Friday, November 28, 2008

NAQSHBANDI SUFI PATH

LEAVES FROM A SUFI HEART VOLUME 1
CLASSIC ON NAQSBANDI PATH VOL.1

SHRINE SHAH BAHAUDDIN NAQSHBAND


SUFISM IS THE BRIDGE
BETWEEN FANA AND BAKA

TAOSHOBUDDHA

Adb phla krINaa hE muhBbt ke krINaae me,
GRACE AND ETIQUETTE IS THE FIRST ESSENTIAL
PRE-REQUISITE OF LOVE ETERNAL AND THE WAY!

MauhBbt jb Adb ke SalIke Sae pez haetI hE,
tae %sse behtr kae# nGaMaa nhI haeta.

AND WHEN LOVE ETERNAL EMANATES FROM THE
MEADOWS OF ETIQUETTE, GRACE, BLISS, AND UNDERSTANDING!
THERE CAN BE NO BETTER SONG, SYMPHONY OR MELODY!!
IT THEN IS BLISS INCARNATE. OUT OF WHICH ECHOES
THE WHISPERS OF THE UNKNOWN!!!

#k lMha jae gujra heE tere saWa,
Da jaYae ijNdgI me< merI bn ke nUr tera.
ijNdgI hae pEgame muhBbt,
duAa hE yhI rb se merI lMha lMha.
ALlah hU ALlah hU ALlah hU,
lMha lMha ALlah hU ALlah hU.

A MOMENT SPENT WITH AWARENESS IN THY COMPANY
MAY SPREAD IN MY LIFE LIKE THY LIGHT SUBLIME
AND THIS FINITE EXISTENCE BE A MESSAGE OF LOVE ETERNAL
THIS IS MY SOLEMN PRAYER AND MEDITATION EACH MOMENT
ALLAH HOO, ALLAH HOO, ALLAH HOO!!
EACH FINITE MOMENT WITH EACH BREATH ALLAH HOO!
ALLAH HOO ALLAH HOO!!




kaz #sI trIk pe Ada merI nmaj hae
yar ke paynaj pe mera sre inyaj hae


MAY THIS PATH OF ETERNAL TRANSFORMATION
CONTINUE ERELONG!
AND MY LIFE MY BEING BE AN INSTRUMENT!
I SEEK THIS WITH TRUST AND LOVE!
IN THE NAME OF OUR BELOVED ABUL QASIM GURGANI!
A MASTER WITH WHO EVEN ALLAH AGREES!!!

MAY MY LIFE MY LIVING BE A PRAYER OF AWARENESS!
AND EACH SYLLABLE AND WHISPER OF THE SILENCE
BE ACCEPTED AT THE LOTUS FEET OF THE MASTERS!!!


















CONTENTS


Introduction by Swami Anand Neelamber
Preface
Foreword


SECTION 1 – WHAT IS SUFISM

1. Introduction to Sufism
2. What is Sufism?
3. Sufism a Historical Perspective
4. Propagation of Sufism
5. Sufi Cosmology
6. Sufi Orders
7. The Spiritual System
8. Mysticism – the Essence of Sufism


SECTION 2 – THE NAQSHBANDI TARIQAT

9. Types of Naqshbandi Masters
10. The Way or Tariqat of Sufis
11. Spiritual Commandment:
12. Seven Valleys of Sufis
13. Naqshbandi Commandments the Way to Meditation
14. The Naqshbandi Design
15. Understanding of Ego
16. Nafs or Ego another dimension
17. The Nafs the Sufi way
18. Muraqaba Naqshbandi Way
SECTION 3 – THE NAQSHBANDI TRINITY

19. Sayidina Muhammad Mustapha (saallah allehe wa sallam)
20. Ameerul Momaneen Abu Bakr Siddiq
21. Salman the Farsi

SECTION 4 – EARLY MASTERS

22. Imam Qasim ibn Muhammad ibn Abu Bakr
23. Imam JAFAR al-SADIQ
24. Sultanul Aarfeen Bayazid Bastami
25. Abul-Hassan Kharqani
26. Abul Qasim Gurgani
27. Abu Ali al-Farmadi
28. Khawaja Abu Yusuf Hamdani
29. Khawaja Abdul Khaliq Gajadwani
30. Khawaja Muhammad Arif al-Riwakri
31. Khwaja Mahmood Abu al-Injir al-Faghnawi

SECTION 5 – THE NAQSHBANDI ERA
A DAWN

32. Khwaja Azeejzn Ali Ar-Ramatini
33. Khwaja Muhammad Baba as-Sammasi
34. Khwaja Sayyid Amir Kulal
35. Khwaja Bahauddin Naqshband Bukhari



INTRODUCTION

Feed your heart on the love of God
That you may become immortal
And your face illumined with divine light!!!

