t like the Western World?” Yes, people may ask. A physician may visit a hospital or a mental institution, but he is going there in order to do his job, in order to be of benefit to the patients interned in those institutions. I have been trained to heal spiritual ailments from a side and with meth- ods not known in these countries, and so J have been sent by spiritual centers to look after the Western countries, and if even one person should benefit, we have profited.
Every little improvement in the spiritual health of western society is a relief for the whole world, as throughout the world Nations have abandoned their cultures and are following the West, Therefore, the diseases of the West are rapidly becoming our dis- eases, and so, we hope, improvement in the spiritual climate of the West will lead to our improvement as well.
Because of this acute situation in our times we must, first and foremost, seek to awaken permanent love. Practices, prayers and rules are of no use in this time without love. For people whose hearts have not regained contact with such love the ego easily attaches itself to practices and uses them as a means to pin empty titles onto itself, Leave every practice that serves your vanity and strive for permanent love.
Where shall we start? Every person has a circle of friends, relations, acquaintances. Starting from those closest to us: wives and ‘husbands, parents
and children, brothers and sisters, we must be gen erous in giving of our permanent love. How can we consider a person who cannot make peace with those nearest to him as civilized? If we could ap- proach the level of permanent love that befits us the world’s courts would have to be closed down from a lack of suits: no complaining, no divorce, no wretchedness, no struggle.
Giving of our permanent love is the most im- portant practice for our time, No one can say: “T am not in need of practicing it,” neither the speak- er nor the listeners. Don’t tell me that so-and-so is on such-and-such a level when he is tightfisted with permanent love, withholding it even from those with whom he is most intimate.
The lower self of man, the selfish ego, nevai wants to give permanent love except to himself. I don’t believe that such petty self-love is all we have been created for, I believe that we have been created to love all creation. Man represents his Lord on Earth and has the greatest resevoir of Divine Love within him; he can be a great means of expression for that Divine Love in this world, indeed a fountain of love that every creature may drink from.
I have not spoken to you from a prepared text, but have opened up just. a little from these Oceans in accordance with your spiritual thirst.
— 20 —
ENDLESS LONGING
I am to our visitor here a strange person in strange clothes whom he thinks he is seeing for the first time. He knows only that this person is called “Sheikh Nazim”, more than this he does not yet know. Just as I am an unknown being to him, so is he unknown to himself. He knows of himself only what is ‘written on his identity card: “Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Mother’s Name, Father's Name, Occupation”.
As long as one remains ignorant of one’s own real existence, how can one attain knowledge of one’s Creator? Therefore, I don’t blame people for being blind to Divine Realities and to the existence of the Creator, for they are ignorant of themselves; how shculd it be any different? If they knew themselves they would accept Divine Realities,
As of yet he doesn’t even know whether he exists or not. He says: “One-hundred years ago I was nothing and in another one-hundred years I will be nothing as well; therefore, how may I say that I am something?” But, despite this logic, he now feels himself to be something, a living being.
The destination of the physical body is the grave, but the spiritual body is a heavenly being,
— 21 —
and its life is the real life. This body is like a cage and our soul like a bird. The bird comes from heav- en and enters the cage. There it remains confined, awaiting the time for the guardian to come and open the door, saying: “Go; you are free”.
Holy people are eagerly awaiting the arrival of that guardian in order to be freed once and for all from that cage, but the heedless are not wait- ing for anyone; they say: “This cage is great! We have plenty to eat and to drink, and we can jump all about: from the swing to the upper perch, down to the lower perch and up again to the swing”.
There are others however who feel confined in this world and who are looking to the moment of liberation with longing and hope. They know that everything in this world. is finite and provides only limited satisfaction, and something inside of them cries out for a ‘world without limits, a joy without end. The physical body cannot respond to this cry, it cannot be the vehicle for the fulfillment of this longing. But something within ourselves is unlim- ited: our spiritual being may attain to the infinite.
