TALE OF TWO MINDS

The Conscious Mind  12 %

The Sub Conscious Mind 88 %

The Conscious Mind is your objective or thinking mind, it works in the present moment. It has no memory and can hold one thought at a time. It identifies information received through the six senses. It is continually observing and categorising what is going around you. It analyses, compares and decides. Yes/ No.  Binary thinking.

Your Subconscious Mind is like a huge memory bank. It's capacity is virtually
unlimited. It permanently stores whatever happens to you. It is most active during the first six years of our life. The function of your subconscious mind is to store and retrieve data. It's job is to respond exactly the way you are programmed.

Subconscious Mind is subjective, it obeys the command received from the
conscious mind. Your subconscious mind has what us called a homeostatic
impulse. It automatically controls your body temperature, normal breathing, heart beats, nervous system.

Subconscious Mind refers to layers or levels of perceptions, located beneath
conscious awareness. It does not like to get ruffled, it likes to work and dwell in
its comfort zone.

As Subconscious Mind is your memory bank, it carries a lot of unwanted
baggage. New Age Thinkers are trying to understand and unravel the working of
the subconscious mind, which on account of negative impressions, memories
and thinking acquired over the years, inhibits and restricts development and
growth by holding back. The subconscious mind does not want to get ruffled.

The conscious mind can be made into a very effective tool, to remove all the past negative baggage carried in the huge memory bank of the subconscious mind.

We have to delete a lot of unwanted data.

We have to first become aware. Affirm that yes we are carrying a lot of
undesirable and unwanted perceptions, hurt, suppressed anger and feelings,
which are manifesting into our lives by way of illness, fear, self pity. There is much garbage that needs cleaning up.

Let me share with you, how I go about deleting and removing the unwanted and
inhibiting impressions, that pop up at life situations, apparently seeming to help me and protect me, but in fact restricting my growth and creativity.

As stated earlier normal breathing is controlled by our subconscious mind, but once we start doing deep control breathing, becoming aware with each breath, our conscious mind takes over.

There are many better and effective ways in bringing your Conscious Mind to act as a 'change agent', one can look up on the Net or read Books. I am just sharing my ways of going about it. 

 With the help of deep breathing I send repeated subtle message to my
subconscious that now I am in control. This is how I go about it. With each deep in breath with the diaphragm pulling down, creating more space,
for the air to fill, I say with full awareness. ' good prana (life energy ) is going in, I am getting healed in body, mind and spirit, Alhamdolillah ' this I say in mind, visualising as I hold my breath.

This is followed by slow out breath and I say and visualize '  Bad prana is coming out, I am healed - SubhanAllah '

I repeat it for 6 -10 times, and I am confident that in so doing my conscious mind is able to impress on my subconscious mind, that it has now to work in this specific area, and not to send out alarm signals, and only to retrieve positive data, whenever life  situation demands.

It sends out a clear message that now I choose calmly and objectively to see my old patterns, and I am willing to make changes.

 Just reflect - Which of these statements sounds like you.
' people are out there to get me'
' everyone is always helpful' 

Each of these belief will create different experiences. What we believe about
ourselves, and about life becomes true for us.

I am also in the habit of taking daily morning walks for a duration of approx twenty minutes, and have formed a habit of listening through my ear phones to a very melodious and spiritual rendering of the Ninety Nine Names of Allah 
( duration 3.5 mins) I have been doing it for years.

However, recently I heard an interesting talk by Dr. Bruce H. Lipton ( author of the Best Seller ' Biology of Belief' ) and came to understand that our subconscious runs like a continuous tape. All our past fears, hurts,admonitions,  
and all the negative and horrific scenes, that we witness daily on the News Channels and Print Media, the violence and mayhem shown in Movies, to which we come addicted, all these get downloaded in our subconscious. 

So very recently I have started to become aware of the Ninety Nine Names of Allah, as it plays out, and as I do 'tasbih' of the Names I also affirm with full conviction that with the Power of these Ninety Nine Names of Allah, all my accumulated hurt, fear and negativity that is being played out in my subconsciousness is getting deleted. 

