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Hamid al-Din Kirmani - Swept Away

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Here's your Daily Poem from the Poetry Chaikhana --

 

 

 

 

 

 

Swept Away

By Hamid al-Din Kirmani(? - 1238)

English version by David and Sabrineh Fideler

At first, the way of your loveseemed easy.I thought I'd reachyour unionwith speed.After taking a few steps,I foundthe wayis an ocean.When I stepped in,a wave swept me away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

-- from Love's Alchemy: Poems from the Sufi Tradition, Translated by David Fideler / Translated by Sabrineh Fideler

Amazon.com / Photo by mikebaird /

 

 

 

 

============

Thought for the Day:

It is only when we deeply engage with the gentle flow of small events that we come to know our lives.

============

 

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Krishna Das

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Hi Alan -Hamid al-Din Kirmani (also written Awhad al-din Kirmani) was one of the most prominent Ismaili philosophers. He wrote treatises on the proper ordering of the human mind and how it can witness the cosmic order. His philosophical approach was one of both logic and mysticism, recognizing the presence of God engaged in the natural world in order to lead to true worship.==I love what this poem has to say about the spiritual path...At first, the way of your loveseemed easy.I thought I'd reachyour unionwith speed.At the beginning, when we first decide to explore the path of spirit, it can appear all too easy. We imagine we just need to profess a certain belief, join a certain group, read a certain scripture, pray a certain way, follow a certain teacher, avoid a certain food. Do that, and everything is assured.Sadly, this

is where much of the religious world stays stuck. This approach too often leads to narrow minds and tight hearts.After taking a few steps,I foundthe wayis an ocean.But when we take those first "few steps" beyond that simplified notion and begin to explore more deeply and sincerely the questing soul and the world of spirit, we come to an honesty with ourselves. That honesty immediately overwhelms us by showing us the immense path ahead. So much to strive for within ourselves, so much suffering in the world to soothe... Seeing this, how can one hope to attain heaven, or wholeness, or peace?In that moment, the best response is one of courageous determination... without expectation. We commit to the hard inner work and outer service, not because of some immediate spiritual "payoff" of enlightenment or salvation, but because, simply, that is what is needed. The heart requires it within our breast.And so,

head lowered, we put our shoulders to the task. And the work works on us -- challenging, stretching, straining, refining.At some point, we stop holding back. At some point, we stop working for ourselves. We stop setting aside that small part that remains "me," that expects what is "mine," and we become lost in a delightful rhythm of easy movement. The work becomes sport among the waves and, laughing, we jump in!When I stepped in,a wave swept me away.There is no "me" that can cross the eternal sea. The goal is to become one with the sea. All we have to do is get naked and step in to be swept away.Have a beautiful day!Ivan

Share Your Thoughts on today's poem or my commentary...

 

 

 

 

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You can also support the Poetry Chaikhana, as well as the authors and publishers of sacred poetry, by purchasing some of the recommended books through the links on this site. Thank you!

 

 

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A small amount each month makes a big difference. Become a voluntary Subscriber for just $2/mo.

 

 

 

 

 

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Poetry Chaikhana HomeNew | Books | Music | Teahouse | About | ContactPoets by: Name| Tradition | Timeline Poetry by: Theme | CommentaryBlog | Forum | Facebook | Twitter

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Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are 2002 - 2010 by Ivan M. Granger.All other material is copyrighted by the respective authors, translators and/or publishers.

============

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---- Original message ----

>Date:   Wed, 7 Apr 2010 16:47:15 +0000 (GMT)

>   Alan Jacobs <alanadamsjacobs

>Subject:   Hamid al-Din

Kirmani - Swept Away

>To:  

>

>

>

> Here's your Daily Poem from the Poetry Chaikhana

> --

>

>

> Swept Away

> By Hamid al-Din Kirmani

> (? - 1238)

> English version by David and Sabrineh Fideler

>

>

> At first, the way of your love

> seemed easy.

>

> I thought I'd reach

> your union

> with speed.

>

> After taking a few steps,

> I found

> the way

> is an ocean.

>

> When I stepped in,

> a wave swept me away.

>

 

 

as i was strolling leisurely

along the waterline

of the ocean of existence

picking up and toying with

smooth pebbles

of concepts and ideas

digging

empty shells of discarded beliefs

suddenly

i was snatched

by a tsunami wave

of unconditioned passion

which bore me

helpless and supine

corpse like

far inland.

