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material on
the subject of light
From: James Bean spiritualawakeningatonelist
@ hotmail.com
The following hymn is found in the
Mandaean scriptures of Iraq. It sounds
somewhat like an ancient NDE or
near-death experience. When crossing over,
the soul meets "a discharge of Radiance."
This inner guide brought the
ascending soul a garment made of
Light, often a theme in Mandaean and other
Syrian/Persian traditions (Books
of Adam and Eve, Hymn of the Pearl in the
Acts of Thomas). The soul was escorted
by this heavenly guide to the Place
of Light where God, called "the
Great Life," resides. The soul is then
embraced by the Light.
IN THE NAME OF THE GREAT LIGHT,
SUBLIME LIGHT BE PRAISED
The Song of Ascent
I fly and proceed thither,
until I reach the watch-house of
the sun.
I cry:
"Who will guide me past the watch-house
of Sãmïs?"
"Your reward, your works, your alms,
and your goodness
will guide you past the watch-house
of Sãmïs."
How greatly I rejoice,
how greatly my heart rejoices.
How much I look forward
to the day when my struggle is over,
to the day when my struggle is over
and my course is set towards the
Place of Life.
I hasten and proceed thither,
until I reach the watch-house of
the moon.
When I arrived at the water-brooks,
a discharge of Radiance met me.
It took me by the palm of my right
hand
and brought me over the streams.
Radiance was brought and I was clothed
in it,
light was brought and I was wrapped
in it.
The Life supported the Life....
Son of the good ones,
show me the way to the uthras *
and the ascent upon which your father
rose up to the Place of Light.
* spirits, angels,
(Quotations from Jalaluddin Rumi,
the Great Sufi Master)
The house of the heart that remains
without illumination from the rays of the Magnificent Sun is narrow and
dark like a miser's soul, empty of the Loving King's sweet taste. The Sun's
light does not shine in that heart, space does not expand, doors do not
open: The grave would be more pleasant for you -- so come, arise from the
tomb of your heart!
(The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual
Teachings of Rumi, p. 37)
Wait for the illuminating openness,
as though your chest were filling with light, as when God said, Did we
not expand you? (Koran 94:1).(The Essential Rumi, p. 255)
The Image of the heart-expanding
Moon entered my heart. Since there is neither road nor door, I wonder from
whence He came... How happy is my firelike, iron heart as the locus of
His Light! Does not a mirror rejoice when purity enters?... The attributes
of human nature have been annihilated, the Attributes of God have come!...
All pride has gone, all Glory has come!
(The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual
Teachings of Rumi, pp. 264-265)
At the time of union, only God knows
what that Moon is! For even during separation, what incredible joy and
expansion of spirit!
(The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual
Teachings of Rumi, p. 244)
Oh my moon, my bright candle! From
the time I first saw Thy Face, wherever I sit I am joyful, wherever I go
I dwell in the midst of roses. Wherever the King's Image may be, that is
a garden and place of contemplation; whatever station I enter, I am wrapped
in pleasure. Although the doors of this six-sided monastery are closed,
the Moon-faced Beloved sticks His head in my window from No-place.
(The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual
Teachings of Rumi, p. 298)
How could the rays of God's light
fit into the heart? Yet when you search you will find it there, not from
the point of view of containment such that it could be said that the light
is in that place. You will find it through that place ...
(Signs of the Unseen: The Discourses
of Jalaluddin Rumi, p. 173)
The window determines how much light
enters the house, even if the moon's radiance fills the east and the west.
(The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual
Teachings of Rumi, p. 10)
He is overflowing with God's light
-- he has broken the cup of the body, he is Absolute Light.
(The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual
Teachings of Rumi, p. 314)
... the reality of day is the inmost
consciousness of the saints: Beside their noon, day is but a shadow.
(The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual
Teachings of Rumi, p. 100)
When man receives light from God,
he becomes the object of the angel's prostration, since he was chosen...
(The Sufi Path of Love: The Spiritual
Teachings of Rumi, p. 193)
Do you know what shines into the
heart's mirror? Only he who knows purity knows the Image displayed there.
(The Sufi Path of Love: The
Spiritual Teachings of Rumi, p. 263)
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