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IslamicCultures,Egypt

Islamiccultures

1AllahAkabar!ItisfitthatachapterwrittenonthemysticismoflandswhichflytheIslamicCrescentandStarshouldcalluponthenameoftheCompassionate,theMerciful,atthebeginningofthework.Suchisthecustomofthoselandssuchshallbethecustomofthepresentwriter.

2Onthelefttherearetallgracefulandtaperingpalmyratreesrisingfromastretchofbrowndesertsand.Fromtheirheadstherespreadfansofdroopingfronds,thinsharpedgedleaves,wavingtoandfrointhenightwind.

3Thescenewasanimatedenough.Camels,withtheirlonghighheldnecks,theirungainlyheads,theirskirted,striding,aquilinenoseddrivers,wereplentiful.

4ThecontrastbetweenloquaciousAmericansofthecitiesandsilentArabsofthedesertisunforgettable.TheBedouincansitinagroupandsaynothingatallforhours!Thedesert'speacehasenteredintothemtosuchanextentthatthesocialdutyoflaryngealactivityisunknownamongthem,andregardedasunnecessary!

5IwasdeeplyimpressedbytheintensefervourshowneverywherebythefollowersoftheProphet.OnceatsundownImetalonglineofcamelsmakingtheirslowheavywayacrosstheRajputanaDesert.Suddenlytheanimalswerehaltedandadrawnoutshrillcryfilledtheair.ItwasthefamiliarMuhammedancalltoprayer.Theridersleaptofftheiranimals,thelatterkneelingontheirforelegs,andprostratedthemselvesonlittlerugsinsilentworship.Itwasapicturesqueandcolourfulsceneonethatgripsthememory.

6Thesightaffectedme.Threehundredearnestfacesappearedinthemosque'sdimlight:threehundredpairsofeyesseeingnaughtbutAllah.

7Wewanderedintoalittlemosque.Mycompanionbowedandprostratedhimselfinprayer,whileIsatinreflectivemeditationupontheenvironingpresenceofAllah,theOne.

8Saracenicarchitecturehasbroughtmemanyhappyhours.HowoftenhaveIbeenattractedbysomemosque'stalltieredminaretsgracefullytaperingupwardsandstrikingtheeyewithapleasingeffect!HowinstinctivelyhaveImovedtowardsthenoblesplendidandarchedgateway,crownedwithagracefulbulbousdomeandleadingintoanenclosedgarden!Howsatisfyinghasitbeentotreadthecourtyard'soblongwornmarblepavingslabs.HowslowlyhaveIpacedthecypressborderedwalkbythefountainfedshortcanal!HowhaveIpassedthroughopenloggiaandbeneaththeexquisitetriple

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archesofthemainpavilionitselftositdownfinallyandrestonthemattedfloor!HowappreciativelyhaveIgazedatthesumptuouslycarvedwindowtraceryinpiercedstonework,atthefascinatingsymmetryofitsgeometricallypatternedforms.HowdeepthejoyIhavederivedfromthebeautifulcharactersoftheArabscriptinwhichtheProphet'ssuprememetaphysicaldeclarationsarepaintedonthewalls!Everywhereperfecttasteisdisplayed.

9ThecurvedarchesandcarvedarabesquesofIslamdrawmemorepowerfullythanitsdogmas.

10IslamicmosquesarethemostinspiringandbeautifulbuildingsIknow.Theyperfectlyfulfiltheirfunction,drawingtheheartbytheirexquisitecharmandstillingthemindbytheirsimplicity.

11OurgreyandwetNorthernskiesdonotfavourtheopenarcadedcourtyardswiththetricklingfountainsinthecentreandlittletubsofpalmtreesaround,whichIfindsofriendlyintheNearEast.

12ThebeautifulArabicarchitectureclearlyderivesitsformsfromtents,tentpoles,andcurtains.

13InthePersianvalleyofMourgAvotherestandsanimmensepileofancientruinsinwhitemarble.Amongthemisaprofileofawinged,angelicfigurewiththefollowinginscription:"IamGodandhereisnoneelse.IamGodandthereisnonelikeme."

14Aslongagoasthesixteenthcentury,AbulFazl,thesonofafamousSheikhandthefriendofEmperorAkbar,couldwrite:"Mymindhadnorest,andmysoulfeltitselfdrawntothesagesofMongolia,ortothehermitsofLebanonIlongedforinterviewswiththeLamasofTibet."