At the end of each rendering I say out aloud - ' delete - delete - delete ' !! It is fun, every thing does not have to be serious and sombre. You may consider me to be foolish, but for me it is working  - and that is important. It is my life after all. 

In so doing I am bringing in my awareness in the ' present moment ' living in the Present as taught by Echart Tolle (Book - The Power of Now ) affirming with my conscious mind, and having faith and full conviction that the Power of Allah's Ninety Nine Names, is deleting all that is detrimental and undesirable in my subconscious. 

Nick Ortner's Tapping Solution  (Book - The Tapping Solution for Pain Relief) Pranic Healing Therapy, there are many other proven techniques, all teach us to let go our past, and live in the present moment with full awareness. 

I conclude by sharing one of the many positive affirmation of Louise Hay (Book - You can heal your life) 

In the infinity of life, where I am 
all is perfect, whole and complete
I believe in a power far greater than I am
that flows through me every moment of every day
I open myself to the wisdom within 
knowing that there is only One intelligence in this Universe
out of this One Intelligence comes all the answers
all the solutions, all the healings, all the new creations
I trust this Power and Intelligence (now this is fundamental -putting your trust) 
knowing that whatever I need to know is revealed to me 
and that whatever I need comes to me ( tawakkul on Allah )
in the right time, space and sequence
all is well in the world. 

Hope that reading this 'write up' of mine  has come at the right time, you have given your busy life -  a space, a 'me time' to take charge of yourself and bring about healing of the Mind - Body and Soul. 

Internet Ref: Brian Tracy Com 

AN OPEN LETTER TO NIRBHAYA

An open letter to my departed sister

Dearest sister,
 I do not know if you would be able to read this in any way by any means but if you do, please do feel privileged to be living in a world much better than mine.

I am writing this to you with a sombre expression on my face, a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. I just finished watching the documentary which the BBC news channel made on you on international women's day. I am filled with both pride and shame on watching it. Pride, needless to say being you and shame, those inhuman species who took you away from us.

16th DEC 2012, the entire country stood in shock resulting from the horrendous and barbaric cruelty meted out to you and your friend. Although, in a country like ours which has become habituated to crimes against women, the sad news about you wasn't really a bolt from the blue, it still had the entire nation rooted to the spot. Such was the intensity of the crime, dear sister, I understand. I failed to even imagine the pain you must have felt for even a cursory glance from a stranger makes my blood run cold.

While you were battling between life and death, shock and shame, an unprecedented and tumultuous uproar in the form of protests was carried out at every corner of the country. You, dear sister, were the reason the entire nation was in solidarity. We couldn't take this anymore.  Seeing such outrage of extreme emotions from people I had high hopes from the law to do its best to reduce, if not totally eliminate crimes against women but sadly, sister, the scenario still remains unchanged. Every twenty minutes a woman is raped in India. Even As I write this to you, somewhere a woman is being bullied, harassed and raped while the perpetrators of your ghastly crime are probably enjoying a hearty meal in imprisonment.

Often when me and my friends walk to and from college, there are always those few pairs of eyes gazing at us lecherously. Sometimes, they purposely push us, other times they speed up their bikes to scare us. All because, we are girls. I have been punished to be a girl. I have had to curb my dreams and passions because I am a girl. I love to travel and explore new places. I want to go on trips with my friends but I must remember i am a girl, a flower that needs protection and hence I must stay home and enroll myself in household chores. I must not dare to step out of the house alone, especially after sunset, otherwise the thorn might harm the flower. I want to go to parties and have fun just like my male friends but I must not forget that I am a girl, the one who is considered more  responsible in any case with a man. Sister, I want to break free from the shackles of codes and conducts, dos and don'ts, but I must abide by them because I am a girl.

Dearest sister, I would like to make a number of  heartfelt apologies to you.

Apology on behalf of our financially handicapped govt which otherwise has a lot of fund to shell out just to be in the good books of a certain visitor from the States or to garnish sportsmen with handsome cheques. But when it comes to improving the standard of security for women in our country, their pockets are empty

Apology on behalf of our legislature and judiciary which has always failed to deliver prompt justice to the victim. Apology on behalf of the so called guardians of the people,  the police officers, for their lackadaisical attitude, for being so classless and disinterested in our matters, for supporting the false when offered money

Apology on behalf of all those selfish, self-centered people, who would make no move in helping a woman knowing she is in trouble. Of course, why would they invite trouble for themselves?

