I saw my Lord

I saw my Lord with the eye of the heart.
I asked, ‘Who are You?’
He replied, ‘You’.

~ Mansur Al Hallaj

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If one studies history of divine souls, one will always find find that those who preached love, compassion, universal brotherhood, respect for life, etc. you will find that they were inevitably persecuted by the government and the dominant religious authorities of the times.

Jesus Christ, The Sikh Gurus, are well known examples but much less is known about the  Sufi saint Mansur al-Hallaj. The people followed them in large numbers turning away from the priests and preachers of the times, towards these divine souls and masters. Following them  because they stirred their souls and enlightened them. 

However arrogant leaders of religious and political institutions can not accept nor forgive anyone who enlightens the masses. So they always try to destroy these great beings. 

But what difference do earthly matters of life and death make to the soul that is divine, and transcended this material world? They may destroy the body but not the soul, nor can they silence the words and the teachings.

One can also observe this, from the life of  Mansur al-Hallaj  (858 - 922).  He was a Persian  mystic, revolutionary writer and a major teacher and influence in the Sufi tradition.  

He spent long periods in meditation and was imprisoned by many who disapproved of his claim to be true only to the one God rather than to protocols of social and religious custom. 

Mansur was finally incarcerated for 9 years. Rather than getting destroyed, he rejoiced and used the time to meditate, realising that he and God were but one. When he emerged from his cell he kept uttering the the words,  "An Al-Ḥaq" (I am the Truth)

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He achieved the highest level of spiritual evolution when he proclaimed, that there was no separation  between him and God. This kind of statements are considered revolutionary and very dangerous by the clerics and the state for it negates their power over the spiritual individual. 

What would happen if the masses followed Mansur?
He was repeatedly asked to publicly recant, but he steadfastly refused. Unwilling to change his statements, he was finally sentenced to death. Mansur was not only to be killed but to be so destroyed that it must frighten others not to deviate from norms laid out by religious leaders.

Thousands of people witnessed his execution on the banks of the Tigris River. He remained defiant, and uncowed even as he was led to the scaffold. He was first punched in the face by his executioner, then lashed until unconscious, and then decapitated Witnesses reported that Al-Hallaj's last words under torture were "All that matters for the ecstatic is that the Unique should reduce him to Unity," after which he recited the Koranic verse 42:18. His body was doused in oil and set alight, and his ashes were then scattered into the river.

Mansur  Al-Hallaj taught people to find God inside their own souls. He preached without the traditional Sufi cloak and used language familiar to the local population.

Among other Sufis, Mansur was an anomaly. Many Sufi masters felt that it was inappropriate to share mysticism with the masses, yet Mansur openly did so in his writings and through his teachings. 

Mansur al-Hallaj claimed, "There is nothing wrapped in my turban but God." 

I want Happiness.

My thanks to Mr. Nemi Chand for this beautiful words of wisdom

God's Birthday

Awakening of the great saint - 'Baba Farid ji'
Hazrat Khwaja Fariduddin Masud Ganjshakar (1173 - 1266)

One night Baba Farid ji dreamt that by the grace of God, he has reached paradise. The whole of Paradise was beautifully decorated, millions of lights and flowers everywhere.
Obviously, a great celebration was going on, and beautiful music filled the air. 
He inquired of a passerby  "What is going on?"

The stranger said, "It is God's birthday, we are celebrating it. You are blessed for you have come at the  right time."

So Farid ji stood beneath a tree to see what was happening.  
Soon a great procession starts moving on the road. A man is sitting on a horse; Farid ji enquired, "Who is this man?" and they say, "Don't you know him? He is Hazrat Mohammed"

Millions upon millions of people walked behind the Prophet. Farid ji asked, "Who are these people?" and he is replied, "They are Mohammedans, followers of Mohammed."

Then came Jesus, and millions were following him. 
Soon Lord Krishna appeared in a splendid golden chariot, and millions were following him. 
Then there was Gautam Buddha and countless people followed him too.

On and on went the procession and baba Farid ji grew weary of the magnitude of the procession and the followers.

Finally, in the end, Baba ji noticed an old man riding a donkey and he is all by himself and no one walks behind him.
Farid ji began to  laugh looking at this man. It was a ridiculous sight compared to the magnificent processions that preceded the old man and nobody followed him. And why he should be going on his donkey? 

Baba ji could not contain himself and he asked the old man  "Who are you, sir? I have seen Mohammad, Christ, Krishna, Mahavira, Buddha -- who are you? Is this some sort of joke, for nobody follows you!"

The old man with sadness in his eyes  says, " I am God and it is my birthday. People have become Mohammedans, some Christians, others Jews, many have become Hindus or Buddhists, unfortunately no one is left to follow me me so I walk alone

Farid ji woke up with a shock. 
He told his disciples the next day, "I had a revelation and I met God. From now on I am no more a Mohammedan nor do I belong to any other organised religion.  I will follow the One and only true Master and Creator of the universe.  I shall simply be me, myself. I would like to be with God, at least one person following him."

This awakening transformed Baba Farid ji and he was able to enlighten the world with his message of love and universal brotherhood.

Men of God belong to no one religion, yet the universe belongs to them. 

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My thanks to Jagpreet Ghai who was kind enough to share this piece of spiritual wisdom with us.