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Executive Director's Reflections: URI Global Council, Global Staff Meetings |
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Written by Charles Gibbs
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Wednesday, 31 May 2006 |
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Page 4 of 4
I close by sharing a poem I shared with the GC and staff at the end of our week together.
Oh, my friend:
Love makes the world of creation a possibility
and the ecstasy of ascension a will.
Look around yourself and see a universe
saturated by the fragrance of love.
If there was no love and the endurance for
such longing, then who could beautify words
into majestic melodies?
If there was no breeze to gracefully caress the
hair of the beloved, then how could the lover
see the revealing face of the beloved?
Such longing is to gracefully return to the
Provider, in the state of perfection.
Oh, my friend:
do not become a slave of worship, but
understand the meaning of worship;
understand the meaning of Divine, Allah,
and practice to be pious and peaceful;
become a true human being, as becoming a
true human being is the key to salvation.
Oh, my friend:
if you have chosen an inner path, remember
that we all are travelers, our moments are
passing and we are passing with them.
Your wealth will not remain forever and your
pain will not last, so do not become a slave to
your wealth nor to your pain.
If you are a person of an inner path, then you
are a person of peace, so make peace with
yourself and your surroundings.
by Ezzeddin Nasafi
Thirteenth century Sufi scholar, Persia
Translated by Dr. Nahid Angha
Ecstasy: The World of Sufi Poetry and Prayer
I pray this finds all of you well and your work flourishing.
With love,
Charles
The Rev. Canon Charles P. Gibbs, Executive Director
United Religions Initiative
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 13 June 2006 )
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