The Witness Within #74 Empathy
May 3, 2021
Dive into the mystical as a poem from Bawa Muhaiyaddeen transports listeners into dreams and spiritual imagery. Explore the concept of 'sleeping without sleeping'—a meditative state that frees us from worldly cares. Discover how merging with a spiritual master can unlock deeper realities and shift perception. Musa discusses the journey from self-absorption to empathy, urging listeners to embody divine qualities. Conclude with practical tips for meditation, inviting an experience of restfulness in the presence of the sheikh.
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Dream Poem As Meditative Map
- Musa Muhaiyaddeen reads Bawa Muhaiyaddeen's 1946 poem "I Had a Dream" describing meditative images like the horse of the breath and wedding necklace.
- The poem's repeated motif of "casting off cares, closing my eyes, and sleeping without sleeping" frames a mystical transformation.
Ketub As Portal To Reality
- The Ketub (the sheikh/teacher) is presented as a manifest portal of reality that lets one shift from illusion to truth.
- Merging with the Ketub dissolves the ego and enables entering a different, awakened state.
Practice Sleeping Without Sleeping
- Do cultivate a meditative state of "sleeping without sleeping" by focusing on La ilaha illallah and letting worldly cares burn away.
- Try to meet someone who has "disappeared" as a guide and intentionally set the intention: "I want to know."