- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 1: The Tale of the Sands
Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 1: The Tale of the Sands, A STREAM, FROM ITS SOURCE IN FAR-OFF MOUNTAINS, PASSING THROUGH EVERY KIND AND DESCRIPTION OF COUNTRYSIDE, AT LAST REACHED THE SANDS OF THE DESERT. JUST AS IT HAD CROSSED EVERY OTHER BARRIER, THE STREAM TRIED TO CROSS THIS ONE, BUT IT FOUND AS IT RAN INTO THE SAND, ITS WATERS DISAPPEARED. IT WAS CONVINCED, HOWEVER, THAT ITS DESTINY WAS TO CROSS THIS DESERT, AND YET THERE WAS NO WAY. NOW A HIDDEN VOICE, COMING FROM THE DESERT ITSELF, WHISPERED, 'THE WIND CROSSES THE DESERT, AND SO CAN THE STREAM.' THE STREAM OBJECTED THAT IT WAS DASHING ITSELF AGAINST THE SAND, AND ONLY GETTING ABSORBED; THAT THE WIND COULD FLY AND THIS WAS WHY IT COULD CROSS A DESERT at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 2: Trust in Allah..., Question 1
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 2: Trust in Allah..., Question 1, WHY ARE YOU AGAINST ASCETIC PRACTICES? ARE THEY NOT RELIGIOUS? IS NOT ASCETICISM A PATH TO GOD? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 2: Trust in Allah..., Question 2
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 2: Trust in Allah..., Question 2, YOU SPOKE TODAY OF THE NECESSITY OF HAVING A TRANSPARENT MIND SO ONE CAN SEE MORE CLEARLY, THUS ELIMINATING THE NECESSITY OF CHOICE. ARE NOT DESIRES, WHICH STEM ONLY FROM THE EGO, THE SOLE CAUSE OF THE MUDDYING OF THE MIND? THEN, WITH NO DESIRES, THERE IS NO NEED FOR CHOICE. THINGS SIMPLY HAPPEN. THE PROBLEM THEN COMES RIGHT BACK TO ELIMINATING THE EGO AND THE DESIRES. IT SEEMS TO BE A VICIOUS CIRCLE WHOSE HOLD IS BROKEN EITHER 1. THROUGH A GRADUAL PROCESS OF ATTRITION OF EGO AND DESIRES, SPANNING MANY LIVES, OR, 2. THROUGH CUTTING TANGENT TO THE CIRCLE BY TAKING THE LEAP OR GAMBLE INTO THE UNKNOWN. THE SECOND METHOD SEEMS TO BE THE PREFERABLE ONE, BUT WHERE DOES THE MOTIVATION COME FROM TO BREAK OUT OF THE CIRCLE? ACTION IS GENERALLY MOTIVATED BY SOME DESIRE. ONE CAN LET THINGS HAPPEN, OR ONE CAN ACT, WHICH AGAIN MEANS CHOICE at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 2: Trust in Allah..., Question 3
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 2: Trust in Allah..., Question 3, WHAT STANDS IN THE WAY OF MY SAYING YES TO LIFE, TO SURRENDERING TOTALLY, AND IS IT ALWAYS RIGHT TO SAY YES? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 2: Trust in Allah..., Question 4
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 2: Trust in Allah..., Question 4, 'TRUST IN ALLAH BUT TETHER YOUR CAMEL.FIRST' -- I LOVE THIS SUFI SAYING, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHO OR WHAT THE CAMEL IS at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 2: Trust in Allah..., Question 5
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 2: Trust in Allah..., Question 5, WHAT IS THE LAW OF KARMA? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 2: Trust in Allah..., Question 6
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 2: Trust in Allah..., Question 6, WHAT IS INTENSITY? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 3: The Journey is the Goal Itself, Question 1
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 3: The Journey is the Goal Itself, Question 1, ONE DAY YOU EMPHASIZE BEING MATURE, ANOTHER DAY YOU SAY 'BE LIKE A CHILD.' IF I ADOPT A MATURE ATTITUDE, I FEEL MY CHILD IS REPRESSED AND STARVED FOR EXPRESSION. IF I LET MY CHILD DANCE, SING, THEN ALSO CHILDISH ATTITUDES COME UP, LIKE CLINGING TO A LOVE-OBJECT. WHAT TO DO? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 3: The Journey is the Goal Itself, Question 2
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 3: The Journey is the Goal Itself, Question 2, IS IT POSSIBLE TO LIVE RELIGIOUSLY AND CONTINUE ON THE ROAD TO ENLIGHTENMENT WHILE LIVING IN A COUNTRY LIKE THE USA AND INVOLVING ONESELF IN A COMPETITIVE BUSINESS? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 3: The Journey is the Goal Itself, Question 3