Endless longing is what sets man apart from other creatures. Other creatures have not been giv- en the spiritual power of mankind, their desires are confined to the realities of their bodily needs, but man’s endless longing comes from the eternal and limitless spirit within him, the power with which his Creator has endowed him that he may attain knowledge of Him Almighty.
— 22. —
Now we are looking out upon the greatness of the Creator through two tiny holes - the pupils of the eye; through these two tiny windows we gaze out in awe at this Universe. Our soul looks out through these tiny windows like a prisoner gazing through the small barred window of his prison. What can he see of the world from such a vantage point? Nothing! Now our view is like this, but it may yet open up, for it is within cur possibilities to gain perception of the whole Universe at a glance. If our spiritual eyes are opened no distance can be ‘beyond their range, no mountain block their view, no darkness hinder their penetration: such is the sight of the spiritual eyes. Now, however, while we are within the range of our senses, every- thing is limited. Only when the cage is opened and your soul regains its freedom you may know the meaning of “limitless” and return to your home- land.
All the suffering of man comes from his trying to fulfill his endless desires — originating in reality from his spiritual self — with a flood of sensual gratification that can never come even close to fulfilling that endless longing. Therefore, instead of seeking to fly from their cages men are occupied with what is in them, thinking all the while that they are free. No, we are bound to ail the passing phenomena of this world, and to free ourselves from that attachment is the most difficult task and the greatest challenge of our lives.
But it is impossible to even begin to detach
—— 23 —
oneself from pre-occupation with one’s surround- ings unless one believes in eternal life. Therefore, every Prophet sent to mankind has given good tidings of eternal life. If a ‘person believes only in that which his senses can perceive he will grab for everything that might conceivably give him pleas- ure; even if you cut off his hands he will try to clasp it with his arms and carry it off. Whoso denies eternal life is the slave of everything around him,
like a person knocked unconscious who never comes to.
Man’s endless longing for his Lord is what sets him apart from other creatures, But until he breaks the bonds that tie him to the earth that longing will keep manifesting itself as unceasing worldly de- sire which cannot possibly be satisfied, as its cause lies in an entirely different realm, That is why peo- le in this world are never happy, no matter how much they may possess. A person seeking peace and contentment of heart must strive hard, as a rocket Strives until it breaks the gravitational pull of the Earth. Don’t imagine that one may attain satisfac- tion without struggle against that earthly gravita- tional field! Even if we may see a few people who seem to be successful it is easy to understand that such a situation is a very temporary one, The shad- ow of fear pursues such “lucky” people, for, no doubt, tomorrow will bring with it the downfall of their empires, the undoing of their happiness. This fear makes everything they have tasteless: it kills and destroys, and there is no cure.
— 244 —
Today he may be king and she may be queen, but who can promise anything for tomorrow except the gradual onset of decrepitude and death? Who denies the eternal realm lives in misery; people cel- ebrate their own birthdays,
Link: https://www.nvrislam.net/index.php?j=eng&post=5813
MERCY OCEANS OF THE HEART, Book 8
The Discourses of Our Master Sheikh Nazim. Al-Qubrusi (Imam wul-Haqqaniyyin)
Delivered with the Permission of his Grandsheikh Sheikh Abdullah Ad-Daghistani (May Allah Sanctify his Blessed Soul)!
Selected Lectures, Summer 1404 A\H. (1984 C.E.) Germany and Switzerland Winter 1405. ‘A\H. (1985 C.E.)
Copyright © 1985
TABLE OF CONTENTS
* The Absolute Love Oceans of our Lord
* The Power of Love ...
* Endless Longing ...
* The Cavemen ...
* Seek to make Things Easy for People, not Hard ...
* Three Essential Practices for Beginners ...
* Trying to fit Spiritual Realities into Block Heads ...
* Association ...
* The “Personality” of Allah ...
* Distinguishing inspirations from Delusions ...
* An Invitation to Address a Mass § Mecting ...
* one-hundred Years from now ...
* Depression — Fertile Medium for the Growth of Madness ...
* Depression and Sleep ...
* Advice on Childrearing ...
