BAZ

Shaka can you post Ibn Arabi's commentary on that hadith here please.

"... and the perverted path which was only after enjoyment. That was called the “left-hand path.†" well most of us guys know that hunna. LOL Ok.. Ill stop with the school yard jokes. Were Catholic priests people on whom celebacy was forced? no one forced them to become priests. All this pro celebacy talk is fine and dandy but you have to look at reality. Maybe this works for one out of a thousand but celebacy seems to have quite a few negative effects from what we see. People seem to snap. And how can one go after some mystical experience and neglect one's wife's needs? There must be balance. Celebacy is an extreme. The right path always seems to be the middle path.

If growing ones hair is a sign of keeping with Gods will then in my opinion celebacy is the rejection of Gods will. God made man and woman to have sex and to procreate.. he gave us the parts to do so and the desire to do so. Now Ill speak from a muslim point of view as I am muslim but Im sure there are truths we can agree on despite the label. God has given man and woman desire to have sex but He outlines what would make it lawful for us and what would make it unlawful for us. If sex outside of marriage is seen as a sin because this makes us give in to our lusts then sex inside of marriage is seen as a blessing. In fact for muslims marriage is considered to be half of our faith and marriage ofcourse includes sex. Lust set loose and wild is destructive to ourselves, our society and our spiritual well being. Lust controlled and applied properly can strengthen and enhance the love between a husband and wife.

The way they try to make number 3 work (asking permission for things like going out of town, buying a house, naming your child etc) is that they tell you that to be on the spiritual path one must be selfless and trust ones spiritual master. It is an exercise in spiritual ettiquette and submission to the will of God through your master to do as your sheikh says and ask permission on matters. Do you see how this is dangerous? Its dangerous because true guides have also done the same thing but in a positive way. True guides have used these techniques to test the love and devotion of their followers. The story of Guru Nanak Ji and Bhai Lena and Guru gobind Singh and the Panj Pyarey comes to mind. Similar accounts in the chishti line of sufis too. Anyway, I wouldnt have any of this as over time I felt that they were trying to tighten their grip around me. I told my "spiritual guide" that he could basically shove it where the sun dont shine and I left the group that I had given my heart to for a few years of my life. There are wolves disguised as shepards and that is why they want you to become sheep that dont question. In todays world it seems to be safer to be a stubborn goat. True spiritual masters are almost extinct. After leaving the group I came to find out about some incidents of sexual abuse towards some female members by the head of that Sufi group. I have talked to one lady who was sexually manipulated by this so called Sheikh.

I was initiated into this particular sufi group and I was in it for a few years but left when I saw it was actually a cult. So if anyone comes across a fat bloke named Baba Shah Mahmood (or just “Baba†as he likes to be called) who claims to be the head of the Yousufi-Albayli branch of the Chishti Order avoid him like the plague. Here is how a cult traps you: 1) It tells you a lot of truth and good things but once in a while it puts a few drops of falsehood in there which you take in thinking that it is good. It’s like putting a few drops of poison into very tasty food. You usually don’t notice it because the food tastes so good. With time they increase the amount of poison they give you till you become theirs or corrupted by them. 2) They will try and isolate you from the outside till that group becomes your everything. They tried to poison my mind against my dad and against my friends who were not part of that sufi group. It will come to a point when they will outright say or imply that people outside of the cult are a threat or a bad influence. 3) They will try and take away your will and independence. You must ask your “spiritual guide†permission for all major and sometimes insignificant things (in my case I was told that I needed to ask permission even if I wanted to go out of town). 4) They will use guilt and imply that God is unhappy with you if you don’t conform to what they want or they will imply that some sort of punishment will come from God if you don’t be an obedient follower. 5) Religion and spirituality will be twisted and used to manipulate you and it doesn’t even have to be twisted that much. For example in my case there were many examples used to get me to submit... some of these were stories of true and loyal disciples who stuck by their master no matter what even if the master did things which seemed wrong or irrational. Stories were taken from spiritual traditions or holy books to drive the point home that one should not question the master and be obedient. Stories of Moses and Khizr when Khizr did some things which seemed abhorrent to Moses. There is a fine line between religion/spiritualty and a cult even though they are worlds apart. Once you see how the mind of a cult leader works you can see how easy it is to manipulate people if you have a little bit of charisma (and ridhi-sidhi helps a lot too which I know my “Sheikh†had because I experienced it).

What exactly is offensive about this film?

http://www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com/index.asp Im not a vegetarian and wont ever be one but I dont think I will eat KFC again. Even with eggs.. I only buy free range.