RUMI MASNAVI II: 2442

S
ufism is the inner core of the spiritual quest. The dregs and dross are removed and pure love remains. The Sufi approach is one of awe and wonder at the marvels of the Creator Who is dissolved in His Creation. One cannot come to appreciate Sufism without being transformed by the very desire to know what Sufism is. To know the Sufi way is to become a Sufi by the very process of knowing. But Sufi is about love – not knowing, at least not intellectual knowing.

The Sufi path is riddled with mysterious parables and mystical insights into very ordinary things. When one begins to inquire who is a Sufi then the lamp of knowing is lit. When this flame becomes a burning passion that cannot be quelled until the heart dances with ecstasy at the mere thought of the Beloved, only then the search is over.

A Sufi is mad. Mad for the Beloved. Mad because he has left the arms of world to embrace the open sky without a thought of tomorrow.

A Sufi is a moth that dies in the enamoring flames of dissolution. He must not only see the Beloved, he must die in the presence. Only such a death reveals what is truly worth living.

A Sufi is one who has died for the world and is reborn into the paradise of heaven on earth. Where a Sufi lives that place is the mythical firdous. Only now is it not a myth. It is a living reality. To even meet a Sufi by passing chance is a gift from Allah. Only he who has reached the last stages of spiritual evolution will get such a grace. Such an opportunity is being made available through the compassion of a living Sufi. To read this work Leaves from a Sufi Heart is to be touched by a presence from the Beyond.

I invite you to abandon your dharma and embrace the path of aashiq – the path of love – the Sufi path.

Swami Anand Neelambar
May 2008.









PREFACE

God created the physical universe to manifest Himself
So that the treasure of His wisdom may be revealed
He said, ‘I was a hidden treasure.’
Listen! Listen attentively!
In the same way you must not let your spiritual
Reality be submerged…
Instead must manifest your spirit in action!!!

RUMI MASNAVI IV: 3028-29

I
am ecstatic. Today comes the dawn of a new awakening. Beginning of a new 0verflow! Leaves from a Sufi Heart! Today is March 9th 2008. It is the anniversary of a Sufi, a Buddha, and an Enlightened Master. The world has known this Sufi as Sri Ramakrishna ParamHans. And to begin this overflow on this day is a benediction or the grace of Allah and the fazlo karam or Inayat or Nisbat of the Sufi Masters starting from the Holy Prophet to the present day Naqshbandi Master Sufi Onkar Nath, Sufi Devendra Nath, Sufi Lakshmi Sahai of Naqshbandi Mujaddadi wa Mazaharia order; Maulana Sheikh Nazim, Sheikh Hisham Kabbani of Naqshbandi Haqqani order. Not only masters of Naqshbandi path alone instead each master that has happened or is yet to appear has made the benediction available for such overflows. Masters follow the path laid down by Mashaa’ikh.

Ramakrishna is existential. He is the part of this existence. For his wife Sharda his physical body disappeared many, many years ago. This she said when after the master entered Maha Samadhi. And according to the Hindu Traditions she had to live a life of widow. She was to wear only white clothes and no makeup or jewelry. Sharda refused all this. To her Ramakrishna was a mere presence. And if the physical presence is no more the subtle presence always is. Only an enchanting heart is needed to feel this presence. Such is an Existential Presence!

Sharda continued this way the rest of her life. Every day she will wake up Ramakrishna! Look Ramakrishna Dev you are still sleeping. And your disciples are waiting for you. She will prepare food for him. Prepare his bed every day. And after he had eaten she will eat. In your worldly realm this is madness, insanity. But what can be done. Such is the world of mystics and masters. And there is no harmony between your world and that of the masters.

A being of tremendous understanding Ramakrishna lived every moment in TOTAL AWARENESS or fana fi ul mahaviat. He had liking for food. Even while the prayer is going on, he will rush to the kitchen to enquire what Sharda has cooked today. At this she used to tell him, with your behavior what will your disciples think? Then one day Ramakrishna said:
Listen to this very attentively Sharda. There is nothing that can hold me to live into this world. The ship is ready to sail any moment to the other shore. Knowingly I had to create an anchor. Anchor! As my work on this earth is not yet over! What is his work on this earth? It is the work of transformation of human consciousness. The birth of a new man! Such is the work of each master. There is nothing, no desire that can hold me to stay on the earth. So I had to create a conscious desire. And this desire is the desire for food. The day I turn my face from the food, remember three days after that this body will be no more.

