"Khudii"....The Iqbalian concept of Self ..II

(.....In continuation of earlier post.....)

"Khudii is the concept of 'Self', as described by Dr. Allama Mohd Iqbal, and immortalised in his now famous lines of sheer magic..

Dr. Allama Iqbal takes the concept a step further again, in his famous lines on the life of the eagle ( shaheen), that most majestic of birds, that lives its entire life in the high altitudes of the earth's atmosphere:-

Nahiin Tera NashemaN , Qasr-e-Shahenshahii Ki Gumbadd Parr,

Tu Shaheen Hai, Basera kar, Pahadon Kii Chattanon Par.

"It's not among the Domes of the Empire's Palaces that your abode lies,For you are the Eagle, So make then your abode,Among the high peaks of the lofty mountains."
.......Dr. Allama Mohammed Iqbal

Now, here are some sientific facts about the eagle ......

The eagle has the longest life-span of its' species..

It can live up to 70 years.
But to reach this age, the eagle must make a hard decision in its' 40's....

It's long and flexible talons can no longer grab prey which serves as food ..

Its' long and sharp beak becomes bent...

It's old-aged and heavy wings, due to their thick feathers, become stuck to it's chest and make it difficult to fly ....

Then, the eagle is left with only two options: To either accept the vagaries of fate, and old age, and slowly starve to death , or else, to go through a long drawn out and painful process of change, which lasts 150 days.

The process requires that the eagle fly to a mountain top and sit on its' nest ...

There the eagle knocks its' beak against a rock until it plucks it out .
After plucking it out, the eagle will wait for a new beak to grow back,
and then it will pluck out it's talons....

When its' new talons grow back, the eagle starts plucking its' old-aged feathers ..

And finally, after five months, the eagle takes it's famous 'flight of rebirth' and lives , ...for 30 more years!!!

( Many thanks to Qais Mujeeb for his profound mail , which is the source of these

amazing facts and pics....)

Salutation to the Dawn ....

One of my favourite poems...

"Salutation to the Dawn" , by Kalidas

"Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn!
Look to this Day!
For it is Life, the very Life of Life.
In its brief course lie all the
Verities and Realities of your Existence.
The Bliss of Growth,The Glory of Action,
The Splendor of Beauty;
For Yesterday is but a Dream,
And To-morrow is only a Vision;
But To-day well lived makes
Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness,
And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.
Look well therefore to this Day!
Such is the Salutation of the Dawn! "

Des Pardes Kii BateiN....

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Musings of an NRI
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Mitne Na Denge Hum Harrgeez ,Apni watan Kii Hastii Ko Seene Se
Na Iskii Khusboo Kii Mehek Ko Kabhii, Apni Dil Se

Isskii Yaadein toa hain Basii Huvii,har din Shamil Apni Pehchaan
Rahein Isskii Mustaqbil SaveroN mein KahiiN,Apni Taqdeer Ke do char lamheiN


Chale jayein hum jahaN bi, Jiye jaayein Hum Jisey waisey Bhii,
Rahengey nas-nas mein iskii Tehzeeb-o-Sanskar Ke Jalwein HanseeN Hii.
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(The Tender, beautiful memories of my beloved country, Never would fade away from the heart,
Nor its lingering frangrance ever move away from the fond memories of the heart...

As a beloved picture , it exists , as a part of my very identity
May it be so that among its most beautiful dawns , a few memorable moments of my destiny too, unfold.

May it be so that whever may i eventually move towards, howsoever may i live afterwards,
May the lingering radiance of its culture and age-old traditions live for ever, embedded in the course of my very existence.) 19.Aril.2008
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Discipline in Life, Redifined..A philosophical perspective..

Discipline, in Life , agreed is vital for success in life. But what do we do when the world around us has changed much in the past few decades, and years, more so? Take a long and hard look at it, decide that it doesn't concern us and move on helplessly?Or just shrug our shoulders and carry on with the business of life ,it's hustle and bustle, and its long and tiring ,shallow and monotonous tones? No dear friends, when so much can be done on our own, for the betterment of our own lives..what is most definitely needed is wisdom, a renewed attitude and a steadfast approach towards life...

On of the greatest thinkers of our times, Gandhi himself said thus, about change in life:-

"Be the change that you want to see in the world."



The Merriam-webster dictionary defines 'discipline' thus :

4)"training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character"
5 a) :" control gained by enforcing obedience or order"
b :" orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior"

*source: http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/discipline

From a philosophical angle, here it goes:-

"To Live Well, Observe well, Listen well, Reflecting on the path or course of action that you have taken,or intend to continue with,
To analyse ,accept and correct your steps well,
To persist at it with patience,dignity, and faith in yourself,
To Smile and keep your cool well,
To grow well,Serve well, and to surely and steadfastly**, move well in Life.. "

(**The steadfastness & sureness comes about in life through self-belief, and a commitment to some principles and character in Life).
......................................"Philosophical Perspectives@ The Mirages of Life"

"Khudii" ...The Iqbalian Concept of "Self"

The Concept of Khudii or the 'higher Self' is synonymous with Allama Mohammed Iqbal, who was perhaps the
greatest philosopher-poet of the modern era, his stature and visionary outlook being percieved to be head and shoulders above the times that he and his contemporaries lived in. In fact, the greatest tribute to his stature among poets is that even to this day, poets , acaedemicians, researchers and scholars of urdu, farsi & Arabic poetry and philosophy the world over simply cannot but approach his works except with the deepest sense of awe and admiration at the depth of his thoughts.

