O my Lord, the stars glitter and the eyes of men are closed. Kings have locked their doors and each lover is alone with his love.
Here, I am alone with You
When Rabia Came Over -Shivpreet Singh
It was sometime after midnight—
the parrot had stopped practicing
his whistle from that Bollywood song,
and the dishwasher had entered
its contemplative rinse cycle.
Then Rabia knocked,
without knocking, really.
She just appeared,
as if my thoughts had gotten too noisy
and someone had to intervene.
She didn’t say much at first.
She looked around the room,
nodded at the moonlight
slipping in through the blinds,
then pulled her robe tighter and said,
“Kings have locked their doors.”
I offered her tea.
She declined, but the steam
rose between us like a small prayer.
Outside, the stars were holding
their breath.
She looked at me—
that look your grandmother gives
right before she tells you
you’ve forgotten God
but she still loves you anyway.
“I’m not alone,” I said,
thinking of my family,
my dog, the leftover curry
still warm in the fridge.
“No,” she said,
and the syllable floated
through the kitchen like a blessing—
or maybe a broom,
sweeping everything else aside.
And then she was gone. And then she never left.
This poem reminds me of Guru Arjan's shabad, Bhinni Rainariye Chamkan Taare:
More on Rabi'a
Rabi'a al-Adawiyya (also known as Rabi'a al-Basri) was not primarily known as a poet but as a prominent Muslim mystic and saint. She was born in the 8th century CE in Basra, which is now present-day Iraq. Rabi'a is considered one of the early Sufi mystics and is revered for her profound spiritual insights and devotion to God.
While Rabi'a is primarily remembered for her teachings and spiritual practices, she did express her mystical experiences through poetry. Her poems often reflected her intense love and longing for union with the divine. Rabi'a's poetry is characterized by themes of divine love, the pursuit of spiritual closeness to God, and the renunciation of worldly attachments.
Although the exact corpus of Rabi'a's poetry is not widely known, her poems have been preserved and passed down through oral tradition and various Sufi texts. Rabi'a's spiritual teachings and poetry have had a significant influence on Sufism and Islamic spirituality. Her life and writings continue to inspire many seekers on the path of divine love and devotion.
More on Rabi'a's poem O My Lord
This poem by Rabi'a al-Adawiyya conveys her profound longing for a deep and intimate connection with God. Let's explore its meaning line by line:
"O my Lord,
the stars glitter
and the eyes of men are closed."
In these lines, Rabi'a addresses God, expressing her awareness of the beauty and radiance of the stars. The stars symbolize the magnificence and wonders of the universe. However, she contrasts this with the closed eyes of human beings, suggesting that despite the beauty around them, people are spiritually unaware or disconnected from the divine.
"Kings have locked their doors
and each lover is alone with his love."
Here, Rabi'a speaks metaphorically. The "kings" refer to those in power or positions of authority who have shut themselves away and isolated themselves. This can represent worldly distractions, ego, and attachments that prevent people from seeking a connection with God. The mention of "each lover" being alone with their love implies that everyone has their individual pursuit or object of affection, but Rabi'a acknowledges that true fulfillment and union lie in being alone with God.
"Here, I am alone with You."
In this final line, Rabi'a expresses her personal state of being. She emphasizes her spiritual solitude, highlighting the deep connection she feels with God. Rabi'a finds solace and fulfillment in her intimate relationship with the divine, recognizing that true union and companionship are found in her devotion to God.
Overall, this poem reflects Rabi'a's intense longing for divine connection and her belief that true fulfillment can only be achieved through a deep and personal relationship with God. It highlights her detachment from worldly distractions and her devotion to seeking spiritual closeness with the divine presence.
Here is another story emphasizing the importance of optimism. Happiness in older age linked to more active, longer life
Elderly people laugh in Holguin, Cuba on April 27, 2012. STR/AFP/GETTYIMAGES
Be happy, and you may hold the key to a longer, more active life.
A new study of older adults, published Jan. 20 in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, shows that people who said they enjoyed their lives were better able to keep up with daily physical activities and walked faster than those who weren't as satisfied.
"The study shows that older people who are happier and enjoy life more show slower declines in physical function as they age," Dr. Andrew Steptoe, a British Heart Foundation professor of psychology at the University College London, said in a press release. "They are less likely to develop impairments in activities of daily living such as dressing or getting in or out of bed, and their walking speed declines at a slower rate than those who enjoy life less."
The study looked at nearly 3,200 men and women over the aged 60 and older. They were broken up into three age groups -- 60 to 69; 70 to 79; 80 and up -- and were tracked for more than eight years.