15TheIsraelites,liketheMuhammedansintheirmosques,possessnopicture,nostatue,nofigureofanykindintheirtemplestoportrayGod.

16TheAllahwhomMuhammedansworshipisnotapersonaldeityatleastnotfortheculturedclasses.Thetermisanegativeone.ItsignifiesThatwhichisnotlimited,formed,bounded,material,orphenomenal.

17IntheArabicreligiousformula,"LA"=thereisnoGod,"YLLA"=butGod.Thefirstpartisnegativebutthesecondispositive.

18HardlyanysculptureexistsinMuhammedanreligiousorsecularart.Toreduceallriskofidolworship,Muhammedforbadeallrepresentationoflivingbeings.WhereastheHindus,theGreeks,andtheRomansputtheirgodsintostone,wood,metal,andpaint,nofollowerofhiswasallowedtodoso.Thatis,theFormlesswasnottobethoughtofasFormed.

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19Islamhasitsworshippedsaints,itswalis,despitetheKoran'sprohibitionofsuchintermediariesbetweenAllahandman.

20"AllahistheLight,"wroteMuhammed.

21TheSufiswerenotallowedtodescribetheiroccultexperiencesitwasdeemedbetterfortruth,andespeciallyforthesubdualofegotism,tohidethem.

22TheSufimysticsputmoreinterestintothequestoftheSpirit'sbeautythandidothermystics.

23DonotconfoundthemechanicallyarousedecstasyoftheDervishwiththethoughtconqueringconcentrationofthetrueYogi.Thefirstisonalowerlevelthanthesecond.

24Sufiterms:Enayat=Grace.Verd=repetitivemantramusedbytheDervishes.Musharaf=TofeelthepresenceofGodasGrace.

25TheSufiArabicphrasefor"intheworldbutnotofit"is"halvatdarunjumen."

26LIGHT.NUR(God'secstasycreatingLight)ismentionedseveraltimesinSufisacredpoems.

27Majdhub=Dervishinecstasy.

28BarakahinMoroccoandadjacentMuhammedanlandssignifies"graceorblessingorhealingpower."

29ThemysticalsymbolismoftheSufiscanbetracedinHafizandOmar.Theirwineequalsaspiration,loveofthedivine.BelovedequalsGod.Drunkennessequalsecstaticmeditation.Amorousglanceequalsdevotion.

30ThreequotationsfromTheDiwanbyNasirIKhusraw(eleventhcenturyPersianpoet,traveller,andmystic):

1)Eremefromtheirearthlycasingsuncountedspiritshavefled,AndI,thoughlongIlinger,maybecountedalreadydead.

2)ForSatanhadcaughtandconstrainedmetowalkinhiscaptives'train,And'twasReasonwhocameandsavedme,andgavemefreedomagain.

3)MysoulishigherthanFortunethenwhyshouldIFortunefear?

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31PersianSufiverse:

Oyewhoseektosolvetheknot.

Yeliveintruth,yetknowitnot.

Yesitupontheriver'sbrink,

Yetcraveinvainadroptodrink.

Yedwellbesideacountlessstore,

Yetperishhungryatthedoor.

32IwanderandlookforThee

ButThoudostevademyeyes

ByhidingThyselfinmyheart.Muhammedanmedievalsong>

33"Heisamanwhodwellsamongstmankind,marries,andassociateswithhisfellowcreatures,yetisneverforasinglemomentforgetfulofGod."AbuSaid,eleventhcenturyPersianmysticofhighdegree

34AfterIreadIbnTufail'sTheAwakeningoftheSoulmymindgravitatedquitenaturallytoEasternwisdom.

35IbnTufailwasnotonlyaSufimysticalmasterbutalsoanintellectualthinkerandanablephysician.Hislittlebook,TheAwakeningoftheSoul(originaltitleStoryofHaiEbnYokdan)wasthefirsttoleadmetotheideaofmeditation.

36(1)"Whenitistimeforstillness,stillness."Dervishsaying(2)"Essencemanifestsonlyinunderstanding."Sufisaying

37SheikhShihabudDin,ofAleppo(twelfthcentury),wasaSufiwhotaughtthattheultimaterealitywasLight(Nur).Hisheterodoxycausedhimtobeexecuted.ThisLightisselfexistent,perpetuallyluminous,selfmanifesting,andisthesourceofallexistence.Ithastwoexpressions.Thesheikhalsotaughtinhiswritingthatthepathofspiritualityhadfivestations:(1)selfishness,(2)selfcenteredness,(3)"Iamnot,"(4)"ThouGodart,"and(5)Iamnotandthouartnottheannihilationofdistinctionsofsubjectandobject.

