05.03.2013 Views

The elixir of life in the ocean of death - Sufi-Zentrum Berlin

The elixir of life in the ocean of death - Sufi-Zentrum Berlin

The elixir of life in the ocean of death - Sufi-Zentrum Berlin

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Bismillahi-r-Rahmani-r-Rahim<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>elixir</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>life</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>ocean</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>death</strong><br />

Sheikh Eșref Efendi | Berl<strong>in</strong>, 2005<br />

Question: Does <strong>the</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d represent an obstacle on <strong>the</strong> way to <strong>the</strong> truth? How should<br />

we use our m<strong>in</strong>ds <strong>in</strong> order to f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> truth? Is it at all possible to f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> truth solely<br />

by means <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d?<br />

S.E.: <strong>The</strong>re are emergency numbers you can generally call <strong>in</strong> order to get immediate<br />

help, if you suddenly fall ill. Often, this help comes just <strong>in</strong> time. Sometimes, however,<br />

it comes too late or it was not even necessary.<br />

But at <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> every first aid, <strong>the</strong> patient is referred to his family doctot who<br />

may take fur<strong>the</strong>r care <strong>of</strong> him. For <strong>the</strong> family doctor knows his patient better than<br />

any o<strong>the</strong>r doctor. Only <strong>the</strong> family doctor knows all <strong>the</strong> confidential <strong>in</strong>formation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

patient.<br />

Just like you confide your physical well-be<strong>in</strong>g to your family doctor and follow his<br />

advices and prescriptions so that your body stays fit and healthy, man is <strong>in</strong> need <strong>of</strong><br />

someone to whom he may confide <strong>the</strong> essence <strong>of</strong> his be<strong>in</strong>g – his soul. For it is not<br />

enough to have a healthy body, <strong>the</strong> soul also needs a doctor <strong>in</strong> order to stay healthy<br />

and fit and to be cured from illnesses. As <strong>the</strong> nature <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> body is earthly and <strong>the</strong><br />

nature <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> soul is heavenly, thus both have different needs. <strong>The</strong> soul always longs<br />

for heaven and wants to return to <strong>the</strong> orig<strong>in</strong> <strong>of</strong> its be<strong>in</strong>g. <strong>The</strong> body says, however:<br />

« Stay here, where do you want to go to? Do you not know that I belong to here and<br />

that I am cha<strong>in</strong>ed to this earth? How do you want to br<strong>in</strong>g me up? » One part <strong>of</strong> man<br />

always looks downward, whereas <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r part tries to look upward. Thus, imbalance<br />

and dissatisfaction grow and man becomes torn.<br />

In order to f<strong>in</strong>d a solution to his problem, man <strong>the</strong>n sets out on a journey. At every<br />

source he heard <strong>of</strong>, he stops and tastes from its <strong>elixir</strong> which promises <strong>the</strong> solution <strong>of</strong><br />

his problems and <strong>the</strong> salvation <strong>of</strong> his body and soul. He is promised to be liberated<br />

by <strong>the</strong> cha<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> earthly imprisonment and to fly <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> endless vastness <strong>of</strong><br />

eternety.<br />

Unfortunately, man <strong>of</strong>ten judges accord<strong>in</strong>g to his m<strong>in</strong>d and <strong>the</strong> taste <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>elixir</strong>, but<br />

rarely accord<strong>in</strong>g to its essence and constancy. Although <strong>the</strong> best medic<strong>in</strong>e is mostly<br />

<strong>the</strong> one which tastes bitter. However, this is <strong>of</strong>ten forgotten. Why do you subjectively<br />

judge everyth<strong>in</strong>g solely accord<strong>in</strong>g to your feel<strong>in</strong>gs? From where does this vanity<br />

come? Do you not know that <strong>the</strong>re is always someone who is more wiser than you<br />

and that not everyth<strong>in</strong>g which tastes good is healthy? And likewise, not everyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

which does not taste is bad and unhealthy. Does everyth<strong>in</strong>g you like necessarily<br />

has to be <strong>the</strong> best for you? Do you th<strong>in</strong>k that you do yourself a favour by betray<strong>in</strong>g<br />

yourself through your ego?<br />

1


Man is foolish! He th<strong>in</strong>ks that only he himself is responsible for his <strong>life</strong>. <strong>The</strong>refore, he<br />

is egoistic and he only th<strong>in</strong>ks <strong>of</strong> himself. He believes that no one could do it better<br />

than him. But he does not know that by means <strong>of</strong> his m<strong>in</strong>d and taste he will never<br />

come far and that he will harm himself.<br />

Instead <strong>of</strong> prejudg<strong>in</strong>g accord<strong>in</strong>g to your m<strong>in</strong>d and taste, you should thoroughly analyse<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>elixir</strong>s <strong>of</strong> every source <strong>in</strong> regard <strong>of</strong> benefit, value, quality and durability. You<br />

should thorughly and neutrally study <strong>the</strong>m, for it is about your <strong>life</strong>. You should not<br />

prejudge irresponsibly. Before you can judge, you always should have done a multitude<br />