In The Name Of Allah The All- Beneficent, The All- Merciful
THE ABSOLUTE LOVE OCEANS OF OUR LORD
(Sheikh Nazim visited a Centre dedicated to spiritual endeavour, Two groups there were at odds, one claiming that the other was not behaving in a manner befitting a holy place).
* * *
The Sheikh said :
The Lord — our Lord, your Lord, their Lord — is One. He created them and planted His Divine Love in the very yeast of their being. You must know that, although that love may be temporarily cov- ered, it is running through their hearts as a river runs to an ocean. Along the course of that river love may manifest only as temporary human love, and that love current may even seem to disappear com- pletely, like a river that flows under a mountain,
=7=
only to re-emenge on the other side. But there can be no doubt that our Lord has placed in every heart a current that flows irresistably to His Love Oceans in the Divine Presence. Therefore, don’t imagine them to be cut off from Divine Love - it must be ‘with them, whether that is now apparent to you and to themselves, or not.
As our heart-current flows toward that ocean, the main difference we notice is that our love is not tied to physical beauty. Everyone loves nature, greenery, rushing waters, youthful forms, beautiful people - but what about the others? The Lord gave of His Love to people in general, not only to the young and beautiful. And the One who implanted His Love in our hearts says: “Oh My servant, as I have given you from My Divine Love, so have I giv- en it to all creation; so spread your love to everyone, that you may be in harmony with My Wil.”
In reality, everything that contains His Love is green and beautiful, but to perceive the beauty in all creation you must transcend outward forms and penetrate to the realm of Spiritual Reality Oceans. First of all, it is important to pass from forms to meanings, from fleeting shapes to eternal spiritual realities, as forms are limited and limiting, whereas spiritual realities are Oceans, Endless Oceans of Contentment. To arrive at those Oceans will bring you inner peace.
Therefore, I am trying to love everyone. It is easy to say to a person, “I love you” as long as that
— 10 —
person has never harmed. you, but according to our Grandsheikh such is not the measure of real love. He used to quote a famous Daghistani Sufi poet who said : “I don’t accept the love that you claim to hold for me to be real until I have tested you. What is my test? If I put you through a meatgrinder and you came out the other end as minced meat - but were still alive - and if then I returned you to your original form, would you still love me?”
What this poet meant was: If I cause you so much suffering, and harm you as no one has ever harmed you before, will you still love me despite all that I have done? That is true love. But if I am with you for forty years, and then, because of one hurtful word I may utter towards you in a moment of stress, you leave me and declare me to be your enemy, denying the love of forty years and saying, “I don’t love you anymore”, that is not the love we are referring to.
Therefore, as I have said, there are levels of love along the way, differing in quality according to their nearness to the goal, the Absolute Love Oceans of our Lord. When one has reached that goal he may take any amount of harm from others and still love. He may say: “I love you for the sake of my Lord, not for any other reason. That love will never change or diminish, as no matter what you do your Lord’s love is with you. You may be- have like a wild animal, you may wound me, but yet, for you to even exist, my Lord’s love must be with you, and therefore I am loving you, too.”
—~ 11 —
only to re-emerge on the other side. But there can be no doubt that our Lord has placed in every heart a current that flows irresistably to His Love Oceans in the Divine Presence. Therefore, don’t imagine them to be cut off from Divine Love - it must be ‘with them, whether that is now apparent to you and to themselves, or not.
As our heart-current flows toward that ocean, the main difference we notice is that our love is not tied to physical beauty. Everyone loves nature, greenery, rushing waters, youthful forms, beautiful people - but what about the others? The Lord gave of His Love to people in general, not only to the young and beautiful. And the One who implanted His Love in our hearts says: “Oh My servant, as I have given you from My Divine Love, so have I giv- en it to all creation; so spread your love to everyone, that you may be in harmony with My Will.”
In reality, everything that contains His Love is green and beautiful, but to perceive the beauty in all creation you must transcend outward forms and penetrate to the realm of Spiritual Reality Oceans. First of all, it is important to pass from forms to meanings, from fleeting shapes to eternal spiritual realities, as forms are limited and limiting, whereas spiritual realities are Oceans, Endless Oceans of Contentment. To arrive at those Oceans will bring you inner peace.
