Praising the Beauty of God

When one praises the beauty of God, one’s soul is filled with bliss.
Bowl of Saki, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan: “Why does God need praise from me? Who am I that I should offer Him praise?” True, we can never praise Him enough; never can our praise be sufficient, but our souls are blessed with the impression of the Glory of God whenever we praise Him. The soul could praise God every moment and yet wanting to praise Him yet more, it is constantly hungering and thirsting to find the Beauty and Perfection of God. By the praise of God the soul is filled with bliss; even to utter the name of God is a blessing that can fill the soul with light, joy and happiness as nothing else can do. Excerpted from: http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/archives/prayer.htm

There is a necessity for praise in prayer, praise of the beauty of God, for man must learn to recognize and praise the beauty of God as manifested in all His creation. In this way he impresses beauty on his soul, and he is able to manifest it in himself, and he becomes the friend of all and is without prejudice. For this reason the Sufi cultivates his heart. The emblem of the Sufi is a heart between two wings, meaning that when the heart is cultivated man can soar up into the heights of heaven. Excerpted from: http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/V/V_34.htm

The only secret of attaining happiness is to learn how to appreciate our privileges in life. If we cultivate that sense of appreciation we shall be thankful, we shall be contented and every moment we shall offer our thanks to God, for His gifts are many and enormous. When we do not see them it is because our wants cover our eyes from seeing all with which we are blessed by Providence. No meditation, no study, nothing can help in that direction, except one thing, and that is to keep our eyes open to appreciate every little privilege in life, to admire every glimpse of beauty that comes before us, being thankful for every little love, kindness or affection shown to us by young or old, rich or poor, wise or foolish. In this way, continually developing the faculty of appreciating life and devoting it to thanksgiving, we arrive at a bliss which no words can explain, a bliss which is beyond imagination: the bliss that we find ourselves having already entered the kingdom of God. Excerpted from: http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/VIII/VIII_2_39.htm

The two important things in life are the praise of God and the pursuit of God. The praise of God is important, and it gives bliss in life, but it is not the real attainment. The all-important work in life is the attainment of God. God cannot be explained. Any attempt to do this always ends in failure. The knowledge of Him can only be attained in the silence and in solitude, and how to do this cannot be explained better than in the words of the Urdu poet Zahir, ‘He who attaineth best the peace of God, his very self must lose. Excerpted from: http://wahiduddin.net/mv2/V/V_38.htm

Many Faces of the One

With a beloved looking intently into each others eyes, commence this “many names” practice. Simply chant the many names of God three times, or six, surrendering to the presence of spirit (like my beloved and I once and forevermore did and enjoyed an ecstatic enlightenment experience).

Speak the names of Allah…Yahweh…Jesus…Christ…Buddha…Tao… Chi…Ka…Aum.

Affirm three times that “I am Source,” that “I am,” that “I am that I am.”

I am Hyoka…Coyote…Great Spirit…Goddess…Earth Mother…Gaia…Beloved Friend…Beloved…the many names of God.

Such a peace was ours to behold, such joy and ecstasy welling up from within. In the arms of a lovers embrace, all energies are amplified, magnified and expanded.

The two primal forces of the universe and of our true nature, expansion and contraction,  are revealed.

Sufi Remembrance: Spiritual Renewal & Infusion on Receiving the Gifts

“Each time you remember, you remember yourself because you have returned to the source and there is no difference between you and your God.” – Sidi al-Jamal, Spiritual Guide of USHS

Because of our fast-paced world and its ensuing lifestyle, it’s sometimes challenging to slow-doooowwwwn and realize that we are human beings and not human “doings.” The Remembrance is a tool that allows us to realize our connection at all times with God, and that we’re also connected at all times to every other person and living thing. Why does this matter?

Example: A person is sitting in a park and knows absolutely no one. There are 20 adults and kids playing soccer, workers doing park maintenance, a couple walking, dogs chasing Frisbees, birds flying, a car driving by. Without the Remembrance, I am an apathetic observer, absorbed in my own business, focused on my own needs. I do the Remembrance with eyes closed for a few minutes.

When I open them, continuing to do the Remembrance, my experience of the park scene is totally different. Before I was a separate observer. As I observe with the Remembrance, every scene has a gift for me. The dogs running and chasing the Frisbee actually bring a smile inside my heart with joy. The kids playing soccer inspire me to get out and walk, showing me how important exercise is to one’s well being. The trees send waves of blessing after blessings as their branches become like arms waving love and beauty with each breath of the wind.

No longer an observer only, I’ve become a participant in this morning’s beauty because I receive the gift of the dog, the tree, the kids and as a recipient, there’s a subtle expression of gratitude and blessing that returns to the giver. Through the Remembrance I’ve experienced the connection I have to all things and have become aware of the circle and cycle of life. I’m more alive, vibrant, and joyful. I’m more human because I’ve experienced the reality of the connection I have to all things through Remembering the Spirit of God.

Exercise: Take 5-10 minutes away from the normal routine of your day. Go to a place where you can experience nature, some place outside of your “domain.” Notice your attitude. Notice the state of your mental thoughts, emotions, and physical body. Notice the state of connection to all living things around you. Now do the Remembrance for a few minutes or longer. Open your eyes, look around, and notice the state of your thoughts, emotions, and body. Notice your relationship to everything you observe. Receive any gifts that want to come your way. Receive any “a-ha’s” that God wants to share. See how God wants to give to you today and allow yourself to fully receive that gift.