The participants were asked to rate how fulfilled they felt with their lives using a four-point scale. Prompts included: "I enjoy the things that I do," "I enjoy being in the company of others," "On balance, I look back on my life with a sense of happiness" and "I feel full of energy these days."
Researchers also conducted personal interviews to determine how much mobility the subjects had when completing routine tasks. They judged their walking speed using a gait test.
People who were the happiest were three times more likely not to have problems performing daily activities compared to those who were unhappiest. The people who were most joyful walked the fastest and were more likely to survive over the study period.
The youngest participants, those with higher socioeconomic status, those with higher education levels, those who were married and those who were employed had the highest happiness levels. People with chronic illnesses like heart disease, arthritis, stroke and depression were among the unhappiest people.
"Our results provide further evidence that enjoyment of life is relevant to the future disability and mobility of older people," Steptoe and the authors wrote. "Efforts to enhance well-being at older ages may have benefits to society and health care systems."
Happiness has been linked to other later-in-life benefits before. People who were happy in their adolescence were more likely to be wealthier adults in one study. Other research showed that happier people were 35 percent less likely to die an early death.
Today I am reading two quotes from literary giants and meditating upon them:
1. There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky. ~Victor Hugo
2. Trust your heart if the seas catch fire, live by love though the stars walk backward. ~ ee cummings
The Grandeur of the Sky and the Power of Love
The world we inhabit is a realm of wonders, where nature's beauty and human emotions often intersect in profound ways. In this essay, we will explore the profound thoughts conveyed by two remarkable quotes, one by Victor Hugo and the other by E.E. Cummings. These quotes invite us to contemplate the boundless beauty of the sky and the enduring power of love, showing us how they are interconnected and how they reveal the grandeur of our existence.
The Grandeur of the Sky:
Victor Hugo, the acclaimed French writer, once remarked, "There is one spectacle grander than the sea, that is the sky." This profound statement reminds us of the awe-inspiring magnificence that the sky offers. It is a spectacle that has captivated human imagination for centuries, and its grandeur is undeniable. The sky, with its ever-changing hues, the mesmerizing dance of clouds, and the infinite expanse of stars in the night, provides a canvas upon which we can project our dreams and aspirations.
The sky is a reminder of the boundless possibilities that life holds. It challenges us to look beyond the confines of the mundane and seek inspiration in its vastness. Just as the sea has often symbolized the mysteries and depths of the human soul, the sky represents the limitless potential within us. Its grandeur invites us to dream, to reach for the stars, and to recognize that our existence is a part of something much larger and more profound.
The Power of Love:
E.E. Cummings, the renowned American poet, offers an equally profound perspective on love when he says, "Trust your heart if the seas catch fire, live by love though the stars walk backward." This quote speaks to the enduring power of love, suggesting that it can withstand even the most impossible of circumstances. It encourages us to place our faith in the depth of our emotions and the connections we share with others.
In the face of the seas catching fire or the stars walking backward, which symbolize the most extraordinary and inconceivable events, love remains unshaken. Love is a force that defies logic and transcends the boundaries of time and space. It is the guiding light that leads us through the darkest of times and makes life's journey worthwhile. Cummings reminds us that even when the world around us seems to unravel, love remains a constant, a source of strength, and a reason to persevere.
The Interconnectedness of Sky and Love:
While Victor Hugo's quote extols the grandeur of the sky and E.E. Cummings' quote praises the resilience of love, it is essential to recognize the interconnection between the two. The sky, with its vastness and beauty, can serve as a metaphor for the boundless capacity of the human heart to love. Love, in turn, can be seen as the force that gives meaning and purpose to our existence, much like the sky's significance in the natural world.
Just as the sky encompasses the world, love encompasses our lives. It provides us with the inspiration and courage to dream, to explore new horizons, and to find beauty in the ordinary. Love, like the sky, is an ever-changing entity, evolving and growing, yet always present. It is the love that allows us to experience the grandeur of life, to navigate its challenges, and to find meaning in every moment.
Bhinni Rainariye - Grandeur of the sky and love
In contemplating the profound thoughts of Victor Hugo and E.E. Cummings, we are reminded of the grandeur of the sky and the enduring power of love. The sky's vastness invites us to dream and explore, while love's resilience empowers us to face life's challenges. These two elements are interconnected, with love giving meaning to our existence, much like the sky does in the natural world. They remind me of an unforgettable poem by Guru Arjan: Bhinni Rainariye Chamkan Tare:
#OPTIMISM is a #happiness magnet. If you stay #positive, good things & good people will be drawn to you.
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