[extracted from a book titled Essential Sufism]

Whatever we wish to know well, we must love. We can’t master any field of study - whether music, art, an academic field, or a profession - unless we love what we are studying. Study without love leads to a shallow, superficial understanding. Real mastery comes from love.

For many, Sufism is the path of love. To love others, to love the beauty of this world develops the capacity for love. The more we can love, the more we can love God. To love God is to know God.

Many of us are afraid of love. We have been disappointed before, not only by our romantic loves but also by friends and family we have loved. We can become afraid to open up and love again. There is an old Turkish saying, “The one who was burned by the soup blows on the yogurt.” Yet whatever our past hurt and fears of future pain, we must learn to love again. One of the most important functions of a teacher and a Sufi group of sincere seekers is to provide a safe place to risk loving.

We also fear love because it may transform us. And it is so. For the true lover, the sense of self dissolves so that lover, love, and beloved become one. The ego is afraid of losing control, and even more afraid of dissolving, and comes up with reason after reason for refusing to let go, refusing to let ourselves love fully.

We can let ourselves be inspired by the words of those who have become lovers.


“Be the captive of Love in order that you may be truly free-free from coldness and the worship of self. Thousands have passed who were wise and learned but who were strangers to Love. No name is left to them, nothing to proclaim their fame and dignity or to relate their history in the march of time. Although you may attempt to do a hundred things in this world, only Love will give you release from the bondage of yourself.”
-Jami


like, whoa.
it cuts..deep...

after i read this, what Husna said earlier started to sink in.
i can feel my heart feel. i dont want to lose this..

one of the more important lessons i learnt today is to stay humble. it's not always important to win, but it's always important to listen.

Thank You Allah for Your patience and for blessing me with great friends.. :)
Alhamdulillah.



im sorry..have a little patience for me.