 

and then,

torn to pieces and gutted

i was carried back to sea

and lost without a trace

in the depths

of the endless ocean

of absolute

love

 

@}->'->,--

yosy

 

 

 

nnb

>

> %7Boption%7D -- from Love's Alchemy: Poems from the Sufi

> Tradition, Translated by David Fideler /

> Translated by Sabrineh Fideler

> Amazon.com %7Boption%7D%7Boption%7D%7Boption%7D%7Boption%7D%7Boption%7D

> %7Boption%7D

>

> / Photo by mikebaird /

>

> ============ Here's your Daily Music

> Thought for the Day: selection --

> It is only when we deeply %7Boption%7D

> engage Krishna Das

> with the gentle flow of Live on Earth... For a

> small events Limited Time Only

> that we come to know our Listen - Purchase

> lives. More Music Selections

> ============

>

>

> Hi Alan -

>

> Hamid al-Din Kirmani (also written Awhad al-din

> Kirmani) was one of the most prominent Ismaili

> philosophers. He wrote treatises on the proper

> ordering of the human mind and how it can witness

> the cosmic order. His philosophical approach was

> one of both logic and mysticism, recognizing the

> presence of God engaged in the natural world in

> order to lead to true worship.

>

> ==

>

> I love what this poem has to say about the

> spiritual path...

>

> At first, the way of your love

> seemed easy.

>

> I thought I'd reach

> your union

> with speed.

>

> At the beginning, when we first decide to explore

> the path of spirit, it can appear all too easy. We

> imagine we just need to profess a certain belief,

> join a certain group, read a certain scripture,

> pray a certain way, follow a certain teacher,

> avoid a certain food. Do that, and everything is

> assured.

>

> Sadly, this is where much of the religious world

> stays stuck. This approach too often leads to

> narrow minds and tight hearts.

>

> After taking a few steps,

> I found

> the way

> is an ocean.

>

> But when we take those first " few steps " beyond

> that simplified notion and begin to explore more

> deeply and sincerely the questing soul and the

> world of spirit, we come to an honesty with

> ourselves. That honesty immediately overwhelms us

> by showing us the immense path ahead. So much to

> strive for within ourselves, so much suffering in

> the world to soothe... Seeing this, how can one

> hope to attain heaven, or wholeness, or peace?

>

> In that moment, the best response is one of

> courageous determination... without expectation.

> We commit to the hard inner work and outer

> service, not because of some immediate spiritual

> " payoff " of enlightenment or salvation, but

> because, simply, that is what is needed. The heart

> requires it within our breast.

>

> And so, head lowered, we put our shoulders to the

> task. And the work works on us -- challenging,

> stretching, straining, refining.

>

> At some point, we stop holding back. At some

> point, we stop working for ourselves. We stop

> setting aside that small part that remains " me, "

> that expects what is " mine, " and we become lost in

> a delightful rhythm of easy movement. The work

> becomes sport among the waves and, laughing, we

> jump in!

>

> When I stepped in,

> a wave swept me away.

>

> There is no " me " that can cross the eternal sea.

> The goal is to become one with the sea. All we

> have to do is get naked and step in to be swept

> away.

>

> Have a beautiful day!

>

> Ivan

>

> Share Your Thoughts on today's poem or my

> commentary...

>

>

> Support the Poetry Chaikhana

>

> You can also

> support the

> Poetry

> Chaikhana, as

> Donations to well as the

> the Poetry authors and

> Chaikhana in %7Boption%7D publishers of

> any amount are Click here sacred poetry,

> always by purchasing

> welcome. Thank some of the

> you! recommended

> books through

> the links on

> this site. Thank

> you!

> A small amount

> each month makes

> a big

> %7Boption%7D difference.

> Click here Become a

> voluntary

> Subscriber for

> just $2/mo.

> Help the Poetry

> Chaikhana reach

> %7Boption%7D more people.

> Click here Become a

> Supporter for

> just $10/mo.

>

>

>

> Poetry Chaikhana Home

> New | Books | Music | Teahouse | About | Contact

> Poets by: Name| Tradition | Timeline Poetry by:

> Theme | Commentary

>

> Blog | Forum | Facebook | Twitter

>

> www.Poetry-Chaikhana.com

>

> Poetry Chaikhana

> P.O. Box 2320

> Boulder, CO 80306

>

>

>

> Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and

> commentaries are 2002 - 2010 by Ivan

> M. Granger.

> All other material is copyrighted by the

> respective authors, translators and/or publishers.

> ============

> Plain Text: If you have any difficulty reading

> this HTML formatted email, please let me know and

> I can send you plain text emails instead.

> Friday Only: If you want to receive only one poem

> email each week, reply to this email and change

> the Subject to " Friday Only " .

> Canceling: If you wish to stop receiving this

> Daily Poem email from the Poetry Chaikhana, simply

> reply to this email and change the Subject to

> " Cancel " .

>

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