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September 29, 2009

a state of great peril

I thus perceived that I was in a state of great peril, and I compelled myself to seek with all my strength for a remedy, however uncertain it might be; as a sick man struggling with a deadly disease, when he sees that death will surely be upon him unless a remedy be found, is compelled to seek a remedy with all his strength, inasmuch as his whole hope lies therein. All the objects pursued by the multitude not only bring no remedy that tends to preserve our being, but even act as hindrances, causing the death not seldom of those who possess them, and always of those who are possessed by them.

Spinoza - On the Improvement of the Human Understanding

Posted by amin at 11:58 PM

September 27, 2009

al-hagh

Among Sufi groups the name of God the most high which most often flows from their lips in their statements and during states of prayer is al-Hagh [the Truth], in the measure that they attain to expereince of self-annihiliation with regard to their own essence, for they see the truly real essence to the exclusion of that which in itself is perishing. As for the practitioners of Kalam [theology] the name which flows most frequently from their lips is al-Bari [the Producor], which has the same meaning as al-Khaliq [the Creator], since they are still at the level of reasoning to God by way of His actions. Most men see everything but Him, so they cite what they see as witness for Him, and these are the ones addressed by the saying of the Most High: 'Have they not considered the dominion of the heavens and the earth, and what things God has created?' (VII:185) Yet the righteous do not see anything but Him, so they cite Him as witness for Himself, and so they are the ones addressed by the saying of the Most High: 'Does not the Lord suffice, since He is the Witness over all things (XLI:53)?'

Ghazali - Ninety-Nine Beautiful Names of God

Posted by amin at 6:37 PM

September 17, 2009

i am humble abraham lincoln

Fellow citizens: I presume you all know who I am, I am humble Abraham Lincoln. I have been solicited by many friends to be a candidate for the Legislature. My politics are short and sweet, like the old woman's dance...If elected, I shall be thankful; if not, it will be all the same.

Lincoln's first political speech, March 1832

Posted by amin at 9:49 PM

September 2, 2009

seers of the infinite

Seers of the Infinite have ever been quiet souls. They abide alone with themselves and the Infinite, or if they do look around them, grudge to no one who understands the Mighty Word his own peculiar way.

Schleiermacher

Posted by amin at 10:55 AM