Iqbal & the concept of Khudi are described by Dr Rafik Zakaria, a
leading indian author of our times, thus :-

While Faiz, Sahir and others enjoyed considerable popularity in India,
Iqbal has not been granted the same stature and popularity, despite the adoption
of his "Sare Jahan Se Achcha, Hindustan Hamara..." as the National Song of
India. The reasons are not far to seek, Iqbal has often been seen as one of the
initiators of the demand for Pakistan and one of its leading advocates.

The role of the politician in Iqbal has unfortunately overshadowed both his
contribution in the field of Urdu poetry as well as his inspiration to the
younger generation of the poets in the sub-continent, specially the Muslim
youth-- who made a swift turn towards the Left in the 1930's and gave a fresh
reign of life to Urdu.

The most important of Iqbal's contribution is the enunciation of the
concept of khudi (the self) and action. He abohorred inaction and laziness, and
gave the resounding call to his brethern:

Khudi ko kar buland itna, ke har taqdeer sey pehley,
Khuda bande sey poochey, bata teri raza kya hai.

(Raise thyself to such heights, That God Himself may Ask-
What do you wish me to write your fate ?)

Dr. Allama Iqbal takes this concept a step further again, in his famous lines :-

Nahiin Tera NashemaN , Qasr-e-Shahenshahii Ki Gumbadd Parr,
Tu Shaheen Hai, Basera kar, Pahadon Kii Chattanon Par.

It's not among the Domes of the Empire's Palaces that your abode lies,
For you are the Falcon, So make then your abode,
Among the high peaks of the lofty mountains.

Dr. Allama Mohammed Iqbal

( Still is one of my all-time favourite 'shers' , just as it has been a source of inspiration to thousands across the subcontinent.

The late Sunil Dutt, who began his highly publicised career as a popular actor , and later became a social activist ,before finally becoming a highly respected politician in India , had his own interpretation of these famous lines , which go thus...

"tu Shaheen Hai, Parvaz hai Kaam Tera"

meaning,

"You are the falcon, and to keep Soaring high among the lofty peaks , is your very nature ."

Riz

An Optimist's view....

"When it is Dark Enough, You Can See the Stars."

........Ralph Waldo Emerson

.

A Way, Forward...

"Sitaron Se Aagey Jahan Aur Bhi Hai,
Abhi Zindagii Mein Imtihaan Aur Bhi Hai"

Beyond the Stars , There are yet Many Worlds,
Many more trials are there, Yet to be Faced in this Life.

Of Hopes ,& dreams that one leaves behind, in Life....

The Parable of one or the other unfulfilled wishes to remain
behind,in Life,
No matter whatever be the magnitude of the Success,that one attains,
In this Worldy Life.....




History remembers Zahiruddin Mohammed Babar,who in 16th Century India, founded the illustorious dynasty of the Mughals, which is remembered in the annals of history, as a glorius period in India's past, notwitstanding a few unpleasant moments somewhere along those footprints of time, as a great warrior , an illustorius emperor and a gifted writer, his autobiographical Babarnama being reverred even today, as a great piece of literature, composed in turkish.

Of Babar, it is said that he inherited Smarkhand, his maternal land from his father ,at the age of 13, and then lost,won and lost it again, and died with his greatest wish in life remaining unfulfilled-that of taking back Samarkhand, which to him, was the most beautiful of all lands,even though he had conquered a great number of kingdoms later on , far greater in size
and more abundant in riches...

So stands that adage , that has been proved true innumerable number of times, throughout the
story of man's life, that-

No matter how far you go on in life, achieving magnificent victories and enjoying great success
in life, there would always remain , somewhere inside your heart of hearts, some small , beautiful wish that you had ,some tender sweet dreams that you had cherished since childhood, that would remain unfulfilled , at the end of your 'this journey of life'..............


Quoting Amitav gosh,( the metalink is given below) :-

Babar himself has described his nostalgia for his beloved land, in his autobiographical,soulful, poetic Babarnama ,thus :-

A strain of deep melancholy runs through the last pages of the TB, as though he had come to realise that ruling his new kingdom would entail permanent exile from the landscapes of his childhood. "Our concern for going thence (to Kabul) is limitless and overwhelming," he wrote to a friend, the year before his death. "How can one forget the pleasures of that country? Especially when abstaining from drinking, how can one forget a licit pleasure like melons and grapes? Recently a melon was brought and as I cut it and ate it I was oddly affected. I wept the whole time I was eating it." (423)

His Indian victories seem to have left Babar with the feeling that his life's work was over: homesickness, nostalgia and abstinence evidently combined to rob him of his will to live.

Let me put those simmering, sobering,humbling,yet intense thoughts in my own lamentable style then...


"Zindagii Kii Adayein Maikhashii,Nashemann,
Nazron Se Toa Waqt ke Nazaarein-
Dikhtii Hain , Jaise Qatilana, Shadeed,
Yaad Aati Hai Humein Shiraazi Babar Kii Samarrkhand..."

