Sultan Bahu was a 17th-century mystic, poet, and scholar active mostly in the Punjab province of Pakistan. He started a Sufi mystic tradition, Sarwari Qadiri, which emphasized thhe contemplation of belovedness towards God and, unlike the orthodox Qadiriyya approach, did not adhere to a specific dress code, seclusion, ascetic practices, breathing exercises, or other lengthy exercises. A 7th-generation descendant wrote "Manaqib-i Sultani," a hagiography that provided almost all we know about him. He authored more than 140 books, mostly in Persian, dealing with Islam, as well as the "Abyat-e-Bahoo" poetry in Punjabi, which is still sung in many genres of Sufi music including qawwali, a 13th-century fusion of Persian, Arabic, Turkish, and Indian musical traditions intended to induce hypnotic states among the musicians and audience, and kafi, a simpler genre credited to Rumi that emphasizes the words rather than the music.
Intellect and wisdom find no foothold Where the secrets of unity in God are revealed Priests are no help there Nor is any knowledge of the scriptures. You can only merge yourself in the Absolute When the Master reveals the divine secret. You can only acquire ultimate knowledge of God After you put away the scriptures.
The abode of God is in the innermost heart But God knows where the heart’s abode is Become a lover and let your heart be like a rock. If people hurl abuse at you consider it as a blessing. Even Mansur, who knew all the secrets of God, Was sent to the gallows. Once you have bowed your head in prayer, Do not lift it again, O Bahu, Although the multitude may brand you an infidel.
O Master There is no place for wisdom or thought there Where the Unity of the Divine is the secret - He! Grand professors, priests, and astrologers have no use there And bookish knowledge of scripture has no worth – He! With the veil of "m" removed, when "Ahmad" was revealed as "Ahad" (one with God) Then all creation merged with the Reality of Him – He! You've acquired all kinds of knowledge, Sultan Bahu Now shut the holy books and put them away I am an ecstatic mystic Who can trace the path of my inward journey? I am an ecstatic mystic Who can trace the path of my inward journey? I am an ecstatic mystic I am a mystic...
Master When my own ego was there, then the awareness of God was not Now there's only God, no "me" No "me" When illumination of Knowledge chased away the darkness in me There was no need to light a lamp I am an ecstatic mystic Who can trace the path of my inward journey? I am an ecstatic mystic Ecstatic
O Master My beloved Master! Love dealt me such a lethal wound That I wander indifferent to the world and its pleasures Then I found the Beloved I searched for right in my home The Beloved I searched for My Enchanter dwells in my very own heart I am an ecstatic mystic Who can trace the path of my inward journey? I am an ecstatic mystic Ecstatic
The abode of God is in the innermost heart But God knows where the heart's abode is Where? Where is the heart's abode? I am an ecstatic mystic
Become a true lover Become a true lover and thus gain love Keep your heart as staunch and unfaltering as a mountain – He The hundreds of cruelties, and thousands of insults you suffer at people's hands Consider these to be a joyous blessing – He! Even true devotees like Mansur Hallaj were hung at the gallows Who had known all His Secrets – He! We don't lift our bowed head from prayer, Sultan Bahu Even if crowds and crowds of people call us infidels – He! I am an ecstatic mystic Ecstatic
My constant remembrance of Your name merged me into You All trace of me was erased until there was nothing left but You Wherever I turn, I can see only You I am an ecstatic mystic
O Master! It’s just as well my clay-pot broke Now I'm free from having to fetch water! Now I'm free I am an ecstatic mystic
The tremendous power of the words ‘Ali and Muhammad Is something the uninitiated just cannot fathom O Ali! The tremendous power of the words ‘Ali and Muhammad Is something the uninitiated just cannot fathom This enigma is one that only pure devotees comprehend That these names turn a verse into a fragrant bouquet I am an ecstatic mystic Who can trace the path of my inward journey? I am an ecstatic mystic Ecstatic
Sultan Bahu was a 17th-century mystic, poet, and scholar active mostly in the Punjab province of Pakistan. He started a Sufi mystic tradition, Sarwari Qadiri, which emphasized thhe contemplation of belovedness towards God and, unlike the orthodox Qadiriyya approach, did not adhere to a specific dress code, seclusion, ascetic practices, breathing exercises, or other lengthy exercises. A 7th-generation descendant wrote "Manaqib-i Sultani," a hagiography that provided almost all we know about him. He authored more than 140 books, mostly in Persian, dealing with Islam, as well as the "Abyat-e-Bahoo" poetry in Punjabi, which is still sung in many genres of Sufi music including qawwali, a 13th-century fusion of Persian, Arabic, Turkish, and Indian musical traditions intended to induce hypnotic states among the musicians and audience, and kafi, a simpler genre credited to Rumi that emphasizes the words rather than the music.
