Mullah Nasruddin was riding his faithful donkey down a mountain path, when he came upon a solitary traveller eating lunch beneath a tree. They exchanged salams and the Mullah decided to join him for a bite to eat. Curious about the sad-faced man, the Mullah inquired where he was going.
How to Find Beauty
I came across four beautiful, reflective short talks by Gai Eaton online some time ago. Ideally, they are best read outdoors, in a garden or park. Here’s the first one, in full.
Beauty
I returned the other day from a holiday in France, staying for a while with friends in the South. They have bought an old farmhouse, right up in the mountains, and rebuilt it with space for a dozen or more people. Both husband and wife are trained psychologists, and they hold courses for townspeople who’ve lost all sense of purpose in their lives. They try to help people who are not exactly sick, but who are empty, and I’m sure they do help them. But I’m equally sure that the astonishing beauty of the landscape in which that farmhouse is set also contributes to the healing process, for healing is related to wholeness and, in…
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Privilege Check – freedom of religion
A reminder that the freedom of religion that so many of us take for granted is not a universal right. "When I was born, the strength of atheism was already declining in the Soviet Union. Yet, the ghost of atheism, and horrible memories of the Stalinist assault on Islam and Muslims were still very alive …
Quiet Resistance
Many years ago, I was at an all-day conference in Manchester which had multiple speakers. It was ticketed & although the women had paid the same amount for tickets as the men, we were relegated to a secondary space with just a fuzzy video link & terrible quality speakers. Only one man appeared to notice the complete …
Oh Happy Misery!
This is a now a very un-topical rant I wrote some years ago, on the 17th April 2014. Once it was out of my system I decided against posting it as my blood pressure had returned to normal and saner bloggers had expressed my feelings in calm, considered words without resorting to excessive exclamation marks. […]
Generous Tolerance
"Lands are not cramped by their people, but the character of their people can cramp." (Arabic verse) "Muslims, traditionally, were a welcoming people, filled with hospitality. Even the pre-Islamic Arabs disdained those who dishonored their guests; the Arabs would “make room” for their guests, opening not simply their homes but their hearts. The believer's heart, …
Body and soul
A few years ago some very disturbing allegations and counter-allegations circulated on the net about the spiritual abuse of some women by some well-respected teachers. I had it in mind when I wrote the slightly flippant blogpost "Groucho Marx, the Borg and Me". This very thoughtful, balanced and courageous article by Ustadha Zaynab Ansari tackles …
Polish the mirror
"If you want the mirror to reflect the face, hold it straight and keep it polished bright; although the sun does not begrudge its light, when seen in a mist it only looks like glass; and creatures comelier than angels even seem in a dagger to have devils' faces. Your dagger will never tell you …
Mullah Nasrudin & the Eulogy
Mullah Nasrudin was in a contemplative mood, drinking coffee with his friends. They found themselves pondering death and the legacy they would leave behind. "When you are lying wrapped in your shroud, with your friends and family mourning you, what would you like to hear them say about you?" asked a friend. "I would like …
Dreamlands
Have you ever woken from a half-remembered dream, feeling like you've returned from a journey of a thousand leagues or more? I've just discovered the quirky, dark and playful landscapes of Jacek Yerka. Got to love his dreamlands, even if they make your head spin a little. Erosion Homestead Garden squared Brick and Stone
Minaretmuse 