Light From Many Lamps

Transcription

1 Light From Many Lamps Lenten Study 2008 Contents: Week 1: Islamic Stories... 3 Prince Ibrahim Perspective Of Palaces and Hostels The Tiger and the Fox Week 2: Jewish Stories... 7 The Rabbi s Only Son Faith Week 3: Buddhist Stories Conquering Hate The Talkative Tortoise Week 4: Hindu Stories The Woodcutter A Fisherman Achieves Enlightenment What does God Look Like? Week 5: Sikh Stories Devoted Friendship, Devoted Service Holy Cakes St. James United Church 400 Burnhamthorpe Road Etobicoke, Ontario Storied Peoples The stories that shape our thinking and our lives are sometimes called Authoring Stories. These stories give us insight into how we might live, and how to make a positive or negative difference in our lives and the lives of others. As we connect with a story, as we see that its observations on life hold some truth, some wisdom, we may either be challenged and see that a different way of behaving in the world is possible, or our beliefs or behaviours may be affirmed. When this happens, that story becomes a part of our story. For a majority of the people of the world, the bulk of these stories come from their scriptures, as well as from folk tales and legends. For Christians the main source of our Authoring Stories is the New Testament. As we look at other faiths, we do see many common themes. God s wisdom and light exist to help all people to survive and live better lives. As Luke quotes St. Peter: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. Acts 10:34-35 This commonality does not deny the uniqueness of our faith (or that of other faiths), but affirms God s loving concern for the whole of creation which transcends tribe, nation, race and even species. Or as St. Paul writes: For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. - Romans 10:12 Each week this study will introduce authors and look at stories from one of five faiths, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. We will also look at stories that have a common theme with Jesus stories and sayings as recorded in the Gospels. In reading the various stories and comparing them, we learn more about not only about others, but ourselves as well. Our knowledge of our own faith deepens, or as the Muslim commentator and activist Raheel Raza points out, the knowledge gained is not only of those we think of as the other but also ourselves. Intra-faith dialogue needs to happen alongside interfaith dialogue. While there is no compromising [of] principles, I believe that all faith traditions have a lot more in common, than they have differences. When we take the time and the effort to talk about similarities, it builds trust, educates and informs. (Raheel Raza, Their Jihad, Not My Jihad, p. 162) As we discover our common values, and our common aspirations for ourselves, our families and our planet, we become enlightened authors. Authors who work together to shape new stories, better communities, stronger nations and a more nurturing world for the sake of all creation. - Norm Hennig-Pereira The following stories have been adapted or edited from the English translation of original sources for ease of comprehension and space.

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3 Lenten Study 2008 Page 3 Week 1 Islamic Stories The following Islamic stories come from two influential story tellers. The first is Abu Eshaq Ibrahim ibn Adham born in Balkh, a country located in central Asia. His nickname is Abu Ishaq. His grandfather was the ruler of Khurasan and his father was one of its kings. Naturally, Ibrahim was going to inherit the kingdom. In Sufi (a branch of Islam) legend, prince Ibrahim renounced his kingdom and wandered westwards to live a life of complete asceticism, earning his bread in Syria by honest manual toil until his death in Lebanon ca. AD 782. There are many stories and legends about this holy man. The second author is Muslih-uddin Sa'di Shirazi a well known 13th century Persian (Iranian) poet. A native of Shiraz, Gospel: A Rich Young Man Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments." "Which ones?" the man inquired. Jesus replied, "'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbour as yourself.'" "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Persia, Shiekh Saadi left his native town at a young age for Baghdad to study Arabic literature and Islamic sciences at Al- Nizamiyya of Baghdad ( ). The unsettled conditions following the Mongol invasion of Persia led him to wander abroad through Anatolia, Syria, Egypt, and Iraq. In his work, he also refers to travels in India and Central Asia. His best known works are Bostan ("The Orchard") in 1257 and Gulistan ("The Rose Garden") in One of his poems graces the entrance to the Hall of Nations of the UN building in New York: "Of one Essence is the human race, Thusly has Creation put the Base; One Limb impacted is sufficient, For all Others to feel the Mace." heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:16-26 NRSV Sheikh Saadi No one ever sowed the grain of generosity who did not gather up the harvest of the desire of his heart. - Sheikh Saadi