****************************************************************************

Quoting again from Amitav Ghosh's essay on Babar, titled "Love and War in Afghanistan and Central Asia: The Life of the Emperor Babur",

which appears on the following site :-
http://http://www.amitavghosh.com/essays_html_indv.php?essay_no=54

At the age of thirteen he led an army to Samarkand, to join a clutch of cousins and second-cousins who were taking advantage of another relative's absence to lay seige to the fabled city. After a siege of seven months Babar succeeded in having himself crowned the ruler of Samarkand. He was to rule the city for no more than a hundred days but in many ways this was the defining moment of Babar's life. He was to besiege, conquer and lose Samarkand many times over before he was finally and decisively driven southward. But up to the end of his life, even when he had conquered a realm far vaster, richer and more promising than those that had been taken from him, he still pined for his lost city: for Babar Samarkand was the epitome of civilisation, the centre of the world's urbanity and the fountainhead of all culture. He won a sizeable chunk of India, the land whose riches had triggered Europe's Age of Exploration. But all he really wanted was Samarkand.

*********************************************************************************

Riz

Ae Khuda........

*Ek Geet....



Jo Maine Socha Thaa,
Jo Maine Chaaha Thaa,
Ae Khuda Woh Paaya Nahin...

Jo Maine Socha Thaa,
Jo Maine Chaaha Thaa,
Ae Khuda Woh Paaya Nahin...

Jo Maine Payaa Hai,
Jo Tumne Diyaa Hai,
Ae Khuda Woh Sochaa Nahin...

Jo Maine Payaa Hai,
Jo Tumne Diyaa Hai,
Ae Khuda Woh Sochaa Nahin...

Ajnabii thaa main tho,
Mere Raaston Mein -
Basii Huvii Andheriyan, Mere Raaston Mein,
Mere Raaston Mein ...

Beh Gaya thaa main tho, Mere Raaston Mein -
Basii Huvii Andheriyan, Mere Raaston Mein,
Mere Raaston Mein....

Mujhe Kya Khabarr Thaa, Mujhe Kya Pataa Thaa...

Andheri Raahon Mein, Jalte sitaarein thhey
Sulagte Angaarein Thhey
Jalta Raha Tha Main tho, Bhatka raha main tho..

Meri Galiyon Ke Rahon Mein,
Pathar banke reh gaya mein..

Aansuon ke saagar mein
Doob raha thaa mein tho
Kam Nahin thii sitaarein , Roshni Ke Saayein Thhey...

Mujhe Kya khabarr Thaa Mujhe Kya pataa thaa .....Ae Khuda.......

Jo Maine Socha Thaa,
Jo Maine Chaaha Thaa
Ae Khuda Woh Paaya Nahin...

Jo Maine Payaa Hai,
Jo Tumne Diyaa Hai,
Ae Khuda Woh Sochaa Nahin...

Ae Khuda Woh Maanga Nahin,
Ae Khuda Woh Chaaha Nahin.....

(FlashBacks : Circa July 2000)

Anjaane logon se..(Of Bondings with Strangers)..

Anjaane logon se kabhi kabhi,
Ek rishta sa ban jaata hai -
Bina mile, Bina kuch kahe...

Par ham chod dete hain inn rishton ke nazukh dhagon ko,
Jaise band mutthi se ret , Jaati hai phisal..
Nahin baandhte inko dil ke dhadkano se..

Kya tumhe kabhi chua hai kisi ajnabee ne,
Kya tumne kabhi sajaaye hain khwab, Kisi ajnabee ke -
Kya himmat kiya hain un khwabon ko sach karwane ka ??

Ya phir, chupke se un sapon ko Aanchal mein odhe jee liya hai yunhi.....

Translation/Transliteration:-

Sometimes, we develop deep, lasting bonds, with complete Strangers
Without meeting them again, Without saying another word...

But we leave behind, the sensitive threads of these special bonds
Somewhat like the sand slipping out of clenched hands..
For we fail to tie these so delicate, so rare bonds with the chords of our heart...

Has then any stranger, touched the delicate chords of your heart, So..
Have you then , if ever lit up your very own world, with the shared dreams of such a stranger...
And have you then, if it be So, dared to make those dreams a reality?

Or else,have you just buried those tender, beautiful dreams in your heart,
and gone on with the business of life, just so....?

*****
Note: The above couplets have been contributed by Surjit Singh Jubbal.
The original author of these lovely couplets is not known to us, if some body could let us know, it would be really appreciated.

Hope i have been able to do some justice to the original verses in urdu , in this translation/transliteration...

Love does makes one see the world differently!!!

It is said that Love makes one blind to everything else. How True!!

Love, it is said, makes one oblivious to everything else in life.
To be honest, never believed it could happen to certain strange sorts of people,who seemed immune to it all, living life beautifully and amazingly...

But assumptions change, as do the times that people live in, and change ,as the say is constant for some,a way of life....
Life,then, keeps throwing up different perspectives, every now and then,
and lately had i come to realise ,as a curious bystander, that Love and Reason, don't at all seem to go on together, beyond a certain point....!!!


How True it seems!!

Let me sum up the feelings of someone whom i had the good fortune to observe very closely, through life, since many years now, and amusing how he put it,when quizzed about it! Now ,let me put those delicate thoughts in my own pitiable style...

