Tapping into the Sea of Love Awaken to Presence Transform your life workshop series September 2012, Orlando

Saying of Muhammad (p): “Oh Lord, show us things as they are.”

Living with Divine Oneness To see the attributes of the One in every thing. To open a window directly onto His light from every thing. To attain to perpetual awareness of the Divine presence.

Consider the creatures as pure and transparent water, which shine the attributes of the One. Their knowledge, their justice, their kindness- All are from the heaven reflected in the flowing water. -Rumi

If we look at the movie screen, We see the form of the movie screen (the screen itself)… If we look in the movie screen, We see the attributes of the Director (you watch the movie!!)

If we look at the creatures, We see the form of the creatures… If we look in the creatures, We see the attributes of the One

Ordinary awareness chaos meaningless vs. Spiritual awareness oneness love

وَرَحْمَتِي وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ “My loving grace overspreads every thing” (Quran 7:56) رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَّحْمَةً “Our Sustainer! You embrace all things within your loving grace” (Quran 40:7)

Apple Ordinary awareness Form If we look at creation

Beauty, goodness, creativity, power Spiritual awareness Meaning If we look in creation

Love, mercy, grace Meaning Spiritual awareness If we look in creation

How about me? I see that the apple and everything is the reflection of love.. I understand that we live in the sea of love.. But I don’t experience it… Why? What can I do?

Why don’t I experience the sea of love? I have been given a free choice.. Having a choice is the only way I can really love. To have a choice means I need to have two alternatives…

Love, mercy, grace Meaningless…

Infinite light can be known through darkness Even if this darkness is a very thin line.. Even if this darkness is only a thought… The meaninglessness of the apple is only a thought, not a reality… Who is the cause of this illusion? My imagined independent false self…

I assume the ownership of all the qualities reflected on me… I need to take care of my self… utilitarian in my relation to things… My imagined independent false self… Meaningless…

We have identified the problem… What can we do?

فَنَادَىٰ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ أَن لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُنجِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ Then he called out from the darkness: “There is no god but You. All glory to You; surely I was wrong.” And so We responded unto him and delivered him from his distress: for thus do We deliver all who have faith. (Quran 21:87-88)

If I am in the sea of love, Why do I pretend that I am independent from it Why do I pretend that I can solve my problems by myself? Is this “I” independent from the Sea? Here is how I have been wronging myself!

By contemplating on Jonah’s (p) prayer and remembering it often, I acknowledge that it is not “me” but only the One can deliver me to Peace… لَّا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ “There is no god but You. All glory to You; surely I was wrong.” (Quran 21:87)

My imagination…

What just happened? 1.Recognition my current situation – Am I happy with it? 2.Recognition of meaning 3.Recognition of the source of my misery – My insistence on my “imaginative independent self” – I will fix my life -> willfulness 4.Recognition of the only One that can help! – I am the source of my misery, O the Source of everything, I turn to you for help -> willingness 3 & 4 happen at the same time.. – Direct contact “There is no god but You. All glory to You; surely I was wrong.”

Why can’t I experience love? Because of my wrong identification! What can I do about it? Get out of the way!! How? Recognize that I cannot solve my own problem… Hand it to the Source of everything!

A single mote of grace’s shadow is better than a thousand willful efforts of the obedient servant, For Satan will remove the bricks of obedience, Even if there are two hundred bricks, he will make a way for himself. -Rumi

Prophet Muhammad (p) said, “No one enters paradise because of his deeds.” His friends replied, “Not even you, O Messenger of God?” He said, “Not even me, unless God showers me with his mercy and love” -Bukhari Collection