Hearing this like anyone else Sharda felt this to be an excuse of Ramakrishna. Years went by. Ramakrishna was sick. Suffering from throat cancer he was lying on the bed. Sharda came with the food for him. This day she had prepared something that Ramakrishna had really liked. As she entered the room she said, “Look Ramakrishna Dev I brought food for you. Today I prepared something you really like.” An aware Ramakrishna looked at the platter and at her and then turned his face to the other side, as if trying to remind Sharda of something.

Hearing these words the platter slipped from the hands of Sharda. She remembered something that Ramakrishna told her many years ago. She remembered the words, “The day I turn my face from the food, three days after I will be no more. Food is the desire that I have created to stay on in the world until my work is over. I been assigned a certain work to finish before I enter the existence.”

Such is the awareness of not only Ramakrishna, instead of all the masters. It matters not what is the path. At another stage I will take you into the life of another Sufi Master Shakuntala Devi and how she entered the Samadhi knowingly, and how she lived fully aware after her consort Sufi Brij Mohan Lal entered Samadhi on 17th January 1955.
Guided by the Ultimate, out of their own free will, they assume human form as their own Free Will. And continue as homage in the process of the transformation of human consciousness. This all happens so that a new man is born. One who is not a Hindu, or a Mohammaden, or a Christian etc? Beyond all dualities he lives in harmony with the whole. A pulse of the Existence! Such a being will simply be religious. The life of each one of these masters reminds us of this existential message. We can make our lives sublime.

When I said I am ecstatic, indeed I am! This day as the sun rises, a new dawn appears as another overflow of Taosho Buddha begins. This time it is “Leaves from a Sufi heart” – a journey through various masters of Sufi path and their ways through parables and their sayings. This is spread over a period of 2000 years starting from the Holy Prophet to present day masters of various Sufi orders. The journey is long but full of adventure to discover the unknown flowers. Allow the fragrance and the beauty of these flowers sanctifies your life and living. Only you have to be prepared for this journey. At the end of this inward journey you will not remain the same as you are now.

Thus begins the overflow of Taosho Buddha as “leaves from a Sufi Heart.” Initially the entire work was planned as one volume. However as the overflow began it became very clear if the message has to be conveyed in its authenticity for the development of human consciousness it has to be in three volumes.

The Naqshbandi path began with Holy Prophet via Hazrat Abu Bakr. By the time the path reached Shah Bahauddin Naqshband a pause came. From there the path got divided in many sub streams. Then came the second millennium almost after 1000 years with Sheikh Ahmad Mujaddadi Alif Thani Sirhindi, India. Of this Holy prophet made mention in one of the Hadith! At the command of the Mashaa’ikh Hazrat Baqi Billah was sent to India to pave the way for this second millennium. With this advent Mujaddadi was added to the existing path. As a result it came to be known as Naqshbandi wa Mujaddadi. Thereafter with the advent of Hazrat Shah Mazhar Mir Jane Jana of New Delhi India another significant change took place in the tariqat.

This advent provided totality to the path which is now known as NAQSHBANDI-MUJADDADI-WA-MAZAHARIA.

This made me to opt for the three volumes. The first volume is now for you. Beginning with the advent of Sufism I had to pause at Shah Bahauddin Naqshband with whom the path came to be known as Naqshbandi. Naqshband literally means the designer. This word, which is the name of the sheikh Bahauddin, thus gave a new direction to the existing Tariqat. Therefore logically I had to pause here.

The second volume of Leaves from a Sufi Heart begins with Shah Bahauddin. He is an important link in the golden chain of the masters. From him many new streams flowed in many directions. His methodology was unique. He used parables to explain the intricate matters for spiritual understanding. It was therefore logical to begin with Shah Bahauddin. This volume continues through the dawn of a new millennium Sheikh Ahmad Mujaddadi Alif Thani to Sheikh Noor Mohammad Badayuni.

And the third volume began with a new era in the development of human consciousness with Hazrat Mazhar Mir Jane Jana and continues to the present day masters.

The journey was long but the nisbat and the faiz of the masters made the path very easy and rewarding. Each word is soaked in this benediction as it will connect you the master whose energy field you are entering through this overflow. The faiz or the bliss can be experienced from the very fact the work of almost 1500 pages through the three volumes began literally on March 9th 2008 and the short duration of three months. This work did not stop other commitments of livelihood, meditation sessions, the monthly e magazine MEDITATION TIMES and guidance to other aspirants through e-mails and especially Swami Anand Neelamber in his mystical approach of a classic work on a Hindu Mythological script ‘HANUMAN CHALISA a Mystical Dimension’ (This will be available soon). This is the grace of the masters and the reflection of nisbat.