"Maana Ki Mohabbat Kii Aabruu Ke Liye Kya Kyaa Nahiin Dekhaa-
'Apnii' Nazron Se Duniya Ko Dekhaa.

Magar Mohabbat Kii Nazrein jhukaakar,
Jab Khudh Apni Nazron Se Duniya Ko Dekhaa-

Tabb Harr Taraf Khamoshii Se Dekha,
Harr Taraff Tanhaii Mein Dekhaa.."

Agreed,that For the honour of Love, What all did i have to see for myself!
I Began to see the World through my own Sight!

But when i looked at the world,through my own sight now,
lowering the dazzling sights that love beholds,
Then i saw myself looking at My own World , in Complete Silence, in complete isolation...!!".


-----------

Cheerz!!
Riz

.....Differing Perspectives..............
Circa...2005

:)-:)-:)-:)-:)-:)-:)-

Yeh Zindagii Bhii....( What is this Life ...)

Yeh Zindagii Bhii,
Hai Ek Ajab Shaam.

Ismein Hai Khoobiyaan-
Ismein hai Parchaiyan,Isme hain Gham..

This Life too,
It Cetainly Is, A Strange Evening!!

In it, there are good ,
In it , there are Shadows , In it, there are anxieties ...

( Incomplete ......)

Humanity Lives, but only So...

" Dil se Hai, Logon Kii Pehchaan,Logon Kii Zamaane Se Nahii,
Dil Se Hai, Dil Ka Vaasta, Insan Ki Insan Se Na Sahii.

Insaniyat Zinda Hai tho Aaaj, Dil Kii waadiyon Mein Kahiin -
Ek Gumnaam Nazraana, Ek bhooli huvii Nazm..."

The identity of people is forged from the heart,Not So that thiers-
is From the times that they live in.

The Relation of the heart is with other hearts,
It may not be so that he feels always-
the closeness of bondage , with his fellow beings

If today humanity still lives, It is among the valleys of the heart,
But as a lost sight, As a beautiful song that has been long forgotten....

Ae Dost, Tu Bhi Likha Karr...(You Too,Should Be A Poet, My Friend...)

Jo Hum Hain, Toa Kuch Bhi Nahiin,
Aarzuvein Nahiin thii Kabhii,
Kisi Badshaahat Ki-Baat yeh naa Sahii.

Abhi Toa Hain Sangg Tere.
Ki Saath Chalne Ke Liye-
Hum Hii Naa Rahein Kal.

Reh Jaatii Hain Yeh Khayal,Yeh Baatein,
Aur yeh Sanskar ,Jisey Hamne ,Kabhi -
Seene Se Lagaa Liya thaa..

(Iss Liye Kehte hain tumse , Ae Mere Dost, Tu Bhii Likha Karr...)

Transliteration.....

What I am, Is but nothing,
For there was never , in this heart, ever a longing
To even think ,of Living Life like a Mogul - this small matter not withstanding.

Presently am I here, in your midst,
For , to travel along with you among these journeys of life-
I may not Live so long to see that beautiful day...

What then would remain behind, would be these thoughts, these little talks that we leave behind,
And the culture and traditions, that at some point in time,
I had held close to my own heart, With a Lot of Love........

(And that is why i have this to say to you, my friend, that you too should try your hand at poetry..........)

Ode to A Smile...

Some Smiles Linger, in the memories , long after we have completed our journeys , and reached our destinations....some tender memories such as these may remain, comforting us and providing us some solace, of the way we tried to smile sometimes , even if feebly, along the ardous ways through those journeys of life.....


" Somewhere Among the dark, and mysterious Alleys
Of My Stormy Life,
Ravaged by the thunder-storms of life,
It's many merciless tempests-
And the Sand-storms of Life,
I Saw a glimmer of light.

And then, Your Way-
A gallant smile,
And then there was light all around,
And then there was light all around...."
Riz :)-

A beautiful couplet on 'Feelings of the Heart'...

Here's a lovely couplet on the feelings in the heart ....
I haven't been able to locate the author of this beautiful sher, Any way ,hope u like it:-

"Jitne mausam hain Sab jaise kahin mil jayein,
Inn dinon kaise bataoon Jo fiza hai mujh mein.."

It Seems as if all the seasons have got together somewhere,
These days, How am i to express the feelings of the beautiful Spring, within myself...

Conversations with the Desert - Translation : "Registan Se Guftgoo"...

At this CrossRoad of Life, Have we come to meet,
You and I, O Ye Desert
When There Exists Between Us-
Neither Viel, Nor Shadow.

At this CrossRoad of Life, Have we come to meet,
You and I, O Thou Desert
When There Exists Between Us-
Neither Viel, Nor Shadow.


As travellers ,have we come here,
With neither homeland ,Nor Existence

As travellers ,have we come here,
With neither homeland ,Nor Existence


O thou Desert, what thou hast asked,
Thou hast asked , Rightly-
"where have you come from,
& Where, are you heading towards"

In this Desert,
That which still burns-
Its is you , & it is I.

O thou Desert, what thou hast asked,
Thou hast asked , and Rightly-
"where have you come from,
& Where, are you heading towards"

Look Then, Towards the Skies
His Radiance , is so dazzling,
That it can, in only a moment,
Bereave me , of my precious Sight..