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 3: The Journey is the Goal Itself, Question 3, TRUTH IS ONE, YOU SAY. THEN WHY ARE THERE SO MANY RELIGIONS? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 4: Contrary to Expectation
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 4: Contrary to Expectation, A WISE MAN, THE WONDER OF HIS AGE, TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES FROM A SEEMINGLY INEXHAUSTIBLE STORE OF WISDOM. HE ATTRIBUTED ALL HIS KNOWLEDGE TO A THICK TOME WHICH WAS KEPT IN A PLACE OF HONOR IN HIS ROOM. THE SAGE WOULD ALLOW NOBODY TO OPEN THE VOLUME. WHEN HE DIED, THOSE WHO HAD SURROUNDED HIM, REGARDING THEMSELVES AS HIS HEIRS, RAN TO OPEN THE BOOK, ANXIOUS TO POSSESS WHAT IT CONTAINED. THEY WERE SURPRISED, CONFUSED AND DISAPPOINTED WHEN THEY FOUND THAT THERE WAS WRITING ON ONLY ONE PAGE. THEY BECAME EVEN MORE BEWILDERED AND THEN ANNOYED WHEN THEY TRIED TO PENETRATE THE MEANING OF THE PHRASE WHICH MET THEIR EYES. IT WAS: WHEN YOU REALIZE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CONTAINER AND THE CONTENT, YOU WILL HAVE KNOWLEDGE at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 5: The Oasis Exists in Your Awareness, Question 1
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 5: The Oasis Exists in Your Awareness, Question 1, YOU HAVE SAID THAT THE SUFIS ARE ON THE PATH OF LOVE. BUT THEN WHY DO THEY TEACH SO MANY TECHNIQUES? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 5: The Oasis Exists in Your Awareness, Question 2
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 5: The Oasis Exists in Your Awareness, Question 2, WHAT CAN A GURU DO FOR YOU? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 5: The Oasis Exists in Your Awareness, Question 3
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 5: The Oasis Exists in Your Awareness, Question 3, LISTENING TO YOU, DRINKING YOU SO DEEPLY EVERY DAY, I AM GETTING RIDICULOUSLY INTOXICATED. IF EEL READY TO QUIT MY SECURE AND MADDENING JOB AND FACE AN UNKNOWN FUTURE. BUT I HAVE BEEN DRUNK BEFORE AND ALWAYS WOKE UP WITH A HANGOVER AND THE SAME OLD SHIT TO DEAL WITH. IS IT POSSIBLE I COULD WAKE UP ONE DAY AND BE LEFT WITH JUST A HANGOVER FROM YOU? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 5: The Oasis Exists in Your Awareness, Question 4
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 5: The Oasis Exists in Your Awareness, Question 4, EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I HAVE HAD ENLIGHTENING EXPERIENCES THROUGH THE USE OF HALLUCINOGENIC DRUGS. I KNOW THAT LSD IS FALSE, BUT WHAT IS, IF ANY, THE TRUTH ABOUT MUSHROOMS? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 5: The Oasis Exists in Your Awareness, Question 5
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 5: The Oasis Exists in Your Awareness, Question 5, IS TO BE A SANNYASIN A MOMENT OR A PROCESS? IS A GURU REALLY NEEDED TO BE a SANNYASIN? IF A GURU LIVES IN SOMEBODY'S HEART ALL THE TIME, THEN WHAT IS THE NECESSITY OF WEARING ORANGE AND THE MALA ALL THE TIME? WAS EKLAVYA NOT A REAL DISCIPLE? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 5: The Oasis Exists in Your Awareness, Question 6
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 5: The Oasis Exists in Your Awareness, Question 6, AS ONE EVOLVES SPIRITUALLY, INTEREST IN SEX MAY BECOME LESS STRONG. SO IF I'M NOT SO SEXY THESE DAYS AM I GETTING OLDER OR CLOSER TO ENLIGHTENMENT? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 5: The Oasis Exists in Your Awareness, Question 7
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 5: The Oasis Exists in Your Awareness, Question 7, YOU REALLY CONFUSED ME WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN LOVE AND LIKING. YOU SAID LOVE IS COMMITTED, BUT I THOUGHT COMMITMENT WAS ANOTHER KIND OF ATTACHMENT. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE I LOVE BUT I DON'T FEEL COMMITTED TO. HOW CAN I PREDICT IF I WILL LOVE THEM TOMORROW? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 6: Be Total, Then You Are, Question 1