<strong>of</strong> analyses and researches. Can you help yourself when you are ill? Are you<br />

<strong>the</strong>n still choosy about <strong>the</strong> taste <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> medic<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong> doctor gives you aga<strong>in</strong>st your<br />

illness? Do you still take your m<strong>in</strong>d as a measure when it is about <strong>the</strong> prescriptions<br />

<strong>of</strong> your doctor.<br />

For most people <strong>the</strong> journey ends before <strong>the</strong>y even reach <strong>the</strong>ir aim. Who lonely sets<br />

out on a journey without a guide may not be helped by anyone when he is danger. He<br />

will sometime get stuck on his way. How far do you get with <strong>the</strong> fuel <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> tank? Without<br />

re-fill<strong>in</strong>g your tank, you would not get far if <strong>the</strong> journey was too long. Sooner or<br />

later you would get stuck. <strong>The</strong>n you would be <strong>in</strong> danger all alone and without help!<br />

« O My servant, why do you make your <strong>life</strong> so difficult? I have not granted you <strong>life</strong> as<br />

a difficulty. Make <strong>life</strong> easy! I have given you a m<strong>in</strong>d to research all sources so that you<br />

may f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> true <strong>elixir</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>life</strong> which grants you immortality and eternal happ<strong>in</strong>ess.<br />

I have not given you <strong>the</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d so that you may subord<strong>in</strong>ate it to your lower self and<br />

that you may make your lower self <strong>the</strong> measure <strong>of</strong> your decisions. If you are not able<br />

to do <strong>the</strong> right, <strong>the</strong>n f<strong>in</strong>d someone who teaches you <strong>the</strong> right and who has already<br />

discovered <strong>the</strong> source <strong>of</strong> immortality and has drunk from it. »<br />

Who listens to <strong>the</strong> Lord will surely make his journey shorter and easier. F<strong>in</strong>d someone<br />

who has already undergone <strong>the</strong> difficulties <strong>of</strong> search<strong>in</strong>g and who has found what you<br />

have been hop<strong>in</strong>g to f<strong>in</strong>d for such a long time. Make your quest easy.<br />

For <strong>the</strong> length <strong>of</strong> your <strong>life</strong> might be too short and your power <strong>of</strong> judgement might not<br />

suffice <strong>in</strong> order to f<strong>in</strong>d. Search for a true knower, <strong>in</strong>stead <strong>of</strong> search<strong>in</strong>g yourself for<br />

<strong>the</strong> sources. For you do not test every medic<strong>in</strong>e before choos<strong>in</strong>g one, but you trust<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> judgement and research <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> scientists who have analysed <strong>the</strong>se medec<strong>in</strong>es<br />

and found <strong>the</strong>m good.<br />

F<strong>in</strong>d someone who has found known and unknown sources <strong>of</strong> <strong>life</strong>, has objectively<br />

analysed <strong>the</strong>m and has realisticly judged <strong>the</strong>m. F<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> one who has conv<strong>in</strong>ced<br />

himself <strong>of</strong> which source among all <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r sources is really <strong>the</strong> only true one. O<br />

man, make <strong>life</strong> easy and not unnecessarily difficult. Let you provide for yourself <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> spiritual <strong>life</strong>. Your <strong>life</strong> is short and you are mortal. Try to f<strong>in</strong>d as fast as possible<br />

<strong>the</strong> source <strong>of</strong> immortality. You have to f<strong>in</strong>d someone who has found <strong>the</strong> address <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> source <strong>of</strong> <strong>life</strong> where you are given <strong>the</strong> <strong>elixir</strong> <strong>of</strong> eternity.<br />

2


Discover happ<strong>in</strong>ess at first with<strong>in</strong> mortality, <strong>the</strong>n you may taste immortality. In order<br />

to obta<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> taste <strong>of</strong> immortality, you have to taste mortality. Taste it dur<strong>in</strong>g your<br />

<strong>life</strong>time. Let <strong>the</strong> bird <strong>of</strong> your heart free, <strong>the</strong>n you will receive <strong>the</strong> <strong>elixir</strong> <strong>of</strong> immortality<br />

already <strong>in</strong> this <strong>life</strong>.<br />

Hurry up, for <strong>life</strong> escapes every moment from your body. You have no idea <strong>of</strong> hav<strong>in</strong>g<br />

fallen <strong>in</strong>to an <strong>ocean</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>death</strong> s<strong>in</strong>ce your birth.<br />

Swim out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>ocean</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>death</strong> <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> <strong>ocean</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>life</strong>! And keep <strong>in</strong> your m<strong>in</strong>d that you<br />

have only been given a limited time for this!<br />

3

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!