Candle Posts :: Motivational Gems for Higher Spiritual Enlightenment

:: Candle Post #105 :: How to Reach the Abode of Eternal Peace? ::

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

Ya Ali Madad! In Canada, we are now in the midst of Baitul Khyal satado for spiritual upliftment. In this posting, we are going to address the issue of why we need a guide to navigate through ocean of reality and how could we reach the Abode of Eternal Peace!

Part 1: Teachings of Rumi: Partial versus Universal Intellect

"Whoever possesses a partial intellect is in need of instruction, but the Universal Intellect is the originator of all things. Those who have joined the partial intellect to the Universal intellect so that the two have become one are the prophets and saints." (M. IV 3359-59)
Source: William C. Chittick. 1983. The Sufi Path of Love. SUNY Press, Albany. p.125

In the above teaching, Rumi has given a clear definition. Human beings have partial or particular intellects, which is like a drop of water in an ocean, compared to the Universal Intellect. The prophets possessed Universal Intellect in the period of Prophethood. In the period of Imamat, the Holy Imams are the holders of the Universal Intellect.

Part 2: Teachings of Rumi and Sayyed Imamshah: Noah's Ark

"In the Sea of the Spirit, swimming is of no avail: Noah's ark is the only escape. Muhammad, that king of the prophets, said, "I am the ship in this Universal Ocean, I, or that person who has become my true vicegerent in inward vision." (M. IV 3359-59)
Source: William C. Chittick. 1983. The Sufi Path of Love. SUNY Press, Albany. p.123

Eji	Bhane Sayyed Imamshah suno munivaro Ane dekho achambe saar Chheli te naav kaljoogni Bhai imaani utarshe paar
O Brother:	Sayyed Imamshah teaches, listen believers. Consider this astonishing mystery. The last ark (ship) is of the present era (is the Imam of the time). Brothers, the faithful ones will cross the ocean of this material existence (by entering into the spirituality and luminosity of the Holy Imam).	....10

Part 3: Teachings of Rumi: How to behave in the Noah's Ark?

"Oh tailor, ironworking is not your job!
You do not know fire's activity: do not do this!
First learn from the ironworkers.
Otherwise do not try it without instruction.
 
Since you are not a sailor,
do not enter the Sea.
Do not set out for the waves and the Sea's roaring.
And if you do, sit in the corner of a ship and do not let go of it.
 
If you fall, fall into the ship!
Do not support yourself with your hands and feet!
If you want heaven, become Jesus' companion
Otherwise, do not aim for azure spheres!" (D. 21291-96)
Source: William C. Chittick. 1983. The Sufi Path of Love. SUNY Press, Albany. p.123

The concept of being under the umbrella of the Holy Imam has been clearly stated in our Dua, Ginans and Qasidas. In order to navigate the ocean of reality, we should always seek our Imam's help. This is most beautifully expressed in the last verse of Pir Hasan Kabirdin's ginan 'Aash Tamari Shri Ho Kayam Sami':

Eji	Pir Hasan Kabirdin sevek em vinve Sami maara ham tere sharan muraari Ya Shah Hi joog kud kapat jal bhariya Satse-thi paar utaaro
O Lord!	Pir Hasan Kabirdin, the humble servant supplicates: O my Lord! I seek Your protection, shelter and guidance. This age is full of evil and deceit, take me across this material ocean by the way of Truth (and admit my soul into the abode of eternal peace).	....9

Part 4: Teachings of Rumi: The Power of Ism-i Azam

"The way to God is exceedingly dreadful, blocked and full of snow. Muhammad was the first person to risk his life, driving his horse in that way and opening the road. Whoever goes in this way does so through his guidance and regard. For he was the first person to open the way. He set up waymarks and set up stakes: "Do not go in this direction, do not go in that direction, If you go in that direction, you will perish like the people of Ad and Thamud. But if you go in this direction, you will be saved like the believers." The whole Koran is explaining this: Within it are clear signs (III 97), that is, "Upon these ways We have provided waymarks." So know that the guide is Muhammad. God says, "Until someone comes to Muhammad, he cannot reach Us ..." (F 225/232-233)
Source: William C. Chittick. 1983. The Sufi Path of Love. SUNY Press, Albany. p.123-124

In the above, Rumi has described the difficulties encountered during the spiritual journey of the soul using the analogy of horse opening a path which was full of snow. The horse is a symbol of Ism-i Azam or Bol. It is through the strength of the Ism-a Azam that the doors of higher realities are experienced.