This is an urban legend/internet hoax story. There are a few of these stories going around (Hillfigure coming on Oprah and saying he doesnt want blacks wearing his clothes, crocodile hunter steve Irwin is dead, golfer eaten by alligator). Just type "KFC hoax" in your yahoo or google search and you will see what Im talking about. With that said we should really be more aware of what some of these poor animals are put through before their slaughter. Chickens seem to get it the worst. PETA seems to be a bit of an extremist animal rights group at times but check out this link anyway: http://www.peta.org/feat/moorefield/

Cybersingh is this the dera of Tim Horton Brampton Wala u speak of? Black Goddess.. turn the gator into a whip? haw! Kenu marna ya odhay naal??? That gator is a better whip alive.. trust me.. Ive been whipped on the backside by her tail a few times and it hurts! lol

Haw Black Goddess I know u wanna turn it into a purse! I think I understand where your hate comes from.. I dislike a lot of what I see in the muslim community myself. Just got to be careful with hate though... it can either repell you from what you hate towards something that is opposite and therefore good, or it can consume you... and you dont want the second. Anyway, Im glad my posts made you rethink what you believe. Salaams and Sat Sri Akal

I agree that at the spiritual level a true sikh is a muslim and a true muslim is a sikh if we take "muslim" and "sikh" to mean "one who submits to the will of God". But then on a worldly level I guess a sikh is a sikh and a muslim is a muslim because we choose the path we travel on. On a worldly level I cant call myself a sikh when I dont follow the Gurus' commands. On a worldy level I am a muslim because I try to follow the guidelines in the Quran and believe in the "prophethood" (the english word "Prophet" doesnt do justice to the meaning of Nabi and Rusul) of Muhammad (PBUH). This belief will have me do and accept some things that as a sikh I would have to reject. I do fast. I will go on pilgrimage God willing. I accept the practice of making meat halaal. Why do I believe this? Because as a muslim I believe that the Quran is the exact and revealed word of God and He tells me to fast, go on hajj and to make animals halaal for food. He tells me this for my own benefit and I try to look for and understand the benefit in this. But even though our paths are different I can only automatically feel an attachment and love for those individuals who do what they do with the intention of following God and being good to His creation. In my opinion the hearts of believers is the same regardless of religion. The heart is independant of the brain in that sense. The brain just tries its best to put good intentions into some form of action.

I guess "alter" was the wrong word to use but I do think that physically we do let our religion determine the way we look... nothing wrong with that either. A Sikh grows his hair and beard as a symbol of his submission to the will of God. A Muslim male gets circumcised as a symbol of his submission to the will of God. Sikhs keep the kanga to keep the long hair clean as cleanliness is also an act of devotion. Muslims shave or trim the hair from under their arms and privates to keep themselves clean as possible. 2 opposite actions with the same intention in mind... God looks at our intentions.

Pleasure is all mine praava. Thank ju ji

Wicked! Thanks

I remember seeing a book on the translations of his poetry by the Radha Swoami group. Does anyone know where I can get this book and any others that contain his poetry?

Salaams and Sat Sri Akal. A bit about me: Im 31 and I live in Ottawa, Canada. I was born and raised in Southall in England and also lived in Wolverhampton for 4 years and Jallandher for 8 months. Moved to Canada when I was 15. My real name is Bharat but most people call me Baz which is a nickname I got in England. Im a muslim convert (since I was 20). I have a 2 year old daughter I named Simran. Got a lovely missus. I'm a graphic designer but I also work for the local zoo in my spare time. I love working with exotic animals and helping out with exciting conservation efforts. Here are 2 links to articles I wrote with some photos from my last 2 animal adventures: http://www.brownvado.com/baz_india.htm http://www.brownvado.com/bazkomodo.htm

Oh that gator is "Lady Chompsalot".. shes quite nice actually once you get her out of her enclosure... but getting her out.. well u gotta be careful I also think that there are a lot of people who do think like me.. well I hope there is. Just that extremist kuthay uchee ponkdhey ya it usually drowns out the calm voices but mai kutheya tho nai dardha. People who look for differences to stay divided think they have something to prove. It doesnt make sense to think that way. In a way they think they have ownership over God and what worse form of idol worship is there than that? Muslims with an extremist mentality will say that unless you accept Islam then you are bound for hell. What they fail to realise is that maybe their version and practice of Islam is repulsive to a spiritual minded person. Then you have muslim converts who believe it to be their duty to lead people and invite them to Islam... how can u invite someome to a path you are clearly a novice on? Its idiotic. So people of other faiths are put off by your version and practice of Islam and dont become muslim and are therefore bound to hell? Gimme a break... this doesnt sound like the plan of the Most Gracious and Most Merciful. There is a saying of the Prophet that the Jews have 71 sects and one will enter heaven, the christians have 72 sects and one will enter heaven, the muslims have 73 sects and one will enter heaven. Now you have sunnis and their subsects and shias and their subsects all arguing over how they are the one which are going to heaven and missing the point completely. From what I understand and what my gut tells me this "sect" in each religion that will obtain the pleasure of God are people with a certain mindset. People who are purifying their hearts and listening to the voice of God within them to the best of their ability. Rambled on there or a bit. Maaf karo.

