The Holy Shadow - A Sufi Story

There once lived a saint so good that the angels came from heaven to see how a man could be so godly. This saint went about his daily life diffusing virtue as the stars diffuse light and the flowers scent, without being aware of it. His day could be summed up by two words -- he gave, he forgave -- yet these words never passed his lips. They were expressed in his ready smile, his kindness, forbearance, and charity.

The angels said to God, "Lord, grant him the gift of miracles."

God replied, "Ask what it is that he wishes."

They said to the saint, "Would you like the touch of your hands to heal the sick?"

"No," answered the saint. "I would rather God do that."

"Would you like to convert guilty souls and bring back wandering hearts to the right path?"

"No, that is the angels' mission. It is not for me to convert."

"Would you like to become a model of patience, attracting men by the luster of your virtues, and thus glorifying God?"

"No," replied the saint. "If men should be attracted to me, they would become estranged from God." "What is it that you desire, then?" asked the angels.

"What can I wish for?" asked the saint smiling. "That God gives me his grace; with that would I not have everything?"

The angels said, "You must ask for a miracle, or one will be forced upon you." "Very well," said the saint. "That I may do a great deal of good without ever knowing it."

The angels were perplexed. They took counsel and resolved upon the following plan: every time the saint's shadow fell behind him or to either side, so that he could not see it, it would have the power to cure disease, soothe pain, and comfort sorrow.

When the saint walked along, his shadow, thrown on the ground on either side or behind him, made arid paths green, caused withered plants to bloom, gave clear water to dried-up brooks, fresh color to pale children, and joy to unhappy men and women.

The saint simply went about his daily life diffusing virtue as the stars diffuse light and the flowers scent, without being aware of it. The people, respecting his humility, followed him silently, never speaking to him about his miracles. Soon they even forgot his name, and called him "The Holy Shadow."

This is the ultimate: one has to become the holy shadow, just a shadow of God. This is the greatest revolution that can happen to a human being: the transfer of the center. You are no longer your own center; God becomes your center. You live like his shadow.You are not powerful, because you don't have any center to be powerful.

You are not virtuous; you don't have any center to be virtuous. You are not even religious; you don't have any center to be religious. You are simply not, a tremendous emptiness, with no barriers and blocks, so the divine can flow through you unhindered, uninterpreted, untouched -- so the divine can flow through you as he is, not as you would like him to be. He does not pass through your center -- there is none.

Osho

Image by Tamara Rogers http://www.tamararogers.co.uk

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Contact: Makeda Bernard Telephone: +44 (0)203 286 8911 Mobile: +44 (0)7954 891 969

Web: www.makedasdna.com Follow: Blogger / Facebook / Twitter / You Tube / PodOmatic

Head 2 Heart - After all life is having a dream bigger than yourself...

Angel is a 19 year old who has the passion for becoming a successful model. I had the pleasure of meeting Angel on the evening of 13th January 2010. Angel has the faith and trust in life like no other person I have so far met.

I met Angel on the way home from work on a bus. I sat down put on my MP3 Player, looking forward to going home and resting in the warmth. Angel was sat facing me, she kept asking the guy beside me "is this was the bus going to London Bridge?" and "what time is it". The guy didn't pay her any attention and Angel seemed to be on the verge of tears.

I began to strike up a conversation with her. She told me that she was lost and her phone was dead and had been trying to get in touch with her uncle. etc etc, I decided to lend her my phone so that she could make a call.

Whilst she was on the phone, I felt this strong pull. The kind of pull or gut feeling that we normally choose switch off from or ignore...the one where u know really you should do or say something, but begin to rationalize it away in your head and realize it possibly could be a bigger responsibility and burden than you have the resources and ability to deliver

I intuitively knew that some of what she was saying was half truths and it seemed to be more about not wanting the people she had left where she was out of fear. After her calls she gave me my phone back, I felt her energies of worry loss, suicide, babies, freedom, insecure, regret and anguish...

I put my phone back in my bag, put on my MP3 Player trying to relax again, but those feeling just kept going on and on and coming back.... just as I was about to get off the bus I asked her "Is there anything I can do for you?" she replied "I just want someone to talk to" Now I'm sure in a normal persons head that means having a coffee in Starbucks. Nope to me that entailed me inviting her into my home....(does that make me ab-normal?)

At my home she spoke to me about her family and the abuse she suffered, she told me that she was forced into having sex (she was pregnant as a result I'm not sure, will she keep the baby I'm not sure) she spoke of mental abuse...she spoke of having a better life for herself...dreams of being a model

I started making calls to women refuges/hostels the same night. The following morning...lunchtime and afternoon...I had no joy. Angel had stayed with me a night and day. My random act of kindness ended up being an emotional one...the organizations that i called couldn't believe what i had just done......(does that make me ab-normal?)

However as much as they wanted to help and assist Angel and me, they were no places or rooms available. It was getting late and my faith was wearing thin. We had traveled all over London...I knew I may have needed to tell Angel that she would have to go on her way as I had done all that I could and had other commitments, How would she cope? Where would she go? Would she kill herself as she had been threatening earlier? as much as I told myself "she's not my responsibility"...the sicker I became

I sat and i prayed with the little energy and reserves I had left, then began to make some more calls, just as i was about to give up we had struck gold Angel received a place at women refugee
She was saved...for now.

What would you have done???
followed your head and ignored her, gave her some money, food and wish her all the best and said a prayer for her or opened up your home to her???

(Remember rewards for acts of faith normally occur at the 11th hour, if they occurred at the 1st minute why need to have faith?)

Follow your heart; do as much as possible, treat other how you would have wished to be treated...unconditionally after all Love is not just a word it's a verb. "God is a verb" R. Buckminster. Love like God is an action verb,

Follow your head and heart; do as much as you can but with the notion that you are called to do your best nothing more or nothing less. The rest is someone else's responsibility namely God. Psalm 82:6 says "I have said, Ye are gods" so ask yourself today and tomorrow what am I doing and what will I be doing?

This experience and my encounter with Angel gave me the inspiration. "Head to Heart" after all life is about as Angel reminded me having a dream bigger than yourself and working towards achieving it, with the right support and people around us we can achieve anything.

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Contact: Makeda Bernard Telephone: +44 (0)203 286 8911 Mobile: +44 (0)7954 891 969

Web: www.makedasdna.com Follow: Blogger / Facebook / Twitter / You Tube / PodOmatic