lunaturk
03-14-2007, 12:45 AM
Hi,
My name's Aylin. I'm originally from Istanbul, Turkey. Moved to the U.S. 12 years ago to go to college and decided to stay. I was raised in Muslim faith, although my parents were not practicing muslims, they did believe in the faith. We had religion classes at school where they taught us the practice and prayers as well as about other religions. I believe in the essence of the Islamic faith which means "to submit to God". I don't believe in religions, I believe in conscious living and loving and having a spiritual connection to the creator and the universe. Religions were created by men to control masses. I don't think any person or institution has a right to mandate laws about how one should have a relationship with God, Allah, that higher power, how ever you'd like to name that presence. There is not only one right way of having that relationship. I remember my grandfather would tell this story about Muhammed and his close circle of friends taking a walk in the desert one day. As they were walking, they see a man praying. Immediately, one of the men says, "Someone go talk to this fool. He is not doing the prayer correctly. He is standing when he's supposed to be sitting." Muhammed raises his hand and stops them from making a move and says, "Do not disturb this man. He certainly knows what he is doing. Can't you see that he is levitating?"
I always remember that little story, which in a nutshell tells me it's not in the shape and form that the things are correct, it is in the essence. There are many religious people seemingly practicing the shape and form, look the part, but do not have it in their hearts. I guess I can go on and on about this. I just wish that one fine day people would open their eyes and hearts and see the truth about what is seperating us all.
Krishnamurti said:"When you separate yourself by belief, by nationality, by tradition, it breeds violence..." Oh so true. But how can we all get over our biases? For me the answer is to make conscious decisions and opening my heart and mind things that are not me.
OK my friends. I can go on and on...Very glad to be here and share my thoughts and feelings. I'd like to end it with a poem from my spiritual guide Mevlana Cellaleddin Rumi:
There is a community of the spirit.
Join it, and feel the delight
of walking in the noisy street
and being the noise.
Drink all your passion,
and be a disgrace.
Close both eyes
to see with the other eye.
My name's Aylin. I'm originally from Istanbul, Turkey. Moved to the U.S. 12 years ago to go to college and decided to stay. I was raised in Muslim faith, although my parents were not practicing muslims, they did believe in the faith. We had religion classes at school where they taught us the practice and prayers as well as about other religions. I believe in the essence of the Islamic faith which means "to submit to God". I don't believe in religions, I believe in conscious living and loving and having a spiritual connection to the creator and the universe. Religions were created by men to control masses. I don't think any person or institution has a right to mandate laws about how one should have a relationship with God, Allah, that higher power, how ever you'd like to name that presence. There is not only one right way of having that relationship. I remember my grandfather would tell this story about Muhammed and his close circle of friends taking a walk in the desert one day. As they were walking, they see a man praying. Immediately, one of the men says, "Someone go talk to this fool. He is not doing the prayer correctly. He is standing when he's supposed to be sitting." Muhammed raises his hand and stops them from making a move and says, "Do not disturb this man. He certainly knows what he is doing. Can't you see that he is levitating?"
I always remember that little story, which in a nutshell tells me it's not in the shape and form that the things are correct, it is in the essence. There are many religious people seemingly practicing the shape and form, look the part, but do not have it in their hearts. I guess I can go on and on about this. I just wish that one fine day people would open their eyes and hearts and see the truth about what is seperating us all.
Krishnamurti said:"When you separate yourself by belief, by nationality, by tradition, it breeds violence..." Oh so true. But how can we all get over our biases? For me the answer is to make conscious decisions and opening my heart and mind things that are not me.
OK my friends. I can go on and on...Very glad to be here and share my thoughts and feelings. I'd like to end it with a poem from my spiritual guide Mevlana Cellaleddin Rumi:
There is a community of the spirit.
Join it, and feel the delight
of walking in the noisy street
and being the noise.
Drink all your passion,
and be a disgrace.
Close both eyes
to see with the other eye.