At times to explain to the intricate matters or the tahrir came through the masters as insight or kasf. It was a joy that can only be experienced. I have transferred this into the words and their arrangements so that you as a reader can experience this intoxicating flow of the energy field as you allow the words to soak into your being.

In this process assistance came from many quarters. Many of the aspirants throughout the globe went through the individual scripts as biographies which became a source of inspiration for them along the path of inward journey. However I am thankful to my two brother-in laws Dr Sharad Saxena from India, and Pt Mahendra Nath Maharaj from Hollywood, Florida USA. I am thankful for the love of Sufi Lakshmi Sahai who is still drunk with the first book MEDITATION THE WAY TO SELF REALIZATION earlier this year.
The work began on March 9th 2008 the day of the anniversary of Ram Krishna and ended on May 21st 2008 the day when Buddha was born, got enlightened and entered Mahapari Nirvana; and also this day another living master Sufi Onkar Nath a Naqshbandi master entered the vastness of the existence. This was a period of benediction and bliss infinite as the process still continues with other Volumes 2 & 3 of the LEAVES FROM A SUFI HEART and EK OMKAR SATNAM- SONGS OF NANAK.
I have spoken so much, yet still I feel nothing has been said as yet. In fact that which is remains unknown and unknowable. And nothing can be said. Yet still I have tried to do the impossible by speaking the impeccable only because of my trust and love. Each word, syllable and message is melody emanating from the heart soaked with the energy field or tawwajzoh of the masters. Allow the energy field to soak into you and the melody linger in your ears like the notes that are now dissolving….
The invisible support of my wife Gita, daughter Dr Sargam, and son Vivek Mohan had been the beacon light throughout the work. And remains the part of my being!

All I can say MAY ALLAH GUIDE ALL THESE PEOPLE ALONG THE PATH. My Love is for you all. ALHAM DIL ALLAH!

Our musicians who created the soul stirring and invigorating compositions by providing their voices to the mystical words need special mention. Without their support the works would have remained insipid. In particular I am thankful to Ms Purva Joshi and her husband Dr Ajay Joshi, Ms Rasika for the musical renditions.

Of course Swami Anand you are in all my pursuits. How can I make any mention then?

SUB HAN ALLAH!

TAOSHOBUDDHA
Web site: http//www. taoshobuddhameditations.com
E.mail:taoshobuddha@gmail.com taoshobuddha@rediff.com


FOREWORD

Become silent and in silence
move towards non existence
and when you become non-existent,
you will be all praise!!

DIVAN-I-SHAMS 2628

T
here is a life force or energy that flows through the matter envelopment. Under the law of evolution and the descent of light, a consciousness journeys through various stages in matter. When this consciousness manifests subjectively a new life is said to have been born. And when, at the end of the journey of consciousness through this mind and matter vehicle, life energy reaches to the realm of No Mind, it is SATORI – the first glimpse of that which is. Thus begins the journey into the realm of the BEYOND.

In the journey of consciousness this process continues without a break till eternity lasts. But because of ignorance and attachment you miss this solemn opportunity of TRANSCENDENCE. Be aware of this each finite moment of life. And be established in your BLISSFUL EXISTENCE — EVER SERENE AND TRANQUIL.

The matter decomposes but CONSCIOUSNESS that is, remains. NEVER TAKES BIRTH AND NEVER DIES! It always is.

During the recent few years, in the process of evolution, there prevailed a consciousness that envisioned truth only from one plane as partial and thus created some upheaval causing pain and suffering at various levels. It was essential so that existing impressions of past actions could be exhausted and each is put on the path of evolution.

Under these circumstances it became imperative for me, to look into the divine plan of such consciousness and the process of growth. Guided by my essential nature it was essential to observe my role under these circumstances. Certain decisions were made which will reveal themselves in the course of time. One important aspect was to start preparing to fold my works in the present manifestation. Not much time is ahead! And the wheel of time is too swiftly moving. It knows not place, person, or thing. It has been moving and shall go on forever without a break. As a result I have started detaching myself more and more from the world and its duality. This withdrawal is essential so that I can work from behind in my CAUSAL form. For this reason, all the writings that manifested from time to time need to be organized and presented to maintain its authenticity.


LA ILLAHA ILL ALLAH

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