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Questions of Life - Answers of Wisdom, Vol. 1
In this first of a series of books, titled, Questions and Answers the questions are asked by disciples of a Sufi Master, and answered by this teacher of wisdom, love and compassion. They asked questions that ranged from the mundane issues of their work lives and relationships, to the spiritual yearnings that were within their hearts. Questions like, Does disease come from God? What should we do when we see faults in others? How can I live a life surrendered to the will of God? and Is it true that no two snowflakes are alike? He explains that there is an answer to every question, and encourages us to bring our questions to light.
355 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1987
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About the author
M.R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen
66 books42 followersMuhammad Raheem Bawa Muhaiyaddeen, a Sufi mystic, can best be remembered for his efforts to bring unity through understanding to the faithful of all religions.
Little is known of his early personal history. Records of his life began in the early 1900's when religious pilgrims traveling through the jungles of Sri Lanka first caught glimpse of a holy man. They were overwhelmed by the depth of divine knowledge that he imparted.
Sometime later a pilgrim invited him to a nearby village, and with that began his public life as a teacher of wisdom.
Throughout Sri Lanka, people from all religious and ethnic traditions would listen to his public discourses. Many consulted him on how to conduct life's affairs, including public figures, politicians, the poor, and the learned.
In 1971 Bawa Muhaiyaddeen accepted an invitation to visit the United States. Here, once again, people from all religious, social and ethnic backgrounds would join to hear him speak. Across the United States, Canada and England, he won recognition from religious scholars, journalists, educators and world leaders. The United Nation's Assistant Secretary General, Robert Muller, asked for Bawa Muhaiyaddeen's guidance on behalf of all mankind. Time Magazine turned to him for clarification during the hostage crisis in 1980. Thousands more were touched by his wise words when interviewed in Psychology Today, the Harvard Divinity Bulletin, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Pittsburgh Press.
Little is known of his early personal history. Records of his life began in the early 1900's when religious pilgrims traveling through the jungles of Sri Lanka first caught glimpse of a holy man. They were overwhelmed by the depth of divine knowledge that he imparted.
Sometime later a pilgrim invited him to a nearby village, and with that began his public life as a teacher of wisdom.
Throughout Sri Lanka, people from all religious and ethnic traditions would listen to his public discourses. Many consulted him on how to conduct life's affairs, including public figures, politicians, the poor, and the learned.
In 1971 Bawa Muhaiyaddeen accepted an invitation to visit the United States. Here, once again, people from all religious, social and ethnic backgrounds would join to hear him speak. Across the United States, Canada and England, he won recognition from religious scholars, journalists, educators and world leaders. The United Nation's Assistant Secretary General, Robert Muller, asked for Bawa Muhaiyaddeen's guidance on behalf of all mankind. Time Magazine turned to him for clarification during the hostage crisis in 1980. Thousands more were touched by his wise words when interviewed in Psychology Today, the Harvard Divinity Bulletin, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Pittsburgh Press.
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April 23, 2013
This work is full of deep spiritual insights, worded for novices on the Path and thus easy to grasp and understand. I found his discourse with the questioners enlightening. His views on meditation are interesting:
"[...] If he realize what meditation really is, he would not meditate."
Q: Why not?
A: Because if he understood what meditation is, that in itself would be meditation.
Q: Because then he is not separate from it? When you dont know you are meditating, is that when you are truly meditating?
A: "That is correct. It is only because man does not know himself that he thinks he is meditating. [...]
One can certainly feel the spirit of love and compassion throughout the q&a with Shaykh Muhammad Raheem B.M. Whether or not you are a Muslim or not, his answers are full of insight and analogies that can assist one in attaining true and real wisdom.
Some quotes:
"Every thought must be of God, and every intention and action must be His. We must always think and act in this way. Just as God looks at every heart and understands and then comforts its sorrows, so must we try to alleviate the sorrow and suffering in the hearts of others. Just as God treats all lives alike, so must we. We must think of His attributes and put them into action. We must take on the duties and the qualities of God. True prayer is having good thoughts, good conduct, good qualities, and the actions of God. [...]" [21]
"[...] If he realize what meditation really is, he would not meditate."
Q: Why not?
A: Because if he understood what meditation is, that in itself would be meditation.
Q: Because then he is not separate from it? When you dont know you are meditating, is that when you are truly meditating?
A: "That is correct. It is only because man does not know himself that he thinks he is meditating. [...]
One can certainly feel the spirit of love and compassion throughout the q&a with Shaykh Muhammad Raheem B.M. Whether or not you are a Muslim or not, his answers are full of insight and analogies that can assist one in attaining true and real wisdom.
Some quotes:
"Every thought must be of God, and every intention and action must be His. We must always think and act in this way. Just as God looks at every heart and understands and then comforts its sorrows, so must we try to alleviate the sorrow and suffering in the hearts of others. Just as God treats all lives alike, so must we. We must think of His attributes and put them into action. We must take on the duties and the qualities of God. True prayer is having good thoughts, good conduct, good qualities, and the actions of God. [...]" [21]
Displaying 1 of 1 review