The First Station of Sufism

The First Station of Sufism

O Salik,

By Allaahu alone are secrets revealed.

Today I saw your longing-driven, wine-filled words uttered by the leaves in the morning light. I too have fallen at Love's feet as and covered myself with the secrets of the heavens. Now I also understand the tenderness that takes care of the grass in the stillness of the night.

I know you understand the ways of silence. I do have a heap of sand with me but for now it may be useless to throw it at you. May it be that you no longer long for wine-filled cups nor goblets of pure air but the essence of intoxication and purity itself. I am but a cup... To speak of me means to speak of nothingness. But my throbbing heart has something to say. Behold, the sins and pangs of separation are heavy upon me. If you would like to be comforted, seek the Fire of the Beloved's Face alone and be annihilated once and for all. This we can do together. We are but two nightingales singing in the illusory distance. Nevertheless, the echo of our song shall be filled with Love's green valley of ecstasy.

...Allaahu, Allaahu, Allaahu Haqq...

Love's music played by those unseen quivering strings, always lingers in your heart beyond the fading of the shadows of the world. Only in silence can you realize this. Be drunk with the essence of the Dawn, open yourself again and again to the Infinite, be forgetful of anything else that weighs you down, that which is not of Beauty.

Be the Image and Fragrance of Allaahu that you essentially are. Feel Love's wings, even Love's Presence, with your heart. If you could be like unto the mist-birds, you would never be estranged from Beauty. May it be that Beauty holds your heart in the enjoyment and innocence of Love like unto the enchanted bee imprisoned within a flower's petals.

Endlessly seeking Love's solace under her shadow, you are already drunk with the secrets entrusted to the poets of life's seasons. Love's whisperings and thunderings are one with your breath and voice.

In Hu's Garden it is roses that we must gather, my dear, each petal representing a Mystery. As for the trees, their blossoming is seen only when you yourself are unfolded. For this reason, perceive the Silent Presence in all their seasons. This way, see winter in summer, summer in winter; autumn in spring, spring in autumn. Befriend strangeness to the extent that it befriends you. Make Love with Silence until it enfolds you in its wings. Perceive existence as a mirror until it reflects you in itself. Then and only then will Beauty be seen by the naked eye. Then and only then will Love's unseen strings be revealed unto the heart. Then and only then will you be able to gaze at yourself as Hu's Living Proof.

We know that, as the Holy Prophet (SAW) has pointed out, to perceive that which we must gather as roses and to be drunk with their Essence, three things are necessary: Ishq (Love), 'Aql (Intelligence) and 'Ilm (Knowledge). The fruit of Ishq is Intoxication, the fruit of 'Aql is Sight and the fruit of 'Ilm is Wisdom. The fruit of all these faculties combined is that which brings us back from Multiplicity to Unity.

No one understands Wahdat al-Wujud (the Essential Unity of Existence) unless he or she is "tortured" with profound perplexity and Love's longing for herself at each of the stations of becoming. No one passes the seven valleys of existence with a dry and motionless heart and mind. But do not be afraid of being wounded by your understanding of Love, my dear. Just surrender yourself whenever you repeat Hu's Name. Just let the passing pass!


I have been struck by the flood of Love's tenderness,



Love's serpent has bitten my heart and made her bleed with longing,



O breeze! Has the time not come for you too to be silenced by Love's poison and carried away by Love's sweet melody?




What is there left for you to seek in the fire of separation?



Union with Love, Union with Love,



Send your longing home, send your longing home!



Seek Hu's Face, seek Hu's Face,



And be burnt, be burnt!




This therefore echoes the First Station of Sufism:



"O Beloved,



Neither my tongue nor my mind can describe Your Essence,



You shine on all sides of my existence without me knowing from which side You have emerged,



Therefore reveal Your Reality unto me for I openly invite my non-existence,



Steal my private moments, fill them with that which the Earth cannot sustain!



O Sweetheart, in this vessel that I am, praise Yourself by Yourself!"



By Allaahu alone are secrets hidden.

Ishq,

{Dani}