Actually when my friend decided to take amrit and keep his kesh I was very proud of him and happy for him too.

My Master came back to me rushing like a tide bringing me the treasures of the Ocean. The waves embraced me with love filling my being with pearls, setting off a whirlwind within me. Blood and pearls rushed around my rusty heart polishing it into a mirror that reflects only beauty. Be careful with it… mirrors tend to break easily. Reaching into the whirlwind I took a pearl …and then another… and then some more. I threaded them together but not to make a necklace. My prayers beads are made of your pearls oh Master. Touching each one I remember and worship You. Your remembrance takes me deep within and in this meditation I forget the world… and I forget myself. I become silent as I spin in my cosmic dance. Your energy brings my universe to life. Walking in to my heart I see Your reflection. I look into Your eyes and only then do I see myself. Keep me as a captive in Your eyes oh Master Your shackles of gold adorn my wrists and ankles.

A seeker looks for the Truth even though it is contained within him. We recognize the Truth in someone else’s words because we have already seen it within our own selves. Our search only confirms what is within.

Darkness is the absence of Light. This Light begins to leave when we ignore it. The Straight Path is for walking not for sitting! So run now to catch the Sun! We look for Light outside of ourselves We avoid the Darkness outside of ourselves Yet this Straight Path is within. We look for Allah in the mosque We avoid Shaitan in the world Yet both reside within us. Shaitan will meet us on this Path He will try to stray us with his many forms. There is no resting on this Path Resting will bring the night and The night will bring danger. In the night we wander blindly In the night we stray off our course In the night the predator’s vision is better than ours. Follow the Sun and gaze at It Stare at It long enough so you will see It when your eyes are closed. Let It be present in your moments of Darkness and it will bring you back to your Path. If we are in the Sun’s rays within ourselves Then we become the moon in this world. We can light up someone’s night by reflecting the Sun. Find the moons if you are in complete darkness… they will lead you to your light. One Light reflected by many moons are God’s Mercy.

The 99 Names exist within like seeds The water of Remembrance makes them blossom in your heart and their fragrance will appear around your being. You have to take care of this garden. Light is reflected. Light attracts Light. Light gives to others. Shaitan has his own names Forgetting Allah makes them appear in you. The darkness will spread from your heart to your surface. The darkness will spread from your thoughts to your actions or inactions. Darkness absorbs. Darkness attracts Darkness. Darkness takes from others. One has to experience Light to know Darkness. One has to experience Darkness to want Light. Darkness hides evil while Light covers evil… there is a difference here... think about it. Alone in Darkness With God in Light. Hidden in Darkness exposed in Light. In Darkness only you exist… in Light only Allah.

Gone are the Philosophers stones that turned iron hearts into precious gold. The iron has blackened and become rusted… Only the sweat of your own work can be trusted. Clean and polish it remembering the One This heart will reflect the colour of the Sun.

A couple of weekends ago I was visiting my friend Harminder (Harry) in Brampton. Harry is a amritdhari Sikh and we have been friends for about 11 years. We went to the Gurdwara 3 times to see Bhai Avtar Singh Ji and to record him doing kirtan and sing shabads in the way it was done at the time of the Gurus (in raag form using a stringed instrument called a “daous†I believe). Now there is one thing as a muslim I am not supposed to do in a Gurdwara and that is to prostrate myself in front of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. This isn’t because of any disrespect… I’m not even supposed to do this to the Holy Quran and we consider that to be the actual and exact word of God. Prostration for a muslim is restricted to only the Formless Creator because even His words cannot contain Him. I have done seva in a gurdwara before by serving langar a number of times. Anyway, as I entered the hall I stood at the doorway facing the holy book and joined my hands and bowed my head to show my respect and sat down to listen to Bhai Avtar Singh. He started and it brought tears to my eyes. I thought “God is closer to me than my jugular vein yet I feel so far from Himâ€. I missed Him and missed that feeling of closeness. I felt like my inner being could remember a time when we were together and I longed for that. My talks with Harry are quite often about religion and spirituality. My Sikh best friend makes me want to be a better muslim and does make me a better muslim. I always look forward to going to the Gurdwara with him. I enjoy our talks. He is my brother. I pray that Muslims and Sikhs would have this kind of love, respect and understanding for each other. History doesn’t always have to remain in the past. What was between Guru Nanak and Mardana and Bala should be alive within us today. What was between Mian Mir and Guru Arjan should be alive within us today.

Good post Drawrof!