Apology on behalf of Mr Honey Singh, the blatantly sexist singer who has so conveniently made a future for himself by caricaturing women, still being a favourite son.

Apology on behalf of the masterminds behind TV soaps for always depicting women to be inferior to men.

But above all,  I owe you an excruciating and shameful apology for being unable to do anything to bring you justice.

But you have come to me and every other woman as a great inspiration. Your determination to achieve your goals against all odds is very galvanizing. I wish with all my heart that someday your dream of opening a hospital in your village is realised. 

With the shallow , shameless, adamant mindsets of a part of the male fraternity, there is  indeed a good male majority, which needs to be become more pro active in this country, it is than only that we will have  hope to live in a crime free India. On women's day I woke up to the news of a 6 year old being brutally raped in Ahmedabad.

Tomorrow again I might wake up to the news of yet another rape, if only its reported. Tomorrow again I will notice someone giving me licentious looks. The age of chivalry is dead sister. Humanity has failed.  Dearest sister, like I said, please do feel privileged to be living in a world much better than mine. You might not be the nearest to us but you are definitely the dearest. You are not just a daughter to your parents, you are "India's Daughter"

- From a helpless younger sister

UMAIMA SAEED - KOLKATA

E Mail : umaima.ak@gmail.com

BANNED BBC DOCUMENTARY ON NIRBHAYA

Having heard so much uproar on the Documentary, I pushed the play button with much trepidation, thinking of seeing gut wrenching narration, and graphics, but I found the Documentary to be well made covering all aspects of the Nirbhaya incident. No prolonged wails and dramatic outbursts. I am wondering why the Indian Govt has to ban it ? The opinions of the experts and all connected with the incident, is laid out before the public in a very decent format minus theatricals. Some of the Hindi soap that are dished out on TV has more wailing and more gut wrenching scenes. Prolonged cries and hearty laughter of the goons.

Let me share with you a personal experience. I went to the Barbers for a shave around noon, the ideal time for family Hindi soaps on TV. One was playing out above my head,and although I was not able to watch it, as I had surrendered my face to the barber, I could hear the audio.

From the audio I surmised that a villain was acting tough and was in the act of  ruining the modesty of the lady protagonist, and for more than 5 minutes she was pleading, begging to let her go, and amid continuous loud wailing. I was feeling so disgusted, the wails and the cries were unbearable, so as the first part of the shave was over, I requested the barber to change the channel forthwith.

Now these type of soaps need to be banned, not this Documentary, which has a very understated tone, and tries to portray the thoughts of all those associated with the case.


At the end of the Documentary, the grieved father reflects on her Jyoti who has become a symbol - he makes a profound observation by stating ' a storm arose, and has passed, but what is important, is what is left after the storm' now that is very important. If her sacrifice has not been able to change the mindset of the country, her sacrifice is in vain, no lesson has been learnt. I was aghast to read the report that out of 10,000 foetus found in a hospital 9900 plus ( forget the exact number) were of girl child. Shocking indeed. Banning the Documentary shows the mindset still needs to be changed.

HYPERSPACE - DR. MICHIO KAKU

'THE ONLY IMPORTANT THING IN A BOOK IS THE MEANING IT HAS FOR YOU'
W.SOMERSET MAUGHAM

Book Reference : Hyperspace – A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes – Dr. Michio Kaku.

This book is about a scientific revolution created by the theory of hyperspace, which states that dimensions exist beyond the commonly accepted four of space and time. There is a growing acknowledgement among physicist, that the universe may actually exist in higher dimension space.

For me personally although not a student of science, the Book provided deep insights into my religious belief, science seems to be finally starting to accept long held spiritual truths.

At the very onset of the Book in Chapter 1 Dr. Kaku gives a brilliant example from his childhood days, when he used to watch the carps, in the shallow pond in a Japanese garden.

