Sufi Poetry/Poets

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DGA
Former staff member
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Re: Sufi Poetry/Poets

Post by DGA »

Here's one:

http://ruhaniat.org/index.php/lineage/m ... el-l-lewis

I think Samuel Lewis is an underappreciated figure in the history of Buddhism outside of Asia. He was among the first non-Asian Zen practitioners in the US, and he encouraged others to participate. He's best known as a Sufi teacher, but his longstanding interest in and support of Buddha Dharma should not be forgotten.

He was also a poet.
Simon E.
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Re: Sufi Poetry/Poets

Post by Simon E. »

Jikan wrote:Here's one:

http://ruhaniat.org/index.php/lineage/m ... el-l-lewis

I think Samuel Lewis is an underappreciated figure in the history of Buddhism outside of Asia. He was among the first non-Asian Zen practitioners in the US, and he encouraged others to participate. He's best known as a Sufi teacher, but his longstanding interest in and support of Buddha Dharma should not be forgotten.

He was also a poet.
One of his successors Pir Shabda Khan, is a student of Situ Rinpoche.
“You don’t know it. You just know about it. That is not the same thing.”

Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche to me.
DGA
Former staff member
Posts: 9466
Joined: Tue Jul 13, 2010 5:04 pm

Re: Sufi Poetry/Poets

Post by DGA »

Well, that's excellent news. I wasn't aware of that.

I know there's a kind of Buddhist diction to the way they practice Sufism in Ruhaniat Int'l. The institution of the "Sufi Sesshin" at Lama Foundation center is one example. I once paid a visit to Lama, spending a few days there, and found it to be a delightful place supported by an earnest community. Many of the structures that were in place in the mid-1970s, for instance when Trungpa Rinpoche was there, were destroyed in a fire some years ago--but the center is thriving regardless.
A Ah Sha Sa Ma Ha
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Joined: Sat Jan 30, 2010 2:01 am

Re: Sufi Poetry/Poets

Post by A Ah Sha Sa Ma Ha »

Wow...thanks for the link on Samuel Lewis, Jikan ! Quite an interesting life he had ! (I love reading bio's)

I yanked these poem's of his, out of this webpage :)

http://murshidsam.org/Poems1.html


Dharma
Not to affirm not yet deny,
To Seek the Truth and know the Why,
This is “Right Meditation.”
It is not earth or in the sky,
Only in Silence lives the “I,”
There finding liberation.
Not to the left or to the right,
Not in the depths or on the height,
Can one escape causation;
But in your midst behold the sight
Of Buddha’s infinite love and light,
Above all limitation



Awakening
Then it was I or thou—now it is only He;
Then it was “this’ or “that’—now it is only “The;”
Then it was “all’ or “none’—now it is only One.
Then it was moon or stars—now the Eternal Sun.
Then it was evil or good—now it is only bliss;
Then it was pleasure or pain—now the Beloved’s Kiss;
Then salvation or sin—now the distinctions depart,
Found is the Lord within, found in the depths of the heart.
Then it was left or right—now single is the eye;
Then it was “Who’ or “What’—now single is the eye;
Then it was lost or found—now it is neither and yet
It is both, for here the sun of division has set.
Then alone in the many—now found in the solitude;
Then it was praise or blame—now only gratitude,
Then it was idols of dross—now the splendor of gold;
Then it was youth or age—now neither young or old.
Then it was separations—now the differences fade;
Then it was clear or foggy—now neither light nor shade;
Then you would tell your troubles—now no more speaks the voice,
Then in the outward we suffered—now in the inner rejoice.
Then it was song or silence—now a perpetual lay;
Then it was morn or evening—now an eternal day;
Then in buildings we worshipped—now everywhere we trod,
We worship, extol and praise Him—the One Only Being God.






:namaste:
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