4 Page 4 Light From Many Lamps Two Tales of Ibrahim ibn Adham Prince Ibrahim Gains Perspective Ibrahim was very pious and spent many hours a day at prayer. He said his prayers in a beautiful gem-studded chapel of his palace. One day while praying he heard a terrible noise above him on the roof. It sounded like the clattering of horses' hooves! Rushing out, he looked up to the roof and, sure enough, there was his palace guard -- twenty men on horseback. "What in the world are you doing up there?" Ibrahim shouted. "Your Majesty," yelled the captain of the guard, "we are searching for our camels that have wandered away." "But why, O fools, are you searching camels on the palace roof?" asked the prince. "We are only following the example of Your Majesty, who seeks for God while living in all the luxuries and power of a royal palace," came the reply.* Of Palaces and Hostels The prince had a charitable nature. He arranged a place where wandering beggars and holy men could come and receive free food and drink, on one of the porches of the palace, which closed at nightfall. No one was allowed inside the palace after dark. One day a tall strong man of radiant appearance arrived just at sunset and asked for food. When he had eaten his fill he told the guard that as he had nowhere else to stay he wished to spend the night in the screened porch. The guard told him it was against the rule and asked him to leave at once. "I demand to see the master of this hostel and I will not leave until I do," said the stranger. "This is not a rest-house, and His Majesty is saying his prayers," the guard replied. So the argument went on until finally the servant went to the door of his master's chapel and knocked. "There is a beggar on the porch, sire, who calls the palace a rest-house and refuses to leave. He insists on speaking to Your Majesty." The prince was astonished. "Let me just go and hear this madman," said he, and went out to the end of the porch. They met, the prince and the beggar. "You have heard the rule of this place," said the former, "Why have you not left as others have?" "This is a rest-house," the wanderer replied. "The night is cold, and I wish to spend it here under Your Majesty's protection." "What do you mean, a 'rest-house'," said Ibrahim. "Do you not see that it is a palace?" "Did you build the palace?" "Certainly not. I have inherited it." "Did your father build it, then?" "Not even he. His father's father built it, long ago." "And each of these has come and gone, passed through this palace and out of it again?" "Of course," said the prince, impatiently. "And you too will do the same, and here you are claiming that it is not a rest-house!" The eyes of Ibrahim's understanding were opened. He brought the wise man into the palace and the two talked long into the night.* * Source: vedanta-atlanta.org/stories/prince.html

5 Lenten Study 2008 Page 5 The Tiger and the Fox A fox who lived in the deep forest of long ago had lost its front legs. No one knew how: perhaps escaping from a trap. A man who lived on the edge of the forest, seeing the fox from time to time, wondered how in the world it managed to get its food. One day when the fox was not far from him he had to hide himself quickly because a tiger was approaching. The tiger had fresh game in its claws. Lying down on the ground, it ate its fill, leaving the rest for the fox. Again the next day the great Provider of this world sent provisions to the fox by this same tiger. The man began to think: "If this fox is taken care of in this mysterious way, its food sent by some unseen Higher Power, why don't I just rest in a corner and have my daily meal provided for me?" Because he had a lot of faith, he let the days pass, waiting for food. Nothing happened. He just went on losing weight and strength until he was nearly a skeleton. Close to losing consciousness, he heard a Voice which said: "O you, who have mistaken the way, see now the Truth! You should have followed the example of that tiger instead of imitating the disabled fox." - Shiekh Saadi You have feet; why pretend that you are lame?" - Rumi* Group or Individual Reflection OPENING VERSE (Proverbs 3:13-24) (To be read aloud by a member of the group) Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed. By wisdom the Lord laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. My child, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. PRAYER All: Lord, behold our family here assembled. We thank you for this place in which we dwell, for the love that unites us, for the peace accorded to us this day, for the hope with which we expect the morrow; for the health, the work, the food and the bright skies that make our lives delightful; for our friends in all parts of the earth. Amen. Author: Robert Louis Stevenson TIME OF SHARING How have stories, those of parents, teachers, and/or those from the bible influenced your life? Any examples? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. - Jesus, Luke 12:27 *Mawlānā Jalāl-ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, known in the Western world as simply Rumi, was a contemporary of Sheikh Saadi. He was Persian poet, Islamic jurist, and theologian. Both Saadi and Rumi left indelible impressions on the Sufi branch of Islam.

6 Page 6 Light From Many Lamps QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION 1. What are your impressions of the stories for this session? Which ones did you like, which ones did you not like? Why? 2. How does the Gospel story compare to those from the Islamic tradition? 3. How do they relate to your own experience? Or do they? 4. Many of the world s religions speak of the challenges that material possessions present to spiritual, moral and community life. It is no coincidence that one of Jesus temptations in the wilderness revolves around wealth (Matthew 4:8-9). Indeed, the various faith s concern about material possessions at times seems so great that it may appear that they are opposed to them. The rich young man is told to sell all he has; Ibrahim, like Guatama Buddha, gives up his considerable wealth to find God. What are some of the basic assumptions and attitudes that are associated with the acquisition of or lack of material possessions? What attitudes toward material wealth are challenged by the stories? Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open? Move outside the tangle of fearthinking. - Rumi 5. Jesus promise at the end of the Gospel passage is with God all things are possible. Possessions do not have to be a barrier to experiencing the Reign of God, or discovering the Kingdom of God a realm of justice, peace, wholeness and loving relationships. What clues are there in the stories which might help deal with the kind of challenges that material possessions can at times pose? GLEANINGS What have we learned? What are some of the insights that we take home from this discussion? CLOSING PRAYER One: May the Lord bless what we have shared this day to our enlightenment and growth. All: May the Lord grant our hearts desire for those we love, the human family and the whole of Creation. (Silence for prayer and/or meditation.) One: Lord, hear our prayers, keep our desire for wisdom alive, and bless our days with shalom: wholeness and peace. All: Amen.