‘Living their entire lives in the shallow pond, the carp would believe that their ‘universe’ consisted of the murky water and the lilies. Spending most of their time foraging on the bottom of the pond, they would be dimly aware that an alien world could exist above the surface. The nature of my world was beyond their comprehension. I was intrigued that I could sit only a few inches from the carp, yet separated from them by an immense chasm. The carp and I spent our lives in two distinct universes, never entering each other’s world, yet were separated by only the thinnest barrier, the water’s surface.

I often think that we are like carp swimming contentedly in our pond. We live out our lives in our own “pond”. We smugly refuse to admit that parallel universes or dimensions can exist next to ours, just beyond our grasp. (Great Spiritual Masters and mystics have experienced and visualised, and some have tried to convey the unseen dimensions and universes. Now scientists are accepting in theory )

Another striking example is given by Peter Freund, who has stated that laws of nature become simpler and elegant, when expressed in higher dimensions, which is their natural home (A’lam al Ibda – ten dimensional A’lam al Amr which came into existence by the Command ‘kun fayakun’ )

Freund, in explaining why higher dimensions are exiting the imagination of the scientific world, uses the following analogy. 

‘Think for a moment of a cheetah, a sleek beautiful animal, one of the fastest on the earth, which roams freely on the savannas of Africa. In its natural habitat, it is a magnificent animal. Almost a work of art, unsurpassed in speed or grace.

Now think of a cheetah that has been captured and thrown into a miserable cage in a zoo. It has lost its original grace and beauty, and is put in the cage for our amusement. We only see the broken spirit of the cheetah, not its original power and elegance. The cheetah likewise can be compared to the laws of physics, which are beautiful in the higher dimensions. However, because of human limitation, we can only measure the laws of physics, when they are broken and placed on display in a cage, which is our three dimensional laboratory. We only see the cheetah when its grace and beauty have been stripped away.

(From this I infer how the Spiritual Masters are able to experience the Higher Truths, as they can ‘home in’ to the higher dimensions, and be able to comprehend, whereas we laymen, miss the bus, as we have not the knowledge to comprehend, as we are used to seeing and understanding at our own level )

The advantage of ten dimensional space is that we have enough room in which to accommodate all the four fundamental forces.

The leading scientists like  Alan Guth and Freund are of the opinion that the energy scale necessary to investigate the higher dimensions is far beyond anything available on earth. The energy necessary to probe the tenth dimension is a quadrillion times larger than the energy that can be produced by our largest atom smasher!!

Introducing higher dimensions may be essential for prying loose the secrets of Creation. According to this theory, before the Big Bang, our cosmos was actually a perfect ten dimensional universe. (Is Dr. Kaku inadvertently referring to A’lam al Ibda)

However, this ten dimensional world was unstable, ( Interesting if one has read Sayedi Sadikali sahib Nashihat) and eventually it ‘cracked’ in two, creating two separate universes; a four and six dimensional Universe. The Universe in which we live was born in that cosmic cataclysm. Our four dimensional Universe expanded explosively (‘huboot’ tenebrosity according to our belief ) while our twin six dimensional universe contracted violently, until it shrank to almost infinitesimal... this six dimensional universe may ultimately be our salvation !! There you go

(Reading this made me wonder is this some theoretical physicist talking or a Spiritual savant. Science and Spirituality are coming so close. Hope in near future with the help of both, we will be able to understand Tawheed – ONENESS )

How fortunate are we in this internet age. Information on practically all topics under the Sun, for ordinary guys like me is so very easy to acquire. Just Google it – and hey presto! It is there.

Let me share with you an interesting story. How difficult it was for the best of minds in the bygone era. They had to sweat and burn midnight oil just to crave for information. But still the bottom line is that, they were original thinkers, and torch bearers.

Let me share with you an interesting story. Dr. Albert Einstein’s proudest piece of work, even more than is celebrated equation E = mc2 was the simple yet profound equation ‘ Matter – energy determines curvature of space- time’

This deceptively short equation is one of the greatest triumphs of the human mind. From it emerge the principles behind the motions of stars and galaxies, black holes, the Big Bang and perhaps the fate of the Universe itself.