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 6: Be Total, Then You Are, Question 1, IN LOVE AS WELL AS IN MEDITATION THE MOMENT OF DISSOLVING, DISAPPEARING, IS SO TREMENDOUSLY BEAUTIFUL. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A MAN WHO IS STILL NOT EGOLESS, NOT ENLIGHTENED, TO ENCOUNTER DEATH CONSCIOUSLY AND TO _ WELCOME AND ENJOY IT THE SAME WAY? YOU ARE EVERYWHERE. BUT AFTER WE WILL HAVE DIED, SHALL WE FIND OURSELVES IN SUCH A STATE THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR US TO REMAIN ATTUNED TO YOU WHETHER YOU ARE IN THE BODY OR NOT? WOULD YOU PLEASE TALK ON DEATH? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 6: Be Total, Then You Are, Question 2
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 6: Be Total, Then You Are, Question 2, DO YOU EVER COMMIT MISTAKES? AND IF SO, THEN WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST MISTAKE OF LIFE? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 6: Be Total, Then You Are, Question 3
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 6: Be Total, Then You Are, Question 3, WHAT IS LOVE? WHY AM I SO AFRAID OF LOVE? WHY DOES LOVE FEEL LIKE AN UNBEARABLE PAIN? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 6: Be Total, Then You Are, Question 4
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 6: Be Total, Then You Are, Question 4, HAVE YOUR SIMON PETER, PAULS, ETC. ALREADY STARTED ESTABLISHING A CHURCH FOR NON-SMELLING CAMELS? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 6: Be Total, Then You Are, Question 5
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 6: Be Total, Then You Are, Question 5, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LOVE, TEARS IMMEDIATELY START RUNNING. PLEASE SAY SOMETHING ABOUT IT at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 6: Be Total, Then You Are, Question 6
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 6: Be Total, Then You Are, Question 6, I'M ABLE TO FEEL THE DIVINE BREATH IN A SUNSET, IN A TREE, IN A BIRD FLYING... BUT I'M INCREDIBLY AFRAID TO OPEN MYSELF TO HUMAN BEINGS, TO THE CONCRETE PEOPLE AROUND ME. I CAN ACCEPT THE DIVINE ONLY BEYOND THE HUMAN LEVEL. SOMETIMES I FEEL IT REALLY A PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ME TO FACE THIS POINT at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 6: Be Total, Then You Are, Question 7
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 6: Be Total, Then You Are, Question 7, WHEN A REAL LION MEETS A REAL MASTER,, HE RECOGNIZES HIM.... AND HE DECIDES TO BE DEFEATED AND DECIDES TO HAVE HIS EGO BROKEN BECAUSE HE KNOWS THAT THIS IS THE PATH AND WILL LEAD HIM TO MORE EASE. NOW, I'M AFRAID THAT IT IS STILL MY EGO DECIDING FOR ME. PLEASE EXPLAIN at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 7: The Mad King's Idol
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 7: The Mad King's Idol, THERE WAS ONCE A VIOLENT, IGNORANT AND IDOLATROUS KING. ONE DAY HE SWORE THAT IF HIS PERSONAL IDOL ACCORDED HIM A CERTAIN ADVANTAGE IN LIFE, HE WOULD CAPTURE THE FIRST THREE PEOPLE WHO PASSED BY HIS CASTLE AND FORCE THEM TO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO IDOL-WORSHIP. SURE ENOUGH, THE KING'S WISHES WERE FULFILLED, AND HE IMMEDIATELY SENT SOLDIERS ON TO THE HIGHWAY TO BRING IN THE FIRST THREE PEOPLE WHOM THEY COULD FIND. THESE THREE WERE, AS IT HAPPENED, A SCHOLAR, A SAYED (DESCENDANT OF MOHAMMED THE PROPHET) AND A PROSTITUTE. HAVING THEM THROWN DOWN BEFORE HIS IDOL, THE UNBALANCED KING TOLD THEM OF HIS VOW, AND ORDERED THEM ALL TO BOW DOWN IN FRONT OF THE IMAGE at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 8: There is no Ladder, Question 1