Therefore, I am trying to love everyone. It is easy to say to a person, “I love you” as long as that
— 10 —
person has never harmed. you, but according to our Grandsheikh such is not the measure of real love. He used to quote a famous Daghistani Sufi poet who said : “I don’t accept the love that you claim to hold for me to be real until I have tested you. What is my test? If I put you through a meatgrinder and you came out the other end as minced meat - but were still alive - and if then I returned you to your original form, would you still love me?”
What this poet meant was: If I cause you so much suffering, and harm you as no one has ever harmed you before, will you still love me despite all that I have done? That is true love. But if I am with you for forty years, and then, because of one hurtful word I may utter towards you in a moment of stress, you leave me and declare me to be your enemy, denying the love of forty years and saying, “T don’t love you anymore”, that is not the love we are referring to.
Therefore, as I have said, there are levels of love along the way, differing in quality according to their nearness to the goal, the Absolute Love Oceans of our Lord. When one has reached that goal he may take any amount of harm from others and still love. He may say: “I love you for the sake of my Lord, not for any other reason. That love will mever change or diminish, as no matter what you do your Lord’s love is with you. You may be- have like a wild animal, you may wound me, but yet, for you to even exist, my Lord’s love must be with you, and therefore I am loving you, too.”
— 11 —
Only the highest and most select of mankind are ever on such a level, and we are trying to reach that point - but it is so difficult. You must know that this is a test for you and an opportunity to gain spiritual ranks. Now you are in a situation where you must be patient with people who may not be upholding the same level of decorum that you are accustomed to. Here is an opportunity for you to advance, as Holy people have advised us: rather than avoiding all illmannered and badly educated people, we should mingle with them and establish contact with them, that they may benefit and that you may test yourself and gain thereby.
They are servants of the Almighty’s Will, and we are His servants too. Our Lord is their Lord and their Lord is our’s. We must be patient and we will gain, little by little. Cherry trees first yield bitter fruit, but you must wait - little by little, little by lit- tle, the tree starts to yield sweet and tasteful cher- ries. The Holy Masters have promised me that who- ever sits with us and listens with his heart full of love must come to the same level : their hearts must open to Divine Love, The Masters are not going to abandon us, and we are not going to turn from them, as our hearts have been bound with the strongest of bonds: the bond of Divine Love, that strongest of relationships of love that exists be- tween the Creator and His creatures. That relation- ship is the ultimate goal of existence, and we pray that it may grow stronger always.
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Those with whom we sit and whose hearts are receptive to Divine Love will attain that love. This is a promise from the Masters, and therefore our meeting indicates that your time is approaching, the time when you will be able to break the bonds that make you slaves to your egos, Soon you will be free to approach your spiritual goals, and that is
why everyone here feels himself affected and moved to tears.
If the love that were with me were only tran- sitory love you wouldn’t even bother sitting with me for a moment. But the love that is with me is real, permanent and Divine; and I have extended a ray of it to your hearts to awaken permanent love in you.
My daughters and sons in attendance here to- day have never met me before, but our first meeting has ‘been enough to establish real love from my heart to theirs, This is a love they will never forget, a love that is blossoming in their hearts.
I ask my Lord for permission to spread His permanent love to the hearts of all people - and the time is approaching when 'we hope that permission will be granted.
** Wa min Allah at-Taufig **
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THE POWER OF LOVE
(Sheikh Nazim led the assembly in calling upon the Holy Name of Allah : “Ya - Wadud”, a Divine Name signifying God’s all-embracing love). Then he spoke :
There is nothing in all creation that the Creator, Allah Almighty, hates. Indeed it is impossible to be hated by Allah and to be in existence : one abso- lutely precludes the other. All creation appeared through His Divine Love, He loved them and they appeared; therefore, everything in existence carries its share of Divine Love in it.