38"SonamedabsorptioninGod,regardedasthegoaloftheSufiseeker,isinfactonlythebeginning,"warnedAlGhazzali,thePersianwhosebook,TheAuthorityofIslam,wasknownandstudiedthroughoutEuropeintheMiddleAgesbyChristiansandJewsaswellashiscoreligionists,Mohammedans.HespentfourteenyearsinvestigatingallavailableteachingsduringwidetravelsthroughoutOrientallandshewentintothedesertforsolitarymeditationfortwelveyearsandishonouredasagreatMasterinthoselands.

39

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TheNaqshbandiOrderofdervisheswasfoundedinthefourteenthcenturyinBukhara,anditschiefcentrewasthereuntilBolshevismarose.Theirgreatadept,theMullahNasrudin,istheoriginofseveralmysticphilosophictaleswhichconveyquitesimplyinstructionondeepVedantictruths.Inthesecondstoryhesays,"Inevertellthetruth!"Thecommentaryexplains:"Ifthisistrue,helies.Ifuntrue,hetellstruth!Thusbywordswecanarriveanywhere,butthisisnot,never,truth."Inthefirsttaletheideaofcauseandeffectvanishes.Inthethird,thepastandthefuturearealreadyhere,now.TheNaqshbandiswarnaspirantsthatselfdeceptionisacommonobstacletofindingandrealizingtruth.Theyfurtherteachthattosatisfytheintellectbecomesimpossibleandexplanationreachesadeadendbutitcanbetranscendedandamysteriousplaneofhigherbeingattainedthroughtheexperienceofdeepcontemplation.Thelasttalemaymakeyoulaugh.Nasrudinwentintoashop.Heasked,"Haveyouflour?""Yes.""Andhaveyoumilk,sugar,honey?""Yes.""Then,forheaven'ssake,whydon'tyoumakesweetmeats?"

40TheSufisofPakistanandtheNaqshbandidervishesofpreBolshevikBukhara,butnowelsewhere,usecertainwritingsstoriesoftheadeptMullahNasrudintoinstructsimplepersonsinsubtletruths.Theyare"Vedantamadeeasy"tales.

41IfBuddhistmonksintheFarEastoriginallytookteatostayawakeduringlongperiodsofmeditation,piousMuhammedansoriginallytookcoffeetostayawakeduringthetediousperiodsofformalreligiousprayer.

Egypt

42WeintheWesthavebroughtpunctualitytoperfectionanddevelopedbusinessintoareligion.WecustomarilyandfromourstandpointrightlydespisetheEastforitslightheartedattitudetowardsthesematters.Wearriveatourbusinessengagementswithclocklikeprecisionandinvoluntarilycarrythesamespiritintooursocialappointments,too.Weworkhardandwell,andtorelaxwhenthemoodpromptsusistoyieldtooneofthesevendeadlysins.Perhapstheonlyshiningexceptionsaretobefoundinbohemiansandthoseinartisticcircles,whoseattitudewasaptlyandhumourouslyputbyOscarWildeintothemouthofoneofhischaracters:"Hewasalwayslateonprinciple,hisprinciplebeingthatpunctualityisthethiefoftime."DuringmywanderingsintheEastIhavenotfailedtonotethedifferenceofoutlook,theeasygoingattitudetowardworkandtime,andthoughthisatfirstexcitedmyirritation,itnowreceives,withinduelimits,myapprobation.ForI,too,havefeltthepleasureoftakinglifeeasily,thedelightofceasingtobepursuedbyoldKronos,thecomfortofnolongerreactingtoclockworkandmechanicaldiscipline.InEgyptIfoundthisspiritatitsapogee,andnowitsuitsmewell.YetIhopeIshallneversuccumbasfarasthatrotundHinduIndianmoneylenderofLahore,whoboastedtomethatwhenhehadanappointmentforteno'clockinthemorningheinvariablyturnedupattwointheafternoon.Ilookedathim,shocked,andthenreproachedhimforsuchinconsiderateconduct."Oh,don'tworry,"hereplied,"forevenifIdidturnupattenmyclientwouldinvariablyturnupattwo!"However,ImasteredonelessonthroughmysojournunderthepleasantEgyptiansky,alessonwhichhasbeenwellputbyRabelais,whosaidthatthehoursweremadeforman,andnotmanforthehours.ItisnotthatIwanttoenterintoadefenseofunpunctualityfarfromitbutthatIwanttoenterintoadefenseofthatinnerpersonalfreedomwhichcanliveintheEternalNow,whichcancarryonitsworkanddutieswithoutbeingenslavedbythem.

