This is part four of the film, Sufi Soul, and William Dalrymple goes to the Pakistani province of Sindh to visit the shrine of Shah Abdul Latif. He was a poet-saint who died in 1752 and to this day his music is played every night at his shrine using a string instrument called the dambar… Read More Sufi Soul: Part 4
A very thoughtful assessment of Coleman Barks translations of the poetry of Rumi put in the context of the climate in the USA of propaganda and militarism against Muslim countries. (Which will hopefully change with Obama). Click the link below to read the full article. clipped from http://www.religiondispatches.org The best-selling poet in America today could… Read More Found in Translation: How a Thirteenth Century Islamic Poet Conquered America By Ryan Croken
Here is Part 3 of this beautiful film. Part 2 was in Turkey, now in Part 3, William Dalrymple visits Sufis in Pakistan where he says the sema is more raw, more elemental. Also showing the Qawwalis of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and his nephew, Rahat. more about “Sufi Soul: Part 3“, posted with vodpod
This is the second part of the Sufi Soul documentary. There may be a short overlap with the first part. The documentary has been divided into five parts on you tube. I will post all five parts. more about “Sufi Soul: Part 2“, posted with vodpod
A beautiful video on Sufism, its origins and context, by the acclaimed author, William Dalrymple. It contains a description of the meaning of the sema of the whirling dervishes and focuses on the power and transformative effect of music. This is a very informative video and a treat to watch. In this first part, William… Read More Sufi Soul: Part 1
This morning I have been importing some posts from my former blog JourneyWoman Some of those posts are about my reflections while living in Andalucia. To read them just go to the categories list and click on Andalucia, scroll to the bottom of the page and then click on ‘previous entries’ (there are two pages… Read More Diary of An Andalusian Village
I remember when I first began reading the work of Laleh Bakhtiar many years ago and how I immediately felt that connection to the author that happens when the author is writing from her own experience and practice. As the Qur’an maintains that all things are the signs of God then all of creation is… Read More Sufi: Expressions of the Mystic Quest
The following is on Radio Salaam Shalom who have just completed a podcast on Gaza and Dialogue done by the Jews and Muslims of Bristol Podcast 8 “Gaza and Dialogue” By radiosalaamshalom GET OUR LATEST PODCAST “At this time, many of us are mindful of the suffering caused by the region’s past and present violence.… Read More Podcast 8 “Gaza and Dialogue”. « Radio Salaam Shalom’s Blog
This is an interesting article by Dr. Robert Crane on the balance of peace and justice for Gaza. He relates the two to transcendence and immanence and asks which is needed first. His approach is ontological but with very practical consequences. He concludes that: “In the metaphysics of transcendence, to know God is to know… Read More The Balance of Peace and Justice
Gaza Originally uploaded by Bilal Mirza Wait silently in the field Do not scream Wait silently and listen To the empty stream Wait silently with the crowd Raise no fist Wait silently and hear The voices of the missed Now break your silence With the words Emerging from broken hearts Now shout and act In… Read More Gaza
I can always rely on Ibn ‘Arabi for spiritual refreshment and feeling greatly in need of drinking close to the source of compassion I have been reflecting on the great Shaykh’s life and work recently. Ibn ‘Arabi is also known as the Shaykh al-Akbar, the greatest Shaykh. He was born in Al-Andalus in the mid… Read More Ibn ‘Arabi and Spiritual Refreshment
I have written about the work of artist Harold Hitchcock before, see here, and feeling in need of ‘a vision of light’ I visited his website today and found this inspiring work. As I am spending a lot of time reading about Gaza I immediately thought of those ships who have been sailing into the… Read More Vision of Light: Harold Hitchcock
Fatimah al-Yashrutiyya was born in Acre, Palestine in 1883. The Yashruti Sufi Order in which she grew up and in which her father was a Shaykh (spiritual guide) are a branch of the Shadhili Order, founded in 1258. Fatimah’s father promoted the advance of education for women and in her autobiography she speaks of the… Read More Sufis in Palestine
April Snow in Oliver’s Battery Originally uploaded by David Spender A mild dusting of snow covered Winchester in the night. It has melted now, the climate is too mild to sustain snow for very long here. I like the sharp iciness in the air, clear and fresh. It reminds me of a poem I wrote… Read More Snow in Winchester
I believe that the greatest example of how best to behave in the face of such conflict situations as that happening in Palestine-Israel today are the Palestinian and Israeli people themselves. Many might say, What! But they are always fighting each other! This is the impression gained from most main stream media. However, there are… Read More Palestine, Israel, and the Dialogue of Love
Wild Dervish Writes: A Sufi Look at Life 