When I say “everything”, I mean everything, from atoms and their parts - the very building- ‘blocks of the Universe - up to mankind. Yes, every- thing, even the smallest particles of matter, carry that Divine Gift. As you know, the electrons of at- oms revolve around the nuclei, and at enormous ve- locity. Someone told me that the famous scientist Albert Einstein once declared: “I have come to understand so much, but what I have never been able to fathom is what power gives electrons the energy to orbit nuclei at such a speed. From where does such power come to them?”
We believe, and furthermore, have been granted
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certainty in our belief, that everything in existence has life, is living. For the sake of everyday reckon- ing we classify certain things, such as rocks, as in- animate objects, and recognize life only in plants, animals and human beings, But we believe that be- yond these outward distinctions everything has life. Therefore, atoms, and their electrons that turn around the nuclei with such speed as to baffle even the renowned Mr. Einstein, are, in reality, alive. They are alive with the Divine Love Power that their Lord has granted them: That’s what makes them spin at the speed of light.
Science may make penetrating and wonderful discoveries. Scientists’ knowledge may advance and climb to unimagined heights in the realm of. the ob- servable and what may be proven through experi- ments. But even such a ‘great realm, the realm of observation and experimentation, is finite, has its limits, and only within these limits can it draw au- thoritative conclusions, Therefore, scientists who re- cognize their limitations and are not blinded by pride may admit, that some occurences are not ex- plicable by science.
It is for those who have access to a realm of knowledge beyond science to say with certainty, that it is Allah Almighty, the Lord of the Universe, who through His Holy Name “Al-Wadud” (The All-Lov- ing) gives His Divine Love to everything in the Uni- verse. Those electrons, drunken with Divine Love, spin at such velocity around the nuclei. That is how the influence of Divine Love is manifested by them.
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Science can neither prove nor deny this expla- nation, as this phenomenon is beyond their realm, and they cannot as much as offer a theory. ‘But our hearts may be content with this explanation, as each and every one of us may try it himself with- in himself; for we all have the Power of that Divine Love in our hearts ready to be contacted.
There is no one word in western languages that gives the full meaning of “Al-Wadud”, and even explanations don’t do it justice, even though the West claims its knowledge to be superior and looks down disdainfully on every religious experience, And this Holy Name, the meaning of which cannot even be adequately expressed in advanced western languages, is the most suitable “Dhikr’, the most suitable of all the Divine Names to repeat and med- itate upon for people who see themselves as supe- rior beings and as being above normal standards.
“Love” it is certainly not a concept that west- ern culture is unfamiliar with, and undoubtedly most people lay claim to loving and being loved, to knowing the meaning of love, and to it being an important aspect of their lives, indeed the most important. But the love we refer to in connection with the Divine Name “Al-Wadud” is not the physical transitory love that is rapidly becoming the only meaning of love applicable to modern man : the love that one may find in the zoo. If you can’t imag- ine a love other than what is on the level of animals, then you belong in the zoo.
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There is a real love, never changing, never dy- ing love; and then there is temporary animal love. Both are in man through tthe wisdom of the Creator, but the permanent love is the love given to man through the Divine Name “Al-Wadud”. To realize that love is the challenge and fulfillment of human existence - to come in contact with those Love Oceans, for He has given His Divine Love most abundantly to His most honoured representatives jin creation, mankind.
You may love a young lady for her youth, and when that youth departs you love her no more. That is false love. Sometimes we may have both kinds of love simultaneously, but usually the phys- ical overpowers the spiritual, so ‘that it is never allowed to appear. But to reach the ultimate goal of human life we are in need of permanent love, and it is only the Lord of the Universe who can grant it.
Therefore, when we say “Ya-Wadud” we are opening ourselves up to that Divine Love, asking our Lord to awaken that love that knows no limi- tation, that is eternal and extends to all creation. I have been ordered to teach and advise people to call on our Lord, saying: “Ya-Wadud”, as this will en- able the sincere to attain real love of their Lord Almighty and to love everything around them- selves. We must learn to love everything for the sake of the love the Creator has for all His cre- ation. And we are in utmost need to pray for such
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love, as, although it is the essence of all success in the way of spiritual purification, it has become almost extinct in our times, Therefore, suffering,
disturbances, struggle, crises and chaos are contin- ually on the rise.