O thou Desert, what thou hast asked,
Thou hast asked , and Rightly-
"where have you come from,
& Where, are you heading towards"

O thou Desert, What thou hast said,
Thou hast said , and Rightly -
The Eye - it is ,after all, the heart's Own Mirror,
The Eye - it is ,after all, the heart's Own Mirror.

O thou Desert, What thou hast said,
Thou hast said , and Rightly -
The Eye - it is ,after all, the heart's Own Mirror,
The Eye - it is ,after all, the heart's Own Mirror.

For you does the mirror show-
The Lines of Time's Passage, Everywhere that u glance;
But for me does it show , Not the Eye-
But only the dirt ,that i see, day-after-day.

For you does the mirror show-
The Lines of Time's Passage, Everywhere that u glance;
But for me does it show , Not the Eye-
But only the dirt ,that i see, day-after-day.

O thou Desert, what thou hast asked,
Thou hast asked , Rightly-
"where have you come from,
& Where, are you heading towards"

O thou Desert, This I have realised,
And now ,realised it well-
To Go back ,
The time, it now is
The time, it now is.

When we, again meet-
There will then be You,
There will be I ,
And there will be Life.

When we, again meet-
There will then be You,
There will be I ,
And there will be Life.

When the Eyes meet again, with the eyes
When the heart meets again, with the heart
When the Earth meets again, with earth..

There will then be, in these eyes,
Not a speck of dust, but the Smile of Radiance.

When the Eyes meet again, with the eyes
When the heart meets again, with the heart
When the Earth meets again, with earth..

There will then be, in these eyes,
Not a speck of dust, but the Smile of Radiance.

There will then be, in that Radiance ,dazzling-
Not a speck of disapproval, but the Radiance of Love Only,Be

When we then,meet-
we will then meet, embracing each other.

When we then,meet-
we will then meet, embracing each other.

O thou Desert, what thou hast asked,
Thou hast asked , Rightly-
"where have you come from,
& Where, are you heading towards"......

The Eye is Mirror......

"Aaena-e-roo Hai Yeh Aankhein,
Dar-e-Dil Se Bayaan,
Aur Zehn toa hai,
Uskii Aa'la Khudii "


The Eye is the Mirror of the Soul,
Door to the Heart's Own Plaints,
And Conscience, the Reflection,
Of its Highest Self...

The Language of The Heart..

"Dil Kii ZubaaN Dil -
Waqt, Aur Khuda Jaane..."

The Heart Speaks it's Own Language,
that is Known ,Only To the Heart-
The Passage of Time, And it's Creator...

Of destiny, and reconciliation....

Sometimes, Fate does play some very unfair tricks.....

I was fortunate enough to witness some tough times pass by without much bother, for one of my best friends, because of some very very strong ties of friendship that existed between our group of friends..Alhamdulillah, Allah Be Praised...

The following passages followed after long discussions between some great buddies who have seen quite a great deal of good and bad times together for years, with a great friend of ours,, who had just been through some very tough times and came out of it all quite well in fact, determined to get on with life....Great buddies of his made a collective effort to pull him out, because of the strong ties of friendship that existed between them, for he himself was known to be the 'symbol' of friendship, and an undying testament to it...


"Destiny, they say, is Unavoidable".

" When Fate strikes us down with that harsh blow , and we stumbling ,fall, then recover swiftly enough to keep calm , move on and live to tell the tale to our own self later, and to those friends of ours whom to us ,have mattered a great deal , in a matter of fact, yet spirited & far wiser way
& calmness of mind than ever before, rejoicing in and enjoying those tough & energy sapping, emotionally draining experiences of life, As yet another milestone crossed in an eventful journey, with a casual shrug of the shoulders - thats reconciling yourself with your destiny ".

Re- living those memories again at your own leisure , of just how hard you have had to struggle to come out of it all, without much further losses - knowing all the while that you have somehow succeeded in keeping your wits about you, and just about managed to keep yourself and your heart and soul still joyfully alive , when things could just as easily have been far worse ....
Those..are events in Life that are truly worth celebrating....4 those stages will not come again in life ,for those who have always followed the path of wisdom & understanding through troubled times. Truly, thats the hallmark of true courage & great character.

Footnote:
All praise be to the Lord Almighty. I do not wish to name the person concerned here, as he doesn't wish to be named in this way . We as friends of his, are all relieved to see that he's doing splendidly well in a matter of a few days only...he has proved that he had the character and courage to withstand such setbacks so swiftly...All the while, i am thankful to know that he shared with us all his bitter experiences, so that we too could avoid such twists n turns in life in the future, and also thankful to the Lord Almighty that others of us were not tested with such a bitter experience in Life...On behalf of friends, wishing him well once again in life....

Love is Longing, It's Desire too..(translation...Ishq Talabb hai Arzoo Bhi)

Love is Longing, it is Desire too
Poisoning as well, it is Life-giving too

Love is Anguish, it is Hope too
Ocean as well, it is Wave too

Love is Stormy, it is Oil Lamp too
Journey as well, it is Destination too

Love is Deluge, it is Standing-water too
Barren Desert as well,It is River too

Love is Blight, it is Honour too
Disreput as well, it is Radiant too

Love is Sand-storm , it is Spring too
boat as well, it is World too

Love is Solitude, it is Companion too
Dream as well, it is Wide-spread Sky too

Love is Darkness, it is Path too
Impatience as well, it is Wait too

Love is Craze, it is Lofty Example too
Story as well, it is Reality too

Love is Punishment, it is Prayer too
Thousand deaths as well, it is Pride too

Love is Poverty, it is Ornament too
Tear as well, it is Destiny too

Love is State of the heart, it is Beauty too
Killing as well, it is Youthful too

Love is Destruction, it is Allurement too
Problem as well, it is Solution too

Love is a Viel, it is Empire too
A Mirage as well, it is Invincible too

Love is from the Sight, It is from the Salutations too
Love is from the Sighs, It is from the Pen too
Love is from Words, It is from the Heart too....