ReplyDeleteIntellect and wisdom find no foothold
ReplyDeleteWhere the secrets of unity in God are revealed
Priests are no help there
Nor is any knowledge of the scriptures.
You can only merge yourself in the Absolute
When the Master reveals the divine secret.
You can only acquire ultimate knowledge of God
After you put away the scriptures.
The abode of God is in the innermost heart
But God knows where the heart’s abode is
Become a lover
and let your heart be like a rock.
If people hurl abuse at you
consider it as a blessing.
Even Mansur, who knew all the secrets of God,
Was sent to the gallows.
Once you have bowed your head in prayer,
Do not lift it again, O Bahu,
Although the multitude may brand you an infidel.
O Master
There is no place for wisdom or thought there
Where the Unity of the Divine is the secret - He!
Grand professors, priests, and astrologers have no use there
And bookish knowledge of scripture has no worth – He!
With the veil of "m" removed, when "Ahmad" was revealed as "Ahad" (one with God)
Then all creation merged with the Reality of Him – He!
You've acquired all kinds of knowledge, Sultan Bahu
Now shut the holy books and put them away
I am an ecstatic mystic
Who can trace the path of my inward journey?
I am an ecstatic mystic
Who can trace the path of my inward journey?
I am an ecstatic mystic
I am a mystic...
Master
When my own ego was there, then the awareness of God was not
Now there's only God, no "me"
No "me"
When illumination of Knowledge chased away the darkness in me
There was no need to light a lamp
I am an ecstatic mystic
Who can trace the path of my inward journey?
I am an ecstatic mystic
Ecstatic
O Master
My beloved Master!
Love dealt me such a lethal wound
That I wander indifferent to the world and its pleasures
Then I found the Beloved I searched for right in my home
The Beloved I searched for
My Enchanter dwells in my very own heart
I am an ecstatic mystic
Who can trace the path of my inward journey?
I am an ecstatic mystic
Ecstatic
The abode of God is in the innermost heart
But God knows where the heart's abode is
Where?
Where is the heart's abode?
I am an ecstatic mystic
Become a true lover
Become a true lover and thus gain love
Keep your heart as staunch and unfaltering as a mountain – He
The hundreds of cruelties, and thousands of insults you suffer at people's hands
Consider these to be a joyous blessing – He!
Even true devotees like Mansur Hallaj were hung at the gallows
Who had known all His Secrets – He!
We don't lift our bowed head from prayer, Sultan Bahu
Even if crowds and crowds of people call us infidels – He!
I am an ecstatic mystic
Ecstatic
My constant remembrance of Your name merged me into You
All trace of me was erased until there was nothing left but You
Wherever I turn, I can see only You
I am an ecstatic mystic
O Master!
It’s just as well my clay-pot broke
Now I'm free from having to fetch water!
Now I'm free
I am an ecstatic mystic
The tremendous power of the words ‘Ali and Muhammad
Is something the uninitiated just cannot fathom
O Ali!
The tremendous power of the words ‘Ali and Muhammad
Is something the uninitiated just cannot fathom
This enigma is one that only pure devotees comprehend
That these names turn a verse into a fragrant bouquet
I am an ecstatic mystic
Who can trace the path of my inward journey?
I am an ecstatic mystic
Ecstatic
Who can trace the path of my inward journey?
Beautiful
ReplyDelete