What passes for human love nowadays is in deed a very far cry from real human love, Mostly, people cling to it for two or three months then throw it away. You are saying: “Oh my goddess”, and she is saying: “Oh my god”, but look in again ion them two or three months later and see what is left of that “true devotion” and “deep emotion”, That is the greatest cause of wretchedness in our times. For this reason I don’t refer to. this century as a civilized one, Rather, the twentieth century is Witnessing the destruction of civilization, and every minute violence and misery are increasing.
A society may be termed “civilized” when it provides the surrounding in which people may easily reach to the point of extending their perma- nent love to everyone. One shouldn't be so proud
of being a part of “Twentieth Century Civilization”,
for I really don’t consider such a violent and sick society to ‘be civilized, and when I come here I feel my lhair standing on end from what I see. Such wildness! No familiarity! Everyone looking so sus- Piciously to each other!
When I say this, people may be offended and put on the defensive, and may ask: “If you feel such feelings here then why do you come? Why do you
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come if you don’t like the Western World?” Yes, people may ask. A physician may visit a hospital or a mental institution, but he is going there in order to do his job, in order to be of benefit to the patients interned in those institutions. I have been trained to heal spiritual ailments from a side and with meth- ods not known in these countries, and so J have been sent by spiritual centers to look after the Western countries, and if even one person should benefit, we have profited.
Every little improvement in the spiritual health of western society is a relief for the whole world, as throughout the world Nations have abandoned their cultures and are following the West, Therefore, the diseases of the West are rapidly becoming our dis- eases, and so, we hope, improvement in the spiritual climate of the West will lead to our improvement as well.
Because of this acute situation in our times we must, first and foremost, seek to awaken permanent love. Practices, prayers and rules are of no use in this time without love. For people whose hearts have not regained contact with such love the ego easily attaches itself to practices and uses them as a means to pin empty titles onto itself, Leave every practice that serves your vanity and strive for permanent love.
Where shall we start? Every person has a circle of friends, relations, acquaintances. Starting from those closest to us: wives and ‘husbands, parents
and children, brothers and sisters, we must be gen erous in giving of our permanent love. How can we consider a person who cannot make peace with those nearest to him as civilized? If we could ap- proach the level of permanent love that befits us the world’s courts would have to be closed down from a lack of suits: no complaining, no divorce, no wretchedness, no struggle.
Giving of our permanent love is the most im- portant practice for our time, No one can say: “T am not in need of practicing it,” neither the speak- er nor the listeners. Don’t tell me that so-and-so is on such-and-such a level when he is tightfisted with permanent love, withholding it even from those with whom he is most intimate.
The lower self of man, the selfish ego, nevai wants to give permanent love except to himself. I don’t believe that such petty self-love is all we have been created for, I believe that we have been created to love all creation. Man represents his Lord on Earth and has the greatest resevoir of Divine Love within him; he can be a great means of expression for that Divine Love in this world, indeed a fountain of love that every creature may drink from.
I have not spoken to you from a prepared text, but have opened up just. a little from these Oceans in accordance with your spiritual thirst.
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ENDLESS LONGING
I am to our visitor here a strange person in strange clothes whom he thinks he is seeing for the first time. He knows only that this person is called “Sheikh Nazim”, more than this he does not yet know. Just as I am an unknown being to him, so is he unknown to himself. He knows of himself only what is ‘written on his identity card: “Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Mother’s Name, Father's Name, Occupation”.
As long as one remains ignorant of one’s own real existence, how can one attain knowledge of one’s Creator? Therefore, I don’t blame people for being blind to Divine Realities and to the existence of the Creator, for they are ignorant of themselves; how shculd it be any different? If they knew themselves they would accept Divine Realities,
As of yet he doesn’t even know whether he exists or not. He says: “One-hundred years ago I was nothing and in another one-hundred years I will be nothing as well; therefore, how may I say that I am something?” But, despite this logic, he now feels himself to be something, a living being.
