Thanks Haruna

On 21 July 2010 21:29, Haruna Darbo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Allahu Wakubaru. Thank you for sharing Bilal. Its been a long time. I
> forgive your long silence for value-re-introduction. I hope your temporal
> silence was not due to a personal burden for which DaarManso hasn't offered
> secours yet. Thy will be done. In honour of my late Father.
>
> Haruna. Thanx again for sharing value-life.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Edi Jah <[log in to unmask]>
> To: GAMBIA-L <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wed, Jul 21, 2010 2:02 pm
> Subject: Something For Sycophants
>
> Culled from Ethics and Spiritual Growth by Sayyid Mujtaba Musawi Lari
> - available at www.musavilari.org
>
> --------------------
>
>
> Struggle for Realisation of Higher Ideals
>
>
> That which gives worth to life is struggle for the sake of realisation
> of sublime and fruitful ideals. One must resolve to reach a station
> worthy of humanity and make every possible effort to develop himself,
> fulfil his duty, and offer ungrudging service to society. In the sweet
> words of Hafiz:
>
>
> Though the world's wont, like the bud, is to be close-fisted, Yet you,
> like the spring breeze, be an opener of knots.
>
>
> Dr. Schweitzer writes:
>
>
> Often we hear people say, "I want to do some good in this world but
> the obligations of life and work are so exacting that I cannot score
> any success in this regard. I am sunk to my ears in the petty chores
> of life and there doesn't arise any opportunity for my life to become
> meaningful." This is a very common-and dangerous-mistake. Everyone
> finds opportunities at his doorstep to help others, so that his spirit
> may rise to the occasion and attain peace and joy. In order to attain
> this joy it is not at all necessary to neglect one's ordinary duties
> or to perform some dazzling feat.
>
>
> I call this spiritual work your 'second duty'. All that you must do is
> to make use of the many opportunities that arise and carry out this
> duty. You will get plenty of excellent opportunities in this path and
> acquire a perfect ability to make use of them. At this point all the
> energies stored up in your being will swing into action.
>
>
> That which the world needs today, and lacks, are people devoted to
> fulfilling others' needs. In this work, done for the sake of others,
> both the helper and the helped are blessed.
>
>
> ... We are gradually losing our personality under the strains of
> modern society. The urge for creativity and self-assertion is killed
> in us. Accordingly, the attainment of genuine civilisation is delayed.
> The big mistake of everyone of us is that we travel blindfolded
> through life and do not notice the good opportunities that arise. Once
> we open our eyes and look around we will observe many people who need
> our help, riot for big things but for very small things.
>
>
> In altruism and sacrifice we must invest the best part of ourselves.
> The coin that a widow gives, which is all that she owns, has greater
> worth than all the donations of the rich. We often hear people say,
> "Were I rich I would do many things for people". But one can be rich
> in respect of love and charity. If we discover the real needs of those
> who require help and take steps to meet them, we would have spent the
> best part of ourselves in this path, which is love and compassion for
> others and which all the money in the world cannot equal.
>
>
> You might think that my life in the equatorial forests of Africa is
> something wonderful. But you should know that you can live a more
> wonderful life by remaining where you are and, by impelling your soul
> to effort, engage in a thousand kinds of good and kindly actions. This
> task demands a spirit of sacrifice and courage and a strength of will,
> and the determination to love, which is the greatest test of a human
> being. But you must know that it is in this second and difficult duty
> that you can find true happiness. [1]
>
>
> Man is free either to obey or disobey the commands of his conscience.
> Every man is the master of his soul and his will. He may choose
> rectitude and purity, liberate himself from the bondage of lust and
> endless desires, make chivalrousness his motto, and abstain from
> injustice and cruelty. These qualities and virtues are within his
> reach and he may adorn himself with them through persistent effort. He
> may also take an opposite path, the path of decadence and vice, and
> dive into the ocean of variegated lusts and pleasures.
>
>
> The power of will is a heavenly gift which must never be left idle or
> used for filthy purposes and inhuman goals instead of being employed
> in the path of duty. The lack of will and determination is the biggest
> obstacle in the way of fulfilment of duties. The employment of will
> power under the guidance of conscience and in the struggle against
> carnal urges and desires, against egoism and moral vices, is a
> difficult task at the beginning and requires self-denying effort. But
> through determination, persistence and perseverance, the soul
> gradually becomes stronger and its moral characteristics improve.
> Then, the performance of duty becomes a quite normal and easy matter.
>
>
> If one's feeling of duty-consciousness be strong, he would not retreat
> in the face of hardship and obstacles. Even when such a person's
> effort remains fruitless due to obstacles, his conscience at least
> would be at peace and he would be able to hold his head high before
> himself because his defeat and failure have been for the sake of duty.
>
>
> A father gives the following counsel to his son:
>
>
> My son, let it be that you remain poor and penniless while others
> gather wealth and get rich in front of your eyes through deceit and
> treachery. Lead your life without position and glory and let others
> get into high positions through obsequiousness and servility. Put up
> with misery and loss and let others satisfy their desires by the means
> of flattery and sycophancy.
>
>
> Refrain from associating with big people, to get near whom others are
> killing themselves. It is better for you to put on the garment of
> virtue and piety so that when your head turns white there isn't any
> blot on your honour and good name. At that time, thank God and
> surrender to death with an easy mind and a happy heart. [2]
>
>
> In the same way as admonishment, reproof and censure are beneficial in
> the struggle against vices, so also appreciation, commendation and
> encouragement are undeniably effective in producing better motivation
> for work and performance of duty. Evil is the state of a nation in
> which traitors are encouraged and worthy and duty-conscious servants
> are censured, humiliated and driven away from sensitive positions in
> society. Where deceit and imposture bring success and those who are
> totally devoid of human values attain their cherished goals, a nation
> in which those who wish to fulfil their human mission remain deprived
> as long as they continue to live in purity-in such a society there
> remain utterly no grounds for the growth of moral excellence.
>
>
> Obviously, in such an environment the attraction and inclination for
> deceit, corruption and hypocrisy make way, on an extensive level, into
> the depths of the people's souls, and vice and corruption rapidly take
> the place of virtues and decent morals. In such an environment, many
> chaste souls may be compelled to turn their backs on piety and purity
> as a result of unbearable pressures, for there are few people who can
> heroically safeguard their souls in such a corrupt environment and
> preserve their piety and purity in the mire of social filth. Yet all
> people do not have such extraordinary qualities so as to continue with
> their sublime and majestic spirit to live amongst a base and decadent
> people.
>
>
> In the course of his upbringing an ordinary individual stands in dire
> need of a society on which he can rely to offer him worthy examples
> that may acquaint him with practical patterns of conduct in life.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -------------------
>
> Jah
>
> --
> “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he
> loves for himself.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]
>
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-- 
“None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he
loves for himself.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]

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