Nevertheless Einstein was still missing the piece of the puzzle. He had discovered the correct physical principle, but lacked a rigorous mathematical formula powerful enough to express this principle. He spent 3 long frustrating years, from 1912 to 1915 in a desperate search for mathematical formula powerful enough to express the principle.

The world’s most powerful mind was in search for 3 long years. How I wish Google was there during his time, it would have made it a child’s play, and would have given him space to  concentrate on other weighty problems.

Einstein in desperation wrote to his close friend and mathematician Marcel Grossman, pleading “ you must help me or else I’ll go crazy !” Poor soul !

Fortunately Grossman, to help his friend, combed through library for clues to Einstein’s problem, and fortunately accidently stumbled upon the work of Riemann. His work had been ignored by physicist for over 60 years, but to Einstein joy he found the mathematical formula that was long evading him. The celebrated 1854 lecture by Riemann was the key to the problem.

He found that he could incorporate the entire body of Riemann’s work in the reformulation of his principle. Almost line for line, the great work of Riemann found its true home in Einstein’s principle.

Riemann’s great contribution was that he introduced the concept of metric tensor, a field that is defined at all points in space. The metric tensor is not a single number. At each point in space, it consists of ten numbers !! Now this piece of science  is exiting for me – ten numbers in all points of space. (The Tenth Intellect – Sayedi Sadik ali sahib in his Nashihat says “ aa duniya na A’shir ne havala chhe” )

Now let us look back on little Albert while he was growing up. The life of Albert Einstein appears to be one long series of failures. His mother was distressed at how slowly he learnt to talk. His elementary school teacher thought of him as a foolish dreamer. They complained that he was constantly disrupting classroom discipline with silly questions. He had few friends, and dropped out of high school.

He took special exam to enter College but he flunked and had to take it the second time. On graduation he applied for teaching jobs, but was rejected several times. Finally with the help of a friend, he landed a clerical job at the Swiss Patent office and the rest is history.

Likewise, the life struggle of Georg Riemann who gave the world the theory of higher dimensions, which Albert Einstein would use after six decades to explain the creation of Universe, also makes an interesting reading.

The core of Riemann’s work was the realization that physical laws simplify in higher dimensional space, the very theme of this book.

Riemann was born in 1826 at Hanover, Germany, the son of a poor Lutheran pastor, the second of his six children. Life was a day to day struggle.

At the very early age, Riemann exhibited his famous traits, fantastic calculation ability, coupled with timidity and life long horror of public speaking. He set out to become a student of Theology, but his thoughts always drifted back to mathematics.

He was an avid reader and he completed reading of a ponderous 859 page masterpiece Theory of Numbers in just under 6 days.

Beset by daily struggle to put food on the table, Riemann’s father might have sent the boy to do menial jobs and help the family finances. Instead he scraped together enough funds to send the 19 year to the renowned University of Gottingen, where he met and befriended the acclaimed Mathematician Carl Gauss.

Life for Riemann, however, was an endless series of setbacks and hardships, coupled with frail health. Eventually, Riemann was able to give his famous lecture on June 10, 1854 before the faculty of University of Gottingen and a new Geometry was born.

Riemann’s lecture exposed the world to the dazzling properties of higher dimensional space.

   

BEGINNING OF FATEMI DAWAT IN HIND

I was always eager to know how and in which period of history the Fatemi Dawat took its root in India, and who were the first harbingers, their background and their Mission. By referring to different sources, I am presenting the episodes of Fatemi Dawat in Hind, the historical events as oit unfolded in the early Eleventh Century.

In Misr during the glorious reign of Imam Mustansir Billah ( S.A.) a Hindu Raja Siddhrath Jaisingh was the ruling from Khambat.  After the advent of Islam many Arabs had been steadily coming down to Hindustan and Islam was slowly spreading with marked concentration in areas around Delhi and Lucknow.

Islam was spreading far and wide and this made the head priest of Raja Jaisingh very apprehensive, and in order to save the kingdom from an alien  religion, he advised the Raja to take a vow not to partake food before killing a Muslim each day and making a tilak with the blood of the killed Muslim.