Ishq Talabb hai Arzoo Bhi

Ishq Talab hai Aarzoo bhi
Zeher bhi hai Zindagi Bhi

Ishq Kalish hai Ummeed bhi
Samanddar bhi hai lehr bhi

ishq Aandhi hai chiraag bhi
Safar bhi hai manzil bhi

Ishq Daastiyaab hai Payaab bhi
Registan bhi hai Daryaa bhi

Ishq Daagh hai Aabroo bhi
Badnaam bhi hai Roshan bhi

Ishq Toofan hai Bahaar bhi
Kashti bhi hai Jahaan bhi

Ishq Tanhaii hai Humsafar bhi
Khwab bhi hai Aasman bhi

Ishq Andhera hai Raah bhi
Besabri bhi hai Intezaar bhi

Ishq Junoon hai Misaal bhi
Daastaan bhi hai Haqeeqat bhi

Ishq Sazaa hai Dua bhi
Hazaar-maut bhi hai Ghuroor bhi

Ishq muflisi hai Zeenat bhi
Ashk bhi hai Taqdeer bhi

Ishq Haal-e-dil hai Jamaal bhi
Qaatil bhi hai jawaan bhi

Ishq Tabaahi hai Jazb bhi
Faslaa bhi hai , Hul bhi

Ishq Naqaab hai Saltanat bhi
Saraab bhi hai, "Shiraaz" bhi

Ishq Nazar se hai, Salaam se bhi
Ishq Aah se hai Qalam se bhi
Kalaam se hai Dil se bhi......

Ishq mein kya kya......

Ishq mein kya kya mere junoon ki, ki na burayi logon ne,
Tum ne mujhe badnaam kiya, kuch aag lagayee logo ne,

Ishq mein kya kya......
Hum hi unhi ko bhaam pilaye, aur humhi mehroom rahe,
Parda hamare naam se utha aur aankh ladiyee logon ne

Ishq mein kya kya......
Ishq bhutani kya kahiye, ke har chechra un jaysa tha,
Hum tho unko bhool chuke te, yaad dilayee logo ne,

Ishq mein kya kya......
Logon ka ehsan hai mujh per aur tera bhi mein shukur guzaar
Teere nazar se tu ne mara laash utayee logon ne,

Ishq mein kya kya......

Mere soorkh lahoo se chamki jane kitne haathoon mein mehndi
Shehr mein jis din qatal hoaa mein eid manyaee logo ne

Ishq mein kya kya mere junoon ki, ki na borayee logo ne,

Ishq mein kya kya......




Of what all, in Love.......

In Love, All the Craze that i was in, No one said a Word of Bad,
Some disrepute you caused me, The like of which people set ablaze

Of what all, in Love.......

It was I after all, who provided him with succour, & it was I
who remained bereaved, all the while.
The viels lifted from my name, The sights of people, had got talking..

Of what all, in Love.......

So fixed, so worshiplike are the ways of Love, That every face seemed
like that of my love's.
Surely, had I forgotten about my love, But ..Every now and then was i reminded, by people.

Of what all, in Love.......

There is the gratitude to people, And to you too am i thankful for.
With sharp glances did you kill me, And carried away my body was, by people.

Of what all, in Love.......

With my red blood dazzled, the Mehndi on many hands
That day in the city, when i was cut into pieces, People, it is said,
celebrated their Eid

In Love, All the Craze that i was in, No one said a Word of Bad,
Some disrepute you caused me, The like of which people set ablaze

Of what all, in Love.......
Transalation by Riz

Mujhse Matt Pooch , Mere Humnavaaz....(Ask me not, my fellow-traveller....)

Mujhse Matt Pooch , Mere Humnavaaz
Kya Hai Mera Gham,
Roshnii Ki Talash Mein Nikley thhey..
Parchaaii bann kar reh gaye hum.
Rizal / Aug 1998

Ask me not, my fellow fellow-traveller,

What the cause of my Anxiety is,

In Search of Light had I set forth,

By these very efforts did i come to be but a mere Shadow...

Charity.......

"Charity, is it's own reward"

Open up to Life.......

"Keep your Mind Free, and Open , to Life......"

Nuggets of Mysticism ....@ The Mirages Of Life

The Seven Different Sights..

What can physically be seen...............EyeSight

What has to be percieved.......
FarSight....
ForeSight...
NearSight...
HindSight...
BackSight...

What encompasses all of them
Vision....
Nuggets of Mysticism.... @ The Mirages Of Life

It takes true courage, to be Patient....

True courage is when you have learned to look at misfortunes in the eye, and are able to bear them, with patience, dignity and self control. For truly, it takes great courage to be that patient, since it is a continuous test of your courage, and character.....