Part 5: Da'i al-Du'at Al-Mu'ayyad fi'l-Din al-Shirazi's Supplication

Here is an excerpt from Da'i Al-Mu'ayyad's Qasida number 55 (pp. 208-209):

O Mustafa's descendants! I have set out for you by aiming my hopes on you, thus strengthening myself	....45
If I am the target of people because of you, I turn to the right way to receive guidance from you.	....46
My soul is purified when I sacrifice it to you, (because) its purification lies in sacrificing itself for the people of purity (i.e., Ahl-el Bait)	...47
And the glittering star among you is our lord, Ma'add, the Prophets's descendant, the lord of the time.	....48
May Allah's peace be upon you whenever the dawn by its brightness dispels the night's darkness.	....49
Through you Ibn Musa implores Allah for his deliverance from most evil of houses and abodes,	....50
so as to enter the spacious shade of his Master's courtyard and to reside peacefully in the the sanctuary of his palace	....51

In the above verses of the Qasida, look at how Da'i al-Du'at Al-Mu'ayyad places his trust in the Ahl-el Bait and how he relies upon the Imam of the time for guidance. Then, look at how he first purifies his soul and then sacrifices it to the Ahl-el Bait. These are great signs of his humility, devotion and submission to the Imam of the time. He goes further and affirms that the Holy Imam of the time is the bearer of the Noor and continuously dispels darkness. Then, in the final two verses, he seeks deliverance from the evil of all kinds and seeks refuge in Dar-as-Salaam, the eternal abode of peace, which is in the spirituality and luminosity of the Imam of the time.

We recite the prayer for eternal peace and salvation in the second part of our Holy Dua three times a day and in the upstanding tasbis twice a day. However, we need Da'i al-Du'at Al-Mu'ayyad's conviction to enter into the Abode of Peace! Now that we know, we can do it, too because Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam has blessed us with the dua of higher spiritual enlightenment! Al-Hamdulillah!

Part 5: Supplication for help from Noore Ali, Mushkil Kusha

Through the dhikr of 40 beads of Noore Ali Mushkil Kusha, Noore Ali, Hazar Imam, we are seeking to come close to Mowla's light. Specifically, we are trying to do the following.

• Firstly, we are increasing our consciousness to seek support from the Light of Ali by calling on the Light itself.
   
  
• Secondly, we do know that we have to use our intellect to solve our problems. However, we also have to be receptive so that the Universal Intellect (Aql-i Kulli), in form of Light, can inform our partial intellects (aql-i juz'i).
   
  
• Thirdly, we have to be extremely humble and become an ardent lover of Light in order to be graced with the its taste and vision. We also have to learn to work within the realm of the Light and understand that utmost purity, humility and obedience are required.

Let us perform the following dhikr with utmost humility and tenderness of the heart. Download Noore Ali Mushkil Kusha sound track in mp3 format (8 min 46 sec)

Part 7: Links:

1. MP3 and Real Streaming Audio Files on Audio.SalmanSpiritual.com
2. Noore Ali Mushkil Kusha, Noore Ali, Hazar Imam
3. A Modern View of the Balance Between Din and Duniya
4. Balance between Din & Duniya :: Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.)
   
5. Balance between Din & Duniya :: Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) (PDF)
   
6. Eighteen Bandagi Gems :: Knowledge about Luminous Prayers
7. Eighteen Bandagi Gems :: Knowledge about Luminous Prayers (PDF)
8. Creation of Light Within the Personal World Through Ism-I Azam
9. Creation of Light Within the Personal World Through Ism-I Azam (PDF)

Ardent Supplications:
Ya Ali, Ya NOOR Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam, create Sunshine in our hearts, light in our foreheads, and bless us all with the inner vision of the Truth!

Ya Ali, Ya NOOR Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam, grant the global Jamat luminous (noorani) and spiritual (ruhani) tayid (help) to advance materially, spiritually and intellectually. Ameen.

Rakh Mowla je Noor te Yaqeen (Certainly, we trust in Mowla's Light only),
Noorallah Juma
SalmanSpiritual.com
Monday, February 13, 2012

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Article by Dr. Noorallah Juma