The destination of the physical body is the grave, but the spiritual body is a heavenly being,
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and its life is the real life. This body is like a cage and our soul like a bird. The bird comes from heav- en and enters the cage. There it remains confined, awaiting the time for the guardian to come and open the door, saying: “Go; you are free”.
Holy people are eagerly awaiting the arrival of that guardian in order to be freed once and for all from that cage, but the heedless are not wait- ing for anyone; they say: “This cage is great! We have plenty to eat and to drink, and we can jump all about: from the swing to the upper perch, down to the lower perch and up again to the swing”.
There are others however who feel confined in this world and who are looking to the moment of liberation with longing and hope. They know that everything in this world. is finite and provides only limited satisfaction, and something inside of them cries out for a ‘world without limits, a joy without end. The physical body cannot respond to this cry, it cannot be the vehicle for the fulfillment of this longing. But something within ourselves is unlim- ited: our spiritual being may attain to the infinite.
Endless longing is what sets man apart from other creatures. Other creatures have not been giv- en the spiritual power of mankind, their desires are confined to the realities of their bodily needs, but man’s endless longing comes from the eternal and limitless spirit within him, the power with which his Creator has endowed him that he may attain knowledge of Him Almighty.
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Now we are looking out upon the greatness of the Creator through two tiny holes - the pupils of the eye; through these two tiny windows we gaze out in awe at this Universe. Our soul looks out through these tiny windows like a prisoner gazing through the small barred window of his prison. What can he see of the world from such a vantage point? Nothing! Now our view is like this, but it may yet open up, for it is within cur possibilities to gain perception of the whole Universe at a glance. If our spiritual eyes are opened no distance can be ‘beyond their range, no mountain block their view, no darkness hinder their penetration: such is the sight of the spiritual eyes. Now, however, while we are within the range of our senses, every- thing is limited. Only when the cage is opened and your soul regains its freedom you may know the meaning of “limitless” and return to your home- land.
All the suffering of man comes from his trying to fulfill his endless desires — originating in reality from his spiritual self — with a flood of sensual gratification that can never come even close to fulfilling that endless longing. Therefore, instead of seeking to fly from their cages men are occupied with what is in them, thinking all the while that they are free. No, we are bound to ail the passing phenomena of this world, and to free ourselves from that attachment is the most difficult task and the greatest challenge of our lives.
But it is impossible to even begin to detach
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oneself from pre-occupation with one’s surround- ings unless one believes in eternal life. Therefore, every Prophet sent to mankind has given good tidings of eternal life. If a ‘person believes only in that which his senses can perceive he will grab for everything that might conceivably give him pleas- ure; even if you cut off his hands he will try to clasp it with his arms and carry it off. Whoso denies eternal life is the slave of everything around him,
like a person knocked unconscious who never comes to.
Man’s endless longing for his Lord is what sets him apart from other creatures, But until he breaks the bonds that tie him to the earth that longing will keep manifesting itself as unceasing worldly de- sire which cannot possibly be satisfied, as its cause lies in an entirely different realm, That is why peo- le in this world are never happy, no matter how much they may possess. A person seeking peace and contentment of heart must strive hard, as a rocket Strives until it breaks the gravitational pull of the Earth. Don’t imagine that one may attain satisfac- tion without struggle against that earthly gravita- tional field! Even if we may see a few people who seem to be successful it is easy to understand that such a situation is a very temporary one, The shad- ow of fear pursues such “lucky” people, for, no doubt, tomorrow will bring with it the downfall of their empires, the undoing of their happiness. This fear makes everything they have tasteless: it kills and destroys, and there is no cure.
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Today he may be king and she may be queen, but who can promise anything for tomorrow except the gradual onset of decrepitude and death? Who denies the eternal realm lives in misery; people cel- ebrate their own birthdays,
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