al  aziz

My friend Rachna knitted this for her grandson born in January

Rachna as I call her, for past so many years, is a staunch radhaswami practitioner, widowed some years, she brought up her two kids and now they are well settled in life, i know where to turn to whenever I need help instantly, whether it be Breakfast or lunch, guests or tailoring, she is always ready at just a phonecall away

chapatis

Body piercing has been around for centuries. Body piercing is nothing new. However, the reasons for why people get pierced have evolved into something somewhat different these days. The history of body piercing comes from many different cultures. Different piercings have different heritages and backgrounds. Nose piercings were first discovered in the Middle East about 4,000 years ago.

Once upon a time, there was a man who thought he could change the whole world. He huffed and he puffed, as he tried to get other people, and their people, to do the right thing. Then one day he realized the world he wanted to change was not the world he needed to change. He realised the world was quite fine as it was, but that it was his 'seeing' of the world, his perception of the world, that was causing him so much anxiety, which he then projected onto others. So he stopped trying to fix the world 'out there', and he focused on his 'in here' perception of the world out there. And when he changed that perception, his inner world changed and paradoxically the outer world changed. And yes, you guessed, he lived happily ever after.

As-Salaam
The Source of Peace, The One who is free from every imperfection.

The Sufi commentator Qushayri gives a beautiful description of the Sufi ideal:Sufism is entry into exemplary behavior and departure from unworthy behavior.Sufism means that God makes you die to yourself and makes you live in him.The Sufi is single in essence; nothing changes him, nor does he change anything.The sign of the sincere Sufi is that he feels poor when he has wealth, is humble when he has power, and is hidden when he has fame.Sufism means that you own nothing and are owned by nothing.Sufism means entrusting the soul to God most high for whatever he wishes.Sufism means seizing spiritual realities and giving up on what creatures possess.Sufism means kneeling at the door of the Beloved, even if he turns you away.Sufism is a state in which the conditions of humanity disappear.Sufism is a blazing lightning bolt.(quoted in Sufism: An essential introduction to the philosophy and practice of the mystical tradition of Islam, by Carl W. Ernst, PhD)

Al-Malik
The King, The Sovereign Lord, The One with the complete Dominion, the One Whose Dominion is clear from imperfection.

Ar-Raheem
The Merciful, The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers.

Ar-Rahmaan
The Compassionate, The Beneficient, The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers and the blasphemers in this world and especially for the believers in the hereafter.

A Star Without a Name
When a baby is taken from the wet nurse,
it easily forgets her
and starts eating solid food.
Seeds feed awhile on ground,
then lift up into the sun.
So you should taste the filtered light
and work your way toward wisdom
with no personal covering.
That's how you came here, like a star
without a name. Move across the night sky
with those anonymous lights. -- rumi

Allah
Allah, He who has the Godhood which is the power to create the entities.

Detached You are, even from your being,and this being is nothing but You.Unmanifest, yet the manifest is naughtbut Your shadow.Moons, galaxies and worlds drunk from this cup.And the cupbearer is nowhere to be seen!

A pious one with a hundred beads on your rosary,or a drunkard in a tavern,any gift you bring the Beloved will be acceptedas long as you come in longing.It is this most secret pain,this bleeding separation,which will guide you to your Heart of Hearts.