Patience is Light....

In the blessed traditions of the Sayyidna Muhammad SallalahuAlaihi WaSallam (SAW) ,
it is said :-
"Assabru Dhiyaa' " ( Patience is Light )

Patience, it is said, is one of the greatest of virtues and without doubt , a hallmark of good character.If we only look into the pages of history , into almost all the greatest battles
the world has seen , patience too had a great role to play in deciding the victors and the losers,
who in both cases, had everything to lose and also so much to gain...

Somethings to Live For.......

In Life, there should always be :-

Somethings to Believe in,
Somethings to Look forward to,
Somethings to Live for,
Someones to Love for
Someones to Live for ....

And Life will always be worth living.....

the four agreements - don miguel ruiz

Don Miguel Ruiz's - The Four Agreements

The four agreements - don miguel ruiz's code for life

Agreement 1

Be impeccable with your word - Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

Agreement 2
Don’t take anything personally - Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.

Agreement 3
Don’t make assumptions - Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

Agreement 4
Always do your best - Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

About 'The Four Agreements'

Don Miguel Ruiz's book, The Four Agreements was published in 1997. For many, The Four Agreements is a life-changing book, whose ideas come from the ancient Toltec wisdom of the native people of Southern Mexico. The Toltec were 'people of knowledge' - scientists and artists who created a society to explore and conserve the traditional spiritual knowledge and practices of their ancestors. The Toltec viewed science and spirit as part of the same entity, believing that all energy - material or ethereal - is derived from and governed by the universe. Don Miguel Ruiz, born and raised in rural Mexico, was brought up to follow his family's Toltec ways by his mother, a Toltec faith healer, and grandfather, a Toltec 'nagual', a shaman. Despite this, Don Miguel decided to pursue a conventional education, which led him to qualify and practice for several years as a surgeon. Following a car crash, Don Miguel Ruiz reverted to his Toltec roots during the late 1970's, first studying and learning in depth the Toltec ways, and then healing, teaching, lecturing and writing during the 1980's and 90's, when he wrote The Four Agreements (published in 1997), The Mastery of Love (1999), The Four Agreements Companion Book (2000), and Prayers (2001). Don Miguel Ruiz survived a serious heart attack 2002, since when his teachings have been largely channelled through seminars and classes run by his followers, notably his sons Don Jose Luis and Don Miguel Ruiz Junior. Like many gurus and philosophical pioneers, Ruiz has to an extent packaged, promoted and commercialised his work, nevertheless the simplicity and elegance of his thinking remains a source of great enlightenment and aspiration. The simple ideas of The Four Agreements provide an inspirational code for life; a personal development model, and a template for personal development, behaviour, communications and relationships.

Note:- The above text appears as it is on the webpage :- http://www.businessballs.com/thefouragreementsdonmiguelruiz.htm

For more on Don Miguel Ruiz and his teachings, please refer to the official website :-

http://www.miguelruiz.com/

If........ Rudyard Kipling

This is one of my favourite poems, and a timeless favourite for many many generations of people
all over the globe....


If

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with triumph and disaster

And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

Echoes of the Heart...

"In life, make it a point to always pay attention

To the Voices of your own heart."

Adapted from the fable , 'The Alchemist' ,by Paulo Cuelho.

One Life......

"You only have one Life,

Live It Once, And Live it Well..."

"Registan Se Guftgoo..." (Conversations with the Desert...)

(Conversations with the Desert......)

Zindagi Ke Iss mod par, Aakar Milein Hain,
Hum Aur Tum, Ae Ret ....
Jab Na Pardaa Hai,
Aur Na Saaya Hai...

Zindagi Ke Iss mod par, Aakar Milein Hain,
Hum Aur Tum, Ae Ret ....
Jab Na Pardaa Hai,
Aur Na Saaya Hai...

Aaye Hain Yahan , Hum Musafir
Na Watan Hain ,Aur Naa Hasti Hain....

Aaye Hain Yahan , Hum Musafir
Na Watan Hain ,Aur Naa Hasti Hain....

Ae Ret , Jo Poocha,
Sahi Poocha-
Tu Kidhar Se Aaya Hai,
Kidhar, Tujhko Jaana Hai..

Iss Registaan-
Mein Jo Jalte Hain,
Ek Tum Ho,
Aur Ek Hum Hain..

Ae Ret , Jo Poocha,
Sahi Poocha-
Tu Kidhar Se Aaya Hai,
Kidhar, Tujhko Jaana Hai..

Woh Dekh Aasmanon Mein,
Uski Roshni Itni Tez Hai,
Ki Pal Mein hi,Mujshe ,
Meri Aankhein Cheen Sakta Hai.

Ae Ret , Jo Poocha,
Sahi Poocha-
Tu Kidhar Se Aaya Hai,
Kidhar, Tujhko Jaana Hai..

Ae Ret ,Jo farmaaya,
Sahi farmaaya..
Aankh Hi Dil Ka Aaina Hai,
Aankh Hii Dil Ka Aaina Hai.

Ae Ret ,Jo farmaaya,
Sahi farmaaya ..
Aankh Hi Dil Ka Aaina Hai,
Aankh Hii Dil Ka Aaina Hai.

Tujhko To Aaine Mein,
Zamane Ki Laqeeirein ,Dikhti Hain darbadar
Humko Aaine Mein ,Aank Nahin Dhool-
Dikhti Hain,Roz Roz.

