Cardif Suf Group

Weekly Readings: 6
th
May 2011
Transformation
This weeks readings explore the theme of transformation. We sggest this for
step approa!h to working with this sele!tion:
Read this sele!tion" ot lod if possi#le" se$en times.
%well pon the phrase or senten!e that to!hes yo.
&sk yorself what rele$an!e or appli!ation this has to yo personally
'inally" sit in the afterglow of these re(e!tions and open yorself to whate$er
new insight or message the %i$ine might ha$e for yo.
Text )ne
The mystery of *die #efore death+
1
is this"
that the pri,es !ome after dying and not #efore.
-x!ept for dying" no other skill a$ails with .od" ) artfl s!hemer.
)ne %i$ine fa$or is #etter than a hndred kinds of personal e/ort:
s!h exertion is in danger from a hndred kinds of mis!hief.
&nd the %i$ine fa$or depends on dying:
the trstworthy athorities ha$e pt this way to the test.
0o" not e$en the mysti!1s death is possi#le withot %i$ine fa$or:
listen" listen" don1t linger anywhere withot %i$ine gra!e2
That gra!e is like an emerald" and this #odily self is an old $iper:
withot the emerald how shold the $iper #e made #lind3
46.565785692:
Text Two
;f yo pt on the armor of a warrior"
yet are na#le to defend yorself" yo1ll die.
Make yor sol a shield"
#ear what .od sends yo"
pt down the sword.
Whoe$er is headless sa$es his head<
the sel(ess !annot #e str!k.
Those weapons are yor sel=sh strategy<
a defense that wonds yor own sol
>in!e yo ha$e not for one moment en?oyed any frit from those strategies"
a#andon them and seek always the @ord of #onties.
42.516A871" 5175:
Transformation from a >= perspe!ti$e:
& personal a!!ont #y Bal @eger
1
Hadith" a saying of the Brophet Mhammad.
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)r $ision of transformation for orsel$es !an #e somewhat grandiose and
distant. We may pi!tre that when we are transformed we will ha$e dis!iples at
or feet and e$ery word we tter is golden. We also might think that it will
happen some day in the ftre" when !ir!mstan!es are more !ond!i$e" and
then all of a sdden we will dis!o$er that we are transformed.
; ha$e learned that it is the small steps that are #ilt on. ; ha$e also
experien!ed that transformation is not an a!hie$ement #t rather an
engagement in a deeper pro!ess. We do not own this pro!ess< rather" it
engages s. This pro!ess reCires that ; set an intention" #t it is the deeper
relationship with or sstainer that a!!omplishes !hanges in my ego" heart and
sol.
&n example that ; might !hoose for my self is the intention to not express my
anger in !ertain !ir!mstan!es" s!h as in the workpla!e with other sta/. 'rom
my work on this ; ha$e !ome to see that many times my anger !omes from an
inner ?dgment #y my ego that other people do not measre p to standards
that ; ha$e !reated for them. ; ha$e also seen that the only healthy way for me
to approa!h this type of work is to engage inner prayer. My inner !onne!tion
for the last se$eral years has #een throgh the inner prayer of *Bismillahi
Rahmani Rahim+.
To #e engaged with an inner resor!e so as to not express anger when life
!onditions lead s into a !hallenging sitation may indi!ate that a step has
#een taken on the path of transformation. ; ha$e experien!ed that anger !an
melt and an inner spa!e opens where there is a!!eptan!e of myself and the
other person as we are.
; think it important to add there are other potential aspe!ts to work with anger.
To not express anger !an !ase inner disarray if there is not a way to dissol$e
the anger and the inner response !ased #y not expressing it. To not express
anger is the work ; ha$e seen as important for myself at this time. 'or others"
or e$en for myself" at another time" it may #e important to learn how to
express anger.
>o when ; ha$e held #a!k an angry response" or when ; re!ogni,e that ; am in
the middle of an angry response" or when ; am !hewing on my emotional
response at not expressing anger< what ; ha$e seen is that the path of lo$e !an
engage me if ; open with inner prayer. ; think it is likely that simply the a#ility
to re!ogni,e the possi#ility of this engagement with or inner sor!e is part of
the transformation pro!ess.
; fail many times to open that inward door< #t it seems that something is still
deepened in me at the re!ognition of my failres. When ; see what in me gi$es
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rise to anger" my egos grasp on my inner life is lessened in the !ontext of
opening to the di$ine.
May we always see the doors lo$e opens for s