'Be Present in Every Moment': Life Lessons from Moinuddin Chishti

by Moinuddin Chishti

BE PRESENT IN EVERY MOMENT - LIFE LESSON FROM MOINUDDIN CHISHTI (HB)

78 pages, Hardcover

Published August 20, 2018

Reviews

[Dr. Appu Sasidharan (Dasfill) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary

This book discusses the life and teachings of Moinuddin Chishti, who was a Sufi saint who set up a new Sufi order in Ajmer in the 13th century. The amount of wisdom he promulgates through his preachings has riveted many people towards Sufism, including the Mughal emperor Akbar, who was one of his famous devotees.

Three things I learned from this book
1) Sufism
Sufism (Tasawwuf) is dealt in detail in this book

"Sufism, the mystical version of Islam, was a significant contributor in shaping medieval India's religious ethos. While the orthodox forms of Islam gained the upper hand in centers of Muslim concentration and among the powerful, Sufism was popular with various groups on the periphery, including artisans, laborers, and those who lived outside the cities and Islamic principalities. They preferred the flexibility and cultural accommodation provided by Sufism rather than the rigidity of ritualism and legalism, which marked orthodox Islam. Sufism is about achieving an intensely personal connection with the Divine based on realizing God's attributes within oneself. The Sufi way stresses the purification of the mind, body, and soul. The theology aims at a personal and super sensory experience where the ultimate aim is to find oneness with the Divine, the merging of the individual ego with the Divine.

Three principles of Sufism according to Khwaja are
to redress the misery of those in distress,
to fulfill the needs of the helpless, and
to feed the hungry. ”

2) Spiritual benediction and wisdom
Moinuddin Chishti apprises us about spiritual benediction is in this book.

“Spiritual benediction means mixing with the downtrodden. Nothing is more commendable in the eyes of God than redressing the misery of those in distress, fulfilling the needs of the helpless, and feeding the hungry."

"There is no greater wealth than knowledge
and no great poverty than ignorance.
Wisdom is greater and more difficult to
attain than intellect, piety, or spirituality.

Intellect is the knowledge obtained by
experience of names and forms,
wisdom is the knowledge that manifests from
the inner being.

To acquire knowledge one turns to academic
study, but to obtain wisdom,
all that is needed is the flow of Divine mercy-
it is as natural as swimming is to the fish,
or flying to the bird."

3) Charity
The pre-eminence of charity in our life is depicted well in this book

“A person of pure mind an heart
becomes the embodiment of
the Divine on earth.
An act of charity in feeding the hungry
creates seven curtains
between a person and hell

To pray for the dead, to respect the dead
with a decent burial
is another form of charity.
To join in the grief of people, offering sincere condolences
and giving comfort are also acts of charity
and compassion

Feeding animals, watering plants, clearing the
pathways of thorns and weeds-
these too are acts of charity

Charity humanizes people
And makes them virtuous and godly.
The heart should melt at the sight of those
suffering from ailments and deadly disease
and those placed in positions
of hardship and misery."

My favourite three lines from this book

“Moinuddin Chishti interpreted religion in terms of human service and exhorted his disciples, to develop river-like generosity, sun-like affection and earth-like hospitality.”

“Be present in every second of life and live as if you could die in this moment.” It is based on this quote Gandhiji told, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

“It is because we mistakenly see ourselves as
separate from everything else
that we become attached.
If we fully appreciate that nothing is really
separate to begin with,
attachment becomes impossible. ”

Rating
4/5 If you want to widen the horizon of your knowledge or if you are interested in Sufism this book will be a good pick to read.

[Shadab Ahmad · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is good aap for gain knowledge and and i really like this aap to use

[Tanvi Hussain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many have visited the Ajmer Sharif Dargah of Hazrat Sheikh Khwaja Syed Moinuddin Hasan Chishti (peace be upon him). He is one of the world renowned Sufi Saints, known for establishing the "Chishti order" in the Indian subcontinent. The Chishti order was established in the 10th Century by Khwaja Abu Ishaq Shami in Chishti town of present day Afghanistan (this is where the name comes from). The Chishti order or Silsila is known for its emphasis on love and tolerance. Hazrat Moinuddin is also known as Garib Nawaz (Benefactor of the Poor). He was a great mystic, an outstanding preacher, an erudite scholar, an ardent advocate of education, poet and writer. The Sufi saint came to Ajmer from Persia in 1192, and died (transcended) in India in 1236. His father, Khwaja Ghiyasuddin Hasan (peace be upon him), a renowned Sufi saint was the descendant of Hazrat Imam Hussain (the younger grandchild of Hazrat Muhammad SAW). Hazrat Moinuddin Chishti told his followers that if they want to love the Almighty (SWT) and be loved by Him, then they should love all His's creatures. The philosophy of love for all irrespective of religion, caste, standing in society, charity and feeding the poor and needy was the key teaching of the saint. His simple teaching penetrated even the most hardened hearts and his enemies were disarmed by his affectionate demeanour.

[Dibyendu Pal · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a charming gem of a book! Its pearls of wisdom gleam with relevance even in today's fast-paced world. The overall presentation is simply delightful, striking the perfect balance between elegance and clarity. Remarkably, the book avoids any hint of preachiness, delivering its profound philosophies with a subtle grace that is truly refreshing.

Please read this book! While it may not transform your life overnight, but it has the power to give a nudge in the right direction!

[K Mahmood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Nice quotes that feel good to read.

[Sadique · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short summary of the teachings of Khwaja Moinuddin. Although his Dargah at Ajmer is hugely popular, the teachings remain buried under centuries of past.