Tujhko To Aaine Mein,
Zamane Ki Laqeeirein ,Dikhti Hain darbadar
Humko Aaine Mein ,Aank Nahin Dhool-
Dikhti Hain,Roz Roz.

Ae Ret , Jo Poocha,
Sahi Poocha-
Tu Kidhar Se Aaya Hai,
Kidhar, Tujhko Jaana Hai..

Ae Ret, Yeh Samjha ,
Aur ab sahi samjha,
Vapass Jane Ka tho -
Yehi Mod Hai,Yehi Mod Hai.

Ab Jab Hum Milenge,
Tab Hum Tum honge, Aur Zindagi Hogii.

Ab Jab Hum Milenge,
Tab Hum Tum honge, Aur Zindagi Hogii.

Aankhein Aankhon Se Jab Milengi,
Dil ,Dil Se jab milenge,
Mitti Mitti Se jab milengi,

Tabb inn Aankhon Mein Dhool Nahin,
Roshni Ki Muskaan Hogi.

Aankhein Aankhon Se Jab Milengi,
Dil ,Dil Se jab milenge,
Mitti Mitti Se jab milengi,

Tabb inn Aankhon Mein Dhool Nahin,
Roshni Ki Muskaan Hogi.

Tabb Uss Roshni Mein Ranjish Nahin,
Mohabbat Ka Noor Hoga.

Tab Humm Milenge,
Tho Galey lagaakar milenge
Tab Humm Milenge,
Tho Galey lagaakar milenge

Ae Ret , Jo Poocha,
Sahi Poocha-
Tu Kidhar Se Aaya Hai,
Kidhar, Tujhko Jaana Hai..

...............Rizal

The Parable of the Swan....

Life, is all Smooth Sailing on the Outside,But a Struggle through and through , Deep Down...

The following is Adapted from an article that appeared in the Sunday Observer, in 'Tribute to Gul Anand' , and appeared as part of an interview he had given to the venerable newspaper....
....Gul then fished out a picture of a snow-white swan from his collections and said:- "This is my ideal Life.On the Surface, the Swan glides along smoothly and gracefully ,without so much as a ripple, but all the while its wings are flapping furiously underneath the surface. Similarly, i might appear to be indulging in small talk, but my mind is working at a high speed , absorbing all that happens and recycling it for future use."

How this post came to be......

Hello and Welcome to Riz's post on 'The Mirages of Life'.
Hmm..'Mirages of Life" ??
Now what is that about?
It all started this way on one not so fine (!) day when Riz was again in one of his reflective moods trying to find out some answers to some tricky puzzling questions on Life, that a friend of mine had left me with,very much intentionally, and so very mean of him to do that!!So naturally, as i kept getting more and more entangled in these threads , that was when i got the idea to put them on this friendly blog space out here on the Wide- -World-Web.So here it is folks, your very own coloumn to share and discuss your very own special thoughts and philosophies on what Life is about , beyond the shallow waters....

...........................Khudh Hi Sawaal...........................

khud hi sawaal aur khud hi jawaab sa hun maen
jo naa samjhi gayi kabhi us kitaab sa hun maen

dekh to jaao kareeb se ke naayaab sa hun maen
vaqt ke sehraa maen ubhra saraab sa hun maen

kuch dam ka hun mehmaan hubaab sa hun maen
abhi to hun paas tere abhi dastyaab sa hun maen

aankhon se bahte ashko ka sailaab sa hun maen
jo musalsal barastaa raha voh aab sa hun maen

tadbeeron ke banisbat nakaamyaab sa hun maen
bigde huvey nasibon ka jaise hisaab sa hun maen

kahin paayaab hun to kahin sailaab sa hun maen
aseere mauje-zeest ki ravani girdaab sa hun maen

baar baar na kah zaahid ke kharaab sa hun maen
jo na aaunga phir haath voh sawaab sa hun maen

kisi ke dil maen sama jaata apna bhi dard zara
apne hi haale-dil ka khud naqaab sa hun maen

apni hi khushboo se mehroom gulaab sa hun maen
haqiqat ho kar bhi kyon "fer" khwaab sa hun maen
....................................................................Fersahab

What Am I ? ........To Myself, A Question.

I am , to myself, both a Question and an Answer,

That Book which has been, never understood.

My similitude , is that of a rarity, Look Closely,

Like a Mirage spread out on the headgear of Time .

A Visitor, am I , of some force, that is, Like a Bubble,

Presently am I close to you, very much accessible.

That flood of tears am I ,which flows from the eyes,

That cloud am I like, Which rains incessantly.

Inspite of countless deliberations, unsuccessful am I,

Like the totality of all fates gone hay-wire.

Sometimes, like standing water am I , Sometimes like a deluge,

Like the receding vortex of the captive waves of Life am I.

Tell me not repeatedly, O Wise man, that so bad am I,

That reward am I like for good deeds, which does not come again and again.

My anguish too, spreads sometimes, ever so lightly, into some one else's hearts,

Like a viel am I , even to the state of mine own heart.

That flower am i like, which is unaware of it's own fragrance,

So why am I like a vanishing dream, though a Reality, am I?

'Transliteration of Rarity , by Similarity'

.............................................Riz