One day an Arab trader owing allegiance to the Fatemi Dawat happened to travel to Khambat and was caught by the guards and brought before the Raja, who ordered him to be executed. However, by his convincing arguments, the trader managed to convey to the Raja that he need not kill him to keep his vow, he may chop off his hand, and with the blood to tilak and partake his food.

Thus he saved himself and managed to travel back gto Misr and appeared in the Hazrat of Imam (S.A.) and narrated the incident Imam Mustansir Billah (S.A.) planted the seed of Fatemi Dawat by sending Moulayee Ahmad to Khambat to ascertain the prevailing religion and culture and to seek converts.

In the guise of a Hindu sage Moulayee Ahmad stayed in Khambat and obsereved the customs and traditions. During his wanderings Moulayee Ahmad took a liking of two young lads aged between 12-14 years, who appeared to be very bright and intelligent. He found out that both these boys were orphans, who lived with their relatives. One was Ramnath and the other was Roopnath. Moylayee Ahmad won their trust and confidence, so much so that they started living with him and also agreed to accompany him to Misr.

On reaching Misr the two boys were presented in Hazarat Aliyah Immamiyah and were entrusted in the care of Moulayee Lamak, who lovingly instructed the two boys in Fatemi Ulooms. Thus Ramnath became Moulayee Abdullah and Roopnath became Moulayee Nuruddin. Imam (S.A.) instructed Sayedna Lamak to accompany them till Yemen and from there, the three Sahebs set sail and landed in Khambat harbour in the year 453 H and started the Fatemi Dawat in earnest.

Moulayee Ahmad was the first Vali e Hind and started his mission from Khambat. He sent Moulayee Nuruddin to the Deccan Central India and Moulayee Abdullah to Patan. Around Khambat Moulayee Ahmad won over many hearts by his knowledge, saintly character and miracles, and the news of his mission travelled far and wide, and in due course of time the two prominent vazirs of Raja Jaisingh, namely Raja Bharmal ( who was also son in law of Raja Jaisingh ) and Raja Tarmal came under the influence of Islam.

The famous incident of the hung Elephant in the Temple that attracted a lot of devotees, in which case Moulayee Ahmad removed the concealed magnates from the floor and roof of the Temple, which made the rock Elephant come crushing down, shook the Hindu belief as never before, and many converts were won over. It is said that before his death even Raja Jaisingh gave Misaq to Moulayee Ahmad. On his death bed he gave instruction that he should not be consigned to flames as per Hindu custom, but was to be buried and the his last rites were to be conducted by Moulayee Ahmad. Year 1143 A.D.

When the first Vali e Hind Moulayee Ahamad died in Khambat in 560 H Moulayee Nuruddin became the Second Vali e Hind and on his death in Dongaon in the year 563 H Moulayee Abdullah became the 3rd Vali e Hind. Moulayee Abdullah died in Patan in 565 H.

The 4th Vali e Hind was Moylayee Yakub who was the son of Raja Bharmal, and before openly giving allegiance at the hands of Moyalee Ahmad was known as Ajaypal. He helped a great deal in winning over converts to the Fatemi Dawat.

Moylayee Yakub the 4th Vali e Hind directed Sayedi Fakhruddin Saheed ( son of Raja Tarmal) to spread Deen and win over converts in vaghad bilad (Gujrat - Rajastan bordering areas) It was near Galiyakot that he was looted and martyred by the Bhills.

In the descendents of Moylaee Yakub came the Nine Doat Mutlaqeen known as A'al e Bharmal. The first amongst them being 34th Dai ul Mutlaq Sayedna Ismail Badruddin Moula - Jamnagar.
1065 to 1085 H.

Aqa A'li Qdr Muffadal Moula's lineage is traced back to both Raja Bharmal and Raja Tarmal.

ARBA'EEN - The Spiritual Journey

LABBAIK YA HUSSAIN !  

LABBAIK YA HUSSAIN !  

This year once again my family received the sharaf of undertaking the most spiritually uplifting and soul enriching Arba'been journey from the most holy precincts of Najaf to Karbala. Each passing year the fervor and the number of pilgrims is for ever increasing.

