An artists impression of Ved Vyas ‘Into a blind darkness they enter who follow after the ignorance, they as if into a greater darkness who devote themselves to the Knowledge alone.’ – Isha Upanishad Some time around 2000 BC, or perhaps even earlier, when much of Europe was still perfecting the art of survival, sages and seers of India were… Read More The Upanishad Diaries – I
In recent times Sufi music and poetry have moved from the shrine to the stage. Some consider this trend to be undesirable. They believe that in the attempt to make it more appealing it is being diluted and corrupted for public consumption. However the fact remains that the increasing popularity of Sufi music and poetry,… Read More SUFI POETRY AND MUSIC IN POPULAR CULTURE
BULLHE SHAH: The Rumi of Punjab An artist’s impression of Bullhe Shah. Courtsey Wikipedia बेक़ैद मैं बेक़ैद, मैं बेक़ैद; ना रोगी, ना वैद| ना मैं मोमन, ना मैं फाक़र, ना सैयद, ना सैद| चौधीं तबक़ीं सैर असाडा, किते ना हुंदा क़ैद| ख़राबात है जात असाडी, ना सोमा, ना ऐब| बुल्ल्हेशाह दी ज़ात… Read More SUFIS OF THE INDUS REGION – III
Sufis of the Punjab Doabs: Creaters of Folk Mysticism The Punjab Doabs The Doab regions of Punjab, Courtsey: Wikipedia The Punjab Doabs (tracts of land lying between the confluent rivers of the Punjab region of Indo-Pakistan) have produced one of the greatest Sufi saints of this subcontinent. Most of their mystical compositions are now… Read More SUFIS OF THE INDUS REGION – II
THE NAQSHBANDIYAS AND THE QADIRIYYAS NAQSHBANDIYYAS: People of the Silent Dhikr “The lights of some people precede their dhikr, while the dhikr of some people precede their lights. There is the one who does (loud) dhikr so that his heart be illumined; and there is the one whose heart has been illumined and he does… Read More SUFI SILSILAS IN INDIA – II
Tombs of sages at Makli Hill, Thatta, Sind(Pakistan) The regions of Sind and Punjab, nurtured by the waters of Indus, have produced one of the the greatest sufi saints of this subcontinent. Some time in 905 the great mystic like Halaj, probably sat on the very banks of this river to discuss theological problems… Read More SUFIS OF THE INDUS REGION – I
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health: The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is doing awesome!. Crunchy numbers A helper monkey made this abstract painting, inspired by your stats. A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers.… Read More 2010 in review
ੴ ਸਤਿ ਨਾਮੁ ਕਰਤਾ ਪੁਰਖੁ ਨਿਰਭਉ ਨਿਰਵੈਰੁ ਅਕਾਲ ਮੂਰਤਿ ਅਜੂਨੀ ਸੈਭੰ ਗੁਰ ਪ੍ਰਸਾਦਿ ॥ (Ik ōaṅkār sat nām kartā purkh nirbha’u nirvair akāl mūrat ajūnī saibhaṃ gur prasād ) One creator, one supreme reality, His formless unity manifests itself in limitless forms His name represents one cosmic Truth, one without… Read More The Fakir from Punjab
Ashodara 