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43DuringtheinundationoftheNile,manypeasantsdreamawaytheirtimeinshadyspotsandidlyawaitthetimewhenthelandwillagainbeaccessible.

44WhenthevividcoloursofsunsetwentoutoftheEgyptiansky,ItookupmystationbytheNilebankandmentallywentwiththem.ThelittleselfwasleftfarbehindasIpassedintoNature'sstillness.

45TheEgyptiansundowncreatesgloriouschromaticappearancesorange,gold,yellow,pink,red,andothercoloursarepaintedonthesceneinthequiveringlight.

46InmostMuhammedancountries,andcertainlyintheEgyptwhichIknewmanyyearsago,lunaticswerebelievedtohavelefttheirsoulbehindintheheavenworld,sothattheirdesertedbodieswerebereftofthemind'sguidance.They,andinparticularmentallyretardedidiots,wereconsideredtobeholybecauseofthisconnectionwiththeirprayingorworshippingsoulsinheaven.

47IntheEgyptofthosedaysatranquilamicableandattractiveEgypt,beforethefuriesofpoliticsandthehatesofwarhadenteredinIfoundsomeinterestingnativesuncommonlygiftedwithpsychicpowersorreligiousdepth.Therewasthelittleoldnegressinwhosepresencelogiclostitsvalue,forshetoldmetruthsofmypastandfuture,alltrueorfulfilled.

48Thatwasabeautifulsight,whenthemonthlyvisitationofthefullmoon'slightfellupontheSphinx'sfargazingeyes.

49TheSphinx'smutilatednoselessface,itslostdesertprivacy,showtime'sdevastatinghand.

50TheSphinxbearsthescarsofhavinglivedtoolong.Themutilatedfacehaslostthebeautyitoncehad.Thisiswhyitmustbeseenbymoonlight,notinglaringsunlight.

51FullmoonisthebesttimetovisittheSphinx.Itcomesalive,speaks.

52IsthistheanswertotheSphinx'sriddle,thatman'sconsciousnesscomesfromanunknowableSource?Orisitthatthisconsciousness,freedfromitsanimalinheritanceandhumanconfusions,isitselfthatSource?TheinitiateintotheEgyptianMysterieswasgiventheanswer.

53ThetemplewhichstilllieshiddenundertheSphinxandthechamberwhichstillremainsundiscoveredwithintheGreatPyramidwerenotcunninglysealedupbysosecretiveatribeastheHighPriestsfornothing.Forallthosewhoareimprisonedinthefleshlybody,theymustserveonlyassacredsymbolsbutforafewofustheymeanmore.

54TheGreatPyramidofEgyptwaserectedbysurvivorsofAtlantis,asasymbolicbuildingremindingusoftheconnectionbetweenwisdomandtheearthlyworld.Itwasalsoa

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TempleoftheMysteries.

55Egyptiankingshadtoundergofirstinstructionandtheninitiationbeforetheycouldinherit,fromthepreviousking,thetitleofdivinepersonage.Fortheinitiation,withitsphysicalritualandpsychicreality,theGreatPyramidalonewasreservedandbuilt,aswellastostandforasymbolofthesethings.ProfessionalEgyptologistsrejecttheseinterpretationsasbeingunscientific.

56AlthoughthePyramidservedsomanydifferentuses,physicalandspiritual,therewasalsothegeographicalonewhereinitservedasakindofmappicturingthenorthernhalfofourglobe.InthiswayitsapexwouldbetheNorthPoleandtheperimeterwouldbetheequator.

57OnthatsmallplatformwhichisthetruncatedtopoftheGreatPyramid,IoncestoodtolookaroundatthecharminglongvalleyoftheNile,thepurebluesky,thegrovesofpalmtrees,theprolificfields,andthentheendlessyellowdesert.AfterawhileIsquattedontheoldflatstone,brownedbytime,andwithinminutesfellintoareverie.Amessagecame.

