The goal is to strip away the inessentials...
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peace all,
I realised today that this simple wisdom has been quite profound in my experience/life
"The goal is to strip away the inessentials to reveal the true form of a thing, like a sculptor" ~paraphrased from Bruce Lee
For example, when I used to pray in the Traditional Muslim manner, I never once thought of the "Kabbah", even though I was aparently facing it and sometimes even on some prayer rugs it is pictured. After I slowly shifted to a Quran based Islam and reflected more, I realised that the reason why I never thought of it was that it was irrelevant to me in my relationship with God. Similarly, I often wonder if the Kabbah was destroyed tomorrow, would this change a Traditional Muslim's relationship with God? Would God die along with the Kabbah? Of course not!
I then realised that the additions and distortions that have been added to "Quranic islam" are simply inessentials that I have to chizel away to reveal the true form, and the truth is beautiful.
We must strive to reflect upon our beliefs and practices and chizel away at the inessentials. I hope that God gives us the strength to bear the chizel, even though it can be difficult sometimes, so we can reveal the true form and be beautiful in God's eyes.
God bless.
Previous mentions of the wisdom in question
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=15384.msg148813#msg148813
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=10626.msg58945#msg58945
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=16599.msg165479#msg165479
http//free-minds.org/forum/index.php?topic=11727.msg81480#msg81480 -
Peace Wakas,
Excellet post.
I would take it a bit further, and apply that same sort of reflection to one's entire life. How many inessentials do we partake in, donating our priceless time to things that are simply meaningless. How much energy do we waste worrying about things that we can't control, or things that may or may not happen. Imagine if we could recapture all the wasted time and energy and channel it toward things that are essential - that family member or friend you haven't had time to call, that thing you meant to do for someone or your self.The spirit, like muscle, when not used, begins to atrophy. Inessentials are obstacles in the way of spiritual freedom and the fulfilment of one's potential.
Peace,
Tay -
Salam Dear brothers,
Good to see the like minded posts and persons here. Inessentials are the associations to God in any form i.e in men, in matters and in materials. Ka'abah is just a matter and a material on earth. Other than Him, following more than The One, (majority) on earth will deviate us away from the path of Allah. We shall turn to any direction to face Allah. Let us turn away from the direction of Ka'ba to reach Allah for there is no traffic at all in such directions. Wherever we are Allah shall unite us, provided we advance each other in carrying out good deeds without associations.
By Allah The Truthful.
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salaam
beautiful post wakas.
in our circle, it's like 'peeling onion skins'. there is always more to peel after the last one. and chiseling too, there is more to chisel after the last one.
a newborn has nothing - no mind, no thoughts, no ideas. a newborn has only 'feel'. when hungry, a newborn will cry. when happy, a newborn will laugh.
as a baby acquires age, the baby acquires knowledge. the baby accumulates thoughts and ideas, because the baby learns from the surroundings (sights, sounds, etc.). without realizing, the baby begins to depend much less on 'feel'. as the baby acquires greater age 'feel' plays lesser and lesser roles in the child's life. and when the child grows into an adult, lesser still is the dependence on 'feel'. in fact, the adult becomes more and more accustomed to the adult mind shaped and formed by learning, formally or otherwise. and sadly, 'feel' has been resigned to only a few mundane events like thirst, hunger, ache, elations, misery, etc. 'feel' that was so primary in every baby's conduct in early life in this world has been forgotten, overlooked, and sometimes even chided.
'feel' is merely a signal, a sign, or an 'ayat'. but who does give us 'feel'?
who gives us the 'feel' of being thirsty?
who gives us the 'feel' of being hungry?
who gives us the 'feel' of being ill?
who gives us the 'feel' of being elated?
who gives us the 'feel' of being right or wrong?
who gives us the 'feel' of being alive?it's time to chisel away the prejudices indeed.
may God bless us all.
peace
mohammed noh
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salaam
'feel' is merely a signal, a sign, or an 'ayat'. but who does give us 'feel'?
who gives us the 'feel' of being thirsty?
who gives us the 'feel' of being hungry?
who gives us the 'feel' of being ill?
who gives us the 'feel' of being elated?
who gives us the 'feel' of being right or wrong?
who gives us the 'feel' of being alive?Joe Betik,
A 'feel' is the deed accomplished and endowed. 'Feel' by itself is God-Informed Blessing. Once we receive a feel, we do not have to ask by mouth; but thereafter have belief in the feel and seek for patience and perseverance in belief.
14 34 And He has given you of all that you ask Him; and if you count Allah's favors, you will not be able to number them; most surely man is very unjust, very ungrateful.
Strip the mouth and let the heart and the mind Feel the 'feel'; and pray for more with gratitude to Allah. If we have such response to Allah's favours, then Allah says 4 147 Allah does not in anyway benefit by putting you to stress and distress if you believe and be grateful. Believe and do good deeds. This is the only prayer Allah teaches in the whole of Quran.Please put in your revelations (views); do not allow this topic to wean and wane.
May Allah's Blessings be ever upon us.
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