In the year 62 AH ashab e Nabi (SA) Moulana Jabir in company of Attaya bin Saeed undertook the journey, which this year has witnessed a multitude of more than 20 million and more. ( Five times that of this year's Haj pilgrims ) Just thinking about it so overwhelming, and words fail to describe the feelings and outpouring of love, for those who undertake it.

My family was in company of 29 mumineen from Kuwait. At 7 am Sunday 6th Dec: 2014 we started from Najf Rubaat, in all 179 mumineen, a large many from India. We were escorted through the town carrying Husaini A'lam and Banners to the Highway by faiz  khidmatgujars, who took leave, when we reached the highway.

It was a moving sight when we reached Pole No : 1 on the highway and like a stream merging into an overflowing river, we in company of thousands chanting YA HUSAIN !YA HUSAIN ! started our momentos journey towards Karbala.  

The Electricity Poles on the roads towards Karbala are the best markers. There are in all 1452 poles. The Karbala Rubaat is near Pole No: 1449. The haram of Abbas e Alambardar (SA) is near Pole 1452. Thus it gives an idea of the distance, and a means to understand the distance covered, and more important the 'marker' for assembly point of the group. We in our group decide before hand, on which number Pole should we assemble, so that those who walk ahead, wait at that particular Pole, for others who have fallen back.

After the downfall of Saddam Hussain, in the Year 2003 the Arba'een which was banned for past 30 years was broadcast live. The Western Media in recent years has been reporting it as the World's largest and most dangerous gathering.
However, in spite of terrorist threats and intimidation, there is no sense of fear in those who undertake the pilgrimage. Sayeed Maldi Modarresi in his article in Huffington Post has in great detail, covered the different aspects of Arba'eeen. He talks of people undertaking a 425 miles of arduous journey from Basra to Karbala, walking for two weeks.

Feelings of affection, of reaching out and helping the pilgrims, showering them with doa for their safe journey is what one witnesses, as one remembering and moaning the Husaini kafla undertakes the journey. Mawakeb organizers who come from all walks of life, some of them are farmers and labourers, spare no efforts to make the pilgrims comfortable. It has only to be experienced. Fifty million meals a day financed by general public !! They line up the roads and at times literally plead with you to take their falafil and  chicken sandwiches, boiled eggs and bread, and fruits. Sharbat and tea is served in plenty at short distances along the road. The little ones came running towards us, pleading to take their offerings.

The love and fervor of the people is so overwhelming that tears gush forth, doa from the heart comes on our lips,  and it also takes us back to the road traversed in bondage by Imam Ali Zain ul Abedeen Moula and the Husaini kafla. As we walk towards Karbala, surrounded by so much outpouring of love and affection, we think of the pain and tribulations suffered in 61 A.H.

Our group of 179 which started from Pole No: 1 started to divide into smaller groups as we covered distance, the youngsters and able bodied walked faster, they rested for smaller durations.

One mumin youngster aged around 22 years walked the entire distance bare foot, just imagine walking on the cold road. Another mumin bhai, who has been coming for the past 2-3 years, undertakes the pilgrimage, fasting for the entire duration.

These are just two examples of many mumineen, who willingly undertake hardship and deprivation, all on account of the immense love of Ahle Bait (S.A ) and love and affection for Aqa Moula (TUS) and for his sehato a'fiyat and umre darazi.

Our group of 16 mumineen rested on the first night at a Farm House of a local Arab, and the hospitality received was overwhelming. The Amil Saheb of Bahrain who was in the early seventies, and Bhen Saheba who had only last year undergone knee surgery were in our group, and seeing them walk and keeping pace with us, was so motivating and uplifting. Unaided they walked with us, seeing them undertake this arduous journey I made a niyat and offered doa, that if Allah with his Mercy makes me reach that age, I will surely undertake this pilgrimage.

The second night was spent being fussed over by the locals in a  big well stocked tent, the ladies massaged our tiring limbs and went out of their way, to see that we were comfortable.  Finally on Monday, 8th Dec: 2014 at around 10.30 in the morning five of us reached Karbala, the rest in company of Amil Saheb and Bhen saheba reached at around noon.