58Itisquitepossiblethattheflattopofthepyramidwasusedasalandingpadforspacevessels.Itisalsopossiblethatthereweresecretpassagesandchamberswhichleduptothispadandwherethehighestpriestscouldmeettheirvisitorsfromdistantspace.

59ItwasascientistnamedAlvarezwhoinvestigatedtheGreatPyramidwiththeuseofcosmicrayinstruments.

60AmenophisIV,alsocalledAkhnatentheHeretic,wasthefatherofKingTutankhamenandalsothehusbandofQueenNefertiti.Akhnatenwasagreatmystic,asuperbartist,aconvincedpacifist,anobleidealist.Yethewasopposed,hated,defeated,anddestroyedbytheexistingselfish,externalizedandmaterialized,orthodoxpriestlyleaderswhenhewasonlytwentysixyearsold.Hisambition?Tobringanewandbettersociety.

61ThedustinTutankhamen'stombwaspoisonous.Itisthiswhichsickenedandviolentlykilledoffthoseviolators.Therewasnoneedforanypsychicnonphysicalsorcerousforcetobebroughtin.

62ItwasnotonGreekearththatGreekthoughtfinallytranscendeditself,becamemystical,andthusblossomedwithitsfinestflowers.ThishappenedonEgyptianearth,inthecityofAlexandria,whichwasfoundedbyaGreek,ruledforaperiodbyhalfGreeks,andassociatedwiththebestHellenicculture.HeretheNeoplatonicschoolsofphilosophyand,later,theChristiantheologiesofClement,Origen,Methodius,andotherFathersappeared.HerereasonedattitudescombinedwithinwardexperienceshereEuropeandAsiaandAfricacombinedtheirhighestdreamsandtruthstoproducethewisdomofAlexandria.

63AsacentreofHellenicculture,AlexandriawaslargerandmoreactivethanAthens.

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64AncientAlexandriakeptitsreligiousindependence,keptreligionbutputitwhereitbelonged.Ithonouredphilosophy.ThatiswhytheignorantrabblefromtheslumslynchedHypatia.

65AlexandriawasanextraordinaryproductofthecreativeimaginationandfarsightednessofAlexander.Inashorttimeitquiteastonishinglybecameaworldcentre,ameetingplaceofAfrica,Asia,andEurope.Itestablishedseveralreputations,eachalongquitedifferentlines.Weknowthatallitwasacentreofphilosophy,erudition,andresearchitwasinfactthegreatestculturalcentreintheancientworldofitstime.Wedonotallknowthatitbecamereputedalsoforitsartists,itstraders,anditsmanufacturers.

66Alexandria,thequarrelsomecitywhichmobbedandslewHypatia,alsoproducedcelebratedNeoplatonists,talentedGreekspeakingChristianFathers,andgiftedlibrarianswhoculledknowledgefromseverallands.

67Alexandria,inRomanimperialdays,becameagreatcentreofcommerceandcrime,learningandsects,magnificentbuildingsandlowlyslums,thenobleNeoplatonicphilosophyandthevilepoisoner'sart.

68WhenAlexanderstartedthebuildingofAlexandriain332b.c.,heopenedthewayforZenodotustoopenthedoorsofthecelebratedlibraryin280b.c.

69ThissignetringwasmadeinAlexandriaandbearsonitsfacetheheadofthegodSerapis,withhisbentnoseandcurvedhelmet.ItisinterestingtospeculatethatwhenAlexandriaflourishedthesarcophagusofthecity'sfounder,Alexander,wasbroughttothegreattemplethereandthatSerapis,towhomthetemplewasdedicated,wasdepictedwithblackpupilsandawhiteirisgazingfixedlyattheworshipper.

70Stonehengewasbuiltinrelationtosun,moon,andeclipses.BabylonandEgyptalsobuilttemplesonanastronomicalbasis.

71TheeyesymbolizedsecrecyandoccultismtotheEgyptiansofold.Henceitsfreeuseintheirmysticchambers,paintings,andhieroglyphics.

72TheancientEgyptianmystichieraticposturewaslikeanIndian'sexceptthatpalmswerelyingflatupontheknees.

73IfwecompareHebrewwithEgyptiantextsthecoincidenceofwholesentencesisstartling.

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