Murat arranges that I stay with his friends in Erzurum and assures me that they will welcome me warmly. Hitchiking to Erzurum goes swiftly. Two truckdrivers take me. I show them a World-Electro mix CD I got from Yogesh at the 'Hindiba Pansiyon' and they proudly present their 80's and 90's pop, hip-hop and techno collection, showing me that they are actually thoroughly informed and up-to-date about western style music. All three of us agree quite quickly that we prefer to listen to contemporary Turkish music.
I stay with Murats friends at the famous Selimiye Apartami. On mentioning this house most people in the city and beyond recognize its name. It is a community of professionals and students, living together to devote themselves to the religious practices put forth by Islam and to study the Risale-i-Nur. It is Ramadan and I join the practices connected to it. We join Muhammed Said, a religious teacher, in greeting new University students and attend an evening prayer at the Ulu Cami, the oldest mosque in Erzurum. Prayer times present a wonderful opportunity to meditate and in general the whole community radiates a peace of life, which is extremely conducive for energetic and harmonious states of body and mind.
The apartment attracts visitors from around the world, which quite often come 'by chance' through meeting one of the community members on the streets of Erzurum. Editions of the Risale-i-Nur are present in at least six or seven languages and I am told of two polish travelers who have stayed a week ago and were fascinated by the written volumes.
I meet Abdullah, one of numerous Russians, who come here regularly or live in the community, to study and refresh bonds with their brothers. He is a philosopher at heart, open to all disciplines of knowledge, well informed, well-read, both employed in business and studying, physically well trained and with a gaze that knowns no shyness or reservation. Oguz does fantastic translating work when I talk to the group of concepts from Yogi Philosophy and Theosophy. Sueleyman has memorized the entirety of the 20+ volumes of the Risale-i-Nur and picks out parallels in these works off the top of his head to almost any subject I touch upon.
Teachings of the higher and lower aspects of human nature, the infinite realms of afterlife, incorporeal spirits of nature and the cosmos as well as beings which have long surpassed the human stage of spiritual evolution are all found in the ancient Yogi teachings and the Qu'ran alike. The parallels drawn in Theosophical literature between all religions, extant or extinct, orthodox or pagan, are confirmed by our lively discussions and Sueleyman's in depth knowledge of scriptures ascribed to Islam.
There is however something more which transpires only gradually as I stay at the apartment for several days. The Risale-i-Nur does not provide knowledge of the scientific hue so much, the way Madame Blavatsky's or Anne Besant's works do; Reason is most wonderfully used in Said Nursi's writings, but what I come to feel is that they propel the group onwards in very much a different way. The countless parables, which were written down by him evoke the action of the heart more than anything else. Reason would have its difficulties to find a flaw in the parables, but that which actually speaks more than the numerous volumes of Nursi, is the most beautiful and potent energy the group emanates. It slowly permeates down to my bones. The group perpetuates an incredible vibration, devoting every minute of the day, each and every action to that, which has no external appearance, but is rather the very essence of our being and the Universe.
Call it as you will; the Arabic language has evolved the syllables which together create the word Allah.
The practices which would seem like tedious, monotonous or repetitive to many, seem to blossom here to a most pleasant and meaningful effloresce.
I stay with Murats friends at the famous Selimiye Apartami. On mentioning this house most people in the city and beyond recognize its name. It is a community of professionals and students, living together to devote themselves to the religious practices put forth by Islam and to study the Risale-i-Nur. It is Ramadan and I join the practices connected to it. We join Muhammed Said, a religious teacher, in greeting new University students and attend an evening prayer at the Ulu Cami, the oldest mosque in Erzurum. Prayer times present a wonderful opportunity to meditate and in general the whole community radiates a peace of life, which is extremely conducive for energetic and harmonious states of body and mind.
The apartment attracts visitors from around the world, which quite often come 'by chance' through meeting one of the community members on the streets of Erzurum. Editions of the Risale-i-Nur are present in at least six or seven languages and I am told of two polish travelers who have stayed a week ago and were fascinated by the written volumes.
I meet Abdullah, one of numerous Russians, who come here regularly or live in the community, to study and refresh bonds with their brothers. He is a philosopher at heart, open to all disciplines of knowledge, well informed, well-read, both employed in business and studying, physically well trained and with a gaze that knowns no shyness or reservation. Oguz does fantastic translating work when I talk to the group of concepts from Yogi Philosophy and Theosophy. Sueleyman has memorized the entirety of the 20+ volumes of the Risale-i-Nur and picks out parallels in these works off the top of his head to almost any subject I touch upon.
Teachings of the higher and lower aspects of human nature, the infinite realms of afterlife, incorporeal spirits of nature and the cosmos as well as beings which have long surpassed the human stage of spiritual evolution are all found in the ancient Yogi teachings and the Qu'ran alike. The parallels drawn in Theosophical literature between all religions, extant or extinct, orthodox or pagan, are confirmed by our lively discussions and Sueleyman's in depth knowledge of scriptures ascribed to Islam.
There is however something more which transpires only gradually as I stay at the apartment for several days. The Risale-i-Nur does not provide knowledge of the scientific hue so much, the way Madame Blavatsky's or Anne Besant's works do; Reason is most wonderfully used in Said Nursi's writings, but what I come to feel is that they propel the group onwards in very much a different way. The countless parables, which were written down by him evoke the action of the heart more than anything else. Reason would have its difficulties to find a flaw in the parables, but that which actually speaks more than the numerous volumes of Nursi, is the most beautiful and potent energy the group emanates. It slowly permeates down to my bones. The group perpetuates an incredible vibration, devoting every minute of the day, each and every action to that, which has no external appearance, but is rather the very essence of our being and the Universe.
Call it as you will; the Arabic language has evolved the syllables which together create the word Allah.
The practices which would seem like tedious, monotonous or repetitive to many, seem to blossom here to a most pleasant and meaningful effloresce.
No comments:
Post a Comment