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 8: There is no Ladder, Question 1, EVERY DAY YOU TALK ABOUT THE 'EARTH' AND ABOUT THE 'SKY' -- ABOUT THE POTENTIAL AND ABOUT THE ULTIMATE. BUT WHAT IS THE 'LADDER' IN BETWEEN? WHAT IS THE PROCESS THAT HAPPENS IN BETWEEN? WHY DO YOU NOT TALK ABOUT THE 'LADDER'? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 8: There is no Ladder, Question 2
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 8: There is no Ladder, Question 2, SINCE RETURNING TO POONA TWO WEEKS AGO I FEEL MYSELF BECOMING ATTACHED TO YOU. BEFORE, I NEVER GAVE MUCH THOUGHT TO HOW LONG YOU WOULD REMAIN IN YOUR BODY AND NOW I AM WANTING YOU TO STAY A LONG TIME. I AM THINKING OF YOU IN MY FUTURE AS I HAVE WITH SO MANY OF MY OTHER ATTACHMENTS. I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THE DESIRE TO BE IN YOUR PHYSICAL PRESENCE RATHER THAN FEEL YOU WITH ME IN THE WEST. IS THIS A STEP A DISCIPLE GOES THROUGH IN COMING CLOSER TO A MASTER, OR IS SOMETHING GOING WRONG THAT I NEED BE AWARE OF? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 8: There is no Ladder, Question 3
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 8: There is no Ladder, Question 3, YOU SPOKE TODAY OF LOVE AND DEATH AND THE IMPORTANCE OF EXPERIENCING LOVE TO PASS CONSCIOUSLY INTO DEATH. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED DEEP LOVE, ONLY SUPERFICIAL ATTACHMENTS. I DO NOT LOVE EVEN MYSELF SO HOW CAN I LOVE ANOTHER? I KNOW THERE IS NOTHING I CAN DO REGARDING THIS IMPASSE AS THERE IS A SEASON FOR ALL THINGS AND AT THE RIGHT TIME WHAT IS NEEDED HAPPENS. IS THERE ANYTHING MORE I CAN DO THAN WAIT? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 8: There is no Ladder, Question 4
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 8: There is no Ladder, Question 4, WHY IS IT SAID THAT LIFE IS STRANGER THAN FICTION? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 8: There is no Ladder, Question 5
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 8: There is no Ladder, Question 5,I FEEL A RAPPORT WITH YOUR WRITINGS -- ALMOST LIKE A CONTEMPORARY. SURELY THIS FEELING WILL CHANGE IF I BECOME A SANNYASIN. WILL THIS CHANGE BE BENEFICIAL? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 8: There is no Ladder, Question 6
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 8: There is no Ladder, Question 6, I HAVE HEARD THAT AT THE TIME OF GIVING SANNYAS TO YOUR MOTHER, YOU HAD STEPPED OFF YOUR CHAIR AND TOUCHED THE FEET OF YOUR MOTHER. THIS UNIQUE SITUATION HAS THRILLED ME. PLEASE QUENCH MY DESIRE FOR KNOWING SOME MORE. WHO IS GREATER -- MOTHER OR GURU? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 8: There is no Ladder, Question 7
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 8: There is no Ladder, Question 7, IT IS TRUE THAT IN A VERY CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WHEN ONE 'PLAYS' THE GOOD, UNDERSTANDING, CALM AND RELAXED ONE, IT IS ONLY LEFT FOR THE OTHER TO BE NERVOUS, TENSE AND ANGRY? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 9: Experience is the Heart of the Matter, Question 1
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 9: Experience is the Heart of the Matter, Question 1, IF INDIA IS SUCH AN UNSPIRITUAL COUNTRY, WHY ARE SO MANY ENLIGHTENED BEINGS BORN HERE? at energyenhancement.org
- Discourses on Sufism, Vol. 1 The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 9: Experience is the Heart of the Matter, Question 2
Discourses on Sufism, The Wisdom of the Sands Chapter 9: Experience is the Heart of the Matter, Question 2, I KNOW YOU USE PARADOXES AND CONTRADICTIONS, BUT MY MIND IS STILL VERY LOGICAL, SO I HAVE DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING. IF THE TAO SAYS ' THE ONE WHO KNOWS DOES NOT TALK', AND IF YOU SAY ONCE YOUR WORDS ARE UTTERED THEY ARE DEAD, AND IF YOU SAY THAT ONE CANNOT MAKE AN IMAGE OF THE DIVINE, THEN WHY AM I WEARING AN IMAGE WHICH IS A SYMBOL OF YOU AS A MALA, WHICH INEVITABLY FORCES ME TO TALK ABOUT YOU? I FEAR THAT I AM PARTICIPATING IN THE CREATION OF A TRADITION at energyenhancement.org
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