On reaching Karbala I interacted with a bhen who was in a group from South India, and I learnt that they had started with the intention of covering the journey at faster pace,  and shortest possible time, as a result of which, they got so very tired, took different route, as a result of which a few of them, had to take a cab to complete the journey. An eye - opener.

I feel it is a spiritual pilgrimage and should be done with due reverence and feeling. Have just returned to Kuwait but looking forward to the next Arba'een and in the meantime wishing and praying for the tashreef awri of Aqa Moula A'li Qdr Muffadal Saifuddin Moula (TUS). There is so much of excitement and anticipation amongst  Kuwait muminen, and preparations are in  earnest.

NOTE: Above 'write up' is based on the narration given by Bhen Farida Mulla Shabbirbhai Basrai. Kuwait 

Email : fbasrai100 @hotmail.com
 

  

BLEEDING HEART

LOVE,  an umbrella term which incorporates an abundance  of God-gifted relations within it,  a few by blood and others by destiny, in truth is the salt of life without which life would remain bland and tasteless. 

 Be it bilateral relations like friendship, courtship, engagement, marriage or multilateral ones like relation with your parents, siblings, extended family or family-in-law, all are priceless relationships bound together by the most beautiful emotion, love. 

These immeasurable and invaluable gifts of relations should be treasured, caressed and prevented from being harmed.These are the most cherished and soul enriching  boons from the Almighty, which rather than being discarded at the drop of a hat should be preserved for a lifetime. 

The beauty of love in any relation lies in the universal fact that it is palpable even to the unfortunate victims of deafness, dumbness and blindness.  They also feel its embalming and all embracing power.  Love is like the sun, the absence of which creates darkness and its presence has the power to light up the life of a blind person. It is a powerful weapon that helps us win and overcome any battle of life. The lyrics of the famous English band rightly goes, 'one love is all we need', indeed!

There are relationships, there are issues, and consequently and inevitably, of course , there are the two very poisonous pesticides, ego and false sense of self respect, which destroy the seeds of love, trust, and affection to an extent that our relations wither away and die. 

With the human fraternity constantly battling between relationship issues and the two deceivers-ego and false sense of self respect, it is widely observed that the former which takes years to build is destroyed, at times in a matter of minutes.

Many would argue as to how respect for ones own self would destroy bonds. Self respect is a good human trait, but the problem is with the false sense of self respect. True, you can't win others respect till you don't have regard and reverence for yourself but too much of it outweighs the respect for others. This is when even the best of bonds are ruined. Ego is a genie  that we create in  ourselves, that eventually leads to our own destruction. 

Rolling back to the stories my grandma told me, it becomes evident that ego and false sense of self respect have become a rampant relationship spoiler in only our times. My Granny would often narrate to me episodes of her animosity with grandpa, and rightly make me understand as to how In their days love for each other made no room for anything to destroy it. 

We all hold a certain degree of impulsiveness in us which makes us act on a whim, disabling us to foresee its menacing consequences. As a result, we make mistakes, indulge in monumental sulks, blurt out unintended bluntness, this hurting the sentiments of one another and encountering misunderstandings. This is when love begins to decay, trust diminishes, affection deflates, the treacherous ego begins its work and the relationship as a whole dies a death.

The question you may throw at yourself over here is, was your bond with your friend , partner , sibling or any other associate so weak that it could be destroyed so easily? 

Take a moment to recapture all the beautiful moments you shared with them, the happiness, the sadness. Were they so dim that they could be darkened completely? Did your priceless bond weigh so less in front of your issues? Ego and false sense  of self respect are nothing but only a part of your English vocabulary when your relation to you holds more significance.

Save your self and your loved ones from a bleeding heart by :

 Nipping  your ego in the bud before having to bury your relationship in the soil. 

Make your ego and self respect so porous that all your issues penetrate and dissolve into it. 

Come to  terms with the fact that we all are humans, bound to make mistakes and deserve one chance to correct ourselves.

 Forgive quickly and live with no regrets. After all, in your times of sorrow, not your ego or self respect but your near and dear ones will come and comfort you. Give it an intense thought!

AUTHOR : Umaima S. Saeed. Kolkata 

umaima.ak@gmail.com